SCA-owned PodcastOne Australia is using experienced radio producers to EP some of its crucial new podcasts. One of them is Nic McClure who looks after The Briefing. The award-winning radio EP this week spoke about her new role. She’s not doing breakfast radio, but still gets up at crazy o’clock every day!
“This is the first time in 24 years I am producing outside of live radio,” McClure told Mediaweek. “With The Briefing there are some similarities to radio, it’s almost a hybrid of a breakfast show and a podcast. What I’m finding is different is the relationship with the listener. You don’t get the instant feedback you get from live radio. What I like is that the listener is in control and will listen when they are ready. It removes the elements of hooking and teasing, to get them to listen when you want them to.”
When it comes to radio shows, McClure has worked on the biggest including Kate Tim & Marty, The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Rosso on KIIS drive, Ugly Phil on Nova drive and Merrick and Rosso on Nova. She had no plan to be a podcast producer, but she did a weekend course at AFTRS on podcasting fundamentals, next things she knows SCA is on the phone. (Later this year McClure will teach AFTRS’s first radio production course.)
When McClure arrived at The Briefing, PodcastOne’s Grant Tothill and Sam Cavanagh has already secured the hosting talent.
After starting with a later release time to get everyone settled, the podcast now publishes daily at 6am. “The first half of the podcast is fresh headlines from that day, and the second half is a topic we dive deeper into. I get up earlier now than for any breakfast show I ever worked on – 2.30am. We need to be ready for 6am when people wake up.” Part of the time between wake-up and broadcast is filled with a commute from the Blue Mountains to SCA’s World Square HQ.
Compared to some of McClure’s breakfast show work, The Briefing is a relatively serious. McClure laughed: “I know, I have gone from working on the biggest rat in China with Kate, Tim and Marty to the incredible line-up of respected journos who work on the show.”
McClure said one of her contributions to The Briefing is making sure they keep it accessible for all listeners.
“Tom is amazing,” said McClure of host Tom Tilley. “It is quite incredible to work with journalists after working the FM commercial field. I feel like my IQ must be higher after working with Tom and the team.”
Tilley starts early every day at 5am. As to which of the hosts has the biggest challenge with early start, McClure said, “It might be Tom!” Helping him ease into the day when he arrives at PodcastOne is a fresh cup of peppermint tea followed by a coffee as soon as the barristers arrive downstairs. The co-hosts also start early the days they are on, but they are scattered around the country. Annika Smethurst is online from Canberra, Jamila Rizvi is out of Melbourne, while Jan Fran comes into the Sydney studio.
See also: Tom Tilley’s new PodcastOne all-star daily adventure
Editing The Briefing is perhaps the hardest discipline McClure has had to master moving from live radio. PodcastOne has been very focused on keeping the episodes to around 20 minutes so people can consume them during morning commutes. “We are generating really good content and it is very hard to edit. What I have done with a couple of interviews is release bonus episodes featuring an interview in its entirety.”
Because the podcast follows the news cycle it is hard to forecast highlights, but McClure told us to watch out for episode 100 dropping in August which might feature all four hosts on the same episode.
Listen to The Briefing here.
See also: Nic Clure on working with Kate, Tim and Marty in 2018
There was little movement in the June Podcast Ranker publisher top 10. The top two spots were again held by ARN/iHeartPodcast Network Australia and SCA’s PodcastOne.
ARN this week reported that in June, based on an analysis of 800k+ devices, listening across entertainment & lifestyle podcasts was up 12% while news was up 15%. These categories have shown continuous growth since March and are both now at record highs.
Listening across business & finance has seen a huge increase of 30% in June.
Podcast listening during the day, between 10am and 4pm, was also up in June with an increase of 32%.
ARN’s head of commercial audio & podcasts Corey Layton said, “Once again our podcast data is clearly showing the important role audio plays in our audience’s daily lives. Since March we have seen steady growth across entertainment & lifestyle and news categories as people balance their need to educate themselves with the latest information and entertain with light-hearted content. It’s also not surprising to see the increased popularity of business & finance content as Australians face new economic challenges and opportunities.
“As Australia’s #1 podcast publisher, ARN’s iHeartPodcast Network continues to innovate and expand our reach, providing the best local and global podcasts for both audiences and advertisers alike.”
The two movers on the Podcast Ranker publisher top 10 were Audioboom which went from #4 to #3 this month, while Crocmedia lifted one spot also, from #9 to #8.
Big names share their biggest confidence challenges on Claiming Your Confidence, The Podcast, hosted by Seven and former newsreader and author Katrina Blowers.
The new show launched July 13 on iTunes and Spotify with three episodes dropping on week one. The first guests were Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew, comedian, actor and broadcaster Merrick Watts and record-breaking ultra-runner Jacqui Bell.
Each week listeners are being promised a peek behind the curtain into the confidence journeys of influential celebrities, change-makers, business leaders, athletes and more.
Future guests include radio announcer Bianca Dye on conquering your inner critic, PepTalkHer founder Meggie Palmer on how to nail your next salary negotiation, entrepreneur Samantha Wills and plus-size advocate Curvy Sam.
Watts is extraordinarily open about hitting his biggest confidence low after departing Triple M. “There was a period there where I was completely lost,” he told Blowers. “Outwardly, everyone was going ‘Mez is the same’, but inside I was just burning. And it was about my confidence.”
Bartholomew shares her struggles with body confidence and overcoming imposter syndrome. “That can be the biggest enemy of confidence, self-doubt, second-guessing yourself and always thinking back and wondering what you could have done differently.”
Claiming Your Confidence, The Podcast, is part of Blower’s mission to reframe the confidence conversation – particularly for women – after having a panic attack live on-air while she was reading the news a few years ago.
Listen to Claiming Your Confidence, The Podcast here
Longtime Hamish & Andy radio and now podcast contributor Jack Post came back to his other role at Gold 104 in Melbourne this week after a two week break during which time he had an operation on his nose.
Post is a member of the team on Melbourne’s #1 FM breakfast program The Christian O’Connell Show. He started the radio week back in lockdown from his home studio, recovering from an operation for a deviated septum. “It will give me greater airflow through my nose, improve my voice, and improve my general well-being,” he told his radio colleagues.
Post said it will take a few weeks for his “new” voice to be fully revealed. He tried to restrict his talking segments on the radio, but to little avail as O’Connell peppered him with questions throughout his first day back. Post said the surgery had knocked him for six, as he didn’t foresee the surgery would be so painful.
Both of Post’s shows are in the Podcast Ranker Australia Top 100, with Hamish & Andy at #2 and The Christian O’Connell Show a little lower down the chart, but up 13 places this month.
If you’ve been following the Mushroom Group’s Teskey Brothers podcast since we mentioned it here last month, it is currently up to episode #4. The final two episodes will be released from the six-episode series on Tuesday July 21 and 28.
Music journalist and 180 Grams podcast host Mikey Cahill narrates the highs and lows The Teskey Brothers endured while recording the Run Home Slow album in their home studio in Warrandyte. Cahill takes listeners inside Team Teskey to hear how they overcome the pressures of recording the “very difficult” second album, resolve tensions of conflicting creative ideas and follow the heavy toll it takes on the group physically and mentally.
Hosts Hamish Blake and Andy Lee started their radio careers with PodcastOne Australia’s parent company, SCA, and have converted their ingenuity and connection to fans to drive growth in audience downloads of their enduring pods over the last 12 months by 125%*.
Hamish & Andy is the biggest entertainment brand in Australia and the podcast has been a regular at the top of the CRA Australian Podcast Ranker since October 2019 and across the Apple and Spotify charts.
Marking the milestone Hamish and Andy said: “While we’ve always said we’d save the fireworks show for the millionth episode, it’s nice to be on the way!”
SCA head of podcasting, PodcastOne Australia, Grant Tothill, said: “It is great to see Hamish & Andy maintain their spot as Australia’s number one comedy podcast and to celebrate 100 episodes. They really are the benchmark when it comes to how they approach creating their podcast series. For those that haven’t listened, now’s the time. Start at episode one and listen all the way through to the 100th episode.”
The new sponsor for the podcast is Uber Eats.
What happened on episode #100
• The hosts had an update on the much-anticipated Loyalty Cards. Maybe three weeks away? And it was confirmed the Chapel Street Trader’s Association (in Melbourne) will accept the cards.
• The listener with a special skill was able to identify the exact episode that clips Hamish & Andy played came from. The listener earned a coin, despite failing with one of the guesses.
• Any promised a special guest at the end of the episode. (Special guests are pretty rare on the Hamish & Andy podcast.)
• The winner of the Hamish Blake copper ball is revealed – a listener with one testicle! Listener Mark said: “I had a number years with one ball and it would be good to have a second.”
• The special guest? Seven minutes before the end, Andy revealed the special guest was Brett who claimed to be able to finish any Simpsons quote. (Spoiler: Brett wasn’t very good when he first appeared.) “When he first appeared, he created the low bar that every other special skill just hopes to jump over.”
See also: Podcast Week: The Briefing’s Nic McClure, Katrina Blowers, Jack Post
*source Omny data
The August issue of delicious. magazine, on sale today, is themed entirely around zero waste to inspire readers to become more confident at approaching a no-waste lifestyle.
Full of practical tips from experts to help readers adapt easy and delicious ideas for home and life, the issue draws on an incredible line-up of guest editors including, Joost Bakker, Ronni Kahn, Mike McEnearney, Matt Stone, Jo Barrett, Matt Wilkinson, Lisa Margan and Josh Niland. They all share advice and information on how they reduce waste in the kitchen – from ingredients to packaging – and also at home.
To coincide with the release of the zero-waste issue, delicious. has also launched a new podcast series Use It Up, hosted by delicious. food director Phoebe Wood (pictured). Each of the weekly episodes has been designed to provide information to empower listeners to have more confidence in the kitchen, what to think about before they buy, how to plan ahead and to set practical goals to help reduce food waste in Australia.
Editorial director Kerrie McCallum said: “Our zero-waste issue has been in the works for some time, but never has the conversation been more relevant. It can take 25 years for a head of lettuce to decompose in landfill. Food waste costs the Australian economy $20 billion per year, yet so many Australians go hungry.
“It just makes sense to approach food and cooking through the lens of seasonality and waste reduction. If food has to travel a long way, out of season, and then gets thrown away because we didn’t use it, these are bad habits to fall into. This is where Use it up comes in, to help listeners at home.”
Each week on the podcast Wood will be joined by special guests, thought leaders and innovators, including delicious. contributors Matt Preston, Darren Robertson, Magdalena Roze, Ronni Kahn, Silvia Colloca, Monty Koludrovic, Danielle Alvarez, Matt Moran and Cornersmith duo Alex Elliott-Howery and Jaimee Edwards, to inspire no-waste techniques to apply at home.
Wood said: “I am so excited to help people bring these practices into their own homes so we can all work toward a more sustainable future together.”
Wood has been the food director of delicious. for more than five years. She inspired the regular delicious. zero-waste content in the monthly magazine, having grown up in the Blue Mountains, outside Sydney, with a family who grew their own vegetables, and bottled and preserved anything they had left over each season. She is a trained cook and a great recipe writer, who has a knack for making even the most questionable things delicious, whether it is fennel-frond pasta or bottom-of-the-fridge kimchi.
To listen to and read more visit delicious.com.au/podcast or search ‘delicious Use It Up’ wherever you get your podcasts.
Multi-award-winning South African-New Zealander Urzila Carlson is set to bring her humour, heart and head full of general knowledge, to the dynamic panel of The Masked Singer Australia.
Urzila will replace Lindsay Lohan for season two of The Masked Singer Australia, joining Jackie O, Dave Hughes and Dannii Minogue on the panel of Australia’s wildest guessing game.
No stranger to Network 10, this beloved stand-up comic is Have You Been Paying Attention? royalty, known to finish on top of the leader board thanks to her finger that is glued to the pulse.
Host Osher Günsberg said: “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Urzila into the bonkers world of The Masked Singer Australia. She is an absolute crack up, and will fit right in as the panel tries to guess who is who!”
As she prepares to kick-start her glitzy prime time role, new panelist Urzila Carlson said: “Being on The Masked Singer Australia is very exciting – it’s not something I thought I would ever do, but when I got the call to say ‘Lindsay can’t make it because of Cyrus The Virus, could you step in?’, I immediately said yes.
“I’m pumped to do the show, but I’m also upset that Lindsay can’t be the other panellist. But for anyone who is at home and angry, think about this – I have to wear her wardrobe because they’ve already spent the money, so they are just putting in a few clips for me. Spare a thought for me, and tune in just for that, and the amazing talent under the masks!”
Tasked with leading the BritBox Australia strategy and team, Hogan joins from Network 10, where she was head of content and commercial partnerships for Digital Media. She has proven experience in launching digital products to market, as well as leading content, product and commercial strategy for leading Australian digital platforms.
In addition, Richard Hill has been appointed head of launch marketing and PR, joining BritBox from his position as digital ltrategy Lead for SBS.
BritBox is an ad-free subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service that is promising Australians the ultimate collection of British content from across the decades, including classic and contemporary box sets, delivered via a wide range of mobile and connected home devices.
As BritBox country manager, Hogan will work closely with the BritBox North America team, where the service has already launched in 2017, followed by Canada in 2018 and the UK in 2019.
Fiona Lang, general Mmanager for BBC Studios ANZ, said: “Moira has an impressive background in launching and growing digital products, with experience across content, commercial and strategy. She has the ambition and vision to lead this exciting new offering for Australian audiences. With Richard’s industry-leading skills in digital marketing also on board, we are putting in place a formidable team to enable us to take the next step in BritBox’s launch plans.”
Martin Goswami, group strategic partnership and distribution director, ITV, said: “Both Moira and Richard’s skill sets and digital expertise perfectly complement our requirements for BritBox Australia, as we look towards establishing the brand as one of Australia’s premium SVOD platforms. We are delighted to welcome both to the team.”
Moira Hogan said: “ITV and BBC Studios have created a premium SVOD product in BritBox and I’m excited to lead its launch in Australia. The partners have an unrivalled catalogue of British programs, with some of the world’s best-known acting and presenting talent, which we’ll be able to offer local audiences, curated and all in one place.”
Richard Hill added: “I have a long-held passion for British content and am incredibly excited to be given the opportunity to launch, and grow, a SVOD service from these two iconic broadcasters.”
Hogan was recently the head of content and commercial partnerships for digital media at Network 10, where she was responsible for the delivery of digital content, editorial and commercial partnership strategy for 10 Play.
Prior to this she was the general manager of content partnerships at Telstra Media leading the overall content partnerships strategy for Telstra TV and Big Pond Movies services, including the launch of Telstra TV, achieving commercial and audience growth.
Hogan has over 20 years’ experience within the Australian media, entertainment and telecommunications industries and has also held roles at Fetch TV, Fox Sports and the ABC.
Hill was recently digital strategy lead for SBS, devising digital marketing strategies to grow audience consumption, across the suite of digital products and including SBS on Demand.
Hill joined SBS from Lego ANZ, where he was the digital marketing manager overseeing the digital strategy to acquire and retain consumers. Prior to this, Hill was the senior customer growth marketing manager at eBay ANZ.
He has also worked as the head of digital marketing and the digital & communities manager at BBC Worldwide ANZ (now BBC Studios).
Teams from around Australia present mouth-watering dishes from around the world as teams compete in what is being called the ‘World Cup of Cooking’.
Seven’s director of network programming Angus Ross told Mediaweek that Plate of Origin was impacted by COVID-19 in that there will only be 10 episodes. “We had to modify what we were doing in order to get something to air. We are quite happy with the way it has worked out.”
In the first sneak, peek of the show provided by Seven viewers are given a glimpse at the visually stunning meals that are prepared and the cultural diversity that is on display with a series of dishes representing a broad range of cultures.
Stay tuned for an official air date for Plate of Origin on Seven.
The show initially aired on Channel Nine between 2007-2012 with a brief return in 2016, and will now air on its new home on Seven, despite a delay due to COVID-19 the show will air in July 2020.
With nine marriages and 20 babies in Australia and 147 marriages and 280 babies worldwide. The show is back with a new crop of single farmers who are ready to find their soulmate in the shows 10th season.
The farmers on the latest rendition of the show are Alex, Harry, Neil, Nick, and Sam with each one choosing their eight favourite applicants who were selected from thousands of potential wives who applied online. After a series of dates the farmers will then choose four of them to come back to their farm for a month.
Seven’s director of production Andrew Backwell told Mediaweek earlier this month about the production of Farmer Wants a Wife: “It has all been delivered and starts on air soon. We are very happy with the way it has come up. It is almost an antidote to Married at First Sight. It offers genuine love affairs, a bit of Mills & Boon. We genuinely want the relationships to work. It is about going back to basics and helping couples finding true love.”
Television presenter Natalie Gruzlewski will make her primetime return in 2020 as host of Farmer Wants A Wife.
Gruzlewski hosted eight seasons of Farmer Wants a Wife 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.”
Toyota Australia, IGA, Youfoodz, BUPA, Lilydale, Horticulture Australia and Mayvers, have all been confirmed as sponsors of Farmer Wants a Wife. All partners will feature throughout Farmer Wants A Wife.
Natalie Harvey, SWM network sales director, said there had been a strong response to the unique proposition offered by Farmer Wants A Wife. “We’re so excited with the response Farmer Wants A Wife has had in the market.
“It provides an authentic and safe environment for brands to align with real love stories that will capture the hearts of Australians. It’s the world’s most successful dating show, including here in Australia where it’s sparked nine marriages and 20 babies. Our partners are keen for Farmer to get underway to share their brands and products with this much-loved show and its highly engaged audience.”
“Farmer will also be part of our EAVE proposition enabling increased engagement and cut- through for brands. We have seen a very positive impact in terms of audience retention in a decluttered advertising environment through Big Brother and expect to see a similar result for Farmer.”
Farmer Wants A Wife is a Fremantle and Eureka co-production for Channel Seven.
Seven News 1,203,000/1,157,000
Nine News 1,081,000/995,000
ABC News 824,000
A Current Affair 762,000
7.30 696,000
The Project 351,000/595,000
10 News 401,000/248,000
Nine News Late Edition 398,000
The Latest: Seven News 307,000
Sunrise 269,000
News Breakfast 223,000
The Drum 221,000
Today 211,000
SBS World News 192,000
Wednesday TV
Seven: Home and Away is having a great week with Wednesday on 681,000 after audiences already of 695,000 and 677,000.
Big Brother served the housemates another curveball with Mat winning a game advantage. Then he unveiled his biggest twist yet – recent evictees Sophie and Kieran had been sheltering in the White Room. Dan, Mat, Chad and Sarah watched on as Kieran took Big Brother’s cash temptation, exiting the game with $15,000 from the main cash prize. Just as Seven’s production chief Andrew Backwell forecast here a few weeks ago! The Wednesday audience was 711,000, with Bachelor in Paradise attracting a slightly bigger 16-39 audience. Big Brother returns next Monday to start finals week.
Two great guests on The Front Bar with Santo Cilauro and then former Melbourne star (and father of Jack), Todd Viney. Special mention to The Front Bar researchers who did an amazing job building the clips folder for Viney. The episode did 383,000 with 247,000 in Melbourne.
Nine: A Current Affair’s audience held up well with 762,000 after 767,000 on Tuesday. The episode started with a look at lockdown restrictions in Victoria.
Three hours of factual followed with RBT on 534,000, the second episode of the new season of Emergency on 592,000 and then Botched on 112,000 from three markets.
Footy Classified was on 96,000 with 75,000 in Melbourne.
10: The launch of Bachelor in Paradise was featured on The Project plus there was an interview with Ellie Goulding. The episode did 595,000.
The launch of Bachelor in Paradise looked a little ordinary if measuring success by all people numbers. But the launch won the younger demo and was up on last year’s start.
Network 10’s head of programming Daniel Monaghan on last night’s Bachelor in Paradise commented: “We’re pleased with how Australians have welcomed the launch of season three of Bachelor in Paradise. It was the #1 show last night among 16 to 39s, set social media ablaze and generated countless water cooler moments – even if it’s the virtual water cooler this time around.
“This season will continue to captivate viewers, with cheeky fan favourites and plenty of drama finding its way onto the island. I’m confident Bachelor in Paradise will provide the fix of tropical escapism Australia needs right now.”
The launch had the highest livestream audience ever for a Bachelor in Paradise ep on 10 Play and up 201% from the 2019 launch.
ABC: Hard Quiz had great night, ranking at #8 with 707,000, as it returned from a break.
The 100th episode of The Weekly with Charlie Pickering had bad news for Hard Chat fans, calling an end to the segment. The Weekly was on 642,000, a big jump from 534,000 a week ago.
The second week of Rosehaven then did 484,000 after launching with 468,000.
SBS: Sir Tony Robinson ended his journey around the world with a trip through Scandinavia, south from the arctic circle in Norway. The episode just missed the top 20 with 352,000.
The third episode of Who Gets to Stay in Australia was on 146,000.
WEDNESDAY METRO | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
ABC | 12.9% | 7 | 20.6% | 9 | 18.6% | 10 | 11.1% | SBS One | 5.5% |
ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.8% | 7TWO | 3.3% | GO! | 2.1% | 10 Bold | 4.5% | VICELAND | 1.9% |
ABC ME | 0.7% | 7mate | 2.1% | GEM | 2.9% | 10 Peach | 2.3% | Food Net | 1.0% |
ABC NEWS | 1.8% | 7flix | 1.6% | 9Life | 2.0% | NITV | 0.2% | ||
9Rush | 1.2% | SBS World Movies | 1.0% | ||||||
TOTAL | 18.2% | 27.7% | 26.8% | 17.9% | 9.5% |
WEDNESDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
ABC | 11.8% | 7 | 19.2% | 9 | 17.1% | WIN | 8.3% | SBS One | 4.8% |
ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.4% | 7TWO | 4.5% | GO! | 3.0% | WIN Bold | 6.1% | VICELAND | 2.3% |
ABC ME | 0.8% | 7mate | 3.6% | GEM | 4.7% | WIN Peach | 2.5% | Food Net | 0.6% |
ABC NEWS | 1.8% | 7flix (Excl. Tas/WA) | 1.8% | 9Life | 2.6% | Sky News on WIN | 1.8% | NITV | 0.2% |
SBS Movies | 1.6% | ||||||||
TOTAL | 16.9% | 29.0% | 27.4% | 18.8% | 9.5% |
WEDNESDAY METRO ALL TV | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTA | STV | ||||||||
88.5% | 11.5% |
16-39 Top Five
18-49 Top Five
25-54 Top Five
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
The Victoria Cross recipient is suing The Sydney Morning Herald, The Canberra Times, and The Age, in Melbourne, for defamation over articles he claims portray him as a war criminal – an allegation he strenuously denies.
The Federal Court heard on Wednesday that the newspapers had subpoenaed the war veteran over any documents he may have relating to an inquiry into claims Australian Defence Force troops committed war crimes in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016.
The right-wing activist was grilled about comments she made likening Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdown to prison and she later complained about her treatment on Twitter.
She also claimed she was being “silenced” in an Instagram post.
A Channel 9 spokeswoman denied Lorraine’s claims.
“Today interviewed DeAnna Lorraine who is a prominent Californian former Republican candidate on her views that Victoria’s COVID-19 are ‘total enslavement’. But as soon as the interview began DeAnna ranted about dangerous conspiracy theories about Coronavirus. Her Skype link coincidentally dropped out and it was too difficult to conduct a measured debate with a patchy line making any discussion impossible,” a spokeswoman said.
The announcement came during a special 100th episode of The Weekly. Pickering teased Gleeson’s appearance early in the show, telling viewers Gleeson had a big announcement.
When Gleeson appeared he said this would be his last appearance on The Weekly. Pickering questioned Gleeson and asked if he was serious, as Gleeson had previously announced the end of Hard Quiz, only to later reveal it was a stunt. “Can we trust you Tom?” asked Pickering.
“I have definitely quit,” replied Gleeson. “I have run out of people to Hard Chat on this show. There is no one left.”
Gleeson added: “On my last episode of The Weekly I am so proud that over our entire time here, I’ve used the ABC to keep the coalition in power the entire time we have been on air. Scott Morrison if you’re watching, you’re welcome!” Gleeson also talked about his other achievements on The Weekly including helping Grant Denyer to win the Gold Logie. He also showed the clip of Sophie Monk talking about The Bachelorette before 10 offered the role.
Charlie Pickering said, “Hard Chat will go down as one of the great segments. Tom Gleeson…I’m very sad to see you go, but I have to say what a joy it has been for 100 episodes over six years. Making this show with you has been an absolute pleasure.”
Remini, an actress and author who starred in the hit sitcoms The King Of Queens and Kevin Can Wait, alongside leading man Kevin James, was interviewed for the Seven News series, Scientology Black Ops.
The series, fronted by journalist Bryan Seymour, was set to feature former Scientologists Remini, film director Paul Haggis, and Mike Rinder, an ex-executive with the controversial church.
However, it is believed the series was thwarted by legal hurdles, and the network could not proceed unless those issues were resolved.
A Seven spokesperson said: “7News adjusted the scheduling of the series of its own volition and due to legal concerns.”
The 10 winners will become the inaugural members of the Binge Club, home to the country’s biggest and best Bingers, and receive a free 12-month Binge standard subscription.
The marketing move will be a source of viewer-generated content. As an official Binger, they winners will get to review and talk about their favourite titles on the platform with a chance to have their reviews published across News Corp publications and Binge channels.
Binge chief marketing officer Louise Crompton said: “Binge has over 10,000 hours of unturnoffable entertainment. It’s the world’s best shows and movies from the world’s best creators. Binge says it’s okay to switch off and escape the world while indulging in an episode of a show you love, and another – in fact we stand for it.
“And now with the Binge Club, we are out to find the country’s biggest Bingers that love content, and love to talk about content. And in return we will share your reviews with Australia as one of our official Bingers – letting people know what to watch, and what’s hot.
Former Gogglebox favourites turned podcasters and binge experts, Adam Densten and Symon Lovett, have made a name for themselves out of watching and talking about TV and say it’s the best job they’ve ever had.
“They always say make your passion your job and you’ll never work a day in your life, so I guess we haven’t worked for a little while,” they said.
“Bingeing is the most time efficient way to watch anything. We’re not sure this is backed by science. But we’re strong advocates.”
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan confirmed on Wednesday that Victorian clubs would relocate to Queensland for up to 10 weeks and potentially the remainder of the home-and-away season.
He thanked Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for her government’s assistance in allowing the Victorian clubs to base themselves in the state subject to the strict protocols. Palaszczuk said she told McLachlan that “if the season is based here – then the grand final should be played here too!”
Not so fast, said MCC chief executive Stuart Fox. “The AFL grand final is many weeks away and as both the Victorian sports minister [Martin Pakula] and AFL CEO have said this afternoon, there is every intention for the match to be played at the MCG,” Fox said.
Seven Victorian teams will be in Queensland next week while others roll through Perth following Collingwood and Geelong.
Melbourne will move to Queensland after playing Hawthorn at Giants Stadium on Sunday, but the Hawks are slated to remain in Sydney until after round eight and then fly straight to Perth for three games.
McLachlan stressed this redeployment was for the home-and-away season and a decision about the grand final would need to wait.
Every Victorian and NSW-based Supercars racing team will also relocate to Queensland from next week, while the NRL is prepared to follow suit if the current coronavirus situation in Sydney continues to worsen.
In a coup worth an estimated $30 million to the state’s ailing tourism industry, the Queensland government has allowed the AFL to base Victorian teams here for the next 10 weeks and will fight hard for the rights to the grand final, one of the biggest events on the Australian sporting calendar.
With the NRL’s Melbourne Storm already based on the Sunshine Coast, it means Queensland will be home to at least 18 of the country’s top football teams over the coming months – more if the NRL and soccer’s A-League join the rush.
Seven Supercars teams from southern states will arrive in Queensland next week to establish their own hubs, while NRL Acting CEO Andrew Abdo yesterday said ‘nothing was off the table’ to keep the season on track.