PodcastsAfter ShowsMcKnight Tonight & Media McKnight

McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight

Robert McKnight
McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight
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294 episodes

  • McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight

    MM040 - Kyle & Jackie O - New court documents bring new twists

    13/05/2026 | 1h 5 mins.
    In this special edition of Media McKnight, Rob McKnight — television and radio producer and presenter broadcasting from his garage on the Gold Coast — goes deep into the latest batch of Federal Court documents in the Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O case against ARN. The Federal Court has released the initial claims, the defence, and the applicants' replies — and there's a lot to unpack. Rob is joined by employment lawyer Michael Byrnes from Swaab to work through the claims and counterclaims paragraph by paragraph. In this episode: Did ARN have different expectations of Kyle — and does the court language actually say so? The February 20 broadcast: Kyle's team admits Jackie was visibly upset — then points straight to the censor Kyle was never told there was a complaint about his relationship with Jackie — and never given a chance to fix it Why is Kyle's team agreeing with ARN that Jackie repudiated her contract — and what's the legal play? ARN says Kyle was an independent contractor they couldn't control — so who was responsible? ARN's "serious misconduct" case goes beyond February 20 — can they broaden the argument now? The 14-day remedy notice: ARN says "reasonable" means time, not opportunity quality Kyle's team fires back: ARN encouraged the very conduct it's now calling misconduct Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. McKnight Tonight streams live Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm AEST at youtube.com/@mckknighttonight #MediaMcKnight #KyleAndJackieO #ARN #KyleSandilands #JackieO #FederalCourt #EmploymentLaw #AustralianMedia #RadioNews #MichaelByrnes #Swaab #InternPete #GoldFM
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  • McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight

    S01E39 - Why FaceBook shouldn't have to pay for news

    05/05/2026 | 16 mins.
    News bargaining incentive: social media vs AI | Screen Forever: Bluey IP, Stan, Channel 10 | Sarah Abo's maternity leave play | Channel 9 job cuts | All My Friends Are Back in Brisbane | Tony Jones: 40 years at Nine Rob McKnight brings his three decades of broadcasting experience to this week's Media McKnight, with a pointed take on the federal government's draft news bargaining incentive legislation — and why politicians are confusing social media promotion with AI theft. Plus, fresh insights from the Screen Forever conference on the Gold Coast, and the latest from inside the networks. The federal government has released draft legislation for the next stage of the news bargaining incentive, aimed at making big tech pay for journalism. But Rob draws a clear line the legislation doesn't: social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram aren't stealing journalism — they're driving traffic back to news sites for free. It's AI platforms like Google that are actually scraping and serving up content without sending users anywhere, and that's where the focus should be. Rob attended the Screen Forever conference on the Gold Coast, where ABC managing director Hugh Marks addressed the Bluey merchandising rights miss, Nine's Adrian Swift talked up new Stan IP including an OnlyFans series, and Ten/Paramount's Sarah Thornton made clear the network won't be taking big swings on untested formats. Rob also delivers a blunt verdict on the new Shark Island series. Sarah Abo has made a smart public move — declaring her intention to return to the Today show just three months after the birth of her baby boy, making it very difficult for Nine to push her out amid reports of a potential host refresh. Meanwhile, Nine has confirmed 20 redundancies in the first stage of its Future News overhaul, with automation coming to the Today show control room. Rob reviews indie film All My Friends Are Back in Brisbane — made for just $13,000 and starring newcomer Nell Lee and Home and Away's Dan Ewing — and offers his recommendation ahead of screenings in Brisbane (May 29–31), Sydney (June 18) and Melbourne (July 9). And a big congratulations to Nine Melbourne sports presenter Tony Jones, celebrating 40 years at the network — with an on-air moment as awkward and endearing as you'd expect. Federal government's draft news bargaining incentive legislation — and why Rob thinks it's got it wrong on social media Screen Forever Gold Coast: ABC, Nine/Stan, Ten/Paramount on IP, risk and the state of Australian TV Sarah Abo's maternity leave play — and why Nine can't easily move her on Channel 9 announces 20 redundancies in Future News overhaul; automation coming to Today Indie film All My Friends Are Back in Brisbane — Rob's review and upcoming screenings Tony Jones celebrates 40 years at Channel Nine 📰 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. Subscribe for more media analysis, interviews and opinion. 📺 McKnight Tonight streams Monday, Wednesday & Thursday at 8pm AEST. #MediaMcKnight #AustralianMedia #NewsBargainingIncentive #ScreenForever #ChannelNine #SarahAbo #TodayShow #ABCaustralia #RobMcKnight #AustralianTelevision
    Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-blackbox.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight

    Breaking down K&J's court hearing with Michael Byrnes

    26/04/2026 | 1h 33 mins.
    Michael Byrnes from SWAAB joins Rob McKnight to break down today's proceedings in Federal Court. The pair are taking on their old employers - ARN - in separate cases. Today we heard news details about the evidence each side will present. This is a live special taking place at 6pm AEST on Friday, 24 April 2026. #mediamcknight #medianews #mediacommentary #kylesandilands #jackieo #radiodrama #radionews #australiannews #australianmedia #court #federalcourts
    Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-blackbox.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight

    Ben Roberts-Smith v The Media | MEDIA McKNIGHT

    14/04/2026 | 24 mins.
    ++NOTE - Rob refers to Jim Chalmers during the Salute and a Slap segment, when it is actually Richard Marles. Rob will give himself a good slap over that one!

    **********

    Australian Survivor axed? | Ben Roberts-Smith media circus | Logies reform | Karl's salute and slap | ABC diversity spin Rob McKnight breaks down the week's biggest Australian media stories — including an exclusive on the future of Australian Survivor, the media coverage surrounding the arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith, a new nomination process for the Gold Logie, a measured look at Karl Stefanovic's interview highs and lows, and the real story behind the ABC's decision to end its diversity group partnerships. Australian Survivor's days may be numbered. As exclusively reported by TV Blackbox, Channel 10 has scrapped plans for a back-to-back two-season shoot, with only one season now going ahead. Rob reveals the axing of host Jonathan LaPaglia had less to do with salary than a long-running clash with Endemol Shine executive Amelia Fisk — and explains why all signs are pointing to the return of Australian Ninja Warrior as a replacement. The Ben Roberts-Smith arrest and the media circus around it. Critics were quick to condemn the camera crew at the airport — but as Rob explains, that footage came from the Office of the Special Investigator, not a news outlet. Rob also reflects on his McKnight Tonight interview with combat veteran Heston Russell, which had generated 56,000 views and over 1,100 comments at time of recording, and what the reaction tells us about public trust in the media. The ABC, diversity partnerships, and the misinformation spreading online. The ABC ended its paid memberships with Pride in Diversity, the Australian Disability Network, and the Diversity Council of Australia — but it is not abandoning diversity and inclusion programs. Rob cuts through the spin from both sides, including the Media Watch history that many viral videos are conveniently ignoring. Logies reform: a step in the right direction. TV Week can now put forward nominees for the Gold Logie and Hall of Fame — and Rob, a Logies judge himself, explains why this is a welcome change, and has some pointed advice for presenters submitting their reels. A Salute and a Slap for Karl Stefanovic. The Karl Stefanovic Show has changed Australian podcasting. The production values are high, the interviews are compelling, and Rob genuinely can't wait to see what comes next. But in the same breath — that Jim Chalmers interview on Today nearly had it all, until Karl tried to land a last-minute hit and move on without letting the Treasurer respond. Australian Survivor back-to-back shoot scrapped — and what's coming next The real reason Jonathan LaPaglia was axed from Survivor Ben Roberts-Smith arrest footage — who actually shot it? Heston Russell interview reaction: 56K views, 1,100+ comments ABC drops diversity group partnerships — what it actually means Gold Logie nomination reform — and advice for presenters Karl Stefanovic: salute and a slap BBC Eurovision 1977 — the director's cut you weren't supposed to hear 📺 Media McKnight drops every Tuesday. Subscribe for more media analysis, interviews and opinion. 📺 McKnight Tonight streams Monday, Wednesday & Thursday at 8pm AEST. #MediaMcKnight #AustralianSurvivor #BenRobertsSmith #Logies #KarlStefanovic #ABC #AustralianMedia #McKnightTonight
    Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-blackbox.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight

    Is Robin Bailey a bully? | MEDIA McKNIGHT

    07/04/2026 | 27 mins.
    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.
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About McKnight Tonight & Media McKnight
McKnight Tonight brings you a hot take on news events every Monday, Wednesday & Thursday at 9pm AEST at youtube.com/@mcknighttonight.Media McKnight delvs into the world of media every Tuesday night at 9pm AEST.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-blackbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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