Monday May 14, 2018
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Herald Sun's head of digital Nathaniel Bane talks paywalls, audiences and newsroom evolution
By Kruti Joshi
Working as the head of digital at Australia’s most-read newspaper, Herald Sun, can be exhausting.
“The biggest challenge is that everything changes so fast that no matter how fast you adapt, learn and iterate, you have to continually do it. There’s no endgame,” Herald Sun’s head of digital Nathaniel Bane told Mediaweek. “It does get exhausting. Every day. [Laughs]”
However, this is also the most “exciting” part of the job for him.
Bane joined the Herald Sun in 2009 as the digital news producer and homepage editor. He later worked as the digital editor of the masthead before being promoted to head of digital. “I sit on the executive table with the leaders of the Herald and Weekly Times who look after all the key areas. I represent digital at that level. Underneath that, I also look after all the people who execute – the editorial and commercial teams,” Bane explained.
Herald Sun’s stablemate at News Corp Australia, The Australian, celebrated 100,000 subscribers in November 2017. Bane revealed that the Melbourne metropolitan title isn’t too far from reaching the six figures itself. A few weeks ago there was an internal email circulated to staff informing them that the Herald Sun had passed 90,000 digital subscribers.
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Fox Sports builds its own first eleven for next summer
Fox Sports has welcomed five new commentators to the home of cricket in Australia as the network gears up to deliver the biggest and best cricket coverage ever.
Australian batting greats, Mark Waugh (pictured), “Mr. Cricket” Mike Hussey, and former Australian women’s star Melanie Jones will join Australia’s only dedicated cricket channel Fox Cricket.
Former England captain, Michael Vaughan, and World Cup winner for England, Isa Guha, will also join the team as part of the network’s new lineup.
The announcement comes only weeks after Adam Gilchrist was confirmed as the face of Fox Cricket joining Allan Border and Brendon Julian to create the country’s most formidable cricket team.
Foxtel and Fox Sports CEO, Patrick Delany, said, “We won’t just broadcast cricket – we will revolutionise it. We will give fans more of the game they love, on more platforms so they can watch when and how they want.
“This is more than pointing a camera, it’s about looking at every aspect of the game and finding new ways to deliver something better, something different, something special.
“That’s why we are assembling a commentary team like no other. With over 550 Tests, 1,200 ODIs and 75 T20s between them, this team will lead the biggest cricket broadcasting shake-up ever. And it will continue to grow.
“We have a big summer ahead. And we are charging toward it.”
Fox Sports head of television Steve Crawley said: “The first step in producing a truly revolutionary cricket broadcast is putting together the right team of on-camera talent.
“Fox Cricket will be about entertainment, fun, chemistry and testing the boundaries. It will honour the past and own the future.
“That’s where Adam Gilchrist, Isa Guha, Mike Hussey, Brendon Julian, Mark Waugh, Mel Jones, Allan Border and Michael Vaughan walk in. This is a world-class team.
“Isa Guha? It’s true, some Australians don’t know her but Isa will become a household name – she’s an international cricketer having represented England and a brilliant ball-by-ball caller.
“The others you know. It’s one hell of a lineup. And there is more to come.”
Lingo Pictures’ new Lambs of God drama now in production for Foxtel
Foxtel has announced its next landmark event drama series commission, Lambs Of God, which will premiere in 2019.
Lambs of God is a dark, gothic tale about three nuns, each a generation apart, living in an isolated convent by the coast, and an unwelcome visitor who enters their lives and changes their world forever. It has commenced production at Fox Studios Australia.
The nuns, who live in solitude from the rest of the world on a remote and rugged island, have their lives turned upside down when an ambitious young priest, Father Ignatius, accidentally stumbles across the three sisters as he arrives on a mission from the church.
Based on the Australian novel “Lambs of God” by Marele Day, the twisted and macabre tale will be brought to life on screen by an international all-star cast, led by Emmy Award-winning actress Ann Dowd (The Handmaids Tale, The Leftovers).
She will be joined by Australian stage and screen star Essie Davis (Game of Thrones, The Slap, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Babadook, and the upcoming The True History of The Kelly Gang), and UK actress Jessica Barden (The End Of The F*****World, The Lobster) who, as the three Sisters of St Agnes, must defend their lives, existence and beliefs when the handsome priest, played by actor Sam Reid (The Railway Main, Belle, Anonymous) attempts to sell their dilapidated monastery.
Foxtel head of drama Penny Win said: “Lambs of God is a lush, evocative drama that is both ancient and incredibly modern, with its timeless message of resilience, and the power of storytelling as a redemptive force.
“Marele Day’s unique novel stayed with me long after I’d finished reading it, and screenwriter Sarah Lambert has taken the story and enriched it in ways that are fresh and engaging. At every creative level, the talent attached to this project is world-class, and we are very proud to be working with Lingo Pictures to bring to life this truly unique series.”
Lingo Pictures producer Jason Stephens said: “There are few stories as original as Lambs of God. Pitched to Foxtel as ‘Feral nuns in a monastery’, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver something that is truly different to any other drama produced before in Australia.
“Lambs of God is already generating an enormous buzz thanks to its compelling script and the prestigious cast and crew that it has attracted. It’s a joy to work with Foxtel and have their unwavering support as we start to roll cameras on this moving, thrilling and often darkly humorous tale.”
Sky Vision scripted acquisition manager Moreyba Bidessie said: “Lambs of God is such a unique and distinct story, and with Lingo Pictures and Foxtel at the helm, will be beautifully realised. We are delighted to be representing the show internationally.
“We feel that with the incredible lineup of international cast – alongside the top notch creative team – it will have huge appeal to many markets around the world.”
The provocative four-part series has been adapted for the screen by writer/showrunner Sarah Lambert (Love Child, A Place To Call Home, Dance Academy, Love My Way) and will be directed by Jeffrey Walker (Modern Family, Ali’s Wedding, Dance Academy, Super Fun Night, Rake, Jack Irish).
Cinematographer and Academy Award-nominee Don McAlpine (Moulin Rouge, Romeo and Juliet, X Men Origins: Wolverine, The Dressmaker) will make his first foray into television drama as director of photography, with the series filmed on locations across Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the NSW South Coast and Tasmania.
Produced by Jason Stephens’s Lingo Pictures, Lambs of God will be helmed by Australia’s most prolific, television drama executives: Lingo executive producer Helen Bowden (The Slap, Devil’s Playground, Wake in Fright), Foxtel executive producer Penny Win (Picnic at Hanging Rock, Wentworth, A Place To Call Home), Endemol Shine Australia executive producers Carl and Mark Fennessy (INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, Blue Murder: Killer Cop, Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door, Catching Milat, Offspring,) together with producer Elisa Argenzio (Fighting Season, Wolf Creek, Underbelly) and producer Sarah Lambert (Love Child).
Lambs of God received production investment funding from Screen Australia in association with Create NSW, the Tasmanian Government (through Screen Tasmania), and Endemol Shine Australia.
The series will be distributed internationally by Sky Vision.
Top photo: Jessica Barden, Ann Dowd, Sam Reid And Essie Davis
Network Ten’s news and information website ten daily launches
By James Manning
Network Ten had been promising it would launch its new ten daily website in the first half of 2018 and it made good on that promise today.
The ambitious project is offering the latest and best in news, entertainment, lifestyle, food, opinion and sport content. And so far it is delivering on that promise with a wide range of content served up in bite-sized items.
The stand-alone, mobile-optimised website has a focus on short-form video, drawing on the resources of Network Ten featuring content from MasterChef Australia, The Bachelor Australia, The Bachelorette Australia, Australian Survivor and The Project.
ten daily is also the home of exclusive content from Network Ten’s on-air talent and the ten daily editorial team.
Contributors to ten daily include TEN journalists and presenters Lisa Wilkinson, Sandra Sully, Waleed Aly, Joe Hildebrand, Hugh Riminton, Sarah Harris, Angela Bishop and Matt Burke.
Day one content featured a report on bullying from The Project, a Monday morning news roundup from ten daily reporter Siobhan Kenna, reports on Marvel’s first Muslin superhero, plenty on the royal wedding and even a story about poor ratings for the A-League, an item indicating the site won’t be just puff pieces for TEN programming as the network is the FTA home of the A-League.
One feature of the site is a summary of how long each item either runs for or will take to read. While most of the content is shaped for time-poor website visitors, there are a number of items that will take close to 10 minutes to digest.
The new website joins Network Ten’s digital platform tenplay, which remains the home of multiscreen online catch-up and live streaming, and averages 2.85 million unique visitors a month (Source: Adobe Analytics, April 2017 to April 2018).
ten daily is led by executive editor Lisa Wilkinson and managing news editor Sandra Sully – plus managing editor Melinda Cornford and Network Ten general manager, digital, Liz Baldwin.
Network Ten chief content officer Beverley McGarvey said: “The heart of our business is to create compelling, premium content that connects with people across all screens.
“Ten has always differentiated itself by being brighter, younger and louder than our competitors – an ethos clearly demonstrated with ten daily.
“ten daily is the ideal platform to bring Australians brand-safe, family-friendly entertainment in an entirely new and exciting way. At the same time, it fits our strategy of building Network Ten’s audiences on different platforms,” she said.
Lisa Wilkinson added: “We are delighted to be able to present ten daily to Australia. It is very exciting to be able to expand Network Ten further into the digital space, complementing our existing home of catch-up viewing and streaming, tenplay, with smart, snackable and shareable news.
“Focusing on entertainment, lifestyle, food, opinion and sport content, ten daily provides audiences with a new and engaging way to connect with Ten programs, talent and plenty more.
“With so much fantastic Ten content already available and even more brilliant, bespoke content to come, I am certain ten daily will become a must-visit daily digital destination,” she said.
Sandra Sully said: “We have a dedicated team of professional journalists across the country who now have another platform to engage with viewers and showcase their skills, insights, and expertise with immediacy and impact.
“It’s real news in real time. Relevant issues, views and debate.”
Top Photo: Sandra Sully, Lisa Wilkinson, Melinda Cornford and Liz Baldwin
ARIA Charts: Parkway Drive rock album chart, Drake again #1 single
By James Manning
Singles
Hard to believe that Drake is back at #1, but there you go. People love his music. He has topped the chart for 13 of 20 weeks so far this year. This is the second time “Nice For What” has been #1.
Post Malone has lost top spot as “Psycho” dropped to #5, with “Better Now” climbing to #2, and he still has 11 tracks in the top 50.
There were two changes to the top 10:
New at #7: “This Is America” from Childish Gambino – first time in the top 10 for the multitalented Donald Glover.
#24 to #9: “Youngblood” from 5 Seconds Of Summer still climbing after four weeks – this is the Aussie act’s fifth top 10 single but the first since July 2015.
Just missing a top 10 spot at #13 after a climb from #28 this week is Amy Shark with “I Said Hi” reaching a new high after four weeks.
Two other chart debuts landed in the top 50:
#27 Shawn Mendes with “Youth”
#34 Troye Sivan with “Bloom”
Albums
Three new releases made the top 10 with four other albums also making the top 50 on debut.
Byron Bay metalcore band Parkway Drive score their second #1 as they tour the US this week and soon to Europe. “Reverence” tops the chart after “Ire” sat at #1 in October 2015. The new Parkway Drive album is the fourth Aussie #1 this year.
US soul singer Leon Bridges is new at #8 with his second album “Good Thing” with tracks featured during his recent visit to Bluesfest.
Sydney indie trio Middle Kids make a big mark with their debut album “Lost Friends” landing at #10.
This week’s other chart debuts in the top 50:
#25 Tropical Fuck Storm with “A Laughing Death In Meatspace”
#37 Rae Sremmurd with “SR3MM”
#44 Jon Hopkins with “Singularity”
#45 Shinedown with “Attention Attention”
Top photo: Parkway Drive
TV Rating Analysis: Sunday May 13
By James Manning
Seven
The first Sunday night episode of House Rules should have seen the audiences lift – and they did with its biggest crowd yet this season of 686,000. The deadline for the first renovation loomed in South Australia and the judges arrived on site. They handed out unusually low scores across the board and three teams tied at the bottom of the leader board with just 14 out of 30 points. The highest score was just 17 out of 30.
No episode of Sunday Night this week with a miniseries taking the timeslot. Part one of Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted To You followed House Rules and did a respectable 735,000. Both actresses portraying ONJ did a good job and the series is worth watching alone for Delta Goodrem’s recreations of that marvellous music.
Nine
Episode 14 of The Voice season seven was the start of the battle rounds, which features 12 battles to decide the top 12. The series also introduced The Wild Card. The start of a new week saw the show on 1.00m.
A special episode of 60 Minutes revisited the MH370 mystery with a report from Tara Brown pushing the ratings higher to 872,000.
And yet another royal wedding special ended the night with Harry and Meghan: A Love Story on 368,000.
TEN
There were three happy chappies on MasterChef last night when George, Gary and Matt tasted the lemon meringue choux from Chloe in the invention test. There seemed to be plenty to choose from for the bottom three, one of whom will be eliminated. Chloe, Kristin and Tim had the best dishes and will cook off for an immunity pin during the week. The bottom three going into Monday’s pressure test were Metter, Samira and Michelle. The first Sunday episode of MasterChef did 723,000. It trailed The Voice all people and in the older key demos, but MasterChef ranked #1 for the night 16-39.
Roseanne has moved to Sunday with HYBPA? back tonight. Plenty of friction between Roseanne and Darlene had 304,000 watching.
NCIS screened Two Steps Back, series 15 ep 22, which marked the farewell of longtime cast member Pauley Perrette as Abby. The ep did 256,000.
ABC
After the ABC news the channel continued its week of royal family specials with Prince Harry’s Story: Four Royal Weddings attracting an audience of 577,000. The effect on the British documentary sector of Harry and Meghan’s wedding must be massive.
Agatha Christie’s Ordeal By Innocence followed at 8.30pm with 504,000.
SBS
The day was dominated by two screenings of the Eurovision 2018 final. SBS had 195,000 out of bed early on their Sunday morning. The Sunday evening screening did slightly better with 210,000.
The evening screening of Eurovision 2017 did 304,000. Presumably this year there was a bigger streaming audience via SBS On Demand.
It wasn’t a happy ending after all the hype about Jessica Mauboy. Things started to go wrong when the jury votes came in. After just a handful of countries had nominated their best it was becoming clear Australia was in trouble. The ultimate backhander came from the viewers though when the hosts revealed Australia had received the lowest amount of public votes. Ouch. Were there just too many good songs? Did Australia have the wrong song? Or are Europeans trying to come to grips with their own union and turning their backs on visitors – although if that was the case, winner Israel might have felt their wrath too.
Week 20 TV: Sunday
| SUNDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | Ten | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 10.3% | 7 | 21.3% | 9 | 23.0% | TEN | 12.7% | SBS One | 5.6% |
| ABC 2 | 3.0% | 7TWO | 3.1% | GO! | 2.9% | ONE | 2.1% | VICELAND | 0.9% |
| ABC ME | 0.9% | 7mate | 4.7% | GEM | 1.6% | ELEVEN | 1.8% | Food Net | 0.6% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.1% | 7flix | 2.5% | 9Life | 1.6% | NITV | 0.3% | ||
| TOTAL | 15.3% | 31.6% | 29.0% | 16.6% | 7.4% | ||||
| SUNDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | Ten Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 10.5% | 7 | 25.2% | 9 | 22.6% | WIN | 8.7% | SBS One | 3.1% |
| ABC 2 | 3.3% | 7TWO | 3.7% | GO! | 4.8% | ONE | 2.1% | VICELAND | 1.0% |
| ABC ME | 0.7% | 7mate | 4.3% | GEM | 2.5% | ELEVEN | 1.4% | Food Net | 0.6% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.1% | 7flix | 2.6% | 9Life | 1.6% | NITV | 0.2% | ||
| TOTAL | 15.6% | 35.8% | 31.5% | 12.2% | 4.9% | ||||
| SUNDAY METRO ALL TV | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTA | STV | ||||||||
| 86.3% | 13.7% | ||||||||
All People Rankings
Friday Top 10
- Seven News Seven 946,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 894,000
- Nine News Nine 861,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 796,000
- ABC News ABC 641,000
- Better Homes And Gardens Seven 593,000
- A Current Affair Nine 582,000
- Seven’s AFL: Friday Night Football Seven 575,000
- Harrow ABC 571,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 569,000
- Saturday Top 10
- Seven News Seven 960,000
- Nine News Nine 707,000
- ABC News ABC 621,000
- Father Brown ABC 604,000
- M: Deadpool Seven 477,000
- Royal Wives Of Windsor ABC 454,000
- Mother’s Day Nine 396,000
- M: Iron Man 2 Seven 391,000
- Seven’s AFL: Saturday Night Football Seven 389,000
- Border Security – Australia’s Front Line (R) Seven 375,000
Sunday FTA
- Seven News Seven 1,090,000
- Nine News Nine 1,012,000
- The Voice Nine 1,004,000
- 60 Minutes Nine 872,000
- Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted To You Seven 735,000
- MasterChef Australia Ten 723,000
- ABC News ABC 717,000
- House Rules Seven 686,000
- Prince Harry’s Story: Four Royal Weddings ABC 577,000
- Agatha Christie’s Ordeal By Innocence ABC 504,000
- The Sunday Project 7pm Ten 488,000
- Seven’s AFL: Sunday Afternoon Football Seven 369,000
- Harry And Meghan: A Love Story Nine 368,000
- Roseanne Ten 304,000
- Ten Eyewitness News Ten 299,000
- The Sunday Project 6.30pm Ten 282,000
- Weekend Today Nine 272,000
- NCIS Ten 256,000
- Sunday Afternoon NRL Live Nine 255,000
- Insiders-AM ABC 240,000
Sunday Multichannel
- M: The Bourne Ultimatum-PM 7mate 176,000
- Peppa Pig-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 174,000
- Hey Duggee-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 165,000
- Play School Story Time ABCKIDS/COMEDY 158,000
- Noddy Toyland Detective-PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 158,000
- Thomas And Friends-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 156,000
- Andy’s Baby Animals ABCKIDS/COMEDY 152,000
- Bananas In Pyjamas-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 150,000
- Peppa Pig-PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 150,000
- Border Security: International-E2 PM 7TWO 148,000
- Dot.-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 148,000
- M- The Day After Tomorrow-PM 7mate 147,000
- Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom ABCKIDS/COMEDY 146,000
- Jamillah And Aladdin-PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 145,000
- Shaun The Sheep ABCKIDS/COMEDY 142,000
- Floogals ABCKIDS/COMEDY 141,000
- Fireman Sam-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 140,000
- Olobob Top-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 140,000
- Border Security – Australia’s Front Line-PM 7TWO 140,000
- Border Security: International-PM 7TWO 138,000
Sunday Subscription TV
- Live: NRL Raiders V Sharks FOX LEAGUE 236,000
- Live: NRL Rabbitohs V Dragons FOX LEAGUE 227,000
- Live: AFL Collingwood V Geelong FOX FOOTY 208,000
- Live: AFL North Melbourne V Richmond FOX SPORTS 50 3 180,000
- Live: Bounce FOX FOOTY 114,000
- Live: Motorsport: F1: Spain Race FOX SPORTS 50 6 106,000
- Live: Sunday Night With Matty Johns FOX LEAGUE 104,000
- Live: F1: Spain Pit Lane Race Day FOX SPORTS 50 6 63,000
- Live: NRL Sunday Ticket FOX LEAGUE 56,000
- Paul Murray Live SKY NEWS LIVE 50,000
- NCIS TVH!TS 50,000
- Criminal Minds TVH!TS 48,000
- Peppa Pig Nick Jr. 46,000
- Nella The Princess Knight Nick Jr. 44,000
- Picnic At Hanging Rock showcase 44,000
- Girls Trip Foxtel Movies Premiere 42,000
- Kenny On Sunday SKY NEWS LIVE 41,000
- Paw Patrol Nick Jr. 40,000
- Outsiders SKY NEWS LIVE 40,000
- NCIS TVH!TS 40,000
Media News Roundup
Business Of Media
More reports of News Corporation interest in acquiring Seven West Media
The publisher of The Wall Street Journal and The Australian remains keen on free-to-air television and the potential advantages it could give News Corp’s portfolio of publishing, digital and subscription TV assets, as well as chairman Lachlan Murdoch’s radio investment Nova.
One of key reasons News Corp decided against pursuing a deal with Seven was its debt level of $710.8 million as of December 31.
Seven West and Fairfax resume merger talks was a story in The Australian’s Data Room column four weeks ago.
Outdoor company Adshel appoints Jodie Koning as the head of marketing
Jodie Koning
Koning has worked for companies such as Diageo, Blackmores, McDonald’s, ARN and more recently at Adtech company RhythmOne. She will report to David Roddick, Adshel director of sales and marketing.
Roddick commented on the new appointment: “I am excited by the blend of operational and strategic know-how Jodie will bring to a critical role in our business. I look forward to seeing how her background of consumer insight, technical expertise and go-to-market execution will combine to develop our amazing marketing team.”
Jodie Koning said: “I am very excited about joining Adshel – a company leading digitisation and innovation in out-of-home media. I look forward to leveraging my experience on both the buy and sell side, to further strengthen our audience-led approach and value proposition. I have inherited a hugely capable team and outstanding product and look forward to seeing what we can deliver.”
Government announces new public broadcaster board appointments
A statement on the appointments said:
Both appointees bring exceptional skills, background and expertise to the ABC and SBS Boards.
Joseph Gersh is based in Victoria and has significant business experience with a range of public and private companies. He is the founder and executive chairman of Gersh Investment Partners Limited. He was previously a senior partner and chairman of the management committee of Arnold Bloch Leibler.
Christine Zeitz is based in South Australia and possesses strong and relevant skills and experience which will strengthen the SBS board. She is currently the chief executive of Leidos Australia and has more than 25 years’ experience with BAE Systems in a variety of senior roles in Australia and the UK, including most recently as president of the North-East Asia region in Tokyo.
Telstra and Optus are taking each other to court in two separate cases
On Friday morning, Telstra took Optus to the Supreme Court of Victoria over a series of ads it claims falsely implied the Singtel-owned telecommunications provider has the best mobile network across Australia.
Meanwhile on Friday afternoon, Optus has served Telstra in the Supreme Court of NSW alleging its ads related to unlimited mobile data plans are misleading.
News Brands
London breakfasts: Sunrise at Tower Bridge & Today at Buckingham Palace
Sunrise’s Natalie Barr, Samantha Armytage, David Koch and Mark Beretta in London
At 5.30am this morning Sam Armytage and David Koch greeted their early Sunrise audience to a soundtrack from The Clash (“London Calling”) with a studio set up on the banks of The Thames offering a background featuring Tower Bridge. Seven seemed to have a bigger team on the road with Mark Beretta and Natalie Barr joining them at the Sunrise desk. Reporter Edwina Bartholomew took viewers on a trip around London’s sights on a special Sunrise red double decker bus – complete with royal family look-alikes waving to puzzled onlookers on London streets. Seven’s European correspondent Hugh Whitfield was stationed outside Buckingham Palace. Not all of Seven’s team was in London – weather presenter Sam Mac remained in Sydney, covering Sydney Fashion Week.
On Nine’s Today, Georgie Gardner and Karl Stefanovic were outside Buckingham Palace surrounded by a group of young Aussies. The rest of the Today team – Deborah Knight, Ben Fordham, Sylvia Jeffreys, Richard Wilkins and Tim Gilbert – were back in the studio in Sydney. Today weather presenter Natalie Cooper is travelling around the UK this week and today she was in Scotland.
Nine’s new digital subscription site Future Women signs Jamila Rizvi
Helen McCabe with Jamila Rizvi
Unveiled at last year’s Nine Upfronts, Future Women is a subscription site aimed at professional women and female entrepreneurs. It is due to launch later this year.
Nine’s director of digital content Helen McCabe: “Jamila is a young leader in this field. She is very knowledgeable about the space and has been a passionate advocate both for equality and for women.
“From her early days in politics to her editorship of Mamamia and her recent books, there is probably no one more obvious to be involved in Future Women.
“She will be hosting our regular podcast FW Weekly and be involved in speaking and curating our events in Melbourne where she is based. One of FW’s verticals is leadership and equality and this is a space Jamila knows really well. I expect her to own that space in conjunction with Emily Brooks, our editor.”
Rizvi is the author of two best-selling books, “The Motherhood” and “Not Just Lucky”, and the former editor-in-chief of Mamamia. She was also a deputy chief of staff to Kate Ellis, a former Minister for Women, Employment Participation and Childcare.
“I wanted to be part of a brand that is unapologetically focused on gender equality,” said Rizvi. “I can’t think of anything more exciting to be a part of right now.
“Future Women will drive important conversations between professional women on topics that are directly relevant to them, through digital, audio, video and events. I share Helen McCabe’s seriously big ambitions for what Future Women will become.”
Last week Future Women announced its first commercial partnership, joining specialist consulting firm Diversity Partners to create the FW Academy.
Report: Seven sports reporter Josh Massoud demanding six-figure payout
Massoud, who was stood down on May 1, has now hired the lawyer known by some in the business as “Samoan lawyer” John Laxon, a nod to the uncompromising lawyer of fabled American writer Hunter S Thompson.
Seven is understood to be encouraging Massoud to resign and take a severance payment. The amount of that payment seems to be the reason for Laxon’s involvement.
Former part-time producer and reporter Michelle Bishop has been moved up the ranks at Seven to replace Massoud in the rugby league ranks.
Radio
Nova at royal wedding: Kate, Tim and Marty plus Fitzy and Wippa in London
The broadcasters all flew Qantas to London to broadcast a week of special shows celebrating the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The teams will broadcast from Bauer Media studios in Soho London, with the shows heard across Australia in the lead up to the wedding.
Kate, Tim & Marty will then commentate the coverage of the royal wedding live from London and will be heard across the Nova Network around Australia on Saturday May 19.
Kate, Tim and Marty, in partnership with Uber Eats, will give listeners the chance to win a trip to London by registering their details at novafm.com.au. Throughout the week, Kate, Tim and Marty will be reflecting all the hype from London on the show, including a London-based special guest for Quick Draw.
Fitzy & Wippa’s London shows will be heard on Nova 96.9 in Sydney from 6am to 9am and across Australia on Nova from 6pm to 7pm while Kate, Tim and Marty’s London shows will air nationally across the Nova Network from 4pm to 6pm from Monday 14 to Friday May 18 and on Saturday May 19 to commentate the coverage of the royal wedding.
Lithgow radio station 2LT breached a condition of its broadcasting licence
The finding was reached by the Australian Communications and Media Authority which investigated a listener complaint that the station did not broadcast any local news bulletins on several days between January 23 and February 28, 2018.
Under its regional radio content obligations, 2LT is obliged to:
• Meet “minimum services standards” – by broadcasting at least 35 local news bulletins per week
• Take all reasonable steps to comply with its approved local content plan – which also contemplates the broadcast of at least 35 local news bulletins per week.
2LT accepted that it had failed on both counts in the period due to resourcing and administrative challenges.
“Local news bulletins are a vital source of information for Lithgow residents,” said ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin. “They must be a priority for regional radio licensees.”
Midwest Radio Network has confirmed that local news bulletins resumed in March 2018 and that it has implemented measures to avoid future non-compliance including improved managerial oversight.
Television
Blue-Tongue Films and Jungle Entertainment sell series to FX in US and Foxtel
The FX Original Series was shot in Australia and is produced by Blue-Tongue Films and Jungle Entertainment, in association with FX Productions, Screen Australia and Create NSW.
In Australia the series will stream on Foxtel and screen on showcase.
Michele Bennett is producer and Ryan, Edgerton and Jason Burrows are executive producers. The six-episode season, written by Ryan and directed by Nash Edgerton (Gringo, The Square), will air on FX and Foxtel this fall. FX and Foxtel have commissioned a writers room for a second season.
In Mr Inbetween, Ryan plays Ray Shoesmith, a father, ex-husband, boyfriend and best friend: tough roles to juggle in the modern age. Even harder when you’re a criminal for hire.
“Mr Inbetween is an extraordinary achievement for Scott Ryan, who took it from an indie film with a cult following to a half-hour drama that he stars in,” Schrier said. “Scott is one of those rare creators who can bring his own character to life on screen, and he is perfectly paired with Nash Edgerton, who brilliantly directed all six episodes. This project is a great inaugural step with Foxtel as the home of FX original series in Australia.”
Mr Inbetween stars Scott Ryan, Damon Herriman (Justified), Justin Rosniak, Brooke Satchwell, Jackson Tozer, Nicholas Cassim, Chika Yasumura and Matt Nable.
Edgerton said, “I couldn’t be happier to be sharing Scott Ryan’s character Ray with as many people as possible, and Scott and I couldn’t be more excited to have Mr Inbetween on FX and Foxtel.”
Scott Ryan wrote, directed and starred in The Magician, a mockumentary that introduced audiences to the very funny and very dark world of hitman Ray Shoesmith. It was originally shot over 10 days at a cost of $3,000. After a screening of a 30-minute cut down version at the 2004 St Kilda Film Festival, Ryan met filmmaker Nash Edgerton, who took on the project on as editor and producer. Receiving further funding, the film was then released by Hopscotch Films in 2005 and went on to be nominated for a Film Critics Circle of Australia Award and an Inside Film (IF) Award in 2005. He is currently developing a project that delves into the John F Kennedy assassination.
A day after Fox cancels US police sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, NBC picks it up
Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, said in a statement: “Ever since we sold this show to Fox I’ve regretted letting it get away, and it’s high time it came back to its rightful home.
“Mike Schur, Dan Goor and Andy Samberg grew up on NBC, and we’re all thrilled that one of the smartest, funniest, and best-cast comedies in a long time will take its place in our comedy lineup. I speak for everyone at NBC, here’s to the Nine-Nine!”
The US sitcom had been screening in Australia on SBS.
Sports Media
Another big score for Ricky Ponting: Cricket great signs with Seven
Ponting moves to Seven from Network Ten where he was a member of the Big Bash League commentary team.
Ricky Ponting commented: “Seven has long been the leader of live sport coverage in Australia and its plans for cricket will give the viewer a greater insight into the game. I couldn’t be more excited to be joining Seven and being part of an exciting new era of cricket broadcasting.”
New Seven head of cricket Dave Barham said: “We are absolutely rapt Ricky has decided to join Seven. He is a key signing and we will be building a formidable team around him. Australian cricket fans will hear him commentate test matches for the first time ever, in addition to his outstanding BBL commentary.”
Speaking on his podcast The Sounding Board this week, Craig Hutchison estimated that Ponting would command $1m plus annually if he signed with Seven.
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