Biggest movers
UP: WSFM/Macquarie Sports Radio + 0.2″
DOWN: smoothfm 95.3 -0.8
Read more: Sydney Radio Ratings: GfK Survey 5
• 3AW well ahead, Fox #1 FM, challenged by smooth & Gold
Biggest movers
UP: Gold 104.3 +0.8
DOWN: 3AW -0.4
Read more: Melbourne Radio Ratings: GfK Survey 5
• Welcome back Bianca, Mike & Bob, 97.3 closes in on Nova
Biggest movers
UP: 97.3FM +1.7
DOWN: 4BC -1.1
Read more: Brisbane Radio Ratings: GfK Survey 5
• Nathan, Nat & Shaun increase lead, but here come Fred & Lisa
Biggest movers
UP: 96FM +3.0
DOWN: Mix 94.5 -0.4
Read more: Perth Radio Ratings: GfK Survey 5
• Mix pushes further ahead, but Penbo & Will remain brekky #1
Biggest movers
UP: Mix 102.3 +1.2
DOWN: Hit 107 -0.4
Read more: Adelaide Radio Ratings: GfK Survey 5
By James Manning
Southern Cross Austereo was able to report in its full year results last week that group audio revenue was up 2.4%. The growth was driven by a 9.2% increase in national revenues.
Part of the strategy keeping advertisers locked in is offering them access to the SCA “digital stack” – combining FM and DAB+ audiences.
CEO Grant Blackley told the earnings call last week about two new DAB+ radio brands, without revealing what they were. He later told Mediaweek they would be completely new brands with one sitting within the Hit Network digital umbrella, and the other aligned to the Triple M suite of digital stations.
“We are building incremental unduplicated listening through a content suite that will drive audience. It will add to the gravitas of our FM radio strategy and gives another reason for advertisers to pay more attention to SCA.”
SCA has close to 50% of the available band width, which so far carries eight digital radio brands, with two more to come shortly. “We still have room for further brands in the future,” he added.
“These stations have added a meaningful audience and expanded our share of listening.”
After the release of the GfK Survey 5 results yesterday, SCA claimed that its audio stack gives it the biggest audience of people 18-39 and 25-54 in Australia.
In Mediaweek’s recent interview with Blackley, he noted the challenging ad market.
“July and August continue to trade below last year across the market. We see September flattening out.
“One core issue for both TV and radio to focus on is the success of Boomtown and the continuing education of national advertisers as to the economics and viability of regional markets. What we have seen is a substantial increase in spend.
“We had about 13% compound growth two years ago and we have backed that up with 9.2% growth this year. National marketers are increasingly seeing it as a good proposition and that helps offset was has been a softer local market for all the reasons we know.”
See also:
TV & radio giant Southern Cross Austereo’s net profit climbs 3% to $76m
Although SCA has regional TV affiliate deals with both Nine and Seven, their major regional partner is Nine. “What Nine has displayed in the last couple of years is the ability and willingness to invest in content. They have brought new formats to market, excited the market and given us all something to sell.
“There seems to be an ongoing trend where Nine continues to invest, allowing us to monetise those franchises into the regional market.
“If you look at the fundamental earnings, it’s not only the affiliation change, but all of the things we have done progressively over the past three years to create a more efficient business of TV by outsourcing certain back of house functions, whilst at the same time investing in our sales capability at the front of house.
“The combination this year has driven a growth of 1.2% in earnings, a solid outcome in a difficult market over the past 12 months.”
One initiative helping drive its audio segment is PodcastOne with Blackley revealing it is heading for profit. “We are just about to hit 150m downloads over an 18 month period which is nothing short of astronomical.”
Blackley noted they didn’t start the PodcastOne monetisation process until the platform had been operating for six months.
“We are now accelerating monetisation and we expect to break even on a cash-flow basis by June 30, 2020. The division will then start to make a positive contribution to the group earnings the following year.”
SCA has some ambitious plans after its PodcastOne success.
“We are one of the largest, if not the largest, audio provider in the southern hemisphere and it is incumbent on us to look for new platforms. We will dedicate at least $5m in a combination of OpEx and CapEx to develop new audio products which are not yet in market. You could see something new by Christmas, but more to follow mid-2020.”
Stranger Things has taken its streak atop the TV Demand charts to double digits after maintaining dominance for its 10th straight week thanks to its third season which was released on July 4.
The fresh face in this week’s charts is Netflix’s Mindhunter which released its second season on August 16 on the online streaming platform. The crime thriller is created by Joe Penhall, based on the book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit written by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker.
Mindhunter revolves around FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) as well as psychologist Wendy Carr (Anna Torv) in the formative years of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit within the Training Division at the FBI Academy in Quantico. The show centres around interviewing imprisoned serial killers in an attempt to understand how they think, with the hope of applying this knowledge to solve ongoing cases.
Season one was released on Netflix on October 13, 2017, and is set between 1977–80 in the early days of criminal psychology and criminal profiling at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the second Season set between 1980–81 and covers the Atlanta murders of 1979–81.
Outside of this, it has been a quiet week with the usual suspects occupying the chart with The Boys and Orange Is the New Black rounding out the top three of the Overall TV chart in Australia.
By James Manning
• Seven News 966,000/936,000
• Nine News 910,000/929,000
• A Current Affair 816,000
• ABC News 609,000
• 7.30 500,000
• The Project 309,000/512,000
• 10 News First 372,000
• The Drum 167,000
• SBS World News 133,000
• Sunrise 285,000
• Today 198,000
The primary channel seems ill prepared for the ratings battle this week. It is just the early evening hour of news at 6pm and then Home And Away that is keeping Seven’s share competitive. Seven ranked third last night 25-54 behind Seven and 10, but it wasn’t far off the pace.
Seven fell short at 7.30pm when Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly trailed the reality franchises on Nine and 10. The Dogs did 463,000 after 519,000 last week.
Seven then launched the latest in what has been a poor collection of dating/relationship reality shows. This one was called The Proposal and it managed 307,000 on debut. That’s half of what the final episode (ever?) of Denton did in this timeslot a fortnight ago.
A Current Affair dropped a little from Monday, but managed to keep above 800,000 to win the timeslot again. Amongst its reports was the revelation that former Aussie soap star Susan Hannaford is taking legal action against 22 people – including Seven’s Kerry Stokes and Matt Doran, following an interview on Seven’s Sunday Night.
The Block then continued with family bathroom week and there was some drama at the first body corporate meeting. The audience was 883,000 after 852,000 a week ago.
SeaChange then did 548,000, close to last week’s 555,000 and a number that should be more than acceptable now at this time of night.
The Project was on 512,000 after 7pm with supermodel Adut Akech and comedian Anne Edmonds amongst the guests.
Australian Survivor continues to deliver big time this season. The audience of just over 800,000 was the biggest Tuesday audience in six seasons and it is the third time over 800,000 this season. The show won its timeslot (it went until around 9pm) and ranked #1 under 50 and in all key demos. The mullet man was voted out as John joined the jury. Early in the episode Daisy found the immunity idol that was returned to the game after David left. Janine and Abbey won the reward challenge, a Chinese meal, and Simon won immunity.
Two episodes of NCIS followed with 230,000 and 157,000.
Foreign Correspondent did 409,000 at 8pm.
The audience then climbed to 478,000 for the five-part Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds.
The Jane Caro doco New Dads then did 282,000.
The final of the four-part London: 2000 Years Of History did 233,000 and could again be the channel’s #1 show this week.
Insight followed on 195,000.
TUESDAY METRO | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
ABC | 11.5% | 7 | 15.9% | 9 | 21.4% | 10 | 15.1% | SBS One | 4.6% |
ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.6% | 7TWO | 3.0% | GO! | 2.4% | 10 Bold | 3.8% | VICELAND | 1.3% |
ABC ME | 0.6% | 7mate | 3.6% | GEM | 3.4% | 10 Peach | 2.4% | Food Net | 1.1% |
ABC NEWS | 1.1% | 7flix | 3.0% | 9Life | 1.9% | NITV | 0.1% | ||
7Food | 0.6% | SBS World Movies | 0.6% | ||||||
TOTAL | 15.8% | 26.0% | 29.1% | 21.4% | 7.8% |
TUESDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
ABC | 10.1% | 7 | 17.0% | 9 | 17.3% | WIN | 10.4% | SBS One | 4.5% |
ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.5% | 7TWO | 5.0% | GO! | 3.3% | WIN Bold | 3.6% | VICELAND | 1.7% |
ABC ME | 1.0% | 7mate | 6.7% | GEM | 5.6% | WIN Peach | 2.0% | Food Net | 0.9% |
ABC NEWS | 1.0% | 7flix (Excl. Tas/WA) | 3.0% | 9Life | 1.5% | Sky News on WIN | 2.3% | NITV | 0.2% |
7food (QLD only) | 0.5% | ||||||||
TOTAL | 14.6% | 32.2% | 27.7% | 18.2% | 7.3% |
16-39 Top Five
18-49 Top Five
25-54 Top Five
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
The deal would likely require the support of both advertising mogul Singleton, who owns 32.4 per cent of the business, and Carnegie who has a 3.6 per cent stake.
Sources close to the major shareholders have now confirmed they are expecting to agree with the offer, which has been described by some investors as “disappointing”, should an independent report from PwC recommend it be accepted.
Macquarie Media chief executive Adam Lang declined to comment on what the major shareholders would do, but confirmed the PwC report was due within two weeks. Nine declined to comment.
The offers, which will only be available in the US, give Disney+ customers extra content and a cheaper monthly spend.
The first deal involves a Disney group bundle, which will give a bundle of Disney product for one low price.
The US-only offer is offering three subscription products – Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ – for the price of US$12.99. That is coincidentally the same cost as a single subscription to Netflix.
The Hollywood Reporter has commissioned research into the bundling offer and found that 42% of millennials are likely to take up that offer. Bundling sports at a low cost is a silver bullet for building streaming audiences, something News Corp’s Foxtel recently confirmed with the success of its $25 monthly Kayo product.
The other Disney+ offer unveiled this week involves a price break for customers committing for three years. The deal is only open for D23 members, but there is no cost to join the official Disney Fan Club. You can bet membership could soar off the back of this offer.
The cost of a US Disney+ subscription is only US$6.99 monthly, but this new offer drops the monthly charge to just $3.92 a month. The catch, in addition to having to join D23, subscribers must commit to three years with Disney+ and pay for that subscription upfront – $141.
Doyle has nearly 40 years’ experience as a print, radio and television journalist, with her media career starting with a cadetship at a newspaper in far north Queensland in 1980.
In 1981 Doyle moved with her husband Ian to SA where she worked for The Recorder newspaper in Port Pirie and ABC Radio station 5CK as a casual announcer until 1983 when the couple moved to Adelaide.
Doyle returned to print journalism with a two-and-a-half-year stint as TV Week’s Adelaide bureau chief before joining ABC Adelaide in 1986 where she worked in radio and television until 1989.
Doyle joined 7News in 1989 and has continued in that role while undertaking a wide range of other broadcast duties for Seven Adelaide.
She read her first 7News bulletin on August 28, 1989.
7News Adelaide news director Chris Salter said: “Not a day goes by when Jane doesn’t bring her A game, her professionalism is second to none.
“Jane is far more than newsreader, she’s the matriarch of the newsroom – a friend and mentor to so many.
“To be welcomed into the homes of South Australians for three decades is an incredible achievement. At a time when news comes from more sources than ever, Jane and John bring experience, trust and credibility. It’s why more people are switching to 7News.”
Last year 7NEWS with Jane Doyle and John Riddell was the #1 regular program on television in SA – out ranking every other regular entertainment or sporting program on offer across all networks.
In March this year 7News clocked up 500 successive weeks at #1 in survey – a record landmark moment for television in South Australia, cementing the longest running victory on record of any news bulletin in Adelaide.
The winning sequence started in August 2006.
This year will mark 7News Adelaide’s 19th consecutive year at #1.
However, there is a “hard” currency that remains constant that drives consumers to return to, or reject, brands and channels and that is Trust and Distrust.
For media channels and brands to survive and thrive they must build Trust and crucially, minimise Distrust. While a high level of Trust will keep audiences engaged and coming back, a high, or increasing, level of Distrust will drive audiences (consumers) away – perhaps never to return.
Trust and Distrust of Media Channels
• More Australians Trust ‘newspapers’ than any other channel – but down from 2018, ahead of Television, News & Newspaper Websites, Social Media, Radio and Magazines
• Social Media is the most Distrusted media channel – but down from a year ago, followed by Print, Newspapers, Television, Magazines, News & Newspaper Websites and Radio
Trust and Distrust of Media Corporations
• ABC is by far the most Trusted media corporation followed by Nine Entertainment, SBS, Newscorp, Facebook, Seven West Media, Google/Alphabet Group and Schwartz Media
• The most Distrusted media corporation is Facebook, although its Distrust has improved significantly since 2018, ahead of Newscorp, Nine Entertainment, Seven West Media, ABC and Fox
Trust and Distrust of Media Brands
• On a Net Trust Score basis the ABC is a clear leader ahead of SBS, The Guardian, BBC, SMH, Schwartz Media, NY Times, AFR, The Age and Al Jazeera
• Facebook is at the bottom with the lowest Net Trust Score: Facebook followed by Nine Network, Twitter, Instagram, Seven Network, Foxtel, The Daily Telegraph, Ten Network and Herald Sun
• In a fake-news world impartiality, balance & accuracy remain key drivers of TRUST in media
• Whereas bias, poor journalism & data privacy concerns are key drivers of DISTRUST
Where do Australians get their news?
• TV is the preferred news channel for Australians ahead of Newspapers, Radio, Social Media and Newsfeed sites
• Now 60% of people mainly get their news via the Internet in some form – up from 58% a year ago
• Radio has dipped slightly in recent years but still reaches nearly four-fifths of Australians with Commercial Radio easily the preferred channel however there is strong growth for the downloading of Radio & Music Apps and for use of Spotify over the last few years
Off the back of continuing strong ratings in GfK Survey 5 yesterday, the station has taken the unusual step of releasing a public message to clients.
The message, from Macquarie Media head of commercial Mark Noakes (pictured), comes after unconfirmed claims that as many as 70 advertisers have now stopped advertising in the Alan Jones breakfast show.
The message from Noakes reads:
“For 122 consecutive surveys, spanning more than 15 years, Sydney listeners have voted 2GB as their favourite radio station. Our audiences have proven to be not only substantial in number, but also incredibly loyal to our stations and presenters.
“In a challenging and results-driven commercial environment, advertisers are searching for the most successful ways to connect their brand with their target audience. There is no denying Macquarie Media’s track record of success and these latest audience figures solidify Macquarie Media’s standing as an attractive commercial proposition for any advertiser.
“We remain grateful to our commercial partners for continuing to choose Macquarie Media’s channels to connect with their customers.”
Although not referring directly to the controversy surrounding the 2GB breakfast show, Macquarie Media CEO Adam Lang also commented yesterday:
“Our entire team – on-air and off – remains focussed on delivering the best possible programs for our loyal audiences, and strong results for our clients and shareholders.”
Commenting on the ratings result, Lang added:
“We are absolutely delighted that News Talk 2GB873 has again been recognised as the number one radio station in Sydney.
“The 2GB success can be attributed to the strength of our line-up, led by Alan Jones, Ray Hadley, Steve Price, Ben Fordham, Ross Greenwood, John Stanley, Michael McLaren, George and Paul, and The Continuous Call Team. We pride ourselves on providing a forum where audiences can be informed, engaged and express themselves.
“It is also pleasing to see the continued growth of our national sports network, Macquarie Sports Radio, which is clearly resonating with listeners, right across the country.
“We remain conscious of the fact that listeners have a choice – a choice of which stations they listen to and a choice of which programs they tune in for. It is gratifying to know that so many people continue to choose to listen to News Talk 2GB 873 and Macquarie Sports Radio and our experienced broadcasters.”
The team are broadcasting from Charleville, St George and Roma, sharing the locals’ stories on-air, raising much-needed funds and giving people some well-deserved laughs when Nick Cody puts on a free comedy show for the community each night.
Road trip schedule
Monday: The hosts spoke with Kylee from Gidgees Bush Camp about her farm stay, café, mental health and drought in the community, to Charleville Mayor Annie Liston and to other locals before Nick Cody and Mel Buttle put on a cracking comedy night at the Charleville RSL.
Tuesday: The team broadcast live from the Charleville RSL and travelled to St George, chatting to St George Mayor Richard Marsh before Nick and Mel performed again at The Australian Hotel.
Wednesday: The Triple M breakfast show broadcast from The Australian Hotel in St George, visited a property near Roma, chatted to the owner of Royal on 99 at Roma (the pub) and Nick and Mel will perform at the pub as well.
Thursday: Breakfast will broadcast live from Royal on 99 in Roma, Dobbo will head to the Roma Cattle Yards for Prime sales and the crew all head home, coverage in dust and full of stories.
Marto said: “For those of us who live in Brisbane it’s sometimes easy to forget the devastating impact the sustained drought is having on our rural and regional towns. For those drought-declared communities (who represent 65% of the state), the lack of rain over several years has resulted in failed crops, poor pasture growth and significant concerns about stock, irrigation and rural domestic water supplies. Not to mention the impact it has had on the mental health of those people trying to survive the harsh and stressful conditions. That’s why this radio road trip is important. It’s important we head out west, to the homes of our fellow Queenslanders and share their stories with their city friends, because we are all in this together.”
Triple M’s Dobbo knows firsthand the impact of drought having worked on rural properties for much of his life including as a jackeroo, stock and station agent and meat wholesaler:
“Folks on the land are doing it tough and it’s important that those of us who are in a privileged position do everything we can to make sure their voices are heard. We all need to dig deep and help our rural brothers and sisters because the fact is, without farmers, none of us eat.”
Seven desperately needs to refresh its television program offering if it is to avoid ratings declines in 2020.
The yearly kickstart from the Australian Open tennis is gone. My Kitchen Rules’ glory days are over. House Rules is also on the wane and host Johanna Griggs recently quit the program. Relationship show The Super Switch was a monumental flop, quickly dispatched to digital channel 7flix.
Now Seven has to endure three months of pain against The Block, which has been a thorn in its side for years.
Seven is convinced that light entertainment is the way to combat Nine’s renovation show but I have my doubts.
Last year it tried and failed with Dance Boss, Take Me Out and All Together Now. This year it has had slightly better luck with Australia’s Got Talent but at what cost? The format rights and production costs are enormous.
I can’t think of a single Seven show this year that has created any buzz and Warburton would know that Seven’s audience skews so old.
He couldn’t be too upset, though: “To be honest, I’m pretty happy I went out like that – it really is the most humane way to put someone down. To be blindsided means that you’re a massive player and people recognise that,” he said.
David’s elimination on Monday made him the second member of the jury this season – joining his biggest nemesis in the game, former AFL player Shaun Hampson.
The pair had been gunning for each other since David gave Shaun a false idol early in the season, and Shaun couldn’t contain his glee as David was sent packing.
But their eliminations as the first and second jury members presented them with an awkward situation: stuck alone together at jury villa for several days, waiting to be joined by another contestant.
Shaun told news.com.au they had a surprisingly great time together back at jury villa.