Monday December 2, 2019

Mediaweek Industry Awards 2019

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TV Ratings 2019: How Nine won plus highlights for Seven and 10

Seven might have won the final week of the year, but Nine has emerged as #1 across the survey year, the 40 weeks it has branded its best year ever.

Nine wins for the first time in over a decade, ending Seven’s 12-year run as TV’s #1 network.

Nine’s key achievements cross the 2019 survey year:

• No. 1 Network All Key Demographics
• No. 1 Primary Channel All Key Demographics
• No. 1 Commercial Free-to-air BVOD: 9Now
• No. 1 Overall Program: State of Origin Game 1
• No. 1 Overall Regular Program: Married at First Sight
• No. 1 New Program: Lego Masters
• No. 1 & No. 2 Reality Series: Married at First Sight & The Block
• No. 1 & No. 2 & No. 3 Light Entertainment Series: Lego Masters, Australian Ninja Warrior & The Voice
• No. 1 Comedy Program: Hamish & Andy’s “Perfect” Holiday
• No. 1 Sports Program: State of Origin
• No. 1 Weekly Public Affairs Program: 60 Minutes
• No. 1 Daily Public Affairs Program: A Current Affair
• No. 1 Multichannel Program: The Ashes (4th Test, Day 5, Session 1)

“Four years ago we made the strategic decision to focus on the thing that matters most to advertisers – the key demographics,” said Michael Stephenson, Nine’s chief sales officer.

“We are pleased to have won another year in the key demographics driven by the most consistent slate of premium content that engages millions of Australians every week across every platform.”

In a note to Nine staff as they celebrated the ratings achievement, Stephenson added: “This is also our last year at Willoughby – the place where Australian television was born – and I believe the achievements of this year are a real career highlight for us all and showcase what we can achieve when everyone works together and is at the top of their game.

“It sets us up well for cracking 2020 – where we will again have the biggest and best shows in Australia – and where we’ll move into a new era when we move into North Sydney. 

“I am also excited for how television has worked in with publishing. Not only have we showcased our ability to dominate the news conversation through joint investigations (across The Sydney Morning Herald/The Age/60 Minutes) but we have also shown the power television can bring to incredible publishing brands like Domain and Good Food. We have been very pleased with the first series of Your Domain, which has done brilliant numbers on TV and digital and we can’t wait for Australia to get a taste of the Good Food Christmas Special which launches next Saturday.”

Seven highlights wins, prepares to challenge Nine in 2020

New Seven West Media CEO James Warburton didn’t inherit a great second half, although Seven did shine in a number of places. It has reminded commercial partners about those wins and talked up its 2020 schedule.

Commenting on the results of the 2019 ratings survey year, Angus Ross, Seven’s head of programming, said: “We have a lot to be proud of at Seven in 2019. 7NEWS and 7Sport have delivered dominant results, with 7NEWS, Sunrise, AFL and Cricket all number one this year, resulting in Seven being the number one network from 0600-2400.

Next year, we’re going to build on our news and sport foundation, by refreshing existing programs, and adding six new stripped programs focusing on 25-54s to our prime time entertainment schedule: Pooch Perfect, Farmer Wants a Wife, Big Brother, Mega Mini Golf, SAS: Who Dares Wins and Plate of Origin. With bigger shows and bigger stars, combined with the power of 7NEWS, AFL, Cricket and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Seven will deliver in 2020.”

Specific accomplishments confirmed by Seven include:

• 7NEWS was number one for the 16th consecutive year, and has won 312 of 334 nights this year, averaging 940,000 metro viewers each night.
• Sunrise was number one for the 14th consecutive year and hasn’t lost a morning all year. Sunrise reaches an average of 3 million metro viewers every month.
• Seven’s coverage of the AFL was once again the number one winter sport, reaching 15 million viewers across the premiership season.
• Seven’s coverage of the Cricket is set to be the number one summer sport, already reaching 7.84 million viewers since the start of the first test between Australia and Pakistan on November 21.

10 notes recent growth and success with 7.30 formats for under 50s

The Masked Singer

In its 2019 summary Network 10 has focused on its demos and key timeslots:

Network 10 heads into 2020 with four consecutive months of year-on-year commercial share growth in under 50s and all key demos (16 to 39s, 18 to 49s and 25 to 54s).

10’s second half highlights:

• Australian Survivor achieving its biggest audience ever, up 10% on 2018.
• The Masked Singer Australia launching as 10’s biggest new show since The Bachelorette Australia in 2015.
• The Bachelorette Australia growing 24% year-on-year and becoming 10 Play’s #1 show.
• The Rugby World Cup 2019 seeing significant growth on the 2015 World Cup.
• The 2019 Melbourne Cup Carnival reaching 4.1 million Australians nationally.

10 Bold continuing its momentum, with 43 weeks of year-on-year audience growth.

Network 10’s chief executive officer Paul Anderson said: “Network 10 achieved a lot over the past year, from establishing a powerful new sales team and investing in data and technology, to making television advertising even more effective, to expanding our digital media assets and investing in great new content such as The Masked Singer Australia and the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

“We are growing, across all our platforms. Our commercial share in under 50s and other key age groups is increasing. Our advertising revenue share is growing. Our digital platforms are posting record audiences.

“Our shows are engaging, innovative, noisy and connect emotionally with Australians like few others can. The GoFundMe page set up for Australian Survivor’s Luke Toki after he was voted out of the game and Waleed Aly’s monologue on The Project following the heartbreaking Christchurch massacre are just two examples of our ability to connect with people like no other network.

Next year, for the first time in our history, we have a true 50-week schedule of known content – content that is familiar, brand-friendly and taps into the younger age groups who are very hard to reach at scale. As part of one of the biggest global content creators in the world, we are absolutely focused on making great content that creates conversations beyond the actual broadcast – across digital and social.”

Network 10’s chief content officer Beverley McGarvey said: “It’s been a big year for 10 as we bedded down our 50 weeks of entertainment programming strategy. It’s great to see strong momentum as we move into 2020 with year-on-year commercial share growth in under 50s and all key demos.

“We took some big swings this year and, in many cases, they paid off – 75% of our big domestic 7.30pm franchises are returning next year.

“Our entertainment programming performed strongly. 10 had the most shows of any commercial network in the top 20 entertainment shows of the year across under 50s and all the key demos.

“We started the year re-inventing summer programming by launching I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! two weeks earlier than in the past, and against the traditional summer sport. The show beat the cricket every single night it was up against it and beat the tennis more than half the nights it competed against it. The show finished with its highest ever commercial share.

“While the 2019 ratings period has finished, we’re continuing to run new content right up until Christmas before we kick it all off again on Sunday 5 January 2020 when we return to the jungle for a brand new season of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!.”

Network 10’s chief sales officer Rod Prosser said: “In 2020, we’ll be delivering a consistent line-up with all the shows you know and love, across more platforms than ever.

“Better yet, we’re also making it easier to trade across these platforms. Our dynamic trading platform Buy10 launched in October and next year, thanks to our partnership with You.i TV, we’re revolutionising the advertising experience on our apps.

Next year will also see the highly anticipated launch of VOZ, which will better communicate a show’s total audience across all platforms. And we committed to creating a dedicated demand side platform for all agencies to access our inventory.”

News Corp Olympic team has members from Sky News, Fox Sports

For the first time, News Corp Australia will draw on its talent from across the whole business, including Sky News and Fox Sports, to send a single team to cover an Olympic Games.

The 44-strong team, the largest since Sydney 2000, will be led by Fox Sports head of television Steve Crawley, who has been appointed News Corp Australia Olympic director, and The Sunday Telegraph’s editor Mick Carroll, who will be Olympic editor.

News Corp Australia is the official and exclusive print partner and an official digital partner of the Australian Olympic Committee.

“This team represents a 2020 approach,” Crawley said. “There has been a traditional way media cover an Olympic Games, but the world has changed and so have we.

 “We’re a world-leading media company and we’ll bring our Australian audiences a completely new approach, from both on and off the track.”

The team includes specialist sports writers and photographers, digital experts and best-selling authors Trent Dalton and Andrew Rule.

“The Olympic Games are not just a sporting carnival,” Olympic editor Mick Carroll said. “They are a global festival that takes over its host city and showcases a nation’s culture to the rest of the world.

“At every Games it is always striking how many great stories happen outside the games arena and this year our team is organised to capture those stories first and best.

“While other media focus solely on the sports, our reporters will also immerse themselves in the life of the Olympic city to provide audiences with unique insights of what fans will experience. From sumo to shrines, sashimi to Samurai, we’ll cover every angle from an Australian perspective.”

Australian interest will also be broadened with the Olympic debut of sports including surfing and skateboarding.

Along with award winning journalists and photographers Leo Schlink, Scott Gullan and Phil Hillyard, the News Corp team includes Fox Sports stars Matty Johns and Yvonne Sampson, as well as Sky News’ chief news anchor and recent Rugby World Cup host Kieran Gilbert.

News Corp Australia’s expanded reporting team is also matched by its commercial solutions across its leading brands. This allows clients’ access to the largest audiences before, during and behind the scenes of Tokyo 2020.

Commercially, this opens new levels of integration for clients with Tokyo takeovers across our Sport, News, Food, Travel, Women, Prestige, Home, Business and Auto Networks.

The News Corp Australia team for Tokyo 2020 includes:

Steve Crawley (News Corp Australia Olympic Director), Mick Carroll (Olympic Editor), Matt Kitchin (News Editor), Heath Kelly (Masthead Digital Editor), Cameron Tandy (Photographic Editor), Wally Mason (The Australian), Luke McIlveen, Matty Johns, Trent Dalton, Andrew Rule, Paul Kent, Yvonne Sampson, Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield, Kieran Gilbert, Leo Schlink, Jessica Halloran, Jacqueline Magnay, Jamie Pandaram, Jon Ralph, Peter Badel, Ben Horne, David Riccio, Will Swanton, Brent Read, Wayne Smith, Jai Bednall, Reece Homfray, Miranda Wood, Scott Gullan, Julian Linden, Emily Benammar, Lauren Wood, Joe Barton, Selina Steele, Chris Paine, Alex Coppel (photographer), Phil Hillyard (photographer), Adam Head (photographer), Sarah Reed (photographer), Jason Brookes (video), and production staff.

Photo [L-R]: Jessica Halloran, Jamie Pandaram, Andrew Rule, Yvonne Sampson, Matty Johns, Kieran Gilbert, Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield, Miranda Wood

Sky News ratings climb: From Pete & Laura at breakfast to PM Live

Sky News has recorded its best-ever ratings across key dayparts and primetime during 2019, reports the channel:

The audience growth has been driven by the top-performing primetime line-up, new investigative documentaries Bad Blood/New Blood and Lawyer X: The Untold Story, and unrivalled political coverage that saw the channel deliver its highest election ratings ever.

In primetime Sky News achieved record average audiences up +12.1%, and a record share of 1.8% up +0.4 share points year-on-year, reaching more than 3 million viewers on Foxtel alone.

Sky News also set new All Day records with average audiences up +6.7% and a record share of 2.0% up +0.3 share points year-on-year, reaching 3.9 million viewers.

The Sunday primetime line-up delivered the largest audience gains with average viewing up + 46.7% year-on-year and reaching 1.3 million unique viewers.

Paul Whittaker, chief executive Sky News said: “It has been a record year of growth for Sky News across our on-air and digital platforms with our around-the-clock live breaking news coverage, in-depth political and national affairs programming, exclusive commentary and investigative documentaries resonating with more Australians than ever before.

“In 2020 we continue to engage and connect our audience to the best local news coverage and comprehensive perspectives on the issues that matter most to them.”

Sky News’ record-breaking election night coverage Australia Decides, was the top individual program for the year on Sky News as the channel achieved a record audience share of 6.0%.

Outside of election programming, the gripping two-part true crime investigation Lawyer X: The Untold Story was the number two ranked program for the year on Sky News, with both specials securing the #1 program position when they premiered on Foxtel.

The two-part political documentary Bad Blood/New Blood was the third highest program for the year on Sky News. Bad Blood was the #1 entertainment program for the day on Foxtel at premiere, whilst New Blood was the #1 overall Foxtel program for the day.

Throughout the year key programs continued to deliver double-digit percentage growth on average audience.

Following the launch of the new hosting line-up of Laura Jayes and Peter Stefanovic (pictured) on 1 July, flagship breakfast program First Edition (Monday – Friday 5am – 9am) grew its average audience by +12.3%, reaching 159,000 people each week.

Credlin (weeknights 6pm) anchored by Peta Credlin increased its average audience by +13.9%, reaching 219,000 viewers a week.

The Bolt Report (weeknights 7pm) hosted by Andrew Bolt had its best season on record, growing its audience by +10.0% year-on-year and reaching 250,000 people each week.

Kenny on Media (Mondays 8pm) hosted by Chris Kenny grew +17.7% compared to the same timeslot last year, reaching 100,000 weekly viewers.

The Kenny Report (Monday-Thursday 12pm – 2pm) also hosted by Chris Kenny, increased its average audience by +17.7% in its timeslot, reaching 117,000 each week.

Jones & Credlin (Tuesdays 8pm) with Alan Jones and Peta Credlin also recorded double-digit percentage growth up +19.6%, reaching 135,000 unique viewers each week.

Richo & Jones (Wednesdays 8pm) anchored by Graham Richardson and Alan Jones increased viewing by +36.6% and secured a weekly reach of 106,000.

Paul Murray Live (Sunday – Thursday 9pm) grew by +11.0%, reaching 261,000 Australians a week. Average audiences to PML Later (Sunday-Monday 10pm) increased viewership by +16.1%.

The Front Page (weeknights 11pm) anchored by Peter Gleeson is up +12.9% in its timeslot and reaches 130,000 unique viewers weekly.

Outsiders (Sundays 9am) with Rowan Dean, Rita Panahi and James Morrow grew its average audience by +28.1%, reaching 101,000 weekly.

Business Weekend (Sundays 11am) with Ticky Fullerton and Leo Shanahan also saw audience uplift of +6.7% in its timeslot, reaching 40,000 people each week.

Sky News’ audience growth is also reflected in its record-breaking online results, with more than 210 million video streams throughout 2019, up +92.2% year-on-year.

Throughout 2019, more than 4.9 million users visited SkyNews.com.au, up +63.6% year-on-year.

During the year Sky News expanded its digital reach with a range of content partnerships including Facebook, YouTube and Microsoft driving digital audience growth with Sky News video content now delivering more than 20 million online views per month.

Sky News also reached an additional 3.8 million Australians in 2019 via commercial regional free-to-air channel Sky News on WIN. Sky News on WIN launched in September 2018 and broadcasts in 30 markets across WIN’s regional network throughout Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, and state-wide across Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

Commercial radio unleashes largest ever DAB+ consumer campaign

The commercial radio industry has launched a landmark consumer-focused DAB+ digital radio campaign, which highlights that radio is the ultimate soundtrack to any situation.

The new multimedia marketing campaign is the largest ever DAB+ campaign commissioned by the commercial radio industry since DAB+ services launched in Australia 10 years ago.

Utilising both audio and visual mediums, the campaign is comprised of a series of ads created by highly awarded creative agency Eardrum and respected director Andrew Garrick from The Production Group. The first phase of the campaign will run during December 2019 and January 2020 and will consist of short and long-form video content and four radio ads.

The radio ads will air across all markets where DAB+ is broadcast, metropolitan and regional, while the video content will primarily be shared in the digital and social space, including catch-up TV. A second phase of activity is planned for 2020.

Joan Warner, chief executive officer of industry body Commercial Radio Australia, said: “This new campaign reinforces radio’s key strengths and listener engagement, while highlighting that DAB+ radio enhances these qualities by offering a variety of choice and exceptional sound quality. DAB+ provides additional diversity in both broadcast content and the ways in which all radio content can be consumed, giving people what they want, when they want it.”

With vibrant scenes displaying the diverse radio audience and impactful slam poetry audio narration, the campaign showcases the value and influence of radio in general, and the benefits of DAB+ radio in particular, which include unique, entertaining content and premium quality sound.

Ralph van Dijk, founding creative director at Eardrum, said: “We wanted to deliver a campaign that blends the timeless qualities of live radio with a celebration of the new world of choice offered to listeners by DAB+. What distinguishes radio from other audio is the emotional connection listeners have with the content and DAB+ offers them even more of what they love.”

There were more than 4.208 million people listening to DAB+ radio in 2018, up from 3.616 million in 2017. DAB+ digital radio now has a weekly reach of 30.4%, with 5.4 million DAB+ enabled devices having been sold in Australia.

The DAB+ marketing campaign has been launched in-line with the Australian commercial radio industry’s adoption of the global DAB+ logo, as licensed by WorldDAB.

The decision to sub-license the logo from WorldDAB was made in order to better align the commercial radio industry in Australia with the international members of the DAB+ community and assist with promoting the technology and improving consumer awareness of DAB+. The updated branding can be seen across the Digital Radio Plus website and will be gradually rolled out across other assets and collateral.

Nova’s Red Room climaxes with exclusive Tones and I performance

The final instalment of Nova’s Red Room ARIA Week was the hottest musical property this year – new global superstar Tones and I.

When Tones and I took the stage, around 200 fans at The Lair in The Metro made her feel right at home as she proceeded to perform tracks from her EP, The Kids are ComingNever Seen The Rain, Colourblind, Johnny Run Away, Jimmy, and other Tones and I numbers such as You’re So Fucking Cool.

Toni Watson fans love that she is almost anti-showbiz as she refuses to bow to celebrity clichés. Coming onstage at The Lair the first thing she did was kick off her shoes before performing the entire set in her socks.

She told stories about visiting the US and going to a celebrity party in Hollywood. She didn’t feel comfortable though and ended the night back in her hotel room with takeaway watching Netflix.

Between each song she explained what it meant to her, and attributed most of her creativity to her friends and experiences in Byron Bay busking.

Watson acknowledges and celebrates pop tradition while at the same time gently mocking it.

From humble beginnings busking on the streets of Melbourne and then Byron Bay in early 2018, the now four time ARIA Award winner (including Best Female Artist) took a moment to thank fans and her record label, Sony Music, for believing in her and her vision, as Sony Music CEO Denis Handlin and some of his team watched on and enjoyed the show and the audience reaction.

Close to the end of the set came the tune from Tones that everybody wanted to hear – Dance Monkey.

As news came through just before she took to the stage that the single had managed to claim top spot again on the ARIA Singles Chart, some wondered if she could perhaps hold on to be the Christmas #1?

Guests in the audience included Sony Music chief Denis Handlin who is about to start his 50th year in the business after securing the biggest-ever chart success in all those years. He was joined by a number of colleagues including Dan Nitschke, Nova’s chief commercial officer Peter Charlton, smoothfm and Nova 96.9 program director Peter Clay, Channel 7 newsreader Sally Bowery, Home & Away stars James Stewart and Sarah Roberts and Nova 96.9’s breakfast hosts Fitzy & Wippa [and EP Tommy Ivey with his breakfast team who had been out celebrating hard their 2019].

Nova Entertainment’s Claire Marshall and her music marketing team have raised the bar yet again in delivering an even more potent music mix for ARIA Week 2019.

They won’t get much of a break though with Nova announcing this morning Lizzo as the first Nova Red Room of 2020 in January.

Marshall said, “It’s been another incredible year working with our industry friends and partners. Everything we work toward is done in true partnership and in 2019 we’ve had the privilege of working with some incredible people. Both established and break out, artists have been very generous with their time and we can’t wait to for Lizzo to connect with her fans up close and personal in Nova’s Red Room in 2020. What a way to kick off a new decade!”

ARIA Chart Report: Superstar releases flood the top 10 led by Coldplay at #1

By James Manning

• Singles: How could Tones and I’s ARIA Week been any better?
• Albums: Superstar releases flood the top 10 led by Coldplay at #1

Singles

The world of Dance Money got even bigger in ARIA Week. The week ended with yet another week of Tones and I topping the charts – 18 weeks now. It started with further confirmation about the song’s position as the world’s biggest pop tune. In between Toni Watson picked up four ARIA Awards, performed at Australia’s biggest televised music event and then performed for an hour to a crowded Nova’s Red Room in Sydney in front of dedicated fans and her music label and some of Sydney’s most influential radio people. Tones and I won ARIA Awards for Best Female, Best Pop Release, Breakthrough Artist and Best Independent Release.

There was very little movement near the top of the chart as we power towards the end of the year. No new entries into the top 10 and the biggest mover seemingly headed for the top 10 was Harry Styles with Watermelon Sugar jumping from #38 to #20 in its second week.

Just two new entries debuted in the top 50 this week:

#24 Lewis Capaldi with Before You Go. The Scottish singer-songwriter enters the chart for the second time in 2019 with a track from the extended edition of his debut studio album Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent.
#37 Ant Saunders with Yellow Hearts. First time on the ARIA charts for the 18-year-old US singer who writes, records and produces his own music.

Fresh from an ARIA Awards performance of Talk, Khalid climbs into the 50 at #35 with Up All Night in its second week. The US singer now has three tunes in the top 50, with spots at #25 (Beautiful People with Ed Sheeran) and #42 (Eastside with Benny Blanco and Halsey).

Albums

Nine new albums have flooded the pre-Christmas chart with a chart regular chalking up a sixth #1 album. That artist is Coldplaywhose impressive Everyday Life double album becomes their sixth ARIA #1. Of the English band’s eight studio albums, the only two not to crack top spot did not miss by much – Parachutes (#2 Feb. 2001) and A Head Full Of Dreams (#2 Dec 2015).

This week’s other new arrivals:

#2: Robbie Williams with The Christmas Present. The Brit superstar has been in the album chart 13 times and this new album features a mix of new and classic Christmas songs with guest artists including Tyson Fury, Rod Stewart, Jamie Cullum, Helene Fischer and Bryan Adams. Williams will be in Australia performing for smoothfm later in 2020.
#3: Rod Stewart & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with You’re In My Heart. The UK rock veteran has an even better chart record than his counterparts in the top 10. Stewart makes his 24th appearance here. One of the tracks on this album, featuring reworkings of his biggest hits, is a new version of It Takes Twowith Robbie Williams.
#10: Human Nature with Still Telling Everybody: 30 Years of Hits. It wouldn’t be Christmas without Australia’s biggest and best boy band in the top 10 and here we go again with material curated from 11 previous top 10 albums.
#11: Leonard Cohen with Thanks for The Dance. His 15th studio album and the first to be released since his death.#14: The Teskey Brothers with Run Home Slow. Not a new release, but after their memorable performance at the ARIA Awards this former #2 album climbs from #54 after 17 weeks on the chart. The band won a total of three ARIA Awards this year including two handed out at the ceremony last week.
#16 Jason Aldean with 9.
#29 Andre Rieu & The Johann Strauss Orchestra with Happy Days.
#33 Beck with Hyperspace
#44 Bing Crosby with Bing at Christmas

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Summer TV Ratings Analysis: December 1

• Seven’s cricket narrowly outrates Nine with final Perfect Holiday

The first night of summer survey has seen Seven narrowly rank #1. Despite rain delays toward the end of the third day of the second test, Seven held on to win.

The second session of the Australia v Pakistan Test had the biggest audience with 700,000 in the early evening.

The audience for the third episode of Hamish & Andy’s Perfect Holiday dipped to just under 600,000 against the cricket.

60 Minutes was then close to 450,000.

10’s best was The Graham Norton Show with 391,000.

ABC News and the ABC’s screening of the 2019 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Sydney both made the top 10 with 641,000 and 503,000 respectively.

Secrets of the Railway was again #1 on SBS with 185,000.

Week 47-48 TV: Friday-Sunday
FRIDAY METRO
ABCSevenNine10SBS
ABC12.4%724.0%915.6%10 9.6%SBS One4.0%
ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY3.5%7TWO3.7%GO!4.9%10 Bold2.9%VICELAND0.9%
ABC ME0.5%7mate4.0%GEM2.9%10 Peach2.4%Food Net1.1%
ABC NEWS1.3%7flix1.8%9Life2.3%  NITV0.3%
  7Food0.7%    SBS World Movies1.1%
TOTAL17.7% 34.3% 25.7% 14.8% 7.5%

 

SATURDAY METRO
ABCSevenNine10SBS
ABC13.1%723.3%920.0%10 5.0%SBS One3.6%
ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY3.7%7TWO3.2%GO!4.5%10 Bold3.0%VICELAND0.8%
ABC ME0.4%7mate4.7%GEM3.0%10 Peach1.6%Food Net0.9%
ABC NEWS1.7%7flix2.8%9Life2.8%  NITV0.1%
  7Food0.5%    SBS World Movies1.3%
TOTAL18.9% 34.4% 30.3% 9.6% 6.7%

 

SUNDAY METRO
ABCSevenNine10SBS
ABC13.7%718.9%917.8%10 10.0%SBS One3.5%
ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY2.8%7TWO2.8%GO!6.3%10 Bold3.7%VICELAND0.9%
ABC ME0.5%7mate4.1%GEM4.3%10 Peach1.7%Food Net1.0%
ABC NEWS1.5%7flix1.6%9Life2.3%  NITV0.5%
  7Food0.7%    SBS World Movies1.2%
TOTAL18.4% 28.1% 30.8% 15.5% 7.2%

 

SUNDAY REGIONAL
ABCSeven AffiliatesNine Affiliates10 AffiliatesSBS
ABC15.2%718.1%916.0%WIN9.3%SBS One2.8%
ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY2.9%7TWO3.7%GO!6.7%WIN Bold3.7%VICELAND0.9%
ABC ME0.7%7mate4.6%GEM6.3%WIN Peach1.4%Food Net1.1%
ABC NEWS1.4%7flix (Excl. Tas/WA)1.1%9Life2.7%Sky News  on WIN0.8%NITV0.3%
  7food (QLD only)0.2%      
TOTAL20.2% 27.8% 31.6% 15.3% 5.2%

 

SUNDAY METRO ALL TV
FTASTV
84.5%15.5%
All People Ratings

Friday Top 10

  1. Nine News Nine 751,000
  2. Nine News 6:30 Nine 692,000
  3. Seven News Seven 667,000
  4. Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 626,000
  5. Seven’s Cricket: Second Test Australia V Pakistan D1 S3 Seven 588,000
  6. A Current Affair Nine 539,000
  7. ABC News ABC 519,000
  8. Hot Seat Nine 506,000
  9. Clive James: A Tribute ABC 453,000
  10. Clive James: The Kid From Kogarah ABC 431,000

 

Saturday Top 10

  1. Seven News Sat Seven 820,000
  2. Seven’s Cricket: Second Test Australia V Pakistan Seven 728,000
  3. Seven’s Cricket: Second Test Australia V Pakistan Seven 673,000
  4. Seven’s Cricket: Second Test Australia V Pakistan Seven 587,000
  5. Seven’s Cricket: Second Test Australia V Pakistan Seven 575,000
  6. Nine News Saturday Nine 570,000
  7. ABC News ABC 532,000
  8. Vera (R) ABC 459,000
  9. Seven’s Cricket: Second Test Australia V Pakistan Seven 457,000
  10. Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle Nine 456,000
Sunday FTA
  1. Seven News Seven 957,000
  2. Nine News Sunday Nine 812,000
  3. Seven’s Cricket: Second Test Australia V Pakistan D3 S2 Seven 770,000
  4. Seven’s Cricket: Second Test Australia V Pakistan D3 Tea Seven 659,000
  5. ABC News Sunday ABC 641,000
  6. Hamish & Andy’s Perfect Holiday Nine 587,000
  7. Seven’s Cricket: Second Test Australia V Pakistan D3 S1 Seven 585,000
  8. Seven’s Cricket: Second Test Australia V Pakistan D3 S3 Seven 516,000
  9. Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Sydney 2019 ABC 503,000
  10. Seven’s Cricket: Second Test Australia V Pakistan D3 Seven461,000
  11. 60 Minutes Nine 441,000
  12. The Graham Norton Show 10 391,000
  13. Seven’s Cricket: Second Test Australia V Pakistan D3 Seven 329,000
  14. The Sunday Project 7pm 10 328,000
  15. NCIS Sun 10 304,000
  16. Insiders AMABC 250,000
  17. Sunday Night Summer Seven 242,000
  18. Weekend Sunrise Seven 241,000
  19. The Coronation (R) ABC 239,000
  20. NCIS (R) 10 237,000
Sunday Multichannel
  1. Thor: Ragnarok 9GO! 194,000
  2. Seven’s Cricket: Second Test Australia 7mate 169,000
  3. The Lion King 9GO! 159,000
  4. Bluey Am ABCKIDS/COMEDY 144,000
  5. Play School Am ABCKIDS/COMEDY 137,000
  6. Rusty Rivets Am ABCKIDS/COMEDY 136,000
  7. Dot Am ABCKIDS/COMEDY 133,000
  8. Border Patrol Ep.2 PM (R) 7TWO 132,000
  9. Midsomer Murders 9Gem 131,000
  10. Border Patrol Pm (R) 7TWO 131,000
  11. Poirot 9Gem 125,000
  12. Bananas In Pyjamas Am ABCKIDS/COMEDY 123,000
  13. NCIS Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 122,000
  14. Law & Order: SVU Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 121,000
  15. Bondi Rescue Ep 3 (R) 10 Bold 121,000
  16. Peppa Pig Am ABCKIDS/COMEDY 121,000
  17. Kiri And Lou Am ABCKIDS/COMEDY 121,000
  18. Insiders Am ABC NEWS 119,000
  19. Bing Am ABCKIDS/COMEDY 114,000
  20. Caddyshack Pm 7mate 110,000
Sunday STV
  1. Live: Aus V Pak 2nd Test Day 3 FOX CRICKET 267,000
  2. Live: Aus V Pak 2nd Test Day 3 FOX CRICKET 222,000
  3. Live: Tea For Two FOX CRICKET 200,000
  4. Live: The Big Break FOX CRICKET 196,000
  5. Live: Aus V Pak 2nd Test Day 3 FOX CRICKET 192,000
  6. Live: Test Cricket On Fox FOX CRICKET 118,000
  7. Upright FOX SHOWCASE 79,000
  8. Upright FOX SHOWCASE 63,000
  9. Live: Come In Spinner FOX CRICKET 60,000
  10. Outsiders Sky News Live 49,000
  11. Outsiders Sky News Live 44,000
  12. Live: Cricket AM FOX CRICKET 42,000
  13. Live: F1: Abu Dhabi Race FOX SPORTS 50641,000
  14. Selling Houses Australia Lifestyle Channel 37,000
  15. Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 35,000
  16. PML Later Sky News Live 33,000
  17. The Simpsons FOX8 33,000
  18. Live: Nzl V Eng 2nd Test Day 3 FOX CRICKET 33,000
  19. Delinquents Make You Laugh Out Loud FOX8 32,000
  20. Magnum P.I. FOX One 31,000

Shares all people, 6pm-midnight, Overnight (Live and AsLive), Audience numbers FTA metro, Sub TV national
Source: OzTAM and Regional TAM 2018. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM

Media News Roundup

Business of Media

QMS in $200m legal stoush with Singleton, Carnegie and Whyte

An outdoor advertising business owned by John SingletonMark Carnegie and Robert Whyte is suing takeover subject QMS Media for up to $200 million, alleging it is entitled to lost revenues over a breach of a cooperation agreement, reports The AFR’s Max Mason.

The little-known legal proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court see QMS being hit with claims from Manboom for allegedly breaching an agreement signed in 2014.

QMS is the subject of a $420 million takeover offer from Quandrant Private Equity – the transaction is not yet complete. The buyout firm is understood to be across the legal proceedings, which predate its offer for QMS.

Sources said an internal assessment of different outdoor advertising sites by Manboom alleged it had missed out on between $150 million and $200 million from QMS under the agreement. An external assessment still needs to be undertaken.

[Read the original]

Government’s response to digital platforms response delayed until 2020

The Morrison government is gearing up to delay its long-awaited response to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission digital platforms inquiry until next year, with cabinet yet to discuss the still unfinished response to the landmark report, reports The Australian’s Leo Shanahan.

Despite being handed the report in July, cabinet has not considered the final response, which is being managed by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Communications Minister Paul Fletcher and Attorney-General Christian Porter.

With one more parliamentary sitting week in the year and cabinet yet to discuss the response, the three ministers’ officers are quietly preparing to delay the reply until next year despite promising a response by Christmas.

[Read the original]

ViacomCBS promotes Network 10 boss Paul Anderson

Network 10 chief executive Paul Anderson is expected take charge of the combined Viacom and CBS Australia business after completion of the merger later this week, reports The Australian’s Zoe Samios and Leo Shanahan.

Anderson, who has led the 10 business since mid-2015, will become chief executive of ViacomCBS Australia and will report to David Lynn, president and chief of Viacom International Networks.

The changes come two years after Network 10 was bought out of administration by US studio CBS.

[Read the original]

ABC might trim staff by over 120 next year to meet its budget

Management consulting firm LEK has been helping the ABC with its budgeting dilemmas, reports The Australian’s Nick Tabakoff.

And the strong mail is that they have already been talking numbers on how many staff the ABC needs to cut to meet its budget.

The latest word suggests that a redundancy round of upwards of 120 people is being considered internally, after LEK, an ABC favourite, was asked to find solutions to Aunty’s $84m budget shortfall. LEK is already said to have influenced decisions such as the ABC’s ditching of its radio coverage of the Tokyo Olympics.

Any redundancy program will not take place until next year.

An ABC spokesman confirmed on Friday that LEK was “still doing some work for us for the next couple of weeks”. The spokesman denied LEK was “embedded” at the ABC, but was working “on a temporary basis to assist our own project management team as they work to identify the savings required to meet our budget shortfall”.

[Read the original]

News Brands

10 News First to trial 90-minute bulletins as lead-in to The Project

10 News First will trial a 90-minute news bulletin from Monday in all markets, reports TV Tonight.

With the summer non-ratings, and various changes elsewhere by competitors, 10 has opted to test an extended bulletin.

Central to the move is the network’s long challenge with the 6 pm slot.

Celebrity Name Game, which began in May, often rates lower than its predecessor Pointless. This impacts the entire evening schedule with the network having to rebuild its audience all over again.

On occasions 10 can even be leading with 7:30 and 8:30 shows, but still lose the night because of its early evening woes.

This isn’t the first time 10 has broadcast 90-minute bulletins. Back in 2011 it also broadcast 90-minute editions after shuffling 6pm with George Negus to a 6:30 slot (back then The Project aired at 7pm).

A Network 10 spokesperson told TV Tonight, “We have decided to take the opportunity of changes to the commercial news landscape along with an intense news cycle to better serve our audiences by offering a quality extended local news service in all states.

“This is a trial and in the meantime Celebrity Name Game will play on 10 Bold.”

[Read the original]

Radio

Sky Sports Radio wants Matty Johns for Big Sports Breakfast

Sky Sports Radio has earmarked Fox Sports stars Matty Johns, Yvonne Sampson and Gorden Tallis as potential Big Sports Breakfast show hosts next year, reports News Corp’s Phil Rothfield.

The station is looking to replace long-time host Terry Kennedy with a big name to work alongside Laurie Daley in the hope of becoming a major player in Sydney’s morning ratings. They have struggled to get above one rating point for years.

Johns was a ratings smash hit in his former role as the face of Triple M’s Grill Team, driving huge advertising sales. He’s had 12 months off-air and has met with the station about the Big Sports Breakfast job in recent weeks.

[Read the original]

Human Nature to join smoothfm listeners on Christmas Long Lunch

Melbourne’s smoothfm is celebrating the festive season with a special Christmas long lunch featuring one of Australia’s most successful groups Human Nature. On Tuesday smoothfm’s Mike Perso and Jennifer Hansen, in partnership with the Chapel Street Precinct, will take listeners on the ultimate progressive long lunch.

Mike Perso said, “What a great combination, an iconic dining precinct and an iconic Australian act, just recently inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. It is the perfect way for our listeners to enjoy their last smoothfm long lunch for 2019.”

smoothfm’s guests will explore Chapel Street, one of Melbourne’s most popular dining and shopping destinations. The long lunch will start with cocktails at Ines Wine Bar, entrees at Rebel Blue, mains at Melbourne’s best Chinese restaurant David’s, dessert at the iconic Caffe é Cucina and conclude with decadent delights from Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio.

Celebrating their induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame this week, smoothfm regulars Human Nature will treat guests to an intimate experience at David’s.

With 13 studio albums, four of which went to number one in Australia, 15 top 20 and five top 10 hit singles worldwide, and album sales in excess of 2.5 million in Australia alone, Human Nature’s combined releases have been certified 26x Platinum. The group have just released the new studio album Still Telling Everybody – 30 Years of Hits and will be performing a series of Concerts in Melbourne, Christmas at The Palms, on 10th and 12th December with two shows daily on 11th and 15th December.

Brownless and Brayshaw in Triple M Melbourne reshuffle shock

In a shock move, James Brayshaw and Billy Brownless have been handballed out of their afternoon timeslot at Triple M Melbourne, reports News Corp’s Fiona Byrne.

Brayshaw and Brownless, who for more than a decade have hosted the mid-afternoon show Rush Hour – branded “when sport meets stupid” – are on the move.

The pair will relocate their show next year to the 6pm-7pm timeslot at the station, dropping into the slipstream of Mick Molloy and Jane Kennedy’s Kennedy Molloy drive show.

Triple M Melbourne content director Dan Bradley said: ‘We’re rapt JB and Billy are coming back for another year. They’re part of the fabric of Triple M and our listeners love them, as do we.”

[Read the original]

Television

Carrie Bickmore re-signs at The Project after 10 refuses to sweeten offer

Carrie Bickmore has re-signed with 10’s The Project for 2020 bringing to an end months of stalled contract negotiations, reports News Corp’s Annette Sharp.

While 10 refused to comment yesterday saying only it would not be drawn on contract talks, sources at the network say Bickmore re-signed last week after 10 refused to sweeten its original $750,000 contract offer.

Bickmore will continue as co-host of The Project in 2020 and beyond, appearing three or four weeknights alongside Waleed Aly and Peter Hellier.

This she will balance with her drive radio show on Southern Cross Austereo’s Hit Network  alongside Tommy Little, for which she is believed to be earning a lucrative seven figure sum.

Southern Cross Austereo had approached Bickmore with an offer to jump into its struggling breakfast shift in 2020 but the 38-year-old, who welcomed third child Adelaide just 11 months ago, decided her workload is sufficiently demanding with three young children at home, sources say.

[Read the original]

Netflix’s automated tool for content approved by Australian Government

Netflix Australia has been given a green light by the Australian government to use an automated content classification tool for its programming, reports The Australian’s Zoe Samios.

The tool, the first of its kind for Netflix, assesses and classifies movies and content which appear on its platform for Australian audiences.

Netflix Australia first received approval to trial the classification tool in 2016, to establish whether it generated ratings and consumer advice which aligned with Australian community standards and decisions of Australia’s Classification Board.

Netflix Australia and New Zealand’s director of public policy, Nick O’Donnell, said the tool would continue to evolve to ensure Australians received content in line with the rest of the world.

“Reliable and consistent classifications help people make informed choices about what to watch,” he said.

“We’ve partnered closely with the Australian Government to develop a tool that generates classifications and consumer advice for Netflix content that is consistent with Australian community standards.”

[Read the original]

Network 10 axes Friday flagship, but keeps hosts for replacement

Network 10 has axed The Living Room ending a run of eight lifestyle seasons, reports TV Tonight.

However in a surprise twist, the four hosts – Amanda Keller, Chris Brown, Miguel Maestre and Barry Du Bois– will return in the same slot in 2020.

A Network 10 spokesperson told TV Tonight, “The Living Room will not return in 2020.

“We are thrilled that the brilliant team of Amanda, Barry, Miguel and Chris will be back at 7.30 on Friday nights next year, watch this space for more information.”

The lifestyle program produced by WTFN began in 2012 with a 30-episode run in 2012 up against the juggernaut that is Better Homes & Gardens and addressed a revolving door of shows in a challenging Friday night slot.

[Read the original]

Natalie Gruzlewski says “I do” to returning Farmer Wants a Wife

Television presenter Natalie Gruzlewski will make her primetime return in 2020 as host of Farmer Wants A Wife.

The reality show has created more happily-ever-afters than any other dating show, with nine marriages and 19 babies in Australia (with another on the way) and 147 marriages and 280 babies worldwide.

Gruzlewski hosted eight seasons of Farmer between 2007-2012 when it was broadcast on Nine. Since stepping away from television in 2014, the Gold Coast-based personality has focused on raising her family, but she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to helm the return of the feel-good, matchmaking format.

“I’m excited to be returning to TV for Farmer. It’s a privilege to be a part of the show and witness those special connections as they start to form,” said Gruzlewski. “I’ve seen firsthand how this process can change lives and I can’t wait to get back into it.”

Seven’s director of network programming Angus Ross said: “Natalie radiates natural warmth and sincerity and we’re delighted to welcome her to the Seven family.

Farmer is the original true romance show, delivering more happy endings than any other, and Natalie is the perfect choice to help guide our new crop of single farmers in their search for love.”

Farmer Wants A Wife is a Fremantle and Eureka co-production for Channel Seven.

Sports Rights

Seven to lose out as ABC refuses to budge on Olympics radio rights

Radio audiences won’t be the only losers after the ABC decided to save money by not broadcasting the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, reports The Sydney Morning Herald’s Jennifer Duke.

Seven West Media will miss out on hundreds of thousands of dollars it was expecting to get for passing on the radio rights to the public broadcaster.

This is bad news for Kerry Stokes‘s Seven, which in 2014 paid about $200 million for all media rights for the 2016, 2018 and 2020 games. Seven had expected to recoup about $400,000 from the ABC by effectively on-selling the radio rights, according to media executives with knowledge of the deal. (Seven does not own a radio network).

The executives said Seven and the ABC had been conducting talks about alternative arrangements for the deal. The majority of the ABC’s costs would have come from sending a team to provide commentary and produce the event in Japan.

The ABC did not necessarily need to pay for its own team and could choose not to send staff offshore or to Melbourne instead using Seven’s commentary to keep costs down, a broadcast source said. It is unlikely the ABC would broadcast Seven-only commentary, with the broadcaster adamant it will not go to Tokyo.

[Read the original]

 

Commentary legend slams Channel 9’s rugby league coverage

Peter “Zorba” Peters launched a scathing attack on Channel 9’s rugby league coverage in his segment on Sky Sports Radio on Sunday, highlighting its inability to fix the feud between Andrew Johns and Erin Molan and slamming the use of Johnathan Thurston and Sam Thaiday, reports News Corp’s Phil Rothfield.

It was interesting that stand-in host Neil Breen, a Channel 9 employee, didn’t defend his network.

“Channel 9, in a two-year period, have lost this mantel as the top television station for rugby league in Australia,” Peters said.

Peters also slammed Nine’s failure to adequately replace Steve Crawley, now the boss of Fox Sports.

Breen did little to counter Peters’ opinion, even suggesting former boss David Gyngell had been critical of their coverage.

[Read the original]

Fox Sports commentator knocks back offer to join Nine’s WWOS

NRL caller Dan Ginnane has knocked back an offer from Channel 9 to stick with Fox Sports, reports News Corp’s Phil Rothfield.

Planning for life after the soon-to-be-retiring Ray Warren, Nine approached Ginnane recently to jump ship.

Nine are now left with only one caller – Matt Thompson– should Warren retire in the next 12 months.

Fox Sports head of live TV Steve Crawley is delighted to have secured Ginnane and says comparisons to Warren “are not totally ridiculous. He’s got a lot of talent and we’re very happy to have him on board.”

Ginnane’s close friendship with night host Paul Murray at stablemate Sky News helped Fox Sports.

“It gives us a great team with Warren Smith, Andrew Voss, Brenton Speed, Matt Russell and now Dan,” Crawley said. “We need that many callers because we cover eight live games every week.”

[Read the original]

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