Tuesday January 29, 2019
My Kitchen Rules hosts Pete Evans & Manu Feildel with Mediaweek
Mediaweek is also today releasing separate podcasts with both Pete Evans and Manu Feildel.
Filming on the 10th season of My Kitchen Rules ended in mid-December. The hosts then had a few weeks off until they were called on again for publicity duty a month later just as season 10 of the show launches.
Pete Evans was no stranger to TV when he started My Kitchen Rules
Evans: I was working on television for eight years prior to coming onto My Kitchen Rules. I was with Foxtel on The Lifestyle Channel for about seven years and then I worked for two years with Nine’s Fresh program where we did about 400 episodes in that time.
That finished just a food on TV was kicking off with MasterChef so I was called in to do an audition for My Kitchen Rules. I did have quite a bit of experience coming into this, but never hosting a reality show. I was quite excited about being out of my comfort zone and learning more about myself.
Ten years later I am finding out there is still lots to learn, not only about myself, but about this medium as well.
How Evan’s career changed after he signed on with My Kitchen Rules
Evans: I spent 20 years in professional kitchens in my own restaurants with my family business. That used to take up 80-hour weeks minimum standing at the stove for 20 years. Manu and I are very similar as to how long we have been cooking for and how many hours a week we’ve been cooking for to get to where we are. Often you hear of young chefs wanting to be famous and on television. We did many years of 80-100 hour work weeks in intense work pressures to get to that point.
Neither of us had this on the cards as a career path. It just happened.
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TV executives knocked Manu back for MasterChef because of his accent
Feildel: I would like to know what Channel 10 executives think about this. At the time the reason why I didn’t get MasterChef was because my accent was an issue.
I was destroyed. MasterChef became a huge thing and it was like a knife in the heart. But a few months later I got a call from Seven to do a pilot for a new cooking show. One door closes and another opens.
Seven too were concerned about my French accent and I was wondering what the heck was going on.
Surely they knew I had a French accent before they originally approached me.
Pete got the [MKR] gig which was a little bit upsetting. I knew Pete very well, and I thought why him. My ego took over.
He then turned around saying he was not keen to work with the other original co-host and asked about me. The producer told him that he got my job. But Pete said he would really like to work with me.
Apparently people think that my French accent is getting stronger every year. I was hoping my accident would disappear, but apparently it gets stronger.
You don’t visit France every year to keep a thick accent?
Feildel: No. I don’t hear the accent when I speak it. I only hear it when I listen to a podcast or I watch My Kitchen Rules.
Manu revealed the six people originally in the running for hosting MasterChef Australia.
Feildel: Of course there was Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris. The others were Darren Simpson, Tobie Puttock and I.
After my audition they told me I had done a fantastic and they would call me tomorrow. I knew exactly what that meant – piss off you are not good enough.
I don’t regret it. I am very happy for George, Matt and Gary who have celebrated their 10 years as well. It’s great to have two networks with two great shows putting food on primetime TV.
Seven’s Francesca Cumani returning to 10 for Cup Week coverage
Since 2009, Cumani has been helping to bring all the insight and colour of the Cup to Australian television audiences mainly at Seven, sharing her informed commentary and pre and post-race analysis.
Outside of Australia, Cumani has cemented herself as a racing media icon, co-hosting ITV’s racing coverage in the UK and previously hosting Winning Post on CNN International.
On joining 10’s Melbourne Cup Coverage, Cumani said: “The Melbourne Cup Carnival is one of the world’s great racing events and I’m thrilled to be part of 10’s broadcast team. It was the very first Carnival I worked on in my television career and it holds a very special place in my heart. I’m really looking forward to continuing my association with the Carnival and to helping 10 take race day coverage to new heights.”
On social media she added: “[I’m] indebted to the excellent and talented team at Seven who took a chance on me a few years ago and gave me my opportunity to broadcast a truly world class sporting event for the first time, but it’s onto pastures new now and I can’t wait to get started and see what 10 have up their sleeves for the race that stops the nation!”
Matt White, Network 10 head of sport, said: “Australian audiences love Francesca and we love the fact she’s joined the 10 sport team. Francesca will be key to everything we do on-air across the four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. She brings a unique blend of energy, experience and knowledge to our coverage. It’s a fabulous fit.”
Back on 10 for the first time since 2001, this year’s live broadcast of the Melbourne Cup Carnival covers four days of racing – AAMI Victoria Derby Day, Kennedy Oaks Day, Seppelt Wines Stakes Day and of course the Lexus Melbourne Cup Day.
TEG restructures: Cameron Hoy appointed COO at Ticketek owner
Under the changes, the ticketing, technology, client services, e-commerce, marketing and product innovation teams will be unified into a single stream, reporting to Cameron Hoy, who has been appointed to the new role of chief operating officer and head of ticketing for TEG.
TEG CEO Geoff Jones said the restructure would strengthen TEG’s core focus on innovative, agile, ticketing and technology solutions that deliver better experiences for fans and enhanced capabilities for clients.
“This restructure will ensure TEG becomes even more dynamic in an environment where the live economy is experiencing rapid changes in the way customers want to search for, buy and redeem tickets,” said Jones.
“This in turn impacts the way promoters, sports bodies and venues engage with fans. Ticketing provides this crucial connection and that is why we are dedicated to developing customised ticketing technology solutions and delivering seamless integration with our venues, partners and stakeholders.”
Cameron Hoy will be promoted from his current position of managing director, Ticketek Australia, where he has led the team over the past 11 years.
This newly created role will see Hoy remain deeply involved with Ticketek’s business operations. He will also work closely with heads of TEG’s International businesses, particularly with TEG’s expanding Asian division.
“Cameron has been on the journey with me for over a decade and has proven his leadership in this dynamic business. I am delighted to appoint him to the important role of COO and head of ticketing,” said Jones.
Cameron Hoy welcomed the challenge of the new position.
“There has never been a more exciting time to be in ticketing and technology,” said Hoy.
“We have seen more change in the past three years than the previous 30 and ticketing has expanded its importance in the value chain of the live economy. TEG is leading that change.
“I am proud that TEG, through Ticketek, is the only major ticketing operation in South-East Asia that has a local, dedicated and highly sophisticated technology development team. Our new structure will unleash even more potential for innovation for fans, clients and partners.”
Under the restructure, TEG is in the process of appointing a chief technology officer of TEG and filling the new role of general manager of Ticketek Australia. Both roles will report to Hoy.
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Top Photo: Geoff Jones and Cameron Hoy
Fremantle’s Easy Tiger appoints Stan’s Rob Gibson as chief executive
The move will allow founder and current managing director and producer Ian Collie to focus more on the creative processes.
Easy Tiger’s recent slate includes Rake, Doctor Doctor, Jack Irish and Sunshine.
Gibson’s focus will be on assessing potential finance models for drama production with an eye on international partners and collaborations.
Gibson was most recently the head of originals at Stan where he oversaw the commission and production of No Activity, Wolf Creek and Bloom, among others.
Prior to Stan, Gibson worked as a producer in Los Angeles and Sydney for production company Circle of Confusion (Straight Outta Compton, The Walking Dead) and as an independent producer in Australia.
Prior to this he was a media and entertainment lawyer, working for Allens Linklaters, Foxtel, Festival Records and Fairfax Media.
Rob Gibson said: “It’s a thrilling time to be in the business of screen storytelling globally, and at Stan I’ve been privileged to help build a thriving originals business, partnering with exceptional creatives to make bold, award-winning shows. Ian and the team at Easy Tiger are renowned for their passionate support of our best and brightest creative talents in creating acclaimed, captivating television. I couldn’t be more excited to join them, and join forces with the Fremantle team globally, to help outstanding storytellers make ground-breaking shows for the local and global audience.”
Ian Collie, founder/producer, Easy Tiger, said: “With increasing pressure to seek international funding for drama, Rob’s understanding of the global industry and deal-making finesse will be invaluable to our business. He is also brilliant at nurturing talent which is something we pride ourselves on at Easy Tiger.”
Gibson will be overseeing Easy Tiger’s diverse drama development slate along with Collie and development executives Rachael Turk and Tanya Phegan. Gibson will work closely with CFO Kelley Ward on the finance models for new dramas.
The Easy Tiger board of directors consists of Ian Collie, Sarah Doole (global director of drama, Fremantle) and Chris Oliver-Taylor (CEO Asia Pacific, Fremantle).
60 Minutes announces new signing for 2019 reporting team
Abo comes to Nine’s 60 Minutes after the recent departure of Tom Steinfort to the Today show.
She joins 60 Minutes from SBS’s World News and Dateline programs where she covered major international events including the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the 2015 Paris Climate Conference and in 2016, both the US presidential election and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan.
“I’m thrilled to have such an exceptional broadcast journalist joining us, and I have no doubt Sarah’s skills will make what is already the finest reporting team on Australian television even stronger,” said Kirsty Thomson, executive producer of 60 Minutes.
Sarah Abo was born in Damascus in Syria and moved to Australia with her family when she was four.
“Like most Australians I’ve grown up watching 60 Minutes. Having the opportunity to now work on such an iconic program is, to be honest, a little bit daunting, but also incredibly exciting,” she said.
ARIA Chart Report: Ariana Grande debuts at #1
Singles
We are already nearly done with the first month of 2019 and Ariana Grande has managed to do what only happened once last year – get a new single to debut at #1. And the artist who managed that feat last year…Ariana Grande. Last year Ariana was #1 first week in with No Tears Left To Cry in April. This year she has done it again with 7 Rings landing at #1 on debut.
The only other change to the top 10 is Sam Smith and Normani with Dancing With A Stranger, which climbs from #19 to #10 in its second week on the chart.
This week’s only other chart debut is 7 Minutes from Dean Lewis, which lands at #16. (The number 7 is certainly the chart’s lucky number this week.) The song is the second from his much-anticipated first album due to be released later this year. The first single from Lewis, Be Alright, is still on the chart at #19 after 30 weeks.
5 Seconds Of Summer have snuck into the top 50 with Lie To Me, which lifts to #42 after three weeks. Not quite so much love for this single after Youngblood spent eight weeks at #1 in 2018.
Albums
Queen maintains a vice-like grip on the chart this week with three albums in the top five at #1, #3 and #5. The soundtrack to Bohemian Rhapsody has been #1 for four weeks and the movie was nominated for an Academy Award in five categories last week. Rami Malek also won a SAG Award on Monday for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury.
Newcomer Maggie Rogers did a great job getting her new release Heard It In A Past Life into a top 10 where the other albums have been on the chart for between 10 weeks and 322 weeks. After initially releasing indie albums when aged 18 and 20, the now 24-year-old singer/songwriter has her first major release.
Maggie Rogers
After 44 weeks on the chart, a tour by Phil Collins has lifted his album The Singles back into the top 10 at #9, just short of its previous peak at #6.
Brisbane’s Cub Sport was not far off a top 10 debut with its third album new at #12. This is the first time the band has cracked the top 50.
This week’s other chart debuts inside the top 50:
#22 James Blake with Assume Form
#33 Future with Future Hndrxx Presents: The Wizrd
#42 Papa Roach with Who Do You Trust?
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Top Photo: Ariana Grande via Shutterstock
Top 10 Game Charts: Nintendo dominates
It’s one of five Switch exclusives currently in the top 10, a handy demonstration of the ability of Nintendo’s first-party games to remain evergreen sellers well after release.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of last week is Bandai Namco’s Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown debuting in second spot. Ace Combat 7, which was released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and hits PC in February, is the first Ace Combat game available for current generation hardware. It’s success reaching the pointy end of the charts is likely partly due to a dearth of new releases but, to be fair, it’s also the first numbered sequel in the Ace Combat series in 12 years – so you can probably attribute pent up demand and a loyal fanbase for the rest (though there have been several spin-offs on various platforms since 2007’s Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, which was an Xbox 360 exclusive). Ace Combat’s heritage dates back to 1995, on the original PlayStation.
The rest of the line-up consists of the usual suspects, but there’ll be movement next week with arrival of Resident Evil 2 Remake and Kingdom Hearts III.
TV Ratings Analysis: January 28
Week 5 2019 – Summer schedule – Monday
By James Maning
FTA early evening TV news
• Seven News 1,024,000 and 966,000
• Nine News 931,000 and 935,000
• ABC News 642,000
• 10 News First 433,000
• SBS World News 126,000
Breakfast TV
• Sunrise 246,000
• Today 199,000
• ABC News Breakfast 95,000
Seven
Now more than ever the first night of television after the tennis feels like the start of survey. That is still two weeks away, however last night most schedules were getting close to their best with massive interest in how the 7.30pm slot played out.
Here is a comparison on how the respective reality formats performed after 7pm (in the case of My Kitchen Rules) or 7.30pm on the respective Mondays:
Week 5 2019 (Week 5 2018)
• Married At First Sight 1,003,000 (914,000)
• My Kitchen Rules 816,000 (1,182,000)
• I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here 676k (889,000)
Monday Week 5 primary channel shares 2019 (2018)
• Nine 22.4% (20.8%) *Nine’s combined share jumped 26.5% to 30.1% YOY
• Seven 21.6% (25.6%) *Seven had the same combined share this and last year 33.6%
• 10 11.6% (13.6%) *10’s combined share was down 18.5% to 16.8% despite Bold lifting YOY
Seven’s numbers look better when including regional numbers where My Kitchen Rules had a bigger audience (400,000) than Married At First Sight (318,000).
The teams on My Kitchen Rules this year include what was being labelled the show’s first “science experiment” where two complete strangers are thrown together to cook. (Not unlike how couples come together on MAFS.) First night featured Byron Bay couple Stacey and Ash.
In the 7pm soap slot, MKR won in Sydney and Melbourne, but the numbers dropped away a little in Melbourne after 7.30pm.
Seven’s most popular drama then returned with The Good Doctor on 621,000, which was enough to win the slot and push Seven’s share higher later in the evening.
Another medical drama The Resident followed on 288,000, which just trailed the average watching Nine’s movie.
Nine
A Current Affair returned after a fortnight break because of the Australian Open coverage. Reporter Chris Allen is celebrating 40 years in television this year. ACA stories last night included Reid Butler with bogan Aussies on Australia Day and then coverage of some of the couples coming to Married At First Sight. The show did 816,000 as it went head-to-head with the return of MKR.
The first episode of Married With First Sight won its timeslot and pulled a very healthy 1.0m viewers for its 2019 launch. A quick look at the reality ratings summary above will show it improved its metro audience close to 100,000 year-on-year while its reality TV competition was down year-on-year for the corresponding night in 2018.
On the first MAFS episode 10 hopeful brides and 10 nervous grooms were socialising on different sides of Sydney harbour ahead of the first of the weddings. While MKR had the longest episode, the MAFS first night ran later with its 7.30pm start.
After the reality launch, Nine went with the movie Fifty Shades Darker which drew an average audience of 314,000, winning its slot after The Good Doctor wrapped.
10
Guests on The Project included blogger and writer Carly Findlay, rapper and Young Australian of the year Baker Boy and SBS football pundit Craig Foster. The hour started on 203,000 and then more than doubled to 438,000 after 7pm.
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! kept much of its audience with 676,000, although in the rankings the show moved from #1 in the slot to #3 as audiences piled in to watch the other reality offerings. In 10’s under 50 demo however the episode ranked #2 ahead of My Kitchen Rules.
An episode of Murphy Brown followed on 318,000 and then a repeat of Graham Norton on 166,000. 10 looks like it is saving up last week’s cracking UK episode of Graham Norton for another week.
ABC
The regular Monday schedule doesn’t return until February.
Last night Back Roads was best after the news with 555,000.
David Attenborough’s Tasmania repeat then did 498,000.
SBS
A Slow TV repeat last night almost singlehandedly filled prime time.
The Ghan: Australia’s Greatest Train Journey did 99,000 first the first leg. The audience sagged a little in the middle but then lifted to 95,000 for the third instalment.
The channel subsequently had its equal lowest primary channel share in over a year.
Week 4-5 TV: Friday-Monday
| FRIDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 10.4% | 7 | 21.3% | 9 | 19.1% | 10 | 8.7% | SBS One | 5.7% |
| ABC 2 | 2.9% | 7TWO | 3.3% | GO! | 4.5% | 10 Bold | 3.3% | VICELAND | 1.7% |
| ABC ME | 0.5% | 7mate | 4.2% | GEM | 3.1% | 10 Peach | 2.6% | Food Net | 1.1% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.5% | 7flix | 2.4% | 9Life | 2.6% | NITV | 0.4% | ||
| 7Food | 0.6% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 15.4% | 31.8% | 29.3% | 14.6% | 8.9% | ||||
| SATURDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 9.4% | 7 | 13.0% | 9 | 36.5% | 10 | 7.1% | SBS One | 2.9% |
| ABC 2 | 2.9% | 7TWO | 3.5% | GO! | 5.1% | 10 Bold | 1.6% | VICELAND | 1.0% |
| ABC ME | 0.6% | 7mate | 2.9% | GEM | 3.5% | 10 Peach | 2.5% | Food Net | 1.0% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.0% | 7flix | 1.5% | 9Life | 2.9% | NITV | 0.5% | ||
| 7Food | 0.7% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 13.9% | 21.5% | 47.9% | 11.2% | 5.4% | ||||
| SUNDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 8.2% | 7 | 12.6% | 9 | 35.0% | 10 | 13.0% | SBS One | 4.3% |
| ABC 2 | 3.0% | 7TWO | 3.0% | GO! | 3.7% | 10 Bold | 2.4% | VICELAND | 0.8% |
| ABC ME | 0.7% | 7mate | 2.4% | GEM | 2.0% | 10 Peach | 2.8% | Food Net | 1.0% |
| ABC NEWS | 0.9% | 7flix | 1.1% | 9Life | 2.7% | NITV | 0.1% | ||
| 7Food | 0.6% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 12.7% | 19.6% | 43.3% | 18.1% | 6.2% | ||||
| MONDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 11.3% | 7 | 21.6% | 9 | 22.4% | 10 | 11.6% | SBS One | 2.8% |
| ABC 2 | 1.9% | 7TWO | 3.9% | GO! | 4.2% | 10 Bold | 3.3% | VICELAND | 0.8% |
| ABC ME | 0.5% | 7mate | 5.8% | GEM | 1.9% | 10 Peach | 1.8% | Food Net | 0.8% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.2% | 7flix | 1.9% | 9Life | 1.6% | NITV | 0.1% | ||
| 7Food | 0.3% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 14.9% | 33.6% | 30.1% | 16.8% | 4.6% | ||||
| MONDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 11.9% | 7 | 22.3% | 9 | 16.4% | WIN | 10.9% | SBS One | 2.8% |
| ABC 2 | 2.0% | 7TWO | 5.1% | GO! | 5.2% | WIN Bold | 3.3% | VICELAND | 1.0% |
| ABC ME | 0.8% | 7mate | 5.5% | GEM | 3.7% | WIN Peach | 1.6% | Food Net | 1.0% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.6% | 7flix | 1.8% | 9Life | 1.9% | Sky News on WIN | 0.9% | NITV | 0.1% |
| TOTAL | 16.3% | 34.7% | 27.2% | 16.7% | 4.8% | ||||
| MONDAY METRO ALL TV | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTA | STV | ||||||||
| 86.6% | 13.4% | ||||||||
Monday FTA
- Seven News Seven 1,024,000
- Married At First Sight -Launch Nine 1,003,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 966,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 935,000
- Nine News Nine 931,000
- My Kitchen Rules – Seven 816,000
- A Current Affair Nine 710,000
- I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! 10 676,000
- ABC News ABC 642,000
- The Good Doctor Seven 621,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 580,000
- 7.30 ABC 564,000
- Back Roads S4 ABC 555,000
- David Attenborough’s Tasmania (R) ABC 498,000
- The Project 7pm 10 438,000
- Hot Seat Nine 437,000
- 10 News First 10 433,000
- The Chase Australia-5pm Seven 368,000
- Murphy Brown 10 318,000
- Fifty Shades Darker Nine 314,000
Demo Top 5
16-39 Top Five
- Married At First Sight -Launch Nine 306,000
- My Kitchen Rules – Seven 173,000
- I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! 10 143,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 134,000
- Nine News Nine 130,000
18-49 Top Five
- Married At First Sight -Launch Nine 507,000
- My Kitchen Rules – Seven 304,000
- I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! 10 293,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 275,000
- Nine News Nine 262,000
25-54 Top Five
- Married At First Sight -Launch Nine 540,000
- My Kitchen Rules – Seven 345,000
- I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! 10 341,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 313,000
- Nine News Nine 310,000
Monday Multichannel
- Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League – Perth 7Mate 243,000
- Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League – Perth 7Mate 238,000
- Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League – Perth 7Mate 194,000
- Mechanic: Resurrection 9GO! 174,000
- Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League – Perth 7Mate 152,000
- Doc Martin PM 7TWO 149,000
- Lewis PM 7TWO 148,000
- The Big Bang Theory Tx1 9GO! 145,000
- The Big Bang Theory Tx3 9GO! 132,000
- Neighbours 10 Peach 129,000
- The Big Bang Theory Tx2 9GO! 128,000
- Law & Order: Svu Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 127,000
- Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom ABCKIDS/COMEDY 126,000
- Bluey PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 116,000
- Play School AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 115,000
- Ready, Steady, Wiggle! AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 113,000
- Dino Dana ABCKIDS/COMEDY 113,000
- Diagnosis Murder (R) 10 Bold 113,000
- The Big Bang Theory 9GO! 110,000
- Bondi Rescue Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 107,000
Monday STV
- Live: BBL: Scorchers V Renegades FOX CRICKET 147,000
- Live: Between The Innings FOX CRICKET 126,000
- Outlander FOX SHOWCASE 91,000
- Live: BBL: Scorchers V Renegades FOX CRICKET 74,000
- The Bolt Report Sky News Live 57,000
- Live: Aus V Sri 1st Test Day 5 FOX CRICKET 53,000
- Live: Tea For Two FOX CRICKET 48,000
- Live: Aus V Sri 1st Test Day 5 FOX CRICKET 46,000
- Live: The Big Break FOX CRICKET 40,000
- Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 39,000
- Live: Aus V Sri 1st Test Day 5 FOX CRICKET 39,000
- Border Security: Australia’s Front Line FOX8 37,000
- Yes, Prime Minister FOX Classics 36,000
- Kenny On Media Sky News Live 36,000
- Love It Or List It Australia LifeStyle Channel 36,000
- The Simpsons FOX8 35,000
- The Simpsons FOX8 35,000
- Bones TVH!TS 35,000
- The Simpsons FOX8 35,000
- American Dad! FOX8 35,000
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
Australia Day Honours
Australia Day Honours: Tributes from media to music
The former editor-in-chief of The Australian Chris Mitchell has been recognised for his contribution to print media and support of indigenous education programs and made an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Adele Ferguson, the multi award-winning investigative journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, has paid tribute to whistleblowers after being honoured in this year’s Australia Day awards. She was appointed a Member of the Order Australia for her services to journalism.
Alan Kohler, the Melbourne-based, publisher, business commentator and ABC presenter, was also appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the print and broadcast media.
Jon Faine, the Melbourne radio host for the ABC who has just started his final year on air, is also now a Member of the Order of Australia for significant services to broadcast media as a presenter, to the law and the community.
Anita Jacoby also was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to broadcast and print media, and to community health groups. In a long career Jacoby has worked as a producer and journalist across all TV networks, spent time at ACP Magazines and more recently was a TV executive producer before running ITV Studios.
Entertainers also honoured include actor Magda Szubanski who was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Singers and actors Kylie Minogue and Olivia Newton-John were made Companions of the Order of Australia, while the members of Human Nature – Toby Allen, Phil Burton and Andrew and Mike Tierney – received the medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the performing arts as entertainers.
Publisher Graeme Ross McPherson, one of the McPherson brothers from regional Victoria’s McPherson Media Group, was made a Member of the Order of Australia.
Former Sherbet songwriter and keyboard player Garth Porter became a Member of the Order of Australia.
Ignatius Jones (aka Juan Ignacio Trapaga), one-time singer with Jimmy & The Boys, writer, director, artistic director of Vivid Sydney was made a Member of the Order of Australia.
Julie McCrossin was awarded Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community and broadcast media.
Semi-retired sports broadcaster Dennis Cometti was also awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for services to broadcast media and the community.
Former Canberra ABC radio host Alexandra Sloan was awarded a Member of he Order of Australia for services to broadcast media for her years as a radio broadcaster
Film producer Sue Maslin was made a Companion of the Order of Australia. Her most recent work included The Dressmaker, starring Kate Winslet and Judy Davis.
Actor Cornelia Frances was posthumously honoured with an Order of Australia for her service to the performing arts as an entertainer. She is best known for her role of Morag in Home And Away.
Warwick Hadfield, sports breakfast presenter for Radio National and a former journalist with The Australian, was made a Member of the Order of Australia.
GM of classics & jazz at Universal Music Aust awarded OAM
Meher-Homji joined Universal Music Group in 1998, as marketing manager, PolyGram Classics & Jazz and has held key positions within Universal Music Australia (UMA), since his appointment as general manager, Classics & Jazz in 2011.
George Ash, president of Universal Music Asia-Pacific, said: “I have known Cyrus for most of my career and if anyone is deserving of this incredible accolade it is Cyrus; he is a tireless champion for the arts, for artists and for the development of culture via the creative process that is music. On behalf of all of us at Universal Music Australia, and our wider family, I want to express our heartfelt congratulations to Cyrus on this very special recognition of his immense contribution to the people of Australia. It is an absolute honour for us all to be part of your life, Cyrus.”
André Rieu added: “After having searched for 20 years for someone in the vast world of record companies who would understand what I was doing, I can say that finally, in Australia, I found a real treasure named Cyrus Meher-Homji. Not only did he understand and love our music, but his unflagging dedication meant that our recordings dominated the top of the charts (and stayed there) and that we quickly developed an enormous audience for our music. So, dear Cyrus, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do for us, wish you the very best and congratulate you on your well-deserved honour of the Medal of the Order of Australia.”
News Brands
Nine’s key columnists cover the tennis at Melbourne Park
The AFR’s Joe Aston published separate columns after both the women’s and men’s finals clashes.
After Saturday evening he reported:
It was a bracing change at the Australian Open’s women’s singles final on Australia Day evening at Rod Laver Arena: no Serena Williams and no Kerry Stokes (if you’d changed the channel, Pat Cummins had already deprived Seven of an evening session at the Gabba).
Instead in the front row at the southern baseline was Nine chief executive Hugh Marks (Tennis Australia’s new local broadcast partner Nine is now publisher of The Australian Financial Review), alongside his TV boss Michael “Knuckles” Healy, Underbelly actor Roger Corser and Nine director Catherine West.
At the southeast corner was rogue Liberal Julie Bishop with Vogue Australia editor-in-chief Edwina McCann, as far from Anna Wintour (next to Tennis Australia president Jayne Hrdlicka and Victorian Governor Linda Dessau) as a rectangle allows. Behind the former foreign minister was progressive publisher Morry Schwartz and gallerist wife Anna, getting the most from their Leica binocs.
Aston’s coverage of the men’s final crowd action began:
Australia’s ruling classes were girding their loins for a very late Sunday night at Melbourne Park when titans Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic ran out of Australian Open opponents bar each other.
Sadly/mercifully, crowd-favourite Rafa summoned none of the firepower hoped for/dreaded and it ended up being a great night for the late-night restaurant business – the second in a row.
Nine’s chief executive Hugh Marks, Tennis Australia’s new broadcaster, would’ve preferred a five-set thriller, especially after Djoker’s 83-minute demolition of Lucas Pouille on Friday.
Both The AFR and The SMH reported on Nine’s financial result from the 2019 Australian Open tournament. [See Sports Media below.]
Meanwhile much of the Private Sydney column came from Melbourne Park too.
London Telegraph apologises and pays damages to Melania Trump
The claims were made in a story entitled The mystery of Melania, which ran on the cover of last Saturday’s Telegraph magazine, but the newspaper has now said it included a number of errors about Donald Trump’s wife which should not have been published.
The piece promised to tell the truth on what it described as the “most private and enigmatic” of presidential wives after interviews with “White House insiders, Slovenian school friends and photographers”.
The newspaper – after an unusually swift retraction and settlement – pulled the story by the US journalist Nina Burleigh, who works for Newsweek and is the author of the book Golden Handcuffs: The Secret History of Trump’s Women. The Telegraph took the story down from its website and issued a lengthy point-by-point correction.
Radio
New contract? Radio future for Macquarie star Jones still uncertain
You’d think that the answer would be a no-brainer. Most media bosses would be champing at the bit to lock in any broadcaster who has been on top of the ratings for more than 200 consecutive surveys over more than 25 years. In the last radio survey of last year, Jones beat his nearest rivals in Sydney, Kyle and Jackie O, by six percentage points, with a 16.5% share of the audience.
Yet as Jones returns to the 2GB airwaves from the summer break tomorrow morning, there is no answer to the burning question of Jones’s future.
Television
Veteran weatherman Steve Jacobs returns to Nine’s Today show
Jacobs appeared on the breakfast program Monday morning, which broadcast from the TV network’s Sydney HQ in Willoughby after two weeks of being in Melbourne at the Australian Open.
Jacobs is joining the show’s new line-up permanently, replacing Natalia Cooper who is on maternity leave.
Jacobs left the program two years ago after he and his ex-wife Rose left to make a life for their family in Vanuatu.
Ugly row rocks Studio 10: Yumi Stynes accuses Kerri-Anne of racism
Presenter Yumi Stynes branded Kennerley’s stance “racist” after the daytime queen claimed Invasion Day protesters were ignorant of Aboriginal women and children “being raped” in the outback.
Since the segment aired Twitter has lit up with users slamming Kennerley’s “ignorant and uninformed” argument.
Former senator and indigenous woman Nova Peris describing her comments as “putrid” while applauding Stynes for challenging her.
Yesterday afternoon Kennerley hit back at the criticism, telling Ben Fordham on 2GB that her comments about sexual abuse in outback Aboriginal communities had “nothing to do” with racism.
“I can only assume that Yumi doesn’t know it is a fact of life because I never made a racist comment,” she said.
“I don’t think I’m superior, I don’t think anyone else is inferior, but I just stated a fact.”
Yumi Stynes cancels Studio 10 appearance day after KAK clash
Stynes was due to guest host today but indicated on Instagram she would not be turning up to showcase her cookbook recipes.
“Instead I decided to give myself the day off. This is not because of what happened today between Kerri-Anne and I. I am feeling stable and calm and like I’m on the right side of history. Everything is ok,” she wrote.
“I’m not coming in because I really urgently want to lie around and do nothing. It’s very important.
“I told the new producer Tamara that I won’t be coming in tomorrow. I also gave her the number of my good friend James Mathison who kindly offered to fill in for me as he is available and has done the show a bunch of times and therefore I would not be leaving the hard-working team in the lurch. I have no idea if she will take me up on the suggestion and it’s not my problem. Peace, friends. XX”
Entertainment
Live Nation & NAB present Cosentino’s first Aust tour since 2015
The promoters say Cosentino’s trademark blend of dance and magic, with a touch of hilarious audience participation, will take the audience on a journey that will captivate fans, new and old, until the very last mind-bending moment.
Tickets for all shows go on sale at 10am Monday, February 4.
Exclusive pre-sale for Optus customers, thanks to Optus Perks from 9am Wednesday, January 30 until 9am Friday, February 1 (all times local).
Now acknowledged as Australia’s most successful Illusionist & Escapologist, Cosentino has spent the last 18 months touring his live show to packed houses and rave reviews around the world.
“After spending so much time working overseas, I can’t wait to bring Anything Is Possible to Australia. I am so proud of what we have created with this new production. It has bigger illusions, crazier escapes and the best magic I’ve produced so far. I can’t wait to hit the road and perform it live for fans right across the country,” said Cosentino.
Cosentino is now a best-selling author with both his autobiography and his animated children’s book series The Mysterious World of Cosentino securing distribution in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, the UK and right across Asia.
Cosentino’s Anything Is Possible tour will be his first national tour since his successful Twisted Reality tour in 2015.
Sports Media
Tennis v cricket: Nine cuts summer losses, but still in the red…for now
The comments come as Marks and Seven chief executive Tim Worner both claimed success over their summer coverage of tennis and cricket, respectively, after the networks swapped the long-held rights to the respective sports last year.
Marks claimed Nine could break even on tennis as soon as next year, while declaring its inaugural coverage of the Australian Open a commercial success and much more cost-effective than covering cricket.
Marks told The Australian that Nine had spent $55m covering the Australian Open this year in rights and production costs and wrote about $45m in advertising revenue, compared with an outlay of $105m on the network’s last summer of Australian cricket a year ago for $70m revenue. This suggests Nine was losing as much as $35m a year on its cricket broadcast.
Australian Open delivers Nine $35 million boost over cricket
This year marked the first year Nine, owner of The Australian Financial Review, has broadcast the Australian Open, after dumping cricket in favour of Tennis Australia’s broadcast rights from 2020 to 2024 in March last year for $60 million a year.
It then secured the 2019 rights for $48.5 million following a deal with Seven West Media for the final year of its existing contract after the Kerry Stokes-controlled broadcaster jumped on Cricket Australia’s rights after missing out on re-signing the tennis.
Nine lost $45 million on last year’s cricket broadcast versus just $10 million for its first year of the Australian Open.
BBL broadcasters demand action to save $175 million-a-year investment
There are still three weeks remaining of the inaugural 59-game season but already robust discussions have been instigated behind the scenes by Seven and Fox Cricket, who are growing increasingly agitated about their $175 million-a-year investment.
Broadcasters are screaming out for:
*A major increase to the current $1.7m salary cap to bring back international stars
*A boost in the number of international marquee spots from two per side to as many as four
*A crackdown on the dire state of pitches being used around the country that has ruined the spectacle at many grounds with fewer sixes and lower scores
*Amendments to the schedule to help bring back crowds
Kayo launches ‘Feb for a fiver’: 850 hours of live sport for just $5
Kayo offers over 30,000 hours of content each year, and subscribers who sign up for the Feb for a Fiver, will be able to continue their subscription from $25 each month following the promotion.
Kayo’s February starts with a smorgasbord of sport including Australia versus Sri Lanka Domain Second Test, the HSBC World Rugby Sevens and Six Nations as well as the 2019 AFC Asian Cup final and all the NAB AFLW action.
One of the world’s biggest sporting events kicks off on February 4, with the Super Bowl LIII streaming live on Kayo. One-time Super Bowl winners the Los Angeles Rams will go head-to-head with five-time champions the New England Patriots.
In the week leading up to the Super Bowl, Kayo will have a dedicated carousel called Super Bowl Fever that will feature all things gridiron. The carousel will host shows from ESPN’s multi-award winning series 30 for 30, highlighting gridiron specific documentaries, plus episodes from In Depth with Graham Bensinger, which will feature interviews with former NFL players like Joe Namath, Tony Romo and Brett Favre.
The month will also see KFC Big Bash League Finals (from February 14), the Vodafone Super Rugby season launch as well as the Supercars season opening Superloop Adelaide 500 (begins February 28).
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