Monday April 9, 2018

Inside Neroli Meadows's two new Fox Sports shows for the AFL season

Sports journalist Neroli Meadows has been appointed host of two new shows for the duration of this AFL season on Fox Footy. 

 

By Kruti Joshi

The two new shows added to her previous commitments at the network are Saturday Stretch and On The Mark.

Meadows told Mediaweek, “I am really excited about the new shows.”

Meadows appears on Saturday Stretch alongside Dermott Brereton and Brad Johnson. The weekly show gives viewers a wrap of what’s happened in the sport on the day.

Meadows’s role on the show is “newsier” than it is in On The Mark, which is fronted by an all-female team. Sarah Jones, Kelli Underwood and Sarah Olle host the show alongside Meadows. The program explores the personal side of AFL. “There is not really a show like it in the AFL media landscape,” Meadows said. “It is a great opportunity to show the human side of the people involved in the industry. That is what is missing.”

 

This is an excerpt from the full article, which appears on Mediaweek Premium. Read the full article hereor subscribe to Mediaweek Premium here.

Donna Hay and News Corp split: Hay launching own publishing company

Following the publication of the special 100th commemorative issue of donna hay magazine in July 2018, the licence agreement between publisher News Corp and food identity Donna Hay will cease.

Hay will launch her own independent publishing business with a new subscriber-only magazine being planned for release later this year.

News Corp Australasia’s executive chairman Michael Miller congratulated Hay on achieving the 100-editions milestone and wished her well for her new business venture.

“The success of donna hay magazine is a testament to Donna’s imagination, determination and passion and we are proud to have been a partner to her success for the past 17 years,” Miller said.

“Reaching this milestone is a great achievement and evidence of Donna’s unique understanding and connection with generations of Australian food-lovers. She holds a special place in hundreds of thousands of homes across the country, including my own. I understand Donna’s desire to explore new opportunities in publishing and I wish her well.”

Hay said she was extremely proud to celebrate her 100th issue and excited about the opportunities ahead.

Read more at mediaweek.com.au

Media giant rebrands: OUT – BBC Worldwide, IN – BBC Studios

• Search for BBC Studios director of production for Australia

 

The newly created BBC Studios quietly launched after Easter last week around the world.

The global commercial arm of the BBC reports annual sales of over £1 billion and reports growing profits and a third annual dividend payment of over £200m to the BBC.

The merger of BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios is aimed to move the BBC Group into line with the rest of the industry and to ensure the creative and commercial success of the organisation.

BBC Studios will see content through the full life cycle of development, commissioning, production and co-production, sales and distribution and will underpin the creation of new BBC-owned IP.

Leading a staff of around 3,000, and its most recent annual turnover of £1.4b, Tim Davie, chief executive officer, and Mark Linsey, chief creative officer, officially assumed their new roles last week at the rebranded org and unveiled the organisation’s new vision, purpose and strategy.

The BBC recently announced it would set up a production office in Sydney. It is currently interviewing for a director of production for the new production arm in Australia. The role will be tasked with launching and managing the growth of television production in Australia, building creative partnerships between BBC Studios’ editorial teams in the UK and Australian broadcasters, driving the creation of new intellectual property and exploiting the rich potential of BBC Worldwide’s format catalogue.

The search for this role is being led by Mission Bay executive search company.

The new director of production in Australia will report into the international production division, which, from April, will be led Anna Mallett, managing director, Production and COO, BBC Studios.

The role will also form part of the ANZ executive management team. Jon Penn, managing director of BBC Worldwide ANZ, will continue to lead the company in this territory as it transitions to BBC Studios in April.

BBC Studios will be showing off its rebrand at MIPTV now under way in Cannes.

Shakespeare & Hathaway

Among the products on offer is the drama Shakespeare & Hathaway with the first series of 10 episodes having been sold to the ABC. The 10-part series premiered on BBC One in February and has been recommissioned for a second season.

BBC Studios’ fiction slate for MIPTV also includes Doctor Who series 11, Abi Morgan’s new drama The Split, the miniseries Press written by Mike Bartlett and Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens.

Hear more about the new BBC Studios from two recent Mediaweek podcasts with BBC Studios executives:

• BBC Studios chief marketing officer Jackie Lee-Joe
BBC Global News marketing and distribution director Chris Davies

Listen on PodcastOne here

Listen on iTunes here

Creative gallery: Hulsbosch reveals new look for APN Outdoor

• APN Outdoor CEO James Warburton: “We need to refocus and win!”

 

APN Outdoor recently commissioned brand and design company Hulsbosch to create a corporate rebrand reflective of its standing as the leader in market.

Hulsbosch has detailed the commission and revealed the new look:

APN Outdoor owns a portfolio of premium assets reaching outdoor audiences via five different environments. Its business provides a unique voice for a client base of diverse consumer brands and maximises engagement for consumers during their daily outdoor journey.

Hulsbosch has developed an effective brand strategy platform that is pivotal to APN Outdoor’s intention to stand out and relaunch its communication portfolio, which is extensive in quality and scale in Australia and New Zealand.

To support the brand identity refresh, APN Outdoor and Hulsbosch conducted numerous stakeholder interviews with a broad cross-section of internal and external stakeholders, including media agencies, clients and industry bodies across all regions.

“We need to refocus and win!” said James Warburton, chief executive officer, APN Outdoor. “Our business is regaining momentum and we want to be at the forefront of a media category that has only positive and profitable projections.

“Our continual investment in innovative digital and technology solutions is critical, as is our work with Hulsbosch. Its creative solutions signal to the market our vision for the future and grow with the potential of the business.

“Hulsbosch is relentless in achieving high-calibre work and remains an expert creative partner. It always delivers – its brand system for multiple audiences seamlessly aligns us with the many opportunities ahead.”

The new look and feel for APN Outdoor cements a new chapter of leadership with a progressive brand concept that secures a smarter impact for the business. At the centre of the Hulsbosch work is a logo that is a symbol of change for the long term that will stand out.

Carolyn Pitt, client services director at Hulsbosch, said, “APN Outdoor is a company with an amazing portfolio of assets, but more than that, it leads in developing consumer insights that allow their clients to really target and reach their audiences.

“This idea of smarter impact, combined with a creative idea of amplifying APN Outdoor’s clients’ voices – which can be seen through the logo design – is set to support the business in achieving the clear direction their new leadership team is pursuing.”

The visual identity builds on the APN Outdoor communication heritage, leveraging its distinctive colourisation alongside a striking modern design solution. The creative outcomes offer brand versatility suitable for a wider remit activated in digital and new technologies.

APN Outdoor has recently launched the Hulsbosch brand system through its briefing presentations and animated online teasers. Hulsbosch continues to support client implementation with comprehensive brand guidelines and collateral templates.

Credits:

Hans Hulsbosch, Executive Creative Director
James Nielsen, Design Director
Benni Weller, Design Director
Kate Hunter, Designer
Chris Round, Copywriter
Vivienne Buls, Senior Graphic Artist
Ian Boniface, Finished Artist
Gavin Prentice, Finished Artist
Jaid Hulsbosch, Director
Carolyn Pitt, Client Services Director
Emma Burn, Strategy Director
Hannah Sharp, Senior Account Manager

Another audio initiative from The Daily Telegraph – true crime podcast Eight Minutes

After earlier this year starting its own three-days-a-week online radio show hosted by Miranda Devine, The Daily Telegraph has announced the launch of a new podcast series.

The five-part series will appear in print, online and as a podcast from today.

Titled Eight Minutes: The Unsolved Murder of David Breckenridge, it will run for 136 minutes over five episodes, and includes detailed interviews with friends, family, acquaintances and police, revealing a number of new lines of inquiry and possible motives.

At 11.52pm on August 10, 2002, David Breckenridge called his best mate from a phone box and told him to fire up the TV – he was on his way over to watch the international rugby match that was about to start. Eight minutes later he was dead.

The six-month special investigation reveals, at one level, the seemingly normal life of a young man with the world before him tragically cut short in a few short minutes of almost inconceivable violence.

Fifteen years on, the person who stabbed and bashed the Sydney man to death on the night after his 28th birthday has never been found. The brutal death of the young student remains one of hundreds of cold cases on the NSW Police Force’s books

The investigation has also uncovered a world of drinking and recreational drug use, one-night stands and a love triangle suggesting revenge as the killer’s motive. The Daily Telegraph also reveals startling new evidence that raises questions about the police’s handling of the case.

It marks the start of a new appeal for information and offers his grieving parents fresh hope of an answer that has been eating at them for a decade and a half: Who killed David?

Chris Dore, editor of The Daily Telegraph said: “Eight Minutes is a great example of how the different skills in the newsroom can come together to produce a high quality piece of audio journalism that would be the envy of any radio station or broadcaster.

Nicole Hogan has produced a truly phenomenal series that will astonish readers and listeners, and maybe help catch a killer. That’s what journalism is all about!”

Dailytelegraph.com.au digital journalist Nicole Hogan said while researching cold case murders she came across one that was the coldest cold case she’d ever heard of – a brutal, bloody murder of an ordinary guy on his way to a mate’s place.

Hogan said: “Midway through 2017, I started investigating a series of cold cases. I had no idea at that point the unsolved murder of David Breckenridge was about to consume me.

“It was the coldest case I had ever come across. There were no suspects, no evidence, no murder weapon and no leads. I was intrigued.

“Over six months I interviewed dozens of people, recording over 40 hours of audio.”

The majority of the interviews were conducted at News Corp headquarters in Holt Street, Sydney, where Nicole scripted, produced, edited and presented the podcast.

Online news editor Brenton Cherry co-produced the series and helped coordinate the digital and print companion articles.

All creative graphics, video and images were produced in-house by The Daily Telegraph team, including production editor Sarah MacMaster and artist Daniel Murphy.

Available on iTunes and through dailytelegraph.com.au, the five-part podcast series will be rolled out over two weeks starting today, with supporting promotions across The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, masthead websites, social media, direct emails to subscribers, app alerts and Apple news alerts.

The podcast will be free on iTunes but housed in locked articles, with additional material such as video and crime scene photos, on The Daily Telegraph site to drive subscriptions.

Available for download at www.dailytelegraph.com.au:

• Part one: The Crime. Available from Monday April 9
• Part two: Who Was David Breckenridge? Available from Wednesday April 11
• Part three: The Police Investigation. Available from Friday April 13
• Part four: The Inquest. Available from Monday April 16
• Part five: Case Not Closed. Available from Wednesday April 18

ARIA Chart Report: The Weeknd the big story on both Singles and Albums

• Singles: The Weeknd chart attack – six new tunes invade top 50
• Albums: The Weeknd manages to invade Ed Sheeran’s world at #3

Singles

Drake has now topped the chart for a 10th week with “God’s Plan”.

There was plenty of new music invading the chart this week, even if it was all from the same artist – The Weeknd. All six tracks in fact from the new EP “My Dear Melancholy” found their way into the top 50 – the highest climbing to #3. They were the only new songs that landed in the top 50 and The Weeknd was the only newcomer to the top 10 too. This is where the various tracks landed this week.

#3: “Call Out My Name”
#23: “Wasted Times”
#24: “Try Me”
#37: “Hurt You” featuring Gesaffelstein
#40:
“I Was Never There” featuring Gesaffelstein
#45: “Privilege”

Albums

The Weeknd is the big talking point here too, although three other artists managed to debut in the top 50 too this week.

The six-track EP “My Dear Melancholy” debuted at #3 after two previous The Weeknd albums made it to #1 – September 2015 with “Beauty Behind The Madness” and December 2016 with “Starboy”.

No change at the top of course where Ed Sheeran and “Divide” and the soundtrack to The Greatest Showman were locked in their spots. These two albums have been #1 and #2 for 10 weeks this year with both albums taking turns at #1 in those weeks.

Sheeran’s three albums all remain top 10 and they have now spent a combined total of 560 weeks on the ARIA Album chart – “Divide” for 57 weeks, “Multiply” for 198 weeks and “Plus” for 305 weeks.

To see how long Sheeran has been charting in the UK and the US read here.

This week’s other ARIA new entries:

#20: Hayley Kiyoko with “Expectations”: First album after single and EP first surfaced in 2013.

#25: Kacey Musgraves with “Golden Hour”: Latest album from the US country artist causing debates over that classification – influences here from Bee Gees to Tame Impala.

#39: Escape The Fate with “I Am Human”: Fifth album from Las Vegas-based rockers.

Photo: The Weeknd (credit: Shutterstock)

TV Ratings Analysis: Sunday April 8

• Week 15 TV: Sunday (Survey recommences)
• Bang! Bang! Bang! Gold medal wins fill Seven’s Sunday primetime
• After best week of the year for Seven, survey restarts with big victory

By James Manning

Seven

In week 14, Seven recorded its biggest weekly primary share of the year so far – 28.0% – thanks to a Wednesday Games opening ceremony share of 43.8% followed by three nights with shares pushing above 30%.

Seven’s combined channel share for week 14 was 39.4%, which was just short of the share of 39.8% in week 7, 2018 when 7mate had a week of 7%+ shares thanks to the Winter Olympics.

Survey started again last night after the Easter break and Seven was firmly in control winning primary channel and combined channel shares.

A raft of gold medal performances kept viewers watching Seven last night.

Commonwealth Games on Seven

April 4: Opening Ceremony 2.0m, Primetime primary share 43.8%

April 5: Night 1 1.23m/1.16m, Afternoon 554k, Day 418k, Primetime primary share 33.0%

April 6: Night 2 1.01/1.09m, Late night 566k, Afternoon 468k, Primetime primary share 30.7%

April 7: Night 3 979/973k, Late night 499k, Afternoon 583k, Day 471k, Primetime primary share 32.3%

April 8: Night 4 1.24/1.24m, Afternoon 710k, Day 482k, Late night 466k, Primetime primary share 31.4%

Nine

After Nine News just over 1m, 60 Minutes performed best with 630,000, which was up over 100,000 from last week’s 518,000.

TEN

Bachelor In Paradise performed best for the channel with 611,000.

The Sunday Project did 358,000 with NCIS on 269,000.

ABC

Grand Designs did 547,000 after 7.30pm followed by a Midsomer Murders repeat on 401,000.

SBS

Two docos each pulled close to 230,000 viewers – Egypt’s Sun Kings and Hunting The Nazi Gold Train.

Week 15 TV: Sunday
SUNDAY METRO
ABCSevenNineTenSBS
ABC9.8%731.4%914.9%TEN10.1%SBS One5.7%
ABC 22.2%7TWO5.8%GO!3.6%ONE1.8%VICELAND1.0%
ABC ME0.6%7mate2.9%GEM2.3%ELEVEN1.4%Food Net0.8%
ABC News1.0%7flix2.0%9Life2.6%NITV0.1%
TOTAL13.6%42.1%23.4%13.4%7.5%
SUNDAY REGIONAL
ABCSeven AffiliatesNine AffiliatesTen AffiliatesSBS
ABC11.4%730.3%914.3%WIN7.4%SBS One5.6%
ABC 22.5%7TWO6.6%GO!4.0%ONE2.2%VICELAND0.7%
ABC ME0.9%7mate3.3%GEM3.9%ELEVEN1.2%Food Net0.9%
NEWS 240.9%7flix1.1%9Life2.4%NITV0.1%
TOTAL15.7%41.3%24.6%10.8%7.3%
SUNDAY METRO ALL TV
FTASTV
86.2%13.8%
All people rankings

Friday Top 10

  1. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Night 2 Seven 1,090,000
  2. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Evening 2 Seven 1,014,000
  3. Seven News Seven 882,000
  4. Nine News Nine 865,000
  5. Nine News 6:30 Nine 814,000
  6. Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 719,000
  7. A Current Affair Nine 610,000
  8. ABC News ABC 579,000
  9. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Late 2 Seven 566,000
  10. Hot Seat Nine 511,000

 

Saturday Top 10

  1. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Evening 3 Seven 979,000
  2. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Night 3 Seven 973,000
  3. Seven News Seven 940,000
  4. Nine News Nine 678,000
  5. Father Brown ABC 594,000
  6. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Afternoon 3 Seven 583,000
  7. ABC News ABC 576,000
  8. The Good Karma Hospital ABC 505,000
  9. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Late 3 Seven 499,000
  10. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Day 3 Seven 471,000
Sunday fta
  1. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Night 4 Seven 1,247,000
  2. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Evening 4 Seven 1,246,000
  3. Seven News Seven 1,152,000
  4. Nine News Nine 1,013,000
  5. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Afternoon 4 Seven 710,000
  6. 60 Minutes Nine 630,000
  7. ABC NewsABC 627,000
  8. Bachelor In ParadiseTen 611,000
  9. Grand Designs ABC 547,000
  10. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Day 4 Seven 482,000
  11. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Late 4 Seven 466,000
  12. Midsomer Murders (R) ABC 401,000
  13. The Sunday Project 7pm Ten 358,000
  14. Serial Killer With Piers Morgan Nine 345,000
  15. NCIS Ten 269,000
  16. Weekend Sunrise Seven 266,000
  17. Seven’s AFL: Sunday Afternoon Football Seven 256,000
  18. Ten Eyewitness NewsTen 252,000
  19. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Evening 4 Feed 2 Seven 247,000
  20. The Sunday Project 6.30pm Ten 246,000
Sunday Multichannel
  1. Seven’s AFL: Sunday Afternoon Football 7mate 256,000
  2. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Evening 4 Feed 27TWO 247,000
  3. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Night 4 Feed 27TWO 207,000
  4. Young Sheldon 9GO! 206,000
  5. Young Sheldon TX1 9GO! 200,000
  6. The Big Bang Theory TX2 9GO! 184,000
  7. Thomas And Friends-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 171,000
  8. Dinosaur Train-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 164,000
  9. Bananas In Pyjamas-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 154,000
  10. Hey Duggee-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 151,000
  11. Olobob Top-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 151,000
  12. Peppa Pig-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 148,000
  13. Fixer Upper 9Life 142,000
  14. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games: Afternoon Feed 27TWO 134,000
  15. Play School-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 133,000
  16. Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 119,000
  17. Peppa Pig-PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 118,000
  18. Good Bones 9Life 115,000
  19. Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery 9GO! 115,000
  20. Play School Celebrity Covers ABCKIDS/COMEDY 112,000
Sunday Subscription TV
  1. Live: NRL Eels V Panthers FOX LEAGUE 222,000
  2. Live: AFL West Coast V Geelong FOX FOOTY 192,000
  3. Live: NRL Titans V Sea Eagles FOX LEAGUE 169,000
  4. Live: AFL Richmond V Hawthorn FOX FOOTY 165,000
  5. Live: Supercars Tasmania Race 8 FOX SPORTS 506 161,000
  6. Live: Bounce FOX FOOTY 132,000
  7. Live: AFL Western Bulldogs V Essendon FOX SPORTS 503 126,000
  8. Live: Sunday Night With Matty Johns FOX LEAGUE 108,000
  9. Live: Supercars Live FOX SPORTS 506 80,000
  10. Live: Sunday Footy On Fox FOX FOOTY 72,000
  11. Kokoda FOX LEAGUE 68,000
  12. Live: The Masters FOX SPORTS MORE 67,000
  13. Live: Supercars Live FOX SPORTS 506 66,000
  14. Live: Dunlop Super2 Series Tasmania FOX SPORTS 506 64,000
  15. Live: Supercars Tasmania Supports FOX SPORTS 506 58,000
  16. Crimes That Shook Australia crime + investigation 58,000
  17. Transformers: The Last Knight Foxtel Movies Premiere 56,000
  18. The Beep Test FOX FOOTY 54,000
  19. Live: Supercars Live FOX SPORTS 506 52,000
  20. Live: Supercars Tasmania Qualifying 8 FOX SPORTS 506 51,000

Media News Roundup

Business Of Media

The Australian reveals former ASTRA CEO Andrew Maiden has secret new job

Andrew Maiden, former head of ASTRA, the pay-TV industry lobby group, has a secret new job. At, of all places, the ABC, reports The Australian’s Stephen Brook.

Maiden is consulting on a short-term basis to Louise Higgins, ABC chief financial officer and director of strategy, who has ambitions to make the ABC more transparent and efficient.

[Read the original]

News Brands

Trading places: As Bartholomeusz returns to Fairfax, Stensholt moves to The Oz

After Fairfax Media celebrated that movement of Stephen Bartholomeusz from The Australian back to Fairfax Media, News Corp on Saturday was celebrating the poaching of John Stensholt from The AFR to The Australian.

 

John Stensholt

The News Corp national daily reported Stensholt would be taking up a senior editorial role and head a new unit dedicated to developing content about Australia’s most successful companies and individuals.

Stensholt was the editor of The Rich List for Fairfax Media, where he began his career in journalism at BRW in 2000.

Stensholt’s best work for Fairfax Media included reporting on the business of sports media for The AFR.

The Australian’s Margin Call column was excited about the new hiring on Saturday:

There have been a lot of highlights in The Australian’s near 54-year history, but poaching John Stensholt from the Fin Review is right up there.

Yes, the brains behind The Rich List, the man with the contact book of the nation’s wealthiest 200, the trusted chronicler of billionaires ranging from “High Rise” Harry Triguboff to Mar-a-Lago’s Anthony Pratt to Swimming Australia’s number one fan Gina Rinehart, is joining The Oz. What a coup!

[Read the original]

Publishing

Bauer Media launches monthly edition of Take 5 magazine

Bauer Media has announced a new monthly incarnation of its Take 5 magazine brand, which will be published in addition to the current weekly title.

According to Take 5 editor Paul Merrill, the move comes in response to strong consumer demand.

“Our readers have told us that they want more real-life stories and puzzles, and research indicates a strong appetite for another magazine in the market, so that’s what we’re delivering,” said Merrill.

“The monthly edition is packed with more real-life stories than any other magazine in Australia.”

The new 84-page Take 5 monthly will be produced by the same team that puts out the weekly edition. May 2018’s Take 5 issue is available now for $4.99 from newsagents and supermarkets.

Bauer reports the Take 5 brand pulls a cross-platform weekly readership of over 731,000.

Television

Star’s anger: “I detest somebody using our family’s personal story for publicity”

Rebecca Gibney has used Instagram to respond to a News Corp article previewing a new episode of the ABC series Home Delivery she is featured in:

Rebecca Gibney and Julia Zemiro

I’m writing this in response to an article that was published this morning relating to a very sensitive issue in my family. I will be appearing in an episode of the ABC’s Home Delivery and in the show I have discussed my grandfather and father.

I have not seen the show and I have not been contacted for publicity nor have I given any interviews for the episode so any quotes used have not come directly from me to any journalists.

My family and I are extremely saddened that I was not contacted or informed that this article was coming out (with an appalling headline which I did not say) and I am so sad that they are using our family to sell their newspaper. It’s not on. I have always been open about my personal issues and if it helps others then my job is done.

What I do detest is somebody using our family’s personal story for publicity without even bothering to contact our family to clarify what is clearly a distressing situation for us. However, for those that have suffered any kind of abuse please know that you can get help and move forward.

My family and I are a testament to that. (And for the record, Julia Zemiro was extremely sensitive and wonderful and I loved my time with her – she is in no way responsible for this and this is not a reflection of the show).

Read News Corp stories about the episode here and here.

MasterChef getting a royal touch as Prince of Wales takes part in an episode

Australia’s premier cooking show MasterChef Australia will receive a royal touch as The Prince of Wales takes part in an episode to be filmed as part of its 10th season.

MasterChef 2018 judges: Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will welcome MasterChef Australia judges Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris to a reception for 150 guests at the Royal Flying Doctor Service base in Darwin tomorrow, catered for by this year’s contestants.

The reception is being hosted by Northern Territory Chief Minister, Michael Gunner, and the MasterChef Australia contestants have been set the challenge of catering the reception for His Royal Highness’s guests.

Gary Mehigan said: “The Prince of Wales has always been an advocate for the environment and sustainability. He is well-known as a supporter of local producers and locally sourced produce.

“With this in mind, the challenge for our contestants is to respect and reflect his philosophy and use native and indigenous flavours along with other locally sourced ingredients.

“It is not only an enormous privilege and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cook for His Royal Highness’s reception, but a challenge too,” he said.

In what is already a season full of surprises – with internationally renowned, Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay confirmed to appear alongside returning guest and domestic goddess Nigella Lawson – a royal reception is the icing on the cake.

MasterChef Australia is made for Network Ten by Endemol Shine Australia.

TV’s new reality queens: Julia Zemiro and Dannii Minogue sign on with Seven

Seven has announced that Julia Zemiro will be hosting a talent show again. Details were revealed on Sunday:

Julia Zemiro

The multi-talented Julia Zemiro will get the whole of Australia singing when she presents All Together Now.

Seven’s new singing show sees a range of talented singers (solos and groups) perform in front of the biggest judging panel Australia has ever seen. The 100 will be made up of great singers and industry professionals with big voices and even bigger opinions.

If any of The 100 like what they hear, they can stand up, join in and sing along. The greater the number that join in, the higher the act’s score.

“This is the singing show we’ve all been waiting for,” Zemiro said. “No journeys. No long stories. Just great singing. And judges? There are 100 judges! You heard right. They come from all walks of life and celebrate who we are.

“I love a big sing. And there’s something quite fabulous about a whole group of people singing their hearts out. I can’t wait to run this fabulous singing show through its paces!”

The actor, singer, writer and comedian is best known as host of the hugely popular RocKwiz and her own interview show Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery, making her one of the country’s most accomplished and best-loved presenters.

[Zemiro also co-hosted Eurovision for many years on SBS.]

At the end of the series, one act will walk away with the $100,000 cash prize.

The UK series starring Geri Halliwell is one of BBC One’s most successful new entertainment launches of the past year, with the finale delivering 3.74 million viewers with a market share of 16.6%. A second UK series has already been commissioned.

All Together Now is produced by Endemol Shine Australia for Seven.

Seven also confirmed on the weekend that Dannii Minogue would be the host of its new talent show Dance Boss – a new dance competition where teams of workers from the same workplace or profession dance off to win a cash prize of $100,000.

The series is being made for the channel by Seven Studios.

Minogue will be joined on the program by two yet-to-be-announced celebrity judges and a resident DJ.

Angus Ross, Seven’s director of programming, says: “We’re delighted to have Dannii leading this project. Her global success and skill as a performer, matched with her warmth and empathy as a mentor, make her a natural fit for this role.”

In each episode, the teams face off in staged dance battles. They are judged and scored on entertainment factor.

Eventually 12 crews will be whittled down to one winning crew who will be crowned “Dance Boss Australia”!

Radio

Brisbane’s Nova 106.9 starts second week broadcasting from the #GC2018

Brisbane’s Nova 106.9 has started its second week broadcasting from the Gold Coast as it continues its role as the official FM broadcaster of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Ash, Kip and Luttsy on the Gold Coast last week with Nova daytime announcers Greg Burns and Katie Mattin

The Nova Brisbane team has relocated to Broadbeach for the duration of the Games, broadcasting daily from a pop-up studio at The Star Casino.

Last week breakfast show hosts Ash, Kip & Luttsy grilled co-host, Susie “Madam Butterfly” O’Neill, regarding her possible involvement with the Opening Ceremony, even presenting her with photographic evidence of a green room back of house at Metricon Stadium with her name on the door, to get her to confess she was part of the ceremony.

But O’Neill insisted to each of them she was not involved in any way.

Her lie was revealed when the Queen’s baton arrived at the Stadium in a Kombi van, and out popped O’Neill holding it.

O’Neill felt so bad about lying to the boys, both on and off air, that she recorded a special message from the Kombi for them.

Watch the message here.

The boys weren’t so forgiving and played a montage of her lies on air the following day.

While Nova is broadcasting from the Gold Coast, O’Neill has relinquished her spot in a popular show segment to athletes competing in the Commonwealth Games.

“Are you smarter than Suse” is the game where listeners call in to compete in an on-air quiz to see if they can take down the sporting superstar.

Each day during the Commonwealth Games broadcast, O’Neill is replaced by a different Australian athlete. The results so far have been mixed with only the Australian diver, Georgie Sheehan, beating her listener so far. Damon Kelly, Riley Day, Melissa Wu, Michelle Jenneke and Demi Hayes represent Team #GC2018 this week.

Meanwhile O’Neill will resume her role as Brisbane’s quiz queen when Nova returns to Brisbane Monday April 23.

 

SEN 1116 brekky innovation: Andy Maher calls The Masters from Augusta

The new management in control at Melbourne’s specialist sports broadcaster SEN 1116 continues to innovate with afternoon host Andy Maher broadcasting the action from The Masters in Augusta, Georgia.

Maher called the last two rounds of the golf tournament with the final round taking over the station this morning.

The big finish for the tournament replaced the Garry Lyon and Tim Watson breakfast show this morning, although Lyon and Watson were on duty anchoring the coverage from Melbourne. They also managed to fit in some footy chat for listeners complaining they were not terribly interested in the golf.

Sports Media

Reality TV: Wild few days as cricket rights talks splashed all over the media

The cricket broadcast rights negotiations continue under the media spotlight with reports on Friday that Fox Sports had withdrawn its offer.

Darren Davidson in The Australian:

Cricket Australia’s high-stakes talks with television networks over a new multimillion-dollar media rights deal hit a roadblock last night as Foxtel took its offer off the table after a breakdown in talks on Thursday.

While the move leaves the door wide open for the free-to-air networks to make bids without the financial firepower of Foxtel and Fox Sports currently in the mix, Cricket Australia is unlikely to reach a $1 billion target without the pay-TV broadcasters.

Ten is still in negotiations with Cricket Australia, while Nine has not held recent talks. Seven has lodged a firm bid and could team up with the pay-TV networks.

[Read the original]

Fairfax Media’s Jon Pierik on Saturday:

Cricket Australia insists broadcast negotiations remain firmly in play despite a tumultuous week that threatened to derail its bid for a record payday.

Sources claim Fox Sports was riled that a series of demands may not be met, ending a hook-up with CA executives declaring it was out of the hunt for the rights, a point company chiefs then relayed to the company’s tabloid newspapers.

However, CA says negotiations were expected to be ongoing over the weekend, with a new deal likely to be announced within a fortnight. CA’s negotiations have been led by general manager of media, communications and marketing Ben Amarfio and general manager, media rights Stephanie Beltrame.

[Read the original]

The AFR’s Max Mason reported on Sunday:

Nine Entertainment and Network Ten have put a new and improved offer on the table for Cricket Australia’s broadcast rights to keep the sport exclusively on free-to-air television for the next six years.

The new bid, understood to be valued around $150 million annually, or $900 million over the six years of the deal, would see Ten retain the Big Bash League while Nine would keep the Test matches. But international Twenty20 and 50-over matches would switch from Nine to Ten under the new offer.

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Fairfax Media’s Jennifer Duke added some colour:

News showed its hand in a phone conference with CA around midday. Foxtel director of sports Peter Campbell hung up on Cricket Australia’s negotiating team, which includes general manager of media Ben Amarfio and general manager of media rights Stephanie Beltrame.

By the end of Friday, sources say News Corp was speaking to Cricket Australia executives again.

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The AFR’s Joe Aston wrote in Rear Window on Monday:

As with just about everything Cricket Australia touches, the sport’s open broadcast rights negotiations have descended into farce, such an utter shambles we could be watching the fourth Test at the Wanderers.

[Aston also noted] News Corp’s global co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch arrives in Australia on Tuesday.

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Rich Lister Kestelman ready to sell his National Basketball League team

Financial Review Rich Lister Larry Kestelman has a big off-season coming up for his National Basketball League, reports The AFR’s soon-to-depart John Stensholt.

Kestelman’s first order of business is to sell the majority of his Melbourne United team, he reveals to The Australian Financial Review.

The club recently won the NBL championship in a thrilling five-game finals series against the Adelaide 36ers. Kestelman wants several buyers to take majority control in transactions that he believes could value United about $10 million.

Kestelman, who took control of the league in a $7 million deal in 2015, has also tasked former AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou and Demetriou’s former deputy Ben Buckley, the ex-Football Federation Australia CEO, with finding a lucrative TV deal for the league before the next season begins in October.

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