Tuesday February 11, 2020
Radio Today’s Most Powerful Women on Radio in Australia
Radio Today said the 10 remarkable women (and the honourable mentions that follow) have real star power. They are engaging, smart, assertive, driven and brilliant communicators. They deliver the laughs and the ratings five days a week and are leading the way for other women to succeed in the radio industry.
Radio Today spent considerable time talking to industry experts and factored in the thoughts of leading radio programmers about who they consider being in the Top 10. It also factored in market size and the competitive landscape.
The 10 Most Powerful Women on Australian FM Radio in 2020
1. Jackie ‘O’ Henderson – KIIS 106.5 (#1 last year)
2. Chrissie Swan – Nova 100 (+)
3. Amanda Keller – WSFM (-)
4. Carrie Bickmore – Hit Network (+)
5. Kate Ritchie – Nova Network (+)
6. Jane Kennedy – Triple M Network (+)
7. Abby Burdon – Hit105 (+)
8. Fifi Box – Fox FM (-)
9. Robin Bailey – 97.3FM (-)
10. Susie O’Neil – Nova 106.9 (new)
“Every year Radio Today looks to the industry to help compile a list of the most powerful women on FM radio,” Jake Challenor, publisher and editor of The Music Network and Radio Today, told Mediaweek.
“Together we evaluate and debate profile, ratings, growth and influence in determining the Top 10. This year’s final selection are true stars, with a number of standout changes from 2019.”
“Again this year #1 goes unchanged as Jackie O holds her position, courtesy of continued double-digit survey results and a primetime TV gig. It’s also great to see Nova’s Chrissie Swan move up and Susie O’Neill arrive following the departure of Kate Langbroek from her full-time Drive show on the Hit Network.”
VMO appoints Programmatic Director for DOOH Marketplace
VMO’s Programmatic DOOH offering aims to transform out-of-home trading in Australia by delivering clients unique transactional simplicity and superior audience targeting capabilities.
Clarke will be responsible for the roll-out of the VMO Programmatic platform to advertisers nationwide. The marketplace has been designed for programmatic trading at scale, providing brands with access to more than 12,000 digital screens across Australia. With 100% of VMO’s screens digital and addressable in real time.
Paul Butler, Managing Director of VMO, said: “Braden is one of Australia’s most experienced advertising technology specialists with a real passion for programmatic.
“With more than 10 years of industry experience and having previously led an audience solutions and automated trading team, Braden is perfectly positioned to keep the business at the forefront of emerging technology and client solutions.”
Clarke’s most recent role was 10 years at Australia’s REA Group where he developed and delivered programmatic advertising solutions for some of Australia’s leading brands and agencies.
On the appointment Clarke said: “I’m delighted to be joining VMO at such a pivotal time for Programmatic DOOH.
“Automating DOOH transactions transforms trading efficiencies and targeting capabilities for media owners, agencies and advertisers alike. It simplifies the processes of determining available inventory, applying pricing rules, activating audience targeting and scheduling campaign delivery.
“I’m really looking forward to bringing my knowledge to a business that’s ideally positioned to bring the benefits of automated trading to the out-of-home channel.”
ABC bushfire coverage pushes website to #1 with 11.2m users
Latest data released by Nielsen, has revealed a change in the top spot for digital news rankings. Nielsen Digital Content Ratings data for January 2020 ranked ABC News websites first, with a unique audience of 11.2M (+11.3%) versus the prior month.
News.com.au finds itself in unfamiliar territory after it was shifted to second place (10.5m), followed by nine.com.au (9.3m) ranked third.
Yahoo! reported the highest growth (month-on-month) of the top 10 ranked news mastheads (+19.0%) in January 2020 versus the prior month.
MAFS recap & ratings: Not an ideal husband – immature, silly and too young!
25-year-old mother and law graduate, Stacey, is serious when it comes to finding love.
The experts decided to match her with rich goof-ball Michael; a 28-year-old company director who is also a single parent.
The clash in their personalities was evident at the ceremony when Michael’s vows were a concoction of ‘dad jokes’ that Stacey didn’t find that amusing at all.
“I don’t think he’s ugly, but he’s not normally what I go for,” Stacey said to producers; while also revealing she thinks he’s immature, silly and too young for him.
After a string of laughs and clownish behaviour on Michael’s end, Stacey teared up to him when they have a chat outside. She tried to remain positive and keep an open mind with their TV marriage, and they closed the night with a small peck.
Then we met 48-year-old teacher Mishel, who hasn’t had a fantastic history when it comes to dating. She revealed she’s been cheated on by seven (out of eight) partners, and that being unfaithful is a huge trigger for her.
The mother of two kids was matched with 51-year-old barbershop owner Steve.
A survivor of cancer, he’s gained some fresh perspective on life and revealed that he wants to find love with someone close to his age.
The wedding was off to a very smooth start when he comforted the nervous Mishel at the ceremony. They shared their beautiful vows with one another and then it was off to the reception.
Friction began when it was revealed that Steve had cheated in the past. Mishel teared up and he explained to her that when he had cheated 17 years ago, he was a low life. He said they’re here together in the present now and he will never cheat on her.
Convinced by his words, they giddily headed to bed after a long and emotional day. Let’s just say their kisses lasted a lot longer than Stacey and Michael’s.
Married at First Sight returns tonight at 7:30pm on Nine and 9Now.
Mamamia sees record audience this month across platforms
What women are talking about, candidly has been Mamamia’s content and audience ‘north star’ for over a decade, and today that has led the publisher’s ever-evolving platform to comprise of editorial, podcasts, social video, influencers, online communities, and LIVE tours.
Holly Wainwright, Mamamia’s Head Of Content, said: “Our big audience in January was driven by a real diversity of content that women were heavily engaged with: the problem with January 26th, bushfire relief and the politicisation of climate change, never-ending school holidays, Kobe Bryant’s history, Megxit, entertainment picks, fashion crimes and true crime.”
Third party verifier, Integral Ad Science (IAS), also scored Mamamia’s on-site ad inventory at a market-leading 83.2% total viewability for January. IAS’s recent industry report has publishers typically falling between 60-68% viewability.
Rob Farmer, Mamamia’s Group Director of Marketing, Podcasts & Partner Solutions, said: “Fragmentation and clutter play to the strengths of single, unifying brands. Our January audience is testament to the talent and focus inside Mamamia to reward the audience’s attention with the distinctive Mamamia content experience, whatever the subject or format. And the unique engagement our creators and communities generate is the sweet spot for our brand partners, because it translates to highly effective brand growth.”
Digital news media audiences grow as readers seek trusted news
Australian news media across print and digital platforms reaches nine in ten Australians (94%), or 17.71 million people aged 14+.
Print audiences remain strong with 12.89 million, or seven in ten Australians (69%), choosing print news formats.
NewsMediaWorks CEO, Peter Miller, said: “Premium, trusted content is an important differentiator for news media. The growth in digital audiences and the continued strength of print audiences is a strong validation that here is no more trusted media channel in the country than news media, both in print and digital channels.
“The premium environment that news media delivers continues to attract and retain large audiences for this reason. In addition, our AdTrust research has proven that trust in content and ads increases consumer intent to purchase, which provides a powerful return on investment to advertisers.”
The top 10 most read mastheads in Australia continue to deliver large and influential audiences.
As these mastheads add new ways to talk to audiences, they continue to grow their ability to reach Australians at scale.
Oscars 2020: Parasite infects the Academy with historic wins
Parasite has become the first foreign-language film to ever win Best Picture at the Oscars with Bong Joon-ho also taking home the statue for Best Director, on a monumental night for South Korean film making.
The night started out with a small bit of history with Brad Pitt claiming his first ever Academy Award, winning for Best Supporting Actor for Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Joaquin Phoenix won the Oscar for best actor for his dark turn as the Joker in the titular film Joker which was also a commercial success being the fifth highest-grossing movie in Australian in 2019. Phoenix delivered an emotional speech that mentioned his commitment to veganism and his deceased brother, River Phoenix.
Renée Zellweger won the second Oscar of her career for her portrayal of the final years of the iconic Judy Garland.
Australia’s Margot Robbie missed out on the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her work on Bombshell, with Laura Dern winning best supporting actress for her knockout performance in Marriage Story.
While it was a better story for our neighbours in New Zealand with Taika Waititi winning for Best Adapted Screenplay for his work on Jojo Rabbit.
NOMINEES AND WINNERS
Best supporting actor
Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes
Al Pacino, The Irishman
Joe Pesci, The Irishman
Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – WINNER
Best animated feature
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
I Lost My Body
Klaus
Missing Link
Toy Story 4 – WINNER
Best animated short
Dcera (Daughter)
Hair Love – WINNER
Kitbull
Memorable
Sister
Best original screenplay
Knives Out
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite – WINNER
Best adapted screenplay
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit – WINNER
Joker
Little Women
The Two Popes
Best live action short
Brotherhood
Nefta Football Club
The Neighbors’ Window – WINNER
Saria
A Sister
Best animated short
Dcera (Daughter)
Hair Love – WINNER
Kitbull
Memorable
Sister
Best production design
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – WINNER
Parasite
Best costume design
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women – WINNER
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Best documentary
American Factory – WINNER
The Cave
The Edge of Democracy
For Sama
Honeyland
Best documentary short
In the Absence
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl) – WINNER
Life Overtakes Me
St Louis Superman
Walk Run Cha-Cha
Best supporting actress
Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell
Laura Dern, Marriage Story – WINNER
Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit
Florence Pugh, Little Women
Margot Robbie, Bombshell
Best cinematography
The Irishman
Joker
The Lighthouse
1917 – WINNER
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Best sound editing
Ford v Ferrari – WINNER
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Best sound mixing
Ad Astra
Ford v Ferrari
Joker
1917 – WINNER
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Best film editing
Ford v Ferrari – WINNER
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Parasite
Best visual effects
Avengers Endgame
The Irishman
1917 – WINNER
The Lion King
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Best makeup and hair
Bombshell – WINNER
Joker
Judy
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
1917
Best international feature film
Corpus Christi
Honeyland
Les Misérables
Pain and Glory
Parasite – WINNER
Best original score
Joker – WINNER
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Best original song
I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away, Toy Story 4
I’m Gonna Love Me Again, Rocketman – WINNER
I’m Standing With You, Breakthrough
Into the Unknown, Frozen II
Stand Up, Harriet
Best actor
Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory
Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Adam Driver, Marriage Story
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker – WINNER
Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes
Best actress
Cynthia Erivo, Harriet
Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
Saoirse Ronan, Little Women
Charlize Theron, Bombshell
Renée Zellweger, Judy – WINNER
Best director
Martin Scorsese, The Irishman
Todd Phillips, Joker
Sam Mendes, 1917
Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Bong Joon-ho, Parasite – WINNER
Best picture
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite – WINNER
Box Office: Birds of Prey and Margot Robbie top the box office
The film was the first major release by Marvel or DC in 2020 and opened with $3.85m in its first weekend of release, although this is a sizeable drop from Robbie’s first portrayal of Harley Quin in Suicide Squad which made $13.90m in 2016 and was the highest ever opening weekend in Australia for the month of August.
The other new entry to the top five this week was André Rieu: 70 Years Young which made $1.23m in its opening weekend in theatres.
The films to drop out of the top five this weekend were Dolittle which has made $10.45m over four weeks and The Grudge which has made $1.28m in its two weeks of release so far.
Overall the Australian box office has seen an uptick of 7% making $13.48m.
#1 Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) $3.85m
Making more than triple any other film over the weekend the first feature film adaption of the titular DC comic book with an average of $7,293 on 528 screens.
#2 1917 $1.55m
While it missed out on a major oscar win, the Sam Mendes directed war film has continued its strong run in Australian theatres bringing its total to $18.85m after five weeks. With only a 7% decline this weekend the film managed an average of $4,951 on 314 screens.
#3 Bad Boys for Life $1.26m
After four weeks the third film in the Bad Boys franchise has finally dropped from the top spot that it has held for the last three weeks. The film made an average of $4,177 on 303 screens bringing its total to $16.43m.
#4 André Rieu: 70 Years Young $1.23m
The latest project from André Rieu has enjoyed a strong limited release on 140 screens, averaging $8,793.
#5 Midway $754,302
In its second week of release, the World War 2 film has made $2.30m to date after averaging $2,993 to date on 252 screens.
TV ratings Monday Week 7 2020: First survey week of 2020
Looks like there could no stopping Nine in Q1 ratings year again as Married At First Sight pushed above 1.1m for the second time this season with an episode that featured two weddings with some great back stories that pulled an audience just 14,000 short of the opening night numbers.
Also helping Nine to victory was A Current Affair on 782,000.
Out of news on Seven, Home and Away did 601,000 followed by My Kitchen Rules: The Rivals on 439,000, the episode down from 517,000 a week ago.
And get this, the numbers actually lifted for the US drama 9-1-1 to 500,000.
The live telecast of the Academy Awards did 305,000 on Seven in the afternoon. A repeat in the evening on 7flix could only manage 124,000.
Australian Survivor: All Stars was 10’s best with 605,000, down from 623,000 from the launch episode a week ago.
The Project 7pm did 496,000 and later in the night Hughesy, We Have A Problem was on 269,000.
Back Roads was competitive at 8pm with 635,000 which pushed it ahead of both Australian Survivor and My Kitchen Rules.
Four Corners did 568,000 after 589,000 a week ago.
Media Watch again did well on 588,000 after 646,000 a week ago. Several commentators opened both barrels on the show since the episode a week ago, but it doesn’t seem to have deterred much of the audience.
Later in the evening, Hamish Macdonald hosted his second Q&A with 399,000 after 462,000 a week earlier.
The best from SBS Monday was Michael Mosley: Trust Me I’m a Doctor on 144,000.
Week 6 TV: Monday
| MONDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 14.8% | 7 | 17.6% | 9 | 23.2% | 10 | 12.2% | SBS One | 3.4% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.2% | 7TWO | 2.8% | GO! | 2.6% | 10 Bold | 3.6% | VICELAND | 1.2% |
| ABC ME | 0.6% | 7mate | 2.3% | GEM | 3.5% | 10 Peach | 2.1% | Food Net | 0.9% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.3% | 7flix | 3.4% | 9Life | 1.6% | NITV | 0.1% | ||
| SBS World Movies | 0.7% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 18.9% | 26.1% | 30.9% | 17.9% | 6.2% | ||||
| MONDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 13.8% | 7 | 20.5% | 9 | 19.2% | WIN | 9.4% | SBS One | 3.0% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 1.7% | 7TWO | 4.0% | GO! | 3.8% | WIN Bold | 4.2% | VICELAND | 1.5% |
| ABC ME | 0.7% | 7mate | 3.0% | GEM | 5.4% | WIN Peach | 2.2% | Food Net | 0.9% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.2% | 7flix (Excl. Tas/WA) | 1.2% | 9Life | 1.9% | Sky News on WIN | 1.9% | NITV | 0.2% |
| TOTAL | 17.5% | 28.8% | 30.3% | 17.8% | 5.7% | ||||
| MONDAY METRO ALL TV | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTA | STV | ||||||||
| 88.5% | 11.5% | ||||||||
Monday FTA
- Married At First Sight Nine 1,140,000
- Seven News Seven 1,057,000
- Seven News At 6.30 Seven 1,032,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 893,000
- Nine News Nine 876,000
- A Current Affair Nine 782,000
- ABC News ABC 737,000
- 7.30 ABC 669,000
- Back Roads S5 ABC 635,000
- Australian Survivor: All Stars 10 605,000
- Home And Away Seven 601,000
- Media Watch ABC 588,000
- Four Corners ABC 568,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 553,000
- 9 1 1 Seven 500,000
- The Project 7pm 10 496,000
- My Kitchen Rules: The Rivals Seven 439,000
- Hot Seat Nine 419,000
- 10 News First 10 411,000
- Q+AABC 399,000
Demo Top 5
16 – 39
- Married At First Sight Nine 331,000
- Australian Survivor: All Stars 10 213,000
- A Current Affair Nine 131,000
- Seven News At 6.30 Seven 123,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 121,000
18 – 49
- Married At First Sight Nine 553,000
- Australian Survivor: All Stars 10 337,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 253,000
- A Current Affair Nine 248,000
- Seven News At 6.30 Seven 236,000
25 – 54
- Married At First Sight Nine 602,000
- Australian Survivor: All Stars 10 358,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 299,000
- A Current Affair Nine 282,000
- Seven News At 6.30 Seven 276,000
Monday Multichannel
- NCIS (R) 10 Bold 166,000
- Midsomer Murders 9Gem 150,000
- Peppa Pig PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 142,000
- Doc Martin PM 7TWO 140,000
- Bluey ABCKIDS/COMEDY 139,000
- Noddy Toyland Detective PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 139,000
- Octonauts PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 138,000
- Dot. PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 138,000
- Neighbours 10 Peach 134,000
- Rusty Rivets ABCKIDS/COMEDY 129,000
- Peter Rabbit ABCKIDS/COMEDY 128,000
- Hey Duggee ABCKIDS/COMEDY 126,000
- Law & Order: SVU Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 124,000
- The 92nd Annual Academy Awards PM 7flix 124,000
- Bondi Rescue Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 122,000
- Spicks And Specks ABCKIDS/COMEDY 120,000
- School Of Roars ABCKIDS/COMEDY 118,000
- New Tricks 9Gem 115,000
- Olobob Top PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 112,000
- Go Jetters PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 110,000
Monday STV
- Live: Australian Cricket Awards FOX CRICKET 65,000
- The Bolt Report Sky News Live 54,000
- Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 52,000
- Credlin Sky News Live 50,000
- The SimpsonsFOX8 43,000
- Kenny On Media Sky News Live 42,000
- American Dad! FOX8 39,000
- Live: Matildas’ Olympic Qualifiers FOX SPORTS 505 38,000
- Border Security: Australia’s Front Line FOX8 32,000
- PML Later Sky News Live 32,000
- Jeopardy! FOX Classics 31,000
- Call The Midwife BBC First 31,000
- The SimpsonsFOX8 31,000
- Family Guy FOX830,000
- Border Security: Australia’s Front Line FOX8 28,000
- Family Guy FOX827,000
- The Big Bang Theory FOX Funny 27,000
- American Dad! FOX8 26,000
- The OutsiderFOX SHOWCASE 26,000
- Midsomer Murders UKTV 26,000
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
Mail Online has 'winning formula' as digital ad revenues grow
Ad revenues were up by an underlying nine per cent year-on-year for the quarter across the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Mail Online.
A 17 per cent growth year-on-year in digital ad revenue at Mail Online offset a one per cent decline in print ad revenues, according to a trading update from Mail and Metro newspaper group DMGT.
Group chief executive Paul Zwillenberg told investors the online boost was “down to great content and great execution”.
“We have one of the best digital content teams in the business, generating 1,700 stories a day on average, tens of thousands of photos, and over 900 videos on average a day that we produce on the site,” he said.
Comedian only joking about price of inner-city warehouse
So the prospective buyers turning up at the open for inspections were surprised to be told $7m was the actual price expectation.
Then there was almost (non-comic) relief when the guide was adjusted down to $6m-plus.
It has now been snapped up ahead of next Saturday’s scheduled auction, with the buyer introduced by local agent Ben Southwell at Cobden & Hayson.
Although the sale price has yet to be revealed, realestate.com.au yesterday reported sales price “well above the $6m price guide”.
News Brands
InQueensland launches to quench thirst for Sunshine State news
Yesterday Solstice launched InQueensland, a news website focused on the state’s politics, business and culture.
Beecher, who is chairman of Solstice and Private Media, publisher of Crikey, said Queensland publishing was dominated by News Corp, which owns the Courier Mail, Gold Coast Bulletin and close to all regional newspapers after it bought APN News & Media’s regional papers in 2016. Nine, owner of The Australian Financial Review, also runs news website Brisbane Times.
Radio
3AW loses two big names ahead of 2020 AFL season
Ling will feature on Friday nights and Sundays for the national broadcaster who is shaking up its AFL coverage this season.
The Cats champion was a victim of circumstances at 3AW, caught in the crossfire of Channel 9’s takeover of Macquarie Media’s radio stations.
His Channel 7 commentary teammate Matthew Richardson has avoided a similar fate, verballing agreeing to a new deal at 3AW.
Ling will continue to juggle his TV commitments with his new radio gig which will also include being a part of a remodelled Saturday pre-game show alongside chief caller Alister Nicholson.
There is also more movement at 3AW with Caroline Wilson stepping away from the nightly Sports Today program where she has been a regular because of her expanding role on Nine’s Footy Classified show.
Television
Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal has been booted from MasterChef
Last week, it was revealed Dinner by Heston in Melbourne underpaid staff by more than $4m over three years, according to liquidators, with Network Ten today confirming he will no longer appear on MasterChef.
Network 10 has confirmed that the international chef will not be returning for his usual position on the judging panel, having regularly featured on the series for many of its 11 seasons.
“Heston has been a long-time member of the MasterChef Australia family, but he will not be appearing in the upcoming season,” a spokesman told the Herald Sun.
Network 10 did not give a reason for the move.
Hit Netflix show filmed in Toowoomba and Ipswich emu farm
British comedian Jack Whitehall told a Brisbane crowd at his stand-up comedy show on Saturday night the region would feature in the next season of his show Travels With My Father.
In the show Jack, an eccentric man in his early 30s, travels around the world with his father Michael Whitehall, an upper-class British man.
The show has in previous seasons visited Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, eastern Europe and the United States.
“We were in Toowoomba filming Travels With My Father,” Jack Whitehall said.
“We were in a cafe when one of our producers asked the somewhat older gentleman behind the counter what milk options do you have.
“‘We’ve got hot and cold’, he said.
Producer reveals the big secret all reality stars should know
Jana Hocking, who worked behind the scenes on The Bachelor, appeared on news.com.au’s Not Here To Make Friends podcast this week. While discussing Married At First Sight with co-hosts James Weir and Carla Bignasca, she let slip a big mistake some contestants make.
“I have one tip, should you ever enter a reality show: Fake it!” she said. “Don’t say, ‘I am petrified of spiders’. They’re going to put you in a room full of spiders!”
Last week, we saw MAFS producers put Poppy in a hot-air balloon after she revealed she was terrified of heights.
The Not Here To Make Friends podcast is streamed on Facebook Live every Sunday and Wednesday night after MAFS and available to download as a podcast.
Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello claims he felt bullied by Lucy and Kane Cornes
Apologising for calling him a thief on social media, Lucy, who is married to media personality and former Port Adelaide great, Kane, has blamed the attack on her feisty side. But Lucy, CEO of creative production agency She Digital, said she was also “unapologetic about protecting the industry”.
Sport
Deal for Rugby Australia to buy Shute Shield rights imminent
It was not clear on Monday whether RA had agreed to buy out the remainder of Club Rugby TV’s deal with the Seven Network, worth $1.25 million over the next five years.
But both parties said they expected to finalise the agreement on Tuesday, paving the way for RA to take its club-to-Wallabies broadcast rights package to market later this week and just in time for the coming season, which starts in April.
The predicted buy-out will bring to an end Club Rugby TV’s involvement in the Shute Shield, a competition its founder John Murray began streaming in 2013, when the ABC still broadcast the Match of the Day.
In 2015, Murray and new business partner Nick Fordham brokered a 10-year deal with the SRU and NSWRU to broadcast the competition on the Seven Network’s digital channel 7mate. It required the Sydney clubs to find $300,000 a year between them to pay Seven and Club Rugby TV, a burden that placed the SRU under financial stress if the final could not deliver the gate takings to cover the fees.
Triple treat: Perry claims third Belinda Clark award
Perry’s ability to influence a match with either bat or ball was on show during another strong year for the Australian side, allowing her to poll 161 votes, ahead of Alyssa Healy (153) and Jess Jonassen (87). The latest victory in another tight count at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium adds to her awards of 2016 and 2018.
There was one Test which fell in the voting period, of January 8 last year to January 8 this year, that being during last year’s Ashes tour at the County Ground in Somerset. In a drawn clash, Perry was the stand-out, stroking 116 in Australia’s first innings of 8-420 (dec) and 76 not out in the second in a player of the match performance.
The Australians are in their final preparations for the World Cup but have struggled so far through the tri-series against England and India. They hope to click as a unit in the final against India at Melbourne’s Junction Oval on Wednesday.
Return hit: Warner edges Smith to claim Allan Border Medal
A year ago, Warner, 33, and Smith, 30, were completing year-long suspensions and still being blamed for their roles in arguably Australian cricket’s darkest day – the sandpaper scandal in South Africa in 2018. On Monday night, their resurrection was completed when Warner polled 194 votes to be crowned the Allan Border medallist, fending off Smith and last year’s winner, Pat Cummins (185 votes).
Warner and Smith’s next challenge will be returning to South Africa for the first time since the Cape Town meltdown. The pair leave on Friday with Australia’s white-ball squads. Warner said he was ready to handle any abuse from a sometimes-confrontational South African crowd.
Foxtel tantrum reveals true worth of rugby TV rights
It’s a question Rugby Australia must have asked itself about its broadcast “partner” for the past 25 years, Foxtel.
A coalition of self-interested voices led by News Corporation (which owns 65 per cent of Foxtel) would have you believe RA has recklessly passed up Foxtel’s offer for the next five years of broadcasting rights, which priced the rights flat for a decade.
This is reckless, apparently, because rugby in Australia is a hot mess being led into TV rights oblivion by a team who need to know their place, take what they are given and be grateful for it.
Foxtel’s core negotiation tactic has been to bully the seller from going to market. But RA has called its bluff, and Foxtel and News Corp have been left making one hell of a song and dance about a set of rights they would like us to believe are no big deal to them.
* Matt Rowley is the founder of GreenAndGoldRugby.com and chief executive of Pedestrian Group, which is owned by Nine.
News Corp 'walks away' from rugby... yet again.
Far from it. None of its journalism is more ordinary than that which so readily savages any putative obstacle to its commercial interests. And nowhere is that craven genre more baldly practised than in its coverage of sports broadcast rights.
Holt Street’s newest victims are Rugby Australia and Foxtel’s competitor in the auction for rugby union’s next set of rights, Optus.
The Australian’s Wally Mason wrote on Thursday that Foxtel “has been actively involved in strengthening and developing all these [sporting] codes – it’s in their interests. The interests of Optus, on the other hand, lie not in contributing to the development of sport but in attracting subscribers to its phone services.” Wait on; only Optus wants to attract subscribers? Foxtel doesn’t?!