Radio Ratings

Sydney

• 2GB ended like it began, closing the year at #1
• Ben Fordham snatches back top breakfast program from KJ
• WSFM has a surge in drive to close the year

See also: Sydney Radio Ratings 2022 Survey 8: Ben Fordham snatches back breakfast

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Melbourne

• 3AW extends its lead to a 15% share
• Ross and Russ crack a 22% share, close to 23%
• Christian O’Connell still king of FM breakfast

See Also: Melbourne Radio Ratings 2022 Survey 8: Cream rises to the top with 3AW and Gold stronger

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Brisbane

• B105 holds off Nova to finish the year #1
• B105 claims breakfast while Nova takes home Drive crown

See Also: Brisbane Radio Ratings 2022, Survey 8: B105 ends the year with a bang

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Adelaide

• MIX102.3 closes the year as the #1 station in Adelaide
• Drive slot very competitive with four shows over 11%
• 5MMM and FIVEaa move up

See Also: Adelaide Radio Ratings 2022, Survey 8: Mix102.3 finishes the year at #1

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Perth

• Nova has dominant lead, more than 6 points clear
• Nova breakfast and drive also both have dominant wins

See also: Perth Radio Ratings 2022, Survey 8: Nova 93.7 ends year on new high

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Radio Ratings

With the radio ratings survey coming to an end for 2023, Mediaweek has caught up with some of the top content bosses in the industry to discuss their results. 

First up is Nova’s head of programming for Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, Ben Latimer. 

When asked about the company’s overall performance, Latimer said that it was a great result for the network. 

“We’ve got more listeners than any other metro network and remain as the only broadcast network with over 6 million cume, which is great. We continue to hold the number one overall cume from a network perspective, all people 10+, and people 25-54. The exciting thing today for us is being the only network to grow DAB+ audience, which was up 9%, that’s definitely great news. We launched local and live smooth announcers in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide in September, and they’re all number one outright which is fantastic in such a short period of time. That’s just a fantastic result and really demonstrates how that uniqueness and the music focus can cut through. Lots of room to grow there for sure.”

When talking about the success of smoothfm, Latimer continued to point at the importance of cumulative audience in assessing radio ratings.

“The smooth Sydney cume is another record,1.325 million. It’s been a really great year as we reflect back on smooth Sydney, which was a consistent number one or number two FM in the market. smooth Melbourne has had a good year as well, and was consistently the number two FM in the market. We’re really pleased with how smooth has shaped up for the year.”

Another performance that Latimer wanted to highlight was from FIVEaa in Adelaide which he said had a brilliant end to the year.

“David and Will in breakfast had a record high today of 16.5% – FIVEaa is the dominant news talk station in Adelaide and is led by those guys. It is just world-class and continues to impress us each and every morning. Leon Byner had a fitting final GFK send-off going out on a high with an 11% share.

“If you look across the FIVEaa schedule, it really is great numbers everywhere. Drive was up to 11.1%, without any AFL which is even better. Nights with Matthew Pantelis had 18.5%, he is leaving the show in great shape as he moves to Mornings next year. ”

Still in Adelaide, Latimer was also happy with the results of FIVEaa’s sister station Nova, which has been without a breakfast show since October.

“Given that we haven’t had an official brekkie show in Adelaide since the end of October we are pretty happy we’ve held our ground. We are number one in cume and are leading cume in all day parts. Also, number two FM overall and number two FM breakfast without Ben and Liam. What it says is that the Nova brand is in tip-top shape in Adelaide and it really positions as well for the launch of the new show, Jodie and Hayesy in the new year.”

In Perth, Latimer was happy with the strong results with an overall share of 17.9% and a breakfast share of 20.8%.

“The team’s cracked 700,000 in cume – to put some context around that, Mix is in second place in the 500’s. Isn’t that just unreal?

“Nathan, Nat and Shawn are up again, it’s just a dominant station everywhere. This is a station that people around the country, even around the world, are talking about due to their record-breaking results.”

Nathan, Nat, and Shaun

When discussing Nova’s results in Brisbane, Latimer reference how the market is notoriously competitive but once again pointed to the strong cume score produced by the station.

“The difference between winning or not can be very thin, today it was 0.3 of a point when you measure it through share. B105 is ahead in share, but when you look at cume, Nova Brisbane is still out in front. On average, we’ve been really happy with Brisbane this year, a very strong year. We’ve hit some numbers that are historical highs but it’s just it’s a highly competitive market.”

Nova in 2023

By radio standards, Nova normally has one of the most settled lineups in the industry, but 2023 will be a little different with two new breakfast programs and a new national program featuring next year.

The first is Ben, Liam, & Belle which is already on-air in the Nova Melbourne breakfast slot. Latimer said that it is a very different show but they are confident it will do well in its new market.

“Ben, Liam & Belle are on air, we wanted to get them started early and the shows sounding good. It’s a different type of show to Chrissie, Sam & Browny but we’ve got some great marketing plans already underway in Melbourne. The content strategy for that show we think is going to do very well in the market.”

Ben, Liam, and Belle

With Ben and Liam taking the Melbourne breakfast slow, this left an opening in Adelaide which was filled by Jodie Oddy and sports journalist Andrew Hayes. Latimer described this new program as another unique offering.

“We’ve got Ben and Liam doing the early 6am hour in Adelaide, and then Jodie and Haysey coming in Seven till Nine. We know the boys were very popular in Adelaide, so just we’ll be maintaining their presence. Jodie and Haysey is just a real Adelaide show.”

Jodie & Hayesy

Despite leaving Melbourne breakfast, Chrissie Swan has stayed in the Nova family by hosting her own national radio show next year, The Chrissie Swan Show. Latimer said that Swan has been one of Nova’s best-kept secrets for many years.

“We are really glad to find her national role at the network, 3pm to 4pm is really important for us from an audience perspective and also commercially. I don’t think there’s going to be a show like it and we’re looking forward to kicking it off in January.”

Chrissie Swan

See Mediaweek’s full radio ratings coverage here.

If I was forced to characterise 2022, it would be a year of upheaval. Yet another year of unexpected events which will shape the next few decades in their own way.  

But by no means has it been all doom and gloom. From my perspective, it has been fantastic to be able to get out properly and meet partners and the wider industry after two years of forging relationships through video calls, and long may that continue. 

There are two ways of approaching the inevitable change. The first is a very natural human reaction, fear, and resistance. The second is less easy, but history shows us that those who willingly embrace and create change often shape things long into the future. 

And looking at the way the industry has adapted to the events of 2022 I think there’s a lot more of the latter than the former being embraced. Which actually makes me excited for the strides we can make together in 2023.

If we look back 100 years, we can see how relatively minor changes can have long-reaching effects. Coming off the back of World War 1, the 1920s was always bound to be a massive decade of innovation and evolution. Things we take for granted like the electric traffic signal, sunglasses and even the cheeseburger – yes apparently people hadn’t been putting cheese on their patties before then – were dreamt up. 

The entertainment business was also transformed forever with the addition of sound to movies for the first time, ushering out the first era of silent moving pictures for a new Golden Age of Hollywood. TikTok for one would be very different without the vibrant soundscape that underpins it. 

And commercial radio also came into existence – cementing the enduring interdependence of marketing with entertainment. Again, advertising has been a massive driver in how entertainment evolves in culture over the last century and remain intimately intertwined.
 
Fast forward to today and we’re seeing once again the importance of evolution and adaptability to the marketing industry, and how being part of cultural moments is as vital as ever. Again, what I’ve observed this year is more brands being prepared to roll up their sleeves and spend time understanding new platforms like TikTok and the use cases for their business.  

The mediums evolve, audiences move, but what we’ve been able to prove is that the fundamentals of engaging and entertaining storytelling remain unchanged and will do into the future. 

Culture moves faster than ever; we see how fast some trends can rise and fall. But there are also some longer term shifts we’re seeing play out. A move to more positivity, new technology fostering increased collaboration and ultimately a desire to do something meaningful to help others, are good examples. 

In times like these the power of creativity will really make a difference, which is why we’ve launched the TikTok For Good Launchpad, a new initiative to connect Australia’s most creative minds with social causes. 

We’ve already seen how these collaborations can drive real change. A great example of this is the recent collaboration with Melanoma Institute Australia and TBWA Sydney to create a public health campaign with creators making content to the theme of ‘Tanning. That’s Cooked’.

It’s all to raise awareness of the huge skin cancer danger from tanning among young Australians. This is the kind of work which will save a lot of lives for years to come – the kind of impact everyone should be getting behind.

I’m excited to help drive more of this impact, because in 2023 human kindness and collaboration is going to be more vital than ever before.

So while 2023 is undoubtedly going to throw yet more challenges at all of us, I’m really confident in the pioneering Aussie spirit of innovation to get us through and in better shape.

Those who embrace the change and work to shape the future rather than passively accepting what is coming, will benefit in the long term. 

Brett Armstrong is TikTok Australia’s general manager. TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. The platform’s mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, Sydney, and Tokyo.

–

Top image: Brett Armstrong

As the year comes to a close and 2023 looms on the horizon, it’s time to pause and look back at the successes of a year that wasn’t necessarily predicted to end as well as it has.

Mediaweek spoke to Daniel Monaghan (SVP content and programming, Paramount), Derek Bargwanna (head of KIIS Network, ARN), and Poppy Reid (editor in chief, The Brag Media) to get their thoughts on the year that was, and what comes next.

What have your key highlights of 2022 been?

Monaghan: “Personally, the highlight of 2022 for me was 10 launching the #1 new show of the year, Hunted. The format is a phenomenon and it really captured Australia’s attention, which showed us that audiences are ready to embrace new shows. We took a few risks this year, and having one pay off to that level was certainly a highlight.”

Hunted

Bargwanna: “The KIIS Network has produced plenty of memorable content that we’re proud of both from a local brand perspective and as a national network. This year we have combined more as a group to create content that keeps our audiences engaged, listening and growing. It was fantastic to see Kyle & Jackie O being inducted into the Commercial Radio Australia Hall of Fame. We have had so many award winning moments from our team across the network this year.”

Reid: “The Brag Media has had a banner year with highlights happening almost every month for us, but two key moments stick out for me.

“Launching Variety Australia in February was a big moment, not just for us as we expand our ever-growing publishing roster, but for the local media industry. Bringing the iconic title to market means we get to shout about local entertainment talent on the world stage thanks to our partnership with PMC and our close relationship with Variety in the US.

“We also expanded Rolling Stone to New Zealand this year and held our very first Rolling Stone New Zealand Awards. Being able to celebrate the incredible music talent in Aotearoa in a live setting (with stadium act Six60 performing) was a huge privilege, but getting to champion Kiwi acts in a bigger way as we grow further into the Aotearoa market is immensely exciting to me as a Kiwi myself.

“Check out some footage from the night here.”

What have you had to consider when commissioning and creating content in 2022?

Monaghan: “The content world has never been more crowded than in 2022. With more series made locally and internationally than ever, every show has to compete for the same eyeballs against increasing choice. Content has to stand out, be fresh but also somehow familiar.

“While one platform is trying to appeal to the niche, the next is chasing the broad-church. For example, at Paramount, we are focused on providing our content across our suite of platforms so that audiences can enjoy it wherever and whenever they choose.”

Bargwanna: “The feel of right now and what our audiences are experiencing in their life has been important to get a handle on for our teams. We spend a lot of time researching our market and audience. This year we found connecting more with the community and creating powerful feel good moments became a focus, but of course as we head into the new year things may shift and given our robust research at ARN we will be ready to adjust if/when we have to, so we continue to deliver the market and audience needs.”

Reid: “Much consideration goes into all content we commission, including our quarterly Rolling Stone AU/NZ magazine. Working quite far out before the print issue hits shelves means we need to be making sure we are adding value, diversity and careful consideration to music and culture topics. Rolling Stone coverage speaks truth to power and that is always front of mind for us.”

How much of an impact has economic uncertainty had on the industry this year?

Monaghan: “Network 10 launched MasterChef Australia off the back of a GFC and it tapped into the psyche of Australian audiences at the time. Consumers were watching their wallets, keen to cook at home and happy to be entertained at home.

“Traditionally when there is economic uncertainty, our industry is there to provide audiences with the best content from the comfort of their home. That may be for free with FTA, BVOD and the explosion of FAST channels this year. Or, it may be for a small monthly subscription to SVOD that individually will cost them less than it would to leave home; and for that price they’re getting entertainment for the whole family.

“At Paramount, we have had more scripted and comedy projects in production in 2022/23 than ever before, alongside a wealth of unscripted projects and news and current affairs. The production slate has not yet slowed down against economic uncertainty.”

Bargwanna: “While we have strong ratings on the KIIS Network, there is always room for us to grow. I think it’s important we recognise the economic uncertainty, however it’s only challenged our teams to work even closer with clients in creating the engaging content in a smarter way, ensuring we create scale, multi-platform content delivery with an easy transaction.”

Reid: “The Brag Media is only six years old so I would say economic uncertainty amidst the Covid pandemic is par for the course.

“However, over the past twelve months, we have doubled down in our offerings and output, increased staff, and invested more into the growth of the business than ever before. We are already seeing the fruits of that investment, with 100% YoY revenue growth.”

What are your thoughts on the current state of the industry?

Monaghan: “The media industry remains healthy, but as always, it exists in a state of perennial change.

“Production levels are extraordinarily high across all platforms, and all content businesses face a similar challenge of how best to engage and monetise their audiences.”

Bargwanna: “It’s thriving. Radio and audio is about personable connection. Our on and off air teams create many hours of brilliant market leading content each day and radio is still the medium that people turn to, to discover it, feel connected and be involved. We need to ensure as an industry we are fostering the next generation of talent; giving as much opportunity to as many people we can to create live content – this is the differentiator for radio. The podcast world has now provided a great opportunity for our radio shows to have a catch up audience and of course increase our audience reach through special interest content.”

Reid: “The media sector has always been a hive mind for innovation and adaptability, but I think those characteristics are in a purple patch at the moment as we navigate the pandemic. Personally, I’m loving the response to evolving generational behaviours from big-name brands as I believe that is the only way to maintain relevance.”

Looking ahead, what do you think the key trends of 2023 are?

Monaghan: “In terms of editorial, it looks like utilising known IP – be it a book, a reboot or a big star – and making it new and fresh will continue to be a big trend.

“Network 10 had a stellar breakout hit in Hunted this year and we’ll invest in trying to find the next 2023 hit so we can balance our slate with the new and the much loved.

“In terms of key trends for platforms, well FAST is the new black. We’ll use a stellar back catalogue to ensure we have a top tier offering of FAST channels moving throughout 2023.”

Bargwanna: “The industry is getting better and the shows, people and standards are getting richer. So to win, you have to be genuine, and be better consistently and give people a reason to choose you. The audience and our clients want and deserve more and I think our plans for 2023 will deliver on that.”

Reid: “For the most part, the media industry is in the business of culture reflection, but I think there are so many fun opportunities in the business of imagination.

“Some imagination-based trends I think we’ll see next year are further crossover collaboration between media and SVOD, bringing digital formats to life with events either IRL or in the metaverse, and mobilising media title audiences to engage in the next generation of E-commerce and digital products.”

See Also: Year In Review: Industry leaders on what 2022 has looked like in sales
See Also: Year In Review: Industry leaders on what 2022 has looked like in marketing

–

Top Image: Daniel Monaghan, Derek Bargwanna, Poppy Reid

The last Mediaweek HOT List for the year. I’ll be taking a break over Christmas /New year, and am back in February for the first 2023 Hot List. It has been a big year with impressive work from many agencies. Although there have been some agencies with repeat appearances, we have in all celebrated the work of 22 different agencies across the year from May onwards.

Although all 22 are worthy, an extra accolade goes to Initiative and The Monkeys who made it to seven out of eight HOT Lists. Not far behind them was Special Group who racked up six appearances.

Sizzling HOT
Media agency: Initiative

What a year with their sizzling hot performance, a brilliant run of new business wins plus heaps of award accolades including the recent induction into the Hall of Good at the UnLtd Big Dream event. Energy Australia joins blue chip wins this year including IAG, Australian Unity, Bank of Queensland, Fitness & Lifestyle Group etc.

Creative Agency: The Monkeys

A true creative powerhouse that continues to win awards and praise for effectiveness. They consistently create provocative ideas for some of Australia’s most respected brands and I love the new Christmas work for Australia Post, Drinkwise, and Supercheap Auto. Plus, the wonderful work for the island nation of Tuvalu shining the spotlight on climate change is excellent. 

HOTTEST
Media Agency: Half Dome

Ending a brilliant year with another new business win for GMHBA health insurance. This indie continues to shine along with a raft of new business successes e.g. Ego Pharmaceuticals, Petspiration, MRC, etc. The outstanding leadership team go from strength to strength and was recognised by The Australian as one of the Top 100 Innovators of the Year. Plus, their people and culture initiatives around annual leave and workplace benefits lead the industry.

Creative Agency: The Special Group

A super special year for Special Group, with unprecedented growth with new business, untold award success with the Effie’s etc, and a new office to open in New York. The wonderful work for Uber continues and they uphold a brilliant reputation in Oz, NZ, and now the US.

HOT
Media Agency: This Is Flow

This hot indie has momentum and finishes the year with three wins out of three pitches for GPT Group, Rock Face, and the Experience Co. A bumper new business year with Carnival, King Gee/Hard Yakka, Riverina Dairy etc. Incredible growth, award success, brilliant people, and culture benefits plus a positive investment in training/development will be sure to set This is Flow up for an even hotter year in 2023.

Creative Agency: Ogilvy

One of my favourite creative agencies with an excellent heritage continues to be hot with excellent work that drives client results. Great success at the Effies plus multiple Network of the Year accolades and an Employer of Choice at the Australian Business Awards. The work continues to shine for AAMI, KFC, Coke, Cadbury, Nestle etc.

See also: Sparrow’s 2022 Hot Lists

Doing some good work and kicking goals? We are happy to hear from you – send details to [email protected].

Criteria for making the Mediaweek Hot Lists
• New business success
• Current client retention
• Momentum
• Industry acclaim and buzz

Seven West Media has announced the launch of its inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

Endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, Seven’s first Reflect RAP has been developed to strengthen Seven’s relationship with First Nations communities, embed reconciliation throughout the business and provide Seven with meaningful accountability.

Seven’s Reflect RAP aims to set out a long-term framework that will contribute positively to the pursuit of reconciliation, as well as empower and educate those within Seven about issues that continue to face First Nations people.

James Warburton, Seven West Media’s managing director and chief executive officer, said: “Seven is very proud to launch its Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan and receive accreditation from Reconciliation Australia.

“We have already commenced our journey and Seven’s RAP cements our commitment to meaningful reconciliation efforts across Australia.

“As the home of Australia’s biggest and most watched commercial television network and Western Australia’s #1 newspaper, we always strive to use this position to effect positive change,” he added.

Brian James Devonshire

Davanh Inthachanh, Seven West Media director of people and culture, said: “Diversity, inclusion and driving positive change is at the heart of Seven West Media.
 
“That’s why we’re committed to delivering a RAP that enhances our internal capacity and awareness about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, while using our unrivalled national platform to raise awareness and celebrate the culture and histories of First Nations peoples.
 
Inthachanh added: “In our journey towards reconciliation, over the coming year we will increase our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander procurement, create Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment strategies, develop internal policies that enable our people to volunteer time to participate in First Nations peoples charities and community work, and to provide tools, resources and activities to help our people better understand, celebrate and empower First Nations people. We look forward to reporting the progress and next phase of our RAP journey.”
 
Seven’s Reconciliation Action Plan is part of the company’s sustainability framework, which has a purpose to use the power of Seven’s platforms to inspire a better “us”, by making a difference in areas that matter to individuals, families, communities, businesses, organisations and to our nation.
 
Seven commissioned emerging artist Brian James Devonshire to create bespoke artwork to reflect its story. The artwork is titled “Niina Marni” and was inspired by Seven’s connection to the communities it operates in, from the small regional towns in heartland Australia to the largest metropolitan cities.
 
Describing the artwork, Devonshire said: “The Rainbow Serpent of life meanders through the regional communities of the states and territories of our Australia. The artwork is also inspired by Seven West Media’s inclusiveness of LGBTQI+ across the organisation, so I took the opportunity to incorporate non-traditional shades in the piece and use more contemporary colours.”

Sky News has announced Chris Smith’s employment with the news network has been terminated.

In a statement on Tuesday, Sky News Australia’s CEO Paul Whittaker said Smith’s contract has been terminated due to allegations of “serious misconduct”.

“Following an investigation into allegations of serious misconduct, we have today advised Chris Smith that his contract with Sky News Australia has been terminated as a result of inappropriate behaviour that is in breach of his contract and company policy”, he said.

“We continue to offer support to affected staff members whose welfare remains our primary concern,” Whittaker added.

On Saturday, Smith was with colleagues at the Sky Christmas party at The Ivy Sunroom and later continued with them at The Establishment, according to The Daily Telegraph.
 
A number of eyewitnesses alleged that Smith made lewd comments to female colleagues, inappropriately touched more than one woman, left one in tears as another was forced to strike him.
 
The publication noted that Smith has no recollection of the events, blaming his bipolar disorder and alcohol addiction, which outlet added was a similar explanation he provided for allegedly harassing four female colleagues at the 2GB Christmas party in 2009.

Sky News Australia had initially suspended Smith before its decision to terminate his employment, as it launched an investigation into what transpired on Saturday.

Sky News Australia’s other personalities also commented Smith. Commentator Andrew Bolt told his viewers on Monday that he wished Smith “good luck, but goodbye”.

“Now we are all good people here at Sky, we have a culture of looking after each other and if you betray that trust, besmirch our good name, offend women here, you’re out.

“Chris, all the very best to you with getting over what you say is your addiction and your bipolar condition, but your recovery must take place somewhere else, not here.

“Good luck but goodbye”.

Fellow Sky News commentator Rita Panahi told her viewers she believed Smith’s behaviour was “totally and utterly unacceptable”.

“Chris Smith has apologised for his appalling conduct but frankly that’s not enough.”

“Of course I hope he sorts out his various issues but what he did on Saturday night, how he made a number of women feel, means that in my opinion he can never be on this network again,” Panahi added.

Smith’s employment termination with Sky News comes after 2GB announced his employment had been terminated with the radio network.

See also: 2GB terminates Chris Smith following suspension from Sky News

Tom Malone, Nine’s managing director of radio, said in a statement: “Chris’ behaviour represents a serious breach of his contract and is not aligned with the values of 2GB.”

Nine has provided support to Smith in recent days and will continue to offer that support as required.

Smith has put out his own statement and revealed that he is seeking professional help at a facility. He told The Daily Telegraph: “I am beyond gutted and devastated to know I have upset my colleagues after our Christmas party.
 
“I apologise profusely to the women I upset. That’s not the man I am at work, ever, as they will all attest. They have been so supportive to me and do not deserve such drunken treatment.”
 
“I have a recurring problem with alcohol … it sends me manic. I am in a facility receiving professional help to deal conclusively with my abuse of alcohol and solve this once and for all, without qualification… it can and will be done.”
 
“I am also terribly upset about humiliating myself with people I respect and admire. I have been blessed to call them close colleagues,” Smith said.
 
“I pride myself on my professionalism and work ethic but I have dropped the ball and embarrassed many people including those I love most – my family. I am very sorry,” Smith said.
 
Smith is married to nutritionist Susie Burrell and are parents to twin sons.

–

Top image: Chris Smith

Yahoo has announced new interoperability partnerships, including Alliant, AdPredictive and Tealium, for its cookieless identity solution, Yahoo ConnectID.

The new partners add more power to the platform and support for Yahoo ConnectID, as advertisers and publishers seek a privacy-first solution to drive campaign personalisation, performance and measurement.

Yahoo ConnectID now reaches over 290 million addressable users globally, up 40 million users since the start of the year. The solution is built on differentiated, deterministic and omnichannel data sets, with scaled, opted-in, direct consumer relationships across mobile, desktop, search and more.

Yahoo ConnectID also directly integrates with leading data management platforms (DMPs) and customer data platforms (CDPs) to ingest and activate against third-party data.  This interoperability enables seamless audience activation and measurement within Yahoo’s demand-side platform (DSP) for advertisers, and helps publishers monetise via the Yahoo supply-side platform (SSP).

Elizabeth Herbst Brady, Yahoo’s chief revenue officer, said: “The continued and rapid expansion of Yahoo’s identity solutions – Yahoo ConnectID and Next-Gen Solutions – is a testament to their effectiveness as the market grapples with challenges around privacy, audience and inventory monetisation, performance, and measurement.

“These new Yahoo ConnectID partners are a welcome addition to our ecosystem. For marketers, Yahoo ConnectID represents accountability for their ad spend in place of previously untargeted or unmeasurable impressions. For consumers, it simply means more relevant advertising.”

Two industry changes are accelerating the adoption of Yahoo’s identity solutions. Every dollar counts in today’s digital environment, making it critical for advertisers and publishers to ensure their campaigns are relevant, measurable and performing. Advertisers and publishers are beginning to realise the importance of not only preserving addressability, but addressing the non-addressable as well.

Dan Richardson, head of data APAC at Yahoo, said: “Advertisers and publishers in APAC have greater complexity to contend with in the changing identity landscape. With the choice of operating platform, browser and devices varying by market, it’s a two-sided problem – when identifiers are present and when they are not.

“Having an integrated approach to solve this problem has helped Yahoo’s solutions scale quickly across advertisers and publishers, to be among the most adopted and interoperable.”

In APAC, publishers like Networld Technology Limited, a leading technology innovator in Hong Kong with three sites/apps that reach over 5M monthly unique users; LiTV Inc, the number 1 OTT platform in Taiwan with five sites/apps across screens and over 1M monthly unique users; and iCook, a top cookery and recipe site in Taiwan with three sites/apps and over 1.2M monthly unique users have experienced gains since their adoption of Yahoo ConnectID.

Patrick Ng, head of data at Networld, said: “We wanted an optimum solution and Yahoo had it – to deliver the best experience for our audiences while maximising revenue and respecting our audiences’ privacy and choices. Yahoo’s identity solutions are tailored to help publishers navigate the cookieless digital landscape more efficiently.”

Derhong Yang, VP from LiTV (Taiwan) Inc, said: “By integrating Yahoo ConnectID, we have seen around a 79% increase in fill rate on cookieless browsers. Yahoo’s identity solutions offer an impactful and comprehensive alternative for publishers and advertisers to manage and reach audiences online. What’s more, they do this with a privacy-safe approach that is taking us in the right direction.”

Richard Lee, head of iCook, said: “Yahoo ConnectID has helped optimise our revenue stream with double digit growth in fill rates across our sites and apps. It has been a straightforward and seamless experience for us. As a trusted partner, Yahoo’s suite of identity solutions reinforces our readiness as we approach the cookieless world, helping to maximise our audience value in a privacy-safe manner.”

Netflix will release True Spirit, based on the inspirational true story of Jessica Watson as she sets out to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world.

The film, which was shot in Australia, will be released in select theatres in January 2023 and available on the streaming service from February 3.

True Spirit follows Watson (played by Teagan Croft) on her journey as she sets out to be the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world. She sailed out of Sydney in October 2009 on a non-stop voyage around the world and returned in May 2010.

Teagan Croft

With the support of her sailing coach and mentor Ben Bryant (Cliff Curtis) and her parents (Josh Lawson and Academy Award winner Anna Paquin), Watson is determined to accomplish what was thought to be impossible, navigating some of the world’s most challenging stretches of ocean over the course of 210 days.

True Spirit is directed by Sarah Spillane and written by Spillane, Rebecca Banner and Cathy Randall with Debra Martin Chase, Susan Cartsonis and Andrew Fraser serving as producers.

The film also co-stars Bridget Webb, Vivien Turner, Stacy Clausen and Todd Lasance in the true story of perseverance and human accomplishment that shows that you are only as big as the dreams you dare to live.

Josh Lawson, Anna Paquin with Teagan Croft

Sydney’s Sunstar Entertainment will produce True Spirit, with US producer Debra Martin Chase.
 
Sunstar’s directors, Shahen Mekertichian and Andrew Fraser, have worked together on this project for many years and were elated that it will finally be made into a feature film.
 
Mekertichian said: “The hallmark of Sunstar Entertainment has been to bring to the world audience true, inspirational, Australian-centric stories.

“We feel privileged to have finally found the right partner in Netflix to articulate Jessica’s incredible story authentically and without compromise. We’re really pleased to make this exciting announcement today,” she added.
 
Fraser said: “True Spirit has been Sunstar’s passion project. We have waited a long time for the stars to align and for us to feel comfortable that the right ingredients were present to do justice to Jessica’s achievement.

“Our partnership with Netflix will ensure Jessica’s epic story is shared with a global audience, as it deserves to. We’re really happy for Jessica too,” he added.

See also: Sydney’s Sunstar Entertainment making Jessica Watson biopic for Netflix

–

Top image: Teagan Croft with Jessica Watson

Teagan Croft with director Sarah Spillane

Audible is heading into summer full-steam ahead with its latest campaign, Summer Listens.

Featuring a timely curation of audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals, the campaign is brought to life through collaborations with News Corp Australia, Secret Sounds, the return of the Audible Live Club on Twitch, and top Australian content creators.  

The campaign evolved from insights demonstrating that:  

• Through summer months there is a 19% increase in Australian podcast consumption
• 41% of Australians choose to listen to audio content in the car
• 19% of Australians opt for an audiobook or podcast on a plane or train

Ben Rolleston, country manager for Audible Australia, said: “We’re thrilled to launch our Summer Listens campaign in conjunction with the country’s most established media outlets, platforms and content creators.
 
“Audible is always looking for ways to engage, excite and delight our community and, as the research shows, it’s clear summer is peak time for Australians to enjoy audio content.
 
“Our curated collection of audiobooks, podcasts and Originals ensures hours of entertainment for our members,” he added.

Audible’s Summer Listens campaign comprises the following collaborations:
 
• News Corp Australia, featuring branded editorial across Vogue, GQ and Delicious, and the wider News network; as well as podcast integrations with The Matty Johns Podcast, I Catch Killers, and Something to Talk About with Samantha Armytage.
 
• Live Nation Australia music fans via sponsorship of the Secret Sounds Harvest Rock Music Festival and promotions of Audible music titles (such as The Storyteller by Dave Grohl, Surrender by Bono and Origins – an Audible Original featuring Billie Eilish and Doja Cat) across Live Nation’s digital properties.

 • Twitch – back by popular demand is the return of the multi award-winning Audible Live Club, a fresh spin on a traditional book club. Australian creator Loserfruit (AKA Kathleen Veronica Belsten) will listen to excerpts from The Sandman audiobook while creating Sandman-themed scenes within her favourite game (The Sims) to create deeper engagement with her 2.8m followers.

 
• Social media – With a combined reach of 1.6m, popular content creators Matty J, Jules Sebastian, Ricki-Lee, Rachel Burke and Jayme Jo will each collaborate with Audible to ensure listeners and viewers across multiple genres have the opportunity to engage with the Summer Listens curation.
 
Audible’s Summer Listens collection includes a wide variety of genres spanning mystery, fantasy, wellbeing and inspirational memoirs, as well as featuring prominent personalities such as Prince Harry, Michelle Obama, Bono and Matthew Perry.

Bastion Transform has partnered with Google News Initiative to launch a series of newsroom experiments to support innovation and trusted journalism.

Three news organisations – Nine Publishing, the National Indigenous Times and BusinessDesk New Zealand, owned by publisher New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) – will launch live pilots in their newsrooms, focusing on business growth and editorial excellence.

The experiments will trial frameworks, and the results to be shared with the broader industry. 

Bastion Transform, the content strategy and digital transformation agency, led by former ABC news director Gaven Morris, is coordinating the projects over the coming six months, and measuring the outcomes and industry impact.

Morris said: “Newsroom innovation is more important than ever and finding the time and resources for journalism teams to step outside of daily coverage to shape, test and learn new ways of connecting with audiences is a struggle.

“This project enables editors and journalists to raise their sights beyond their deadlines and explore long-term change. It’s essential – it’s do or die,” he added.

See also: Former ABC director of news Gaven Morris to take over as Bastion Transform CEO
 
The experimentation will focus on the biggest challenges and opportunities the partner newsrooms identify across their operations including storytelling, resourcing, workflows, platforms, data, and technology.
 
Uma Patel, Google News Lab ANZ lead, said she hopes to see the newsrooms make bold choices, to test the frontiers of what might be possible and whether they produce quick wins or lessons for future success, the teams have nothing to lose.
 
“Journalists iterate every single day, there’s no one way to break a story and the best journalists adapt and try different strategies to get what they need to publish the news readers need to know – so I have no doubt they’ve got the skills they need to think of and test new ideas to boost their journalism.
 
“We want to create a framework for how to prioritise, design, run and review experiments and hopefully nudge newsrooms to go beyond their comfort zones. If we’re only exploring areas we already know will succeed, we’re not being ambitious. If we don’t fail at some points along the way, we’re not taking enough risks,” Patel added.
 
Nine Publishing executive editor Tory Maguire said the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major turning point for the industry.
 
“There’s been a big shift in the way our audiences consume news, and the types of stories they’re demanding. If anyone has perfected the response to this, I’m yet to find out about it. Nine’s metro mastheads are in a strong position, with a huge audience base to seek new territory – and this is an incredible opportunity to go exploring,” she said.
 
“I want to try things our newsroom has never ventured to do; across content and the way we operate. This is a high-return, low-risk project. Even if one of the experiments comes off, it’s a success.
 
“It’s amazing to have Gaven and Bastion helping us work through what we want to try, and Google’s support is invaluable,” Maguire added.
 
The National Indigenous Times is an independent First Nations-owned digital news publication, both online and printed. As it celebrates its 20th anniversary, it’s looking to the next stage of growth and audience success.
 
Reece Harley, NIT chief operating officer, said: “We’re a small team, with big ideas on an important mission – to tell Indigenous stories with integrity and to promote them into Australian conversations everywhere. We’ve never had the opportunity to be involved in a project like this – to have investment in ideas, techniques, and technology to keep us at the cutting edge of innovation.”
 
In New Zealand, BusinessDesk is already a fast-growing, quick-scaling digital native with a start-up culture and an editorial reputation for breaking great stories. General manager Matt Martel said the news media is now an industry defined by winners and losers, with the winners being the companies that innovate in tune with emerging audience demands.
 
“Newsrooms that embrace change are moving ahead and finding profit and success while those clinging to the past, or failing to be brave are falling behind. It is a great time to be a journalist as long as you’re supported to take risks, think laterally and be ahead of the others,” he said.
 
In the spirit of experimentation, the three teams will meet regularly and share their insights, challenges, and results.
 
“Working with other newsrooms will provide a fantastic proof point along the way,” Martel added.
 
At the conclusion of the program, even more newsrooms will get the chance to learn from the experimentation when Google presents the findings and learnings in an industry knowledge-sharing showcase.
 
“We want to see this resonate across the journalism industry. There’s never been more information on what engages audiences – excellent journalism matched with courageous exploration is the way to capture their minds,” Patel added.

Samsung Electronics Australia has announced that UNDSCVRD, one of the world’s earliest TikTok music reality shows, is back for a second season.

The nationwide search for the country’s next up-and-coming recording artist takes place entirely on TikTok, asking undiscovered artists to post and tag their audition videos to get the attention of the show’s producers.

Returning after a run last year with Aussie music icons The Veronicas, this year UNDSVRD will feature global R&B artist Tkay Maidza as mentor. Maidza has had a jam packed year, coming off a recent ARIA win for Best Soul/R&B release, headline tours in Australia and the US, and supporting arena tours for Dua Lipa in Australia and Billie Eilish in the US.

On the return of UNDSCVRD and her involvement in the show, Maidza said, “As someone who benefited from an artist development program, it’s a privilege for me to be able to give back and work with local artists to discover their musical potential.”

“Thanks to Samsung, UNDSCVRD is providing new artists with the opportunity to break into the music industry and I’m extremely excited to be included in that.”

Joining Maidza on UNDSCVRD will be accredited producer and writer James Angus and music video director Sam Evans.

Playing out as a daily documentary on TikTok, UNDSCVRD will showcase the journey of five budding artists as they work together on challenges and find their music identity through the creation of an original music track and accompanying music video.

The four-week vertical video series will be broadcast exclusively on the @UNDSCVRD_artist TikTok channel, with the first episode going live March 2023.

Tkay Maidza will guide and coach each of the contestants, offering insights as they learn the ropes of the music industry and how to put a personal touch on

Samsung Australia’s Garry McGregor, vice president, mobile experience sivision, said, “Our inaugural season of UNDSCVRD received so much love and support for the aspiring artists we have in Australia, we decided to launch a second season to continue nurturing our local musicians.”

“We’re excited to have the incredibly gifted Tkay Maidza join us as a mentor for season two, where she will support contestants as they develop their personal sound. It will be inspiring to see more hidden music gems unearthed through this experience.”

Each episode will be crafted to give the contestants a taste of the real world, including tips and tricks to cut through on TikTok.

The final TikTok episode will consist of a live concert in front of music industry executives and influencers, with performances from each of the contestants as well as Tkay Maidza.

Afterwards, each artist will have the opportunity to release their original single alongside a music video produced as part of the UNDSCVRD series, with the winner going on to record a five-track EP.

Auditions for UNDSCVRD are open from December 14 until 2 January 2023, with the final contestants announced on 10 January 2023.

To enter the competition, entrants can use the tags @UNDSCVRD_artist and #UNDSCVRD in a video on TikTok. Entries may include newly uploaded content or add these tags to existing videos of a performance.

–

Top image: Tkay Maidza

Are Media’s Gourmet Traveller is set to launch a dedicated GT Drinks section across its print and digital platforms in 2023.

GT Drinks, to launch in the February 2023 issue of Gourmet Traveller, will feature the best of premium wine and champagne, along with spirits, cocktails, non-alcoholic drinks and more.

The GT Drinks destination will also include a round-up of the latest drinks news and trends, including top drops, bar openings and cellar door profiles, along with expert insights and recommendations, and premium cocktail recipes.

Langton’s, Australia’s premier fine wine destination, has partnered with Gourmet Traveller to share its expertise and buying tips, courtesy of Langton’s Master of Wine, Ned Goodwin.

Gourmet Traveller editor Joanna Hunkin said GT Drinks aims to tap into Australia’s obsession with premium beverages.

“Gourmet Traveller has long been a trusted authority on the best in food, wine, and travel. The new GT Drinks section will extend this authority and dive deeper into the world of drinks, exploring new trends and openings, as well as practical tips and recommendations from industry experts,” she said.

Joanna Hunkin

“Post-pandemic, Australians have demonstrated an even stronger appetite for wine knowledge, and a desire to connect with the nation’s wine-making regions and embark on cellar door tours and more. The dedicated GT Drinks section will feed this demand with Gourmet Traveller’s signature intelligence, wit and nuance.

“We’re also absolutely thrilled to partner with Langton’s and Ned Goodwin – I know his wine recommendations will be must-read content for our wine-loving audience.”

The new GT Drinks section is part of Gourmet Traveller’s cross-platform initiative, with content integration opportunities across print and digital. QR codes and links will be included throughout the print and digital content to allow readers to purchase recommended wines.

Other Drinks contributors include long-time wine writer Katie Spain, who also serves as the magazine’s South Australia state editor and will expand her role to edit the monthly Drinks News round up. 

Acclaimed wine writer and former sommelier Samantha Payne will continue to share her insights and recommendations as she guides readers around Australian wine regions in her monthly Wine Country column, as well as sharing seasonal drinking guides and explainers.

Additionally, Gourmet Traveller contributor Matty Hirsch will delve into the world of cocktails and spirits, sharing the often-quirky history behind some of Australia’s most beloved tipples, along with recipes to recreate them and recommendations for the best spirits to use.

–

Top image: GT Drinks team

• Total TV: Season finale of Stuff The British Stole up 12%

Total TV Ratings, December 6

The season finale of Marc Fennell’s Stuff The British Stole was up 12%, taking 511,000 back through the search for the remains of Yagan, an Indigenous Noongar warrior from WA.

Nine’s Love Island Australia has pulled another massive total TV number, up 581% with 388,000 tuning in.

Brazil took on Korea in the FIFA World Cup, up 62% as 360,000 watched the match.

Overnight TV Ratings, December 13

Primetime News
Seven News 806,000 (6:00pm) /750,000 (6:30pm)
Nine News 698,000 (6:00pm) /684,000 (6:30pm)
ABC News 557,000
10 News First 223,000 (5:00pm)/136,000 (6:00pm)
SBS World News 110,000 (6:30pm)/86,000 (7:00pm)

Daily Current Affairs
A Current Affair 592,000
7.30 468,000
The Project 166,000 (6:30pm)/ 252,000 (7pm)
The Drum 128,000

Breakfast TV
Sunrise 243,000
Today 184,000
News Breakfast 163,000

Late News
ABC Late News 37,000
Nine News Late 105,000

Seven has won the night with a primary share of 19.6%, however Seven and Nine have tied for network share, both coming in at 27.6%. Multichannels was won by 9Gem with a share of 4.8%. 

In the Big Bash League season opener, Thunder took on the Stars on Seven. 273,000 tuned in for the low scoring match, which ultimately ended with the Thunder pipping Stars to the post and winning by one wicket. 

Nine’s A Current Affair spoke to the neighbours that kicked squatters out of a disabled man’s home, and investigated the story of alleged Queensland siege gunman Nathaniel Train for 592,000. Live coverage of the FINA World Swimming Championships saw 167,000 tune in for the finals of the Men and Women’s 4×100 freestyle relay, Women’s 400m freestyle, Men and Women 200m Individual Medley, and Men’s 1500m freestyle.

On the ABC, 7.30 also covered the Queensland siege that left six people dead, and looked at NSW protest laws for 468,000. A repeat of Anh’s Brush With Fame had 225,000 tune in as Anh painted Lisa Wilkinson, and a repeat of Love on the Spectrum then drew a crowd of 172,000. 

The Queensland siege was also a major topic on The Project (166,000 6:30pm / 252,000 7pm) on 10, with the show also interviewing ARIA winner Baker Boy. A repeat of Ambulance Australia followed, with 225,000. 

The highest rated show on SBS was a repeat of Who Do You Think You Are? with 135,000 tuning in.