“ARN’s iHeart was very late to the podcast race, our competitors were in there when we began just over four years ago – but when we began, we came out with a bang,” ARN head of digital audio, Corey Layton tells Mediaweek. The iHeart network has just celebrated its 50th straight Podcast Rankert as the nation’s top podcast publisher, and Layton said the team is “feeling great.” 

“We have been the number one publisher from the day of launch to now, which shows our strength, and shows the incredible long-term partnerships that have worked to build. Australian listeners and brands are really leaning into the content that our team and partners are making.”

It’s an achievement that has been a long time in the making, and means more to ARN and its partners than just the celebrations on the day.

“It means stability,” said Layton. “We’re quite careful about who we partner with, when we partner with a podcast we want to be able to give it the full time and attention that it deserves, to grow that audience and to monetise it. We’re careful to not overstretch ourselves and not to have too many – we want to ensure that we can service everyone that we have accordingly. 

“What this 50th moment showcases is how we’ve been able to help grow those shows that we have decided to work with us to where they are today, that’s given us this accolade.”

At the heart of what’s driving the success of iHeart’s shows is engagement, which Layton says is one of the major things the team work towards.

“This is a very, very long game, and we want to just keep pushing our podcasts to the front to ensure that Australians get to find them, the brands get to back them and that they stay with us for as long as possible. Today is really just another step in that story, albeit an important moment to slow down and celebrate.”

Podcasting – both in Australia and around the world – has been on a rapid upwards trajectory for years. If there was any concern that the momentum was running out, Layton quashes it by pointing out that “it’s absolutely the fastest growing mass media in the country, reaching over 10.9 million Australians every single month.”

“We are now at 48% of Australians listening to podcasts – 1.7 million more people are now listening to podcasts monthly in Australia than at the same time last year. That is phenomenal growth. 

“The trend is growth. 48% of Australians are listening and 52% aren’t, and I look forward to more and more people finding this wonderful medium and adding it to their media diet.”

As for where the team are focussing their attention for the rest of the year, Layton said the next few months are all about continuing to grow iHeart, continuing to grow existing shows, and looking at new shows.

“We’ve just onboarded shows like Matty and Cooper Johns’ Backstage, we just finished our co-production Indigenous podcast network BlakCast, called Find and Tell, which was all about looking for the next generation of diverse storytellers. We are looking to continue to tell incredible stories and to launch really exciting, new, innovative shows that we think will capture Australia’s attention.”

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Top image: Corey Layton

Four Havas agencies have had their B Corp certification revoked due to work with multinational oil company Shell.

B Lab UK conducted an investigation that found the French advertising group in breach of its “community’s core values as expressed in our Declaration of Interdependence.”

“While the Certified B Corps are not directly involved in providing services to the client, Havas’s structure, and use of a common brand name across some of its agencies, means that the entire group is ultimately required to earn certification,” the not-for-profit said in a statement in MediaPost.

The result of the investigation found that “suspension with remediation would be required for Havas to maintain certification.”

“Havas has cooperated throughout B Lab’s investigation and accepts the ruling; however, they have resolved not to adopt the remediation actions required to maintain certification.

“Havas London, Havas Lemz, Havas New York and Havas Immerse are no longer certified B Corps. Other entities in the Havas group are also ineligible to certify,” the statement concluded.

Havas has accepted the ruling. The company said in a statement on MediaPost: “Havas has cooperated in good faith throughout B Lab’s investigation, while simultaneously preserving the integrity of confidential client information. Whilst the investigation recognises that our certified agencies (Havas London, New York, Lemz and Immerse) do not have a relationship with Shell, we accept the ruling and they will cease to be B Corp certified. 

The French company said that its “level of commitment towards sustainability remains unchanged as evidenced by Havas’ receipt of the Gold Medal by EcoVadis” earlier this month, its decarbonisation trajectory and deployment of the Havas Carbon Impact Calculator across its agencies 

“We are proud to support our clients in their transformation for the future and remain focused on progressing towards the highest levels of social and environmental performance, with more to come in the coming months and years,” the company added.

This hit to Havas comes as Shell Energy pitches its creative account in Australia. However, it has not come without backlash from industry heavyweights like Darren Woolley, CEO of TrinityP3 Marketing Management Consultancy, who previously told Mediaweek: “fossil fuels are becoming the new tobacco.”

When news of the pitch circulated in March, he told Mediaweek: “I know the money will be good, but they’re [agencies that pitch] going to find it increasingly difficult to get people to work on that type of account.”

He added that the industry needs to be “very clear about the difference between working for a client and actively greenwashing the client’s claims.” And agencies pitching should not delude themselves if they think they can help the client “from the inside”.

“Any agency that is going for this business has to be very clear that they are going to be working with an organisation that is currently contributing huge amounts to the climate crisis.”

“They’re getting employed to help spin this to help their client. I’ve heard many agencies say they we’re working with them [the client] so that they can understand where the consumer is and do more to reduce and I go ‘yeah, right’.”

See also: ‘Like a tobacco account on your CV’: Woolley and Noble on Shell creative pitch

ACM managing director Tony Kendall yesterday announced a new publishing model for three of the company’s mastheads in Central West NSW. The new model means weekday editions of three iconic news brands will no longer be printed.

Two smaller regional publications are to completely cease print editions.

Staff at Orange’s Central Western Daily, Bathurst’s Western Advocate, Dubbo’s Daily Liberal and other impacted titles were briefed on Thursday regarding the changes proposed to take effect next month.

From Monday 26 August, three newspapers will no longer offer print editions Monday to Friday. ACM said the growing number of digital subscribers will continue to receive comprehensive daily local news and sport plus breaking news alerts.

The smaller weekly titles Oberon Review and Blayney Chronicle will cease publishing in print. The Mudgee Guardian will move its publication day from Friday to Saturday.

No longer weekday print editions for these three ACM regional NSW newspapers

Staff redundancies possible

Consultation has commenced with affected ACM staff about the new leadership and team structures and roles. The company revealed redundancies can be expected in editorial and sales teams if redeployment opportunities cannot be identified.

For the print titles that survive on weekends, ACM is promising readers expanded, new-look weekend editions from Saturday, August 24. In addition to local news, sport and columnists readers can expect lift-outs and sections including Explore travel, View real estate, the racing form and a weekly TV Guide.

Demand for print continues to decline

ACM acknowledged less demand for print products as growing regional centres turn to digital subscriptions. The new publishing model will offer a morning briefing via a daily newsletter, plus updates throughout the day via an app or the website. “[The changes] allow the mastheads’ newsrooms and ACM to focus on delivering subscribers the best possible experience across the products and the platforms its communities are engaging with the most,” said a company statement.

ACM pointed to 15% annual growth at in paid digital subscriptions in key markets since their introduction in 2018.

Australian Community Media managing director Tony Kendall

Tony Kendall on consumer demand, Meta news funding

“ACM is evolving to be Australia’s leading regional and rural digital media company, and it’s important that we evolve our products to meet the modern reader’s preferences,” said Tony Kendall. “This new model follows changing consumption habits among readers, plus unsustainable production costs in these markets and reduced support from government and Meta.

“Every title in our portfolio has been affected by Meta’s decision to cancel its news funding arrangements in Australia, along with rising production expenses and a shift in advertising from newspapers to the digital platforms,” Kendall added.

“Unlike our other daily newspapers, the three mastheads in Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo have been particularly hard-hit by unsustainable distribution costs.

“As a result, we are meeting the challenge with a strategic initiative that supports the continued sustainability of our local journalism.

“We have no immediate plans to implement this publishing model at our other dailies.”

Weekday print editions will continue at 11 ACM titles serving larger regional communities.

The Western Advocate’s origins in Bathurst, Australia’s oldest inland settlement, date back to 1848. The Daily Liberal began in Dubbo in 1874. The Central Western Daily has been serving Orange and surrounds since 1945.

The three newspapers are printed at Tamworth every night and then trucked into their respective markets.

Kendall: “In recent years, ACM’s Central Western NSW communities have embraced our digital subscription offering and this new model allows them to have the best of both worlds – with digital access on the go and a bumper weekend print edition.

“The Western Advocate, Central Western Daily and Daily Liberal have proud histories of serving the cities of Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo with quality, independent journalism and that will absolutely continue as we focus on the products that meet our readers’ changing consumption habits and continue to have a sustainable model for local journalism.”

See also: SCA chooses ‘not to pursue’ ACM’s acquisition proposal

The NSW win in Origin 3, 2024 is being called one of the best Rugby League State of Origin clashes ever.

The TV ratings indicate that just might be right too. The new records include highest rating Origin Game 3 on Nine since 2013. The highest rating program of all time on 9Now.

Below we summarise the audience numbers for each State of Origin match this year.

State of Origin: Game 1 New South Wales v Queensland

Origin Game 1 secured a National Total TV Reach of 5.306 million and a Total TV National Audience of 3.436 million.

State of Origin Game 1 was the highest rating Game 1 since 2016 and the highest rating program of the year-to-date (based on overnight figures).

Origin Game 1 recorded a BVOD audience of 760,000 on 9Now.
Highest rating BVOD program of all time on 9Now.
Second highest rating live BVOD program of all time (across all broadcasters).
Up 42% year-on-year.

Metro audience numbers
State of Origin Game 1 was the No. 1 program of the night in:
Sydney – Total TV Audience of 934,000
Melbourne – Total TV Audience of 287,000
Brisbane – Total TV Audience of 809,000
State of Origin Game 1 was the No. 2 program of the night in:
Adelaide – Total TV Audience of 91,000
Perth – Total TV Audience of 135,000

Game 2 New South Wales v Queensland

Origin Game 2 secured a National Total TV Reach of 5.192 million and a Total TV National Audience of 3.263 million.

State of Origin Game 2 was the highest rating Game 2 since 2017 and the second highest rating program of the year-to-date, behind State of Origin Game 1 (based on overnight figures).

Origin Game 2 recorded a BVOD audience of 739,000 on 9Now.
Second highest rating program of all time on 9Now.
Third highest rating live BVOD program of all time (across all broadcasters).
Up 31% year-on-year.

Metro audience numbers

State of Origin Game 2 was the No. 1 program of the night in:
Sydney – Total TV Audience of 902,000
Brisbane – Total TV Audience of 538,000
State of Origin Game 2 was the No. 2 program of the night in:
Adelaide – Total TV Audience of 86,000
Perth – Total TV Audience of 116,000

How Sydney and Brisbane newspapers covered the Origin result

The Daily Telegraph covered the Origin result very differently to the approach at The Courier-Mail. The Brisbane daily had already moved on from Origin and was predicting Queensland success at next week’s Paris Olympics.

Game 3 New South Wales v Queensland

Origin Game 3 secured a National Total TV Reach of 5.426 million and a Total TV National Audience of 3.652 million – up 44.7% year-on-year.

State of Origin Game 3 was the highest rating match since Game 1 2016, and the highest rating Game 3 since 2013 (based on overnight using TAM/VPM).

Origin Game 3 recorded a BVOD audience of 864,000 on 9Now.
Highest rating program of all time on 9Now, the three games in the series take out the highest rating programs on 9Now.
Second highest rating live BVOD program of all time (across all broadcasters).
Up 83.1% year-on-year.

Metro audience numbers
State of Origin Game 3 was the No. 1 program of the night in:
Sydney – Total TV Audience of 979,000
Melbourne – Total TV Audience of 318,000
Brisbane – Total TV Audience of 848,000
State of Origin Game 3 was the No. 2 program of the night in:
Adelaide – Total TV Audience of 85,000
Perth – Total TV Audience of 142,000

See also: How did Game Three 2023 stack up? 22 years of State Of Origin ratings

Publicis Groupe has reported a net revenue organic growth of 5.4% in its H1 2024 results and an operating margin rate of 17.3%. The French multinational advertising company further reported an organic growth of 5.6% in its Q2 results, citing “solid performance across all regions.”

“Publicis achieved a very strong first half of the year, with net revenue organic growth at +5.4% and +7.4% growth on a like-for-like revenue basis,” said Arthur Sadoun, chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe.

“We continued to win market share, with Q2 net revenue organic growth accelerating to +5.6%, above expectations and 400bps ahead of our industry.”

According to Sadoun, for the first six months of the year, Publicis delivered industry-leading financial KPIs. He continued: “Despite a backdrop of ongoing macro-economic pressures, not only did our H1 performance demonstrate that our model is strong. It also showed that our outperformance versus our peers is sustainable, with our growth rate close to doubling that of our competitors since 2019.”

Net Revenue in Q2 2024

Publicis Groupe’s net revenue in Q2 2024 was 3,458 million euros, up 6.8% YoY. The company attributed a small positive impact of 13 million euros to exchange rates. Acquisitions, net of disposals, contributed an increase in net revenue of 25 million euros. Organic growth reached 5.6%.

In the Asia Pacific region, the group experienced a 2% growth in net revenue on a reported basis for Q2 and a 7.7% growth on an organic basis. Australia saw “low-single-digit growth” in Q2.

China accelerated to 10.5% QoQ, benefiting from new business wins in media. South-East Asia posted “high-single-digit growth,” driven by Thailand, India, and Malaysia.

Net Revenue in H1 2024

Publicis Groupe’s net revenue for H1 2024 was 6,688 million euros, up 5.9% year-over-year. The Groupe cited acquisitions (net of disposals) as having a positive impact of 43 million euros on net revenue. Exchange rate variations had a “small negative impact” of 16 million euros. Organic growth for H1 was 5.4%.

In the Asia Pacific region, net revenue increased by 7.0% on an organic basis and 4.0% on a reported basis. Australia saw a 1.3% increase on an organic basis, while China reported organic growth of 8.9%.

See also: Lego Group appoints Publicis One to global media account

Mediaweek’s Media Movers charts the biggest people moves in the industry over the past week.

This week:

OMD has promoted Amanda Watts to managing director, Sydney. Her career with OMD began 15 years ago in Singapore, and she has spent the past seven years in leadership roles with OMD Sydney.

ABC Radio has revealed Bruce McAvaney will be a member of its commentary team, just days after revealing a partnership with Nine for Paris Olympics coverage,

The recently announced ABC deal with Nine means live coverage of Olympic events can be broadcast to metro areas of Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin and the Gold Coast.

UM has appointed Brittany Crowley as head of investment, Sydney. She will join the media agency’s national senior leadership team and report to managing director Ben McCallum.

Crowley brings nearly 20 years of experience in the media industry and joins from PHD, where she was co-head of investment. She has also worked at Mediacom as group account director.
 
Brian Lesser has been appointed as the new Global CEO of GroupM. He will succeed Christian Juhl, who is stepping down after five years to take up the new position of president, corporate development, at WPP.
 
Joshua McDonnell will depart from PHD Australia after almost three years as the agency’s marketing director. McDonnell, who worked as a media trade journalist before moving to Adland, will leave the Omnicom Media Group agency next month for GroupM and Mindshare as growth and marketing director.
 
Nine journalist Jayne Azzopardi will replace Brooke Boney in the news chair on Today.
 
Gavin Sommer spoke to Mediaweek this week about joining AFFINITY in the newly created role of general manager.
 
One of the longest and most successful overseas TV correspondent postings is over with the decision to end Hugh Whitfeld’s gig in London. Seven’s European bureau chief will be staying with Seven. His new role will be national news desk director and foreign editor.
 
Bench Media has made two senior appointments: Sebastian Diaz from senior digital solutions specialist to the newly created role of head of media innovation, and Nate Vella, previously senior digital strategist to brand strategy lead.
 
CX Lavender has promoted Claire Austin and Rusty Nelson to creative director roles.
 
It’s Friday has launched full-service media to deliver connected experiences for brands, led by newly appointed Michelle Miroforidis, who will spearhead the connections media strategy.
 
ARN has promoted Bec Ellem to group business director for the network’s Melbourne independent agency team.
 
Val Morgan has made multiple appointments and promotions across BrandFit, its group strategy and client solutions team. Jo Scott has joined as head of strategy, bringing 18 years of strategy and business experience within media and communications agencies.
 
The outdoor media company has also promoted Lizzy McDonald to group strategy manager and Diana Demetri to group client solutions.
 
Christelle Quillien is expanding her role as group client solutions manager to lead the post-sale implementation team across the Cinema and Outdoor businesses. Cassandra De Francesco and Ben Foyster have also been promoted to the role of client solutions manager, while Eden Coleraine joins the team from Carat as strategy executive within the strategy team.
 
The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song, has appointed senior creatives Danny Pattison and Max Rapley as associate creative directors.
 
VML has appointed Richard Williams as the group executive creative director for its Melbourne and Sydney offices, joining the agency in September.
 
DDB Sydney has appointed Jack Nunn as creative partner to lead the McDonald’s account.
 
InfoSum has promoted long-time chief operating officer Lauren Wetzel to chief executive officer. She takes over from Brian Lesser, who has led InfoSum as chairman and CEO since 2020. Lesser will return to GroupM.
 
The Royals have announced that Dan Beaumont, director and partner of ten years, will depart from the company by the end of this month. The agency confirmed with Mediaweek that Beaumont’s responsibilities will be handled by co-managing partner, Andrew Siwka.

This week’s Meeting of the Minds sees Ally Marchetti and Shania Loughnan from podcast company Acast reveal their leadership heroes, current streaming binge, and career goals.

The Mediaweek series showcases diverse perspectives, thoughts and opinions by bringing together two different points of view from an industry rookie and an experienced expert.

Ally Marchetti – Acast’s Senior Account Manager

Favourite podcast/read – I am flicking between a few podcasts, but my current binges are Cheeky Run Club (yep, I have become a running podcast listener) and Troubled Waters. I’m currently reading Coco Mellor’s new book, Blue Sisters.

Current streaming binge – Architectural Digest’s Open Door series on YouTube. If you are yet to watch Troy Sivan’s episode, I highly recommend it.

Guilty pleasure content – TikTok

What do you have on repeat – Divine Fault Line by Angie McMahon (Anything Angie McMahon, really)

Best career advice – Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone, you are going to get a lot more achieved faster, and everyone loves one less email. Eat the frog – get the big and daunting tasks out of the way first, it will set your day up so much better.
 
Leadership hero – I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded by a breadth of strong leaders, it’s hard to say just one. However, these leaders have all shared similar values that I see as important such as being authentic, collaborators and always curious.
 
Best training course/session – NIDA Corporate’s presentation skills course. Two days of pretending to be a drama student was the best fun, and it has honestly changed the way I present myself internally and externally ever since.
 
I wish someone had told me – Feedback is a gift.
 
Favourite place to network – In person with clients, I always love to put a face to the name and get to know who I am chatting with every day.
 
Something that’s surprised you about the industry – How small the industry is, not only Melbourne/Australia but even globally. A connection in Melbourne led me to a role in Dublin, Ireland.
 
What is your hot take on the industry – We’re seeing real results with clients who are being brave, testing the waters and experimenting with (not so) new channels and formats.
 
Career goal for 2024 – Since returning to Melbourne, after travelling and working abroad in the past year, my main focus for 2024 is to re-establish myself back in the Melbourne market and continue building my network and knowledge of the media industry.

Shania  Loughnan – Acast’s Sales Planner

Favourite podcast/read – My top two favourite podcasts right now are Rotten Mango and What It Was Like.

Current streaming binge –  I tend to get bored of series quickly, so I usually juggle 2-3 shows at a time. Right now, I’m watching Bridgerton (big yes to saucy period dramas) and American Housewife.

Guilty pleasure content – True Crime… always

What do you have on repeat – Sabrina Carpenter’s Please, Please, Please.

Best career advice – If you truly want something, people will support you in achieving it. Don’t hesitate to speak up about your goals—whether it’s attending a webinar, taking a short course, or aiming for a promotion.

Leadership hero – Elle Woods (yes, the fictional character). She proved everybody wrong and stayed true to herself, despite people undermining her… and she looked phenomenal doing it!

Best training course/session – NGEN offers a wide range of courses taught by enthusiastic industry experts eager to share their knowledge. It’s definitely worth signing up for. My favourite course was on how to read and digest a brief, as someone new to responding to briefs, it’s crucial to know which information is key and what to inquire further about.

I wish someone had told me – Choose your battles wisely. Not everything is worth fighting for, but it’s important to recognise what is.

Favourite place to network – At industry events, you have the opportunity to meet a diverse range of people you might not typically have a reason to connect with in your current job.

Something that’s surprised you about the industry – We party hard (some people think my job is just attending lunches and events like the Australian Open), but we work even harder. I love that about this industry: striving to achieve my personal and professional goals while having fun along the way.

What is your hot take on the industry – My hot take is that authenticity and accountability are increasingly paramount— people value companies that embrace diversity, work-life balance and recognition in their brand values and actions.

Career goal for 2024 – To truly excel in the Sales Planner role and continue to build relationships within the industry, ultimately with the goal of becoming an Account Executive in the future. 

–

To take part in future editions of Meeting of the Minds, please email: [email protected]

Past editions of Meeting of the Minds.

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Top image: Ally Marchetti and Shania Loughnan

By Todd McPhee, founder of tech consultancy Engaging.io

Aussies love watching sport, that’s hardly breaking news. As a nation of sports nuts, more than eight million of us fork out an estimated $1.7 billion a year to watch our favourite AFL (go the Swannies), NRL, netball, basketball or cricket team, tennis, golfing or swimming star take to the field, court, course or pool, all in the name of competition.

Sport is big business and in the new attention-based economy, that competition extends to attracting and maintaining ongoing and meaningful relationships with those fans. Connecting with fans should go beyond the excitement on the field or court. It’s about creating a seamless, engaging experience from the moment a ticket is purchased to long after the final whistle.

Technology, in particular CRM platforms, are now playing a much greater role in driving closer integration with fans and the sporting teams they passionately follow. While some are ahead of the curve, many are still missing out – including adding valuable additional incremental revenue to their bottom lines.

Unifying marketing and data insights

Traditionally, marketing automation and ticket sales have operated in silos, leading to fragmented communication strategies. Integrating all marketing activities into a single CRM platform can bridge these gaps. We’ve just completed work with a major US NBA team on exactly that. Implementing HubSpot to centralise their marketing efforts has allowed them to create cohesive campaigns spanning pre-game, game day, and post-game interactions. This has enabled the marketing team to meticulously track customer journeys, linking ad spend directly to ticket sales and new fans while driving a greater understanding of which marketing strategies are most effective.

Enhanced fan engagement

A robust CRM allows sports franchises to segment their audience with precision for more targeted communications. For example, by analysing ticket purchase data, teams can identify fans’ preferences, such as seating choices or favourite event types. This insight allows for personalised upselling and cross-selling opportunities. Imagine a fan who consistently buys upper-level seats being offered an upgrade to premium seating, or a sports enthusiast being introduced to other events being held at the venue. This level of personalisation not only enhances the fan experience but also drives additional revenue streams.

Streamlined operations and increased efficiency

A CRM system can significantly reduce the time and effort required for campaign management. Before our project, the NBA team’s marketing team faced time-consuming manual processes for creating and updating campaigns. By migrating their CRM system, they were able to automate these tasks, drastically reducing the time needed to launch new campaigns. This newfound efficiency freed up the marketing team to focus on creative strategies and fan engagement activities, rather than being bogged down by administrative tasks. Additionally, automated processes ensured timely and relevant communication with fans, enhancing their overall experience.

Comprehensive reporting and analytics

One of the standout benefits of a unified CRM platform is the ability to generate detailed reports and analytics. In our NBA example this meant no longer cobbling together data from disparate sources to understand marketing performance. They can easily track and report on email campaigns, landing page performance, and fan interactions across various touchpoints. This real-time visibility into marketing effectiveness has allowed for quick adjustments and continuous improvement, ensuring every marketing dollar is well spent.

Improved fan feedback

Engaging with fans doesn’t end when the game does. Gathering feedback is crucial to improve future experiences. An example of this is establishing automated feedback surveys that are triggered based on ticket scans to ensure only attendees receive them. This precise targeting provides valuable insights into what fans enjoyed and what could be improved. These direct feedback loops are invaluable for making informed decisions about event management and fan services.

By centralising marketing efforts, enhancing fan engagement, streamlining operations, and leveraging comprehensive analytics, a robust CRM platform can elevate sports marketing to that benefits both fans and the business. For sports teams wanting to stay competitive and deeply connect with their fan base, embracing technology is a big scoring opportunity.

–

Top image: Todd McPhee

Compiled by Jasper Baumann

myDRIVESCHOOL and LiSTNR launch, Keep Your Wheels On

myDRIVESCHOOL, in partnership with LiSTNR and funded by the Australian Government, has revealed a new podcast, Keep Your Wheels On, which aims to educate drivers on safe driving habits and techniques.

Keep Your Wheels On is a collection of drivers reflecting on times that they have experienced unsafe driving situations, and features guidance from driver education experts who provide advice for safer driving.

Hosted by Greg Rust, from LiSTNR’s Rusty’s Garage and Lisa Skaife, founder and CEO of myDRIVESCHOOL, each podcast episode features a special guest sharing their driving history. With guests including actor Shane Jacobson, former Supercars racer and four-time Bathurst 1000 winner Greg Murphy, and Victoria Police – Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir, Keep Your Wheels On explores important driving lessons to help listeners become safer and more aware drivers.

Todd Stevens, senior executive producer – branded podcasts, said: “The stories revealed in this new podcast series are incredible; from Samantha who crashed her car driving tired, but then became paralysed when her ambulance driver also fell asleep and crashed, to Angela who ended up $70,000 in debt by deciding to drive her new car uninsured.

[Listen here]

9News Podcasts launch new investigative series, The Ultimate Sacrifice 

The new podcast series from 9News Queensland and 9Podcasts delves into the events of December 12, 2022, when two police officers were murdered in an ambush at Wieambilla, QLD.

Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold died in an execution at the property, while their colleagues, Constables Randall Kirk and Keely Brough, risked their lives to call for backup.

Despite sustaining injuries, they escaped and survived the ambush. Innocent neighbour Alan Dare, who sought to investigate the unfolding chaos, was also shot dead.

In four episodes dropping in the first two weeks, The Ultimate Sacrifice examines the events leading up to the deaths of six people, including the three killers.

The podcast will revisit the six-hour gun battle waged by the police officers, and explore the long-term investigation into conspiracy and religious extremism that reveals how the murderers – once respected teachers – turned to heinous violence.

[Listen here]

The Howie Games reveals new episodes and gold medal minis

The Howie Games will be sharing exclusive conversations with some of Australia’s most decorated athletes throughout July and August as Mark ‘Howie’ Howard delves into the nation’s greatest sporting stories.

Gold Medal Minis showcases the best moments from Howie’s conversations with Cathy Freeman, Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett, Anna Meares, Leisel Jones, and Curtis McGrath. New episodes featuring Boomers’ coach Brian Goorjian and Matildas’ star Caitlin Foord will also be released.

Howard said: “When I’m sitting across from a gold medallist who has reached the pinnacle of their sport, it’s a real pinch-me moment. It’s a privilege to help tell the stories of these Australian legends and icons who have dedicated their hearts, minds, and souls to achieving the greatest glory on the greatest sporting stage.”

[Listen here]

Acast strikes deal with Pionaire Network

The deal will see Acast responsible for the hosting, distribution, and monetization of all Pionaire Network podcasts, including comedy podcast The Bert Show.

“Since The Bert Show first launched as a radio broadcast more than 20 years ago, the show and broader Pionaire Network have grown massively to reach new audiences and adapt with the evolving audio landscape,” said Bert Weiss, host of The Bert Show and co-founder of the Pionaire Network. 

“In searching for a new ad sales partner, we knew we needed a team like Acast that shared our understanding of the history of the podcasting  industry as much as they could anticipate the future of the space. Especially for a show like ours that shares a radio and podcasting audience.” 

The Bert Show is a daily production that is a blend of lifestyle advice, national entertainment news, and celebrity interviews. The show is hosted by Weiss as well as radio personalities Kristin Klingshirn, Moe Mitchell, and Abby Murphy. Past guests of The Bert Show include Michelle Obama, Zendaya, Usher, Adele, Justin Bieber, and more.

Ben Haywood takes out first prize on Find and Tell

Haywood emerged victorious in a competition that saw hundreds of entries whittled down to a final four, showcasing diverse and compelling storytelling from Australians of various cultural backgrounds.

Ben went head to head with runner-up Mark Mariano; they shared the theme “Lost In Translation”. Ben’s story focuses on the question of indigenous languages heading towards extinction, and whether it should be taught in Australian schools.

Winner Ben Haywood said: “It was such a privilege to be a part of this new emerging platform for diverse storytellers. iHeart and Blakcast have created an amazing initiative to encourage everyday Australians like me that we have what it takes to be successful in the fast-growing world of podcasting no matter your experience or background.

“I’m extremely proud of my Aboriginal heritage and so grateful I’ve had the opportunity to showcase this throughout the series. I’m still coming to terms with winning the competition which blows my mind, I never would have thought I’d be here but that is the beauty of what this production has created, encouraging people to take the leap, express their creativity and tell some beautiful and diverse stories unique to each individual. I can’t wait to see what opportunities this opens for myself, and I will be eagerly waiting for the next season of Find and Tell.”

[Listen here]

The full schedule is now available for this year’s National Women in Media Conference, with media’s influence on men’s violence against women, the intersection between press freedom and the law, challenges to media trust, and online safety for women are the central topics of the day. 

Among the speakers are prominent figures across the media gamut, including film, television, public relations and advertising. Women in Media patron Ita Buttrose AC OBE will host a discussion with Federal Court Justice Michael Lee about the intersection between press freedom and the law.

Rachel Griffiths

Walkley-Award winning journalist Liz Hayes will host a conversation with Australian film and feminist icon Rachel Griffiths.

Actress, director, and producer Leah Purcell will join a panel discussing the media’s influence on men’s violence against women. E-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant will address online risks and rewards for women, and columnist and author Jane Caro, alongside The Daily Aus co-founder Zara Seidler, will discuss career trends and pivots.

Jane Caro

“The Women in Media National Conference is the one annual event with the power to convene such a diversity of highly talented women working across the media sector,” said Women in Media general manager, Kym Middleton.

“I have attended this event as an audience member before and can vouch for its inspirational and supportive atmosphere,” she said. “I am now proud to present this program which has been carefully curated by the dedicated Women in Media team to reflect and explore on the issues that our industry has been telling us matter most to them.”

“Any media managers with women on their team must ensure their staff can attend this event. They will gain new skills in AI, communication and storytelling; valuable contacts; and refreshed motivation. It is perfect professional development in an encouraging and supportive environment, as well as being entertaining and a lot of fun!”

Kym Middleton

The event is scheduled for August 9 at the Sydney Sofitel Wentworth, with an Oration dinner on the evening of August 8, hosted by investigative journalist Kate McClymont AM, in honour of Caroline Jones AO.

See also: New sessions and speakers announced for Women in Media National Conference

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Top Image: Ita Buttrose AC ACE

Taboola has signed a major deal with Apple to power native advertising within its Apple News and Apple Stocks apps.

Taboola states this partnership allows top brands and agencies to reach premium audiences, which is part of its strategy. 

Under the new partnership, the company will be listed as an authorised advertising reseller for Apple, enabling it to sell and resell advertising on Apple’s apps.

As part of the deal, it will sell ads within the main feeds across both apps, along with articles for a select set of publishers. It will enable Taboola to power native advertising placements within the two apps in every available market, including the US, the UK, Canada and Australia.

Currently, Taboola works with more than 9,000 publishers, selling native ad space to more than 18,000 advertisers globally.

Taboola is one of just a handful of third-party vendors authorised to sell ads for Apple. Before working with the company, Apple had a deal with NBCUniversal to sell ads for Apple Stocks and Apple News in the US and the UK.

The Apple partnership is off the back of Taboola revealing Taboola Select in May. 

The new offering is created exclusively for large advertisers and provides access to a curated selection of its premium editorial partnerships.

For the first time, Taboola is offering advertisers a way to leverage a curated subset of 15% of its most premium publishers to drive performance campaigns. 

Taboola Select will offer advertisers a way to connect with millions of daily active users on premium destinations including Yahoo, Business Insider, The Associated Press, and 7NEWS, in inventory that is highly visible, brand-safe, and surrounded solely by trusted editorial content.

Taboola Select allows advertisers to tap into standalone placements on nearly every part of publisher sites, including homepages, mid-article sections, and a new position called Featured Placements.

See also: Taboola puts the spotlight on large advertisers with Taboola Select

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Top image: Adam Singolda

M&C Saatchi has announced the appointment of Abby Clark and Laura Murphy to the agency’s creative department.

The pair move from Mediabrands Content Studio, where Murphy was an art director and Clark a copywriter. They previously joined forces at the digital and tech-focused CX agency, CX Lavender.

“We believe in creating ideas that solve business problems to create an advantage for our clients and genuinely impact society,” said Clark. “The unique capabilities of M&C Saatchi Group allow us to deliver this in exciting new ways.” 

“We’re thrilled by the opportunity to collaborate within such a dynamic environment and draw on the diverse capabilities to offer connective creativity from our new home,” added Murphy.

National executive creative director Scott Dettrick commented: “we are excited to welcome Abby and Laura to the team. They are both curious and provocative thinkers with a keen eye for what’s coming next in advertising. We look forward to seeing the great work they will undoubtedly produce.”

The appointment follows Nick Jacobs‘ May promotion to chief strategy officer of M&C Saatchi Australia and New Zealand, three months after Emily Taylor left the post.

In April, M&C Saatchi Group appointed Rob Doubal and Laurence Thomson as global joint chief creative officers. The duo, known in the industry as Rob and Lolly, moved from their previous roles as joint CCOs and co-presidents at McCann London.

Last week, M&C Saatchi’s Greenhouse Collective – a bespoke model for Woolworths – launched the supermarket giant‘s latest campaign, Fresh Fuels the Best in All, ahead of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, fronted by Australian Paralympian Col Pearse.

See also:
Aussie Paralympian Col Pearse fronts Woolworths’ ‘Fresh Fuels the Best in All’ via M&C Saatchi
‘Enjoyed the great privilege’: M&C Saatchi responds as Tourism Australia changes the guard

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Top Image: Laura Murphy & Abby Clark

Creative communications agency Icon has announced a partnership with Salesforce consulting firm Xenai Digital.

See also:
Icon Agency partners with The Man Cave charity
Exclusive: CHEP’s Nick Zonnios moves to Icon Agency

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Top Image: Chris Dodds, co-founder, ICON and Pauline Pangan, CEO, Xenai Digital.

The Australian Influencer Marketing Council (AiMCO) and ATO will host the second instalment of its webinars for the influencer community.
 
The ATO Creator webinar, to be held on July 24 from 12.30 pm and free for AiMCO members, aims to provide critical insights for creators around annual tax obligations and explore common issues, including declaring gifted products, handling PR samples and travel expenses, and managing paid collaborations.

The webinar follows AiMCO’s first online education session with the ATO in March, which provided crucial tax information for talent managers and agencies and proved a great success.

The latest webinar will also explore the legal and tax implications specifically associated with creators, along with frequently asked questions around invoicing, requirements for ABNs and operating as a business without monetary transactions, common deductions, managing US tax forms for international collaborations, and more.

AiMCO managing director Patrick Whitnall will host the webinar alongside assistant commissioner and spokesperson for Tax Time 2024, Rob Thomson, from the ATO.

Whitnall brings a wealth of experience in understanding the business side of the creator economy. He has specialised in influencer and digital marketing across his 25-year media career.

Thomson is an experienced tax professional with over 10 years of experience. He has recently returned from his role as minister counsel (Taxation) at Australia’s Permanent Delegation to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. He has extensive experience across several diverse roles in the ATO,  including in policy implementation and strategic programs.

“Accurately understanding your tax obligations is a requirement for all Australians, and the influencer industry is no different,” Thomson said.

“There are nuances to the creator-brand relationship that can be difficult to navigate, so this is an opportunity for creators to ask questions and get a better handle on what is required by the ATO. We are committed to helping Australians get their tax return right the first time, and to provide helpful tips and tricks to make tax time easier for all.”

“Our latest webinar is designed specifically for our creator community, focusing on all the tax and legal essentials they need to know,” Whitnall added.

“Whether they’re established influencers, or just starting in the industry, this webinar aims to help creators navigate the complexities of the administrative side of their business, so they’re informed and compliant.

“Our first webinar with the ATO was incredibly well-received – it provided a space for members to ask questions and get a more comprehensive understanding of their legal and tax requirements. These sessions are part of our commitment as an organisation to ensure Australia’s influencer community is employing a best practice approach to all its activities, including its tax practices.”

The ATO webinar is the latest in AiMCO’s member webinar series. This year, the virtual information sessions have delved into a range of topics including safe mental health content, influencer agreements, and a deep dive into the 2024 Cannes Lions creator offering.

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Top image: Patrick Whitnall and Rob Thomson

WiredCo. has made its public holidays fully flexible with the launch of its ‘Public Holidays Just Got Personal’ initiative.

The initiative, which aims to respect cultural diversity, allows staff to choose when and how they take them.

David Kennedy, WiredCo. partner, said: “The more diverse our business becomes – not just in ethnicity, but also intergenerational working, beliefs and ability – the more obvious it has become that the fixed traditional public holiday approach was no longer right.”

The agency’s move follows a recent study by Perkbox Australia that reveals 58% of respondents want flexibility on how they use public holidays. It also concurs with changing attitudes to handling Australia Day, which has become a sharp focus for many businesses over the last five years.

Angela Hampton, founder and managing director of WiredCo., said: “For us, it wasn’t just about finding a solution to Australia Day. We also had to think about people who don’t celebrate Christmas and Easter for religious reasons and those who don’t celebrate The King’s birthday because they don’t place value in a monarchy.”

“When we consulted our team, we discovered they were 100% in favour of ‘Public Holidays Just Got Personal’ because it showed trust, cultural-connectiveness and helped them create a personal working style that was respectful and effective for them,” Michelle Hampton, WiredCo. partner.

Launching the initiative didn’t come without challenges for the agency. Nikki Cranley, WiredCo. CFO, said: “We’re an independent business, so any change presents a host of questions.

“We had to think about how to track these days, how best they accrue, how the team take them and how they communicate that flexibility with their teammates and clients.”

The agency created WiredWellness to ensure staff not only get support in their mental and physical wellness, but also the flexibility to do their job in the most effective way and was another step in deepening employee engagement and building trust.

Hampton noted: “WiredWellness wasn’t a response to the pandemic lockdown working environment, it started long before that. We wanted to give our team space to decompress, so we created our monthly ReWired events. Then we gave our people access to a counselor to help them manage their mental wellbeing, so we made access to that unlimited.”

The agency was an early adopter of remote working from anywhere in the world and last year, offered parental leave for pets, aptly named Pet-ernity.

Kennedy said: “We’re proud to say that WiredWellness has helped us achieve 95% team happiness, 97% job satisfaction and stabilised retention at 81%. And we firmly believe it’s helped us commercially, with the business almost quadrupling in three years.”

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Top image: WiredCo. team

Aussie sitcom Fam Time was made by Seven in 2020 but has only just been released on 7Plus. Sitting on the shelf for all this time means that the show, and all of its pop culture references, are now woefully out of date. Like the in-house plug for Sunrise featuring Samantha Armytage and Kochie as the hosts.

Fam Time was and still is a good idea for a sitcom. Families used to spend a lot of time together, but these days each member of the family is off doing their own thing on a device. That could be funny, but Fam Time gets off to a clunky start thanks to a poorly written-opening episode that fails to explain the fractured family’s motivations.

Fam Time was shelved because then-CEO James Warburton didn’t think it was funny enough. Seven could have burnt it off back then by streaming it during Covid lockdowns, but instead, they did nothing because it didn’t tickle someone’s sense of humour.

In the past, Seven had success with long-running Aussie sitcoms like Kingswood Country (1980, 89 eps) Hey Dad (1987, 291 episodes) and Acropolis Now (1989, 63 eps). That tradition continues today with shows like Fat Pizza and Darradong Local Council which screen on digital channel 7mate to a niche audience.

The “failure” of Fam Time probably means that Seven will never again attempt another local sitcom, although they will probably let Paul Fenech keep making bogan comedy on the smell of an oily rag. Comedy is extra difficult in the age of social media, but even though Fam Time isn’t great, it’s far from being Bob Morrison Show dreadful. And compared to Hey Dad, Fam Time is cutting edge.

Spare a thought for the cast of Fam Time who have been sitting in limbo wondering if this show will ever screen.  During the five years they’ve been waiting, Michaela Banas became an intimacy coordinator, Duncan Fellows made Deadloch (Prime) and Rhonda Burchmore came third on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! (10). 

Benson Jack Anthony, who became a star in Seven’s 800 Words (2015-2018), seems to do voice work these days.

Seven couldn’t see the potential of having guest star Aaron Chen before he became a hugely popular panellist on Have You Been Paying Attention? (10). Since Fam Time, he has also become a regular on Fisk (ABC), an Aussie sitcom that now has a worldwide audience thanks to Netflix.

Kitty Flanagan in Fisk

Fisk isn’t an expensive show to make, and it’s good to see the ABC’s dedication to Aussie comedy is paying off for them, along with their dedication to children’s TV like Bluey. Australia’s commercial TV channels seem uninterested in copying any success they have with worldwide hits as they almost totally abandon drama, comedy and kids’ TV. 

One way being tried to woo back viewers to FTA TV is adding horoscopes to the evening news. Who says Aussie comedy is dead?

This week on the TV Gold podcast:

The Twelve, Let the Canary Sing, Fam Time

New TV series and movies reviewed this week include:

• The Twelve (Foxtel/Binge, 8 episodes). Sam Neill is back as one of the defence team in the court case this season. He is joined by Frances O’Connor while the prosecution is headed by Fayssal Bazzi
• Let the Canary Sing (Paramount+, documentary) tells the story of Cyndi Lauper in her own words with loads of her hits and insights from Cyndi, her first manager and a number of musical colleagues including Boy George and Patti Labelle.
• Fam Times (7Plus, 6 episodes) is a fascinating study of how a sitcom can go wrong. Made by Seven in 2019, the series has only now popped up on 7Plus. It’s not all bad though and listen to our viewing guide about how to get to the good stuff.

Listen online here, or on your favourite podcast platform.
Read more Mercado on TV columns here.

Wednesday 17 July 2024: VOZ Total TV Ratings Overnight Top 30 – Programs ranked on reach

Total People TV Ratings

Nine’s Tipping Point Australia recorded a total TV national reach of 1,314,000, a total TV national audience of 711,000, and a BVOD audience of 57,000.

Nine’s State of Origin – Game III recorded a total TV national reach of 5,426,000, a total TV national audience of 3,652,000, and a BVOD audience of 864,000.

Seven’s The Front Bar recorded a total TV national reach of 869,000, a total TV national audience of 397,000, and a BVOD audience of 18,000.

Also on Seven, Home & Away recorded a total TV national reach of 1,342,000, a total TV national audience of 802,000, and a BVOD audience of 101,000.

10’s airing of Bondi Rescue recorded a total TV national reach of 544,000, a total TV national audience of 250,000, and a BVOD audience of 13,000.

See also: TV Report 17 July 2024: NSW win the 2024 State of Origin series at Suncorp Stadium

People 25-54

Nine’s State of Origin – Game III:
• Total TV nation reach: 2,294,000
• National Audience: 1,648,000
• BVOD Audience: 544,000

10’s Bondi Rescue:
• Total TV nation reach: 208,000
• National Audience: 101,000 
• BVOD Audience: 8,000

Seven’s The Front Bar:
• Total TV nation reach: 243,000
• National Audience: 115,000
• BVOD Audience: 9,000

Seven’s Home & Away:
• Total TV nation reach: 386,000
• National Audience: 234,000
• BVOD Audience: 55,000

People 16-39

Nine’s State of Origin – Game III:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,378,000
• National Audience: 1,002,000
• BVOD Audience: 386,000

10’s Bondi Rescue:
• Total TV nation reach: 75,000
• National Audience: 35,000 
• BVOD Audience: 4,000

Seven’s The Front Bar:
• Total TV nation reach: 87,000
• National Audience: 41,000
• BVOD Audience: 5,000

Seven’s Home & Away:
• Total TV nation reach: 140,000
• National Audience: 86,000
• BVOD Audience: 33,000

Grocery Shoppers 18+ 

Nine’s State of Origin – Game III:
• Total TV nation reach: 3,930,000
• National Audience: 2,661,000
• BVOD Audience: 660,000

10’s The Project:
• Total TV nation reach: 604,000
• National Audience: 261,000 
• BVOD Audience: 14,000

Seven’s The Front Bar:
• Total TV nation reach: 689,000
• National Audience: 311,000
• BVOD Audience: 14,000

Seven’s Home & Away:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,061,000
• National Audience: 646,000
• BVOD Audience: 80,000

Data © OzTAM and Regional TAM 2024. Not to be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) in whole or in part, without prior written consent of OzTAM and Regional TAM.

TV Report 18 July 2024:

Nine TV Report

ACS: The Investigators

Nine’s draw for the evening was ACS: The Investigators which followed the true story of one of Queensland’s most decorated police officers, Keith Banks, as he journeyed into the world of drugs as an undercover operative in the 1980s.

A Current Affair

The program spoke to a woman who survived a seven-storey fall after trying to retrieve a dropped phone and met with a tools salesman turning the table on scammers in a amateur sting operation.

Seven TV Report

Starstruck

On Seven, Starstruck saw teams of superfans transform into their idol to perform. Host Olly Murs welcomed the first four teams of superfans to go head-to-head.

Home & Away

Earlier in the night was Home & Away as Harper unpacked her big news, Xander suffered a freak accident and Dana’s true feeling come to the fore.

10 TV Report

The Project

The Project on 10 reported on the plan to keep cane toads from taking over Australia, met with the woman behind Australia’s first children’s hospice and spoke to Comedian Bron Lewis.

Taskmaster Australia

On 10’s Taskmaster Australia, contestants Josh Thomas, Jenny Tian, Lloyd Langford, Anne Edmonds and Wil Anderson were instructed to create the most authentic – or dysfunctional – family home video and then complete the most complicated pub quiz in history.

ABC

7:30

7:30 saw Sarah Ferguson interview Andrew Forrest about Fortescue’s decision to axe 700 jobs and looked into who Trump’s running mate is, JD Vance. 

Grand Designs: The Streets

Tom and Lori want to escape the anonymity of London so have decided to self-build at Graven Hill in Oxfordshire giving them access to countryside.

SBS

Guillaume’s French Atlantic

Guillaume Brahimi delves into the captivating world of the Pays Basque, from the luxurious charm and innovative gastronomy of Biarritz, to discovering underwater-aged wine, exploring the markets of Espelette, and preparing a delicious Basque feast.