Hollywood Hugh, live from Bulgaria

“We wanted movement on progression and job security and they’ve f—ed us on both,” one staff member told On Background. “And they gave us a shit pay offer.”

Playground brawl

The broadcaster is also set to go to trial after mediation failed in a Federal Court case brought by the MEAA, initially using Tom Scott, a Play School staffer as a test case over the ABC’s use of fixed-term contracts. Since then, the ABC has converted 150 staff to permanent contracts, including Scott. Some staff members read this as an admission of mistakes and possibly legal breaches.

Marks appeared to say as much from Bulgaria on the call. “There are new rules about the ability to use fixed-term contracts. We accept we made some errors in terms of implementing that new legislation.”

There is also a suggestion the ABC wants to implement probation clauses on short-term contracts, so they can bring them to an end, whenever they please.

While protected strike action isn’t guaranteed, bargaining negotiations are a new type of minefield for Marks, particularly as he has inserted himself at the centre so early. ABC staff note that last time around former MD David Anderson kept his powder dry until the very end of the negotiating process, before coming in, taking control, and striking a deal directly to be viewed as a saviour, of sorts.

But Hugh’s approach reflects his style of being at the centre of everything, which has largely worked to this point. He charmed a room full of media writers in August, talking through his strategy and fielding questions without any notes. It’s also noteworthy that chair Kim Williams has been virtually invisible since Marks’ ascent, but for a drive-by from the ABC’s own Media Watch.

So with a strike in the winds, an investigation now launched into Four Corners’ Mahmood Fazal over an unauthorised podcast with an underworld figure, the ABC boss has plenty on his hands. For Marks, the honeymoon is over.

Riyadh, come on down!

Like the Sofia Forum, it is always nice to see familiar faces from across the global media fraternity mingling, this time in the world’s emerging entertainment hub of, ahem, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at the country’s Joy Forum, Foxtel’s new boss, DAZN’s global CEO Shay Segev popped up on a state-sponsored panel – not entirely surprising considering the company’s part ownership by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund (PIF).

He was joined on stage by a few familiar faces, including none other than former Nine CEO Mike Sneesby, who is now running the PIF-owned broadcaster MBC Group. The panel was hosted by Piers Morgan and it was nice to see them all in co-ordinated blue suits. On Background wonders which former Nine boss is winning the panel wars.

Cashed up partners

Alongside a new broadcasting deal, the NRL may soon have a new naming rights partner. Word has filtered though to On Background that Telstra may not be keen on renewing its naming rights deal when it expires in 2027.

Fresh off stealing Commonwealth Bank’s big Cricket Australia deal, Westpac is one of many players positioning itself as the new top dog with the NRL, which could cost it a pretty penny. Telstra’s current deal is worth $90 million across five years. Watch this space.

Strange bedfellows

The pressure is on for Sky News’ top brass, after a petition started by Australia’s most trusted (former) federal politician, George Christensen, to return the short-lived Freya Fires Up program reached 6596 signatures.

It is quite a feat for Christensen, who is a councillor in far north Queensland these days, to sign up a number equivalent to a sizable chunk of Sky’s Sunday night broadcast audience.

Though, almost a month old now, it appears as if it’s been flatly ignored by Sky boss Paul Whittaker and co.

Lachlan gets sentimental

Rumblings continue over Nine’s role in the looming merger between Seven and Southern Cross Media. Will Nine come in with a better deal? Or once its bankers at Jefferies flog off its talkback stations, will it make a play for Lachlan Murdoch’s Nova? Talk around town is there are four or five potential suitors for Nine Radio, most of which have already been publicly circulated. No one has come close to Nine’s asking price of $50 million, though, with some suggestions it hadn’t yet received an offer above $35 million.

If Nine was desperate to move on Southern Cross or Nova, it likely wouldn’t be quibbling over $15 million, if those offers are real.

But it all may be moot, as we hear Lachie is firmly attached to Nova (for sentimental reasons) and isn’t keen on a sale. After all, Nova is Lachlan’s personal success story and the company that proved he could do it alone.