Wednesday August 8, 2018

Ed Gannon: Digital subs part of News Corp Australia’s rural division

Ed Gannon holds two key roles at News Corp Australia. He is the editor of Australia’s biggest rural paper, The Weekly Times, and the publisher of News Corp Rural.

By Kruti Joshi

The latter role started after the Murdoch-owned media company acquired Australian Regional Media’s NSW and Queensland newspapers in 2016. News Corp Rural includes The Weekly Times, Tasmanian Country and The Rural Weekly.

“There has been a lot of focus on the rural market in the last few years,” Gannon told Mediaweek. “With the demand that’s coming from China for protein, dairy and fruits and veggies, Australia has a pretty strong agriculture market, notwithstanding the droughts.

“It’s important to remember that droughts are a part of the cycle. Business people realise that there will be an upturn.

“There are a lot of businesses looking at the agriculture market and that’s a strong thing for us.”

Therefore, News Corp Rural mastheads pursue a lot of on-farm and agribusiness stories.

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

Netflix
Two SVOD surveys show why Foxtel eager to enter streaming market

Foxtel has been working on new SVOD products, which it expects to launch into market soon.

Two new SVOD market surveys in the past week – from Roy Morgan and Telsyte – have detailed the size of the growing audience demand in Australia.

Roy Morgan reported:

Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) juggernaut Netflix has continued its impressive growth over the last year with over 9.8 million Australians in the June 2018 quarter now having a Netflix subscription in their household – up nearly 30% on a year ago.

If the growth trend continues, over 10 million Australians will have access to Netflix content during the current September 2018 quarter based on the growth shown by Roy Morgan Single Source interviews with more than 50,000 Australians over the last 12 months.

Now over 13 million Australians have access to some form of pay TV/subscription TV, up 11.7% on a year ago, and it’s not just Netflix driving the increase.

Over 2 million Australians can now view content via Stan, up 39.2% on a year ago, and growing at a faster rate than Netflix over the last year. Stan is set to be fully owned by the Nine Entertainment Company following its merger with Fairfax.

There were other big increases including for the rebranded YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red), now with over 1 million users, up 38.5% on a year ago, while the biggest percentage increases were for Fetch, up 40.5% to 710,000 users, and Amazon Prime Video, up 87.7% to 273,000 users.

Telsyte reported:

The Australian subscription video on demand (SVOD) services market continues to grow strongly reaching 9.1 million subscriptions at the end of June 2018, a year-on-year increase of 54%, according to new research from emerging technology analyst firm Telsyte.

Over the same period, SVOD revenues in Australia grew substantially (up 90%) reaching over $700m at the end of the 2018 financial year.

Telsyte forecasts Australians will hold more than twice as many SVOD subscriptions (22 million) by the end of June 2022.

In total, Telsyte estimates 43% of Australian households subscribed to SVOD services at the end of June 2018, an increase from around 30% a year ago. This compares to around 70% in the USA and 60% in the UK, showing the growth opportunity within the next few years.

The market leader is Netflix with around 3.9 million subscriptions, with Stan in second place with a little over 1 million. However, new services (e.g. Amazon Prime, Foxtel Now) and a growing list of popular sports and special interests are collectively feeding Australians’ hunger for video content.

New SVOD services, including potentially those from Disney, HBO and various sporting codes, are expected to appeal to even more audiences.

Telsyte research shows Australians are increasingly comfortable with subscription-based entertainment services with millions turning to subscriptions for SVOD, music (e.g. Spotify, Apple Music), and game console subscriptions (e.g. PlayStation Plus, Xbox Live Gold).

The uptake of SVOD services is putting pressure on traditional pay TV, which is found in around one-third of Australian households (end of June 2018), a similar level to 2017. The growth of Fetch TV, that allows access to both SVOD and Pay TV content via its set-top boxes, offset the decline in Foxtel subscriptions.

Telsyte Managing Director, Foad Fadaghi, says the SVOD market is not showing signs of being “winner takes all”.

“Consumers are becoming comfortable with multiple subscriptions and are subscribing to different providers for exclusive content and live sports,” Fadaghi says.

Sports a big winner for SVOD, says Telsyte

Australians’ love for sports has been a big driver for SVOD, with sporting codes like AFL, NRL, and Netball (all exclusive to Telstra) showing strong demand, with usage exceeding the reported 1.5 million subscriptions in February 2018. Other popular niche services include UFC, NBA and MLB.

Despite the technical issues, Telsyte estimates more than 2 million Australians watched the FIFA World Cup in June 2018 via Optus Sport.

Meanwhile, according to Telsyte, growth in uptake of catch-up and live traditional TV streaming services – sometimes called broadcast VOD (i.e. 7plus, 9Now, tenplay, ABC iview, SBS On Demand) – has slowed down, with SVOD penetration on track to overtake it. Telsyte estimates there are currently 4.1 million households with SVOD services versus 5.2 million households with broadcast VOD.

However, BVOD and ad-free services in the case of ABC iview, continue to be an important channel for children’s content with more than 5.5 million children viewing these services, a 6% year-on-year increase.

Pacific appoints Danielle Lowry head of commercial product

As Pacific continues to build its digital sales leadership team, the company has announced the appointment of Danielle Lowry (pictured) to the role of head of commercial product.

Lowry joins the publisher following roles at Domain, Yahoo7 and MCN, where she held a combination of product management and commercial positions.

As head of commercial product, Lowry will drive Pacific’s video and native content strategies as the business looks to capitalise on its rich seam of video assets.

Lowry will build out the product and commercial model as she works with Pacific’s masthead brands on new formats to engage the audience of Australia’s number one women’s network, which has a unique audience of 2.4 million according to the latest Nielsen figures.

In addition to connecting clients to Pacific’s stable of market-leading brands through video, Lowry will also be responsible for rich brand storytelling formats across digital and social platforms.

Nicole Bence, commercial director for Pacific, said: “Danielle is playing a major role in our digital success, particularly in video, which is our fastest growing revenue stream. She is the perfect person to help us grow our video and native offering as we look for ways to meet growing client demand.”

Lowry said: “I’m excited to join Pacific, a business that is deeply passionate about building digital communities around its brands. This is a great opportunity for me to combine my product and commercial skills as I accelerate revenue growth for a business that is in transition.”

TEN gives viewers their first look at August pilot week schedule

• A Brand New Show. Every Single Night.
• From sketch comedy and Sam Dastyari on Sunday to Rove (Live) on Saturday

Eight original pilot episodes that the broadcaster is hoping audiences will find entertaining and thought-provoking will premiere on TEN and WIN Network from Sunday August 19 allowing audiences to have their say on what will become a successfully commissioned television series.

Every night across the week, viewers will be treated to a selection of unique pilots of domestically produced television programs, covering different genres.

Audience reaction, social buzz and ratings will help decide what shows will return to Australian television screens in 2019.

TEN has released the full schedule for the Pilot Week programming initiative:

• Skit Happens (pictured). Premieres Sunday August 19 at 8pm

Produced by CJZ

Nothing is safe from a Skit Happens parody, when the nation’s up-and-coming comedians including Jenna Owen, Heath Franklin, Vita Carbone, Stuart Daulman, Janis McGavin, Josh Glanc and Neel Kolhatkar join forces for Network Ten’s first sketch comedy in 12 years.

• Disgrace! Premieres Sunday August 19 at 8.30pm

Produced by CJZ

The world is full of disgrace and outrage. Shunned politician Sam Dastyari and the team behind Gruen and The Chaser manage the latest outbreak of outrage in a half-hour of opinion, insight and laughs.

• Drunk History. Premieres Monday August 20 at 9.30pm

Produced by Eureka Productions

• Rhys Darby and Stephen Curry pour themselves a drink in the international hit comedy format that takes Australia’s rich and often surprising history and re-tells it through the words of our most loved comedians and entertainers. Starring Gyton Grantley, Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald, Anthony “Lehmo” Lehmann and Gretta Lee Jackson.

• Taboo. Premieres Tuesday August 21 at 9.00pm

Taboo cast

Produced by Lune Media

Taboo has broken audience records in its country of origin, Belgium. The premise is as confronting as it is simple. The very funny Harley Breen spends five days and nights with members of a disadvantaged group in society and uses the experience to perform a stand-up routine about them – with the subjects sitting in the front row.

• Kinne Tonight. Premieres Wednesday August 22 at 9.00pm

Produced by Kinne Productions and Big Yellow Taxi Productions

Comedian Troy Kinne ditches the stress of modern life, bringing hard-working Australians a fast-paced half-hour of laughter.

• Trial By Kyle. Premieres Thursday August 23 at 8.30pm

Produced by Screentime

The toughest cases, biggest celebrities and genuine disputes can only be settled by one man, radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands. As Kyle carefully unravels each case, former The Bachelor Australia star and criminal lawyer Anna Heinrich is on hand to assist in forensically analysing the evidence.

• Dave. Premieres Friday August 24 at 8.30pm

Dave cast

Produced by Studio Bento

Funny-man Dave O’Neil opens the doors to his crazy life with on-air wife Emily Taheny in a half-hour narrative comedy. Expect laughter, tears and the appreciation of not being Dave.

• Bring Back… Saturday Night. Premieres Saturday August 25 at 7.30pm.

Produced by Roving Enterprises

Join Rove’s quest to reunite Australia’s greatest acts, bands, and television faces in a generation-bending live television show where young performers will bring back the best of the past, and old-school entertainers will be challenged with reinvention.

Top Photo: Skit Happens cast

Network Ten promotes Gareth Tomlin to lead data, insights and analytics

Ten has appointed of Gareth Tomlin to the new role of general manager, data, insights and analytics, effective immediately.

Tomlin, who was previously Ten’s head of research, will be responsible for research, data strategy, analytics and insights across the company, including the content, advertising sales and digital divisions. He will report to chief content officer Beverley McGarvey.

Katherine Sawers will continue in her role as head of research projects.

McGarvey said: “Gareth has been an important part of the Network Ten team for more than five years. His new role recognises his valuable contribution to our business and the importance of the data, analytics and insights function.

“Gareth’s appointment is another step in building our data, analytics and insights capabilities. As one of Australia’s leading media and entertainment companies, we need to be constantly investing in data and insights to enhance our content and create new opportunities for our advertisers.”

Ten chief sales officer Rod Prosser said: “Data, analytics and insights are a vital part of the new advertising sales department we are establishing at Network Ten and Gareth is the perfect person to lead that area for us.

“Our aim is for the new advertising sales department to be the best at delivering great solutions for our clients. Providing world-class data and insights is an important part of that plan. Gareth and his team will also be focused on developing all-platform addressable trading solutions for our advertisers, working closely with their counterparts at CBS.”

Nova announces ticketing details for 2018 smooth Festival of Chocolate

Nova Entertainment has revealed ticketing information and lineup for its fifth annual smooth Festival of Chocolate.

This is the first time it will be a ticketed event. The festival will take place at Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park on September 1-2.

A single day adult ticket will cost $23 and a single day children’s ticket (5-17 years) is $17. Family ticket to the festival, which includes two adults and three children, is $55.

For every ticket sold to the festival, two meals will be donated to Australia’s leading food rescue charity, OzHarvest, and every ticket holder will go in the running to win a trip for two to Macao with Macao Tourism.

Dessert king Adriano Zumbo will return to the event this year to present a live cooking demonstration in the Callebaut Test Kitchen. Former Masterchef contestant Reynold Poernomo from Koi Dessert Bar and Rockpool Dining Group’s Riccardo Falcone will also be there. Australia’s Queen of Chocolate, Kirsten Tibballs, will launch Callebaut’s brand new flavour of chocolate, the RB1 Ruby Chocolate, with a demonstration of her RB1 Ruby Chocolate Raspberry and Peanut Tart.

The smooth Festival of Chocolate will feature special guests Nick Jr’s PAW Patrol, Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, along with characters from Sesame Street and The Smurfs. This zone will also provide kids with the opportunity to get involved in live and interactive cooking demonstrations with Baked by Andres and N2 Extreme Gelato.

All the information and content from this year’s festival will be housed on www.smoothfestivalofchocolate.com.au and on Instagram @smoothchocfest.

Top Photo: Glenn Daniel Bogart Torelli Ty Frost Melissa Doyle and Cameron Daddo at the 2017 Festival Of Chocolate

TV Ratings Analysis August

• The Block audience dips below 1m, but Nine clear Tuesday winner
• Final episodes of Interview With Andrew Denton & War On Waste

By James Manning

Seven

After opening its week just over 700,000, Home And Away did 672,000 last night.

The second episode of Dance Boss did 573,000 after launching with 599,000.

The final episode of Interview With Andrew Denton did 473,000.

Nine

A Current Affair was on 869,000 after 854,000 on Monday.

The first Tuesday of The Block was down on its previous episodes, but it was still the biggest entertainment show and well ahead of its competitors.

The Block: Season 14, Week 1

Sunday 1.16m

Monday 1.13m

Tuesday 921,000

True Story With Hamish & Andy launched its second season with 749,000. The first four episodes last year were all over 1m, but in an earlier timeslot on a different night.

Although Working Dog powered the TEN schedule on Sunday and Monday this week, it helped Nine last night too. Rob Sitch was a guest star in True Story and then Nine showed the Aussie classic The Castle with 368,000 watching.

Ten

Pointless was on 274,000 after 288,000 on Monday.

The Project did 272,000 and then 491,000 after 7pm.

Survivor was on 610,000, up from 592,000 on Monday. Contender Steve dodged a bullet at the first tribal council, but they voted him off last night.

Shark Tank then did 371,000.

ABC

Foreign Correspondent did 527,000 at 8pm.

The final episode of War On Waste did 644,000 after 512,000 last week.

SBS

The repeat episode of Who Do You Think You Are? featured Peter Garrett with 134,000 watching

Insight then featured video gamers with an audience of 145,000.

Week 32 TV: Tuesday
TUESDAY METRO
ABCSevenNineTenSBS
ABC13.4%718.2%922.3%TEN12.5%SBS One4.0%
ABC 22.4%7TWO3.2%GO!4.0%ONE2.8%VICELAND1.1%
ABC ME0.6%7mate4.2%GEM3.3%ELEVEN2.2%Food Net1.0%
ABC NEWS1.3%7flix1.6%9Life1.7%NITV0.1%
TOTAL17.7%27.3%31.3%17.5%6.2%

 

TUESDAY REGIONAL
ABCSeven AffiliatesNine AffiliatesTen AffiliatesSBS
ABC12.2%717.6%917.8%WIN9.8%SBS One3.9%
ABC 23.1%7TWO4.8%GO!4.9%ONE3.3%VICELAND1.4%
ABC ME1.1%7mate6.4%GEM6.2%ELEVEN2.0%Food Net1.0%
ABC NEWS1.5%7flix1.1%9Life1.9%NITV0.2%
TOTAL17.9%29.9%30.8%15.1%6.5%

 

TUESDAY METRO ALL TV
FTASTV
85.1%14.9%

 

TUESDAY FTA
  1. Seven News Seven 1,047,000
  2. Nine News Nine 1,012,000
  3. Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 1,002,000
  4. Nine News 6:30 Nine 983,000
  5. The Block Nine 921,000
  6. A Current Affair Nine 869,000
  7. Abc News ABC 773,000
  8. True Story With Hamish & Andy Nine 749,000
  9. Home And Away Seven 672,000
  10. War On Waste ABC 644,000
  11. The Chase Australia Seven 614,000
  12. Australian Survivor Ten 610,000
  13. Dance Boss Seven 573,000
  14. 7.30 ABC 571,000
  15. Foreign Correspondent ABC 527,000
  16. Hot Seat Nine 520,000
  17. The Project 7 -PM Ten 491,000
  18. Interview Seven 473,000
  19. Ten Eyewitness News First At Five Ten 400,000
  20. The Chase Australia-5 -PM Seven 372,000
Demo Top Fives

16-39 Top 5

  1. The Block Nine 280,000
  2. True Story With Hamish & Andy Nine 215,000
  3. Australian Survivor Ten 212,000
  4. Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 150,000
  5. A Current Affair Nine 147,000

 

 

18-49 Top 5

  1. The Block Nine 427,000
  2. True Story With Hamish & Andy Nine 337,000
  3. Australian Survivor Ten 326,000
  4. A Current Affair Nine 259,000
  5. Nine News 6:30 Nine 259,000

 

25-54 Top 5

  1. The Block Nine 471,000
  2. True Story With Hamish & Andy Nine 381,000
  3. Australian Survivor Ten 349,000
  4. Nine News 6:30 Nine 316,000
  5. A Current Affair Nine 304,000
TUESDAY Multichannel
  1. Highway Patrol-Ep.2 -PM 7mate 208,000 20,000
  2. Aussie Salvage Squad -PM 7mate 188,000 25,000
  3. Pj Masks AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 177,000 17,000
  4. Floogals ABCKIDS/COMEDY 174,000 33,000
  5. Go Jetters AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 171,000 21,000
  6. Peppa Pig AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 168,000 16,000
  7. Rusty Rivets ABCKIDS/COMEDY 166,000 37,000
  8. Peter Rabbit ABCKIDS/COMEDY 164,000 29,000
  9. Peppa Pig- PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 164,000 11,000
  10. New Tricks 9Gem 163,000 28,000
  11. Little Roy -PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 163,000 22,000
  12. The Big Bang Theory 9GO! 163,000 24,000
  13. Wanda And The Alien AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 163,000 20,000
  14. Noddy Toyland Detective -PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 161,000 17,000
  15. Octonauts ABCKIDS/COMEDY 156,000 34,000
  16. Highway Patrol -PM 7mate 156,000 13,000
  17. Dot. AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 154,000 15,000
  18. Neighbours ELEVEN 153,000 16,000
  19. The Big Bang Theory Tx1 9GO! 153,000 28,000
  20. Becca’s Bunch AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 152,000
TUESDAY Subscription TV
  1. Live: AFL 360 FOX FOOTY 97,000
  2. Wentworth showcase 91,000
  3. Bob FOX FOOTY 73,000
  4. Jones & Co SKY NEWS LIVE 61,000
  5. Paul Murray Live SKY NEWS LIVE 58,000
  6. Live: Back Page FOX SPORTS 50 1 56,000
  7. NCIS TVH!TS 54,000
  8. Live: NRL 360 FOX LEAGUE 54,000
  9. The Bolt Report SKY NEWS LIVE 53,000
  10. Credlin SKY NEWS LIVE 47,000
  11. AFL: Open Mike Classics FOX FOOTY 44,000
  12. Criminal Minds TVH!TS 43,000
  13. NCIS: Los Angeles TVH!TS 43,000
  14. Live: Football: Ffa Cup FOX SPORTS 50 5 42,000
  15. Bones TVH!TS 42,000
  16. Family Guy FOX8 42,000
  17. Family Guy FOX8 37,000
  18. NCIS TVH!TS 37,000
  19. Criminal Minds TVH!TS 36,000
  20. Would I Lie To You? UKTV 36,000

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

Ausfilm announces $140m available to attract film & TV productions

Ausfilm has announced the Australian government’s Location Incentive is open for applications.

The Location Incentive will provide funding of $140 million over four years from 2019-20. Grants will be provided to large budget international screen productions undertaking filming in Australia that perform strongly against the assessment criteria.

The objective of the Location Incentive is to ensure that Australia remains competitive in attracting large budget international film and television productions, thereby providing opportunities for Australian cast, crew, post-production companies and other screen production service providers to participate in production. It will contribute to the development of the Australian screen production industry’s capabilities and help ensure its future viability.

To be eligible for funding:

•Productions must meet the eligibility criteria for the Location Offset
• Utilise the services of one or more Australian post digital or visual effects providers
• Secure support from relevant state or territory governments

Meet or exceed the expenditure threshold:

•$15 million of qualifying Australian production expenditure (QAPE)

• for a television series, $1 million AUD per hour of that QAPE.

The Location Incentive will provide funding of $140 million over four years from 2019-20. Grants will be provided to large budget international screen productions undertaking filming in Australia that perform strongly against the assessment criteria.

Entertainment industry releases codes for safer, respectful workplaces

Organisations representing the Australian entertainment industry have released industry codes to prevent workplace discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and bullying.

Live Performance Australia (LPA) and Screen Producers Australia (SPA) released mirror codes that will take effect on 3 September 2018. The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) worked closely with Live Performance Australia and Screen Producers Australia in developing the industry codes. They will be accompanied by education campaigns and industry training.

LPA chief executive Evelyn Richardson said: “It’s important for our industry to have consistent standards and practices that provide safe and respectful workplaces for all our workers. While many of our members already have policies and procedures in place, we see a vital role for providing an industry code and tools that can be implemented by companies irrespective of company size, capability or resources. This code is a part of our commitment to driving meaningful and long-term cultural change.”

“Everyone has the right to a safe workplace. The Screen Industry Code will provide producers with practical tools to create a safe and positive work environment for all workers in our industry. We are united and committed to this cause,” said Matthew Deaner, CEO of Screen Producers Australia.

“These changes are necessary to ensure that everyone in the industry gets the message about making our workplaces safe and inclusive for all,” said MEAA chief executive, Paul Murphy. “The processes in the new policy are crystal clear and will lead to better workplaces throughout Australia’s entertainment industry.”

 

Download the screen industry code here.

Download the live performance industry code here.

 

Disney earnings disappoint investors, ESPN numbers down, revenue up

On the heels of a disappointing box office haul for Solo: A Star Wars Story and in the midst of trying to close a blockbuster deal to acquire most of 21st Century Fox, the Walt Disney Co. on Tuesday posted earnings per share of US$1.87 on revenue of $15.2 billion, which disappointed Wall Street, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Disney was expected to earn $1.95 per share after certain items on revenue of $15.4 billion. Disney shares were up 1% in the regular session Tuesday but dropped 3% after the closing bell.

The US Justice Department has already approved of Disney’s hard-fought plan to pay $71.3 billion for Fox’s film and TV studio, along with some of its cable channels and international assets, most prominently its 39 percent stake in Europe’s Sky satellite service.

When Disney CEO Bob Iger spoke to Wall Street after the earnings were released Tuesday, he focused not only on the Fox deal but also the upcoming Netflix-like service that is in the works.

Meanwhile, investors who were hoping the ESPN Plus digital streaming service would shore up ESPN might have been disappointed, since the leader in televised sports again lost TV subscribers, though it managed to grow revenue in the third fiscal quarter because of affiliate fee increases.

[Read the original]

Mercury Capital values SMS marketing company MessageMedia at $500m

Mid-market private equity firm Mercury Capital is set to put a $500 million valuation on Australian SMS-based marketing and communications company MessageMedia, reports The AFR’s Street Talk.

Mercury Capital is in late stage talks to buy a 30% stake in MessageMedia, a technology company that was founded in Melbourne at the beginning of the century and whose biggest shareholder is director and co-founder Grant Rule.

MessageMedia started as Message4U in 2000, before rebranding in 2004. It has secured and bought out an angel investor along the way, and made a number of acquisitions that have contributed to recent growth.

The company pitches itself as the biggest provider of SMS-based marketing and communications in Australia and New Zealand and sent 1.7 billion messages on behalf of clients last year.

[Read the original]

I Quit Sugar founder Sarah Wilson fights copycat products from partner

After closing her I Quit Sugar business, Sarah Wilson is battling what she claims are copycat products made by her former manufacturer, reports Fairfax Media’s Cara Waters.

The entrepreneur and author (and former TV host) told Fairfax Media she was “extremely frustrated” to discover Future Generation Foods launched a supermarket range branded at No Added Sugar a few months ago.

Future Generation Foods partnered with Wilson on her I Quit Sugar range of products but the partnership ended in September 2017 after Future Generation Foods told her the products were unprofitable and not working in the market.

Wilson’s anti-sugar message helped her top Australia’s book selling lists and build an I Quit Sugar empire that employed 20 people and turned over $4 million a year.

But she closed her business in February saying that she felt her work in the area was done.

Wilson says the No Added Sugar range has a lot of similarities to the I Quit Sugar range.

“The ingredient lists are the same and the raw products like the rice malt syrup one could say it is identical,” she says. “That was quite unique to my platform and the education I did about it.”

[Read the original]

The entrepreneur and author (and former TV host) told Fairfax Media she was “extremely frustrated” to discover Future Generation Foods launched a supermarket range branded at No Added Sugar a few months ago.

Future Generation Foods partnered with Wilson on her I Quit Sugar range of products but the partnership ended in September 2017 after Future Generation Foods told her the products were unprofitable and not working in the market.

Wilson’s anti-sugar message helped her top Australia’s book selling lists and build an I Quit Sugar empire that employed 20 people and turned over $4 million a year.

But she closed her business in February saying that she felt her work in the area was done.

Wilson says the No Added Sugar range has a lot of similarities to the I Quit Sugar range.

“The ingredient lists are the same and the raw products like the rice malt syrup one could say it is identical,” she says. “That was quite unique to my platform and the education I did about it.”

[Read the original]

News Brands

American Express pulls ads from Sky News, Qantas will honour its deal

American Express has become the first multinational company to pull its advertising from Sky News in the wake of the channel’s interview with the far-right extremist Blair Cottrell, reports The Guardian’s Naaman Zhou.

The finance company’s Australian division announced on Twitter that it had decided to suspend its relationship with the channel.

The company’s account said: “American Express has made the decision to suspend advertising from Sky News, as recent content on the channel does not reflect our brand values.”

On Tuesday evening, a spokesperson said the news channel acknowledged and respected Amex’s decision to suspend advertising, but added they had apologised and addressed the concerns “in the strongest possible way.”

Qantas, which has a commercial partnership with Sky News and shows the network in its lounges, said it would not alter its arrangement. Nor would other advertisers: the glasses retailer Specsavers, ANZ Bank and Westpac bank.

[Read the original]

Celebrating Queensland journalism: Clarion Awards finalists announced

The finalists have been announced in this year’s Clarion Awards – Queensland’s major awards for journalistic excellence. MEAA has congratulated all the finalists and looks forward to the presentation dinner later next month.

More than 430 entries were submitted for the 2018 awards ranging across many categories including crime, the environment and politics.

The winners of this year’s Clarions will be revealed at a gala presentation dinner on September 8 at Boulevard Room, Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre Southbank, Brisbane. To reserve your spot at this prestigious event, book your tickets online here.

Nominees for Investigative Journalism

• Michael McKenna, Sean Parnell and Sarah Elks, The Australian, Mangocube
• Hedley Thomas and Slade Gibson, The Australian, The Teacher’s Pet
•Mark Willacy and Alexander Blucher, ABC, Body of work

Nominees for Television – Current Affairs, Feature Documentary

• Michael Atkin, ABC, 7.30, How DVA failed army veteran Jesse Bird
• Mark Willacy and Ben Hawke, ABC, The Dome
• Mark Willacy, ABC, All That Glitters

See a full list of nominees here.

The New York Times increasing its presence in Australia

The New York Times yesterday announced Jamie Tarabay, a veteran journalist with experience across the Middle East and Asia in a variety of mediums, will join its Sydney bureau as a correspondent later this year as the publisher expands its coverage and audience-engagement initiative in Australia.

Tarabay, currently a senior producer for CNN International based in Hong Kong, has previously worked for The Associated Press, NPR, National Journal, Al Jazeera and Vocativ, a startup that mined the Deep Web for stories before they hit the mainstream.

Tarabay grew up in Sydney, graduated from the University of Sydney, speaks Arabic and French, and covered both the Iraq war and the second Palestinian intifada.

The New York Times reported Tarabay was covering Iraq for so long that the government granted her residency. She has interviewed Hugo Chávez, Fidel Castro, Yasir Arafat and Bashar al-Assad. She has always returned to Australia regularly and is eager to be heading home to help expand our coverage of issues like security, immigration and climate change that matter to Australians and the world.

Tarabay said that she and her son Jake – who is half-American and half-Australian but supports the New Zealand All Blacks in rugby – also “plan to take up surfing for real this time.”

The New York Times is also expanding its team in Australia via its new residency program. The residency has the dual goals of adding ambitious and innovative projects to engage the Australian audience and giving New York Times journalists opportunities to stretch by trying something new.

Those appointments are:

• Rick Rojas, a multitalented Metro reporter with an eye for detail and character, lands in Sydney this week. He will be exploring the role of faith and values in Australia public life.
• Bari Weiss of Opinion will head over after Thanksgiving. She will be writing about Australia’s role in the world, politics and feminism, and also working on partnerships and events.
• Caitlin Roper, editor of NYT Magazine Labs, is aiming to start her residency in February. Her project involves a global component to the Kids section and comparison reporting on parenting and kids’ experience in the two countries.
• Nick Corasiniti, an intrepid reporter and writer from Politics and Metro, will follow in the spring of 2019 with some targets in New Zealand. He has also volunteered to give the Australia team surfing lessons.

WIN News Tasmania bulletin moves to Wollongong, local teams stay

WIN News Tasmania staff are unsure about their future after discovering bulletins will be produced interstate from next week, reports The Launceston Examiner’s Tarlia Jordan.

Staff have been told local weekday bulletins will end as of next Friday.

While some staff were told by management, it is understood others found out via social media.

Bulletins will be produced and presented out of Wollongong, with job cuts expected to Win’s Hobart office. Staff are expected to find out more information on Wednesday.

The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance Tasmanian president Mark Thomas said he was “deeply saddened” by the announcement.

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The Hobart Mercury reports:

Journalists and camera crews will remain on the ground in Hobart but local content will only air Monday to Friday.

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Television

American TV critics list the best 2018 programs and performers

The Television Critics Association (TCA) has celebrated the top programs and performances of the 2017-2018 television season at the 34th Annual TCA Awards ceremony. The invitation-only event was held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Votes were cast by the TCA’s membership of more than 200 professional TV critics and journalists from the United States and Canada, putting the spotlight on a diverse roster of series and stars in 13 distinct categories including Program Of The Year, Outstanding Achievement In Reality Programming, Individual Achievement In Drama, and Outstanding Achievement In Youth Programming, as well as the prestigious Heritage Award and Lifetime Achievement honours.

For the third consecutive year, FX reigned as the evening’s top winner. The network received four awards, three for its hit undercover Cold War thriller The Americans, which earned the coveted Program Of The Year award, as well as Outstanding Achievement In Drama, and Individual Achievement In Drama for series star Keri Russell. Additionally, the network snagged Outstanding Achievement In Movies And Miniseries honors for the critically acclaimed true crime event The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, a stunning exploration of the iconic fashion designer’s murder.

2018 TCA Award recipients are as follows:

• Individual Achievement in Drama: Keri Russell (The Americans, FX)

• Individual Achievement in Comedy: Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Amazon)

• Outstanding Achievement in News and Information: Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (CNN)

• Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming: Queer Eye (Netflix)

• Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming: Sesame Street (HBO)

• Outstanding Achievement in Sketch/Variety Shows: Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO)

• Outstanding New Program: Killing Eve (BBC America)

• Outstanding Achievement in Movies And Miniseries: The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)

• Outstanding Achievement in Drama: The Americans (FX)

• Outstanding Achievement in Comedy: The Good Place (NBC)

• Program of the Year: The Americans (FX)

• Lifetime Achievement Honoree: Rita Moreno

• Heritage Award: Friends (NBC)

Sport Media

Usain Bolt due in Gosford soon

Usain Bolt will link up with the Central Coast Mariners for an “indefinite training period” to realise his dream of becoming a professional footballer, reports AAP.

The A-League club has confirmed Bolt, an eight-time Olympic athletics gold medallist, will arrive in Gosford later this month to trial with the club.

“I am very excited about coming to Australia and would like to thank the owner and management of the Central Coast Mariners for giving me this opportunity,” Bolt said in a statement.

PhoA.PAES / Shutterstock.com

The agreement does not guarantee Bolt a playing contract but allows him the chance to chase the opportunity of a start with the Mariners.

They become the fourth club that Bolt has tried out for in an effort to make it in the round ball game, following teams in Germany, Norway and South Africa.

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