The general manager of BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand, Fiona Lang, surprised staff at an “all hands” meeting on Tuesday this week.

Lang revealed to colleagues that she would be stepping down and leaving the organisation at the end of September.

In a note later sent to staff, Lang explained: “This has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, but having led the business through a critical stage in ANZ’s evolution, I feel that the time is right for me to pursue my next career opportunity.

“I have absolutely loved leading this team and am very proud of what we have all achieved, from the creative deals that we have shaped for our channels, the new parts of the business that we have set up, including launching BBC First, BBC Studios Productions, BritBox and the Bluey commercial team, the recent launch of BBC News on BBC.com and the reshaping of our business to meet its very exciting digital future. You are a brilliant and very professional team, whose first-class support underpins everything we do.”

Lang confirmed that in the interim after her departure, Nick Percy, president of global markets for BBC Studios, will oversee the ANZ region.

Nick Percy is starting a recruitment process to find a new leader for BBC Studios in Australia and New Zealand.

Percy paid tribute to the departing executive: “Fiona’s leadership has been marked by her ability to be future-focused and innovative in deal-making, often pushing ANZ to be the global leader in new areas of business and working closely with partners to deliver creative solutions.”

Lang joined the BBC in 2014 after working in law in Australia and Germany. She was also a board member of BritBox International.

Potential internal candidates to replace Lang could be colleagues on the leadership team at BBC Studios ANZ. Other team members are Kylie Washington – BBC Studios ANZ’s general manager and creative director of production, Deb Tod – head of content sales and co-productions, Chrissie Carras – head of BBC branded services, Kate O’Connor – head of brands and licensing, and Jamie Chambers – vice president, BBC global news advertising & distribution.

See also: BBC Studios Productions Australia acquires Werner Film Productions

Foxtel Media is promoting two leaders to its executive team to “enhance its digital and streaming focus.”

Annie Griffiths will become executive director of planning and operations, advertising while John Matthews has been appointed as executive director of advanced advertising – heading a new department created to drive the growth of digital advertising in the streaming age.

Griffiths has been with Foxtel Media’s executive leadership team for over four years and steered the company’s strategy as it refocused to a streaming-led business.

In her new role, Griffiths will spearhead the company’s new three-year strategy with a focus on operational excellence and customer growth into 2028. She will also drive key strategic programs for Foxtel Media.

“We’re at an interesting moment in the streaming era and I’m happy to part of Foxtel Media’s evolution. It’s been a wild ride so far – we’ve taken some big swings, driven some industry-shaking initiatives, and it’s working: we’re leading the charge in shaping the future of advertising. We’ve adapted and while uncomfortable at times, it’s also rather exciting. Next stop: more watchability, more context, more proof of performance” said Griffiths.

Matthews most recently served as executive director of media and advertising at Foxtel Group and was part of the team that launched the Kayo Sports product in market.

Matthews will take ownership of the Foxtel Media digital advertising product across Kayo Sports, BINGE, Foxtel Now and IQ VOD.

“I’m thrilled to step into this new role and lead the charge in expanding our digital advertising capabilities across Foxtel Media’s platforms. As streaming becomes increasingly central to how audiences consume content, it’s crucial that we deliver innovative, data-driven solutions that meet the evolving needs of brands and agencies,” said Matthews.

“I look forward to working with our talented team to elevate our digital advertising strategy, particularly through our first party data strategy for addressable advertising and by strengthening our third-party data partnerships, ensuring that Foxtel Media continues to lead in the digital space.”

Reporting to Foxtel Media CEO, Mark Frain, Matthews will lead a team of over 50 people, as he oversees product roadmap and delivery, adtech, and data strategy for addressable advertising, as well as pricing, yield and inventory management.

Congratulating Griffiths and Matthews on their new roles, Frain said, “Foxtel Media is at the forefront of the streaming revolution, and the elevation of both Annie Griffiths and John Matthews to our executive team underscores our commitment to innovation and leadership in the digital advertising space.

“Annie has been instrumental in our transition to a streaming-led business, and her vision will drive our next phase of growth and operational excellence. With John leading our new Advanced Advertising department, we are poised to enhance our digital advertising offerings, leveraging cutting-edge data strategies and partnerships to deliver even greater value to our clients.”

Seven shocked the sports world last week with its winning bid to secure the talents of Kane Cornes.

See also: Bombshell footy trade: Kane Cornes quits Nine, signs with Seven for 2025 and beyond

There has now been a suggestion that Seven could still be recruiting for media talent to join Cornes on new footy shows to potentially screen on Monday and Wednesday nights.

The Sounding Board podcast has asked if Seven might be in discussions with Fox Footy AFL 360 co-host and SEN 1116 morning host Gerard Whateley about a TV role.

Gerard Whateley

The question was raised by Damian Barrett who is a colleague of Cornes on Footy Classified and at AFL.com.au.

The talk about another potential Seven signing came after Barrett and his co-host Craig Hutchison talked about the fallout from Cornes and his departure from Nine. Hutchison owns the business that manages Cornes and is also a colleague with Cornes on Footy Classified.

Barrett asked Hutchy: “Is Gerard Whateley going to be working with Kane next year?” Hutchy replied “I wouldn’t have thought so.”

Barrett: “I keep getting asked this.” He added that he knew Fox Footy was bidding for the services of Cornes for a role on AFL 360. “Now I am hearing that Gerard may be going from Foxtel to Seven.”

Barrett asked Hutchy is Whateley was out of contract at Fox. “I would guess no, but I don’t know,” admitted Hutchison. Hutchy added he had no idea where Whateley would be on TV next year as he didn’t manage his radio star.

Kane Cornes

There was no discussion that Whateley would end his radio work with SEN. Two years ago Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) announced Whateley would remain at SEN as the chief sports caller as he signed a new contract with the network. He first signed with SEN in 2018 on a four-year contract.

See also: Gerard Whateley to continue to call SEN home

At the time Sports Entertainment Network chief executive Hutchison said he was thrilled that Gerard Whateley will continue to welcome listeners with “Good Morning”.

“We are absolutely delighted that Gerard will continue to help lead the SEN family for years to come,” Hutchy said in 2022.

Later in The Sounding Board podcast this week, the hosts talked about the sighting of “the artist previously known as Fitzy”. Barrett and Hutchy talked about seeing the ABC’s head of capital city radio and sport, Mike Fitzpatrick, at the AFL Awards in Melbourne on Thursday last week. Fitzpatrick was a longtime head of content for SCA’s Triple M network. He was at the Awards with Triple M’s head of sports content Ewan Giles.

Listen to The Sounding Board here.

See also: Inside Seven’s Kane Cornes deal: How much are they paying? New Seven shows planned

Broadsheet has appointed Paul Bates as its new commercial director. Bates commenced at Broadsheet last week, reporting to managing director Sian Whitaker.

Bates joins Broadsheet from Cartology (Woolworths Group), where he was the general manager of agency and client partnerships. Prior to that, he held senior positions at REA Group, Yahoo7 and Fairfax Media.

As part of Broadsheet’s executive leadership team, he’ll be responsible for shaping and executing Broadsheet’s commercial strategy, ensuring the continued growth of the business. Paul will lead the Sales, Studio, Design and Audience teams, spearheading initiatives to secure new business opportunities, expand the client base and build new revenue streams.

Whitaker said: “I am thrilled to welcome Paul to the team. Paul’s arrival comes at a pivotal time for Broadsheet as we continue to innovate and grow our business. With his strong experience and ability to lead high-performing teams, Paul is the perfect fit to help us take Broadsheet to the next level. I can’t wait to see the impact he will make.”

Bates said: “I am delighted to join Broadsheet and I look forward to building on the great, award-winning success the team has seen over recent years, especially as we head to the next horizon in delivering our strategic plan. To be at the heart of culture – providing consumers with insights and sneak peeks on how to best enjoy their cities – is an exciting opportunity and I can’t wait to work even closer with our teams, agencies and clients to drive their businesses forward.”

Whitaker was promoted to the role of managing director in July, and joined the company in 2018, serving as general manager for the past three and a half years.

As managing director, Whitaker will work to drive business growth and execute the company’s vision. She will continue to lead all departments, including editorial, commercial, product, finance, operations, and reader revenue. 

Elle Macpherson has been on a book tour this week to promote her autobiography. The $50 hardback, simply titled Elle, was published by Penguin Books on Tuesday this week.

The key plank of the publicity tour so far has been appearances on key radio shows. Macpherson was in Australia earlier this year where she appeared on a number of TV shows.

Elle on air with Wippa at Nova 969

Her radio roadshow started with Nova 969 on Monday with an appearance on Fitzy, Wippa and Kate Ritchie. She was on the phone with the Sydney show, but in person at SCA in Melbourne.

She later appeared on the networked Hit drive show Carrie & Tommy. Elle stayed with SCA for a Tuesday morning appearance with Fifi, Fev and Nick at Fox in Melbourne.

Elle with Carrie and Tommy

In addition to the radio stops, Elle was featured on the cover of Are Media’s The Australian Women’s Weekly which carried an interview conducted by editor Sophie Tedmanson.

Highlights from the interview with Fitzy, Wippa and Kate included:

Burning her wedding dress
Wippa: Also you share the idea of burning a wedding dress, Elle, which I think a lot of people would have liked to have done in time! What did you burn?
Fitzy: That would’ve been expensive!
Elle: It was an Azzedine Alaïa dress, which was made for me and by one of the greatest couturiers of  the world. The embarrassing thing was, many years later, the Azzedine museum asked me for the dress…but I couldn’t tell them it was stuck to the bar on the brownstone that I was living on Ninth Street New York City, like only nylon would stick to a bar!

Elle and sobriety
Wippa: We’ve spoken about this before…the 21 years of sobriety, which is sensational, but there was a point too where you revealed how your relationship with alcohol became a little bit too much, and you had to look after yourself
Elle: To tell you the truth…I just wanted a break and it was a fantastic time for me to address a lot of things that I hadn’t had the time to examine. It’s been amazing getting sober and staying sober.. it has been the foundation of all my of all my life, really, because without being sober, I wouldn’t be here to be sharing this book with you. Yesterday I went to a meeting, and it was really funny, because one of the guys was talking about how he was embarrassed about going to AA meetings in the beginning but he wasn’t embarrassed about falling out of a nightclub or pissing his pants…we have such preconceived ideas about how horrible life is going to be without alcohol, and I’m living proof that life can be so joyous and so free and so powerful!
Kate: What was the biggest thing you learned about yourself when you became sober Elle? What had been hidden by the use of alcohol?
Elle: I think it was the fear of being my true self.

Battle with breast cancer
Wippa: You share also, which is extremely personal, your battle with breast cancer, which I’m not sure anybody was aware of at the time, but you know, the learnings and the teachings that came from that experience too. There’s a lot of people that have gone down that path, and I think everybody knows somebody within their family that have shared in that challenging time.
Elle: It wasn’t really a battle. I mean, the battle was coming to terms with everybody else’s fear, because, you know, cancer is a subject that we’re so many people are afraid of…so my recovery from breast cancer, and I’m happy to say that I’m seven years in clinical remission, as they would say. You know, the hardest part was coming to the decision, first of all, the diagnosis, but the next part was, well, what do I do about it? And, and I was very, very, you know, it was such a magnificent story of rebirth for me.

Listen to Elle with Fitzy, Wippa with Kate Ritchie

Listen to Elle on Carrie and Tommy

Listen to Elle with Fifi, Fev and Nick

Read the Australian Women’s Weekly interview with Elle

Tourism marketing agency Gate 7 has appointed Jade Glashoff as the new director of Brand USA for Australia and New Zealand.

Glashoff brings a wealth of expertise in integrated marketing across the tourism and consumer sectors to the agency.

She has held key roles within prominent global agency networks, as well as independent and specialist agencies in Sydney, London, and Dubai.

As director, Glashoff will lead the strategic promotion of the United States as a premier travel destination for audiences in Australia and New Zealand, overseeing all trade marketing, events and brand partnerships across both markets.

Her appointment will infuse the team with enhanced creative and strategic direction, further strengthening the capabilities of the existing team of travel trade experts in ANZ.

Glashoff said: “I am feeling incredibly energised to be stepping into the role of director of Brand USA for Australia and New Zealand at such an exciting time for the travel industry.

“The United States offers a diverse range of experiences that resonate deeply with our travellers, and I’m excited to work with this talented team to showcase this dynamic destination through bold and impactful marketing initiatives. With USA House returning to SXSW Sydney again this year, momentum is building already!” she added.

Glashoff’s career has seen her lead impactful campaigns for some of the most iconic names in travel and hospitality, including Melia Hotels International, Six Senses, Viceroy Hotel Group, Cathay Pacific, Carnival Corporation, and Atlantis The Royal.

With over 16 years of experience, she has successfully managed large-scale launches, crafted innovative marketing strategies, and built strong relationships with global stakeholders.

Glashoff takes the helm from former director of Brand USA for the region, Clinton White, who has moved back into the consulting space, including ongoing projects for both Brand USA and Gate 7.

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Top image: Jade Glashoff

Sean La’Brooy will return to Australia to join Akcelo as group strategy director after spending the last five years at Droga5 New York in a series of senior strategy roles.

La’Brooy has worked on many major projects, from defining the global brand strategy for Meta to Super Bowl spots for Molson Coors and multiple high-profile global pitch wins, including Xbox, Levi’s, Coors Light, and Tourism Australia.

Before joining Droga5, La’Brooy spent three years at JWT as a data and insights strategist, working with Simon McCrudden, strategy partner at Akcelo.

McCrudden said: “Sean fuses super insightful, data-driven thinking with expansive brand and creative strategies, always looking beyond traditional ways of thinking to deliver effective solutions for clients across all touchpoints. He also makes a mean martini.”

As group strategy director La’Brooy will work across Akcelo’s Australian and North American offices and global client roster, including McDonald’s, TikTok and Asahi Beverages.

La’Brooy said of his new role at the independent brand experience agency: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining Akcelo after years of admiring their modern and innovative approach to making an impact for clients. It’s fantastic to be back on home soil and be given the chance to help drive their continued success.”

Akcelo’s Dave Di Veroli, chief strategy officer, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be able to bring home some top global Aussie talent to join Akcelo at this time. Sean’s experience and perspective will help further deepen our strategic capability and unlock new ways of working with our clients.”

“This role is a key investment to meet new and existing client needs and strengthen our capability for the future,” Aden Hepburn, Akcelo CEO, added. “Sean’s wealth of experience, list of accolades and fantastic reputation is a great boost to Akcelo’s firepower as we continue pushing our Brand Experience model to new creative heights and strategic depths.”

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Top image: Simon McCrudden, Sean La’Brooy and Dave Di Veroli

We Are Social has appointed Richard Parker as its chief strategy officer, joining the 60-person Sydney team.

He will contribute to the creative agency’s ongoing investment in its strategic, research and media services for a growing number of clients.

Parker joins We Are Social from independent creative agency Edge — where he spent the last decade serving as partner and executive planning director — after spending the first half of his career in London using of social and content to engage communities, provoke conversation, and drive earned media.

Parker has worked with some of the world’s most famous brands, including AAMI, Agent Provocateur, Amazon, ASOS.com, Bupa, Captain Morgan, ESPN, Estee Lauder, Johnson & Johnson, Moccona, and Optus.

His expertise spans brand, communications, digital, CX and content strategy—delivering award-winning work across multiple markets.

Parker will lead a team of strategists, research experts, and paid media specialists, collaborating with We Are Social’s clients to deliver on the agency’s vision of Ideas Worth Talking About. As a member of the leadership team, he will also play a key role in shaping the future direction of the business.

“Aussies now spend more time on social media than they do on TV,” Parker said. ‘It’s a key space for brand engagement, for consumer interaction, for online shopping experiences and, increasingly, an alternative to search engines—enabling research and discovery.

‘It’s popular across all age demographics, and it’s constantly evolving to meet changing social, cultural and consumer needs. Social should be leading the marketing conversation, and forming the cornerstone of marketing strategies. Against this backdrop, the opportunity to join Suzie and the team of social experts at We Are Social was a no-brainer,” he added.
 
Suzie Shaw, CEO at We Are Social, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Richard to the team. His expertise in socially-led marketing, combined with his analytical curiosity and strategic acumen, make him the ideal leader to drive our vision forward.

“Richard’s track record in tackling complex strategic challenges and executing detailed, systematic programs is impressive and his ambition to push boundaries and deliver outstanding results really aligns with our goals. I’m excited about what we’ll accomplish together,” she added.

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Top image: Suzie Shaw and Richard Parker

VML has launched a new brand platform for RACQ (Royal Automobile Club of Queensland) that celebrates Queensland.

The platform features a cast of charismatic animals who deliver humour, emotion, and insightful commentary about everyday situations.

You with RACQ? embraces the cheeky, larrikin nature of Queenslanders while reinforcing the features and benefits of RACQ’s roadside assistance, insurance and banking products.

Each commercial in the campaign features a pair of watchful characters, effortlessly blending light-hearted humour into relatable situations that are often stressful and tense (for the humans).

This shift is a deliberate move by RACQ to continue to connect with its audience and members on a more personal level, reminiscent of the brand’s beloved ‘Charter Boat’ campaign that left a lasting mark on Queensland’s advertising landscape.

The new brand platform has kicked off with four unique scenarios promoting different product offerings featuring cockatoos, kookaburras, water dragons and possums, in a fully integrated campaign across TV, radio, outdoor, online video, digital, and social.

“This is our new interpretation of what it means to be quintessentially Queensland, and we are excited to take the brand to a new level,” Tim Cochrane, RACQ’s general manager marketing membership and digital, said.

“It leans into our core of trust and safety; and aligns with our vision to be a trusted partner for our members providing solutions to move and live safely, securely and sustainably.

“We are proud Queenslanders and believe this is reflected in our ads. We have served here for 119 years and are honoured to be Queensland’s largest Club.”

Adam Kennedy, managing director of VML Brisbane, said” “It’s a privilege to create a new platform for an iconic Queensland brand, like RACQ.

“This new creative direction for the brand takes relatable Queensland scenarios and combines them with the personality, charm and cut-through observations of our feathered, furry and scaly friends.”

VML worked closely with Chop Shop to create 3D animals, overlayed with the facial expressions of real people, to bring each story to life.

This is the first work that VML have created since their appointment in 2023 following a competitive pitch process. This new partnership leverages the full breadth of VML’s service offering, including brand, creative, digital, design, and programmatic.

Credits:

Client: RACQ

Tim Cochrane: General Manager Marketing Membership and Digital Helen Dearling: Manager Brand and Marketing Sponsorships Candice Watt: Manager Member and Consumer Research
Annie Deeth: Marketing Lead

Sarah Ford: Marketing Specialist
Catie Baumgarten: Marketing Specialist
Kelly Gorry: Manager Marketing Operations and Creative Alex Pain: Creative Designer

Creative Agency: VML
Managing Director: Adam Kennedy
Head of Strategy: Andrew Kolb
Head of Client Engagement: Janelle Shinners Client Partner: Ingrid Postle
Account Director: Camille Briscoe

Account Manager: Ali Candrick
Chief Creative Officer, APAC: Paul Nagy Executive Creative Director: Stu Turner Senior Art Director: Cameron McDonald Senior Copywriter: Shaun McMahon Head of Production: Mignon Van Weeren Studio: Santi Drane

Media: Zenith
Group Business Director: Emma Davis Client Partner: Lauren Greer
Digital Director: Louise Marks
Account Manager: Tim Svenson
Digital Account Manager: Paulina Munoz

Production: Chop Shop Post
Directors: Lav Bodnaruk + Mike Mier Producers: Lav Bodnaruk + Mike Mier DOP: Lav Bodnaruk
VFX: Chop Shop Post
VFX Supervisor: Romain Bierman
Post Production Producer: Murray Pope Offline Editor: Steph Liquorish
Online: Scott Wilson
Production Manager: Carolina Gesser

Talent:
Stephen Curry, Bernard Curry – Cockatoo voices
Madeleine Levins & Sam Simmons – Kookaburra voices
Damien Garvey & Leon Cain – Water Dragon voices
Adam Zwar & Nelle Lee – Possum voices

Farmers Union Greek Style Yogurt’s new initiative ’tub-aware’ aims to change food waste habits by reminding people to re-use their empty tubs to store leftovers and then to reinvent them into something delicious using their yogurt.

In Australia, the majority of food waste comes from homes, with every household spending between $2,000 and $2,500 on food that is wasted. Most of which is food that could have been eaten, or was intended to be eaten – such as leftovers.

Nicole Alifragis, Bega Group brand manager said: “Farmers Union Greek Style Yogurt is the perfect balance of creaminess and tartness and truly goes with anything and makes everything taste better. A dollop of our delicious yogurt can breathe new life into last night’s dinner, saving those leftovers from ending up in the bin.”

Regina Stroombergen, head tinker at Thinkerbell added, “Farmers Union’s 1kg tub makes the perfect container to store leftovers. It’s strong, stackable, easy to clean and just the right size.

“Given the current cost of living, reducing food waste is really important and just by adding Farmers Union yogurt you can easily make leftover roast lamb into souvlaki, potatoes into potato salad, stewed fruit into bircher and roast vegetables into soup. It’s the most versatile ingredient you can have in your fridge.”

The launch of Farmers Union’s ‘tub-aware’ pack follows its recent partnership with Saveful, a free app that helps Aussies get the most out of their weekly shop by providing recipe inspiration with what’s on hand.

Farmers Union’s tub-aware packs will be available in Australian supermarkets until late September, and the initiative is rolling out across an integrated campaign including, partnership, social, influencer, OOH and in-store activity.

Credits:

Creative agency: Thinkerbell
Client: Bega Group
Media agency: Starcom

See also: XXXX launches ULTRA. ‘ZERO CARBS*. 100% BEER.’ via Thinkerbell

Bench Media has been appointed as one of the digital media agencies of record, responsible for launching Hays’ B2C and B2B campaigns to market.

The digital media agency’s remit covers media planning, buying and strategy across digital channels, including social media, dynamic display retargeting, and DOOH advertising.

Bench Media will also use its proprietary technology, Bench Connect, to consolidate data from all campaigns, providing Hays with a comprehensive view of their performance.

The agency will collaborate closely with Indago Digital on the Hays account. Indago Digital has been working with Hays Recruitment since 2021 with a focus on paid and organic search.

Ori Gold, CEO and co-founder of Bench Media, said:”“We are thrilled to add such an iconic brand as Hays Recruitment to our client roster and bring fresh ideas and technology to bolster their digital media activities.””

“We understand the importance for brands to have an unbiased overview of their advertising activities, enabling them to quickly assess what’s working, what’s not, and what their next steps should be. This is especially crucial when a brand engages multiple specialist agencies. They need one source of truth, and that’s why we developed Bench Connect so clients receive outstanding results across their agency village.”

Hays’ B2B and B2C campaigns aim to connect companies looking to hire with job-seeking candidates.

Gary Nissim, founder and MD at Indago Digital, said: “With Recruitment, you need to be flexible as a marketer, continually adapting. In 2021 and 2022, campaigns were candidate-focused due to a buoyant economy and scarcity in great talent.

“Moving into late 2023, a downturn in the economy saw an increase in redundancies and candidates that were less likely to leave their roles, making campaigns shift to be more employer-focussed.”

Gold continued: “The campaigns feature innovative strategies such as targeting companies through office building lobby screens and reaching potential candidates with customised ads tailored to their skills and desired job titles.

“We typically see better performance when combining a certain level of personalisation with precise targeting, and that’s really exciting!”

Laura Dalziel, marketing director Australia & New Zealand at Hays Recruitment, said: “Recruitment is a fast-paced, evolving and competitive environment. We developed a holistic and full-funnel approach to Hays’ marketing strategy to assert our position as a market leader and we are delighted to welcome Bench to our agency village to complete this picture.

“Their addition provides us with access to previously untapped channels and data sets while their Bench Connect technology allows us to see all campaign activities in the same place so we can concentrate on driving business growth and helping our clients match with the best talent and vice versa. It’s an exciting chapter in Hays marketing journey and we are looking forward to seeing it unfold,” Dalziel added.

At Bench, the Hays account is led by Erin Fraser (digital strategy) and Ben Farnsworth (strategic partnerships).

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Top image: Ori Gold

Veridooh has partnered with global Programmatic OOH Supply-Side-Platform (SSP), Place Exchange. 

Through this partnership, the adtech company’s SmartCreative verification technology is now available for all programmatic OOH buyers leveraging Place Exchange’s SSP across the world. 

Veridooh enables brands, media owners and agencies to independently track and verify the delivery of programmatic DOOH campaigns in close to real-time.

The adtech company uses independently-collected campaign data through its patented SmartCreative technology to verify against campaign impression goals and targeting conditions. This gives brands and agencies greater insight into how campaigns are delivering against individual campaign goals and targeting criteria.

The announcement comes after a new survey from the Digital Place-based Advertising Association (DPPA) revealed that independent verification is considered by US Omnichannel advertisers to be the number one Measurement/Attribution capability that will drive future growth in DOOH.

“Brands and Media Agencies are demanding true independent verification as standard on their programmatic out of home campaigns, just as they would expect from every other channel they invest in,” Veridooh co-founder Mo Moubayed said.

“It’s clear that Place Exchange shares our vision for a more automated, trusted and effective channel: in order to meaningfully grow OOH, we need to be able to give advertisers the confidence that their campaigns are delivering as planned. 

“Place Exchange is leading from the front in driving programmatic DOOH innovation, which is why this partnership is so important. By bringing together Place Exchange’s programmatic DOOH SSP and Veridooh’s world-leading independent verification technology, we are answering advertiser demand for a more automated, trusted and effective OOH media buying experience.”

“Place Exchange was founded with a belief in the power of programmatic to deliver results for brands and publishers and a commitment to transparency,” Place Exchange CEO Ari Buchalter said.

Ensuring advertisers have full visibility and confidence that their campaigns are delivering as planned is an important part of this. We’re excited to support Veridooh’s added layer of independent transparency to help advertisers to optimise their OOH investment and grow their brands with confidence.” 

Unstereotype Alliance Australia, convened by UN Women, will participate in Bus Stop Film’s inaugural Driving Change Disability Employment Summit to advocate that progressive disability representation in advertising and media content should go beyond the Paralympics.

The summit, which will be hosted at Bondi Pavilion on 18 and 19 November, will include international speakers and industry leaders and explore, elevate and celebrate the employment of people with disability on both sides of the camera across film, TV and advertising.

The strategic priority is to adopt an intersectional approach to the progressive portrayal of all people and address the diverse representation of gender, race, ethnicity, disability and age in Australian media and advertising content.

Panel conversation will centre around advertisers playing an active role in dismantling stereotypes in the disability space and how to demonstrate more diverse and inclusive character portrayals instead.

The panel will form part of Unstereotype Alliance Australia’s ‘Conversations for Change,’  a series aimed at inspiring the industry and driving positive change – and one of several projects aiming to bring the strategic priority to life.

Disability advocate Lisa Cox will moderate the panel which will feature disabled actors Sara Shams and Rae Pastuszak, as well as Unstereotype Alliance members representing IPG and WPP – Raj Gupta, chief strategy and growth officer, UM Australia, and Sam Turley, innovation lead, Mindshare and Priya Addams Williams, Shift 20 Initiative lead (Dylan Alcott Foundation).

Tracey Corbin Matchett OAM, CEO of Bus Stop Films, said: “When brands and their agencies are brave and make even small changes they can drive huge societal impact. Stereotypes remain one of the most significant barriers to global equality.

“This panel will focus on advancing disability representation beyond the Paralympics, highlighting how advertisers can actively dismantle stereotypes, foster authentic representation, and steer clear of tokenism which is sadly pervasive in disability representation. The Summit is a two-day immersive experience of best practice.”

“The power and influence of industries like film and advertising cannot be underestimated,” Lisa Cox said. “Especially when it comes to shaping public perceptions which impact social outcomes for people with a disability.

“I’m thrilled to be speaking at this event alongside other industry professionals who share the vision to improve the representation of people with a disability, the world’s largest minority, on both sides of the camera. Impact is always greater when we work together and I’m excited to explore practical solutions that can be implemented to produce positive results for both the disability community and business.”

Raj Gupta, chief strategy and growth officer at UM Australia, said: “Recent research by Unstereotype Alliance conducted by Oxford University’s Said Business School shows that there is a strong business case for creating diverse and inclusive content.

“The research shows that inclusive advertising improves both short and long-term brand equity and sales. Building inclusive content into a marketers commercial strategies futureproofs growth for their brands and business. Really, based on the empirical evidence it’s a no-brainer however you look at it.”

Sam Turley, invention lead at Mindshare, added: “To eliminate stereotypes in advertising and media content, it’s crucial that brands authentically reflect the diversity of the audiences they seek to reach across every touchpoint. We hope these discussions inspire agencies and marketers to adopt a more inclusive approach, from the initial brief right through to the media investment.”

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Top image: Tracey Corbin Matchett

Disinfluencer, a social enterprise dedicated to advancing disability inclusion, has made its debut with the launch of its first billboard, on the Princes Highway in St Peters, Sydney, which was successfully crowdfunded during Disability Pride Month in July.

The enterprise was set to disrupt how marketing approaches diversity and inclusion. Through its innovative offerings, it provides an inclusive stock library as well as a tailored three-part e-learning module for marketing teams to understand disability and digital accessibility and empower them to market their accessibility. Disinfluencer also manages a few influencers and offers a talent management service.

The billboard makes a statement with the headline “I would buy from him,” as well as showcasing talent within the disability community. It serves as a stark reminder that people with disabilities are not only capable but are eager to be showcased as the face of brands and services. Yet, the opportunities for such work are scarce, which is precisely why Disinfluencer was created.

Disinfluencer offers services that connect businesses with this untapped talent pool, providing upskilling and meaningful paid work for people with disabilities who dream of working in the industry.

“Our billboard is a bold statement of our mission to take disability mainstream,” said Simone Eyles, founder at Disinfluencer. “Business and brands know why they need to be inclusive. In fact they want to be inclusive, however are not sure how to implement it.

“That is where Disinfluencer can help. With our support, brands can authentically engage with a wider audience and lead the charge toward a more inclusive world.”

Why You Should Care

With 5.5 million Australians living with a disability, according to the June 2024 ABS report, Disinfluencer aims to highlight people with disabilities as integral members of families, communities, and the broader society with purchasing power, brand loyalty, and a strong desire to see themselves represented in the marketplace.

“Marketing isn’t just about selling products; it’s about building relationships. And that means recognising the diverse needs and perspectives of all consumers, including those with disabilities,” Eyles said.

“Brands and marketing have the power to persuade, they can not only lead the charge with this movement by having inclusive talent on set, in their ads and across their digital channels, so not only representing but using the power of creativity to create change.”

The billboard feature Eyles’s son Josh, a person with an invisible disability and chronic illness. It is strategically placed in one of oOh!media’s super sites to capture the attention of key industry players and the general public.

The campaign aims to authentically represent the 96% of people with disabilities who have invisible conditions, such as autism, chronic illnesses, or mental health disorders. By using creative and empowering messaging, we seek to challenge stereotypes and show that inclusion in marketing can be done beautifully and creatively.

“Inclusion is no longer optional; it’s essential for growth and innovation,” Eyles added. “Our launch isn’t just about a single billboard—it’s about igniting a movement. We’re here to partner with brands that are ready to embrace inclusion, and Disinfluencer offers a clear path to making that happen.”

As Disinfluencer continues to grow, the social enterprise is committed to expanding its reach and impact, helping more businesses and brands unlock the benefits of true inclusion.

Monday 2 September 2024: VOZ Total TV Ratings Overnight Top 30 – Programs ranked on reach

Total People TV Ratings

Nine’s 9News recorded a total TV national reach of 2,204,000, a total TV national audience of 1,297,000, and a BVOD audience of 108,000.

Nine’s The Block recorded a total TV national reach of 1,922,000, a total TV national audience of 1,039,000, and a BVOD audience of 155,000.

Seven’s The Voice premiere recorded a total TV national reach of 1,793,000, a total TV national audience of 986,000, and a BVOD audience of 84,000.

Also on Seven, Seven News recorded a total TV national reach of 2,256,000, a total TV national audience of 1,394,000, and a BVOD audience of 75,000.

10’s Have You Been Paying Attention recorded a total TV national reach of 1,236,000, a total TV national audience of 726,000, and a BVOD audience of 31,000.

People 25-54

Nine’s The Block:
• Total TV nation reach: 755,000
• National Audience: 452,000
• BVOD Audience: 96,000

Nine’s 9News:
• Total TV nation reach: 691,000
• National Audience: 379,000
• BVOD Audience: 57,000

Seven’s The Voice:
• Total TV nation reach: 555,000
• National Audience: 278,000
• BVOD Audience: 45,000

10’s Have You Been Paying Attention:
• Total TV nation reach: 553,000
• National Audience: 335,000
• BVOD Audience: 19,000

People 16-39

Nine’s The Block:
• Total TV nation reach: 365,000
• National Audience: 220,000
• BVOD Audience: 58,000

Nine’s 9News:
• Total TV nation reach: 297,000
• National Audience: 153,000
• BVOD Audience: 29,000

Seven’s The Voice:
• Total TV nation reach: 211,000
• National Audience: 101,000
• BVOD Audience: 23,000

10’s Have You Been Paying Attention:
• Total TV nation reach: 229,000
• National Audience: 146,000
• BVOD Audience: 10,000

Grocery Shoppers 18+ TV Ratings

Nine’s The Block:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,484,000
• National Audience: 810,000
• BVOD Audience: 124,000

Nine’s 9News:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,710,000
• National Audience: 1,029,000
• BVOD Audience: 86,000

Seven’s The Voice:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,423,000
• National Audience: 788,000
• BVOD Audience: 68,000

10’s Have You Been Paying Attention:
• Total TV nation reach: 968,000
• National Audience: 577,000
• BVOD Audience: 25,000

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.