Media Roundup: Today eyes Armytage, Senate probes streaming loophole, Stanton's Nine strategy, and AI cybercrime warning

Media

Nine eyes Samantha Armytage to revive Today

The Australian's Steve Jackson reports the corridors at Nine HQ are buzzing with talk that Today co-host Sarah Abo might soon be replaced by Samantha Armytage.

It's all part of play for dominance, as the network looks for a way to claw back ground from Sunrise in next year’s breakfast TV ratings race.

Meanwhile...

Jackson also reports that some of the country’s top media players are hoping Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest will step in to rescue The Australian Women’s Weekly as Are Media’s glossy empire heads to market.

The billionaire’s investment firm, Tattarang, has reportedly been approached about buying the magazine from private equity owner Mercury Capital.

Senate questions streaming loophole in Anti-Siphoning rules

Independent Senator David Pocock used this week’s Senate Estimates to flag a loophole in Australia’s Anti-Siphoning Scheme, noting that global streamers can still buy exclusive sports rights -  just not the broadcast ones they don’t want.

As David Knox details in TV Tonight, he warned the gap could push more major sports behind paywalls.

Companies

Matt Stanton hints at strategic bolt-ons over big Nine shake-up

Nine boss Matt Stanton has poured cold water on talk of a blockbuster deal, signalling instead that the company will look to invest some of its Domain windfall into adjacent areas that complement its TV and publishing assets.

As Eric Johnston details in The Australian, Stanton has been studying Dow Jones’ slow-burn strategy - expanding The Wall Street Journal brand through niche acquisitions like OPIS and Oxford Analytica, and says Nine could follow a similar model.

AI

AI-fuelled cybercrime raises alarm for Australian businesses

Australia’s cyber chief, Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness, has warned that criminals using AI will make hacking faster and harder to detect, escalating an already serious threat to major companies.

According to The Australian Financial Review's Michael Read, her warning followed meetings with big banks and 1000 businesses as part of a national cybersecurity push.

Social Media

Tech giants called to table over under-16 social media ban

Communications Minister Anika Wells will sit down this week with executives from Meta, Snapchat, YouTube and TikTok to figure out how the government’s looming social media age ban will actually work in practice.

As Ryan Cropp explains in The Australian Financial Review, from December 10, platforms must stop users under 16 from creating accounts or face penalties of up to $49.5 million.

Radio

Smallzy goes from Nova nights to KIIS mornings

After months of whispers, it’s official: Kent ‘Smallzy’ Small is packing up his Nova nights and heading to the KIIS network in 2026.

According to TV Blackbox's Kevin Perry the long-time hitmaker will front a brand-new national morning show, kicking off mid-January.

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