Tuesday July 16, 2019
My life is TV: 10’s drama guru Rick Maier on Murder & Bedrooms
By James Manning
Of the three FTA broadcasters, it has easily been the most adventurous and prolific commissioner of programs in 2019.
In terms of drama, shorter commissions are the staple these days. 10’s head of drama Rick Maier told Mediaweek the last drama it commissioned for 22 episodes was Wonderland.
“Shorter series is where the market has moved with financing and international sales. It’s actually more cost effective to make runs of less than 13 episodes.”
Maier has been at 10 for close to 20 years in two tours of duty, the current one now into its 13th year. He has a drama CV that would be hard to match:
The Secret She Keeps, Five Bedrooms, My Life is Murder, Playing for Keeps, Wake in Fright, Sisters, The Wrong Girl, Brock, Mary: The Making Of A Princess, Party Tricks, Secrets & Lies, Wonderland, Reef Doctors, Mr & Mrs Murder, Puberty Blues, Underground – The Julian Assange Story, Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms, Offspring, Hawke, A Model Daughter – The Killing of Caroline Byrne, Rush and, of course, Neighbours.
Maier also looks after MasterChef Australia for 10, a format that adds about 60 episodes a year to his workload.
A recent successful short-run drama series for 10 was Five Bedrooms. The network will be hoping for the same sort of success with My Life Is Murder, which launches on Wednesday, July 17.
10 is also leading the way in more accurately measuring how audiences are consuming its content. The broadcaster has a ratings dashboard it distributes which collates the crowd across linear TV overnight plus timeshift, BVOD and encore.
For example the final episode of Five Bedrooms had a metro overnight audience of 475,000, but a week later 10 was able to report that had grown to 766,000.
Maier knows much of his audience aren’t able to watch overnight. “The shelf life of TV dramas is now very long. For our series Five Bedrooms people needed to watch from the start. Those that came to show by word of mouth and missed the first episode were able to go back via 10 play to catch up.”
But Maier also noted that for people who watch a series from launch, some still like to catch just one episode every week. “They like to anticipate, to look forward to each instalment.”
With My Life Is Murder, a drama from CJZ, people can watch out of order, perhaps except for the final episode, where there is a crime solved every week in less than an hour.
Setting the scene for My Life Is Murder, Maier explained the former homicide detective Alexa Crowe that series star Lucy Lawless plays: “We find out through the series that her husband was also a cop and he’s now deceased and she’s out of the game. She’s brought back in by Bernard Currie‘s character who says, ‘You’re the best in the business. We can’t solve this case. We need you.’ He teases her every episode. The setup is not unlike Mission Impossible. You get the brief at the start of each episode and there’s some tantalising hook there that gets her interested. Her brain then kicks into gear and the pleasure is seeing how she solves a crime.”
Mediaweek asked Maier how varied are the pitches that he receives for programs?
“You can sell a pitch from a photograph. You can sell a pitch from the most detailed show bible. You can sell it from a comprehensive script. I like to read the script. It tells you whether the writer’s any good, it tells you whether the idea has merit, tells you whether the audience are going to stick with it.”
Once a program is commissioned what happens then?
Maier: “We then get the hell out of the way because the producer knows what they’re doing and we don’t. We can wander around on certain days, say hello to people, but basically we’ll let the professionals get on with it.”
Photos: Images from 10’s new My Life Is Murder with Lucy Lawless and Bernard Curry
The new Twitter.com: Social media platform rebuilt from scratch
In a blog post overnight, Twitter has detailed some of the changes:
The site has an updated look and feel that is more consistent with the Twitter you see on other devices, making it easier to access some of your favourite features, and with more options to make it your own.
We’ve been testing aspects of this for a while so we could make sure the new site reflected how you use Twitter. Thanks to hundreds of thousands of responses we received during those tests, Twitter.com’s features make conversations easier to find and follow – and just a bit more fun:
More of What’s Happening: We’ve brought over Explore to bring you the same great content found in our apps; expect more live video and local moments personalized for wherever you are in the world. Get context with profile information within conversations and check out your Top Trends in any view so you never miss what’s happening.
Easy Access to Your Favorite Features: Bookmarks, Lists, and your Profile are right up front and have their own spot on the side navigation, making it easier and faster to jump between different tabs.
Direct Messages All in One Place: Direct Messages have been expanded so you can see your conversations and send messages all from the same view. Now there’s less hassle switching between screens to send a message.
Login, Logout Struggle No More: Whether you have one profile or a few, now you’re also able to switch between accounts faster, directly from the side navigation; your stan, foodie and cat meme accounts thank you.
Make Twitter Yours: The love is real for dark mode themes Dim and Lights Out. You’ve asked for even more ways to personalize Twitter so we’re bringing you different themes and colour options, along with two options for dark mode.
Powered’s Big Ideas Store returns for 2019 to Sydney & Melbourne
The Big Ideas Store, Powered by Nine, is back for a second successive year with a jam-packed line-up of events, workshops, research studies and speakers.
Nine has released these details about its 2019 pop-ups:
This year Powered is building on the success of last year’s pop-up store, with the evolution of the Sydney store opening in Oxford Street, Paddington, this week and the Melbourne store coming to Flinders Street in the CBD next week.
Michael Stephenson and Liana Dubois
Both stores will showcase the way Powered, Nine’s marketing solutions division, can leverage creativity across a variety of platforms.
“Big ideas make brands famous, and Powered is the home of big ideas,” said Michael Stephenson, Nine’s chief sales officer. “The Big Ideas Store will explore what it takes to realise big ideas, and just how powerful they are in driving sales and business growth.
“This year we will showcase an even wider range of products and opportunities through our leading publishing brands, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review, which allow brands to connect to new audiences.”
In Sydney and Melbourne, The Big Ideas Store returns as a premium department store. It will be used to host a number of client ideation sessions, known as Hacks, as marketers and agency partners tap into Powered’s strategic and creative capability to collaborate on the development of Big Ideas for 2020.
New research will be launched, in partnership with the Human & Cultural Strategy team of FiftyFive5, called The End of Men and Women, examining the role of gender in today’s marketing and whether marketers need to examine changes in society in their marketing.
The Big Ideas Store will also host a number of client and content sessions aimed at inspiring marketers to embrace creativity at their core, be brave in their marketing endeavours, and think big for the year ahead.
“The next two weeks are really a celebration of all that makes marketing and advertising exciting, interesting, fun and impactful for brands and consumers,” said Liana Dubois, director of Powered.
“The Big Ideas Store exists to celebrate big marketing moments. It’s an opportunity to embrace the art of marketing and bring balance to the conversation at a time that has seen the pendulum swing too far into the science.
“Throughout the next two weeks we’ll be hearing from marketers and our in-house experts to learn from and inspire each other to spark the conversation around the power of a big idea.”
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Top Photo: Michael Stephenson and Liana Dubois
Vogue Aust new deal with American Express for Fashion’s Night Out
News Corp Australia released these details about the plans for the event this year:
The announcement marks the continuation of the partnership as the event celebrates its 10th year in Sydney and fifth year in Melbourne this year.
McCann said: “We’re delighted to have American Express confirm an extended partnership with us through until 2021. They have been our partner for this event for three highly successful years and this long-term investment ensures we will deliver an even stronger connection with our participating retailers and the Vogue audience.
“This event was born out of a genuine desire to support Australian retailers and the fashion industry. This year we will celebrate 10 years of Fashion’s Night Out in Australia, creating memorable moments for consumers, which they amplify proudly to their family and friends. Both Vogue Australia and American Express audiences come along to experience our brands and be a part of what we have to offer, and in doing so we deliver retail outcomes.
“We have a lot in common, our brand values and respect for our customers are aligned and together we will deliver the very best experience for our customers and make this year’s event bigger than ever.”
American Express vice president brand, charge cards and experiences Naysla Edwards said: “Vogue American Express Fashion’s Night Out is one of the standout Amex experiences on our social calendar each year. It demonstrates our backing of the Australian fashion industry and our card members. We are bringing together hundreds of retailers, growing year on year, to offer our card members added value, access to the American Express Lounge and an exclusive shopping experience.”
Edwina McCann
This year Vogue American Express Fashion’s Night Out Melbourne will be held on Thursday 29 August throughout the Melbourne CBD. For the fifth consecutive year the event will feature as a part of Melbourne Fashion Week’s opening night, in partnership with the City of Melbourne.
Vogue American Express Fashion’s Night Out Sydney will follow on Thursday 5 September in the Sydney CBD in partnership with the City of Sydney. Celebrating its tenth year, it is anticipated that this year’s event will see over 200,000 shoppers and hundreds of retailers once again bring the Sydney CBD to life.
In celebration of Vogue Australia’s 60th birthday this year, Vogue American Express Fashion’s Night Out will turn Little Bourke St Melbourne and Pitt St Mall Sydney into a NYC inspired block party. Metallic and monochromatic styling will be the backdrop for this high energy, urban festival of live music, dancing and fashion in the heart of the CBDs.
At this year’s one-night-only events, shoppers can expect live entertainment, special offers, celebrities, fashion industry VIPs, exclusive runway shows and the champagne will be flowing as the Melbourne and Sydney CBDs come to life.
David Jones returns for the seventh year as the exclusive retail partner with activations throughout Bourke Street Mall and Elizabeth and Market Street stores.
Australian Jackie Lee-Joe appointed Netflix chief marketing officer
Lee-Joe is an Australian who headed overseas at the end of 1999 and has been away ever since, except for a short return home in 2009 and 2010
“Jackie is a truly original thinker with a wealth of global experience – making her the perfect fit as our next chief marketing officer. I’m excited to work with her in promoting our brand and original programming in new and creative ways to members all around the world,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix chief content officer.
“Netflix is a much loved and respected brand, entertaining audiences everywhere with its rich and thought provoking original programming. I’m thrilled to be joining one of the world’s most creative, dynamic and fearlessly innovative companies,” said Jackie Lee-Joe.
A graduate of the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales, Lee-Joe joined the BBC in November 2015 from Skype, where she was global director for audience, entertainment marketing & broadcast media. She has over 20 years of marketing experience with leading media, technology and telecoms companies including Virgin Mobile, Carphone Warehouse and Orange.
Lee-Joe will start at Netflix in September, based in Los Angeles. Lee-Joe succeeds Kelly Bennett, who announced his retirement from the company earlier this year.
See also:
Mediaweek marketing master class: Jackie Lee-Joe, chief marketing officer, BBC Studios
Box Office: Spider-Man stays on top as new releases fail
Trent Thomas
Disney was not the only beneficiary of the holiday period with The Secret Life of Pets 2 in its fourth week of release increasing its revenue from last weekend by 25%.
It wasn’t all good news though this weekend with three new releases unable to crack the top five:
#7 Crawl $600,502
#8 Stuber $554,806
#9 Booksmart $443,976
Annabelle Comes Home also had an unhappy weekend being the only film to slip out of the top five this week, although it’s not all bad news as it still made $661,120 and brought its total to $5.04m.
Overall, despite the holiday period boosting family-friendly flicks and three new releases the Australian box office made $20.88m declining 18% ending its streak of three consecutive weeks of increasing its revenue.
#1 Spider-Man: Far From Home $6.54m
The most screened film in the country (722) this weekend, the latest rendition of Spider-Man continues to deliver at the Australian box office making an average of $9,071 per screen, bringing its total to $28.69m as it remains on target to finish its run in the top two highest grossing films of the year.
#2 Toy Story 4 $5.14m
Declining only 4% in its fourth week of release the third sequel to the Pixar classic Toy Story continues to produce big numbers as its buoyed by the holiday period producing the highest average per screen (445) at $11,568 powering the film to breaking the $5m mark every week of release. The film is now the third highest grossing film of the year with $34.56m.
#3 The Secret Life of Pets 2 $2.38m
Moving up to third spot this week the latest animation by Illumination made an average of $7,507 on 318 screens as it brings its total to $15.66m after four weeks.
#4 Yesterday $1.65m
The musical romantic comedy only declined 29% as it spends its third straight week in the top five, making an average of $5,773 on 287 screens.
#5 Aladdin $872,134
After eight weeks the remake of the 1992 classic has worked its way back into the top five after a 1% increase on last weekends total and is now the fourth highest grossing movie released in Australia this year making $33.95m. The film made an average of $1,762 on 495 screens, which was only the 12th highest average this weekend.
TV Ratings Analysis: July 15
Monday Week 29 2019
By James Manning
• Seven News 1,159,000/1,075,000
• Nine News 952,000/961,000
• A Current Affair 836,000
• ABC News 716,000
• 7.30 633,000
• The Project 316,000/511,000
• 10 News First 411,000
• The Drum 193,000
• SBS World News 126,000
Breakfast TV
• Sunrise 273,000
• Today 204,000
Seven
Home And Away is still an important part of the Seven schedule. Seven’s Angus Ross told the Mediaweek podcast how important several weeks ago and he reinforced that to Andrew Mercado here last Friday. The daily drama started a new week on 711,000.
House Rules was next on 590,000 after a much stronger 732,000 on Sunday night.
Two episodes of S.W.A.T. then did 361,000 and 295,000.
Meanwhile the audience for what has been billed as one of the great tennis matches of all time, the Wimbledon men’s final had 191,000 watching after 2am early Monday morning until the match finished after 4am.
Nine
A Current Affair featured a special cold case crime investigation with 836,000 watching the start of a new week.
Australian Ninja Warrior then did 923,000 after 899,000 on Sunday night.
Murder, Lies & Alibis then followed on 340,000.
Nine has reported that the audience watching the Super Over at the end of the Cricket World Cup final had an audience of 154,000 as it was bowled after 4am Monday morning.
10
The Project started its weekday run with 511,000 as Triple J’s Tom Tilley was at the desk and Yael Stone was a guest.
Layer cake queen Anushka Zargaryan sadly has been eliminated from MasterChef Australia, the first to fall during finals week following an epic Aussie lamington challenge set by Ashley Palmer-Watts from Dinner By Heston. An audience of 667,000 farewelled one of the audience favourites from this season.
Sam and Ed were back on Have You Been Paying Attention? which was in the capable hands of guest host Chrissie Swan last night. Why isn’t she doing more television? Joining her as guest competitors last night were Celia, Pete and Denise. The audience was 703,000, ranking it the channel’s most-watched Monday show again.
ABC
Back Roads again found its way into the top 10 with 681,000.
Four Corners was on 565,000, Media Watch did 521,000 and then Q&A had 308,000 watching.
SBS
Chasing The Moon had an audience of 160,000.
Stage 10 of the Tour de France did 130,000.
Week 29 TV: Monday
| MONDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 13.2% | 7 | 18.9% | 9 | 21.3% | 10 | 14.0% | SBS One | 5.0% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.4% | 7TWO | 2.9% | GO! | 2.5% | 10 Bold | 3.7% | VICELAND | 1.2% |
| ABC ME | 0.9% | 7mate | 3.5% | GEM | 2.4% | 10 Peach | 1.8% | Food Net | 1.1% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.0% | 7flix | 1.6% | 9Life | 1.4% | NITV | 0.2% | ||
| 7Food | 0.3% | SBS World Movies | 0.5% | ||||||
| TOTAL | 17.5% | 27.3% | 27.7% | 19.5% | 8.0% | ||||
| MONDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 12.7% | 7 | 21.1% | 9 | 18.4% | WIN | 11.3% | SBS One | 4.1% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.2% | 7TWO | 4.0% | GO! | 3.0% | WIN Bold | 3.9% | VICELAND | 1.4% |
| ABC ME | 0.7% | 7mate | 4.9% | GEM | 3.2% | WIN Peach | 1.7% | Food Net | 1.4% |
| ABC NEWS | 0.7% | 7flix (Excl. Tas/WA) | 1.7% | 9Life | 1.8% | Sky News on WIN | 1.5% | NITV | 0.2% |
| 7food (QLD only) | 0.3% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 16.3% | 31.9% | 26.3% | 18.4% | 7.1% | ||||
Monday FTA
- Seven News Seven 1,159,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 1,075,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 961,000
- Nine News Nine 952,000
- Australian Ninja Warrior Nine 923,000
- A Current Affair Nine 836,000
- ABC News ABC 716,000
- Home And Away Seven 711,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 704,000
- Have You Been Paying Attention? 10 703,000
- Back Roads S5 ABC 681,000
- Masterchef Australia 10 667,000
- 7.30 ABC 633,000
- House Rules Seven 590,000
- Four Corners ABC 565,000
- Hot Seat Nine 530,000
- Media Watch ABC 521,000
- The Project 7pm 10 511,000
- 10 News First 10 411,000
- The Chase Australia-5pm Seven 405,000
Demo Top 5
16-39 Top Five
- Have You Been Paying Attention? 10 208,000
- Australian Ninja Warrior Nine 201,000
- Masterchef Australia 10 176,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 163,000
- Seven News Seven 159,000
18-49 Top Five
- Australian Ninja Warrior Nine 379,000
- Have You Been Paying Attention? 10 345,000
- Masterchef Australia 10 292,000
- Seven News Seven 265,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 261,000
25-54 Top Five
- Australian Ninja Warrior Nine 414,000
- Have You Been Paying Attention? 10 369,000
- Seven News Seven 318,000
- Masterchef Australia 10 315,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 308,000
Monday Multichannel
- Dinosaur Train ABCKIDS/COMEDY 190,000
- Rusty Rivets ABCKIDS/COMEDY 171,000
- NCIS (R) 10 Bold 167,000
- Andy’s Safari Adventures ABCKIDS/COMEDY 166,000
- Charlie And Lola ABCKIDS/COMEDY 164,000
- Bluey AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 163,000
- Floogals ABCKIDS/COMEDY 163,000
- ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Final NZ V Eng Super over 9Gem 154,000
- Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 147,000
- Go Jetters ABCKIDS/COMEDY 146,000
- Hey Duggee ABCKIDS/COMEDY 143,000
- Nella The Princess Knight AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 140,000
- Peppa Pig AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 137,000
- Play School AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 136,000
- Kiri And Lou PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 136,000
- Law & Order: Svu Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 133,000
- Law & Order: Svu (R) 10 Bold 132,000
- Peppa Pig PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 129,000
- School Of Roars AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 129,000
- Bananas In Pyjamas AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 129,000
Monday STV
- Live: AFL 360 FOX FOOTY 80,000
- Live: On The Couch FOX FOOTY 65,000
- Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 63,000
- Big Little Lies FOX SHOWCASE 63,000
- Big Little Lies FOX SHOWCASE 56,000
- Live: World Cup: Final Eng V NZ FOX CRICKET 54,000
- Credlin Sky News Live 54,000
- CWC 87: Final Aus V Eng FOX CRICKET 53,000
- The Bolt Report Sky News Live 49,000
- Family Guy FOX8 43,000
- Live: NRL 360 FOX LEAGUE 43,000
- Vera 13TH STREET 40,000
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation TVH!TS 39,000
- The Simpsons FOX8 39,000
- PML Later Sky News Live 38,000
- Aussie Inventions That Changed The Worl DHistory Chann l 37,000
- The Simpsons FOX8 37,000
- Family Guy FOX8 36,000
- Border Security: Australia’s Front Line FOX8 33,000
- NCIS TVH!TS 33,000
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
GroupM chooses Veridooh for digital OOH verification across group
Following a competitive analysis of a number of companies, GroupM agencies including MediaCom, Mindshare, Wavemaker and Essence will use Veridooh’s proprietary SmartCreative technology to measure digital OOH campaigns across the country.
Veridooh’s platform has been accepted by all major DOOH networks, which means advertisers, agencies and media owners can independently verify that digital OOH campaigns are delivered exactly how they were planned and purchased.
Nicola Lewis (pictured), chief investment officer at GroupM who led the project, said: “More than half of all OOH ad spending is now digital, so having independent and robust verification that ensures our clients’ campaigns are delivered as they were planned and bought is essential for transparency and accountability. After an exhaustive and robust process that analysed multiple metrics including data capabilities, sophistication of technology platform, guaranteed service levels, market leading reporting and, of course, a strategy that considers the ongoing future of verification in DOOH, we are thrilled that Veridooh have become one of our Digital OOH Verification partners – bringing a best in class, future proofed solution, that will provide a superior level of independent verification to DOOH buys.”
Digital OOH campaigns booked by GroupM agencies will now implement Veridooh’s SmartCreative technology before being made live.
News Brands
Police asked to fingerprint ABC ‘suspects’ during investigation
A spokesman for the ABC confirmed the AFP had written to the public broadcaster requesting the prints of Dan Oakes and Sam Clark, after ABC head of investigations John Lyons yesterday revealed a letter had been sent to the two journalists, requesting consent for a “forensic procedure”.
The ABC declined to comment further, but The Australian has confirmed the letter said Oakes and Clark were suspects in relation to three alleged offences — a section in the Crimes Act of 1914 involving “the receipt of prescribed information”, the Defence Act 1903 regarding “unlawfully obtaining information” and another section under the Criminal Code. An AFP spokeswoman said it was an ongoing investigation and declined to comment.
Daily Telegraph appeal: Judge under scrutiny after Rush decision
In a brief hearing in front of Federal Court judge Anthony Besanko via videolink from Adelaide, it was confirmed lawyers for News Corp, which also publishes The Australian, will be given access to segments of judge Michael Wigney’s voice recordings from the trial, and interlocutory judgments from the final judgment delivered in April.
News Corp is appealing the record $2.9 million defamation finding against The Telegraph for two articles published in 2017.
Radio
Daily Telegraph reveals streaker in Tigers v Eels game was SCA exec
Matthew Cooper, 34, clearly took the crowd’s calls of “tackle” to heart when he leapt nude on to the pitch in Parramatta during the final moments of the Eels v Wests Tigers match on Sunday evening.
Cooper, who was attending the game as a guest of the NRL, had to be wrestled to the ground by security in front of more than 24,000 fans after he set out on his nudie run from the south-eastern grandstand.
SCA bosses were made aware of the incident early Monday.
“It was a … ticket provided to a staff member for use in a personal capacity,” a spokeswoman said. “SCA is currently looking further into the matter.”
Listeners protest outside 2GB as Steve Price debuts afternoon show
A dozen men and women aged in their 50s and 60s, held up large posters and signs before being allowed into the building to voice their concerns to 2GB.
Smith and 2GB management Macquarie Media “parted ways” late last month after the long-time broadcaster refused to swap shifts with Price and host the 8pm-midnight show.
Price officially made a permanent move into the 12-3pm timeslot. It’s understood he minted a new deal with management late last year when the company intended to dump breakfast host Alan Jones.
Price was joined by Karl Stefanovic after 2pm with the Channel 9 personality to appear on the program every Monday.
Television
Amanda Keller admits Tom Gleeson’s Gold Logie speech ‘upset’ her
The Hard Quiz host took the top prize at this year’s event after a satirical political-style campaign, which saw him target fellow nominees including Keller, Neighbours star Eve Morey, Doctor Doctor’s Rodger Corser, The Project host Waleed Aly, and Sunrise weather presenter Sam Mac.
Gleeson further ruffled feathers when accepting his prize, wine in hand, telling the surprised audience to “lighten the f**k up.”
“Just because all of you want it and I’ve got it, don’t get angry with me. It’s all right, you’ll all survive. It’s a shame this is the last Gold Logie that’s ever going to be handed out – according to Grant Denyer, I’ve ruined the Logies. But at least I won this all by myself,” he said.
Keller addressed the dig this morning on the radio during the first Jonesy and Amanda show since the big night – and admitted that while she understood his comedic angle, she felt he’d given everyone permission to make a joke out of hardworking members of the industry.
“I think in his speech when he said, ‘everyone who works in TV, if you want to win this you’re a big wanker’, pretty much, and that upset me because he was mean to (last year’s Gold Logie winner) Grant (Denyer) I felt,” she told WSFM co-host Brendan “Jonesy” Jones. “He said ‘Yeah I won it last year for Grant, and sucker, now I’ve done it on my own for me.’
Revealed: The Block moves further out of Melbourne in new season
Co-executive producer Julian Cress confirmed at The Logies the show had secured property for its 2020 season. But he was tight-lipped about just what that property was.
Now News Corp’s Fiona Byrne has reported the 16th edition of the hit renovating series is expected to be set in Brighton, a bayside suburb of stately mansions, celebrities and the wealthy elite. The location means the show is abandoning its traditional inner-city suburbs of South Melbourne, Richmond, St. Kilda and Port Melbourne.
The 2020 season of the show will see new homes built on the vacant land at 360 New St, Brighton, which a company owned by Channel 9 quietly bought this month. It is the same company they used to purchase the Gatwick Hotel and The Oslo backpacker hostel in St Kilda.
Early indications suggest the show plans to subdivide the land and build five homes with works estimated at $4.5 million.
The land, which was previously home to an aged care residence, has been vacant since 2014.
Previous owners had applied to develop 13 three-storey townhouses on the site. An application for a planning permit has been lodged with the Bayside Council.
If the plans are approved it would be the first ground-up project The Block has taken on.
Sports Media
Cameron Smith landmark match pulls record Foxtel NRL audience
The Storm defeated the Cronulla Sharks 40-16 to create a fairytale ending for Smith’s 400th game with Fox League’s exclusive coverage of Saturday night’s match also ranking as the channel’s third highest rating regular season game ever.
Saturday afternoon’s thrilling 18-18 extra time draw between the Brisbane Broncos and New Zealand Warriors also drew record audiences, with an average of 328,000 viewers watching the match, including 457,000 watching on TV at 7.25pm during extra time. The match was the second most watched Saturday afternoon game this season.
The ratings for both matches helped deliver Fox League its second best day ever with a massive 16.03% share of viewing on Foxtel on Saturday.
Source: OzTAM National Subscription Panel & preliminary VPM data. Overnight data. 2AM-2AM. Total People. Projections. Time adjusted.
Grant Thomas on radio and newspaper sackings + why he quit TV
Thomas regularly directed scathing invective at the league over their handling of key issues until sacked by SEN in 2009 while they attempted to secure the AFL’s radio rights for 2010-11.
But he revealed in the Herald Sun’s Sacked Podcast he quit Channel 9’s Footy Classified because they apologised on his behalf after bending to the threat of a lawsuit over his comments.
Thomas was also sacked by The Age when he accused then-chief football writer Caroline Wilson of mistakes in a story.
“The article was about Luke Ball and someone asked me about it on SEN and said, ‘What is the difference between your article and Caro’s article’, and I said, ‘Mine is full of facts and the truth and Caro’s would be full of lies and innuendo.’
“She took umbrage to it and got me sacked. That’s fine.”
Nine details audiences for Diamonds at Netball World Cup
AUSTRALIA V NORTHERN IRELAND
Friday, July 12 at 7.40pm
National peak audience: 280,000 (5 City: 169,000 / Regional: 111,000)
National average audience: 163,000 (5 City: 103,000 / Regional: 60,000)
AUSTRALIA V ZIMBABWE
Saturday, July 13 at 5.45pm
National peak audience: 247,000 (5 City: 137,000 / Regional: 110,000)
National average audience: 149,000 (5 City: 92,000 / Regional: 57,000)
AUSTRALIA V SRI LANKA
Sunday, July 14 at 11.45pm
National peak audience: 123,000 (5 City: 77,000 / Regional: 46,000)
National average audience: 59,000 (5 City: 45,000 / Regional: 14,000)