Wednesday May 1, 2019
Radio GfK survey 2, 2019 highlights: Commentary and analysis
Sydney
• Jones & Hadley keep 2GB #1, KIIS lifts in breakfast and drive
Biggest rise: KIIS 1065 +1.4
Biggest fall: 2CH -0.9
Read full report: Sydney Radio Ratings: GfK Metro Survey 2, 2019
Melbourne
• Ross & John & Neil & Steve keep 3AW #1, smooth & Gold up
Biggest rise: smoothfm +1.3
Biggest fall: 101.9 Fox FM -0.8
Read full report: Melbourne Radio Ratings: Ross & John & Neil & Steve keep 3AW #1, smooth & Gold up
Brisbane
• Nova holds at #1 10+ & brekky as Hit 105 tackles Triple M
Biggest rise: Hit 105 +1.6
Biggest fall: 4KQ -1.3
Read full report: Brisbane Radio Ratings: Nova holds at #1 10+ & brekky as Hit 105 tackles Triple M
Perth
Biggest rise: 96FM (+0.5)
Biggest fall: Hit 92.9/6iX (-0.6)
Read Full Report: Perth Radio Ratings: Quick turnaround as 96FM surges in breakfast, Nova up too
• Perth: Quick turnaround as 96FM surges in breakfast, Nova up too
Adelaide
• Adelaide: Mix strengthens lead, Cruise outrates Fiveaa & 5MMM
Biggest rise: Mix 102.3 +0.6
Biggest fall: Nova 91.9 -0.9
Read full Report: Adelaide Radio Ratings: Mix strengthens lead, Cruise outrates Fiveaa & 5MMM
Paul Jackson on smoothfm success: “We won’t be standing still”
By James Manning
As Nova Entertainment’s group program director, Paul Jackson has to examine the performance of eight metro FM stations (Nova, smooth & Fiveaa) on survey days.
Understandably there were two at the centre of attention yesterday. In the short history of the smoothfm brand there have been a number of milestone days – and yesterday was one of its biggest.
The Sydney and Melbourne stations are again #1 FM which is massive in itself, but added to that was the Melbourne breakfast show hosted by Mike Perso and Jennifer Hansen is #1 FM breakfast show for the first time. That honour coincides with Perso celebrating 40 years in radio in 2019.
The Sydney breakfast show also continues to perform well with Bogart Torelli and Glenn Daniel again the #2 FM breakfast show, trailing only KIIS breakfast with Kyle and Jackie O.
Such was the size of the victory yesterday, that both Jackson and smoothfm program director Georgie Page were in Melbourne yesterday. Page celebrated on station with the team after the results came in, then Jackson appeared later in the day as a surprise guest after deciding to hop on a plane after breakfast went #1.
There are a few sore heads around the station this morning following a celebration at Hellenic Republic.
Jackson noted that both breakfast shows have made it in the competitive world of FM breakfast radio without the huge marketing spend that is unleashed by broadcasters on their breakfast shows. “They haven’t even had a billboard,” said Jackson.
Melbourne’s Tullamarine Freeway and other roadways around the city are often filled with billboards promoting various FM radio stars.
So have they earned a billboard now: “Well if we give them a billboard they might go backwards. They have done very well so far by letting people find the breakfast shows.”
The smoothfm success might even trigger a marketing spend review by some and the impact outdoor is having. “There could be a few conversations around that,” agreed Jackson.
Alex Martin (Smooth Network Imaging Manager), Jo Lodge (Assistant Music Director/Operations), Jane Elliott (Publicity Director), Lauren Saylor (Breakfast Producer), Ty Frost (smoothfm Mornings), Jennifer Hansen (More Music Breakfast Show), Paul Jackson (Group Program Director), Amanda Selak (smoothfm Brand & Promotions Manager), Kate McLaren (Events & Promotions Project Manager), Georgie Page (smoothfm Program Director) and Nikole Gunn (smoothfm News Journalist)
The Nova Entertainment focus for its smooth brand is to continue to deliver more of the same. “We will also continue to evolve the station which has obviously changed over the years in line with the audience. We want to continue to grow. We have cumes in Sydney and Melbourne that are nearly at a million and it would be lovely to crack a million.”
smoothfm’s Melbourne cume audience is sitting on 996,000 for a second consecutive survey, while in Sydney the cume is close too on 968,000.
“What the size of that audience means is we have such a broad church of listeners we are keeping different types of people happy. Everyone is coming to smooth these days. We want to continue to keep all ages engaged and be as broad as we possibly can.
“We will keep true to our more music less talk promise, but also make people feel relaxed and better about their day. We are very clear about the brand and its essence.
“We certainly won’t stand still and keep doing exactly the same thing.”
As to the impact the smooth success is having on the market, Jackson is only half joking when he says, “They are all coming after us.”
“Other people are playing more of the older music. We are in a different music cycle with not as many powerful new pop songs. Everyone is reviewing their musical offerings.”
He noted that smooth is doing well to hold off attacks from stations like Gold in Melbourne and 2Day in Sydney and that is “something to be proud of”.
—
Top Photo left to right:
Jo Lodge – Assistant Music Director/Operations
Jane Elliott – Publicity Director
Mike Perso – smoothfm 91.5 More Music Breakfast Show
Amanda Selak – smoothfm Brand & Promotions Manager
Jennifer Hansen – smoothfm 91.5 More Music Breakfast Show
Tim Hamlin (back) – Creative Director
Georgie Page – smoothfm Program Director
Alex Martin – smoothfm Network Imaging Manager
Matt Argoon (far back) – Commercial Producer
Ty Frost – smoothfm Morning announcer
Lauren Saylor – smoothfm 91.5 More Music Breakfast Show Producer
Kate McLaren – Events & Promotions Project Manager
Virginia Trioli to replace Jon Faine on ABC Radio Melbourne
Faine, who has been presenting his show for 23 years, announced in January that this would be his last year on air.
Trioli is best-known to ABC audiences as co-presenter ABC News Breakfast since 2008 as well as being a regular stand-in host on Q&A.
Trioli said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be taking on one of the most precious radio jobs in the country. Jon and the ABC Melbourne team, for more than two decades, have created an agenda-setting and community-building program that means so much not only to Melburnians, but to anyone who values great conversation and the vital need for the continuing contest of ideas. Radio is in my soul and I’m pinching myself that this once-in-a-career opportunity has come my way. Melbourne – we’re going to make great radio together!”
Acting director of ABC Regional & Local Judith Whelan said there was no one more qualified to step into Jon Faine’s role than Virginia Trioli. “Virginia is one of those rare broadcasters who brings insight and clarity to often complex issues and does so with an openness and good humour that audiences respond to. Virginia knows the issues, knows the subjects and most importantly knows Melbourne. She will take the program on to new heights in 2020, continuing to set the daily agenda in Melbourne, as it has done for the past 23 years. ABC Radio is thrilled to welcome Virginia back as one of our key presenters.”
Trioli began her media career at The Age in 1990 and has worked for the ABC since 1999.She presented Drive on ABC Radio Melbourne for five years from 2000 to 2005 and the Mornings show on ABC Radio Sydney for two years in the mid-2000s. Trioli has won two Walkley awards and was named Melbourne’s Best Columnist at the 1999 Melbourne Press Club awards.
F8 2019: New Facebook products and features focus on privacy
Mark Zuckerberg opened the two-day event with a keynote on how Facebook is building a more privacy-focused social platform – giving people spaces where they can express themselves freely and feel connected to the people and communities that matter most. He shared how this is a fundamental shift in how Facebook builds products and how he runs the company.
Zuckerberg then turned it over to leaders from Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and AR/VR to share more announcements.
Here are the highlights:
Facebook and groups
Facebook is making changes that put Groups at the centre of Facebook and sharing new ways Facebook can help bring people together offline.
A Fresh Design
We’re rolling out FB5, a fresh new design for Facebook that’s simpler, faster, more immersive and puts your communities at the centre. Overall, we’ve made it easier to find what you’re looking for and get to your most-used features.
People will start seeing some of these updates in the Facebook app right away, and the new desktop site will come in the next few months.
Putting Groups First
This redesign makes it easy for people to go from public spaces to more private ones, like Groups. There are tens of millions of active groups on Facebook. When people find the right one, it often becomes the most meaningful part of how they use Facebook. Today, more than 400 million people on Facebook belong to a group that they find meaningful. That’s why we’re introducing new tools that will make it easier for you to discover and engage with groups of people who share your interests
Messenger announced several new products and features to help create closer ties between people, businesses and developers.
A Faster, Lighter App
People expect their messaging apps to be fast and reliable. We’re excited to announce that we’re re-building the architecture of Messenger from the ground up to be faster and lighter than ever before. This completely re-engineered Messenger will begin to roll out later this year.
A Way to Watch Together
When you’re not together with friends or family in your physical living room, Messenger will now let you discover and watch videos from Facebook together in real time. You’ll be able to seamlessly share a video from the Facebook app on Messenger and invite others to watch together while messaging or on a video chat. This could be your favourite show, a funny clip or even home videos. We are testing this now and will begin to roll it out globally later this year.
A Desktop App for Messenger
People want to seamlessly message from any device, and sometimes they just want a little more space to share and connect with the people they care about most. So today we’re announcing a Messenger Desktop app. You can download the app on your desktop – both Windows and MacOS – and have group video calls, collaborate on projects or multi-task while chatting in Messenger. We are testing this now and will roll it out globally later this year.
Better Ways to Connect with Close Friends
Close connections are built on messaging, which is why we are making it easier for you to find the content from the people you care about the most. In Messenger, we are introducing a dedicated space where you can discover Stories and messages with your closest friends and family. You’ll also be able to share snippets from your own day and can choose exactly who sees what you post. This will roll out later this year.
Helping Businesses Connect with Customers
We’re making it even easier for businesses to connect with potential customers by adding lead generation templates to Ads Manager. There, businesses can easily create an ad that drives people to a simple Q&A in Messenger to learn more about their customers. And to make it easier to book an appointment with businesses like car dealerships, stylists or cleaning services, we’ve created an appointment experience so people can book appointments within a Messenger conversation.
Sarah Aarons and Amy Shark dominate 2019 APRA Music Awards
Melbourne-born, LA-based songwriting superstar Sarah Aarons is the 2019 APRA Songwriter of the Year, a strong follow-up to her Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year honour in 2018. This award recognises a songwriter that has achieved the most impressive body of work in the previous 12 months.
Sarah Aarons
Aarons’ past 12 months have seen her writing songs for or with Camila Cabello, Galantis, Khalid, Dua Lipa, Lykke Li, Demi Lovato, Mabel, Peking Duk and Jessie Ware among others.
Aarons has won Most Played Australian Work and Dance Work of the Year with the smash hit, Grammy-nominated song The Middle performed by Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey (and co-written with Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha and Anton Zaslavski).
Bumping her tally to four awards, Aarons also takes out honours for Rock Work of the Year with alt-rock quintet The Rubens, sharing the award with co-writers and band members Elliott Margin and Sam Margin for their collaboration on Never Ever.
It is third time lucky for songwriter Amy Shark, whose song I Said Hi has been named by APRA members as the Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year. Including this year, Shark has been nominated in that category for the last three consecutive APRA Music Awards and has now achieved the top honour with her song that reflects the ups and downs of the music industry. I Said Hi is also Pop Work of the Year.
The Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year is Dean Lewis, who has had phenomenal success with his raw, heartfelt songs, including Waves and the global hit Be Alright, both which appear on his debut #1 ARIA album A Place We Knew.
Dean Lewis
In addition, Lewis and Be Alright co-writer Jon Hume are the recipients of one of two Outstanding International Achievement Awards handed out this evening. The Outstanding International Achievement Award is an APRA Board-determined honour which recognises exceptional accomplishments globally. Be Alright, which hit No. 1 in Australia and No.2 in both Sweden and Norway, has had astronomical worldwide streaming figures. The song is winning over American radio charts – reaching the #1 position last month on the Billboard US Adult Top 40 chart.
Also proving that music has no borders is 5 Seconds of Summer, whose song Youngblood is the second to be recognised by APRA in 2019 with an Outstanding International Achievement Award. Writers Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood, Ashton Irwin, Ali Tamposi, Louis Bell and Andrew Watt have written a chart-topping hit that became the group’s first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 single, and propelled the band to becoming the first Australian act to earn three number one albums on the Billboard chart.
The Urban Work of the Year is Clark Griswold (feat. Adrian Eagle) performed and written by DJ Debris (Barry Francis), MC Pressure (Daniel Smith), Suffa (Matthew Lambert) aka Hilltop Hoods and co-written by John Bartlett and Paul Bartlett, while brother and sister songwriting duo Angus and Julia Stone have taken out Blues & Roots Work of the Year with Chateau.
Nashville-via-Newcastle breakout country pop songwriter Morgan Evans has received the Country Work of the Year for his crossover hit Day Drunk. Also making a name for himself in Nashville and beyond is in-demand songwriter Lindsay Rimes who received the 2019 Overseas Recognition Award. Since relocating to the US four years ago, Rimes has built up a reputation as a go-to co-writer and producer, working across pop, rock and country. He’s written for a number of successful country artists, including co-penning Kane Brown’s smash Heaven, which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart in May 2018. His songs have also been recorded by country acts including Jay Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Chase Bryant, The Cadillac Three, Adam Craig, LoCash, Phillip Phillips, Thomas Rhett, Tyler Rich, Dylan Scott, Canaan Smith and Drake White. His work outside of country music includes contributing to South African-Australian singer-songwriter Troye Sivan’s 2014 EP TRXYE, which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart. He additionally co-wrote the title track of fellow Aussie Kylie Minogue’s 2018 album Golden, which debuted at No. 1 in the UK and Australia.
For the second year running, Sia (along with co-writer Greg Kurstin) took out the Most Played Australian Work Overseas for Cheap Thrills.
Lee Kernaghan delivered a tribute to the late, great country music champion Rob Potts, who was posthumously honoured with the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.
The 2019 APRA Music Awards were held in Melbourne for the first time since 2013.
The event was hosted by Melbourne legend Brian Nankervis and featured live performances curated by first- time APRA Music Awards Musical Director Kate Miller-Heidke. The Rubens teamed up with Sarah Aarons for a rare, joint live performance of their Rock Work of the Year winner Never Ever.
Dual winner Dean Lewis performed his current single Stay Awake. Middle Kids and multi-instrumentalist JP Shilo interpreted Paul Kelly’s With the One I Love. JP Shilo also teamed up with Fanny Lumsden and Henry Wagons to perform Angie McMahon’s Slow Mover. Radical Son and internationally-acclaimed bassist Samuel Pankhurst interpreted Mojo Juju, Joel Ma and Rita Seumanutafa’s Native Tongue. Electro-pop duo Electric Fields took on APRA Song of the Year I Said Hi and pop music singer Max Sharam reinvented Ainslie Wills’ Society, along with Louise Goh (keys), Caerwen Martin (cello) and Maria Moles (drums).
Special guest presenters were Tina Arena, Briggs, Tania Doko, Tim Rogers, Dallas Frasca, Louis Schoorl, Megan Washington, François Tétaz, M-Phazes and G Flip.
See a complete list of the winners and more Awards night photos here.
TV Ratings analysis: April 30
Tuesday: Week 18 2019
By James Manning
• Seven News 1,02,000/1,051,000
• Nine News 991,000/964,000
• A Current Affair 855,000
• ABC News 735,000
• 7.30 562,000
• The Project 264,000/481,000
• 10 News First 428,000
• SBS World News 157,000
Breakfast TV
• Sunrise 239,000
• Today 214,000
Seven
Home And Away had a good night with 748,000 after 667,000 on Monday.
House Rules was down again for a second night as the competitors renovate their first property this season. The ratings have been on a wild ride this week with the season launching on 782,000 on Sunday, which turned into 561,000 Monday but then slipped further to 550,000 on Tuesday.
The second episode of Interview this season featured Andrew Denton with Casey Donovan. After launching with 537,000 last week, episode two did 481,000.
The evening share was Seven’s lowest Tuesday number since January.
Nine
The channel must be pretty happy with its Q2 start with the job done by Lego Masters at the end of its first week.
After taking its foot off the gas across Easter, Nine has roared back into first place as Lego Masters attracted its third consecutive 1m+ audience.
Earlier in the night Nine continued to get mileage from its Al Jazeera tapes with Pauline Hanson facing Tracy Grimshaw on A Current Affair which saw the audience climb to 855,000 after 782,000 on Monday.
An episode of The Big Bang Theory then did a solid 599,000 in a much later timeslot.
Nine then launched the US sci-fi drama Timeless with 332,000 watching.
10
Rob Thomas, the first ever international guest on The Project, returned to the program last night. Also on were The Veronicas and the very funny New Zealander Guy Montgomery. The program did 481,00 after 7pm after 508,000 on Monday.
The second episode of MasterChef Australia selected the final six competitors, which rounded out the 24, which start the competition in earnest tonight. After launching with 715,000, episode two did 678,000.
The channel then screened the third-last episode of Bachelor In Paradise to 440,000.
ABC
The Recording Studio was on 334,000 at 8pm.
A repeat screening of Joana Lumley’s wonderful Silk Road Adventure then kept the audience at 334,000.
SBS
Scott Cam was on at 7.30pm, but it wasn’t an episode of The Block. Instead he was the special guest on the first episode of the new season of Who Do You Think You Are? The show pushed into the top 20 with 391,000 watching.
An episode of Insight then did 270,000.
The combo delivered SBS its best share since mid-February and its best Tuesday since January.
Week 18 TV: Tuesday
| TUESDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 10.4% | 7 | 18.7% | 9 | 21.6% | 10 | 13.8% | SBS One | 6.5% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.9% | 7TWO | 2.4% | GO! | 2.7% | 10 Bold | 4.0% | VICELAND | 1.4% |
| ABC ME | 0.5% | 7mate | 2.8% | GEM | 3.6% | 10 Peach | 2.1% | Food Net | 0.8% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.3% | 7flix | 1.8% | 9Life | 2.1% | NITV | 0.2% | ||
| 7Food | 0.5% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 15.1% | 26.1% | 29.9% | 20.0% | 8.9% | ||||
| TUESDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 9.3% | 7 | 20.0% | 9 | 17.5% | WIN | 9.8% | SBS One | 6.4% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 3.0% | 7TWO | 3.9% | GO! | 2.4% | WIN Bold | 4.1% | VICELAND | 1.8% |
| ABC ME | 0.9% | 7mate | 4.9% | GEM | 5.3% | WIN Peach | 2.5% | Food Net | 0.9% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.2% | 7flix | 1.8% | 9Life | 2.1% | Sky News on WIN | 1.9% | NITV | 0.2% |
| TOTAL | 14.4% | 30.6% | 27.3% | 18.3% | 9.3% | ||||
| TUESDAY METRO ALL TV | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTA | STV | ||||||||
| 86.3% | 13.7% | ||||||||
TUESDAY FTA
- Seven News Seven 1,082,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 1,051,000
- Lego Masters Nine 1,022,000
- Nine News Nine 991,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 964,000
- A Current Affair Nine 855,000
- Home And Away Seven 748,000
- ABC News ABC 735,000
- Masterchef Australia 10 678,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 611,000
- The Big Bang Theory Nine 599,000
- 7.30 ABC 562,000
- House Rules Seven 550,000
- Hot Seat Nine 522,000
- The Project 7pm 10 481,000
- Andrew Denton: Interview Seven 481,000
- Bachelor In Paradise 10 440,000
- 10 News First 10 428,000
- Who Do You Think You Are? SBS 391,000
- The Chase Australia-5pm Seven 354,000
Demo Top 5
16-39 Top Five
- Lego Masters Nine 312,000
- Bachelor In Paradise 10 193,000
- Masterchef Australia 10 181,000
- Home And Away Seven 145,000
- The Big Bang Theory Nine 145,000
18-49 Top Five
- Lego Masters Nine 517,000
- Masterchef Australia 10 314,000
- The Big Bang Theory Nine 287,000
- Bachelor In Paradise 10 280,000
- Nine News Nine 262,000
25-54 Top Five
- Lego Masters Nine 540,000
- Masterchef Australia 10 344,000
- The Big Bang Theory Nine 332,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 325,000
- Nine News Nine 320,000
TUESDAY Multichannel
- BlueyAM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 193,000
- Octonauts ABCKIDS/COMEDY 188,000
- Death In Paradise 9Gem 187,000
- Peter Rabbit ABCKIDS/COMEDY 176,000
- Rusty Rivets ABCKIDS/COMEDY 165,000
- Bondi Rescue Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 165,000
- Peppa Pig-Pm ABCKIDS/COMEDY 165,000
- Floogals ABCKIDS/COMEDY 163,000
- School Of Roars-Pm ABCKIDS/COMEDY 159,000
- Wanda And The Alien-Pm ABCKIDS/COMEDY 156,000
- Dino Dana ABCKIDS/COMEDY 154,000
- NCIS (R) 10 Bold 142,000
- Peppa Pig ABCKIDS/COMEDY 140,000
- Bluey ABCKIDS/COMEDY 136,000
- CSI: Miami 10 Bold 136,000
- Andy’s Wild Adventures ABCKIDS/COMEDY 135,000
- Fireman Sam-Pm ABCKIDS/COMEDY 129,000
- Spicks And Specks ABCKIDS/COMEDY 126,000
- Go Jetters AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 125,000
- DCI Banks 9Gem 124,000
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
10 hires digital sales specialists for multi-platform campaign solutions
Josh Slighting has been appointed head of digital audience responsible for managing 10’s data and analytics team, working closely with the digital and sales teams. He will report to Network 10’s general manager of data, insights and analytics Gareth Tomlin.
Josh Slighting
Ashton De Santis has been appointed head of video ad product and technology, responsible for the advancement of 10 Interactive’s ad platform executions and integrations, as well as its video and display ad products. He will report to CBS Interactive’s vice president of video monetisation and operations Jarred Wilichinsky, working closely with the 10 Interactive and CBS Interactive teams.
Ashton De Santis
Network 10’s chief sales officer Rod Prosser said: “With the Network 10 sales team now firmly in-house, we’re continuing to build specialist capabilities to make sure we can offer clients the best, most effective and creative multi-platform campaign solutions to reach our valuable under 50s audience.
“The additions of Josh and Ashton continue our strategy to build a world-class digital and data capability here at 10, one that brings all functions across the company together – from sales to product, content to technology. Josh is an expert in data and technology and Ashton brings with him fantastic global digital platform experience. We have some really good momentum in the market and it’s to be welcoming them to the team as we continue the momentum.”
Josh Slighting has spent the last 10 years in various consulting roles, specialising in data and technology in marketing and advertising. He has worked for companies such as Acxiom, Publicis and as an independent consultant.
Josh said: “With the level of investment in digital and data underway at 10, it’s a fantastic time to be joining the team. The pace of innovation across the media industry has really elevated the value and role of data and technology. I’m excited to help develop this further at 10, joining a very passionate and ambitious team.”
Ashton De Santis will return to 10 from Oath/Verizon Media where he has spent the last two years, most recently as head of publisher services, ANZ. He joined Oath from AOL where he led programmatic video and TV. Prior to AOL, De Santis spent five years at 10 in sales system support responsible for campaign management and effectiveness.
Ashton said: “I spent an amazing five years at the start of my career with 10 and I’m really excited to be returning in this new role. Digital ad products continue to innovate and evolve at a rapid pace and 10 wants its digital sales capability to be industry-leading in this area. It’s a great opportunity to be part of this exciting change.”
$60m property portfolio one of the attractions of ACM for Catalano
“You don’t prune a rose bush right down to its roots and then hope you’ll suddenly get all this growth. That just is not part of what I have done in my business history,” Catalano told The Australian.
“There will be a focus on finding where we can grow the business. That is what we have done. I have a history of taking underperforming old media assets and turning them around. That is what will try to do here.
“So it is a bit of a back to the future for me in a way – you can see some similarities with what we did at MMP (Metro Media Publishing). We took a glossy magazine category that was apparently dead and made a go of it,” Catalano said.
Catalano, who spent four years running Domain, has “good relationships” across the real estate industry and will be acquiring real estate properties worth around $60m among the mastheads and websites being acquired in ACM. Catalano said the property portfolio “underpins the business” if things went wrong.
See also: Nine asset sale: Antony Catalano takes on new publishing challenge • Australian Regional Media sells for $115m
How big a bargain did Catalano get with his newspapers purchase?
With poorer internet speeds in the bush, newspapers held on to their advertising franchise for a lot longer than their metropolitan cousins, with the result that titles like the Border Mail and The Land were thick with ads for jobs, vehicles and property.
Technology has caught up to the point that regional papers have suffered massive value destruction – the ACM business of 170 regional titles is being sold for just $115m, or 5 per cent of the price Fairfax paid to buy them via Rural Press in the heady pre-GFC days.
Earnings alert: Property listings fall drag on Domain Holdings
Domain said listings were down in 2019 in line with a 30 per cent fall in auction clearance rates in Sydney and 36 per cent in Melbourne.
Chief executive Jason Pellegrino said the Sydney residential property market – which along with Melbourne was the key to Domain’s residential business – was “incredibly weak” and suffered “far and away the biggest” downturn.
Pellegrino said the downturn was worsened by the uncertainty around election timing and the closeness of public holidays for Anzac Day and Easter this month.
He told the Macquarie Investor Conference in Sydney that those events discouraged people from listing in what was the peak selling season and that those falls were unlikely to be made up later in the year, such as in the spring selling season.
Digital money trail: Facebook and Google millions posted overseas
Google also paid a relative pittance in local taxes, despite reaping record Australian advertising sales, documents filed with the corporate regulator and obtained by The Australian yesterday revealed.
Facebook’s Australian arm paid more than $450m last year to a related company overseas for “reseller expenses” – more than $70m more than a year earlier – though it was not clear if that was to Facebook’s Irish or Singapore offices, or another company entirely.
Meanwhile, Google’s Australian operations posted revenues of more than $1 billion, including $560.6m worth of advertising and other reseller revenue, but recorded a pre-tax profit of $155m.
Outdoor Media
OMA calls for consultation about ad restrictions in Queensland
Charmaine Moldrich, CEO of the OMA, highlighted the importance of industry consultation.
“While we understand and support the objective of the Queensland Government to improve health outcomes, the way forward must be nuanced and involve industry. We are working with the Queensland Government to find a way to achieve its objectives without creating adverse and unintended consequences for the State.”
OMA said one consequence is that the restrictions will impact approximately $34 million of annual Queensland Government revenue from out-of-home (OOH) advertising and threaten the job security of the Queensland locals who are directly employed in OOH and the food and grocery industries.
Moldrich also outlined industry’s role in ensuring restrictions are effective.
“Simply removing one type of ad won’t improve the health of Queenslanders. At 6% of the total advertising market, a ban targeting OOH advertising only, is likely to see advertising dollars shift to other channels rather than disappear altogether. A collaborative approach that draws on the expertise of advertisers and the food industry will ensure a more sustainable and effective way forward.”
Moldrich added, “Bringing about social change is incredibly complicated. A genuine commitment to improving the health of Queenslanders involves working with the multiple industries impacted to deliver a multi-faceted solution. The OMA has proposed a targeted educational campaign to raise awareness and promote healthy foods and healthy lifestyle. We look forward to continuing our work with the Queensland Government to make a real difference to health in the State.”
News Brands
Miranda Devine: Behind the scenes at Seven’s leaders’ debate
The debate was planned for a small TV studio where Seven’s Perth news usually goes to air.
In a feat worthy of Rubik’s cube, almost 60 people on small folding chairs were crammed around the leaders, who themselves were perched on two uncomfortable bar stools atop a couple of white boxes.
With klieg lights shining in their eyes, their cross-examiners seated metres away at the anchor desk and 48 sets of swinging voter eyes boring in on them, there was nowhere to hide.
At a pre-debate inspection an hour before, Bill Shorten took one look at the set up and hated it.
‘Devastated’, ‘disgusted’: Hanson unleashes in extraordinary interview
“I’m so upset Tracy, I’ve worked for this for 23 years,” she said.
“I just feel I keep getting kicked in the guts, time and time again. And it all happens right before an election. Why were these tapes held for seven months before being released?”
She said she was “disgusted” by the behaviour Dickson exhibited in the footage, and that he had let her down.
But in the wide-ranging interview, Senator Hanson also alleged there was “somebody” behind the revelations of the recent scandals, beginning with Al Jazeera’s documentary showing Ashby and Dickson meeting with gun lobbyists.