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News

May 2026

May 19

(Australia)

Investors back oOh!media's snub to PE bids

Harris Oakmark and Investors Mutual have come out in support of the board of oOh!media over its rejection of two bids from private equity firms. Australia's largest outdoor advertising firm has knocked backed offers from Pacific Equity Partners and I Squared Capital, with both Harris Oakmark and Investors Mutual being shareholders of oOh!media. However, although both Harris Oakmark and Investors Mutual endorse oOh!media's decision to reject the bids from PEP and I Squared, they say its board should seriously consider any higher bids that could be forthcoming. (RMS)

News

May 18

Tabcorp forces venues to pay its fines

Gambling company Tabcorp in December updated the contracts it has with the pubs and clubs that host its physical betting terminals; the terminals are the main point of difference to its rivals and are vital to its success. The amended contracts require the pubs and clubs to pay for Tabcorp's regulatory fines, with the changes to the contracts coming at the same time as financial crimes watchdog AUSTRAC began auditing the company, due to concerns about its ability to detect and stop money laundering and manage terrorism financing risks. (RMS)

News

Eurovision key moments: from Euro-pop to Euro-slop as Delta Goodrem makes Australia proud

Australia has finished fourth in the 2026 Eurovision song contest in Vienna, with Delta Goodrem representing Australia with her song Eclipse, which she co-wrote. Bulgaria won the event, followed by Israel and Romania, with Australia having been in second position following the jury votes; however, it fell to fourth place after the audience votes were counted. Bookies had rated Goodrem as the second-favourite to win behind Finland following the sem-finals, with Goodrem describing her song as about "alignment, when things all come into the right place". (RMS)

News

Coles used fake discounts to fool shoppers

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission's chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb has had a major victory, with the Federal Court ruling that Coles had misled consumers with its 'Down Down' price discounts. Coles could potentially faces millions of dollars in fines after Justice Michael O'Bryan found that the discounts on 13 of the 14 items in a sample basket of 'Down Down' promotions were misleading because they had not been sold at the previous price for a reasonable period of time. In some instances, Coles had increased the price of a product before almost immediately selling it at a discount, but at a higher price than originally. The court has yet to issue its ruling in a similar case against Woolworths. (RMS)

News

May 12

Beer killer? Rise of the vodka RTD

Gold Coast-based drinks maker Hard Fizz emerged at around the time of the pandemic, while the ready-to-drink canned beverage market boomed after the pandemic. Hard Fizz originally focused on alcoholic seltzer drinks, but it is now switching to vodka-based canned drinks, with CEO Wade Tiller saying the change is because you are more limited with flavour when you use seltzer. Hard Fizz's seltzer sales have slumped over the past year, at a time when there is a broader consumer shift to RTDs, while vodka-based light RTDs account for 75 per cent of Australian RTD sales. (RMS)

News

Drake Drops Three Albums and Shatters Spotify Records

On May 15, Drake surprise-released ICEMAN, MAID OF HONOUR, and HABIBTI, with ICEMAN leading at 140 million global streams—the year's biggest album debut—and its opener 'Make Them Cry' hitting 13.2 million in a day, Spotify's record for any rap song. The albums pack 43 tracks, 14 videos, and lyrics firing at Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, Rick Ross, and others, plus nods to Michael Jackson like Drake's $123,000 Swarovski glove on the cover. He grabbed 41 spots on Spotify's global Top 200, swept Apple Music charts, and drew mixed reactions from praise for the bars to critiques of the volume and memorabilia flex.

News

TKO Group

UFC Makes Its Return to Abu Dhabi With a Blockbuster Fight Night on July 25

05/18/2026

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, together with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), announces its highly anticipated return to the region with UFC® FIGHT NIGHT ABU DHABI on Saturday, 25th July 2026, live from Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

UFC® FIGHT NIGHT ABU DHABI tickets will go on sale soon. Fans are encouraged to register their interest early for the best chance to secure tickets via http://VisitAbuDhabi.ae, where exclusive hotel and ticket packages for traveling fans will also be available.

Full details on the fight card will be revealed in the coming weeks. With a reputation for delivering standout matchups and an atmosphere unlike anywhere else, Abu Dhabi is once again gearing up for an unmissable night inside the Octagon®.

This latest Fight Night event continues UFC and Abu Dhabi’s longstanding partnership dating back to 2010. In recent years, the emirate hosted the global sporting phenomena that was Fight Island during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since cemented its place as one of UFC's most electrifying destinations. Last year, UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: WHITTAKER vs. DE RIDDER in July packed out Etihad Arena with a thrilling middleweight clash, while UFC® 321: ASPINALL vs. GANE in October brought a clash of heavyweight contenders during Abu Dhabi Showdown Week.

Through its collaboration with DCT Abu Dhabi, UFC continues to expand its global network of government and private partnerships, bringing marquee live events to communities worldwide, growing its fanbase and delivering economic and cultural impact.

For further information on UFC® FIGHT NIGHT ABU DHABI and the latest updates, please visit http://VisitAbuDhabi.ae.

About UFC®

UFC® is the world's premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 363 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while distributing programming to an estimated 1 billion broadcast and digital households across 210 countries and territories. UFC's athlete roster features the world's best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization's digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world's leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit http://UFC.com and follow UFC at http://Facebook.com/UFC and UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: UFC.

About the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi:

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the emirate’s people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.

For more information about DCT Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit http://tcaabudhabi.ae and http://visitabudhabi.ae. For Abu Dhabi Calendar, please visit http://inabudhabi.ae.

News

TKO

TKO AND ARIZONA SPORTS & EVENTS ALLIANCE ANNOUNCE LANDMARK AGREEMENT TO BRING MARQUEE UFC, WWE, PBR, AND ZUFFA BOXING EVENTS TO ARIZONA

Seven-event partnership over three years will feature premier live sports and entertainment experiences in Arizona

PHOENIX, ARIZ. and NEW YORK, NY – May 12, 2026 – TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), together with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance, today announced a multi-year agreement that will stage a series of premier UFC, WWE, PBR, and Zuffa Boxing events in Arizona.

The seven-event agreement will span three years and feature some of TKO’s most high-profile live events, creating new opportunities for fans to experience UFC, WWE, PBR, and Zuffa Boxing events in one of the country’s leading sports and entertainment markets.

*(Full news release via the WWE Corporate official website)

News Flashback

March 16, 2026

Kyle and Jackie O implosion opens up Sydney's $200m radio market

The Kyle and Jackie O Show has dominated Sydney breakfast radio for many years, but the show has now imploded, following the fallout between hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson. The overall Sydney radio market is worth $200 million, with the breakfast slot said to be worth as much as $70 million of that figure alone. However, two of the Kyle and Jackie O Shows' biggest rivals over the years, namely Jonesy and Amanda and Fitzy and Wippa, were axed last year and moved to afternoons, leaving the lucrative breakfast slot up for grabs. (RMS)

News

March 16, 2026

F1 Movie Wins First Oscar for Best Sound at 2026 Ceremony

Gareth John, along with supervising sound editors Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, and Juan Peralta, won for immersing audiences in authentic F1 track noise, captured from real races and Silverstone crowds. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced with input from Lewis Hamilton, the film follows fading driver Sonny Hayes mentoring a rookie on an underdog team, shot amid actual Grands Prix. Fans celebrated the engine sounds and score, with some joking about real F1 driver Oscar Piastri, as *F1* builds on prior BAFTA and Critics Choice wins from its June 2025 release.

News

March 16, 2026

Entertainment/Hotels/Gaming

Star Entertainment woos potential new lender with casino tour

US-based private credit firm WhiteHawk Capital is considering lending struggling casino operator Star Entertainment more than $400 million. It is understood that executives from WhiteHawk are visiting Star's Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast prior to signing a binding agreement on the loan, which is being sought by its new owners, US casino operator Bally's and Australia's wealthy Mathieson family; they are seeking to refinance Star's debt to secure more favourable loan terms, as part of a broader strategy aimed at turning around the fortunes of the company.

News

March 16, 2026

Sports Entertainment/Live Entertainment/Pro Wrestling

WWE Raw Hits San Antonio with Reigns Return and Lesnar Challenge

Live from Frost Bank Center tonight at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix, the stacked card features Reigns' return amid Bloodline tension, Lesnar calling out challengers for a potential Mania clash, and CM Punk's appearance fueling title talk. AJ Lee defends her Women's Intercontinental Championship against Bayley in a rematch, with Bayley cheekily shutting down inferno match calls. Other matches include Natalya vs. Maxxine Dupri, Stephanie Vaquer vs. Raquel Rodriguez, and Judgment Day addressing their attack on Finn Balor— building major WrestleMania buzz. (Media Man Peg-On: major box office and star power. This may set a new WWE RAW ratings record for this season. Tune n to find out!) And, WWE NXT the day after, with Lexis King and his Birthright faction tipped to go "Loose Cannon"!!! NXT's GM Robert Stone and Creative Shawn Michaels to have their hands full. NXT management has been warned!

News

Australia

Nine to end radio silence on sale

Sources have indicated that Nine Entertainment CEO Matt Stanton finalised a deal to sell the media group's radio stations on Thursday, and he is set to make an announcement today. There is speculation that a consortium backed by Australian pub baron Arthur Laundy has been chosen as the successful bidder for the Nine Radio division. Sports media entrepreneur Craig Hutchison had previously been regarded as the leading contender to acquire Nine's talkback radio stations, while several bidders withdrew from the sale process after reviewing the division's finances. (RMS)

News

Media (U.S)

Bluey tops streaming charts in US for second year running

Australian animated series Bluey has topped the US streaming charts for the second year in a row, according to the second annual Nielsen Audience Rated Television Entertainment of the Year awards. Americans watched 45.2 billion minutes of Bluey, ahead of medical drama Grey's Anatomy with 40.9 billion viewing minutes, while American audiences tuned in to an estimated 16.7 trillion minutes of streaming in 2025, according to Nielsen, which was an 19 per cent increase when compared to 2024. (RMS)

News

Marketing

Kim Kardashian's 'You Wish' Skims Post Draws Thirst, Shade, and Dog Memes

The reality star promoted her Skims Valentine's Day collection with sultry photos that racked up nearly 8,000 likes and hundreds of replies. Fans gushed over her look at 45, while others roasted her age or called it unempowering; the fluffy pup's half-closed eyes sparked endless memes and laughs like 'That poor baby doggo looks so done.' The $48 'Petal You Wish' tee from the 'Fits Everybody' line highlights Skims' playful, body-positive vibe amid its billion-dollar success and expansions like a Nike collab. (Grok)

News

Quote Of The Day

Sydney Sweeney

“People will say, ‘Oh, she’s doing this for guys’ or ‘Oh, she’s a guy’s girl.’ But I’m like, ‘What is more girl’s girl than owning your body and doing it for yourself?’ I want it to be their choice—the choice of the wearer—whether this is for them, for somebody else, or for a camera lens.” Sydney Sweeney

News

Pepsi's Super Bowl Ad Shows Coke Polar Bears Switching to Pepsi

Pepsi released its cheeky 30-second Super Bowl ad 'The Choice' online Thursday, featuring Coca-Cola's iconic polar bears ditching Coke for Pepsi Zero Sugar in a blind taste test, set to Queen's 'I Want to Break Free.' Backed by last year's Pepsi Challenge where 66% preferred Pepsi Zero Sugar, leading to 30% sales growth, the spot includes nods to a Coldplay kiss cam scandal and contrasts with backlash to Coke's AI-generated holiday ads. Directed by Taika Waititi, who cameos as the bears' therapist, it positions Pepsi as the bolder choice ahead of Super Bowl LX on February 8. (Grok)

News

Pop Culture

Mad Men

Mad Men is an acclaimed American period drama television series set in a 1960s New York advertising agency, created by Matthew Weiner. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest television shows of all time, focusing on the professional and personal life of the enigmatic Don Draper (Jon Hamm).Mad Men

Overview

Mad Men ran for seven seasons and 92 episodes from July 19, 2007, to May 17, 2015, on the cable network AMC. The show explores the glamorous, ego-driven world of Madison Avenue advertising firms ("Mad" is short for Madison Avenue) while examining the social mores and cultural shifts of 1960s America, including themes of identity, sexism, race, and family.

Main Cast and Characters

The series features a talented ensemble cast that received numerous awards and nominations:

Jon Hamm as Don Draper: The brilliant but troubled creative director and protagonist, known for his charismatic facade and hidden past.

Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson: An ambitious secretary who rises through the ranks to become a respected copywriter, challenging gender roles in the process.
Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell: An ambitious and often conniving account executive vying for power and recognition.

January Jones as Betty Draper (later Betty Francis): Don's wife, a suburban housewife who struggles with her identity and the constraints of her era.

Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris (formerly Joan Holloway): The sharp and capable office manager who navigates workplace sexism and eventually becomes a partner.

John Slattery as Roger Sterling: A womanizing, martini-drinking partner at the firm whose old-guard lifestyle clashes with the changing times.

Critical Reception & Awards

Mad Men received widespread critical acclaim for its writing, acting, visual style, and meticulous historical detail. It made history as the first basic cable series to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, winning the award for four consecutive years (2008–2011). Other accolades include five Golden Globe Awards and a Peabody Award.

News

Best Quotes

"I notice increasing reluctance on the part of marketing executives to use judgment; they are coming to rely too much on research, and they use it as a drunkard uses a lamp post for support, rather than for illumination." David Ogilvy

News

Best Quotes

"The secret of all effective advertising is not the creation of new and tricky words and pictures, but one of putting familiar words and pictures into new relationships." Leo Burnett

News

Best Quotes

"I have learned to respect ideas, wherever they come from. Often they come from clients. Account executives often have big creative ideas, regardless of what some writers think." Leo Burnett

News

Best Quotes

“Before I was shot, I always thought that I was more half-there than all-there – I always suspected that I was watching TV instead of living life. People sometimes say that the way things happen in movies is unreal, but actually it's the way things happen in life that's unreal. The movies make emotions look so strong and real, whereas when things really do happen to you, it's like watching television – you don't feel anything. Right when I was being shot and ever since, I knew that I was watching television. The channels switch, but it's all television.” - Andy Warhol

News

Pop Culture Flashback

"Video Killed The Radio Star" The Buggles

Producer: Trevor Horn

[Verse 1: Trevor Horn, Debi Doss & Linda Jardim]
I heard you on the wireless back in '52 Lying awake, intently tuning in on you
If I was young, it didn't stop you coming through
Oh-a, oh-a They took the credit for your second symphony Rewritten by machine on new technology And now I understand the problems you could see [Pre-Chorus: Trevor Horn, Debi Doss & Linda Jardim]
Oh-a, oh-a I met your children Oh-a, oh-a What did you tell them? [Chorus: Trevor Horn, Debi Doss & Linda Jardim]

Video killed the radio star Video killed the radio star Pictures came and broke your heart Oh-a-a-a-oh [Verse 2: Trevor Horn, Debi Doss & Linda Jardim] And now we meet in an abandoned studio (Oh-a) We hear the playback and it seems so long ago (Oh-oh-oh-oh-a)
And you remember the jingles used to go

[Pre-Chorus: Trevor Horn, Debi Doss & Linda Jardim] Oh-a, oh-a You were the first one Oh-a, oh-a You were the last one [Chorus: Trevor Horn, Debi Doss & Linda Jardim] Video killed the radio star Video killed the radio star In my mind and in my car We can't rewind, we've gone too far Oh-a-a-a-oh Oh-a-a-a-oh [Chorus: Trevor Horn, Debi Doss & Linda Jardim] Video killed the radio star Video killed the radio star In my mind and in my car We can't rewind, we've gone too far Pictures came and broke your heart Put the blame on VCR [Outro: Trevor Horn, Debi Doss & Linda Jardim]

You are a radio star You are a radio star

(You are) Video killed the radio star (A, a radio star) (A radio star) Video killed the radio star (You are) Video killed the radio star (A, a radio star) (A radio star) Video killed the radio star (You are) Video killed the radio star (A, a radio star) (A radio star) Video killed the radio star (You are) Video killed the radio star (A, a radio star) (A radio star) Video killed the radio star (You are) Video killed the radio star (A, a radio star) (A radio star) Video killed the radio star (You are) Video killed the radio star (A, a radio star) (A radio star) Video killed the radio star (You are) Video killed the radio star

Profile

Marketing

Marketing is the strategic process of creating, communicating, and delivering value to a target audience to satisfy their needs while achieving business goals. It encompasses every activity a company undertakes to attract customers and maintain lasting relationships, from initial market research to post-purchase engagement.

News

Netflix wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award

WWE RAW (Netflix) wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award; Runner-up: Landman (Paramount Plus)

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