Tuesday June 12, 2018

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'A very attractive audience for brands': Gfinity esports CEO Dominic Remond

The new esports league Gfinity Elite Series Australia has just finished its second weekend of games at its inaugural tournament.

By James Manning

The games are being staged at the new Gfinity Elite Series stadium at the Hoyts Cinema Complex at Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter.

Esports league Gfinity Elite Series Australia debuts with 500k viewers

We visited the stadium during a recent match where we met with CEO Dominic Remond, who spoke about the Australian launch and also took us on a tour of the facility and the teams making it work behind the scenes.

HT&E has partnered with a UK private company Ikon Media & Events and the listed UK business Gfinity PLC. Remond explained that Gfinity PLC developed the Elite Series for the British market in 2017 and now Australia is the first expansion territory.

Behind the scenes at the Gfinity Elite Series stadium

With competitive leagues now running in the UK and Australia, it seemed obvious to ask if that might eventuate in an international Ashes tournament.

“That is the long-term goal, a Champions League of all the Elite Series winners. At the moment it would be Australia versus England. However, Gfinity has just run FIFA E-League qualifiers in North America and it is looking at other territories.”

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

APN Outdoor CEO James Warburton on Adshel bid and growth plans

As a special guest on Sky News Business last week, APN Outdoor CEO James Warburton spoke to Mediaweek’s James Manning about growth strategy. He spoke about new business and plans to expand into new categories.

SEE MORE: Outdoor sector bracing itself for shakeup as James Warburton arrives at APN Outdoor

“We have been very focused on the turnaround of the company. With that we have been very aggressive going after a number of new contracts. And we have had some good success in that area.

“However, we aren’t in a number of [outdoor] categories – retail is one and street furniture is another.”

James Warburton and James Manning on Sky News Business’s Mediaweek TV

Warburton didn’t want to go into too much detail about the recent offer for Adshel, but he did tell Mediaweek “we regard it as an attractive asset. We have looked at a whole raft of things, as have other media companies.”

As to what attracts APN Outdoor to the street furniture sector, Warburton said: “For us it is at the beginning of digitisation. If you look at how the panels are rolling out, it is quite early for street furniture. As a location-based medium it would be a nice complement to the reach building we do with billboards, airports and products like cross-track TV. It does complete the suite of the different sectors of the market.

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

Remembering Anthony Bourdain: Mediaweek’s interview when he joined CNN

* This interview appeared in Mediaweek magazine in 2013 when Bourdain joined CNN.

By James Manning

Although he has only just started on air at his new home at CNN, Anthony Bourdain signed the deal to start making a new series with the global news channel close to a year ago, he told Mediaweek recently.

“I was initially surprised by their offer,” he added. “My first thought was this was a worldwide news organisation with experience and personal and resources on the ground in a lot of the places in the world that I have so far been unable to shoot in for various reasons. Places like the Congo, Libya and Myanmar. I doubt any other network would have been willing to let us go to those places.

“CNN also gave me a wider brief. It offered me the ability to work with the same people, anywhere I want and the way I want, without having to change at all. If I want I can stay just as silly, but then be more serious when I feel like it.”

The ratings for the first episode which went to air in mid-April were good news for CNN. “I believe the channel is very happy and I can say I’m extraordinarily happy. They have been putting all of their muscle behind promoting the show including their on-air talent and journalists. Everybody has been very welcoming and supportive. These are people with experience in all parts of the world including Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa.”

Bourdain said they are getting immediate feedback from people in the places they are covering as the show is broadcast globally at the same times. “We know right away if we got it right or screwed up.”

Bourdain has been a prolific maker of television over the years. Working with TV production company Zero Point Zero all the time, the travelling culinary adventurer and author has over 140 episodes of No Reservations in syndication around the world.

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 31: Anthony Bourdain films Parts Unknown Queens in New York, New York on November 11, 2016. (photo by David Scott Holloway / © 2016 Cable News Network. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.)

Bourdain said the CNN series won’t be travelling only to places not accessible to the average tourist. “We will continue to visit places like France and Spain too as I always did. I want to keep mixing it up and keeping it fresh. We can even go back to places we have been before and look at them from a different perspective.” One of Bourdain’s early episodes in the first season of Parts Unknown was a trip to Los Angeles’s Koreatown.

The new series has kept the best parts of the No Reservation recipe, yet ramped up the production values and the examination of the country that the show visits.

Continued at mediaweek.com.au.

News Corp Australia CMO Tony Phillips returning to Melbourne to start own business

News Corp Australia announced internally this morning that chief marketing officer Tony Phillips will be leaving News Corp at the end of 2018.

Phillips has decided to return home to Melbourne and plans to open his own brand consultancy next year.

News Corp Australia executive chairman Michael Miller and COO publishing Damian Eales told the leadership team:

“Since joining us two and half years ago, Tony has demonstrated a deep passion for our brands, a deep affection for our business and limitless creativity for re-energising our brand positioning in the market.

“Thanks to his vision and leadership, the We’re For You brand campaign launched earlier this year has been a tremendous success. It has set strong foundations for long-term brand positioning of our company and our individual mastheads and what we stand for.

“Equally, the outcome of the 2018 Come Together event series has also been exceptional, showcasing business innovation, thought leadership and market-leading solutions for our clients. This has changed the perceptions of our company’s capabilities and our powerful position in the new media landscape.

“During the remaining months with us, Tony will continue overseeing BAU activities, delivering marketing transformation priorities, and focusing on key projects such as the Innovation Sprints. He will also provide his brand of creative thought leadership to key priorities coming up across the broader News Corp Australia business.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Tony for his contribution and commitment to our company. We’re delighted that News Corp will be Tony’s foundation client when he launches his own business venture next year.”

Network Ten celebrates Order of Australia for Working Dog's Tom Gleisner

Network Ten has congratulated Have You Been Paying Attention? host Tom Gleisner, who has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (General Division) for his services to the broadcast media and to the community.

Recognised in the Queen’s Birthday 2018 Honours list, Gleisner’s award is in honour of his distinguished service to the media and television industries as a writer, producer, actor and presenter, to children living with cancer, and as a supporter of young people with autism spectrum disorders.

Gleisner completed a law degree at University of Melbourne, during which he began writing and performing as part of The D-Generation. He went on to write for ABC’s The Late Show and starred as a newsreader of Late Show News and co-hosted Countdown Classics.

Following The Late Show, Gleisner co-founded Working Dog Productions, with its first venture, Frontline, a huge success on the ABC from 1994 to 1997. He co-wrote Australian film history with The Castle (1997) and The Dish (2000) and then went on to host and co-executive produce Network Ten’s The Panel.

His impressive writing, direction and production credits include A River Somewhere, Thank God You’re Here, Pictures of You, Utopia, Pacific Heat and the highly anticipated Russell Coight’s All Aussie Adventures, which makes its return to Network Ten in 2018.

Since 2013, Gleisner has been at the helm of TEN’s TV Week Logie award-winning program Have You Been Paying Attention?, the hit panel show that spins headlines into punchlines.

In addition to his media work, Gleisner is a passionate supporter of several charities. He is Patron of Learning For Life, a not-for-profit organisation that provides early learning services to children with autism. He is also Chairman of Challenge, a Victorian-based charity dedicated to supporting children with cancer.

Kanye West
ARIA Charts: Big week for Kanye West, 5SOS (again) and The Presets

• Singles: Week three on top for 5SOS, Maroon 5 new at #5
• Albums: Both Kanye West and The Presets debut top 10

By James Manning

Singles

It’s been nearly four years since an Australian artist managed to occupy top spot for three consecutive weeks. Back in 2014 The Veronicas managed that with “You Ruin Me” and this year it is 5 Seconds Of Summer who have managed that with “Youngblood”. The young Aussie world conquerors have also (so far) stopped Post Malone with “Better Now” and Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa with “One Kiss” from reaching the top with both artists sitting at #2 and #3 for the past two weeks. (“Better Now” has actually been sitting at #2 for five consecutive weeks.)

The highest new entry on the chart, and only one of two new artists in the top 50 this week, is Maroon 5 with “Girls Like You” featuring Cardi B. It is the third top 10 single from the Maroon 5 album “Red Pill Blues” released 18 months ago.

Amy Shark continues to edge higher up the chart with “I Said Hi” jumping another two places to #6 after eight weeks on the chart.

The only other newcomer to the chart is Kanye West with seven tracks from his new #1 album “Ye” landing in the top 50. The best-performing of those tracks is “All Mine”, which charted at #12.

Albums

Kanye West’s eighth album “Ye” tops the chart on debut with all seven tracks landing in the top 50 singles chart this week. Remarkably this is only Kanye’s second ARIA #1 album after “Yeezus” hit the top in June 2013. In the US, all of Kanye’s albums have hit the top of the chart, equalling a record held by The Beatles in the US.

Four other albums debuted top 50 this week, three of them in the top 10:

#5The Presets with “Hi Viz”: The Sydney duo’s fourth album and third top 10 after “Apocalypso” hit #1 in 2008 followed by “Pacifica”, which peaked at #3 in 2012.

#7Ghost with “Prequelle”: Fourth album from the Swedish metal band.

#9Father John Misty with “God’s Favourite Customer”: US singer-songwriter Josh Tillman with his fourth album as Father John.

#23Ben Howard with “Noonday Dream”: Third album from the British singer-songwriter. His second album “I Forget Where We Were” peaked at #9 in 2014.

Top photo: Kanye West (credit: Liam Goodner / Shutterstock)

TV Ratings Analysis: Week 23 summary

• Week 23: Game 1 State of Origin ensures Nine comes out on top

By James Manning

The first of the three-match State of Origin 2018 series from the MCG gave Nine top spot for both primary and combined channel share for the week.

Nine noted it won all the key demographics in network primetime commercial shares: People 25-54 (38.6%), 16-39 (39.7%), and also grocery buyers with child (39%). In total people it won with a 38.8% commercial share.

In terms of combined channel share it was the second week Nine has won this year since survey started on February 11.

Seven’s highlights were Seven News as the most-watched show after Origin, House Rules was the #1 entertainment show of the week, 7mate was the #1 multichannel and Outback Truckers was the #1 commercial multichannel show.

Network Ten’s best were the primary channel screenings of MasterChef and Have You Been Paying Attention?. The screenings of those programs across the week accounted for six of the top 10 25-54.

TV Ratings Analysis: Sunday June 10

• House Rules leads reality pack: Audiences down on Queen’s Birthday eve

By James Manning

Nine managed a very narrow primary channel win with Seven leading in combined channel share.

7mate recorded a share of 6.0% thanks to the movie Guardians Of The Galaxy with over 200,000.

Seven’s House Rules outperformed both The Voice and MasterChef, although all shows were down for the Queen’s Birthday eve screenings.

60 Minutes narrowly beat Sunday Night – 622,000 v 619,000.

A late night screening of the Nine special Delta Goodrem: Wings Of The Wild Tour did 187,000.

Episode two of ABC’s Mystery Road dropped from 786,000 to 600,000. However, all episodes had been available for the week on iview.

The best from SBS was a repeat of The Great Pyramid: New Evidence with 196,000.

Top photo: House Rules’ Leigh and Kristie

TV Ratings Analysis: Monday June 11

• Lemon meringue pie pressure test in The Cube a winner for MasterChef
• Seven combo of News, Home and Away and House Rules wins night

By James Manning

Seven

The public holiday audience watching Home and Away was 701,000 after a week 23 average audience of 622,000.

Leigh and Kristie returned to what they were hoping was a “California Cool” property on House Rules. After 786,000 on Monday last week, the episode did 861,000 last night, well up on 786,000 a week ago. The property expert on the show estimated the Morning Peninsula reno had added $385,000 worth of value.

Episode eight of The Mentor then did 421,000 as Mark Bouris examined the books of a startup wanting to change the eating habits of school kids. A week ago the show did 416,000.

Nine

A Current Affair went from an exclusive with a career criminal and murder suspect Steve Hainsworth to a slow cook-off with Woolworths. The Monday episode was on 754,000 after an average of 792,000 last week.

Talkin’ ’Bout Your Generation featured family members joining the team captains – Robyn Butler’s husband, Andy Lee’s sister and the mother of Lawrence Boxall. After 651,000 last week, last night did 592,000.

Andy Lee and his sister Alex in Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation

Two episodes of The Big Bang Theory then did 503,000 and 386,000.

NRL markets got 100% Footy with 44,000 in Sydney and 33,000 in Brisbane.

AFL metro markets got Footy Classified with 108,000 in Melbourne.

TEN

There was only ever going to be one superstar guest on The Project – the new Officer of the Order of Australia, Tom Gleisner. The Monday episode did 625,000 after a Monday to Friday average of 518,000 last week.

MasterChef spent its second night in South Australia with a pressure test to decide the next cook to be sent home. Battling Ben, Hoda and Chloe, Genene Dwyer had been tasked with recreating Brendan Wessels’ lemon meringue pie. As head chef at The Cube restaurant in the McLaren Vale, his dish was a delicate plate consisting of lemon curd parfait balls, nitro fennel balls and a caramelised milk chocolate hexagon made using a 3D food printer, the only one of its kind in any Australian restaurant.

Genene was happy with her lemon curd parfait balls and coconut rocher, but there were obvious missing elements – the candied ginger, crisp pearls and fennel flowers, and lacking that balance of flavours it was enough to send her home. The episode did 885,000 which propelled TEN to a win 25-54 for the night. The ep was up on the previous Monday’s 850,000.

Tom Gleisner AO was then back hosting the latest episode of Have You Been Paying Attention?. Guests this week alongside Ed and Sam were Triple M’s Wil Anderson and Jane Kennedy plus Anne Edmonds, who was the winner. The ep did 790,000, which was up on last week’s 753,000.

A recent edition of The Graham Norton Show did 256,000 with guests Ethan Hawke, Toni Collette, Aidan Turner, Jo Brand and Liam Payne.

ABC

A new series of Backroads has taken over the 8pm slot from Australian Story. An audience of 640,000 saw host Heather Ewart visit Waterfall Way in NSW.

Part two of Sarah Ferguson’s Four Corners special on Trump and Russia did 516,000 after 638,000 for part one.

Media Watch was looking at how the Daily Mail handles reports of celebrity suicides and then it turned the spotlight on the Today show and a look at Aussies’ obsession with sugar. The episode did 515,000.

Bill Shorten was then the guest on Q&A with an episode from Adelaide that had 340,000 watching.

SBS

The Queen’s Favourite Animals was the title of a special at 7.30pm as the channel kept a link with royalty in the former Elizabeth timeslot. The show did 233,000.

Two Hours Inside Your Body was the health doco at 8.30pm with 191,000 watching.

24 Hours In Emergency then did 201,000.

Week 24 TV: Monday
MONDAY METRO
ABCSevenNineTenSBS
ABC12.9%719.5%916.2%TEN16.0%SBS One4.9%
ABC 22.1%7TWO3.7%GO!4.2%ONE3.2%VICELAND1.2%
ABC ME0.6%7mate4.0%GEM2.7%ELEVEN2.1%Food Net0.8%
ABC NEWS1.1%7flix2.6%9Life2.1%NITV0.1%
TOTAL16.7%29.7%25.2%21.2%7.1%
MONDAY REGIONAL
ABCSeven AffiliatesNine AffiliatesTen AffiliatesSBS
ABC12.6%721.9%913.4%WIN11.7%SBS One4.1%
ABC 22.9%7TWO5.2%GO!4.1%ONE3.3%VICELAND1.1%
ABC ME0.7%7mate4.9%GEM4.9%ELEVEN2.0%Food Net0.9%
ABC NEWS1.2%7flix2.5%9Life2.4%NITV0.0%
TOTAL17.4%34.5%24.8%17.0%6.1%
MONDAY METRO ALL TV
FTASTV
85.1%14.9%
All people rankings

Friday Top 5

  1. Seven News Seven 922,000
  2. Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 858,000
  3. Nine News Nine 821,000
  4. Nine News 6:30 Nine 789,000
  5. A Current Affair Nine 604,000

 

Saturday Top 5

  1. Seven News Seven 804,000
  2. Nine News Saturday Nine 742,000
  3. ABC News ABC 631,000
  4. Shakespeare And Hathaway ABC 630,000
  5. Agatha Christie’s The Witness For The Prosecution ABC 424,000

 

Sunday Top 5

  1. Seven News Seven 1,064,000
  2. Nine News Nine 969,000
  3. House Rules Seven 795,000
  4. The Voice Nine 756,000
  5. ABC News ABC 679,000
Monday FTA
  1. Seven News Seven 1,282,000
  2. Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 1,163,000
  3. Nine News Nine 1,020,000
  4. Nine News 6:30 Nine 962,000
  5. MasterChef Australia Ten 885,000
  6. House Rules – Mon Seven 861,000
  7. Have You Been Paying Attention? Ten 790,000
  8. ABC News ABC 782,000
  9. A Current Affair Nine 754,000
  10. Home And Away Seven 701,000
  11. Back Roads S4 ABC 640,000
  12. Seven’s AFL: Monday Afternoon Football Seven 628,000
  13. The Project 7pm Ten 625,000
  14. Talkin Bout Your Generation Nine 592,000
  15. 7.30 ABC 578,000
  16. Seven’s AFL: Monday Afternoon Football – Pre Match Seven 565,000
  17. Hot Seat Nine 527,000
  18. Four Corners ABC 516,000
  19. Media Watch ABC 515,000
  20. Seven’s AFL: Monday Afternoon Football – Pre Game Seven 506,000
Monday Multichannel
  1. Love Island Australia 9GO! 190,000
  2. Andy’s Baby Animals ABCKIDS/COMEDY 164,000
  3. Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom ABCKIDS/COMEDY 162,000
  4. NCIS E2 (R)ONE 156,000
  5. Doc Martin-PM 7TWO 155,000
  6. Dinosaur Train ABCKIDS/COMEDY 153,000
  7. Floogals ABCKIDS/COMEDY 151,000
  8. Thomas And Friends-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 150,000
  9. Peter Rabbit ABCKIDS/COMEDY 147,000
  10. Dot.-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 147,000
  11. Pawn Stars-PM 7mate 147,000
  12. The Big Bang Theory TX2 (R) 9GO! 147,000
  13. Shaun The Sheep ABCKIDS/COMEDY 146,000
  14. Foyle’s War-PM 7TWO 143,000
  15. Octonauts ABCKIDS/COMEDY 141,000
  16. Olobob Top-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 140,000
  17. The Big Bang Theory 9GO! 140,000
  18. NCIS (R) ONE 139,000
  19. Neighbours ELEVEN 138,000
  20. The Big Bang Theory TX1 (R) 9GO! 138,000
Monday Subscription TV
  1. Live: AFL Melbourne v Collingwood FOX FOOTY 263,000
  2. Live: NRL Bulldogs v Dragons FOX LEAGUE 221,000
  3. Live: Motorsport: F1: Canada Race FOX SPORTS 506 102,000
  4. Live: AFL 360 FOX FOOTY 100,000
  5. Live: NRL 360 FOX LEAGUE 97,000
  6. Live: NRL Monday On Fox FOX LEAGUE 96,000
  7. Live: Monday Footy On Fox FOX FOOTY 94,000
  8. Live: Monday Footy On Fox FOX FOOTY 93,000
  9. Westworld showcase 73,000
  10. Live: NRL Monday On Fox FOX LEAGUE 64,000
  11. Live: On The Couch FOX FOOTY 61,000
  12. Live: Big League Wrap FOX LEAGUE 59,000
  13. Selling Houses Australia LifeStyle Channel 58,000
  14. Criminal Minds TVH!TS 51,000
  15. Neale Daniher: The Interview FOX FOOTY 51,000
  16. Surgeons: At The Edge Of Life LifeStyle Channel 51,000
  17. NCIS TVH!TS 41,000
  18. Law & Order: SVU UNIVERSAL 39,000
  19. Paul Murray Live SKY NEWS LIVE 39,000
  20. Bones 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

Speculation CBS could split from MCN, ending their advertising sales contract

The long-term relationship between CBS-backed Ten Network and sales house Multi Channel Network will be put to the test in the coming months over a contract it may review for the broadcaster’s $600 million advertising sales business, reports The Australian’s Darren Davidson.

It is understood that CBS has the ability to split with MCN in August. A seven-year advertising sales contract was signed in 2015.

Speculation is rife that Ten’s new owner is pursuing plans to take ad sales in house, although CBS insiders deny anything is afoot, insisting they are happy with the relationship and plan to allow the contract to keep rolling.

Ten owns 24.99% of MCN, with the balance held by Foxtel, which is majority-owned by The Australian’s publisher, News Corp.

News Corp, which believes MCN has performed well in tough market conditions, is said to be supportive of MCN’s strategy under chief executive Anthony Fitzgerald.

CBS and News Corp both declined to comment.

[Read the original]

Labor pledges $83.7m to reverse Turnbull government’s ABC funding cut

Labor has pledged $83.7 million to reverse the Turnbull government’s latest funding cut to the ABC amid a growing fight over claims of political “meddling” with the national broadcaster, reports Fairfax Media’s David Crowe.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten made the commitment on Monday after weeks of doubt over his stance on the cuts, which were unveiled in the federal budget last month and have triggered warnings of more ABC job losses.

The Labor promise comes after a series of government moves to challenge the ABC on editorial judgments, with Communications Minister Mitch Fifield making six complaints so far this year.

[Read the original]

SCA chief executive Grant Blackley criticises Facebook for regional expansion

Southern Cross Austereo chief executive Grant Blackley has criticised Facebook for pushing into regional areas, saying the government should look into the social media platform’s recent roadshow, reports Fairfax Media’s Jennifer Duke.

Facebook kicked off a series of visits to regional towns in 2018, beginning in Mackay, to discuss doing business online, privacy and other digital matters with locals as part of an ongoing Community Boost program.

“Facebook has been doing a regional roadshow trying to convince all of the small and medium enterprises that they’re the only thing that exists in the world [to advertise on], which we know to be untrue,” Blackley said.

“They’re holding conferences and town halls all around Australia saying we are the only thing that counts, take all your money off radio.”

Facebook denies claims its representatives told advertisers to move their money away from traditional media companies and onto the social media platform, or advised businesses on advertising with traditional media companies in any way.

[Read the original]

News Brands

Tributes pour in for Deborah Cameron, a former presenter on ABC Sydney

Tributes are pouring in following news that Deborah Cameron, a former presenter on ABC 702 Sydney and Fairfax foreign correspondent, has died, reports Fairfax Media’s Jenny Noyes.

Fairfax Media understands Cameron died after a battle with cancer.

Fellow media personalities are paying tribute on social media, including the ABC’s Leigh Sales and Wendy Harmer, who said Deb was renowned for her warm and generous personality.

She became the first woman to hold the job of Tokyo correspondent for Fairfax, and also worked in New York and Jakarta.

She was a regular guest on ABC Radio before taking on the role of presenting mornings on ABC 702 Sydney in 2008, which she continued for four more years.

Cameron leaves behind a husband, journalist Greg Earl, and two children.

[Read the original]

Director of ABC regional & local, Michael Mason, has expressed his condolences on behalf of the ABC to the family of journalist and former ABC Radio Sydney broadcaster Deborah Cameron.

“Deb’s many friends at ABC Radio are saddened to hear of her passing. Deb made a significant contribution to ABC Radio Sydney over many years as both a guest commentator and as a presenter,” Mason said.

“Our thoughts are with her family at this time.”

Entertainment

Order of Australia honours: Robert Gottliebsen, Philip Brady, Glenn A Baker, Brian Cadd

The Australian’s business columnist Robert Gottliebsen has been made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the media as a journalist, editor and business analyst, and to education through school governance roles, reports his newspaper.

“My journey was made possible by many highly talented people along the way,” he said.

“Their successes have given me great joy and they are part of this award. From joining the Melbourne Herald back in 1959, then The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian Financial Review’s founding Chanticleer columnist, until Fairfax’s Max Suich asked me to start Business Review Weekly. We would be up against Kerry Packer’s Australian Business so it was a huge leap of faith. That lasted 20 years, until I joined The Australian. Finally, Alan Kohler coaxed me out of retirement to help start Business Spectator, and before too long I found myself back at The Australian writing a daily print and online column.”

[Read the original]

3AW broadcaster Philip Brady has been recognised with an OAM for his 60 years in the business, 20 of which he says are his most treasured, working alongside Bruce Mansfield.

In a career spanning more than five decades, there’s one addiction that Brian Cadd can’t shake, and that’s the electric thrill that courses through his body when he steps on stage, reports The Australian’s Andrew McMillen.

Today, Cadd becomes a member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his significant service to the music industry as a singer, songwriter, performer, mentor and producer.

The accolade comes while Cadd, 71, is on yet another national tour that will take him to Launceston and Hobart this week.

“That’s a real addiction,” he said. “It’s not an ego-based addiction – it’s just a sheer pleasure. I never get sick of it. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t do it — I can’t play golf and I can’t fish.”

Born in Perth and discovered on a television talent quest, Cadd began his musical career at the age of 12. In the mid-1960s, he joined The Groop, a pop band that burned brightly for several years with Cadd on keyboards and vocals. He then formed a rock group, Axiom, and struck out as a solo performer.

[Read the original]

“Absolutely delighted” is how rabid rock historian Glenn A. Baker described receiving a nod in the Queen’s Birthday honours list, reports BC Lewis in the Blue Mountains Gazette.

“I’m just so grateful,” the new Winmalee resident and grandfather of 12 told the Gazette.

Baker, 65, was made a Member of the Order of Australia, for significant service to the entertainment industry through promoting, preserving and documenting popular music culture.

The jovial father of six moved to the Mountains only 18 months ago, choosing the location over the Southern Highlands and Central Coast because of the “creative community” here and so he could remain close to the Hills district and Sydney where most of his family remains.

[Read the original]

Television

Colleagues and friends remember Anthony Bourdain after death in France

The Australian’s food writer John Lethlean writes about the death of Anthony Bourdain:

I barely knew the man. Certainly many Australians – mostly chefs – knew Bourdain considerably better. Yet the news of his suicide last Friday didn’t strike me as entirely out of left field.

I worked for Bourdain in 2003 as a fixer when his low-budget crew arrived in Melbourne to shoot an episode of A Cook’s Tour. I found Tony aloof. Brooding. Except when the camera was on. I wrote a piece about the experience, which, I heard, he didn’t like. Maybe it was the headline: “A week with psycho chef”. We never spoke again. I guess we never will.

I didn’t much like him but, hell, I really respected him. Vale Anthony Bourdain.

[Read the original]

The Australian culinary scene and cooking show heavyweights are expressing their shock and grief on social media after American celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain was found dead following a suspected suicide, reports New Daily’s Farrah Plummer.

Australian chef and restaurateur Matt Moran shared his grief over the death of his “old friend” alongside a photograph on Instagram of the pair sharing a meal.

Chinese-Australian chef Kylie Kwong said she was “so so so sad” to discover Bourdain had been suffering, in a Twitter post filled with sad face emojis.

Adelaide-based restaurateur Poh Ling Yeow, meanwhile, told her followers on Instagram that Bourdain’s book, Kitchen Confidential and a Cook’s Tour, “changed my life”.

[Read the original]

Matt Preston posted on his Instagram feed:

One of the best dining companions you could ever hope for, a wise counsel, and a legendary Trugo player to boot. My thoughts are with his daughter and family. Vale Anthony Bourdain.

Bourdain made a couple of appearances in the celebrity-chef packed series three of MasterChef Australia.

TV Week confirms Hughesy to open Logies, names Red Carpet show hosts

In three weeks, the stars of the Australian television industry will be at The Star Gold Coast, Queensland, for the 60th TV Week Logie Awards on Sunday July 1.

Comedy royalty Dave “Hughesy” Hughes will once again open proceedings for the Nine Network’s live broadcast.

In a statement from the Bauer entertainment title, Hughesy said, “I’m excited to be opening the Logies for the fourth year in a row. You’d think it would get less nerve-racking, but it doesn’t. Walking the line between comedy and slander on TV’s night of nights isn’t easy. Luckily, I know most big names in the industry are happy to be made a laughing stock of on the big night. Hopefully, I can get through it this year without getting myself banned from any more networks as I try to convince everyone ‘it’s an honour to be mentioned!’.”

Grammy Award-winning UK recording artist Jess Glynne has also been confirmed to perform on the night. Glynne is the first ever British female to earn six number one UK singles.

TV Week has assembled a state of origin team to host the TV Week Logies Red Carpet pre-awards show on Nine – Sylvia Jeffreys, Leila McKinnon and Sonia Kruger, who are all Queenslanders.

The addition of live voting from Monday June 25, right up until the end of the red-carpet telecast on July 1, is an entertainment awards ceremony world first. As Hughesy takes to the stage and the live broadcast begins, the results of the public’s voting in all the Most Popular awards, plus for the TV Week Gold Logie, won’t yet be known, as votes are tallied right up to the wire.

Seven reveals some of 99 judges working with Ronan Keating on All Together Now

Seven has started promoting the biggest TV judging panel ever – 99 judges joining captain Ronan Keating on All Together Now.

Ronan Keating, Julia Zemiro and The 100

With 100 judges, a six-storey high set and Julia Zemiro as host, it doesn’t get any bigger. Headed up by singing superstar Ronan Keating, The 100 is made up of singers and industry professionals with big voices and even bigger opinions. Some of the judges are:

Alex Reid – Music Talent Manager
Amanda Harrison – Musical Theatre Star
Andrew De Silva – Boyband Star
Brendan De La Hay – Cabaret Performer
Dean Ray – Rock Singer
Ellen Reed – Powerhouse Vocalist
Gospo Collective’s Ben Gillard & Charmaine Jones – Gospel Choir Directors
Greg Gould – Viral Popstar
Jason Jackson – Michael Jackson Impersonator
Jess & Matt – Popstar Couple
Jordan Raskopoulos – Musical Comedian
Kellie Crawford – Award Winning Entertainer
Lara Mulcahy – Comedy Actress & Singer
Lucy Holmes – Kylie Impersonator
Maria Mercedes – Singer/Actress
Mark Gable – The Choirboys Frontman
Michael Dalton – Cabaret Performer
Minnie Cooper – Iconic Drag Queen
Missy Lancaster – Country Pop Star
Rhonda Burchmore – Oam & Music Industry Icon
Shauna Jensen – Legendary Backing Vocalist
Silvie Paladino – Musical Theatre Icon
Sisters Doll – Glam Rock Trio
Take Two – Rapping Twins

Each act on All Together Now hopes to get as many of The 100 judges singing along as they can, because the more of the 100 who join in, the higher they score.

The winner of the series will get $100,000.

All Together Now is produced by Endemol Shine Australia for Seven.

ABC’s Tom Ballard strongly denies indecently assaulting an aspiring comedian

Australian comedian Tom Ballard has strongly denied indecently assaulting an aspiring comedian four years ago after the alleged victim published allegations on social media, reports Fairfax Media’s Broede Carmody.

The ABC host said the allegation was “extremely difficult” to address but was necessary, given the claim has made its way into the public domain.

Ballard said the allegation has left him, his family and friends in distress.

“It has affected my work and my mental health,” he said. “I abhor sexual assault and sexual violence. I absolutely support the philosophy of the #MeToo movement. I believe in supporting victims and ensuring those who have done wrong face justice.

“But I have not done anything wrong.”

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HBO has given a pilot order to a prequel Game Of Thrones series

The first official details on the other potential Game of Thrones shows have emerged, reports Variety.

HBO has given a pilot order to a prequel series from writer Jane Goldman, one of five Game of Thrones projects that has been in the works.

Taking place thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, Goldman’s series chronicles the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. And only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend, it’s not the story we think we know.

Goldman co-created the project with George R.R. Martin, whose “A Song of Ice and Fire” novel series serves as the basis for Game of Thrones. Goldman and Martin wrote the story, with Goldman writing the teleplay. She will also serve as showrunner.

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Revealed: The journalist who has fallen “head over heels for tackiest show on TV”

It’s time to come clean. Against my better judgment, I have fallen head over heels for the tackiest show on TV – Love Island, writes Herald Sun columnist Siobhan Duck.

The premise of Love Island is simple. A bunch of fame-seeking singles who happen to be very, very good-looking share a villa in Spain and compete to stay on-air by getting it on with each other.

Hosted by serial reality-TV star Sophie Monk, Love Island was never intended to have broad appeal, and screens on the 9Go! channel well after the kids are safely tucked up in bed.

Why? For starters, Love Island makes Married at First Sight look like Downton Abbey.

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Jo Hall celebrates 40 years at Nine, admits she never wanted a TV career

As she nears her 40th anniversary with Channel 9 News, Jo Hall admits she never wanted a TV career, reports News Corp’s Fiona Byrne.

Hall was working at Leader Newspapers in 1979 when her father urged her to apply for a cadetship at Nine. “We got a phone call saying I had the job and I said to my mum, ‘I don’t know that I want to work in TV. I don’t know that I want to do this’,” Hall said.

Hall, who hosts Nine’s regional news bulletin, celebrates her 60th birthday on June 25.

The popular news reader revealed over the years she had been courted by other networks.

“There have been a couple of opportunities over time for me to go, in early days, to Channel 10 and then Seven a couple of times, but not in recent years,” she said.

“A couple of them were really good offers and I did kind of consider it, but at the end of the day, although the monetary factory could have been taken into consideration, I came down to the belief that I am a Nine person and Nine is my family.”

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Sports Media

Journalist Megan Hustwaite says suspended David Warner shouldn’t work for Nine

It’s a bit of a talent to be able to read the room, writes sports journalist Megan Hustwaite for News Corp.

And yesterday we discovered Channel 9’s Wide World of Sports doesn’t have it when they failed the pub test on suspended Australian cricketer David Warner.

Nine has given the swashbuckling opener a place in the commentary box for its coverage of Australia’s One Day series against England, in England, with Warner calling the action of the second match at Cardiff this Saturday. It’s a howler.

Warner is not playing in this series because he’s suspended for 12 months for his role in the ball-tampering saga in South Africa, which rocked international cricket back in March. He has also been barred from holding any leadership role for the rest of his career.

Maybe I’m a harsh marker, but for me, it’s too soon to be hearing insights and tactics from the man who instigated the cheating scandal, Australian cricket’s darkest day.

If you do the crime you do the time but that time should not be served in the commentary box.

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