Thursday July 4, 2019
Media companies claim the fate of their journalists remains unclear
We had a constructive discussion with Attorney-General Christian Porter and Minister for Communications Paul Fletcher today, but we remain frustrated that a month after search warrants were carried out by the Australian Federal Police the fate of our journalists remains unclear.
While our strong preference was for immediate action rather than inquiries, we will engage with any processes that seek to address the issues we have raised. We will continue to push for real outcomes that strengthen the Australian public’s fundamental right to know.
We have committed to making further direct submissions both on the fate of our journalists and on the specific areas where freedom of the press has been eroded and we have agreed to meet with the Attorney-General and Minister for Communications again in three months’ time.
We stressed in today’s meeting the importance of the Federal Government taking a leadership position on the public’s right to be informed and to set the tone for a less secret and more open democracy.
This statement is attributable to David Anderson, ABC Managing Director, on behalf the joint media organisations that met with Christian Porter and Paul Fletcher in Canberra on Wednesday.
The organisations were: the ABC, Nine, News Corp, Free TV, SBS and Seven West Media. Nine was represented by Hugh Marks and News Corp Australia by Campbell Reid.
Podcast Week: Let the Games begin – Howie back with season six
By James Manning
Howie Games S6 starts with Campbell sisters
One of Australia’s most successful sports podcasts, The Howie Games, returns today with 10 fresh episodes as sports broadcaster and journalist Mark “Howie” Howard interviews some of the world’s biggest names in sport.
Candid, insightful and inspiring, The Howie Games showcases a side to athletes not often heard. The new season will feature Australian swimming champions, sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell, basketball legend Andrew Gaze, Tour de France star Phil Anderson, and cricketer and refugee Fawad Ahmad.
“It’s been a real thrill for me to sit down with such a varied group of athletes and chat about their incredible journeys,” Howie said.
“The Campbell sisters had me in tears when talking about their career setbacks, while Fawad Ahmed astonished me with the story of his journey that took him from fearing for his life to playing cricket for Australia. Scott McLaughlin’s descriptions of the power of the mind take the show into a completely different realm,” he added.
Lifting the lid on the real stories behind the big news headlines, Howie delves deep into each athlete’s unique personal story, sharing their ultimate highs to the tear-jerking lows.
The first episode of series 6 of The Howie Games, featuring Australian swimming champions, Cate and Bronte Campbell, will be available to download for free via Apple Podcasts and on the PodcastOne app and website (www.podcastone.com.au) from 4 July 2019.
Listen to The Howie Games here.
Whooshkaa offers dynamic ad insertion & transcription
Whooshkaa this week announced platform users can access free IAB-certified dynamic content insertion technology and AI-generated transcripts.
Whooshkaa founder and CEO Rob Loewenthal announced the free service, saying customers could use Campaign Manager technology through the IAB Certified Platform.
Campaign Manager allows podcasters to dynamically inject ad content into podcasts at the point of download, targeted to a listener’s location and device type.
Podcasters of all sizes can monetise their content by working directly with advertisers large and small. Further, podcasters on the platform can now transcribe their audio for free using Whooshkaa’s Automated Transcription function.
“Our focus is on value,” Loewenthal said. “We’ve learned that when we create value for podcasters, we create opportunities for advertisers.
“Dynamic ad insertion technology and AI-generated transcripts have been out of reach for most podcasters for far too long. Now more than 6,000 global podcasters on the Whooshkaa podcast platform will get access to our state-of-the-art proprietary ad technology and transcription tools for free.”
Helen McCabe launches Future Women podcasts with PodcastOne
Last year, Helen McCabe launched Future Women, a subscription-based club for women to help develop and promote professional and personal success that also offers members access to exclusive content and events.
McCabe is the latest expert to join the PodcastOne stable, with the Future Women Leadership Series podcast
The new podcast features some of the stand-out speakers from the recent Future Women Leadership event, including global head of design for Deputy (Australian software company) Lisi Schappi, founder of the multimillion dollar business MyBudget, Tammy Barton, and Aubrey Blanche who heads up diversity and belonging at software giant Atlassian.
From TV, to newspapers, to magazines and digital, McCabe has been a leader and trailblazer in the Australian media industry in a career that spans more than 20 years. With experience across multiple platforms, including her role as editor-in-chief at The Australian Women’s Weekly, and more recently as digital content director for Nine, McCabe was responsible for leading the evolution and launch of Nine’s women network, 9Honey.
“This podcast contains some of the best talks I’ve heard on leadership and encompasses a wide range of voices and insights,” explained McCabe. “We’ve cherry-picked the best and edited the talks into highlight packages, so it is super-engaging and informative”.
Listen to Future Women Leadership Series here.
Foxtel’s Aussie Inventions That Changed The World
Podcast companions to TV series are becoming more common. Recent examples we covered in this column include Andrew Denton’s Interview and Chernobyl.
Now Aussie Inventions That Changed The World has been released. Based on the original Foxtel series of the same name, the podcast examines the timely inventions, scientific breakthroughs and brilliant new technologies throughout history, which were born and bred on Australian soil.
Led by braniac Matt Parkinson and a team of experts, the series delves into the stories behind ingenious inventions and shines a spotlight on Australia’s best thinkers, tinkerers and titans of industry.
This is a series of eight podcasts, with each episode providing in depth insights on the inventions featured in the TV series. The Aussie Inventions That Changed The World TV series airs on Foxtel’s History channel Mondays at 7:30pm AEST from June 24. There will be a new episode of the podcast available immediately after each program.
Listen to Aussie Inventions That Changed The World here.
Starcom’s Toby Barbour steps up to take Publicis Media CEO role
Currently CEO of Starcom Australia, Barbour will start in his new role effective immediately, while staying on as interim CEO of Starcom until a replacement is named.
Barbour will report to Publicis Media EMEA & APAC CEO Gerry Boyle and Publicis Groupe Australia and New Zealand CEO Michael Rebelo.
John Preston will work with Barbour in a consultative role as chairman of Publicis Media ANZ.
Along with Starcom, Publicis Media’s agency brands in Australia consist of Zenith, Spark Foundry and Performics.
On the appointment, Boyle said: “It is with great pleasure that we appoint Toby to his new role. As the CEO of Publicis Media ANZ, he is charged with ensuring that we continue to create a progressive, effective operating model for our clients and our people. Working in collaboration with our brand CEOs, across solutions, Toby will ensure that we continue to develop our talent and work to the highest standards, helping deliver the Power of One model.”
Rebelo added: “I look forward to working with Toby who not only brings a depth and diversity of experience, but also possesses the attributes that we look for in our leaders – someone who’s open to new ideas and change, adaptive, collaborative and client focused.
“In his new group media role, we will be working closely, along with agency CEOs across Publicis Groupe, to ensure that we continue to offer flexibility, strength and resources to clients that can benefit from a truly integrated approach through our unique Power of One model.”
Barbour has been at the helm of Starcom for almost two and a half years, and prior to that held roles within the agency including MD and client services director. More recently, Barbour led the agency’s appointment to the P&G account, while retaining Subaru, Snooze and Metcash following business reviews. He rebooted the agency’s human experience (HX) brand story and way of working by elevating the value of HX design thinking – investing in commerce, content, data, research and talent; and developing the “Return on Experience” measurement framework.
In April, he and his team launched an Australian-first ethnographic research study into the connected smart home of the future; and developed “Starcom Futures”, an always-on proprietary thought leadership platform.
Before joining Starcom Barbour held lead sales and marketing roles, including GM consumer marketing at Sony and sales and marketing director at Olympus.
Barbour said: “I’m inspired by Publicis Groupe’s vision for the future and believe that through a powerful combination of content, data and technology we have a unique opportunity to lead client marketing transformation. It’s a privilege to lead our Publicis Media solution, and I look forward to working closely with our agency brands Zenith, Spark Foundry, Starcom and Performics to drive our strategic growth plans.”
Ben Fordham on Ninja Warrior: Can new city deliver ratings lift?
By James Manning
The series launched with 1.67m in 2017 and the grand final averaged over 2m. A year later and it launched with 929,000 and the grand final just made it over 1m.
Can Nine find the ratings magic that electrified audiences the first time around? Ninja Warrior co-host Ben Fordham thinks so.
“We’d like to see the ratings back to where we were in the first year. They were such record-breaking numbers that I might be a bit ambitious. But you’ve always got to shoot for the stars. We want as many families as possible sitting down around Australia watching it together.”
Nine and Endemol Shine Australia moved production to Melbourne this year, partly because they found a great site with city backdrops, and because Melbourne people tune in big time for shows filmed on their home soil. It works for The Block.
Ben Fordham co-hosts Australian Ninja Warrior with Rebecca Maddern. They are joined by Freddie Flintoff who has been getting good reviews for his new UK TV job – co-hosting BBC’s Top Gear.
“Melbourne welcomed Ninja in a major way and the crowds certainly proved they deserve their reputation as the sports-loving capital of Australia. It didn’t matter that it was sometimes 1am and minus three degrees, they still got right into it. Melbourne loves big events and they love TV being filmed in their city.
“The big change this year is the fact there will be a winner who will receive a rather large cheque from [Nine CEO] Hugh Marks.” Make it up Mt Midoriyama and the winner will pocket $200,000 and the title of Australia’s first Ninja Warrior.
“The other major change is the jeopardy element with the warped wall, which is an iconic Ninja element. This year there are two warped walls.”
If a competitor decides to tackle the tougher of the two warped walls, there is a $5,000 cash bonus waiting at the top.
The two hosts need to improvise as the viewers see contestant after contestant attempting the same challenges. With no writer for the hosts, Fordham and his colleague Maddern do their own research. “We get to know who the Ninjas are and we study their backstories. We look for anything interesting about them. What we have done this year more than ever before is get to know every square inch of the course. It gives us more authority about when and why people become unstuck.”
The 2019 shoot lasted two weeks, with Fordham noting they were lucky regarding weather, apart from cold late night shoots!
“We had extra industrial strength heaters installed in the commentary box to combat the chilly breeze coming off the water.”
The new course is in Spotswood, beside Scienceworks, near where the Yarra River meets Port Phillip Bay.
Noting that he is wary of overpromising and under delivering, Fordham was still moved to say: “It is the greatest TV show you will ever see in your life. We had a lot of fun doing it.”
Calling the action on Ninja Warrior is not unlike working on a sports broadcast. As to sports commentators that Fordham was influenced by, he said: “I grew up always listening to Ray Warren, Dennis Cometti, the late, great Darryl Eastlake and Ray Hadley.”
Fordham remembered how he once got a call from Julie Eastlake, Darryl Eastlake’s wife, when Ninja first started. “She told me, ‘When I hear you commentate I hear the same enthusiasm that big Dazza used to bring to his coverage.’ It give me a big thrill to hear that.”
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Top Photo: Calling the action on Australian Ninja Warrior: Ben Fordham, Rebecca Maddern and Freddie Flintoff
TV Tonight poll: Critics rank Frontline Australia’s best TV comedy
TV Tonight has asked some of the nation’s top TV critics to choose their favourite Australian comedies – either sitcoms or sketch – with Working Dog’s 1990s satire on current affairs emerging at #1.
Michael Lallo from The Age said, “A quarter-century after its debut, this note-perfect satire of TV current affairs – and Australian journalism in general – still feels remarkably relevant.”
Co-creator and star Rob Sitch said of the honour, “That’s very gratifying. I still have PTSD from the pilot screening. The ABC were expecting something a little more Mrs Brown’s Boys and we delivered a laugh-track-free vérité style office satire. There’s silence and then there’s silence that needs a defibrillator. Credit to them for still rolling the dice.”
In second place was Jane Turner and Gina Riley’s suburban homage, Kath & Kim, which screened on ABC from 2002 – 2004 and Seven in 2007, as well as spawning a telemovie and feature film.
Debi Enker, also from The Age, said, “Crowd-pleasing, iconic characters seen in the context of Australian suburban life and its values.”
In third place was hit Seven sketch Fast Forward.
“Was this the greatest collection of Aussie comedy talent ever?” asks James Manning from Mediaweek.
Here is the Top 10 list. Did they get it right?
Frontline
Kath & Kim
Fast Forward
We Can Be Heroes / Please Like Me
Utopia
Mother and Son / The Norman Gunston Show
The Chaser’s War on Everything / Summer Heights High
The Letdown
The Aunty Jack Show
Big Girl’s Blouse / Rosehaven
Calling all dog lovers: Pooches at Play back on 10 for season 4
Premiering on Saturday 20 July 2019 at 2pm on Channel 10, Pooches at Play series 4 features host, animal welfare advocate and dog trainer Lara Shannon and her new co-host, The Travel Bug’s Morgan Burrett, visiting a range of popular tourist destinations across Australia, providing pet-friendly travel tips and activities for canine companions.
There series will also feature the usual dog training, health, nutrition, grooming tips and other advice for taking care of pets when on holidays and back at home. Episode destinations and example stories include:
Episode 1 – 20 July 2019 – Melbourne to Geelong, VIC
In this episode the Pooches at Play team provide plenty of tips for preparing for a RV road trip with your pet including: pre-departure packing, car travel safety, food and anxiety tips, caravan park etiquette and things to do and see with your dog in the Bellarine Peninsula. Learn about the Cherished Pets charity group that is helping elderly and vulnerable people in the local community care for their pets during times of need.
Episode 2 – 27 July 2019 – Torquay to Bells Beach, VIC
In this episode the Pooches at Play team check out the pet friendly things to do with your dog when visiting the seaside towns of Torquay and Jan Juc, along the Great Ocean Road. Tips include after-beach grooming and other useful health, nutrition and training advice, including how to re-train reactive dogs due to anxiety and poor socialisation.
Episode 3 – 3 August 2019 – Warrnambool, VIC
The team continue their travels along the Great Ocean Road as they check out the fun things to do and see in Warrnambool with your dog, including a visit to meet the ‘Ambassadogs’ for the Middle Island Maremma Penguin Project that are helping protect the local colony of the ‘Little Penguin’. Plus plenty of training, health and nutrition tips for taking care of your pooch at home and on the road.
Episode 4 – 10 August 2019 – Goldfields, VIC
In this episode the team head across to the Central Highlights of Victoria and catch up with the Mayor of Ballarat Cr Samantha McIntosh to hear what makes Ballarat the Caravan Capital of Victoria and a popular place to visit and stay with your pooch. Meet the insta-famous staffy Axle and learn about the joys of fossicking for gold in the region, training tips for staffy breeds and other health and nutrition tips. Learn how Guide Dogs Australia is helping people with low vision and blindness get back out into the community.
Episode 5 – 17 August 2019 – Adelaide, SA
Enjoy all that Adelaide has to offer as the team check out the fun things to do in and around Adelaide with your dog, including a visit to the historic town of Hahndorf which has been voted South Australia’s most pet-friendly town. Learn about the importance of micro-chipping your pet, other food, nutrition and health tips and meet the Australian Lions Hearing Dogs, a not-for-profit organisation based in the Adelaide Hills that provides hearing dogs and training for hearing impaired people throughout Australia
Episode 6 –24 August 2019 – Sydney to Newcastle, NSW
In this episode the team visit the harbour cities of Sydney and Newcastle to check out some of the pet-friendly attractions and places to stay, whether caravanning or taking a city hotel break, with your pooch. Learn some training tips for dealing with a Husky, helping cats and dogs with anxiety stay calm, and plenty of other health and nutrition tips. Learn about the work of Dog Rescue Newcastle – a group of volunteers dedicated to the rescue of abandoned, neglected or abused companion animals.
Episode 7 – 31 August 2019 – Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast, QLD
In this episode the team check out the things to do with your dog when in Brisbane or travelling to the Sunshine Coast. Meet some talented Noosa locals including ‘Hugsy’ the surfing dog and ‘Harvey’ the life-saving staffy and learn about dog beach etiquette, hot weather safety and training tips. Learn about the amazing work of the Young Diggers Dog Squad, helping diggers cope with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) and other mental illness, and the Smart Pups Assistance Dogs, assisting children with special needs.
Episode 8 – 7 September 2019 – Melbourne / Mornington Peninsula, VIC
In this episode the team highlight the benefits of getting out and about in your home town with your pooch. They check out what to do and see around Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. Meet Millie the assistance dog who is helping children disengaged from education an d the Australian Search and Rescue dog team in training to help Australia’s Emergency Services. Plus, our usual health and nutrition tips to help create a healthy, happy pooch.
Series 4 is supported by: Major Partner PETstock and Series Partners Big Dog Pet Foods, National Dog Trainers Federation (NDTF), Caravan Industry Association Victoria (CIAVic), New Age Caravans and Vitapet.
Pooches at Play is created by Lara Shannon and produced in conjunction with The Rusty Cage.
More stars revealed for VidCon Australia on September 19-22
Among the latest confirmed guests are Australian comedic duo Superwog, Australian prankster Jackson O’Doherty and comedian Ozzy Man Reviews.
Superwog
Additional confirmed creators also include travel vlogger Alex Hayes, musical comedy duo Scotty Sire & Toddy Smith, animator Sultan Sketches, DIY-obsessed blogger LaurDIY, comedic lifestyle/fashion vlogger Kristen McAtee, family-friendly mobile gaming YouTuber Eystreem, singer/vlogger Alli Simpson, Australian vlogger Study With Jess, LGBT advocate Neon Fiona, NZ comedian Jimi Jackson, lifestyle and LGBTQI advocate AJ Clementine, feminist and transgender activist Riley J. Dennis, TikTok star Mariam Star, singer Mia Rodriguez, fashion and beauty bloggers Ashley and Olivia of the Mescia Twins, and Melbourne singer Liam Ferrari.
Ashley and Olivia of the Mescia Twins
The 22 additions join recently announced featured creators at VidCon Australia including: The Try Guys, Hank Green, Georgia Productions, JaidenAnimations, Draw with Jazza, TheOdd1sOut, Maaz [The Amaazing], alongside US vlogger star Eva Gutowski [MyLifeAsEva].
VidCon Australia has also announced a partnership with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT).
The partnership will allow RMIT students to attend VidCon Australia 2019 to experience, analyse and document the event as part of their course. Each student in the studio will receive a free Creator Track admission pass to the event to learn more about the ins-and-outs of online video production and business development.
Attendees at this year’s event can expect a host of creative, practical and informative content from the industry’s leading innovators.
Ticket options are divided into three signature tracks for purchasers, providing tailored programming suited to their specific interests:
Community Track: For the online video fans. Attendees will be granted exclusive access to leading fan-favourite creators, including live performances, creative workshops, Q&As and a chance to meet the video stars in person.
Creator Track: For the video creators themselves, the event will provide expert insights into video production, how to grow and monetise social channels efficiently, and tips to build their channels as a brand via workshops, panel discussions and keynotes.
Industry Track: For the industry executives, VidCon AU delivers an invaluable networking opportunity and is a leading resource to learn tips on the trade from experts – including, how to build online communities, must-know trends on the horizon, best practices in video advertising and advice on how to reach the highly coveted Gen Z and millennial audience in APAC.
Book your ticket for VidCon Australia, here.
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Top Photo: Kristen McAtee
TV Ratings Analysis: July 3
Wednesday Week 27 2019
By James Manning
• Seven News 1,043,000/983,000
• Nine News 896,000/871,000
• A Current Affair 750,000
• ABC News 623,000
• 7.30 527,000
• The Project 260,000/456,000
• 10 News First 396,000
• The Drum 172,000
• SBS World News 116,000
Breakfast TV
• Sunrise 253,000
• Today 203,000
Seven
The 7pm soap Home And Away did 621,000 last night after two nights close to 650,000.
It was then back to the future with the classic 7.30pm reality combo – Border Security and then The Force. The officers protecting our borders had an audience of 459,000, while the officers protecting our streets did 420,000.
Two episodes of The Super Switch started at 8.30pm with 203,000 and then 140,000. On these numbers the show should perhaps be even later in the evening.
On 7TWO the day three Wimbledon audience was 178,000 with 7TWO’s primetime share on 4.4%.
Ash Barty plays tonight at 8pm in a round two match, surprisingly not on centre court! Both Seven, Fox Sports and Kayo will be covering the game live.
Nine
A Current Affair cast its eye over celebrity endorsed weight loss products. After audiences of 836,000 and then 778,000 so far this week, the midweek number was 750,000.
It was then time for the last ever new episodes of The Big Bang Theory. The final episode featured Sheldon and Amy winning a Nobel Prize. In his acceptance speech Sheldon talked about the importance of friendship and introduced his co-stars to the audience at the Nobel ceremony. The show then ended as it often began, with the cast sitting around the apartment. The Chuck Lorre vanity card at the very end of the credits simply said The End.
The final episode ratings were 781,000 and were key to Nine winning the night.
Two episodes then of Young Sheldon did 439,000.
9Gem carried the England v New Zealand Cricket World Cup clash. The first session did 160,000 with the channel share on 4.4% as England secured a place in the semi-finals.
10
The Project featured rapper Illy after 7pm and then a great report from Lisa Wilkinson on the person known as “the miracle man”. What Terry Mitropoulos has overcome just to live is remarkable and worth checking out on 10 Play if you missed it. The midweek audience after 7pm was 456,000 after 563,000 and 498,000 on Monday and Tuesday.
MasterChef was then on the wonderful Ballarine Peninsula with a train from Queenscliff presenting the top eight with a tough challenge. The midweek audience was 654,000. One of the good cooks in the top eight will be eliminated tonight.
The season final then of the short season of Five Bedrooms did 476,000. 10 reports that the total cross platform audience for last week’s Five Bedrooms was 818,000.
While Nine and Seven had live sport from the UK, 10 Bold was equal #1 multi with a share of 4.9%.
ABC
Anh’s Brush With Fame was on 599,000.
Mad As Hell did 577,000 with Niki Savva one of the guests. She looked a little different, but the hand gestures were just right.
The Letdown managed to make the TV Tonight 10 best comedies of all time list. The episode last night did 275,000.
SBS
24 Hours In Emergency was the channel’s best with 210,000.
Earlier in the night Going Places With Ernie Dingo did 164,000.
Week 27 TV: Wednesday
| WEDNESDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 11.8% | 7 | 15.7% | 9 | 20.3% | 10 | 13.7% | SBS One | 4.2% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.6% | 7TWO | 5.1% | GO! | 2.6% | 10 Bold | 4.9% | VICELAND | 1.2% |
| ABC ME | 0.8% | 7mate | 2.4% | GEM | 5.2% | 10 Peach | 1.9% | Food Net | 1.3% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.2% | 7flix | 2.0% | 9Life | 2.2% | NITV | 0.1% | ||
| 7Food | 0.2% | SBS World Movies | 0.8 | ||||||
| TOTAL | 16.3% | 25.4% | 30.3% | 20.5% | 7.5% | ||||
| WEDNESDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 10.4% | 7 | 17.0% | 9 | 17.6% | WIN | 11.4% | SBS One | 4.5% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 3.0% | 7TWO | 5.6% | GO! | 3.0% | WIN Bold | 4.6% | VICELAND | 1.6% |
| ABC ME | 0.5% | 7mate | 2.9% | GEM | 5.0% | WIN Peach | 2.2% | Food Net | 1.6% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.4% | 7flix (Excl. Tas/WA) | 3.7% | 9Life | 2.5% | Sky News on WIN | 1.4% | NITV | 0.0% |
| 7food (QLD only) | 0.3% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 15.3% | 29.4% | 28.0% | 19.6% | 7.7% | ||||
| WEDNESDAY METRO ALL TV | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTA | STV | ||||||||
| 84.3% | 15.7% | ||||||||
WEDNESDAY FTA
- Seven News Seven 1,043,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 983,000
- Nine News Nine 896,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 871,000
- The Big Bang Theory Nine 781,000
- A Current Affair Nine 750,000
- Masterchef Australia 10 654,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 645,000
- ABC News ABC 623,000
- Home And Away Seven 621,000
- Anh’s Brush With Fame ABC 599,000
- Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell S10 ABC 577,000
- Hot Seat Nine 541,000
- 7.30 ABC 527,000
- Five Bedrooms 10 476,000
- Border Security – Australia’s Front Line Seven 459,000
- The Project 7pm 10 456,000
- Young Sheldon Nine 439,000
- The Force – Behind The Line Seven 420,000
- The Chase Australia-5pm Seven 416,000
Demo Top 5
16-39 Top Five
- Masterchef Australia 10 184,000
- The Big Bang Theory Nine 150,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 126,000
- Seven News Seven 125,000
- Five Bedrooms 10 112,000
18-49 Top Five
- The Big Bang Theory Nine 303,000
- Masterchef Australia 10 286,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 230,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 216,000
- Nine News Nine 215,000
25-54 Top Five
- The Big Bang Theory Nine 377,000
- Masterchef Australia 10 322,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 280,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 276,000
- Seven News Seven 268,000
WEDNESDAY Multichannel
- Bluey AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 206,000
- Wimbledon 2019-Day 3 7TWO 178,000
- NCIS: Los Angeles Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 167,000
- NCIS: Los Angeles (R) 10 Bold 164,000
- Wimbledon 2019-Day 3-Late 7TWO 164,000
- ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Eng V Nz -S 19Gem 160,000
- NCIS (R) 10 Bold 151,000
- Rusty Rivets ABCKIDS/COMEDY 148,000
- Peppa Pig AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 147,000
- Dinosaur Train ABCKIDS/COMEDY 144,000
- Bondi Rescue Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 143,000
- Hey Duggee ABCKIDS/COMEDY 142,000
- ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Eng V Nz -I N9NGINemGS BREAK 142,000
- Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 136,000
- Spicks And Specks ABCKIDS/COMEDY 136,000
- Kiddets AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 134,000
- Peppa Pig PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 132,000
- Nella The Princess Knight AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 132,000
- Charlie And Lola ABCKIDS/COMEDY 131,000
- Kiri And Lou PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 131,000
WEDNESDAY STV
- Live: World Cup: Eng V Nzl FOX CRICKET 121,000
- Live: World Cup Innings Break FOX CRICKET 100,000
- Selling Houses Australia Lifestyle Channel 60,000
- The Bolt Report Sky News Live 57,000
- Live: World Cup Pre-Game FOX CRICKET 57,000
- Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 51,000
- Live: AFL 360 FOX FOOTY 50,000
- Family Guy FOX8 49,000
- Selling Houses Australia Lifestyle Channel 49,000
- Kiva Can Do! Nick Jr. 47,000
- Credlin Sky News Live 45,000
- Blaze And The Monster Machines Nick Jr. 44,000
- Kirstie And Phil’s Love It Or List It Lifestyle Channel 43,000
- Peppa Pig Nick Jr. 42,000
- Peppa Pig Nick Jr. 42,000
- Peppa Pig Nick Jr. 41,000
- Family Guy FOX8 41,000
- Live: World Cup: Eng V Nzl FOX CRICKET 40,000
- Paw Patrol Nick Jr. 39,000
- Blue Bloods TVH!TS 39,000
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
WIN Network promotes finance manager to Chief Financial Officer
Birketu is the private company owned by Bruce Gordon and family, which controls many of the group’s investments.
Halios-Lewis replaces Daniel Collis in the role after he departed WIN Corp at the end of 2018 after 15 years with the company.
As chief financial officer, Halios-Lewis will report into the board of WIN and Birketu and will work with the chief executive officer, Andrew Lancaster, to ensure the ongoing prosperity of both companies.
In announcing the appointment, Lancaster said: “Chris has been a great asset to our operational and strategic team and his appointment is testament to the valuable contribution he has made in delivering our financial and strategic initiatives. His knowledge and experience of our business will strengthen our executive leadership team as we continue to deliver outcomes in what is a complex media environment.”
Halios-Lewis said he was honoured to take on the role of CFO. “I look forward to building on the significant progress that has already been made positioning the company for sustainable growth within a challenging landscape and positively contributing to the corporation’s strategic priorities.”
Halios-Lewis will maintain direct oversight of finance, payroll and property as well as representing WIN and Birketu on various company boards.
Google and Facebook under scrutiny over UK ad market dominance
The Competition and Markets Authority’s wide-ranging investigation into online advertising will focus on the sector’s two biggest players, Google and Facebook, and look at whether “consumers are able and willing to control how data about them is used and collected”.
The CMA said it planned to examine concerns about how online networks were using people’s personal data – Facebook has faced heavy criticism and scrutiny over both the Cambridge Analytica data scandal and its role in the dissemination of “fake news” – including “whether making this data available to advertisers in return for payment is producing good outcomes for consumers”.
News Brands
Journalist sentenced to jail for hitting cyclist while test driving McLaren
Amelia Hungerford pleaded guilty in the Downing Centre Local Court and was sentenced to 12 months behind bars after hitting the cyclist in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park while test driving the McLaren.
The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm over the incident on May 9, 2018.
McLaren had invited journalists to test drive the luxury brand’s new Sports Series vehicles, which attract massive prices upwards of $250,000.
But during the test drive Hungerford smashed into the cyclist, a man in his 50s, causing him to suffer serious facial and leg injuries.
Hungerford, who previously worked as a lifestyle journalist, escaped uninjured.
Hungerford will be eligible to be released on parole on January 24 next year.
Former Nine exec admits to tipping off Indonesians over Wawa rescue
The 2006 incident is etched in TV folklore (and a Frontline episode) when Today Tonight headed to West Papua to rescue a six-year-old boy who had featured on 60 Minutes.
Amongst tribes who reportedly practised cannibalism, young Wawa was believed to have been possessed, and the only way to ‘cure’ him… well, you can guess the rest.
But Indonesian authorities detained Robson and her Seven crew after a tip-off they were travelling on tourist visas. A big no-no when it comes to filming.
Garry Linnell, who was then the director of news and current affairs at Nine at the time, now writes in the New Daily that he was the one who tipped off authorities because of the ratings bonanza it represented.
“I wrestled with the dilemma. There were ethical issues to ponder. Moral implications to be considered. Several long and excruciating seconds later, I came to a decision,” he writes.
“In war, you can just about excuse anything. I picked up the phone and began dialling.
“Of course, all hell broke loose after that.”
Radio
Report: Is the ‘Smiling assassin’ next in 2GB’s spotlight?
The radio boss responsible for talkback host Chris Smith’s departure is known inside 2GB as the smiling assassin and has not had a working relationship with the station’s top star for more than six months, reports Matthew Benns.
Now insiders are saying chief executive Adam Lang’s career could be the next in the spotlight after a series of management bungles that have cost Macquarie Media millions.
Top of the list of problems for Lang is the breakdown of the working relationship with breakfast host Alan Jones who insiders say has “lost all respect for him”.
At one point Lang, the CEO, is understood to have accused Jones, his star employee, of bullying him.
Lang was instrumental in trying to stop the station from re-signing Jones. The months of delay only ended when Peter Costello, chair of Macquarie Media’s new key shareholder Nine Entertainment, stepped in.
“The atmosphere between Jones and Lang is toxic,” a station insider said. Lang had promised mornings host Ray Hadley the breakfast slot and has had to honour the $1.7 million pay rise even though he will have to wait at least two years for the gig.
Despite the problems Lang, known as the smiling assassin because of his cheery demeanour as he delivers bad news, remains calm. He declined to comment yesterday.
Deeply personal reason why Chris Smith refused to host 2GB nights
Smith flew out of Sydney yesterday on a prearranged trip with his daughter, Ashley, after yesterday agreeing to walk away from the station with a $500,000 payout.
The talkback star was said to be “distraught” after Macquarie Media bosses told him they wanted to move him from the lunchtime slot he had consistently won in the ratings for almost two decades onto Steve Price’s night shift.
Now it can be revealed that the real reason for Smith’s distress was that under the agreement of his divorce he needed to be free to pick up Ashley and his son Morgan from school and be with them at night.
“He was put in an impossible position – everyone at the station knows what court commitments he has and how he has his children frequently. It was a big ask to try and change that,” a station insider told The Daily Telegraph.
Smith was thanked on-air yesterday by hosts Erin Molan and Natalie Peters who are filling in on the afternoon timeslot for the next two weeks during the radio ratings break.
“We wish him all the best for whatever the next adventure holds,” Molan said.
“He was a much loved colleague at 2GB and we’ll miss him.”
Television
The Block 2019 teams renovating The Oslo revealed by Domain
The contestants of The Block 2019 are here, with five teams ready to take on the former Oslo Hotel in St Kilda.
The location was revealed in October last year, with the run-down former budget hotel double the size of the Gatwick (the site of the 2018 season).
“I looked at this and thought ‘that’s impossible’,” said Block host Scott Cam. “Here we have double the size of what we did last year, and more than six times the size of the original Block in Bondi back in 2003. That’s a big ask.”
The property was built more than 150 years ago, but since fell into disrepair in its later life.
The teams are:
Mitch and Mark, New South Wales
Andy and Deb, New South Wales
Tess and Luke, Queensland
Jesse and Mel, Victoria
El’ise and Matt, Western Australia
Russell Crowe discovers the man behind the headlines
His life, and the role he played in the reshaping of the political and media landscape, is the subject of the new drama The Loudest Voice, in which Australian actor Russell Crowe, at 1.82m and with the aid of substantial latex padding, brings him dramatically to life.
In approaching the role, Crowe says he had to start with an open mind. “Because you never know what you’re going to find,” the 55-year-old New Zealand-born actor says. “If you search Roger Ailes on Google all you find is the architecture of his demise and that isn’t really enough.”
The further into Ailes life he delved, Crowe found contradiction after contradiction. That he had predicted television networks would ultimately become political parties. And that he was diagnosed with haemophilia as a child and was not expected to live to adulthood.
The series is based on the book The Loudest Voice in the Room by Gabriel Sherman, a 406-page text which Crowe says was invaluable for him as an actor. “Gabriel has already done the first 600 hours of work on your behalf, so you take advantage of it,” Crowe says.
Robbie Hood is the most perfect piece of TV you'll see this year
He loves his mum and would do anything for his two best mates – a mouthy 13-year-old called Georgia Blue and a constantly hungry beanpole named Big Johnny. He loves his nan, gives kids money for the pool and would do anything for the object of his affection, Mim. Sure, his dad is a feckless dickhead (Robbie’s words) but you can’t win them all.
I watched all six episodes of Robbie Hood in one hit and I’m going to do it again. And again. This is perfect TV and it deserves to be seen.
Watch it on SBS Viceland, Tuesday, July 9, 9.35pm, and SBS On Demand.
Sunrise and MAFS star ‘bullying’ battle continues to rage
Koch and co-hosts Samantha Armytage, Natalie Barr and Mark Beretta, all had a dig at Kalifatidis the morning after the Logies, with Koch claiming he had bruises on his ribs from the brunette elbowing him on the red carpet.
Kalifatidis subsequently responded to the claims online, denying she elbowed Koch and saying he should be more mature.
She also said the on-air bullying had affected her mental state at a time when she was trying to repair her reputation off the back of her controversial portrayal on MAFS.
Sports Media
Ash Barty won $4 million and the hearts of a nation with her win at the French Open, reports The AFR’s Tim Boyd.
Barty was the country’s highest paid tennis player over the past 12 months, making $9.1 million in prize money and a relatively modest $400,000 from endorsements.
However that endorsement figure is expected to top the $1 million mark after her maiden major tournament victory at the French Open last month.
Barty netted $3.7 million in prize money from her 70-minute, 6-1 6-3 win against the Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova at the French Open final. The Queenslander currently has endorsement deals from Jaguar, watch brand Rado, sports equipment company Head, apparel company Fila, Vegemite and streaming service Kayo.
Channel 10 secures deal to showcase Europe’s biggest race meetings
Channel 10, which signed a $100 million deal to show the Cup for the next five years, will broadcast the meetings on free-to-air TV, starting with Sunday’s Coral-Eclipse meeting at Sandown Park.
It will also show the meeting at Goodwood on August 3, the Ebor Handicap meeting (August 24), and even the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting, which will feature seven Group 1 races in October.