Tuesday July 30, 2019
Sky News now the #1 non-sport channel on Foxtel: Ratings climb
Sky News has reported on audience growth records and its highest ever half-yearly (H1) audience figures across key day parts and primetime.
In primetime (6pm-11pm), Sky News achieved a record average audience increase +29%, while share also lifted +42% year-on-year with a total reach of 2.7 million viewers.
Sky News set a new All Day (6am – Midnight) record for H1 with +16% average audience uplift and +29% share increase year-on-year, reaching 3.5 million viewers.
Sky News ranks the #1 non-sports channel and #3 channel overall on Foxtel.
Sky News’ audience growth is also reflected in its record-breaking online results, now delivering 20 million video views each month across its digital platforms.
Throughout the first half of 2019, more than 3 million users visited SkyNews.com.au. On Facebook alone, Sky News content achieved 50 million video views, an increase of 83% year on year.
The record audience growth follows new programming launches, record-breaking election coverage and, in a Sky News first, the premiere of two locally produced investigative documentaries Bad Blood/New Blood and Lawyer X: The Untold Story.
Sky News election night coverage (May 18) delivered the channel its top four rating programs for H1 reaching 737,000 unique viewers across the night, with the channel achieving a record audience daily overnight share of 6.35%.
Outside of election programming, the highly anticipated documentary Bad Blood/New Blood (25 and 26 June) held the number one and two program positions for the year to date. Bad Blood was the #1 non-sport program for the day on Foxtel at premiere, whilst New Blood was the #1 Foxtel program overall for the day. Parts one and two reached a combined 305,000 unique viewers.
The gripping true crime investigation Lawyer X: The Untold Story (22 and 23 July), was the number three and four ranked programs on Sky News for the year to date, outside of election programming. Both premieres were the #1 daily program on Foxtel, achieving a combined reach of 252,000 unique viewers.
In primetime across the first half of the year, Sky News held #1 timeslot positions on Foxtel as programs delivered double-digit percentage growth on average audience.
Credlin anchored by Peta Credlin (weeknights 6pm) increased viewership by +24% and reached 232,000 unique viewers a week.
The Bolt Report (weeknights 7pm) hosted by Andrew Bolt continues to set record ratings for the program up +26% year-on-year and reaching 256,000 weekly.
Kenny on Media hosted by Chris Kenny (Mondays 8pm) continues to build its audience following its launch earlier this year, up +7% and reaching 100,000 viewers weekly.
Jones & Credlin with Alan Jones and Peta Credlin (Tuesdays 8pm) also recorded double-digit percentage growth up +32% and attracted 137,000 unique viewers per week.
Richo anchored by Graham Richardson (Wednesdays 8pm) increased viewing by +19% and secured a weekly reach of 98,000.
Paul Murray Live (Sunday – Thursday 9pm), the #1 nightly program on Foxtel hosted by Paul Murray, is up +28% and reaches 283,000 Australians a week. Audiences watching PML Later (Sunday-Monday) have grown by +29%.
The Front Page anchored by Peter Gleeson (weeknights 11pm) is up +23% and reaches 148,000 unique viewers weekly.
Weekday morning and Sunday programming on Sky News has also set new records.
Outsiders (Sundays 9am) with Rowan Dean, Rita Panahi and James Morrow is up +20% and reaches 98,000 each week.
Sunday primetime (6pm – 11pm) is drawing its best average audiences up +91% year-on-year and highest share ever up +114%.
Kenny on Sunday anchored by Chris Kenny (Sundays 8pm) is up +27% and reaches 102,000 viewers per week.
The new weekday morning line-up First Edition with Laura Jayes and Peter Stefanovic (weekdays 5am-9am) launched on July 1 and has seen audience uplift of +17% and reaches 167,000 viewers a week.
AM Agenda with Kieran Gilbert and Annelise Nielsen (weekdays 9am) has lifted +9.5% year-on-year and reaches 108,000.
Speers (Mon-Thurs 4pm) led by David Speers increased by +16% and reaches 196,000 weekly viewers while Speers on Sunday is up +21%.
Channel: Source: OzTAM National STV Panel, 27.1.19-23.7.19 vs. 27.1.18-23.7.18, Total People, Sky News Live, Projections, Share, Reach, 0600-2359, 1800-2259, Consolidated up to 16.7.19
Weekly Reach: OzTAM National STV Panel, 27.1.18-21.7.18, Total People, Sky News Live, Weekly Reach, 0200-0159, Consolidated up to 16.7.19
Programmes: OzTAM National STV Panel, 27.1.19-23.7.19 vs. 27.1.18-23.7.18, Total People, Sky News Live, Projections, 0200-0159,
Consolidated up to 16.7.19. Programming new to 2019 compared to 2018 timeslot.
First Edition: OzTAM National STV Panel, Weeks 27-29 2019 vs. Weeks 23-26 2019, Total People, Sky News Live, Projections, 0500-0859, Consolidated up to 16.7.19
Video views: Omniture, Brightcove, Facebook Twitter, Jan-Jun 2019 vs Jan-Jun 2018.
Website users: Google Analytics, Jan-Jun 2019.
Network 10 to embark on new romance ride: The Bachelor 2019
By James Manning
Fans of Network 10’s The Bachelor won’t forget the 2018 series in a hurry. After an extensive search for a potential partner that eliminated all but two women from that season’s Bachelorettes, Nick “The Honey Badger” Cummins then went and dumped both of them in the final, admitting he wasn’t in love with either.
10 is now about to take the audience another romance ride as The Bachelor 2019 launches on Wednesday. The choice of Matt Agnew as the man looking for love seems a safer bet this year. Although 10 has indicated Agnew is aware of the challenges:
Not only is he an astrophysicist searching for Earth 2.0, he can also speak many different languages. Including the language of love.
As Matt says, “they’re not afraid to speak the language of love. If that’s the sign of things to come, I’ve got a really tough decision ahead.”
Network 10’s executive producer on The Bachelor, Hilary Innes, told Mediaweek that last year’s drama surrounding the climax revealed the show is very real.
“It reinforces for me that you will always find an honest love story on The Bachelor. We do want people to fall in love, but we are not going to force them to make it happen.
“The Honey Badger was very honest about who he would take to the finale and then very honest about not being able to make a decision. While I thought that was great, I wouldn’t be overly keen for it to happen in a second consecutive year!”
Hilary Innes
Innes has worked on four series of The Bachelor and three of The Bachelorette.
In answer to a question about if it gets any easier the more seasons you make, Innes explained: “It’s different each time and there are always fresh challenges. We always have to be on our toes and looking for ways to evolve the show. You are always looking to improve on what we have done. You don’t want to continue to deliver the same things to the audience, but you want to keep intact the elements they love about the format. We try to strike a balance on both those counts.”
Innes was in agreement with what 10’s Stephen Tate told Mediaweek this week about the importance of stepping away at times as a producer and letting the stories dictate where the program goes.
10 conducts a casting tour for The Bachelor every year and Innes goes on the road and also flies likely candidates into Sydney. There is a fresh bunch of Bachelorettes every year and no woman ever appears twice on the series.
“There is never any lack of willing participants, but it is much harder to cast The Bachelorette where men are much more reluctant to take part in a TV show.”
Not every choice is a great one, she admitted. “Some people in a casting immediately grab your attention and you think they will be good. Then on occasion when we are filming in the mansion they just don’t deliver like we thought they would. Similarly the opposite can happen whereby somebody else can organically evolve into their character and be great on TV.
“We are very even-handed with everyone who we audition and we give them plenty of time to get comfortable.”
When it comes to casting the actual Bachelor, Innes said it can be a very tricky thing. “In the US they always operate by bringing someone through the franchise who has either been a Bachelor or Bachelorette previously. We have done that twice and it worked. But then we have had people like The Honey Badger, who was very different to the others.
“We have tried various approaches. This year we wanted to go back to basics and we found a classic, unknown person who could help refresh the brand. He ticks a lot of boxes for a broad audience demo. We talk to lots of candidates, and we are always really looking for someone who has that elusive X factor. They also need to be relatable to the audience and the Bachelorettes. We really need someone who is just the most wonderful person.
“I am always very mindful that our female audience is very broad. The viewers range from being quite young to very old.”
As we spoke to Innes this week all the shooting had finished and The Bachelor was in post-production. 10 is now part way through shooting The Bachelorette. “It’s going to be a great year for both those series,” she said.
SBS Short Film Festival to run September 13 -15
The festival will feature an array of formats, subjects, topics, and talent and cover topics such as friendship, family, culture and food, while others tackle topical issues such as Aboriginal child removals in the 1950s.
It is part of the short-form content initiative which is partnering with five of Australia’s screen agencies with the aim to increase the career development opportunities of diverse groups. The 14 films feature Australian creatives from underrepresented societies, including those from multicultural, Indigenous and LGBTIQ+ communities, and those living with disabilities.
SBS Director of TV and Online Content Marshall Heald said: “Our Short-Form Content Initiative announced last year was a promise from SBS to encourage and celebrate emerging local talent, and we’re thrilled that the initiative has culminated into the SBS Short Film Festival for SBS On Demand. These films represent Australia’s diversity and will give a platform to creatives from communities that are underrepresented in the screen sector. We’re delighted to see this festival launch in September.”
The SBS Short Film Festival runs from Friday 13 September until Sunday 15 September.
SBS provided a preview of the content for the SBS Short Film Festival below:
The festival will celebrate diversity in all its forms. Out of Range, starring Australian actor Aaron Pedersen, is about an estranged father and son who reconnect when their car breaks down on a quiet road. Other scripted films include Tribunal, about a gay man seeking asylum in Australia and the translator who is assigned to his case; Amar, the story of a Muslim woman with Down syndrome who organises the wedding of her dreams, without a groom; and Molly & Cara, a dark comedy series about the unlikely friendship between an Aboriginal student and a bigoted, elderly lady.
Viewers will be able to watch a collection of moving documentaries including Limited Surrender that follows an artist’s journey after being diagnosed with MS; Lost Daylight explores Aboriginal child removals and stolen wages, focusing on one woman’s experience of being taken and placed in the Sisters of Mercy convent within All Hallows’ School in 1950s/60s Brisbane.
Fans of bold and poignant tales will love The Loop – a comedic film about a first-time television director with Down syndrome, Lorcan Hopper, who must work with a cast that can’t quite match his level of intensity and professionalism. Monsters of Many Worlds, divided into three episodes, is a live action and animation series that explores mythical creatures from different cultures. Bananas and Flavour Swap both delve into the connection between food, family and culture.
Tasmanian productions The Small Town Drifter and Sidelines showcase drift racing and cricket, highlighting everyday Australians who are overcoming their struggles by harnessing their passion for sport. Deafinition and Lives in Action explore the first-hand experiences of a diverse cast – Deafinition takes us on a journey through the eyes and ears of someone who is profoundly deaf and Lives in Action documents a group of neurodiverse filmmakers as they interview six disabled Australians.
SBS partnered with five Australian screen agencies to bring these short films to audiences – Film Victoria, Screen Queensland, Screenwest, South Australian Film Corporation and Screen Tasmania.
Box Office: Lion King still king of the jungle with another $10m
By Trent Thomas
In its second week of release, the film accounted for over half of the $17.78m the Australian box office made over the weekend helping it in a quiet week (down 40% on last weekened) that only had one new release make the top five in Andre Rieu’s 2019 Maastricht Concert – Shall We Dance?. The film to make way being The Secret Life of Pets 2 which fell to seventh spot in its sixth week making a total of $18.07m.
However, some noise was made outside the top five this week with the second and third highest average per screen being made by films with a limited release:
• #6 Chal Mera Putt– an average of $9,497 on 33 screens for a total of $313,40
• #10 Ardaas Karaan– an average of $28,578 on seven screens for a total of $200,045 over two weeks
#1 The Lion King $11.25m
After a mammoth opening weekend, the remake of the 1994 Disney classic has once again had an amazing weekend declining only 45% on last weeks historic total. The film was the most screened film (930 screens) in the country making an average of $13,133.
#2 Spider-Man: Far From Home $1.30m
Still in second spot after its fourth week in theatres, the second instalment of the Tom Holland franchise has proved that Marvel is still bulletproof in Australia after bringing its total to $35.19m and it now has three of the top five movies this year along with Avengers: Endgame and Captain Marvel. The web-slinging flick made an average of $2,741 on 475 screens.
#3 Andre Rieu’s 2019 Maastricht Concert – Shall We Dance? $1.23m
André Rieu’s annual hometown Maastricht concerts theme this year was a dedication to the waltz and Australians danced into theatres for its release downunder as it averaged $8,139 on 159 screens.
#4 Toy Story 4 $839,968
At six weeks the latest entry into the Toy Story franchise is now the longest-lasting film in the top five and is now the fourth highest-grossing film of the year in Australia. With the holiday period coming to an end the family classic still managed an average of $3,032 on 277 screens.
#5 Yesterday $612,825
After five weeks the musical rom-com managed to have only a 27% decline on last weekends total as it hangs on to its top five spot once again after making an average of $2,158 on 284 screens.
TV Ratings Analysis: July 29
Monday Week 31 2019
By James Manning
• Seven News 1,101,000/1,024,000
• Nine News 927,000/953,000
• A Current Affair 885,000
• ABC News 678,000
• 7.30 615,000
• The Project 279,000/496,000
• 10 News First 367,000
• The Drum 202,000
• SBS World News 145,000
Breakfast TV
• Sunrise 248,000
• Today 210,000
Seven
Home And Away’s week 30 average was 621,000, down from 648,000 the previous week. Meantime it has started week 31 on 707,000.
The second night of Australia’s Got Talent saw it going head-to-head with the grand final of Ninja Warrior. Subsequently the numbers dropped from its opening night of 814,000 to 630,000.
Two episodes of S.W.A.T. then did 340,000 and 256,000.
Nine
A Current Affair started its week with a great story on the Chappell brothers, reuniting with reporter Dan Nolan to talk about Ian’s health challenge with skin cancer. The episode did 885,000, easily winning the timeslot. The program’s week 30 average was 721,000, close to the previous week’s 722,000.
It was then time for the 2019 final episode of Australian Ninja Warrior with 11 competitors in the hunt for the cash. Nobody managed to finish the course, let along attempt to climb Mount Midoriyama. The four best competitors all came unstuck at the floating doors. The winner was then judged on time, with Charlie Robbins getting there the quickest. The episode became the third to crack 1m viewers this season. The final had 1.22m watching the first part of the action, with 1.34m watching when Nine hosts Rebecca Maddern and Ben Fordham revealed the winner. The numbers watching managed to grow last year’s audience of 1.08m and 1.12m.
Melbourne viewers then got Footy Classified with 194,000 watching at different times across the network, with 125,000 in Melbourne.
Some audiences saw a Robert Penfold special called Events That Changed The World: A Foreign Affair with Nine’s US bureau chief remembering key stories he has covered over the years. The show did 221,000 with 131,000 in Sydney.
10
The Project started its weeknight run on 496,000. The 7pm weekly average for the past two weeks were 466,000 and 475,000. Bryan Brown was a guest in the studio.
The athletes alliance fell apart again for a second night warning of the dangers of trying to get too clever too early in a series of Survivor. Steve Bradbury made a big mistake taking on AFLW player Abbey. He narrowly dodged a bullet though as the Champions, who again lost immunity, decided to target Nova who was voted out. The episode managed to climb to 655,000 after 562,000 on Sunday.
Have You Been Paying Attention? grabbed 10’s biggest audience with 673,000 as Amanda Keller, Kitty Flanagan and Mick Molloy joined Ed and Sam. Guest quizmasters included Sam Neill.
A repeat Arj Barker special then did 182,000.
ABC
Back Roads was in the Flinders Rangers with 637,000 watching.
Four Corners then profiled Julian Assange with part two of a report from Michael Brissenden. The audience was 453,000 after 505,000 watched part one.
Media Watch was on 449,000 followed by Q&A on 315,000. After a long week of MasterChef drama, there was no escaping it even on Q&A.
SBS
Secrets Of The Royal Servants pulled the biggest metro audience for the channel with 216,000.
24 Hours In Emergency followed with 196,000.
Week 30 TV: Monday
| MONDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 12.3% | 7 | 17.6% | 9 | 25.0% | 10 | 14.4% | SBS One | 4.7% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.2% | 7TWO | 2.6% | GO! | 2.5% | 10 Bold | 2.5% | VICELAND | 1.1% |
| ABC ME | 0.5% | 7mate | 3.3% | GEM | 2.6% | 10 Peach | 2.0% | Food Net | 1.6% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.0% | 7flix | 1.3% | 9Life | 1.7% | NITV | 0.1% | ||
| 7Food | 0.6% | SBS World Movies | 0.4% | ||||||
| TOTAL | 16.0% | 25.4% | 31.8% | 18.9% | 7.9% | ||||
| MONDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 11.2% | 7 | 19.5% | 9 | 21.1% | WIN | 10.8% | SBS One | 4.1% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.4% | 7TWO | 3.7% | GO! | 3.3% | WIN Bold | 3.2% | VICELAND | 1.2% |
| ABC ME | 0.8% | 7mate | 3.8% | GEM | 5.2% | WIN Peach | 1.7% | Food Net | 1.4% |
| ABC NEWS | 0.7% | 7flix (Excl. Tas/WA) | 2.6% | 9Life | 1.4% | Sky News on WIN | 1.4% | NITV | 0.1% |
| 7food (QLD only) | 0.5% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 15.1% | 30.1% | 31.0% | 17.0% | 6.8% | ||||
Monday FTA
- Australian Ninja Warrior -Winner Announced Nine 1,341,000
- Australian Ninja Warrior -Grand Final Nine 1,221,000
- Seven News Seven 1,101,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 1,024,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 953,000
- Nine News Nine 927,000
- A Current Affair Nine 885,000
- Home And Away Seven 707,000
- ABC News ABC 678,000
- Have You Been Paying Attention? 10 673,000
- Australian Survivor 10 655,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 644,000
- Back Roads S5 ABC 637,000
- Australia’s Got Talent Seven 630,000
- 7.30 ABC 615,000
- Hot Seat Nine 526,000
- The Project 7pm 10 496,000
- Four Corners ABC 453,000
- Media Watch ABC 449,000
- The Chase Australia-5pm Seven 388,000
Demo Top 5
16-39 Top Five
- Australian Ninja Warrior -Winner Announced Nine 319,000
- Australian Ninja Warrior -Grand Final Nine 268,000
- Australian Survivor 10 258,000
- Have You Been Paying Attention? 10 250,000
- Home And Away Seven 150,000
18-49 Top Five
- Australian Ninja Warrior -Winner Announced Nine 588,000
- Australian Ninja Warrior -Grand Final Nine 501,000
- Australian Survivor 10 382,000
- Have You Been Paying Attention? 10 380,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 260,000
25-54 Top Five
- Australian Ninja Warrior -Winner Announced Nine 665,000
- Australian Ninja Warrior -Grand Final Nine 568,000
- Have You Been Paying Attention? 10 405,000
- Australian Survivor 10 375,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 313,000
Monday Multichannel
- Bluey AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 213,000
- Peppa Pig AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 169,000
- Charlie And Lola ABCKIDS/COMEDY 151,000
- Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 151,000
- Rusty Rivets ABCKIDS/COMEDY 151,000
- Dinosaur Train ABCKIDS/COMEDY 150,000
- Go Jetters ABCKIDS/COMEDY 144,000
- PJ Masks PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 144,000
- Andy’s Safari Adventures ABCKIDS/COMEDY 142,000
- Floogals ABCKIDS/COMEDY 142,000
- Nella The Princess Knight AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 138,000
- Octonauts PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 138,000
- Kiddets AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 138,000
- Hey Duggee ABCKIDS/COMEDY 137,000
- NCIS (R) 10 Bold 136,000
- Peppa Pig PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 135,000
- Neighbours 10 Peach 132,000
- Kiri And Lou PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 131,000
- Fireman Sam AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 119,000
- Bob The Builder PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 119,000
Monday STV
- Live: AFL 360 FOX FOOTY 69,000
- Live: On The Couch FOX FOOTY 61,000
- The Bolt Report Sky News Live 59,000
- Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 54,000
- Credlin Sky News Live 53,000
- Last Week Tonight With John Oliver COMEDY CHANNEL 45,000
- American Dad! FOX8 45,000
- Kid-E-Cats Nick Jr. 45,000
- Family Guy FOX8 42,000
- Family Guy FOX8 41,000
- Live: NRL 360 FOX LEAGUE 39,000
- Paw Patrol Nick Jr. 39,000
- Kenny On Media Sky News Live 38,000
- Peppa Pig Nick Jr. 38,000
- Peppa Pig Nick Jr. 37,000
- Mickey And The Roadster Racers Disney Junior 37,000
- Aussie Inventions That Changed The World History Channel 36,000
- Shimmer And Shine Nick Jr. 33,000
- AFL 360 FOX FOOTY 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
TV production: Ausfilm’s Debra Richards quits to join Netflix
The Ausfilm board has appointed Kate Marks, Ausfilm executive VP of international production based in Los Angeles, as interim CEO from August 31 while it undertakes the process to appoint a new CEO.
Ausfilm chair Sam Mostyn said: “Debra leaves an extraordinary legacy in transforming the organisation, advocating for and delivering key policy reforms that have benefited our members and the broader industry in attracting major production, VFX and post-production, developing and leading a highly skilled and well-respected team supporting Ausfilm’s membership and clients here and overseas, and nurturing invaluable relationships with government and industry across the spectrum.
“Debra is highly respected, a great leader and the consummate colleague. We will miss her and thank her for that legacy.”
Netflix recently set up an office in Sydney, hiring Sarah Haines as head of publicity for Netflix originals in Australia/New Zealand and Nick O’Donnell as director of public policy.
News Brands
Former federal MP Emma Husar, BuzzFeed settle ‘slut’ claim case
The deal is expected to be signed off in the coming days by the publication’s United States management and reporter Alice Workman, a lawyer for Husar told AAP on Monday.
The matter is then scheduled to return to the Federal Court for the final time on August 6.
Workman, now a journalist for The Australian, had published allegations of misconduct made against Husar and examined as part of a confidential internal Labor investigation.
Radio
Jessica Mauboy first gig in a busy week for Nova Red Room
The special gig was the first of two this week – Nova and Warner Music are presenting Bazzi in a Red Room event tonight.
Competition winners, industry reps and media were in the 200 plus crowd last Friday, with Mauboy excited to be performing to some of her biggest fans.
Matt De Groot and Matthew Johnson, part of the team for Nova 96.9’s Saturday Breakfast Show with Matt, Sarah and Matty J, hosted the Nova Red Room event.
Songs performed by Mauboy included Sunday Afternoon, Jealous and Blessing. She also belted out the hits Inescapable, Pop A Bottle and her latest single, The Little Things, which has over 1,900,000 streams on Spotify already.
Mauboy reminded the audience that her upcoming fourth album, Hilda, is set for release in October. She told of her excitement about releasing new music and to share with the world and what influenced her to open up about her culture, life and family in the new album. Mauboy has co-written each of the 14 tracks on the album.
Publishing
Why Meghan Markle won’t appear on British Vogue cover
The cover Markle coedited with Vogue Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful instead features 15 women the former Suits star admires as prominent voices advocating for change.
The issue, named Forces for Change, shows Australian supermodel Adut Akech, New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, climate change activist Greta Thunberg and Hollywod actor and activist Jane Fonda.
Markle shunned both her sister-in-law, and her mother-in-law, Princess Diana, who have both appeared on covers of Vogue, saying to do so would be “boastful”, according to Enninful.
Television
Q&A with guest Adam Liaw delivers version of MasterChef fireball
It has been quite a week for the program that Q&A panellist and former MasterChef winner Adam Liaw described as “the most influential cooking show in the entire world”.
Channel 10’s kitchen conflagration took over much of the final 20 minutes of the ABC’s premier national debate program.
There was consensus across the panel that wage theft was a bad thing. So bad that it required criminal sanction. Jail, said Liberal senator Eric Abetz and others. The debate put Liaw – hailed as a potential successor on the MasterChef judging panel and a man who owes his celebrity to the show – in an awkward spot.
Celebrity chefs like George Calombaris don’t deserve to go to jail
“Right now, the Attorney-General is drafting laws to deal with criminalising worker exploitation,” Morrison stated during question time on Wednesday.
The call comes after celebrity chef George Calombaris was hit with a $7.8 million underpayment bill and Neil Perry faces legal action for the alleged underpayment of a chef.
But here’s the thing: not all employers are deliberate ‘thieves.’ In fact, the vast majority aren’t.
The problem with criminalising worker exploitation or underpayments is that it sends the message that employers are knowingly and wilfully out to exploit workers. And before we mislabel an entire section of Australia’s economy as bosses intent on ripping off their staff, can we perhaps examine the deeper reasons why employers might be struggling to pay their staff correctly?
MasterChef runner-up among names rumoured for hosting gig
Runner-up in the first season of the cooking show, Yeow’s name has been among those rumoured to take over from departing trio George Calombaris, Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan.
Others mentioned include Curtis Stone, Maggie Beer and Kylie Kwong.
“I have nothing to tell you,’’ Yeow said.
“I saw (my name) was out there and I was like, ‘wow I haven’t been told’.
“It’s very flattering to be considered but I don’t like to count my chickens.
“There’s a rumour that a lot of people are pressuring for two females to be on it so it’ll be interesting to see how it pans out.”
Matt Preston on the moment he found out he’d been dropped by 10
Preston, who is filling in on the ABC Melbourne breakfast show with Jacinta Parsons this week, was in a car last Tuesday afternoon on his way to Triple M to do an interview spruiking the MasterChef finale when he read on social media he’d been given the flick.
“It would probably have felt worse if I was by myself, but the fact I was with one of the publicists with 10 who had no idea and who was just aghast by the situation, especially about to go and do a national radio show, it was a bit of a shock,” he said on ABC radio.
Preston denied that was the case and said the trio of judges and Network 10 had agreed on money.
“We’d agreed on the offer with 10,” he said on the ABC. “We’d sent a note back to their offer, we’d agreed to the financial terms. We’d agreed to make the next series of MasterChef, and it was the other terms that fell down.”
Preston said it would be a “long time” before the trio were back on TV together.
“I think that the next step for us is to drop out of sight for a nice, long time,” he said on ABC radio.
“I talked to Gary on the weekend and he was down walking the dog on the beach. That’s the next step. I think TV is a something longer term in the future.”