Tuesday April 30, 2019
GfK Radio Ratings 2019, Survy 2: Highlights + Full Results
Sydney
• Jones & Hadley keep 2GB #1, KIIS lifts in breakfast and drive
Biggest rise: KIIS 1065 +1.4
Biggest fall: 2CH -0.9
Read full report: Sydney Radio Ratings: GfK Metro Survey 2, 2019
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Melbourne
• Ross & John & Neil & Steve keep 3AW #1, smooth & Gold up
Biggest rise: smoothfm +1.3
Biggest fall: 101.9 Fox FM -0.8
Read full report: Melbourne Radio Ratings: Ross & John & Neil & Steve keep 3AW #1, smooth & Gold up
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Brisbane
• Nova holds at #1 10+ & brekky as Hit 105 tackles Triple M
Biggest rise: Hit 105 +1.6
Biggest fall: 4KQ -1.3
Read full report: Brisbane Radio Ratings: Nova holds at #1 10+ & brekky as Hit 105 tackles Triple M
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Perth
• Perth: Quick turnaround as 96FM surges in breakfast, Nova up too
Biggest rise: 96FM (+0.5)
Biggest fall: Hit 92.9/6iX (-0.6)
Read Full Report: Perth Radio Ratings: Quick turnaround as 96FM surges in breakfast, Nova up too
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Adelaide
• Adelaide: Mix strengthens lead, Cruise outrates Fiveaa & 5MMM
Biggest rise: Mix 102.3 +0.6
Biggest fall: Nova 91.9 -0.9
Read full Report: Adelaide Radio Ratings: Mix strengthens lead, Cruise outrates Fiveaa & 5MMM
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Sports Week: Fox Sports’ Luke Lewis, Super Netball launches, Supercars at night
By James Manning
Saturday’s game between the Vixens and Firebirds had a national audience of 145,000 (metro 92,000, regional 53,000).
On Sunday the game between the Giants and Swifts did 128,000 (metro 92,000, regional 36,000).
As the new season launched, Nielsen Sports has reported on netball and fan engagement.
Steve Whately, director, Nielsen Sports, commented:
As the popularity of women’s competitions and athletes continues to rise, so does engagement, influence and value to brands, broadcasters and rights holders. Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) is a shining example of this: it draws larger audiences across the season than any other women’s code and also has the largest percentage of female viewers.
ENGAGEMENT
Over one-in-five Australian adults (21%) are fans or consumers of Netball. The table below highlights that compared to the other major women’s codes, SSN fans are far more engaged, particularly when it comes to watching games on TV and attending games. These metrics are crucial for driving direct and indirect revenue for a sport.
Brands are now more sophisticated in measuring the impact of their sponsorships and the value of potential partners. This highly-engaged SSN fan base makes SSN a very attractive prospect for brands looking beyond simply the reach of the sport.
BRAND ATTRIBUTES
The SSN competition is seen as social, family-orientated, youthful, Australian, and community-minded – all very attractive attributes for partners to align with. From Season 1 to Season 2, there was significant growth in SSN being perceived as ‘Australian’, ‘social’, and ‘a sport which people are proud to be associated with’.
WHAT’S NEXT
The rapid growth in the number of women’s professional leagues and teams represents both opportunities and challenges for netball. The increase in women’s competitions has led to a sharp rise in media coverage for women’s sport, opening women’s sporting competitions up to new audiences. On the flipside, the increase in leagues and teams means SSN must compete harder for sponsors off the field and for athletes on the field.
The Netball World Cup this year is another opportunity to shine the light on netball, the growth of the local league and the quality of the talent from across the world playing on our shores. The sport’s stakeholders will be expecting another year of rising audiences and attendance.
Source: Nielsen Sports
Luke Lewis: Hanging up the boots and life at Fox League
By Trent Thomas
Last year Luke Lewis hung up his footy boots after 18 successful seasons of first grade NRL with both the Penrith Panthers and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks including two premierships (2003, 2016), 17 games for NSW, and 16 for Australia. Now the former Blacktown junior says his biggest challenge is setting his own schedule.
“The hardest part of retiring has been coming up with my own scheduling after being told what to do for 18 years, it has been different but it’s been awesome being able to see my kids grow,” he told Mediaweek. “Although it’s good now that the season has started and being busy from Wednesday to Sunday, and educating myself in a different way when it comes to rugby league.”
Lewis, 35, spent the last few years of his career preparing for life after the game, by working part-time with Fox Sports, and this year began life as a full-time member of the media.
“The thing I’m looking forward to the most is all the young talent the game has coming through, and the opportunity I have to talk about it with the team at Fox Sports.”
He says he doesn’t miss playing yet, especially all the training, but knows that inevitably he will crave the game day feel.
“Definitely not missing the game yet, especially pre-season which can be pretty tough, it’s been amazing to get the chance to get the body right and relax. I’ll start missing that game day feel, that will be hard to ever replicate. But I’m looking forward to getting a chance to sit back and enjoy the game for what it is, and the opportunities that the game has given me.”
He joins the likes of Matthew Johns, Bryan Fletcher, Gordon Tallis, Mark Gasnier, Nathan Hindmarsh, and Braith Anasta as a former player now plying his trade weekly on Fox League. He says he is looking forward to being a part of a new team environment at Fox League.
Supercars night racing this weekend on 10 and Fox Sports
The Supercars championship fight will go under lights when the Pirtek Perth SuperNight starts this Friday with coverage on both Network 10 and Fox Sports.
In a first for the series the Barbagallo circuit outside Perth will be lit up when Supercars drivers race into the night on Friday and Saturday.
Ford Mustang pilot and defending series champion Scott McLaughlin will be keen to continue his Perth domination but will have to contend with threats from with 2018 night race winner Shane van Gisbergen, the rise of Holden young gun Anton de Pasquale and the internal threat of team mate Fabian Coulthard.
Covering the action for Fox Sports will be reigning Bathurst 1000 champion Craig Lowndes, who will join Mark Skaife and host Jess Yates to give Foxtel customers insights and analysis across the weekend, plus Chris Stubbs with all the breaking news.
The Fox Sports team are joined by Supercars experts Neil Crompton, Greg Murphy, technical analyst Mark Larkham and pit lane reporter Riana Crehan.
ON Network 10 the Supercars coverage is being hosted by 10 Sport’s Matt White and Garth Tander from Friday, 3 May across 10 and 10 Bold and continuing on Saturday, 4 May on 10.
Nine asset sale: Antony Catalano takes on new publishing challenge
ACM will be acquired by a company controlled by interests associated with Antony Catalano and Thorney Investment Group. The transaction is subject to customary terms for such a sale.
The cash proceeds of the sale are expected to be around $115m, subject to post-completion adjustments, of which $10m will be paid in 12 months. At this stage, it is intended that these funds will be used to reduce group debt. In addition, Nine will receive up to $10 million of advertising on ACM properties over the three years from completion.
In conjunction with the sale, ACM and Nine have also entered into arrangements, which preserve the commercial relationships that have existed during Nine’s ownership of the business. This includes printing of Nine’s metropolitan publications (The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian Financial Review) and, for a short transitional period, sharing of content between ACM publications and the metropolitan publications.
Hugh Marks, chief executive officer of Nine, said: “The sale of ACM is aligned with our strategy to exit non-core businesses and to focus on Nine’s portfolio of high-growth, digital assets. We will retain a commercial relationship with ACM and look forward to continuing to work with the business in areas where there are mutual benefits to both Nine and ACM.”
Q2 TV battle: 10 launches MasterChef 2019 with herbs and taxi wraps
To celebrate the launch of the 11th season of MasterChef Australia, Network 10 has launched two activations taking the MasterChef experience to the streets.
A MasterChef coil-shaped herb garden is on display today at Southern Cross train station in Melbourne where commuters can also take home packets of herbs such as basil, chives, parsley and coriander. The activation was developed in partnership with Urban.
In Sydney, pop-up MasterChef herb carts will feature at Martin Place and Town Hall stations, giving Sydney commuters a chance to take home herb seeds to start their own garden.
Network 10’s head of marketing Brad Garbutt said: “The return of MasterChef Australia signals the return to winter home cooking. Over its 10 seasons, the iconic MasterChef herb garden, shaped in the MasterChef coil, has provided inspiration for the over 250 MasterChef contestants who have walked through the MasterChef kitchen doors. With our herb garden activation, we’re hoping to inspire commuters to cook their own extraordinary dishes at home.”
10 has also partnered with AdFlow to create three taxi wraps across 10 Rydo taxis in Sydney and Melbourne. Until the end of the 2019 MasterChef Australia season, travellers will be able to ride in either a Matt Preston Sprinkle drip cake, a Gary Mehigan Choc-Heaven cake or a George Colombaris Lemon Drizzle.
Garbutt continued: “Imagine driving around and seeing a taxi wrapped in your favourite desert next to the face of a MasterChef Australia judge. It’d catch your eye right? That’s exactly what we we’re hoping for. This activation aims to make people smile as they’re travelling around their city – giving them a feeling similar to that warm fuzzy feeling they’d get while watching the show.”
Both activations are part of a broader national campaign developed by Spark Foundry. The campaign also includes large and small format out-of-home, radio, digital, social, TV and print.
More than 10m reading news media across print and digital platforms
Over 10 million Australians (10.1 million), or more than half the population (54%), read both print and digital news media, according to the latest emma (Enhanced Media Metrics Australia) data1 for February 2019.
In total, digital news media is read by 15.7 million Australians, or 85% of the population and printed newspapers are read by 11.8 million people, or 64% of the population.
Across print and digital platforms, 17.4 million people, or 94% of the population reads news media.
Metro news media was read by 9.6 million people, or 52% of Australians.
Regional/Community newspapers are read by 5.5 million people (29% of the population).
NewsMediaWorks CEO Peter Miller said: “The latest emma data reminds us that readership of news media across channels is robust. More than half the population reads both print and digital news media, demonstrating that both formats appeal and are valued by a large and engaged audience. Authentic, credible and trusted journalism is sought out by readers of news brands and that hasn’t changed.
“News media is the nation’s most trusted media channel for both content and advertising and advertisers, too, are seeking trusted environments for their brands and services.”
The Sydney Morning Herald is Australia’s highest-reaching title across all platforms with 7.49 million readers. The Daily Telegraph followed, reaching 4.44 million readers and the Herald Sun with 4.13 million (see table below).
TV Demand: No one can rival GoT, but Cobra Kai #1 digital original
By Trent Thomas
What is most impressive though is the margins that it has created between itself and its competitors since taking over as #1 at the beginning of February this year. While not as big as the mammoth margins last week of 14.91m (Aus) and 1.94m (NZ), it was still a giant gap of 12.21m (Aus) and 1.75m (NZ) between the HBO Drama and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
While the world has been talking about Game of Thrones, Cobra Kai has seen itself shoot to the top of Digital Originals chart after airing its season finale during the latest data period. This is the first time this year that the continuation of the Karate Kid has occupied top spot, and is the first time this year as well that a show from YouTube has had top spot on any of the charts. The series features William Zabka reprising his role as Johnny Lawrence, who seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo, reigniting his rivalry with a now successful Daniel LaRusso played by the original Karate Kid Ralph Macchio.
Cobra Kai also moved up to #4 on the Overall TV charts in Aus and #6 in NZ after not featuring last week. The other big mover on the Overall TV charts was Killing Eve which ranked #5 in Aus. While the only new entry to the Digital Original charts in Australia was Stranger Things rejoining the fray at #10.
Demand Expressions represent the total audience demand being expressed for a title, within a country, on any platform. The audience demand is a weighted, country-specific measure of demand. Television demand data captures what content people want in a particular country.
Box Office: Avengers Endgame leaves all in its wake making $34.11m
By Trent Thomas
• Highest opening day in cinema industry history
• Highest ever individual Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday / Sunday gross in Industry history
• Highest ever 5 day opening weekend (Weds-Sun) – beating Avengers: Infinity War
• Highest ever 4-day weekend (Thurs-Sun) – beating Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Highest ever pre-sale total
• Highest ever opening screen count
• Highest & second highest single days of total business in industry history (Wednesday $11.46m & Thursday $11.26m)– beating Anzac Day 2018 $11.25m
Helping Avengers: Endgame into top spot was the number of screens showing the film on opening day. On Anzac Day last year, Disney opened Avengers: Infinity Wars on 871 screens. This year Avengers Endgame opened on Anzac Day eve on 1,070 screens.
The film had a historic weekend and is well on its way to producing more record breaking box office numbers as it continues its run in cinemas. It currently has $44.39m total domestic gross, and only requires $51.45m to be top 10 all-time in Australian box office total, and the lofty goal of passing the domestic record of $115.76m by Avatar could also be on the cards.
The substantial boost of Avengers: Endgame helped the Australian box office to an increase of revenue of 225% bringing in a total of $38.89m over the four-day weekend.
The other new addition to the top five this week is the return of The Lego Movie 2, after slipping to number 6 last week. The two films to make way in the top five is The Curse of the Weeping Woman (7), and Captain Marvel (6) which slipped down three spots, most likely in part to the release of Avengers: Endgame.
#1 Avengers: Endgame $34.11m
Burning bright early, and expected to burn for a long time the latest MCU entry brings an end to an era for some of the original characters and actors involved in the franchise, but continues the film’s history of generating large amounts of revenue, and is on track to be the most successful Marvel movie yet. Shown on 1,112 screens over the Anzac Day weekend, it made an average of $30,680 per screen.
#2 Dumbo $690,908
Avengers: Endgame sucked up all the air in the room this weekend as no other film was able to crack $1m, but Dumbo has shown significant staying power staying in second position after its fifth week in theatres. The Disney remake of the classic, had an average of $2,978 over 232 screens, bringing its total to $11.51m.
#3 Wonder Park $685,715
Moving up one spot to third after three weeks in theatres the animated, kid friendly film made an average of $2,467 from 278 screens, making its overall total $5.87m.
#4 Shazam! 633,251
Sliding down from first spot after a decline of 75% from last weekend’s revenue, the DCU entry wasn’t able to compete with the revenue machine that is Avengers: Endgame. The first instalment of the Shazam! franchise made an average of $2,090 on 303 screens in its fourth week of release. Its overall total now stands at $16.22m.
#5 The Lego Movie 2 $403,460
Despite a 53% decline from last weekend the animated sequel has managed to scrape back into the top five after missing out last week, it made an average of $1,732 on 233 screens and has been released for six weeks totalling $10.58m.
TV Ratings Analysis: April 29
Monday: Week 18 2019
• Seven News 1,029,000/1,007,000
• Nine News 999,000/975,000
• A Current Affair 782,000
• ABC News 711,000
• 7.30 582,000
• The Project 284,000/508,000
• 10 News First 399,000
• SBS World News 152,000
Breakfast TV
• Sunrise 264,000
• Today 198,000
Seven
Home and Away began its new week with 667,000 after a week 17 average of 628,000.
On House Rules rookie renovators Mikaela and Eliza won the initial challenge as Jamie Durie and his judging colleagues Wendy Moore and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen passed judgement on the warehouse makeover. The teams then got to see their first home makeover which is the biggest property ever attempted on the show.
After a season launch with 782,000, the second episode did 561,000 as for the first time it was up against Lego Masters and MasterChef Australia.
An episode of 9-1-1 then did 380,000.
Over on 7TWO Basil Zempilas was a primetime host along the east coast as well as hosting at home. The slick production at times almost overwhelmed the first Leaders’ Debate. While it made sense to wrap up the confrontation before Seven Perth’s 6pm news, viewers elsewhere may have questioned the hurry to get to the Vicar Of Dibley. As it was the debate more than doubled the audience of the 20-year-old sitcom. The debate attracted 415,000 to Dawn French’s fan club on 134,000.
Nine
Cracking episode of A Current Affair to start the week as reporter Dan Nolan presented highlights from two hours of secret video from Al Jazeera featuring a One Nation candidate. Some clever promos during the day delivered a Monday audience of 782,000. The show’s week 17 average audience was 698,000.
After a massive launch audience of 1.37m, Lego Masters episode two faced some stiffer competition with both House Rules and MasterChef Australia in the timeslot. There were some more impressive Lego builds and then an even more impression Lego explosions. Although, like House Rules, the episode dropped over 200,000, it still impressively held above 1m.
A new season of 20 To One then followed with hosts Erin Molan and comedian Nick Cody. The series launched with 457,000.
The Monday night footy screened in different markets. Footy Classified was on 127,000 with 100% Footy doing 78,000.
10
There was almost too much happening on The Project with little time to enjoy the various highlights. They ranged from Pete Helliar with GoT’s Isaac Wright (aka Bran Stark) to Barrie Cassidy to Hamish Macdonald with Barnaby Joyce. Along the way the show also featured Dean Lewis and a cameo from Dave Hughes sitting in the audience! The week started on 508,000 after a week 17 average of 427,000 at 7pm.
MasterChef Australia slipped straight back into its groove with Gary, Matt and George selecting contestants for the new season. They powered through the formalities with just six aprons left to be handed out tonight. There was much impressive cooking on display which means there should be some memorable food challenges ahead. Anushka is our early favourite. Commenting on the launch audience of 715,000, Network 10’s chief content officer Beverley McGarvey said: “After 11 years, it’s great to see audiences flock back to the MasterChef Australia kitchen with 905,000 national TV viewers tuning in to last night’s launch.
“The launch was up year-on-year on 10 Play and was the #1 show across social platforms yesterday.” The FTA overnight launch audience last year was 890,000.
An Easter episode of Graham Norton then re-screened with Rebel Wilson among the guests. The episode did 385,000 last Friday and then 265,000 last night.
ABC
The Monday night line-up was back in action.
On Australian Story John Doyle introduced Australian CEO Mina Guli, 48, who is on a mission to draw attention to the global water crisis. In order to do that she attempted a physical feat so extreme, most people would consider it impossible – running 100 marathons in 100 days across the world. The episode did 520,000.
Four Corners featured The Interrogation, a film by Laurent Richard for French news agency Premiere Lignes about a controversial police technique putting innocent people behind bars. The audience was on 442,000.
Media Watch featured celebrities being exploited on Facebook scams with Nine’s Michael Healy commenting about the social media platform and its inaction over the activity. The episode did 494,000.
Q&A was an election campaign special with guests Mitch Fifield, Minister for Communications; Chris Bowen, Shadow Treasurer; Lenore Taylor, Editor, The Guardian Australia; Bhakthi Puvanenthiran, Managing Editor of Crikey and Greg Sheridan, Foreign Affairs Editor, The Australian. The late night talkfest attracted an audience of 370,000.
SBS
It was an all-repeat Monday on the channel with a replay of a good episode of Great American Railway Journeys featuring Michael Portillo crossing Manhattan by train. The episode did 210,000 after Portillo shared the most popular program last week with 268,000.
Trust Me I’m A Doctor then did 195,000 followed by 24 Hours In Emergency on 121,000.
Week 18 TV: Monday
| MONDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 12.9% | 7 | 16.7% | 9 | 22.0% | 10 | 13.6% | SBS One | 5.0% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.4% | 7TWO | 4.8% | GO! | 2.3% | 10 Bold | 3.6% | VICELAND | 1.0% |
| ABC ME | 0.5% | 7mate | 4.5% | GEM | 2.8% | 10 Peach | 1.7% | Food Net | 0.7% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.3% | 7flix | 1.7% | 9Life | 1.9% | NITV | 0.1% | ||
| 7Food | 0.3% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 17.2% | 28.1% | 29.0% | 18.8% | 6.9% | ||||
| MONDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 12.8% | 7 | 19.0% | 9 | 19.0% | WIN | 8.8% | SBS One | 4.0% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 3.1% | 7TWO | 5.3% | GO! | 3.1% | WIN Bold | 3.2% | VICELAND | 1.2% |
| ABC ME | 1.0% | 7mate | 5.7% | GEM | 5.5% | WIN Peach | 1.8% | Food Net | 0.9% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.2% | 7flix | 1.2% | 9Life | 1.5% | Sky News on WIN | 1.7% | NITV | 0.1% |
| TOTAL | 18.1% | 31.2% | 29.1% | 15.5% | 6.2% | ||||
Monday FTA
- Lego Masters Nine 1,053,000
- Seven News Seven 1,029,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 1,007,000
- Nine News Nine 999,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 975,000
- A Current Affair Nine 782,000
- Masterchef Australia – Launch 10 715,000
- ABC News ABC 711,000
- Home And Away Seven 667,000
- 7.30 ABC 582,000
- House Rules Seven 561,000
- Hot Seat Nine 536,000
- Australian Story ABC 520,000
- The Project 7pm 10 508,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 496,000
- Media Watch ABC 494,000
- 20 To One Nine 457,000
- Four Corners ABC 442,000
- 10 News First 10 399,000
- 9-1-1 Seven 380,000
Demo Top 5
16-39 Top Five
- Lego Masters Nine 324,000
- Masterchef Australia – Launch 10 190,000
- The Project 7pm 10 135,000
- Nine News Nine 135,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 133,000
18-49 Top 5
- Lego Masters Nine 530,000
- Masterchef Australia – Launch 10 323,000
- Nine News Nine 269,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 269,000
- The Project 7pm 10 237,000
25-54 Top Five
- Lego Masters Nine 569,000
- Masterchef Australia – Launch 10 349,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 326,000
- Nine News Nine 322,000
- A Current Affair Nine 293,000
Monday Multichannel
- Leaders’ Debate PM 7TWO 415,000
- Bluey AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 197,000
- School Of Roars PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 196,000
- Peppa Pig PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 191,000
- Floogals ABCKIDS/COMEDY 181,000
- Dino Dana ABCKIDS/COMEDY 181,000
- NCIS (R) 10 Bold 168,000
- Wanda And The Alien PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 167,000
- Peppa Pig AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 160,000
- Andy’s Wild Adventures ABCKIDS/COMEDY 159,000
- Rusty Rivets ABCKIDS/COMEDY 159,000
- Bluey ABCKIDS/COMEDY 156,000
- PJ Masks AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 155,000
- Fireman Sam PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 153,000
- Peter Rabbit ABCKIDS/COMEDY 151,000
- M- Hacksaw Ridge PM 7mate 151,000
- Octonauts ABCKIDS/COMEDY 149,000
- Bondi Rescue Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 148,000
- Bob The Builder PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 142,000
- Hey Duggee AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 136,000
Monday STV
- Game Of Thrones FOX SHOWCASE 269,000
- Game Of Thrones FOX SHOWCASE 252,000
- Game Of Thrones FOX SHOWCASE 226,000
- Thrones 360: Live FOX SHOWCASE 80,000
- Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 77,000
- Game Of Thrones FOX SHOWCASE 75,000
- Game Of Thrones FOX SHOWCASE 67,000
- Live: AFL 360 FOX FOOTY 64,000
- Game Of Thrones FOX SHOWCASE 64,000
- Live: On The Couch FOX FOOTY 60,000
- Credlin Sky News Live 55,000
- Game Of Thrones FOX SHOWCASE 54,000
- Paw Patrol Nick Jr. 52,000
- Live: NRL 360 FOX LEAGUE 51,000
- Family Guy FOX8 48,000
- The Bolt Report Sky News Live 46,000
- Curious George Nick Jr. 43,000
- Nella The Princess Knight Nick Jr. 42,000
- Family Guy FOX8 42,000
- Kenny On Media Sky News Live 41,000
Shares all people, 6pm-midnight, Overnight (Live and AsLive), Audience numbers FTA metro, Sub TV national
Source: OzTAM and Regional TAM 2018. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM
Media News Roundup
Business of Media
Nine’s first asset sale: The Cat set to pounce on regional newspapers
The Cat, who in 2011 sold half of his real estate classified business to Fairfax for $35 million but left the company in early 2018 and later tried to scuttle Fairfax’s merger with Nine, has emerged as the clear frontrunner for Nine’s suite of regional newspapers.
As Street Talk first reported on Monday night, it’s believed The Cat, who is backed by Thorney Investment Group billionaire Alex Waislitz, could sign a deal to buy the division as early as Tuesday.
Spotify tops estimates as it reports 100 million paid users
Spotify Technology took on 4 million customers in the quarter, compared with the 3.3 million forecast by analysts. But its first-quarter loss was 79 cents a share, wider than the 41-cent loss analysts expected.
Competition from Apple Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and YouTube has done little to slow Spotify’s growth around the world, and the company has relied on its independence from some of the world’s largest companies to its advantage. It has boosted its customer base through promotional deals with Hulu, Samsung and even Alphabet Inc.’s Google (YouTube’s parent company).
News Brands
Morrison v Shorten in Perth for first campaign debate
Bill Shorten wins first election debate against Scott Morrison
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has won the popular vote in the first leaders’ debate of the federal election campaign after using his closing remarks to tell Australians the economy was not working for them, reports The Sydney Morning Herald’s David Crowe.
While 25 audience members declared Shorten the winner, only 12 voted for Morrison and another 11 were undecided.
No knockout, but Shorten wins audience in first debate
Sid Maher in The Australian:
Neither leader landed a knockout blow in an hour-long exchange which saw Shorten laugh and smirk at Morrison as he attacked Labor’s franking credits policy over its impact on self-managed super funds held by retirees. Morrison appeared nervous as he pressed the Opposition Leader to answer questions on the cost of key Labor policies.
Leaders debate: Plenty of glitz but TV drama it wasn’t
Caroline Overington in The Australian:
Each leader got a three-minute opening address. Bill’s was better. Sorry, but it was. But Morrison landed the first punch with his perennial question for Shorten: “Tell us the cost of your climate change policy. Australians deserve to know.”
Shorten didn’t answer. He never does. He smirks instead, and I’m not sure that’s good enough.
Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten’s leadership debate predictable
The Daily Telegraph editorial:
Just in case you missed it – and many would have done, since it was broadcast on 7TWO, the network’s less-watched station – Monday night’s leadership debate was an odd affair.
A two-camera format gave us permanent smiles or smirks from Prime Minister Scott Morrison or Labor’s Bill Shorten, depending on who wasn’t speaking at the time.
Only a couple of audience members were invited to ask their questions, so Australia heard from Ray and Corey.
And then there was the often-sudden involvement of Perth sports presenter Basil Zempilas. At some points he seemed to appear out of nowhere, then just as quickly vanished.
Courier-Mail:
Bill Shorten lands first blow in election debate
Jenna Clarke in The West Australian:
Armed with his trademark zingers that had more flavour than those KFC burgers, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was declared the winner of the first leaders debate of this election campaign.
Of the 48 people in the audience for WA’s first ever federal leaders’ debate, 25 deemed Shorten as the winner. Twelve thought Scott Morrison won while 11 were still undecided.
It could have gone a lot worse for Shorten though, joined by his wife Chloe, who arrived with just three minutes to spare.
Shorten, who abandoned a trademark red tie for the occasion, opting instead for a dark neck accoutrement with a gold diamond pattern, also got a laugh when the pair were informed about the 110,000 people that had already voted since pre-polling opened on Monday.
When asked why he thought Australians had voted three weeks out from the official polling day, Shorten said:
“Because people want to change the government.”
And with that mic drop, the audience were sold… As was the internet.
ABC political editor Andrew Probyn:
If anything, the first debate affirms that the 2019 election is a conflict between a big target who argues the virtue of new direction and a small target arguing the dangers of swerving from the current path.
The debate was consigned to a television backwater, otherwise known as 7TWO, with coverage sandwiched between Bargain Hunt (moustachioed BBC host Tim Wonnacott in a fetching mustard two-piece) and the umpteenth re-run of Vicar of Dibley.
Photo: The West Australian
‘Family man’ Senate candidate filmed groping dancer in US strip club
Steve Dickson, Pauline Hanson’s right-hand man, was last month embroiled in controversy after being secretly filmed alongside party colleague James Ashby by international media organisation Al Jazeera, seeking donations from powerful gun lobby groups in the US.
Senator Hanson stood by both men in a fiery press conference, though both she and Dickson declined A Current Affair’s offer of an interview ahead of last night’s broadcast, as well as the opportunity to watch the story before it aired.
A Current Affair obtained more video from the Al Jazeera investigation into the US gun lobby, broadcasting it for the first time Monday night.
The footage shows Dickson at a strip club in Washington DC.
Steve Dickson has now resigned as a One Nation candidate.
Anthony Bell and News Corp bury the hatchet ahead of TV show
[Bell is co-hosting a series with Michael Jacobsen on the News Corp/Nine owned Your Money TV channel on Thursdays.]
Early last year, after much prurient interest in his recent divorce, Bell took The Daily Telegraph to court for alleging, among other things, that he was “a heartless misogynist who encourages other male friends to abandon their wives and families to party with him”.
That particular imputation arose, Bell’s lawyer argued, through gossip scribe Annette Sharp’s write-up of a boys-only Sydney yacht party attended by casino mogul James Packer, Nine host Richard Wilkins and weather presenter Steve Jacobs. One problem according to Bell’s lawyers: neither Packer, Wilkins nor the then recently divorced Jacobs were there.
After grinding on for most of last year, the case had been due to take place over five days after June 30. But a court notice filed last Friday showed the whole thing had been settled.
Radio
Rival broadcasters urging Alan Jones to consider offers to leave 2GB
Jones’s contract expires on June 30, with no deal as yet reached over his future at 2GB.
Talkback callers to the station on Monday sounded the dramatic warning they would stop listening if Jones was to depart.
Jones would not comment when contacted, but The Daily Telegraph has learned he has been urged by multiple rival broadcasters to consider ongoing offers to leave 2GB.
This newspaper revealed Jones was in discussions with Sky News in March.
In an extraordinary piece of broadcast on Monday morning, two callers contacted the Jones program and were aired saying it would hurt the station if the radio legend left.
Television
Season four of Nine’s drama hit Doctor Doctor goes into production
After serving out his probation in Whyhope and saving the family farm, Doctor Hugh Knight (Rodger Corser) faces the fight of his life – for love, career and family. Will Whyhope’s naughtiest doctor have the right stuff, or will he self-destruct and lose everything?
Doctor Doctor’s returning cast includes Nicole da Silva (Charlie), Ryan Johnson (Matt), Tina Bursill (Meryl), Hayley McElhinney (Penny), Matt Castley (Ajax), Chloe Bayliss (Hayley), Belinda Bromilow (Betty), Charles Wu (Ken) and Miranda Tapsell (April).
Joining the cast for series four are Dustin Clare (Glitch, Wolf Creek, Spartacus, Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities), Kate Jenkinson (Wentworth, Offspring, Tangle) and Robyn Nevin (Top of the Lake, Upper Middle Bogan, Back in Very Small Business).
Based on an original idea by Tony McNamara and Ian Collie, Doctor Doctor is produced by Easy Tiger Productions for Nine with the assistance of Create NSW.
Cameron Adams: Has music failed the reality television test?
Last year Cowell spunked almost $20 million to get Robbie Williams onto the judging panel of the British version of The X Factor.
It didn’t stop the show’s declining ratings, mind you, but merely proved that Cowell had a bigger cheque book than his rivals at The Voice.
Last week Cowell said, “There has been so much emphasis on the judges. We’ve lost sight of the contestants. It got crazy. I never thought this would happen 20 years ago, when I started this show, that we would be talking more about the judges than the contestants, it’s complete nonsense.”
In Australia, The Voice and The X Factor fought over who could import the biggest name judge.
The problem is that while The Voice came in and made the judges famous, the product spat out the other end has become increasingly redundant.
This year The Voice is already going into reality cannibal mode – bringing back former contestants. And reportedly not just former Voice contestants, but other alumni from other reality TV shows – frankly because there aren’t enough even semi-famous former Voice contestants to choose from.
Most Australians couldn’t name you five winners of The Voice at gunpoint, so will they really want to watch an entire season of re-runs?
Sports Media
NRL basking in Nine/Fox League ratings lift despite torrid summer
The average audience per match on Nine’s platforms has increased 3 per cent year-on-year for the five capital cities, part of an overall 4 per cent spike in free-to-air viewership.
The figures have also been reflected across Fox League, which has swelled its national viewership by 3 per cent year-on-year.
It is a marked turnaround from the forecast negative effects a string of off-field incidents would have on the game prior to a ball being kicked this year, which even prompted NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg to say he feared the game could lose hundreds of millions of dollars in its next broadcast-rights deal.