In this edition of INSIDE MEDIA: Disney drops woke and Aussie viewers are already seeing changes | Why a radio legend believes FM stations need to drop music in order to survive | And a big night for the team at 7NEWS Melbourne.
A video version of this article is available in the player above.
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DISNEY DROPS WOKE
There are big changes happening at Disney, and Australian viewers are already feeling the effects.
According to The Australian, content warnings have been dumped before its classic animated movies — such as Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan and the Jungle Book — on its streaming service in Australia, as it seeks to align itself with Donald Trump’s anti-diversity policies.
US-based companies are grappling with how to deal with Trump’s crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion policies, which he claims are discriminatory, specifically against white Americans.
Adding to Disney’s woes is its remake of Snow White, which bombed at the box office. There was immediate backlash against the casting of Latina actress Rachel Zegler in the lead role, as many believed Snow White’s race should not be changed from Caucasian. Adding to controversy surrounding Zegler’s casting was her negative comments about the beloved original animated film and her political views.
The introduction of warnings before older, problematic, films was an attempt by Disney to appease critics during an era of inclusion.
In October 2020, the disclaimer was updated from the 2019 simpler version to say:
“This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.
“These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now.
“Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together.
“Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe.”
Variety reports that a new disclaimer reads: “This program is presented as originally created and may contain stereotypes or negative depictions.”
Interestingly, when I looked at these titles this morning on Disney Plus, no disclaimer preceded the films.
To me, the simpler disclaimer is welcome as I don’t need a lecture before watching a movie, but an acknowledgment of changing times is a fair compromise.
DO FM STATIONS NEED TO GET RID OF MUSIC?
What is the future of FM?
Now that consumers have access to Spotify, Apple Music etc, why do they need a radio station to curate content for them?
That’s part of a discussion I had with radio legend John Stanley on Saturday’s edition of McKnight Tonight.
The host of 2GB/4BC Night’s with John Stanley believes talkback stations have an advantage to FM because they provide an alternative, offering companionship, discussions and breaking news.
“When you listen to the radio, if something happens, you feel like you’re going to know about it and there’s someone on air who knows what they’re talking about and can tell you about it,” Stanley told me (you can see his interview in the video player above).
Ratings would certainly suggest Stanley is right. In Melbourne, 3AW is a dominant number 1, as is its sister station 2GB in Sydney.
4BC in Brisbane is not having the same success but is in a period of rebuilding after multiple format changes over the past few years.
And if you look at the Kyle and Jackie O Show, they are more of a talk format than music and they are Sydney’s number 1 radio station.
Critics to this line of thinking would (fairly) make the point the show is not resonating in Melbourne though. Stanley says those issues are not about format but rather content.
While smut has garnered most of the headlines, Stanley believes the lack of localism should not be discounted.
“Remember in the 1980s, Kerry Packer 2UE and 3AK and decided to set up a networked programme between the two of them.
“He pinched John Blackman from 3AW, put him on the breakfast show on 3AK. He had Mark Day doing drive time in both cities.
“They stupidly thought they could do a networked sports show. And so, 3AW countered that with a huge advertising, I remember newspaper campaigns talking about harbour bridges and talking about keep the Sydneysiders out of Melbourne.
“The idea of trying to pump a show from Sydney into Melbourne, it just doesn’t work”.
The simple lesson: localism + talk = ratings
TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT
As I reported last week in INSIDE MEDIA, 7 News Melbourne moved into their new studio. While most viewers will only notice slight differences, the team is dealing with a much bigger set, higher quality screens and updated technology.
You can watch my tour of the new studio here.
Over the weekend, boxes were packed up with staff belongings and moved to the new facility. There’s no doubting the excitement as everyone gets to know the new office but still focus on getting multiple news bulletins out (including the 4pm news).
There was a nice touch over the weekend as 7NEWS paid tribute to 7BCM, which had been its home for more than two decades. The five-minute video is a great trip down memory lane.
So, make sure you take a look at the new studio nightly on 7NEWS at 6.
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Rob McKnight is a content specialist for 7NEWS and co-owner of TV Blackbox.
