Thursday March 28, 2019
Mediaweek TV
Business journalist John Stensholt moved from Fairfax Media to News Corp last year. He is a former editor of The BRW Rich List and there was some speculation that he might be involved in some sort of list at his new home on The Australian. That was indeed the case and this week he has been teasing readers with limited information about The List, which will be revealed in full on Saturday in The Weekend Australia. He joins us today to maybe reveal just a little bit more about The List today.
Podcast Week: Janine Allis, Spear Creek, Spotify, Merrick Watts, 2SER
By James Manning
Janine Allis on the superwoman she ain’t
For people wanting the truth about starting a business, crafting a career, having a family and managing to fit it all in, the second season of PodcastOne’s Superwomen We Ain’t should answer a lot of questions.
The podcast is hosted by Janine Allis, founder of Boost Juice, and Gram Consulting Group founder Margie Hartley.
The series busts through plenty of myths surrounding the business world and success, including the hosts revealing they ain’t superwomen!
The hosts share their personal journeys, failures and successes and discuss tips on the challenges of being a business woman in the modern world.
Regarding the choice of collaborator on this podcast, Allis told Mediaweek:
“Margie is the friend of a friend who I have known for ages. She is an experienced executive coach and she really helps a lot of big corporates to understand their overall leadership strategy. She was a perfect partner for me on these podcasts.
“We wanted the podcast to be really honest,” added Allis.
“The title came from my reaction when people come up to me telling me how inspirational I have been. I am honoured when they say that, but then they tend to be surprised when they find me down-to-earth and very approachable.”
The prolific pair have delivered nine episode to PodcastOne in the show’s second season.
“We recorded the episodes over three days. On the first day Margie was jet-lagged and I had a horrible flu. We only did a couple that day. On the next two days we finished them off.”
See also Mediaweek Morning Report tomorrow. Janine Allis talks motivation, bullshit, time management and we ask about retirement plans.
Listen to Superwomen We Ain’t here.
Spotify shopping spree continues with Parcast
Spotify this week announced that it is acquiring Parcast, a US storytelling-driven podcast studio. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Since its founding in 2016, Parcast has launched 18 premium podcast series including Serial Killers, Unsolved Murders, Cults and Conspiracy Theories and the studio’s first fiction series, Mind’s Eye.
Parcast will bring to Spotify its curated library of produced shows and their audiences.
Parcast has more than 20 new shows slated to launch later this year.
Last month Spotify purchased Gimlet Media and its podcasts and also Anchor, a company that allows users to record their own podcasts.
Merrick Watts hosting true crime podcast for News Corp & Nova
Former Nova and Triple M radio host Merrick Watts is the host of a new podcast series, Police Tape, created by News Corp Australia in partnership with Nova Entertainment.
The series features real cops, with true stories, in their own words, launching on Friday 29 March.
In this new series, host Watts speaks with some of Australia’s most senior and recently retired police officers, who have rarely spoken openly about their involvement in Australia’s most high-profile crimes. It also includes some gripping cases the public has never heard of.
Featuring blow-by-blow descriptions of the moments that mattered, Police Tape uncovers the investigators’ thoughts and gut feelings about each case, with every decision and terrifying moment documented on tape. The first-hand accounts feature in each episode of Police Tape, which was recorded at The Justice & Police Museum at Circular Quay (Australia’s oldest station and courthouse).
Read more about Police Tape on mediaweek.com.au here.
Spear Creek another from True Crime Australia
The Courier-Mail has launched a new true crime podcast under the True Crime Australia brand. Called Spear Creek, the podcast covers the recently re-opened investigation into unsolved 1978 murders of Karen Edwards, Tim Thomson and Gordon Twaddle.
Kate Kyriacou, crime editor at The Courier-Mail said former detectives Neil MacKenzie and Jim O’Donnell have spoken of the horrifying moment the helicopter they were using in the original investigation plummeted to the ground, exploding on impact and showering them with fuel.
The case is currently being reviewed by homicide detectives, who say they are confident it can be solved.
2SER’s Think podcast series returns
2SER’s international award winning Think podcast series has returned for 2019, and continues to peer into the not-too-distant future asking timely questions.
“The Think series showcases 2SER’s commitment to digital-first podcast content,” said Martin Walters, managing director of the Sydney community radio station. “The award winning producers aren’t afraid to take listeners out of their comfort zone when looking at ideas of the future which are actually unfolding right now. The Think suite is also an outstanding demonstration of the quality of audio content that 2SER creates in conjunction with UTS.”
Think hosts Jake Morcom and Cheyne Anderson
The Think suite of podcasts is made up of Think: Digital Futures, Think Business Futures and Think Sustainability.
The Think series is being broadcast weekly on 2SER 107.3 FM and DAB+ from 10am Sundays as a new program – The Think Hour.
Podcast Week: My Top 5
A new weekly feature with media people choosing their favourite recordings.
Send an email to [email protected] if you’d like to take part.
Katy Eng, Director of Content Strategy, OMD Australia
Ted Talks Daily
If you’re a fan of Ted Talks or you’ve ever been to TedX, this is a natural podcast to get into. It has super short 8-15 minute episodes so it’s great if you don’t have much time.
Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations
I’m a walking cliché, but Oprah is my girl. I listen to this in the morning when I’m getting ready and it makes me more present, empathetic and conscious throughout my day.
The High Low
A British friend at OMD turned me onto this one. These gals are fiercely smart and opinionated. They have great recommendations for what to be reading, watching and listening to each week (not sure where they get the time to do it all though!).
Amy Schumer Presents 3 Girls, 1 Keith
This podcast isn’t for everyone but if you’re into lowbrow American comedians…look no further. Also, from a geeky content strategy perspective, they actually segue way into branded host reads pretty creatively, which I appreciate.
Desert Island Discs
I guess this counts as a podcast these days? Such an amazing BBC concept that’s been kickin’ since 1942. I read on the Wikipedia page that “Ode to Joy” was the most requested piece of music by the castaways!
James Hier, Chief Growth & Product Officer, Wavemaker Australia
Hardcore History by Dan Carlin
When I grow up I want to be a history teacher just like him.
Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway
For intelligent rants about the tech industry (and reinforcing the incompatibility of ethics and having billions).
Nick Bilton’s Inside the Hive
My go-to when I’m looking for my next book to read on all things popular culture and world affairs.
Mitch Joel’s Six Pixels of Separation
As above, for when I’m looking for the best reads on business and trends.
Recode Media with Peter Kafka
He asks the best questions.
Kim Hamilton and Laura Nice appointed dual MDs at OMD Sydney
OMD has announced a new leadership structure for their Sydney office, which sees the appointment of dual managing directors and the addition of a national chief operating officer role.
Kim Hamilton, previously general manager, OMD Sydney, has been promoted to a joint managing director role, alongside Laura Nice.
Hamilton has been with OMD for over 5 years, first leading the agency’s performance media team, followed by a promotion in 2016 to general manager of the Sydney office. She returns to OMD from maternity leave in April.
OMD welcomes back Laura Nice to join Hamilton as the agency continues to ramp up its data and technology capabilities. Nice currently works at Annalect UK, Omnicom’s data, technology and analytics division as head of consultancy and development. At Annalect, Nice has been responsible for integrating Omnicom’s people-based precision marketing and insights platform, Omni, across all Omnicom agencies. She previously worked at OMD Sydney from 2009 to 2014, where she was the lead on major clients, including Telstra and McDonald’s.
Both managing directors will report into OMD Australia CEO, Aimee Buchanan, who commented: “The dual managing director structure is a result of the phenomenal growth in the agency over the last few years. It will enable the breadth of leadership required to ensure all clients continue to be serviced to the highest standards. We are excited to have Kim back in the business and to also be welcoming Laura once more into the OMD family. Laura’s data and technology knowledge will be key as we continue to evolve the agency offering. Both are proven leaders with complementary skills. I’m confident they will form a fantastic leadership duo to take the agency forward.”
Aimee Buchanan
Laura Nice also commented, “I’m excited to return to OMD as they’ve continued to be the stand out agency in Australia, driven by a passionate and committed leadership team. My experience at Annalect will help drive the agency forward as we continue to integrate and further our data and technology capabilities in an open and transparent manner”.
As part of the appointments, OMD has also announced the promotion of Nathan Young to national chief operating officer. Young, previously the agency’s chief marketing office, has filled the position of general manager, OMD Sydney, whilst Hamilton is on maternity leave. The COO role is a newly created position for the agency in which Young will oversee the agency’s expanding specialised business units, commercial growth & profitability, agency structural development, as well as marketing & new business.
Aimee Buchanan, also said, “Nathan has done a fantastic job leading the Sydney office over the last 12 months, in what was an outstanding year for the agency. This newly created position will ensure the agency is operationally set up for success and, importantly, evolving to the changing needs of the market.”
Hamilton will step into the Managing Director role upon her return in April. Nice joins the agency in July, at which time Young will step into the new COO role.
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Top Photo: R-L Laura Nice, Kim Hamilton, and Nathan Young
Nickelodeon’s 2019 Kids’ Choice Awards premiere pulls a crowd
The 2019 event was hosted by music mogul DJ Khaled, and the unpredictable and always messy awards show ranked as the #1 STV program within its timeslot, amongst kids 5-12 when it was broadcast in Australia on Monday 25th March on Foxtel.
With a 44% increase in audience year-on-year, Aussie kids tuned in to celebrate their favourites in pop culture, television, music, social media and movies, in addition to seeing which of their local nominees, for whom they voted, would dominate in the Australian and New Zealand award categories.
The Fave Sports Star winner was New Zealand NBA star Steven Adams, Fave Music Maker winner was 16-year-old Sydney born singer Ruel, and Fave Content Creator as 23-year-old Brisbane-based gamer Lachlan Power, who is the first Australian gaming YouTuber to reach 10 million subscribers.
This year’s party kicked off with DJ Khaled making his way to the Kids’ Choice Awards in style, with an assist from friends Kylie Jenner and the Jonas Brothers. His next-level arrival began with a ride in a Rolls Royce Phantom, followed by a cruise on a luxury yacht, and a trip on board the “Kids’ Force One” helicopter before landing at the Kids’ Choice Awards.
There was no shortage of slime and epic moments from this year’s show: Will Smith, Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott from Disney’s Aladdin arrived on a magic carpet and made the audience’s slime-filled wishes come true, dousing Smith and kids in green goo. DJ Khaled had to don a JoJo bow after losing a dance battle to JoJo Siwa in a live vote before Isabela Moner, Eugenio Derbez and Michael Peña, from Dora and the Lost City of Gold, world premiered the trailer for the upcoming Paramount Players live-action movie.
Additional celebrities in attendance include Paris Berelc, Ally Brooke, Lana Condor, Joel Courtney, Jennifer Hudson, Jack & Jack, Liza Koshy, Caleb Mclaughlin, Janelle Monáe, Shameik Moore, Bebe Rexha, Kiernan Shipka, Lilly Singh, Sssniperwolf and Jason Sudeikis; cast members of Shazam! (Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer and Zachary Levi) and Fuller House (Andrea Barber, Soni Nicole Bringas, Candace Cameron Bure, Michael Campion, Elias Harger, Jodie Sweetin and Scott Weinger) plus Nickelodeon stars from Henry Danger, Cousins For Life and Knight Squad.
International winners in the television category included:
Favourite Funny TV Show
Fuller House
Favourite TV Drama
Riverdale
Favourite Reality Show
America’s Got Talent
Favourite TV Host
Ellen DeGeneres (Ellen’s Game of Games)
Favourite TV Judges
Simon Cowell, Mel B, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel (America’s Got Talent)
Favourite Cartoon
SpongeBob SquarePants
Favourite Male TV Star
Jace Norman (Henry Hart/Kid Danger, Henry Danger)
Favorite Female TV Star
Zendaya (K.C. Cooper, K.C. Undercover)
TV Ratings Analysis: March 27
Wednesday: Week 13 2019
By James Manning
• Seven News 879,000/841,000
• Nine News 902,000/877,000
• A Current Affair 766,000
• ABC News 694,000
• 7.30 594,000
• The Project 256,000/397,000
• 10 News First 386,000
• SBS World News 117,000
Breakfast TV
• Sunrise 298,000
• Today 187,000
Seven
After two nights just under 650,000, Home And Away has done 621,000 for its third episode in week 13.
My Kitchen Rules dropped lower to 732,000 despite an elimination battle. Lyn and Sal’s third time in elimination was their last – but only just! Victor was furious after low scores from the guest teams meant he and G only just scraped through with a win (105 v 104), despite their menu being a clear favourite with the judges, including a 10/10 agedashi tofu from both Manu and Pete.
The Front Bar then screened in AFL markets with audiences clearly choosing it against the return of The Footy Show. Mick Molloy and his colleagues had a metro audience of 383,000, more than double Nine’s alternative. The Melbourne audiences are the main target, with The Front Bar winning 277,000 v 96,000.
Nine
A Current Affair had its first night under 800,000 with 732,000 watching the midweek episode.
Married At First Sight made some pretty big promises and then delivered on them. By the end of the withering dinner party episode the couples looked as if they were ready for the series to wrap. The much-maligned relationship experts had some lovely moments – particularly when Jess started brawling and firing questions. The episode did 1.374m after 1.463m on Wednesday last week.
After four nights this week, Nine leads Seven all people primary share 26.4% to 19.8%. That was the similar gap this time last week, but Seven managed to pull it back with good AFL crowds.
The revamped AFL Footy Show didn’t contribute much to Nine’s share with 163,000 metro and 96,000 in Melbourne. And that’s with a MAFS lead-in. The new format launched last week with 258,000 metro and 175,000 in Melbourne.
10
After a sobering report from gun control expert Rebecca Peters on watering down Australia’s gun laws, David O’Doherty was very funny to end the midweek episode of The Project. The show did 397,000 after 7pm.
Two episodes of Bondi Rescue were both then just over 300,000.
A Law & Order: SVU double then did 198,000 and 102,000.
ABC
Hard Quiz was down week-on-week from 694,000 to 657,000, yet it still ranked #1 entertainment program. It was good to see a winner with a special subject of Absolutely Fabulous.
The Weekly With Charlie Pickering then did 525,000 after its 2019 launch did 583,000. Angela Bishop was grilled by Tom Gleeson during Hard Chat.
The explosive viewing highlight of the night however was the final ever episode of Get Krack!n. There can be no coming back from the “F*** this shit up” final episode. In a very powerful few minutes of TV the regular hosts Kate and Kate left the set to be replaced by Indigenous actors Nakkiah Lui and Miranda Tapsell. The final lines delivered by Tapsell made for compelling TV and would have jolted anybody watching as she marched around smashing up the set. However it was Lui who nearly made a mark no one would ever forget when she threatened, and very nearly did, a dump on the set! (Gives the “dump button” a whole new purpose.) She then stormed out vowing to create turmoil at Sunrise. The show did 247,000 after 257,000 last week.
SBS
Part three of Australians In Colour was back over 300,000.
Earlier Gourmet Farmer did 124,000 and Great British Railway Journeys was on 158,000.
Week 13 TV: Wednesday
| WEDNESDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 12.1% | 7 | 19.8% | 9 | 26.4% | 10 | 7.5% | SBS One | 5.1% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.1% | 7TWO | 2.7% | GO! | 3.0% | 10 Bold | 4.0% | VICELAND | 1.3% |
| ABC ME | 0.5% | 7mate | 2.7% | GEM | 2.2% | 10 Peach | 2.5% | Food Net | 0.9% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.3% | 7flix | 1.9% | 9Life | 3.2% | NITV | 0.1% | ||
| 7Food | 0.6% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 16.1% | 27.7% | 34.8% | 14.0% | 7.5% | ||||
| WEDNESDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 11.2% | 7 | 18.0% | 9 | 21.0% | WIN | 8.1% | SBS One | 4.1% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 3.3% | 7TWO | 4.6% | GO! | 4.2% | WIN Bold | 3.5% | VICELAND | 2.8% |
| ABC ME | 1.3% | 7mate | 3.2% | GEM | 3.5% | WIN Peach | 2.4% | Food Net | 0.7% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.5% | 7flix | 2.5% | 9Life | 2.6% | Sky News on WIN | 1.3% | NITV | 0.1% |
| TOTAL | 17.3% | 28.3% | 31.3% | 15.3% | 7.6% | ||||
| WEDNESDAY METRO ALL TV | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTA | STV | ||||||||
| 86.2% | 13.8% | ||||||||
WEDNESDAY FTA
- Married At First Sight Nine 1,374,000
- Nine News Nine 902,000
- Seven News Seven 879,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 877,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 841,000
- A Current Affair Nine 766,000
- My Kitchen Rules Seven 732,000
- ABC News ABC 694,000
- Hard Quiz S4 ABC 657,000
- Home And Away Seven 621,000
- 7.30 ABC 594,000
- The Weekly With Charlie Pickering ABC 525,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 496,000
- Hot Seat Nine 471,000
- The Project 7pm 10 397,000
- 10 News First 10 386,000
- The Front Bar Seven 383,000
- Bondi Rescue (R) 10 321,000
- Bondi Rescue 10 316,000
- The Chase Australia-5pm Seven 311,000
Demo Top 5
16-39 Top Five
- Married At First Sight Nine 390,000
- My Kitchen Rules Seven 150,000
- A Current Affair Nine 122,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 112,000
- Home And Away Seven 103,000
18-49 Top Five
- Married At First Sight Nine 665,000
- My Kitchen Rules Seven 261,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 240,000
- Nine News Nine 231,000
- A Current Affair Nine 224,000
25-54 Top Five
- Married At First Sight Nine 726,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 300,000
- Nine News Nine 297,000
- My Kitchen Rules Seven 295,000
- A Current Affair Nine 275,000
WEDNEDAY Multichannel
- Talking Married 9Life 238,000
- Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom ABCKIDS/COMEDY 155,000
- Peppa Pig PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 144,000
- Peter Rabbit ABCKIDS/COMEDY 138,000
- Kazoops! PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 136,000
- Dino Dana ABCKIDS/COMEDY 132,000
- Rusty Rivets ABCKIDS/COMEDY 125,000
- Octonauts ABCKIDS/COMEDY 124,000
- The Big Bang Theory -(R) 9GO! 124,000
- Wanda And The Alien PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 123,000
- Shaun The Sheep ABCKIDS/COMEDY 123,000
- NCIS (R) 10 Bold 122,000
- Neighbours 10 Peach 121,000
- Andy’s Prehistoric Adventures ABCKIDS/COMEDY 120,000
- NCIS: Los Angeles Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 119,000
- Peppa Pig AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 118,000
- Bondi Rescue Ep 3 (R) 10 Bold 117,000
- Hey Duggee AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 112,000
- PJ Masks PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 111,000
- NCIS: Los Angeles (R) 10 Bold 111,000
WEDNESDAY STV
- Gogglebox Australia Lifestyle Channel 165,000
- Selling Houses Australia Lifestyle Channel 110,000
- Live: AFL 360 FOX FOOTY 54,000
- The Bolt Report Sky News Live 49,000
- Location, Location, Location Lifestyle Channel 49,000
- Live: ODI Pakistan V Australia Game 3 FOX CRICKET 48,000
- Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 48,000
- Credlin Sky News Live 44,000
- Criminal Minds TVH!TS 37,000
- Live: NRL 360 FOX LEAGUE 36,000
- PML Later Sky News Live 34,000
- Live PD: Police Patrol crime + investigation 34,000
- Blaze And The Monster Machines Nick Jr. 33,000
- Blaze And The Monster Machines Nick Jr. 33,000
- Border Security: Australia’s Front Line FOX8 31,000
- Mrs. Brown’s Boys UKTV 31,000
- Richo Sky News Live 30,000
- Game Of Thrones BoxSets 30,000
- FBI: Criminal Pursuit crime + investigation 29,000
- Gogglebox Australia Lifestyle Channel +2 28,000
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
Actor Deborah Mailman appointed to Screen Australia board
Meanwhile Michael Hawkins, Claudia Karvan and Richard King have also been reappointed to the board for three years.
The multi award winning Mailman is one of Australia’s most highly respected actors on stage and screen. Her feature credits include Radiance, Rabbit Proof Fence and the internationally acclaimed The Sapphires.
On television Mailman has created some of Australia’s most enduring characters including her award winning portrayals in Mystery Road, Redfern Now, Mabo and The Secret Life Of Us as well as voicing Big Cuz in the award winning animation Little J and Big Cuz.
In 2017 she received the Order of Australia Medal for Services to the Arts and as a role model for Indigenous performers. She is currently a trustee of the Sydney Opera House.
“2018 was such an wonderful milestone for Australia’s Indigenous screen creators as we celebrated 25 years of being in control of our stories, and without doubt Screen Australia has been a constant collaborator, partner and of course investor,” said Mailman.
“It is essential all Australians see themselves on screen and we are able to hear our stories told in our voice, from our unique perspective. I am excited to be joining the Screen Australia board at this time when the industry is energised and the demand for our work both locally and abroad is growing.”
Deborah Mailman becomes the second Indigenous Australian to serve on Screen Australia’s board. Producer, director and writer Rachel Perkins was part of Screen Australia’s founding board in 2008.
Screen Australia’s now eight member board includes five women.
Twitter says terrorist content threat is constantly evolving
The threat came after Twitter and other tech companies failed to convince the Morrison government on Tuesday that they were acting appropriately to prevent the live streaming of a terrorist attack.
Representatives from Twitter, Facebook and Google attended a meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Attorney-General Christian Porter and Communications Minister Mitch Fifield in Brisbane.
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, a Twitter said it had “been aggressively responding to the evolving challenge of preventing exploitation of the internet by violent extremists and terrorist organisations” for many years.
“More than 90 per cent of terrorist content on our service is now removed pro-actively, using our own purpose-built, proprietary technology, and the majority of accounts are suspended before their first Tweet.
“As the Christchurch attack shows, our work will never be complete,” the statement said, describing terrorism as a “shared threat”.
Facebook profits from Bitcoin scam using photos of Karl and Waleed
The scam first surfaced in 2017 when crooks began capitalising on the sudden increase in Bitcoin prices by using fake testimonies of billionaires Bill Gates, Richard Branson and Elon Musk to dupe investors.
After creating fake Facebook pages they pay the social media giant to promote posts in order to maximise views.
Facebook has been unable to stop the scammers with algorithms. Yesterday, the company promoted a fake news post and fake testimony from Stefanovic for Bitcoin Trader.
A sponsored post which was designed to look like a news report on an interview from The Project read: “The Project co-host Waleed Aly was left in disbelief as Stefanovic pulled out his phone and showed viewers how much money he’s making through this new money-making program that now has everyone in Australia whispering.”
Facebook’s guidelines say it does not allow “deceptive, false, or misleading content, including deceptive claims, offers, or business practices”.
However, when the ad was reported to Facebook by The Daily Telegraph, the report was rejected with the platform saying the advert was acceptable.
News Brands
Miranda Devine: Teena McQueen didn’t deserve Q&A pile on
She is the epitome of a delcon, the name I coined two years ago for “delusional conservatives” who were willing to destroy their party to get Tony Abbott back as leader.
And she and her thin-skinned pals have been extraordinarily vicious about me as a result, in a way that rivals anything the left dishes out.
But I am still going to defend her.
The attacks on her are a damp squib. What she said on Q&A was perfectly defensible, apart from the tacky “c*ck” reference.
She held her own in the face of intense bullying, from her fellow panellists, especially the sanctimonious Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi and American “bad feminist” Roxane Gay, who eye-rolled and mean-girled McQueen all night. Host Tony Jones piled on with his usual kick-the conservative schtick with the help of Labor’s oily Tony Burke.
Where’s Karl Stefanovic? Nine’s biggest star disappears
But this year viewers are more likely to see Stefanovic in the flesh than on TV screens, with the Nine personality now more frequently spotted walking his German Shepherd puppy Chance The Yapper in the Sydney suburb of Mosman with new wife Jasmine Yarbrough.
The Gold Logie winner was front and centre of the network’s news coverage for more than a decade, whether he was on Today alongside Lisa Wilkinson, filling in for Tracey Grimshaw as host of A Current Affair or filing special reports for 60 Minutes.
But since his spectacular fall from Nine’s good graces last December, the network’s highest paid star has been hard to find – and Stefanovic’s celebrity status is to blame.
Publishing
Legendary UK style magazine The Face returning after 15-year hiatus
That was, until it folded in 2004, leaving a gaping hole in the hearts of its cohort of rave-hungry twentysomething fans.
Now, 15 years later, The Face is back. And said fans – most of whom are now in their mid to late thirties – are thrilled. Originally a monthly, it will return later this year as a quarterly.
Founded in 1980, The Face was born in an era free from influencers, selfies and #spon content. It was at the vanguard of the cultural agenda, alerting readers to the most cutting-edge trends, music and movies.
The Face was founded in 1980 by NME and Smash Hits editor Nick Logan as a monthly magazine that soon became a benchmark for what was trending in film, music, fashion, photography and youth culture.
The Face folded in 2004. At the time, it was owned by Emap Consumer Media, which also owns Drapers. It was subsequently bought by Bauer Media, which publishes Grazia, who, in 2009 reportedly had plans to revive it. But this never surfaced, and the title was subsequently acquired by Wasted Talent in 2017.
Wasted Talent also owns music titles Kerrang! and Mixmag.
The new editor of The Face is Stuart Brumfitt, a former editorial director of Vice Media’s Amuse, a premium travel website.
Television
Seven part of international Around the World in 80 Days co-production
In 2016 Seven West Media took a major stake in Slim Film + TV.
Developed by Slim’s Simon Crawford Collins and adapted by writers Ashley Pharoah and Caleb Ranson, the series is being called a celebratory “love letter to the world” and will be filmed across the globe as a co-production between Slim Film + Television and Federation in association with 247 Films.
French star Ahmed Sylla (The Climb, Chacun Pour Tous) will play one of literature’s most iconic roles, Passepartout, who takes on the adventure of a lifetime. A leading British actor will be announced soon in the seminal role of Phileas Fogg, alongside the casting for the lead female role, that of newspaper reporter Abigail Fix, who joins the wager-led journey she devised in an attempt to make her mark in a man’s world and to emerge from the long shadow of her father.
Film, television and music video director Steve Barron (The Durrells, Treasure Island, Dreamkeeper) will be lead director.
Around the World in Eighty Days was commissioned by Nathalie Biancolli, EVP International Scripted, and Médéric Albouy, head of drama co-productions, France Télévisions as a landmark English language production.
France Télévisions introduced the project to their European Alliance broadcasting partners; Germany’s ZDF and Italy’s RAI with Seven West Media also backing the production and broadcasting the drama in Australia.
“A powerful piece of television”: CJZ on SBS’s Christians Like Us
Yet Michael Cordell, who is CJZ’s co-owner and creative director, says the company sometimes adapts international formats, as it did recently with Muslims Like Us for SBS.
Next week SBS premieres a follow-up series Christians Like Us. Over two episodes, cameras will follow 10 Christians, from Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal faiths living under on roof for a week in Bella Vista in north-western Sydney.
CJZ developed the show from the format of its predecessor.
“It’s a powerful piece of television,” Cordell tells TV Tonight.
ABC’s embarrassment of riches as a number of top TV spots open up
Tony Jones, the founding host of Q&A and its spirited ringmaster and champion for more than a decade, will vacate the chair. Barrie Cassidy, who, over 18 years, has built the political talk show Insiders into a Sunday morning must-see, will exit early in June.
On radio in Melbourne, Jon Faine announced in January that, after 23 years, this would be his last as host of the Mornings show.
To push beyond those currently on the ABC payroll and speculate wildly: what if Waleed Aly – having won a Gold Logie, recently scored interview coups with prime ministers Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern, and served five years on The Project – decided he’d done all he could within the constraints of that format and had had enough of commercial TV? Arguably, he could fill one of the soon-to-be vacated chairs.
Sports Media
Former coach James Hird to commentate with Triple M team
The former Essendon coach will make his debut on Saturday, calling his old team’s clash with St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.
Hird hasn’t been involved in football since he was sacked as the Bombers coach in 2015.
“I love the game and always have loved the game,” Hird said.
“To step back into it wasn’t an easy decision and something that we’ve been weighing up for a couple of years.”
End of the Hopman Cup: Tennis Australia reveals 3-city replacement
Its demise after 31 years as one of WA’s premier sporting events will be announced today by Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley, bringing an end to top-flight women’s tennis in the State.
The Hopman Cup will be replaced by the $21 million ATP Cup, a new 24-team men’s event that will be staged in three cities – Perth, Sydney and Brisbane – in early January.
There are believed to be future plans for a women’s event to run alongside the Perth leg of the ATP Cup, but it will not happen next year.
International sports writers urged officials to reconsider killing off the cup.
Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim said: “If I’m Tennis Australia, I’m thinking long and hard before I mess with this event.”
The New York Times’ Ben Rothenberg said: “The powers that be in tennis think we need a third newfangled men’s team competition more than something that uniquely showcases the men and women together.”
And Stuart Fraser, from Britain’s Times newspaper, tweeted: “Much publicity for the big mixed doubles match pitting Serena Williams and Roger Federer against each other for the first time. Shame then that the Hopman Cup is set to disappear next year. A rare opportunity in tennis for men and women to team up with each other for their country.”