Freeview Australia has launched its free HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV) service, providing Australians with an enhanced user experience through a greater integration between broadcast and on-demand BVOD services. The service will roll out from April 14.

The new product provides a streamlined way to search and discover free-to-air (FTA) content across more than 35 channels and enables free and on-demand access to a library of more than 50,000 individual programs and episodes, from back catalogue to current programs and digital exclusives.

The search function will make content easier to discover as viewers will be able to search for content across ABC iview, SBS On Demand, 7plus, 9Now and 10 play without the need to download individual broadcaster apps.

Mediaweek spoke to Freeview Australia’s CEO, Bridget Fair about the company’s newest product innovation and brand refresh.

Fair said that for the last 12 months that the Freeview board had wanted to enhance the Freeview experience and while viewers are still mainly on linear and live TV, there is a consistent trend of viewers also adopting BVOD.

“It creates a seamless transition between linear television and on-demand so it reduces the friction for the user moving between those two worlds. This makes the free-to-air platform a much more attractive place to be because you can access all the content you want for free in either live linear service or the massive catalogue of 50,000 plus items on on-demand content.”

The new HbbTV service has been built on new HbbTV 2.0 devices but is also fully backward compatible with all Freeview certified HbbTV 1.5 devices (dating back to 2014) through the dynamic delivery of different app versions to suit varying TV requirements.

Fair said that while Freeview has had a HbbTV product in operation for a number of years that this is a next step enhancement, and that this is not the final innovation to come from Freeview in the future.

“It will be an enhanced user experience, it won’t be completely different, but it will be much more intuitive.

“Whilst we are going with the new 2.0 standard the new products will be backwards compatible across all the Freeview sets currently in the market, we are making sure that we are leaving no one behind.

“We are in a state of continuous improvement for this service, but we will be focusing on making sure that this product is delivered to market well before we start looking at next stages.”

Refreshing the Freeview brand

Freeview has also unveiled a refreshed brand identity which consolidates the Freeview branding under one easily identifiable logo. This is the first significant brand refresh since Freeview launched in 2008 and is deliberately consistent with the UK’s brand to demonstrate international support for HbbTV.   

“With the launch of the new product we wanted a new and fresh brand identity. We were very conscious that we had a disjointed brand because we had three separate products in market with three separate brands and we thought that now is the time to ensure that we have consistency across all our products,” said Fair.

“We wanted to make sure that there is consistency across all the way that people accessed Freeview.”

Freeview’s brand refresh and launch of HbbTV is supported by 15′ and 30′ TVCs – broadcast and digital – which launch early May, plus dedicated digital, social and PR campaigns.

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Top Photo: Freeview Australia’s CEO, Bridget Fair

Triton Digital has released March’s Australian Podcast Ranker revealing the top 100 Podcasts and Top 10 Publishers in Australia from 1 March through 31 March 2021.

A number of new entities appear in this month’s Top 100 including The Sure Thing (Nine) and Cautionary Tales (ARN/iHeartMedia). Additionally, Casefile True Crime (Audioboom) remained in the #1 spot as the most downloaded podcast in the country this reporting period. 
 
As for the All-Australian Top 100, new entries included Outspoken the Podcast (Diamantina), Something To Talk About with Samantha Armytage (News Corp Australia), and Unlock The Greatness Within (SCA – LiSTNR). Casefile True Crime (Audioboom) remained in the #1 spot as the most downloaded Australian podcast in the country.  

Hamish and Andy have moved up to #3 in March after releasing five episodes, these were the first episodes of the year. The pair’s second podcast Hamish & Andy’s Remembering Project kicked off on April 12 so expect that to move up the charts in the next Podcast Ranker.

The Betoota Advocate has also seen positive movement with Betoota Daily News Bulletin and The Betoota Advocate Podcast both up significantly this month.

Some of the biggest movers and shakers included:
#3 Hamish and Andy (SCA – LiSTNR) went up three spots.
#6 Life Uncut with Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne (ARN/iHeartMedia) went up nine spots.
#13 SEN Breakfast went up nine spots.
#19 Whateley (Sports Entertainment Network (SEN)) went up 10 spots.
#31 Betoota Daily News Bulletin (Diamantina) went up 12 spots.
#32 I Catch Killers with Gary Jubelin (News Corp Australia) went up 22 spots.
#45 The Betoota Advocate Podcast (Diamantina) went up 18 spots.
#47 Naked City (Nine Publishing) went up 35 spots.

Total downloads of all shows by all participating publishers in the month of March is 50M.

Participating publishers in the Australian Ranker include ARN/iHeartMedia, Audioboom, Babyology, Diamantina, Fear and Greed, Kinderling Kids Radio, News Corp Australia, Nine, Nova, Podshape, Schwartz Media, Southern Cross Austereo, Sports Entertainment Network, Stitcher Media, TOFOP Productions, Wavelength Creative, West Australian Newspapers, and Wondery.

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In the year of the 10th annual Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism, the NRMA will again provide support to Australia’s media charity, the Kennedy Foundation, maintaining a sponsorship bond forged in 2012.

Announcing the NRMA’s continued commitment to the foundation and the Awards, foundation chairman Rocco Fazzari said it had been 10 years since the inaugural Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism in 2012.

“We are honoured to say that the NRMA continues to remain a loyal partner to the foundation as its major sponsor in this, the year of our historic 10th awards, a milestone of which we are extremely proud,” Fazzari said.

“The NRMA was an award category sponsor in 2012 before becoming sponsor of the Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism, now a major national media event scheduled this year for Friday August 6.

“Organisations like the NRMA are the backbone of the Kennedy Awards and enable our charity which stages the event to continue to provide help to media colleagues battling hardship and to develop and strengthen the foundation.

“We are grateful for their support which ensures the NRMA Kennedy Awards will always attract high quality entries from the electronic and print media from all over the country.”

NRMA head of media Peter Khoury said the organisation was honoured to again be the naming rights sponsor of the Kennedy Awards.

“Recognising good journalism is more important than ever and the NRMA is proud of its association with the Kennedy Awards and the remarkable work of the Foundation over the last 10 years,” Khoury said.

“While the awards rightly get the headlines, it is the life-changing outreach done through the Foundation – often in the shadows – that is helping shape lives.

“Scholarships for Indigenous journalism students, funding for Indigenous youth, financial support for Indigenous healthcare and emergency support for those in the industry who need it– all remarkable work with which the NRMA is proud to align itself.”

The NRMA Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism, are named in honour of Sydney crime reporter Les Kennedy who died aged 53 years in 2011. The awards continue to recognise the finest media professionals and those who have put so much back into the industry.

The City Tattersalls Club in the Lower Bar – 198 Pitt Street – will be the new venue to host the Sydney Media Club.

NRMA Kennedy Awards entries open next month

Entries will be officially open for the 2021 NRMA Kennedy Awards, including the $25,000 prize for the Australian Journalist of the Year, on Wednesday May 19.

From May 19 entries for work in the current financial year must be submitted to [email protected] by close of business (6pm) July 1.

Entry is $50 for every unrelated item of work and $50 for a series of related stories (maximum five). The finalists in all competitive categories will be announced on Wednesday, July 21.

The $50 entry fee helps cover the Kennedy Foundation administration costs. Gala ticket purchases for the August 6 awards can be completed via our home page at www.kennedyawards.com

Main photo: Daily Telegraph editor Ben English with John Hartigan at the 2020 Awards where the former News Corp Australia chairman and chief executive was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award

See also: 2020 Kennedy Awards – 33 winners from Nine, News Corp, Seven, ABC & more

Foxtel Media has today announced Toyota Australia as the primary partner for Kayo’s new sport offering, Kayo Local, which adds local state sports competitions across Australia to its library, available to stream live and on-demand.

Competitions that will be streamed as part of Kayo’s local sports initiative include:

• Rugby League: Queensland Rugby League, Intrust Super Cup
• Australian Rules Football: VFL
• Cricket: Women’s National Cricket League and Club Cricket Finals
• Field Hockey: Hockey One
• Basketball: National Junior Basketball Championships
• Golf: NSW Open, QLD Open (on-demand)

Plus more to be announced soon.

Kayo-branded Toyota HiLux vehicles will be at the centre of local NSW and Victoria sporting events and be used to transport talent and merchandise to local community sports grounds. Toyota Australia will also sponsor the coverage during Kayo Freebies broadcasts, ensuring greater exposure for, and access to, the streaming of local sports.

As part of the campaign, Kayo are providing 50 $1000 cash grants to Rugby League and Aussie Rules clubs in NSW and Victoria, with participating clubs also given the chance to win one of ten Ultimate Kayo Days at their local ground, which will include the presentation of the cash grant, a visit from a Kayo Toyota HiLux packed full of giveaways and games and a guest appearance by a sporting great. Any local sports club in Australia will be able to register for a Kayo supporters’ sticker and complimentary 12-month Kayo subscription.

Sports nutrition brand, Musashi is also on-board as a launch partner. Their range of products will be part of Kayo’s activations at local community sports grounds.

The Kayo platform has seen significant audience growth since its launch in November 2018. Subscribers are bolstering national winter sports viewing numbers on Foxtel Group platforms and the agreement with Telstra announced in February which sees Kayo replace Telstra Live Pass for NRL and AFL is further buoying subscription figures.

Martin Medcraf, Foxtel Media sport sales and partnerships director said, “Foxtel Media is excited to be partnering with great brands like Toyota and Musashi to shine a spotlight on these local state teams and competitions. More and more Australians are watching sport on Kayo – the one-stop shop for the best sports streaming content.”

“State and community sport is an integral part of Aussie life. It gives our communities several teams to rally behind, breeds healthy competition and is a chance for us to recognise the incredible sporting talent playing at this level.”

Lego Masters Australia is back with new contestants, new builds, and a lot more Lego. The show returns for its third season Monday, April 19 at 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now.

With it comes some of the country’s most skilled builders battling it out in the quest to be crowned the Lego Masters champion for 2021.

This comes with new challenges, such as the race where the teams must create a Lego vehicle that can run on a purpose-built track, with a difference – there are no wheels in the Brick Pit. There is also a Marvel challenge where teams are asked to build a moment of impact set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And the teams create castles only to see them destroyed by a hurling bowling ball.

Plus, the introduction of two new bricks into the mix, both with special powers. The Platinum Brick will help teams gain an advantage and comes with its own twist, and the freshly minted Brick of Doom will come with a curse to send a shudder through the competition.

Eight teams in pairs will put all their construction skills to the competitive test. These teams will compete in different challenges in each episode as they show off their skillsets to surprise and impress host, Hamish Blake, and the judge, Ryan “Brickman” McNaught. Along the way, they will face elimination as they compete for the chance to win $100,000.

The eight teams comprise a diverse cast of contestants, all with different skills, ideas, and personalities, including a young couple, best mates, and a hilarious pair of mothers.  

In each round, the teams will be out to earn acclaim for their models from Hamish and Ryan as they strive to qualify for the Grand Final. That’s where the last three surviving pairs will work on a final build, with a room full of Lego fans choosing the winning team.

This year in the Brick Pit there are 3.2 million bricks for the teams to rip apart in making their builds. There is a brick, plate, tile, and Minifigure for every challenge.

Lego Masters proved to be a hit with families around Australia for its first two seasons and this season aims for the same. Fans of the show will love the new builds the teams create and the challenges ahead of them.

Lego Masters comes from producers Endemol Shine Australia. The series is adapted from an original UK format from Tuesday’s Child Productions and The Lego Group.

The Australian Box Office has had another strong week, following on from the always-important Easter weekend. Overall the Box Office was up 9% making a total of $13.35 million.

The top two spots are still being held by Godzilla Vs. Kong and Peter Rabbit 2, both now in their third week of release.

The top five films for this week are the same as last week, with Nobody, Tom and Jerry, and The Courier all entering over the Easter weekend. Tom and Jerry and Nobody have switched places this week, with Tom and Jerry moving up and taking the third spot.

#1 Godzilla Vs. Kong $3.4 million

The monster flick continues to prove that after a hard year, Australians are all too happy to switch off their brains and watch a nuclear-powered dinosaur fight a giant ape for an hour and 53 mins. This week Godzilla Vs. Kong averaged $6,868 on 495 screens, which was down 28% but still enough to keep it in the top spot.

#2 Peter Rabbit 2 $3.33 million

Closing in on Godzilla Vs. Kong is the sequel movie starring James Corden. Peter Rabbit 2 came in second by only a whisker, averaging $6,720 across 496 screens.

#3 Tom and Jerry $1.93 million

Moving up a place this week is the latest imagining of Tom and Jerry. The pair have been chasing each other since the 1940s, but people are clearly still showing up to watch their antics. This week the film averaged $5,489 across 352 screens.

#4 Nobody $1.02 million

From the wholesome fun of Tom and Jerry, to the perhaps less wholesome fun of the John-Wick-esque Nobody, the gun-filled thriller came in fourth this week. Nobody averaged $3,505 across 292 screens.

#5 The Courier $809,003

Rounding out the top five this week is The Courier, the historical drama set at the peak of the cold war and starring Benedict Cumberbatch. It averaged $2,644 across 306 screens.

Primetime News
Seven News 998,000 (6 pm)/ 986,000 (6:30 pm)
Nine News is 970,000 (6 pm)/ 1.004,000 (6:30 pm)
ABC News 686,000
10 News First 390,000(5 pm)/ 276,000 (6pm)
SBS World News 197,000 (6:30 pm)/168,000 (7 pm)

Daily current affairs
A Current Affair 812,000
The Project 362,000 (6:30 pm)/489,000 (7 pm)
The Drum 174,000 

Breakfast TV
Sunrise 236,000
Today 210,000
News Breakfast 170,000

Late Night News
The Latest 83,000
ABC Late News 127,000

Nine

Nine had the top primary (27.1%) and network (33.9%) share last night thanks to the continued dominance of Married at First Sight which aired the first half of its vow renewals in front of 1.093m. The three couples: Kerry and Johnny, Bryce and Melissa, and Alana and Jason all decided to renew their vows and continue their relationships.

This was followed by the premiere of the seventh entry in the Law & Order franchise, Law & Order: Organised Crime. The new series sees the return of Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler, reprising his role from Law & Order: SVU. The show’s first episode was the first time that a Law & Order show did not air on 10, and had 414,000 viewers.

Footy Classified had 130,000 across Nine and 9Gem.

Seven

558,000 tuned in for Dancing With The Stars: All Stars as the second group of celebrities hit the dance floor, with Erin McNaught the second celeb to go home. This was down on the show’s launch of 744,000 on Sunday night.

Home and Away had 564,000 viewers.

10

What the Hell Happens Next? the second part of 10’s two-part series aired in the 7:30 pm slot last night with 237,000 tuning in. 

The show is narrated by comedian, television, and radio presenter Kate Langbroek, and features Urzila Carlson, Harley Breen, Becky Lucas, Michael Hing, Beau Ryan, Jess Eva, Nazeem Hussain, Julia Morris, Waleed Aly, Susan Carland, Eddie Perfect, Myf Warhurst, Joel Creasey, Julie Bishop, Narelda Jacobs, Daniel Doody, Andy Allen, Bianca Chatfield, Jordan Nguyen, and Adam Spencer.

This was followed by Hughesy We Have a Problem with 135,000 viewers.

On The Project 362,000 (6:30 pm) and 489,000 (7 pm) watched the show as it covered the vaccine rollout abandoning targets, Cyclone Seroja, and England emerging from lockdown.

10 Bold was the #1 multichannel with 4.4% thanks to NCIS.

ABC

ABC had a strong night with its current affairs line up: 7:30 (543,000), Australian Story (524,000), Four Corners (464,000), and Media Watch (445,00).

SBS

The top non-news show on SBS was Secret Scotland with 194,000.