McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight

Is Robin Bailey a bully? | MEDIA McKNIGHT

McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight

Show Notes

ARN's big winner revealed | Robin Bailey's media ambush | Gambling ads & your TV | Media McKnight Rob McKnight analyses the week's biggest media stories, starting with the Kyle and Jackie O fallout — and the one person laughing all the way to the bank. As the pair head to court, new details emerge about the role of their fiercest critics in bringing down the $200 million deal, and ARN's radical new direction is taking shape, with Karl Stefanovic reportedly signed and talkback heavyweights including Ray Hadley, Ben Fordham and Samantha Armitage being courted. Also this week — Kiss FM Brisbane's Robin Bailey lured a Courier Mail journalist onto her show to ambush him over a reader poll that didn't go her way. Rob asks the question: is that empowerment, or just bullying? Plus, the federal government's sweeping gambling ad reforms and what they really mean for free-to-air TV, the NRL's record rights deal ambitions, and local content budgets already under pressure. Ita Buttrose joins Rob fresh from the McKnight Tonight 100th episode to share her thoughts on the ABC strike and the future of Australian media. And in Shit I Just Don't Care About — Fox Footy's Gary Lyon apologises for a hot mic moment. Rob is unmoved. ARN's big winner: former CEO Ciaran Davis's payout revealed Kyle & Jackie O's fiercest critics claim credit — and say there's more to come ARN's future: Karl Stefanovic signed, talkback heavyweights courted Robin Bailey ambushes Courier Mail journalist over reader poll Gambling ad reforms: what they mean for free TV, NRL rights and local content Channel 7 shakeup — who leaked the Usher/Ferguson story? Ita Buttrose on the ABC, the media industry and the future Shit I Just Don't Care About: Gary Lyon's hot mic apology 📺 McKnight Tonight streams Monday, Wednesday & Thursday at 8pm AEST. 📰 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. Subscribe for more media analysis, interviews and opinion. #MediaMcKnight #KyleAndJackieO #ARN #RobinBailey #GamblingAds #ItaButtrose #AustralianMedia #MediaNews #RadioNews #NRL #Channel7 #FreeTV Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-blackbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight

Oct 13, 2026

Despite complaints from viewers, integration might just be the saviour we need. In this edition of Media McKnight: Product placement boom GQ Men of the Year Awards axed Screen Queensland’s Willy Wonka Sydney slip-up Who was really the first person on Australian TV? Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-blackbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 8, 2026

The little AM station that could has done it. 4BH has taken the No.1 spot in Brisbane in the latest GfK Metro radio ratings (Survey 6). Rob McKnight is joined by broadcasting legend Spencer Howson to pick through the results in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. 📻 In this special edition: 4BH hits 12.3 (+1.4) to lead Brisbane, Triple M is second on 11.3 and B105 slips to third Triple M goes No.1 for Brisbane breakfast on 13.6 (+1.9) 4BC steady at 4.1, but drive is down at 3.0. Is a relay of 2GB on the cards? Sydney: smoothfm leads, 2UE is the biggest mover, and KIIS waits on Dr Chris Brown's 9 November start Melbourne: 3AW leads, Triple M surges and Christian O'Connell moves to second at breakfast Adelaide: Triple M leads, FIVEaa falls and KIIS gets a slight lift Perth: NOVA93.7 leads and 6PR breakfast fires Regional radio: local v networked breakfast shows, and Albury's 2AY survey delayed ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro: GfK Survey 6 0:28 Spencer's snake encounter 1:19 Sydney station share 1:56 Sydney breakfast 2:28 Spencer reacts: KIIS, Nova and 2GB 4:55 Clinton Maynard and 2GB 7:39 Melbourne 10:41 Brisbane: 4BH takes the lead 14:46 Brisbane breakfast 17:09 4BC dayparts and the relay question 23:17 Adelaide 24:56 Perth 27:07 Regional radio 28:43 Albury survey delayed 📰 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. Subscribe for more media analysis, interviews and opinion. #MediaMcKnight #GfK #RadioRatings #4BH #Brisbane #4BC #TripleM #KIIS #smoothfm #2GB #SpencerHowson #AustralianRadio Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-blackbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 6, 2026

White House Hides Trump Falling Asleep | Jackie O Court Case Delayed Until April | Hugh Riminton Farewell The Jackie O v ARN Federal Court showdown has been sensationally pushed back to April next year. Employment lawyer Michael Byrnes from SWAAB explains why the October hearing collapsed, what the delay means for a settlement, and the privilege fight that's still going ahead on 19 and 20 October. Plus, a White House press pool ban comes back to bite. Rob shows how the official White House feed cut to a wide shot while Donald Trump was seemingly falling asleep, and why that's a warning about relying on footage controlled by the administration. And as Hugh Riminton calls time on a 48-year journalism career at Channel 10, Rob shares the Kerry Packer story that "certainly wouldn't happen today." 🎙️ Watch Hugh Riminton's full interview on McKnight Tonight: youtube.com/@mcknighttonight 📺 New episodes of Media McKnight every Tuesday at 9pm AEDT. Members get it early, usually in the afternoon. #MediaMcKnight #JackieO #ARN #KIIS #DonaldTrump #WhiteHouse #HughRiminton #Channel10 #KerryPacker #AustralianMedia #RadioRatings 📰 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. Subscribe for more media analysis, interviews and opinion. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-blackbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 30, 2026

Nine has sacked executive Amanda Laing just 18 months after she was appointed to lead its new streaming and broadcast division. Was she a scapegoat, or a threat to CEO Matt Stanton? Plus, the TODAY show's Shop Today segment has Tom Steinfort selling hoodies on air, and staff are revolting over the Future News changes. Also this week: the White House press tents revealed, Bob Katter on whether he has any regrets a year after the Josh Bavis showdown, why radio is losing the car to the smartphone, and why 70 UP is well worth your time. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 BBC News cuts to an empty studio 0:38 Welcome 0:45 Nine sacks Amanda Laing 1:50 TODAY show's Shop Today advertorial 4:41 Why journalists' workloads could get scary 7:47 White House press tents revealed 8:56 Katter v Bavis: one year on 13:36 Radio loses the car to the smartphone 15:33 70 UP 16:32 Daylight saving publish times 📌 Employment lawyer Michael Byrnes joins Rob on McKnight Tonight on Thursday night to unpack Nine's new contracts. Rob has more on the Nine staff revolt in Thursday's Inside Mail column in the Daily Mail. 📺 70 UP airs in Australia on October 7 on SBS and SBS On Demand. 🎙️ James Cridland's radio research: james.cridland.net ⏰ DAYLIGHT SAVING PUBLISH TIMES QLD 8pm | NSW, VIC, TAS 9pm | SA 8.30pm | NT 7.30pm | WA 6pm Paid YouTube channel members get the episode as soon as it's finished. 📰 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. Subscribe for more media analysis, interviews and opinion. #MediaMcKnight #AmandaLaing #ChannelNine #TodayShow #BobKatter #JamesCridland #70UP #AustralianTV #AustralianRadio #Nine Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-blackbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 23, 2026

Trump BANS Media From White House, Networks Fight Back | Nine's Upfront Fallout With Molk Donald Trump has banned CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House — and now other networks, including FOX, are boycotting the pool camera in solidarity. Rob breaks down the escalating war with the press, the launch of "Trump TV," and draws the line to Pauline Hanson's own history of banning outlets like the ABC and The Guardian. Plus, Steve Molk from TV Blackbox joins to unpack Channel 9's Upfront — the TODAY Show shake-up, the new shows, and what didn't make the cut. – Trump bans CNN, MSNOW & Politico from the White House – Networks boycott the pool camera in solidarity – Pauline Hanson's press ban parallel + One Nation/Channel 9 fallout – Nine's Upfront wrap with Steve Molk (TV Blackbox) #MediaMcKnight #Trump #WhiteHousePressBan #Channel9 #Upfront #PaulineHanson #AustralianMedia 📰 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. Subscribe for more media analysis, interviews and opinion. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-blackbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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