Rupert Murdoch makes a death-defying appearance

In this week’s On Background, a Rupert Murdoch rumour sweeps the media world, The Karl Stefanovic Show chases a new revenue stream, and the ABC’s investigative elite show up at a former colleague’s book launch.

Corporate and political power on show

One year ago, the unthinkable happened when Lachlan Murdoch and his loyal and trusted consigliere, Siobhan McKenna, parted ways for good.

McKenna left both News Corp and Murdoch’s private investment company Illyria last year, having been the architect of Project Family Harmony, the audacious plan to hand Lachlan control of the empire, which led to a bitter inter-family courtroom feud in Nevada.

Now, she won’t be far away from the action once again, as she jets off to New York to take up her government-appointed post as consul-general. It’s a gig usually reserved for politicians such as former state premiers Steve Bracks and Nick Greiner or Howard government minister Nick Minchin.

But as Malcolm Turnbull once said, News Corp operates like a political party itself, so McKenna is in good company.

To mark the occasion, McKenna threw a farewell bash at her Toorak manor on Thursday night and On Background was on location to greet the powerful guest list as they arrived.

Former Tennis Australia and Virgin boss Jane Hrdlicka, now running drinks giant Endeavour, was one of the first to arrive, and ensured her driver kept the engine running. Coles boss Leah Weckert attempted to use her husband to hide from On Background’s photographer, but failed.

Former Liberal health minister Greg Hunt arrived alone, shortly after activist investor James Baillieu and his partner Josephine.

Prominent media executives spanning McKenna’s career were also on hand. Former Nine and Foxtel executive Amanda Laing jetted in for the occasion, as did Paramount and Network 10 boss Beverley McGarvey. Seven Media Group director and former Nova boss Cathy O’Connor and her successor, Peter Charlton, both arrived too.

The Murdoch orbit certainly has its perks.

Gala entry kills Murdoch rumours

Speaking of the Murdochs … Few people’s health is as consequential as Rupert’s. Almost every media organisation around the world has a preloaded obituary for the 95-year-old News Corp chairman emeritus, who according to some, still privately jokes he will live forever.

Two weeks ago, rumours began circulating that the Melbourne-born media mogul was either gravely ill or had turned his final page. On Background sprung into action. Calls were made around the world, as editors began planning and preparing to spike weekend content.

It eventually came back that the dirty digger was alive and kicking.

Apparently the word of the Murdoch family court was not enough for US broadcaster CNN, which continued to chase the story that he was sick, and later dead, not letting up for more than a week, sources tell On Background.

Back in 2022, his daughter Elisabeth famously drew up plans for Project Bridge for the event of his passing, modelling it on Operation London Bridge, the official planning for Queen Elizabeth II’s death. She even enlisted the help of PR guru Paddy Harverson, a former royal aide who planned part of the Queen’s funeral, to help develop the media strategy.

At least one thing is more sure now – his estate (including News and Fox Corp) will pass into the control of his eldest son, Lachlan.

Any doubts about his wellbeing were finally put to bed when this masthead captured Murdoch arriving at an event honouring his News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson last week, aided by his wife Elena Zhukova and an assistant.

McKenna’s predecessor, current New York Consul-General Heather Ridout, was also on hand on the night to give a speech.

The power of journalism to put scurrilous rumours to bed. Rupert would be proud!

CNN was approached for comment.

Karl’s pivot

The heat has firmly come out of The Karl Stefanovic Show. While his mid-year exit from Nine and a loved-up sojourn with a British fascist provided something of a mini audience boon, it appears his podcast is now fading into the obscurity of Australia’s influencer landscape.

Numbers tallied by influencer analytics firm Fabulate Discovery show his YouTube audience has all but stopped growing after his hiatus and return three weeks ago. Add to that, the audience is three-quarters male and mostly above the age of 45. So it may have maxed out already.

With advertising revenue hardly paying the bills for the man used to a multimillion-dollar salary, Stefanovic has now launched Club Karlos, a membership tier on his YouTube channel, in hopes of a cash injection.

For just $8.99 a month, subscribers get access to members-only short videos and shout-outs, as well as “custom emojis” to use in the comments section and live chat.

True to Karlos’ ocker personal rebranding, the exclusive emojis available include a Maroons jersey, a nod to his Queenslander roots, and a snag in some bread. Bloody oath, sign me up!

At least the former breakfast TV golden boy is trying something new instead of wheeling out Pete Evans or Gerard Rennick again.

He hasn’t even had a politician on since he relaunched the podcast after his split with former business partner Keshnee Ibrahim.

True to his word, he’s trying to bat straight down the middle. That included hosting three AMP economists for a discussion on the cost of living this week, after hosting another prominent economist, Saul Eslake, last week. The viewers aren’t quite taking to it yet…

“These guys sound like Labor supporters 😂,” one of the top comments read; “Where do you find these people Karl, you’re not on Today mate, we are sick of these people gaslighting us”.

No snag emojis to be seen. Onya, Karlos.

Swings and roundabouts

The ABC’s investigative elite showed up for former Four Corners supremo Sally Neighbour’s book launch just a stone’s throw away from the ABC’s Ultimo headquarters at Gleebooks in Glebe last week.

The likes of Gold Walkley winner Adele Ferguson were in attendance to celebrate the launch of Neighbour’s first piece of fiction, Slave Concubine Queen, a drama set in the Ottoman palace of Suleyman the Magnificent.

The entire Four Corners team was invited. Soon-to-depart Walkley Foundation chief Shona Martyn also showed up for the event, as did former investigations boss Jo Puccini. A Q&A was moderated by ABC Sydney Mornings host Hamish Macdonald.

It appears then there was no bad blood between Neighbour and her former colleagues after she penned an 8000-word piece for The Monthly in July, precipitating the removal of two Four Corners episodes fronted by reporter Mahmood Fazal, who had by that point left the ABC.

Neighbour, alongside a massive swag of ABC journalists, also turned out a few weeks back to officially farewell Puccini after 25 years at Aunty.

On Thursday this week, it was Four Corners’ turn to host its own drinks, in the form of its Christmas party. On Background was informed that after a rough and tumble year, it was a low-key affair.

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