Radio Ratings

Sydney

• 2GB & KIIS both lose share, Triple M & WSFM breakfast lift

See Also: Sydney Radio Ratings 2023 Survey 5: 2GB down, but still on top

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Melbourne

• 3AW breakfast back at 22%, smoothfm topples Gold as #1 FM

See Also: Melbourne Radio Ratings 2023 Survey 5: 3AW breakfast flies, smoothfm topples Gold , Fifi Fev & Nick #1 brekky

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Brisbane 

• Nova maintains lead 10+, B105 #1 breakfast, Triple M slides

See Also: Brisbane Radio Ratings 2023, Survey 5: Nova top station, B105 top brekkie

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Adelaide 

• Mix reclaims top spot, Triple M remains #1 breakfast, SAFM climbs

See Also: Adelaide Radio Ratings 2023, Survey 5: Mix 102.3 takes Triple M’s crown

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Perth 

• Nova turns up the volume even higher, 96FM up, Mix down

See also: Perth Radio Ratings 2023, Survey 5: Nova 93.7 continues their dominance

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Survey Period: Sun May 21 to Sat Jun 24 & Sun Jul 9 to Sat Aug 12.

With the fifth GfK radio ratings survey being released this week, we are now officially over the halfway mark of radio ratings season. As always, Mediaweek speaks to radio bosses around the country to provide insights into their station’s performances. First up is Nine Radio’s head of content, Greg Byrnes.

See Also: Radio Ratings 2023, Survey 5: Highlights + Full Results

The radio ratings survey revealed that Nine Radio’s 2GB and 3AW retained their positions as the top stations in Sydney and Melbourne respectively, as well as being number one in the breakfast and morning dayparts. 

Melbourne’s 3AW recorded its highest ever Survey 5 cume and grew overall share to 16.7% (up 2.1), with Breakfast duo Ross and Russ recording a 23% share (up 3.2), and Neil Mitchell having 20% (up 3.0).   

Sydney’s 2GB recorded an 11.8% share, with Ben Fordham Live posting 14.6% in Breakfast, and The Ray Hadley Morning Show recording 12.8% – the 151st consecutive survey win for Hadley.

“There’s been there’s been some lineup changes on 6PR as there has been on 4BC,” said Byrnes. “Having stability in those markets is great but if you look at the 6PR breakfast result, it’s particularly pleasing.”

Nine’s talk stations recorded a 2.5% increase in cume on Survey 4 and had the top cumulative streaming audience, up 2.2% across the network on Survey 4. 

“Streaming audio just puts us on a level playing field as far as audio quality,” said Byrnes. “Then you get the accessibility, so it’s a good story to tell.”

The importance of sport

Byrnes pointed to the seasonal effect of sport as one reason for his station’s results, pointing to the beneficial timing of winter sports, the NRL and AFL.

“When we are a week out from the NRL and AFL finals, that is a particularly good time to broadcast those sports. That very much plays into our live and local strategy with not just live commentary across the network, but also the discussion points around each of the codes.

“The 3AW result today is quite extraordinary. 3AW is Melbourne and AFL is Melbourne and they both work very well together. It’s a very exciting AFL competition with some strong landmark AFL teams doing well in Melbourne and that plays well to our audience.”

Paul Gallen appears for both Channel Nine and 2GB

The fact that Nine both owns the television broadcast rights for the NRL as well as commercial AM broadcast rights allows for synergies according to Byrnes.

“It certainly gets us some wonderful access to talent across the board. Matt Thompson, Paul Gallen, and Allana Ferguson are some, Brad Fittler, and Billy Slater contribute to our Wide World of Sport programs, and Peter Psaltis is the leading NRL caller on Nine and hosts Wide World of Sports for us in Brisbane. There are some real talent synergies there that work really well for us. They’re also very different styles of broadcast and we know that and we respect that.”

Nine Radio’s Key Demographic

When asked what demographic Nine Radio is targeting specifically, Byrnes pointed to where he thinks the audience sweet spot is for Nine.

“We’re going hard for 35-64. That’s quite a wide demo but that befits our audience. You only need to listen to talk back to hear we get a wide variety of opinion and comment across the board. We feel that that’s our hitting zone, 35-64.

“I think we are gender neutral. If a programme is predominantly sport, you would think that it’s going to have a male bias to it. If you listen to football coverage on the weekend, there are plenty of female callers who have very strong opinions about their football teams. We would never say that we’re targeting one particular gender. When we’re creating content, we’re not going after one in particular, the nature of the content is what is relevant to the community at that time and that’s what we’re always aiming to deliver.”

How important is beating Kyle & Jackie O?

When asked how important the radio ratings rivalry between Ben Fordham and Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O is, Byrnes said that being #1 makes the early alarm worth it.

“It’s bragging rights certainly for the shows themselves. They all have terrible alarm clocks. If you’re putting in that sort of effort, a commercial result is imperative. I know the teams are looking at the results very keenly on days like today, and it’s always very pleasing to come out as number one.”

2GB’s Ben Fordham

With the fifth ratings survey of the year released, SCA chief content officer Dave Cameron celebrated the achievements of the brand’s stations throughout the country.
 
Cameron said: “SCA starts the day the number one way with absolutely brilliant results from our Breakfast shows today, now winning the FM Breakfast shift in three out of five metro markets.

“It doesn’t get any more exciting than The Fox winning breakfast in Australia’s biggest commercial market, Melbourne, with Fifi Fev & Nick storming home to take the No.1 FM spot for the first time since 2019. 

“Triple M Adelaide continues its winning Breakfast streak with Roo, Ditts & Loz the No.1 FM for the seventh time, alongside now four number ones in a row in Brisbane for B105’s Stav, Abby & Matt Breakfast show.

“On top of our market-leading shows, we have also seen many of our newer Breakfast shows delivering strong increases today including The Marty Sheargold Show on Triple M Melbourne, Mick & MG on Triple M Sydney, Bec & Soda on SAFM, and the best results for Triple M Perth’s Xav & Michelle since the show launched.

“Today SCA has also achieved No.1 10+ share nationally, continuing to also dominate 25-54s nationally including the Hit Network maintaining No.1 25-54 women and Triple M Network leading 25-54 men.
 
“Additionally having the No.1 DAB+ station nationally with Oldskool 90s Hits, as well as SCA’s LiSTNR having the No.1 podcast in Australia with Hamish & Andy, SCA is undeniably Australia’s largest and leading audio content creator with the biggest shows and talent powering our ongoing success in both live radio and podcast content,” Cameron added.

Survey 5 results saw SCA staying largely steady, and only down 0.1 points, 2Day FM has recorded a 5.1% share. The Breakfast Shift with Hughesy, Ed and Erin has reflected the trend of the rest of the station, down 0.1 for a 4.6% share. 

Meanwhile in Melbourne, Fifi, Fev and Nick celebrated a win as they popped up as the new #1 FM breakfast show on a 9.4% share.

Read more: Sydney Radio Ratings 2023 Survey 5: 2GB down, but still on top
Read more: Melbourne Radio Ratings 2023 Survey 5: 3AW breakfast flies, smoothfm topples Gold , Fifi Fev & Nick #1 brekky

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Top image: Dave Cameron

Meeting of the Minds brings together two different points of view from an industry rookie and an experienced expert.

The Mediaweek series aims to showcase their diverse perspectives, thoughts and opinions.

This month’s Meeting of the Minds sees Simon Gellibrand and Arielle Akimana from Half Dome reveal their leadership heroes, current streaming binge and career goals for 2023.

Simon Gellibrand, head of digital

Best career advice – Specialise, specialise, specialise. I was given this advise about 18 years ago and it is a great, simple reminder that you are at your most valuable when you specialise in your chosen craft rather than being a generalist.

My favourite podcast/read – Diary of a CEO, The Way of the Runner and Louis Theroux. I am curious about the psychology of business, love running, and enjoy learning about interesting pathways in life, which Louis approaches with intrigue in his interviews. 

Current streaming binge – Is it cake? I watched Season 2 on the plane back from Europe. Yes, it is totally ‘brain switch-off’ TV but it was great to zone-out to. 

Leadership hero – The Obamas are a force of nature. I was lucky enough to see Barack in his recent talk in Melbourne. What struck me was his calmness, he is centred, a great leveller and really funny. 

I wish someone had told me – Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Guilty content pleasure – Car-related content that tells a story from ruin to back to showroom condition. My current watch is YouTube star Tavarish who is bringing the famous McLaren P1 that was damaged in the floods in the US, back to its former glory and better than before. I enjoy watching the problem-solving side and the sense of accomplishment when he unveils the progress. 

Best training course/session – Dare to Lead – Brenee Brown was at a three day off-site that was handled by accredited facilitators. It gave me the confidence to ‘show-up’ as myself and explore what ‘armour’ I am wearing and how to have the confidence to take it off.

Your mentor – Dean Gardner, Mark Armstrong, Grace Chu – all great agency leaders from years gone by, that have all taught me a great deal on client, commercials, sales and above all people management. 

Hot medium or show – Threads and the X (formerly known as Twitter) and Meta competition – as this intensifies it will be really interesting to see the fall-out. 

Favourite media event – Google Summer party

Wish I’d done that – Given a client-side role a go about seven years ago and tried it for a year.

Career goal for 2023 – Raise the bar across digital and break down the complexities that exist, build a world-class operation and have a great time while doing it.

Arielle Akimana, activation executive

Best career advice – Trial and error is the best way to learn, doing and failing is invaluable and key to building decision-making skills.

My favourite podcast/read – Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

Current streaming binge – The Bear on Disney+

Leadership hero – My parents, coming from teaching backgrounds they both always modelled showing up for other people and showing pride in community.

I wish someone had told me – The grades you get now are temporary and are not a measure of who you are and what you can achieve.  

Guilty content pleasure – Love a rom-com or 2000s comedy for a good night in.

Best training course/session – Half Dome has a great commitment to learning and development. I attended an internal session about working smarter which gifted me some easily implemented actions on how to maximise my own productivity, but also allowed me to learn from others on how they improve their productivity and how to get work done around different productivity schedules.

Your mentor – I have many great mentors both in my current position and in past positions who have taught me a range of skills, from communication to how to problem-solve, and I am continuing to learn from these people today.  

Hot medium or show – Meta is a constantly evolving platform and a leader in media.

Favourite media event – IMAA Great Media Pursuit

Wish I’d done that – Taken more advantage of community events in university when I could. I had started my university studies right at the beginning of the pandemic but even as places and the university began to open up, I still did not take enough time to spend time on campus, getting to know the university and make more friends and connections. If I could do anything different, I would have made more effort to join clubs and groups and get involved in events.

Career goal for 2023 – I recently just moved into a new role as Activation Executive and right now my key focus is continuing to grow into this role while I complete my final year of university. 

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

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Top image: Simon Gellibrand and Arielle Akimana

WRK+ has revealed the Best Places to Work in 2023, with three media agencies claiming a spot on the annual list.

Zrinka Lovrencic, CEO of WRK+, shared that employees from the workplaces on the list said they feel engaged, included, and connected, as well as heard by their leaders and supported in different aspects of life – from dealing with the current cost of living pressures to flexibility and holistic wellbeing support.

“They have access to technology and tools they need to succeed in this new hybrid world of work, they enjoy the work they do, and they feel connected to a bigger purpose,” she said.

Lovrencic noted that for the first time in the 17 years she has been curating the Best Places to Work benchmarking study, she has seen the impact of the last three years, and the current economic pressures have become evident in the data.

“The appetite to invest in the employee experience has historically been stronger during favourable economic times; it is most important and imperative to invest in during harder times. When an organisation gets its employee experience right, their employees will stick around and help the organisation thrive in difficult times,” she said

Lovrencic continued: “To be resilient, the 2023 Best Places to Work truly put their people experience first. Whilst we seem to read daily about organisations going out of business or going through yet another round of redundancies, the 2023 Best Places to Work have increased their revenue on average by 17.77% and headcount by 8%. Let’s celebrate those who are dedicated to building great workplaces and congratulate the organisations on this year’s Best Places to Work list!”

This year, three media agencies made the list, divided into two categories: under 100 employees and over 100 employees.

The only media agency in the over 100 employees category was KOJO, a Sports, Experiences, and entertainment company that creates premium work in sports, events, film & TV.

KOJO

Stephen Lord, chief executive officer of KOJO, told Mediaweek he was proud of the agency’s achievements in its workplace culture and employee experience for its staff of 102.

“The WRK+ Best Place to Work Study allows us to simultaneously benchmark our culture against an externally validated model and seek feedback from our team on what’s working well and where we need to improve. Our people are our business and the reason we’re successful, so our focus is on the feedback we receive from them each year.

“We want to ensure that we keep evolving the culture we have curated over 30+ years and that it’s being experienced as we intend. This is the second year we’ve participated in the study. As we have moved to the 100+ employees category this year, where a greater number of companies participate, we are delighted to be named at #11 on the WRK+ 2023 Best Places to Work list.

“We’re not immune to the current economic climate or the strain of the pandemic years, which has evolved what people want from work, so making this list is absolutely credit to our genuine, curious, caring and fearless people and the unique culture we’ve collectively curated at KOJO,” he said.

“We are committed to living up to the expectations set by being named as a Best Place to Work, providing the best workplace for all our people to flourish in and build a career they love,” Lord concluded.

The Works, part of Capgemini

The Works, part of Capgemini, has claimed #4 in the under 100 employees list – its best spot yet – in the WRK+ Best Places to Work awards. 

The recognition is a milestone for the agency of 58 employees. It is its fifth consecutive year in the top 10, highlighting its commitment to fostering an exceptional workplace culture that empowers and nurtures its employees.

Julie Dormand, managing director, said achieving the recognition underscores their ongoing efforts to cultivate a workplace that values and supports our incredible team.

“Our employees are at the heart of everything we do, and this recognition only strengthens our resolve to continue fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity,” she said.

The Works has consistently demonstrated its commitment to employee satisfaction by offering a range of benefits and initiatives designed to enhance professional growth and work-life balance.

The team at The Works, part of Capgemini

From development programs to flexible work arrangements that extend well beyond the office vs. WFH debate to tailored physical, mental and financial plans and an in-house mindset coach – The Works strives to create an environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential.

Dormand said: “We know that 60% of the award weighting is attributed to staff engagement survey scores via a recent survey where we were pleased to see we scored 100% in categories associated with being made to feel welcome when you join, plus feeling comfortable to have open and transparent conversations with management.” 

“Stats from the Mentally Healthy study show that across our industry, behaviours and leadership in a company are more important for people’s wellbeing than staff benefits,” she said.

“At TWS, we also know that the pandemic, while challenging for most, also offered people the chance to reconnect and assess what was important in life. That’s why we shifted things to be Life / Work centric – rather than the other way around. Sometimes creating a great culture is as simple as that,” Dormand added.

Slingshot

Independent full-service media, digital and content agency Slingshot took #8, marking its third consecutive year on the annual WRK+ list.

Laura Dodds, general manager of Client Partners & Investment at Slingshot, noted that its people-first approach and diverse and inclusive environment have been factors the agency has been working hard to deliver for its 46 employees.

“We’re very proud to be named in the top 20 Best Places to Work for the third year in a row. It means we’re consistently delivering on our people-first approach, resulting in a strong culture. Our view is that if we look after our people and have the very best people delivering the very best product in the market, then the profit should take care of itself,” she said.

“We’ve worked hard to create a diverse and inclusive environment. A place where every person feels they can contribute in their own unique, meaningful way and feel safe and secure in doing so, and they do it well!

Dodds added: “Our promise to our people is that we will propel them further, faster in their careers. We are invested in our people and therefore committed to making them better people and better professionals, simply because better people make better Slingers.”

See also: Sparro, The Works, KOJO and Slingshot make the 2022 Best Place to Work list

By Lia Cain, commercial director, ANZ at Channel Factory

Media wastage is far from a new problem, but recent research has proven it’s now an urgent one. Lia Cain, commercial director, ANZ at Channel Factory, says it’s time for marketers to wake up, look more closely at their strategy, and clamp down on wastage before it’s too late.

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Have you ever bought something from Macca’s, only to go home and realise it’s not what you ordered?

It’s safe to say that it can be one of the most frustrating things to go through, knowing that your hard earned money has been wasted. And when it comes to wasting your business’ money, we shouldn’t be any less frustrated.

I am, of course, talking about media wastage. This is when a campaign fails to reach its target audience – and it’s a costly problem that’s only becoming more expensive.

Media wastage seems even more inexplicable when we recognise that most marketing teams go out of their way to secure the best value in many areas. But if this is the case, how does the industry end up with millions of dollars being poured into media ‘black holes’?

There’s clearly a disconnect between our intentions and what actually happens to our budgets – and that’s an issue that needs to be solved.

Next&Co’s proprietary media auditing tool, Prometheus, recently revealed that Australian advertisers wasted 41% of their overall digital ad spend, amounting to $5.46 billion out of a total $13.9 billion spent in 2022¹. This is an increase from the $3 billion wasted in 2021. Channel Factory’s own research also shows that on average brands see 28% of their media run against misaligned content, meaning they are not buying efficiently.

In the fast-paced digital realm, when we know that a certain percentage of our budgets will be wasted, all marketers need to consider it a top priority to lessen the waste and more deeply scrutinise brand-associated content to minimise risky brand situations.

And while 41% may seem like an intimidating figure, there are still solutions at hand to ensure your media spend is optimised and efficient. Marketers should focus on practical solutions that empower them to make informed decisions and prioritise the well-being of their audience.

First and foremost, marketers must think more creatively about the content that best aligns to their brand, as well as avoiding themes that could misalign with their target audience. This involves carefully defining their target audience and ensuring that the allocated budget is spent effectively on reaching the right consumers.

Contextual alignment in digital advertising is also highly dependent on brand values and the specific target audience.

Understanding the brand’s values and its desired association with specific content themes is crucial in achieving effective contextual alignment and ensuring the brand’s messaging resonates with the intended audience.

Take video gaming content for example – this is extremely engaging content that captures huge audiences across social platforms such as YouTube and targets a wide and varied audience for marketers. Reports show that 2020 became a defining year for YouTube, which witnessed subscribers tuning into gaming channels, recording overall 100 billion watch time hours, of which 10 billion hours was of live-streamed content².

However, it is only at the cusp of embracing advertising. The temptation may be strong to jump into this category with both feet forward, however, video gaming is one of the riskiest categories to invest in, with 80% of media investment in high-risk content³.

This is where ensuring there’s contextual alignment with brand values becomes essential. Take lifestyle brands for example, that are known for their association with extreme sports and adventurous lifestyles. It may not place as much emphasis on appearing alongside gaming content when compared to a financial brand/institution..

There is also certain gaming content that may contain elements that conflict with a brand’s image or messaging, such as profanity, violence, or nudity. But there is also gaming content and creators which are based on family, excitement, mystery, and adventure. Often, marketers will have to look beyond what content may appear to be at face value to more deeply understand the true themes.

Brands that will flourish in aligning their ads to gaming environments, for example, should match the narrative and values of the specific creators. This way, by targeting ads to specific gaming environments or genres, marketers can ensure they are creating a positive association with their brand and increase the likelihood of driving engagement and conversions., and can more holistically relate their brand values to a game.

Other things for marketers to consider is tailoring local strategy and reflecting cultural nuances in your advertising. These are key ways to connect meaningfully to your target audience, and can also be lenses through which you can better examine your own brand values. For example, brands can consider utilising inclusion lists (as opposed to relying solely on exclusion lists) to proactively support minority or niche creators and channels that align to their existing DE&I initiatives.

Reducing media wastage is also an opportunity to consider any laws around privacy, children’s content or alcohol and gambling, to ensure your contextual targeting strategy avoids any legal pitfalls with certain content. Recent data from a Channel Factory and YouTube meta-analysis revealed that 17% of impressions were served on kids-skewed content⁴, highlighting the need for marketers to exercise caution and adhere to regulatory guidelines to avoid needlessly targeting this demographic.

Tech partners can also be extremely useful in helping advertisers improve brand suitability, reduce media wastage and increase time saving costs. When companies bring on a tech partner to help them navigate this space they gain access to a number of sophisticated tools and insights that enhance their targeting capabilities, save costs, and improve overall campaign effectiveness.

For example, external verification procedures performed by PwC⁵ have found that Channel Factory’s targeting reduced media wastage by 23% generating up to 12% cost savings for brands that use its AdTech solutions.

By embracing these solutions, marketers can pave the way for a more successful and responsible advertising ecosystem and create impactful campaigns that are aligned with their brand values, resonate with the right audience, and minimise wastage.

Sources:

1. Digital Media Wastage Report, Next&Co, 2023
2. 2020 is YouTube’s Gaming’s biggest year ever
3. “Supercharging Youtube – Campaign Meta-analysis, Channel Factory March 2023
4. “Supercharging Youtube – Campaign Meta-analysis, Channel Factory  March 2023
5. Test and Report on ViewIQ – Channel Factory’s platform, PWC October 2022

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Top image: Lia Cain

BRING: Universal Music for Brands, a division of Universal Music Group, has announced the unveiling of Amex x Universal Music House as part of the major program at this year’s SXSW Sydney festival.

The collaboration affirms the music-based entertainment company’s position in market heading into the festival’s Southern Hemisphere launch.

The landmark announcement marks the evolution of BRING’s partnership with American Express, which most recently saw the creation of a deconstructed city-wide festival post-Covid through their “Back The Night” program in March 2022.

Adam Ireland, managing director of BRING, said: “Amex x Universal Music House broadens our partnership with American Express, allowing Universal Music to further showcase premier and emerging music talent, as well as future-focused industry panels as part of the inaugural SXSW Sydney Music Festival. We’re extremely proud to be collaborating with the festival, American Express, our music business labels and artists, in creating a unique property for this culturally important event.”

On October 18, 19 and 20, alongside curated live performances, BRING will introduce the acclaimed BRING Artist x Brand Summit (‘BABS’) to SXSW Sydney 2023. Designed to generate conversation and inspire new ways of thinking about collaboration in culture today, Universal Music House will host some of the most innovative artists, brands and thought leaders, unpacking topics for brands, creatives and media agencies leaning into the passion-point of music.

Naysla Edwards, VP of Brand, Marketing and Member Experience at American Express said: “Over the past five years we have looked for ways to back the music industry, providing more than $1 million in grants to emerging artists and businesses. We are delighted to join forces with the BRING team to deliver a platform at this year’s SXSW Sydney that continues our ongoing support of the music industry and provides an incredible experience for all visitors.
 
“Music has always been a passion area for all of us at American Express and through the House’s overarching theme of Music Futures we’ll showcase some of the best local and international music talent and curate a line-up of innovative thought leaders to inspire, educate and entertain.”

Sean Warner, president + CEO Universal Music Australia and New Zealand, said: “We are mobilising across international and domestic labels focusing on some of the most exciting talent of today and tomorrow.  The partnership with SXSW Sydney, American Express and our artists will play a pivotal role within SXSW Sydney’s Music Festival program and we’re thrilled to activate the first Amex x Universal Music House experience as a truly unmissable part of the festival.”

Colin Daniels, managing director of SXSW, added: “We are delighted to have both American Express and Universal Music be among our partners at SXSW Sydney. This marks a truly momentous moment, in what will undoubtably become a key part of this year’s festival line-up.”

Amex x Universal Music House will host a three day/night schedule of entertainment, a pop-up music store and the BRING Artist Brand Summit.

The House will be open 18, 19, 20 October.  Full event programming details will be announced in the coming weeks, including international talent and hot domestic artists from major Universal Music labels including EMI, Island Records, Neon and more.

Holders of a SXSW Sydney badge of any type, or a Music Festival wristbands, will have access to Amex x Universal Music House.

Hearts & Science has appointed Peter Skarparis as general manager Sydney as the agency looks to build on strong momentum created by recent client wins, including SBS and Peloton.

Seasoned media operator Skarparis has 18 years of experience in the Australian and UK markets. He’s worked in implementation, comms planning and client leadership roles for global networks in Sydney, Brisbane, and London, with clients from media & entertainment, insurance, and telco to tourism and FMCG. 

Joining from Essence Mediacom, where he is currently client managing partner, Skarparis will oversee the day-to-day operations of Hearts & Science in Sydney. He will report to Luke Hutchinson, chief operating officer AU, who believes Skarparis is a great fit both culturally for clients and the Hearts team, as well as the agency proposition.

Hutchinson said of the appointment: “We’ve built a great agency to date based on our mission of creating meaningful connections in media supported by the absolute best data and technology. We are constantly evolving with an eye on future developments in media and beyond, and throughout our conversations with Peter, it was clear that his vision for that new future of media planning and customer connection is strongly aligned to the Hearts ambition. Core to realising that future potential is our team, and Peter’s commitment to and passion for people and their development in media is second to none.”

Skarparis said of his new role: ”I’m excited to be joining Hearts & Science. Their philosophy of media connecting brands and consumers through experiences aligns with my perspective; it’s progressive, fresh, and really captures our role as modern media professionals. The team has a clear belief of how brands can take advantage of what the Australian communications landscape has to offer, and I’m looking forward to the journey ahead!”

Skarparis will start at Hearts & Science on 4 September. He joins a growing team of senior leaders that have come on board at the agency since Jane Stanley became CEO in 2023. These have included the promotion of Luke Hutchinson to chief operating officer, and the appointments of Darren Stein as national managing director and Kylie Pascoe as general manager Melbourne. 

Bastion Reputation has announced the appointment of former NSW Government senior media advisor Sally Taylor to its team.   

Taylor joins the corporate affairs agency as a senior communications strategist after spending the last six years in government, where she worked as a media advisor across a range of ministries and portfolios, which followed stints in agencies at The Media Store and TLA Worldwide.    

Taylor has held senior positions for the NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Early Childhood Education and Education and the Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW.  She has also worked in the office of the Deputy Premier on two election campaigns.    

Taylor said of her appointment: “The dynamic and diverse nature of the work here at Bastion Reputation was immediately appealing to me, as was the range of skills and experience my new colleagues bring to the table.  

“My previous roles have given me an understanding of how to navigate complex issues in the media and create strategies that help tell a story to achieve a positive outcome. I’ve joined Bastion at a really interesting time when it comes to the media and political landscape in Australia, so I can’t wait to see how we can leverage that for our clients.   

“It’s great to be back in agency land after my time in politics and I’m really looking forward to making a positive contribution to the Bastion Reputation team.”

After establishing a team in parent-company Bastion’s Sydney office in mid-2022, Bastion Reputation stated its intent with the appointment in January of experienced senior communications leader, Tess Salmon as its first Sydney-based Principal Consultant.   

Taylor’s appointment sees Reputation’s Sydney team grow to three with the purpose-led firm now on the hunt for an associate principal consultant to service its growing client base.   

Clare Gleghorn, Bastion Reputation managing director, said: “We are excited to welcome Sally to our growing Sydney team where she’ll work closely with Tess and our other consultant Kaysia Thompson, to continue building on our solid client base.

“Sally’s recent government and media experience, coupled with previous time in agencies are a great addition to our team and we are already seeing the benefit after only a few weeks in the role.

“We are also looking to add an associate principal consultant in Sydney to meet the demands of our growing list of Sydney and New South Wales-based clients so it’s an exciting time for our team and clients.”

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Top image: Sally Taylor

Born Bred Talent announced the appointment of Stephanie Scicchitano as general manager.

Scicchitano brings her extensive wealth of experience across talent management and public relations to the independent influencer marketing agency. She is poised to infuse Born Bred Talent with her dynamic leadership and strategic vision for the business. 

With an impressive professional journey spanning almost eight years in PR and communications at some of the country’s largest agencies, including Red Havas and Eleven, Scicchitano made a seamless transition into the world of talent and social media management, amassing over 12 years of invaluable expertise.

Her multifaceted background equips her with comprehensive insights that empower both talent and brands to excel and innovate, guiding them towards unparalleled success.

Scicchitano said of her appointment: “I am both humbled and excited for the opportunity to lead such a phenomenal industry-leading team and look forward to taking both our clients and our talent to new heights.”

In her new role, Scicchitano will report directly to the founder and CEO, Clare Winterbourn and will take the helm of the agency’s strategic direction. Her vision will drive growth and foster innovation in the ever-evolving landscape of influencer marketing. Noted for her proven aptitude in building and motivating teams, Stephanie is primed to lead Born Bred Talent to new heights of achievement.

Winterbourn said of Scicchitano appointment: “We are thrilled to welcome Stephanie to Born Bred Talent as our new General Manager. Her exceptional track record and vast industry knowledge make her the perfect fit for leading our talented team. Stepahnie’s strategic mindset and dedication to driving excellence align seamlessly with our commitment to proving top-tier influencer and creative marketing solutions.”
 
As Born Bred Talent continues to shape the influencer marketing landscape, Scicchitano’s appointment ushers in a new era of innovation, growth and strategic leadership. Her role will undoubtedly play a pivotal part in steering the independent agency towards an exciting and increasingly successful future. 

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Top image: Stephanie Scicchitano

Claxon has announced a pro-bono partnership with Mary’s House Services, a community-funded refuge and case management service on Sydney’s North Shore, for women and children impacted by domestic and family violence. 

The full-service independent agency is appointed as marketing partner for Mary’s House commencing work immediately to help raise awareness of the services, with the aim to increase donations enabling Mary’s House to continue its work supporting victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.

Victoria Budge, managing partner, Sydney, Claxon said: “Giving back is part of Claxon’s philosophy and vision, which is perfectly aligned with Mary’s House commitment to the community.

“Domestic and family violence against women and children is a growing issue in Australia, however it’s also significantly underfunded and there is a lack of options for women to get emergency accommodation and support. Claxon recognises this and want to help by sharing our skills and expertise to help Mary’s House achieve its goals to help more women and children escape domestic and family violence situations.”

Domestic and family violence in Australia is reaching epidemic proportions with the Federal Government recently announcing they have set targets to end violence against women and children, and State and Territory Ministers collectively backing a national 10-year plan for ending violence against women and children.

Yvette Vignando, CEO, Mary’s House said: “It is a horrific fact and a frightening statistic that 57 women were killed by domestic and family violence in Australia last year – that’s more than 1 woman killed every week by a current or former partner.

“And with more women seeking our support every week, we could not have been more grateful when Claxon approached us offering their expertise to help increase awareness of the vital services Mary’s House provides and ultimately raise enough funds to continue to help families in need.

“Via our partnership with Claxon we know Mary’s House will become more widely known and those women and children desperately seeking support and refuge from domestic and family violence situations will know where to come for help.”

Budge continued the Claxon team: “can’t wait to get started on the marketing program and we have already committed to participate in the next major fundraising activity and will be encouraging our colleagues, friends and family to join us on the Mary’s House Services Walk on Sunday 29th October.”

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Top image: Yvette Vignando, CEO Mary’s House, Victoria Budge managing partner and Daniel Willis, CEO & founder, Claxon

Common Ventures has been appointed by the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) to manage the strategy and a launch campaign for new government service, BetStop, following a competitive pitch process.

The creative agency developed a communications strategy, channel plan, and creative and campaign assets for the launch of the Australian Government’s new service, BetStop, which allows Australians to self-exclude from interactive gambling.

The free BetStop program launched this month and enables anyone to self-exclude from all licensed interactive wagering services for at least three months. If people self-exclude, wagering providers will be required to close all their betting accounts and must not let people place a bet or open a new account. Wagering services are also prohibited from sending marketing material to anyone who has self-excluded.

Jane Burhop, Common Ventures co-founder and creative director, said: “Common has been building a reputation for its creative thinking for government campaigns and agencies, and we were honoured to partner with the ACMA to launch BetStop. The adverse effects of gambling impact so many Australians and their loved ones, and BetStop is a resource that stands to benefit many people looking to curb their gambling habits. We hope that our campaign, which is steeped in empathy, empowers those who have experienced risky gambling to take control.”

Daniel Nutman, Common Ventures senior creative, said: “Interestingly, The ‘you win some, you lose more’ report into online gambling recently caused a stir within the industry. What’s appropriate – more regulation versus an all out advertising ban? While debate will continue well into the future, what matters is the now. BetStop’s self-exclusion app is a powerful resource for people who are ready to take control of their gambling habits.”

Earlier this year Luna Park Sydney launched its summer TV campaign starring nine-year-old Alexander, Luna Park’s biggest fan and human embodiment of fun with creative and production help of Common Ventures.

The creative agency developed the 30 and 15-second spots in lightning time, ready for launch over the peak visitation period during school holidays and the Christmas break. 

See also: Luna Park Sydney launches summer campaign with Common Ventures

Dentsu Creative has been appointed as RMIT University’s new creative agency partner, after a public tender of over 20 agencies, as Australia’s largest higher education institution seeks to drive its new strategy – Knowledge with Action.

The appointment marks the first time RMIT has aligned with one brand and creative agency. The creative agency will play a key role in supporting RMIT’s brand in Australia, promoting its heritage as one of Australia’s original tertiary institutions and highlighting its international reputation for excellence in education, research and engagement with industry and community.

The agency is also responsible for building and strengthening RMIT’s presence in Vietnam as part of its Country Commitment which has seen the university invest in education, research, partnerships and campus infrastructure as Vietnam’s leading international university.

Dentsu Creative CEO Kirsty Muddle said: “We cannot wait to get started working on the wonderful RMIT brand. Its heritage in Australia and its strong global reputation make it a force within the education sector and a wonderful creative proposition for our team to work on.

“RMIT’s commitment to using its knowledge, skills and capabilities to make a difference in the world, Knowledge With Action, aligns perfectly with Dentsu Creative’s belief in sanpo yoshi, creating work that is good for business, good for people and good for society. Universities are Australia’s third biggest export, and RMIT is a major player in an economically important sector.

“At Dentsu, we have over 200 RMIT alumni locally and globally, and we are invested in the future of one of Australia’s oldest tertiary institutions as they invested in so many of ours. We cannot wait to help elevate the work RMIT does in Australia and in the broader Asia Pacific region.”

Dentsu Creative x RMIT campus

Dentsu Creative APAC CEO Cheuk Chiang is an RMIT University alum, as is Dentsu Creative Vietnam chief client officer Hieu Nguyen, copywriter Thao Nguyen-Phuong and associate creative director An Nguyen.

RMIT University – chief experince officer, Chaminda Ranasinghe said: “We are thrilled to be working with Dentsu Creative. The team’s passion and energy for our brand and willingness to build a true partnership were key factors in the decision. Dentsu’s truly global operating model makes them the perfect partner for us to drive growth into other markets and tell the RMIT story around the world.”

RMIT is a global university of technology, design and enterprise and was ranked 190th globally and 11th in Australia in the QS World University Rankings 2023. It is regarded as a world leader in disciplines including Art and Design (ranked 1st in Australia for QS Rankings by Subject 2023); Architecture (ranked 2nd in Australia); Engineering; Computer Science and Information Systems (ranked equal 9th in Australia); Business and Management (ranked 8th in Australia); as well as Communication and Media Studies (ranked 4th in Australia).

RMIT University ranks 1st in Australia in QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022 on the Graduate Employment Rate and 13thin Asia Pacific on Partnership with Employers. A ranking which demonstrates how best universities engage with employers. In the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023, RMIT ranks 1st globally in reducing inequalities and equal 1st globally in supporting decent work and economic growth. RMIT also ranks equal 2nd in Partnering for the goals. This ranking focuses on measuring universities’ social, environmental and economic impact and progress towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Strong industry connections forged over 135 years remain integral to RMIT’s leadership in education, applied and innovative research. RMIT’s diverse global community of over 500,000 Alumni, live and work in more than 150 countries around the world.

The appointment follows on from Dentsu Creative’s three shortlists in the 2023 Australian Effies.

The 2023 winners of NSW Premier’s Multicultural Communications Awards (PMCAs) have recently been announced, and agency Think HQ took home the ‘Agency Campaign of the Year’ award for its successful ‘Racism. It Stops with Me’ campaign with the Australian Human Rights Commission.

The ‘Racism. It Stops with Me’ campaign prompts all of us to reflect on racism and its impacts, to build awareness of how racism operates at institutional and interpersonal levels and give people tools to recognise and address it.

Think HQ developed campaign assets including Community Service Announcement (CSA) videos, outdoor advertising, digital and social media content, campaign banners and other supporting collateral to stimulate open conversation and reflection – while avoiding blame or stigma.

Within days of launch, the Australian Human Rights Commission received 500 sign-ups to its email newsletter and 40 new organisational supporters, as well as a host of empowering and supportive comments via the website about the personal impact the CSA film had on people.

The campaign was picked up by key mastheads including The Guardian, SBS, ABC News and The Project. Aggregated audience reach from earned media coverage in the first week of launch was 81,757,938. 

The PMCAs are the only stand-alone industry excellence program in Australia, and as a celebration of multiculturalism and creativity, more than 130 entries were submitted to the awards that recognise the invaluable contributions of professionals who skilfully communicate to diverse audiences across the state.

The 12 winners of the PMCAs were announced late last week, showcasing the achievements in the multicultural media and marketing industries. 

NSW Premier Chris Minns said: “NSW is proud of its record as one of the most successful multicultural states in the world. Our people come from all across the globe, with one in three of us born overseas, one in two with a parent born overseas and one in four speaking another language in the home. These awards acknowledge that diversity and I commend everyone who entered because providing information in community language is what keeps our society strong.”

“We are thrilled to have been recognised in this way for our work on ‘Racism. It Stops with Me’ with Australian Human Rights Commission, and I couldn’t be prouder of the entire team. While measuring the impact of conversations about race will never be an exact science, we know the campaign is reaching countless Australians and planting the seeds for change, which is so important and also exceptionally rewarding to be a part of,” said Jen Sharpe, Think HQ founder and managing director.

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Top Image: Andy Lima, Jen Sharpe, Craig Foster and Chin Tan

Connecting Plots has been appointed as the creative agency of record for food and coffee franchise retailer, FoodCo.

The company, which owns global bakery and café brands Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue, appointed the independent creative agency in June 2023 following a competitive pitch.

As part of the remit, Connecting Plots will build better synergies between brand and retail advertising across campaign and always-on comms for both Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue brands.

Fatima Syed, FoodCo general manager of customer and marketing, said: “We were extremely impressed with how Connecting Plots’ thinking stretched across brand and retail in paid, owned and earned. They demonstrated they get our business and will make every brand impression in every channel more consistent and impactful.”

Tom Phillips, Connecting Plots co-founder and CEO, said: “FoodCo is an impressive business amassing a strong franchise model across multiple brands. Fatima has assembled a strong marketing and digital team with a clear plan for how they intend to grow their business, so it’s exciting to be able to partner with her and media agency This Is Flow in the year ahead.”

Connecting Plots are currently working on new creative platforms for both the Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue which will be rolling out in market over the coming months.

This win comes after the independent agency was appointed as the creative agency of record for industry body Australian Eggs following a competitive pitch process, earlier this month.

Connected Plots was tasked with elevating the versatility of eggs in order to raise awareness for Aussie’s to increase their regular egg consumption.

While the agency was appointed in late May, the coming months will see a new brand platform and integrated campaign start to roll out.

Read more: Connecting Plots lands on the sunny side up with Australian Eggs pitch win

Announced on August 29, 460 directors from various Australian organisations and agencies have put their names to a new campaign aiming to spread the message of support for The 2023 Voice Referendum. 

The ‘Directors for the Voice’ campaign has taken full-page ads in major mastheads including The Australian Financial Review, The Australian and others including metropolitan mastheads and also a social media campaign on LinkedIn. 

See also: SBS and NITV announce range of new programs aiming to keep Aussies informed on The Voice referendum

The campaign, formally named ‘The Voice; It’s Everyone’s Business’ lists names of directors who want to publicly support the Voice, with more set to sign in the lead-up to the referendum.

The campaign’s co-organiser, Ming Long said, “It is rare for company directors to put themselves out there personally with such unity. Many individual directors feel deeply about this issue and have wanted an avenue to express their strong support in their personal capacity. Directors participating in the campaign are a highly diverse group representing the broader Australian community.”

Long continues that the list includes, “Indigenous directors, diversity across gender, race, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic background, geographic location and political leanings.”

“We are extremely grateful for the pro bono support of Sunita Gloster AM who galvanised a team from The Monkeys part of Accenture Song, Carat, and Sefiani part of Clarity Global, in helping us bring this campaign to life,” Long said.

“It is a true community coalition united in support of the Voice at a vital point in our nation’s future.”

“This is our moment in history to set our country on a more inclusive course.”

See also: Meltwater data reveals Australia’s sentiments on The Voice To Parliament campaign

New research from Pollinate has found the majority of Australians are expecting a “No” outcome regardless of which way they vote in the upcoming indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum later this year.

According to the data from the strategic insights business, 68% of the people surveyed believe the referendum will be voted down, despite 31% planning to vote “Yes”, 39% planning to vote “No” and 30% unsure at this stage about how they will vote.

There is a clear lack of clarity surrounding the “Yes” campaign, with 29% of people who are aware of the Voice referendum not feeling confident in their knowledge about the key issues.

That uncertainty is leading people to change their minds: the proportion of people voting “Yes” is eroding, with 14% of people switching their vote from “Yes” to “No” since the announcement of the referendum.

Pollinate’s research found awareness of the looming referendum is not widespread, with 24% of respondents unaware of it when asked. The shortfall in awareness extends to everyday social discourse, with 37% of respondents saying not many people are talking about the Voice and another 10% saying they are not hearing about the Voice at all.

The research was conducted earlier this month among about 1,000 people aged 18+ across Australia. The sample was representative of the national population and used Social Soup’s proprietary community.

Howard Parry-Husbands, Pollinate chief executive officer, said: “Over the past 122 years, only eight of the 44 national referendums have been carried. Right now, it looks like the Voice referendum will fall into the same category. Importantly, even among ‘Yes’ voters, there is a general sense that the outcome will be ‘No’.

“Right now, the ‘Yes’ campaign urgently needs to get the country talking about the Voice because it’s all about grassroots conversations led by word of mouth. Conversing with friends and family on this issue is the second most impactful influence channel; conversations with campaigners was the primary influence.

“More advertising alone will not change the outcome because people are spooked by uncertainty. People planning to vote ‘No’ are worried about the cost and legal implications of the Voice, with the perception that there will be more red tape and delays in legal decision making. They also feel a ‘Yes’ vote will create more of a division across the country. Conversely, people planning to vote ‘Yes’ are focused on equality and equity, seeing a ‘Yes’ vote as representation for the indigenous community,” he said.

“There is an obvious paradox that both ‘No’ and ‘Yes’ voters state concerns over equality as a reason for their decision. This raises deeper questions about how the Voice has evoked the fractured values that underpin Australian society,” Parry-Husbands added.

The research by Pollinate looked at how people have heard about the Voice and what is influencing how they are planning to vote.

Sharyn Smith, Social Soup founder and director, said: “Most people have heard of the Voice from the media [50%] or conversations with people they know [29%].

“But when asked which are the most impactful channels, it is dialogue that drives impact: 40% of respondents said conversations with campaigners; 36% nominated conversations with friends and family; 27% said the Voice website; 22% mentioned community and advocacy groups; and 21% said social media posts from friends and family.”

Pollinate is part of the fast-growing independent marketing business, The Influence Group, which also owns Social Soup, the largest influencer marketing business in Australia and New Zealand.

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Top image: Howard Parry-Husbands

Shoebridge Knowles Media Group (SKMG) has announced it has been appointed as the communications agency for premium beverage and lifestyle brand Seoul Tonic, effective immediately.

Launched in late 2022, Seoul Tonic delivers a disruptive, innovative, sustainable and 100% natural product based on a seventh-century remedy for hangovers, anti-inflammation and overall wellbeing. 

The tonic, created using an innovative juice extraction method and containing the juice of two whole Korean pears with hovenia dulcis (fruit extract), was formulated specifically for the Sydney-based business in partnership with producer Cheonnyeonmeein Co Ltd in Gyeongju, South Korea. 

Sophie Hood, Seoul Tonic founder and CEO, said: “We’ve built a very loyal, almost fanatical, consumer base in Sydney since launch.

“The next few months will see Seoul Tonic begin to stretch its wings and move to national distribution, with some big announcements to come. It’s the perfect time to join forces with SKMG to build and amplify our story. Exciting times ahead!” she added.

Andrew Knowles, SKMG co-founder and partner, said: “Disruptive, innovative, sustainable, 100% natural, and – quite frankly – very cool, Seoul Tonic is an amazing product with a fantastic backstory and an authentic connection to one of the world’s most compelling cultures.

“On top of that, Sophie is a brilliant young entrepreneur. We’re thrilled to work with her and the team to help build this brand,” Knowles added.

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Top image: Sophie Hood

Shark Tank Australia 2023 premiered on August 30 with brand-new Sharks circling some seriously impressive businesses and while both Jane Lu and Sabri Suby were sitting pretty as investors (alongside Dr Catriona Wallace, Robert Herjavec and Davie Foggarty), their initial reaction to being offered a place on the show was met with hesitation.

Speaking on Mediaweek and Chattr’s The Entertainment Hotline Podcast, both Lu and Suby admitted that they thought the offer was a “scam”, given that they receive many of these as business owners.

“I didn’t believe it because…there was a typo in the email,” Lu admitted. And she wrote [the person who emailed] ‘Shark tanks’, and I’m like, it’s spam. You know those phishing emails? It was at a time when we were getting a lot of those. I thought someone was trying to prank me with ‘Shark tanks’.”

Elsewhere in the same podcast episode, Suby revealed he had had the same experience.

“There are so many scams out there all the time,” he said. “‘Hey, we want to put you on the cover of this magazine. You’ve won this award. You just have to pay this small fee and we will include your company in the list of the fastest-growing companies etc. You never know who’s coming at you.”

Luckily for us, both Suby and Lu soon realised that they were indeed being asked to be a part of a real show and were both thrilled by the opportunity.

Left to right: Sabri Suby, Dr Catriona Wallace, Davie Fogarty, Jane Lu and Robert Herjavec. Ten

SEE ALSO: Paramount Brand Studio name ANZ, Optus and Xero as major sponsors of Shark Tank

How Jane Lu and Subi Sabry choose to invest

At the beginning of the premiere episode, there was a disclaimer: “The following are actual negotiations between entrepreneurs and investor ‘Sharks’. The Sharks invest their own money at their discretion.”

“My husband reminds me of that,” Lu joked. “You’re literally shopping for businesses out of your own business pocket or out of your own pocket.”

Further to this, she revealed what she was looking at when considering whether she’d make an offer.

“I could tell you what I was looking for,” she admitted, “But I definitely invested in businesses that didn’t fit those criteria as well. Because I understand a product business, a product eCom business, I thought that’s kind of where it’s my specialty, and also where I can see myself giving value so that I’m not ‘dumb’ money.

“I’m not just putting money in and that’s it. Where I could actually use my experience to actually give that business that step up. But that being said, I definitely invested in other types of businesses, which was hard to explain that to my husband!”

Suby, who has the fastest-growing digital agency in the country, had a more logical approach.

“I’m able to easily size up a business very, very quickly and get a pulse rate on what the performance is like not just what the entrepreneur is telling me,” he said. “I’m able to just dive into the weeds very, very quickly and I guess cut the bulls–t in a lot of situations and find out what’s real…Nothing speaks the truth like the numbers.”

Thien Tranh. Ten

Jane Lu and Sabri Suby on investing their own money

Despite the aforementioned disclaimer at the beginning of the series, prior to this, Suby and Lu were both questioned about the authenticity of the series and if they were paid to be on the show.

“Everyone is under the assumption that the network gives us some kind of Monopoly money, right?” Suby said.

“We’re not paid to be on the show. It’s all our own money. We don’t know anything about these entrepreneurs more than the viewers do when they come and watch one of the pitches.

“We’ve got a very short amount of time to get down to the real situation of like, ‘Hey, I’m actually going to be writing a cheque to this person, so I need to know where we stand with everything.”

Suby also said that he witnessed some “phenomenal” pitches during the season.

“There was a very good food one that I’m a little bit regretful that it didn’t turn out the way that I wanted it to. We had everything from skincare products to orthopaedic orthotic insoles. There was so there’s such a wide variety of entrepreneurs, and we really weren’t told anything [before they pitched].”

Listen to the full episode with Jane Lu and Sabri Suby on The Entertainment Hotline Podcast.

Shark Tank Australia 2023 airs on 10 and 10Play.

• It was a disastrous day for The Blockheads on The Block
• 1.2 million tune into The Voice in Total TV

Total TV Ratings, August 22

1,249,000 watched Seven’s The Voice Australia as Trisha Godinet, 31, mesmerised all four coaches with At Last by Etta James, up 21%.

1,130,000 tuned in for Nine’s The Block. Still reeling from the judge’s comments on Sunday, Liberty struggled to find the motivation to continue with the Work From Home space, up 44%.

897,000 also saw Seven’s Home and Away as Justin fought for Theo’s music career, up 21%.

884,000 tuned in for Seven’s RFDS where Pete discovered an emergency intervention he performed had had major repercussions, up 44%.

734,000 tuned in for ABC’s Kitchen Cabinet where Peter Dutton spoke to Annabel Crabb, up 29%.

Overnight TV Ratings, August 29

Primetime News
Seven News 931,000 (6:00pm) / 906,000 (6:30pm)
Nine News 843,000 (6:00pm) / 833,000 (6:30pm)
ABC News 544,000
10 News First 207,000 (5:00pm)/ 144,000 (6:00pm)
SBS World News 136,000 (6:30pm)/ 105,000 (7:00pm)

Daily Current Affairs
A Current Affair 699,000
7.30 460,000
The Project 186,000 6:30pm / 320,000 7pm

Breakfast TV
Sunrise 219,000
Today 181,000
News Breakfast 149,000

Seven won Tuesday night with a primary share of 24.9% and a network share of 32.9%. 7mate has won multi channels with a 3.3% share.

432,000 began their evening in Summer Bay with Seven’s Home and Away as Kirby clashed with Forrest, Cash stepped up for Harper and Dana and Alf wanted Roo back in the Bay. The Voice Australia was up next as the second round of Callbacks took place. Grouping their remaining artists into trios, superstar coaches sent one artist from each group straight to The Battles, gifted another a second chance at The Ultimate Callback and sent the third home. Rita Ora faced an impossible decision after her trio performed: “The best callback” she had ever seen. 661,000 tuned in. 375,000 then sat down for RFDS where still reeling from the gut punch of Eliza’s return, Pete was forced to work with her, tasked with the retrieval of a 4-year-old boy in a mysterious, but life-threatening condition. Then, 142,000 watched Ambulance: Code Red. 

Nine’s A Current Affair (699,000) investigated brothers Eric and Mark Shumsky, both in their 60s, who allegedly defrauded an elderly woman of $349,000. Then, 585,000 watched The Block. It was a disastrous few days on Charming Street as Kristy crashed her car into a pole, Eliza and Liberty were told off for working in chaos and Steph fell in a hole and had to be checked out by the medics. It was also Waterproof Wednesday with only three of the five houses making it in time. The Hundred with Andy Lee then followed as Andy Lee was joined by Mike Goldstein, Kate Langbroek and Joel Creasey for 324,000.

SEE ALSO: The Block Recap Episode 15: Eliza and Liberty are working in chaos and Steph falls down…a hole

On 10, The Project’s (186,000 6:30pm / 320,000 7pm) Waleed Aly sat down with Leigh Sales and welcomed Shark Tank Australia’s Sabri Suby to the desk. The season premiere of Shark Tank Australia then followed with 237,000 watching on. Our brand-new sharks armed with their own cash, and brand-new Aussie entrepreneurs were ready to enter a brand-new Tank for the chance to change their lives forever. Putting his best foot forward, Victorian entrepreneur and podiatrist, Thien wowed all five Sharks with Stryda, an insole made from cork that can be slipped into any shoe. As the only insole made with over 90% cork and impressive margins to back, Sharks Suby, Davie Foggarty, Jane Lu and Robert Herjavec banded together, to offer $50,000 for 40% equity. 293,000 also tuned into The Cheap Seats.

SEE ALSO: Shark Tank Australia 2023 Recap Episode 1: The Sharks make one business an offer they couldn’t refuse

460,000 watched ABC’s 7.30 explore the push to ban new household gas connections that are gaining momentum; however, the gas lobby are fighting back. The program also looked at the cash-stuffing method that’s gained popularity as a budgeting hack and also went inside the West Gate Tunnel Project. 388,000 then watched Kitchen Cabinet as Annabel Crabb spoke to Minister Linda Burney who told the remarkable tale of her childhood. AI vs Human: The Creativity Experiment followed for 180,000 as Rad Yeo explored the “creep” of generative AI – from performing a ChatGPT written comedy routine to a portrait painting robot. Our Vietnam War followed for 155,000.

The highest rating non-news show on SBS was Great Coastal Railway Journeys with 120,000 tuning in to see Michael Portillo alight at Wareham to visit Dorset’s internationally renowned Jurassic Coast. Exploring its geology, he discovers black gold locked into its rocks and visits one of the county’s oldest oil fields.