Whether it’s a childhood jingle that you can still sing word for word, or a campaign that influences the way you work today, everyone has an ad that has really stuck with them.

Mediaweek has been asking the industry to take a trip down memory lane, to find out all about the ads that made us. 

Seb Rennie – chief commercial officer, SCA

Nike – Parklife

“This was part of an outstanding run of Nike football ads (Nike, Good vs. Evil and Nike, Brazil Airport are worth a look too) that were released around the time of two of my favourite football tournaments – Euro ’96 and France ’98.”

Sophie Stone – strategy director, This is Flow

Mitre10: You’re Dreaming – Aussies, No Surprises There

“Call me biased but I’ve always believed that New Zealand produces some of the best TV ads, with that distinct Kiwi banter and playful nod to our local culture in an inside joke kind of way.

“One of my most memorable examples is Mitre 10’s 2008 sandpit ad, which took a light-hearted dig at our Aussie neighbours, while also embracing our Kiwi ingenuity pride – both ingredients were a sure-fire way to become world famous in NZ. The ad featured three kids discussing their ‘Pretty big job’ renovations, and when they asked Aussie mate Jonesey for a hand, he responded in the way only an Aussie would – launching the adorable catchphrase ‘Nah mate, ya dreaming’.

“The ad became so loved it was crowned NZ’s favourite in the annual Fair Go ad awards of 2009 (yes, we take immense pride in our ads, even voting for the best and worst in the annual TV competition), and it was even recreated 12 years later with the grown-up kids for a news segment.

“Even after 15 years, phrases like ‘Hey Jonesey’, ‘Nah mate ya dreaming’, and ‘She’s a pretty big job’ are still used among friends and family. But if someone dares to suggest that our iconic catchphrase was actually inspired by the Aussie film The Castle, we’ll simply respond with a knowing smile and say, ‘Aussies, no surprises there.'”

Dom Megna – executive creative director, Spinach

Speeding: No one thinks big of you.

“I began my career working on TAC and learned quickly behavioural change is hard. Even harder when it’s aimed at young guys. Then I saw this idea. It was the holy grail and still is for me. A magnificently brutal takedown of boy racers that hits them exactly where it hurts. I love that it’s this brilliant blend of psychology, strategy and creative. My only issue with it is that it was short-term and didn’t extend beyond NSW. It should be national and still going today.”

See Also: The Ads That Made Us: Koalas, cars, and congratulations all around

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Top Image: Seb Rennie, Sophie Stone, Dom Megna

Last month, Outbrain announced the launch of Onyx, a new branding platform designed to maximise the business impact of awareness and consideration campaigns.

The platform features custom large ad formats designed to drive high attention from contextual Pre-Roll Video and High-Impact Display experiences. Initial launch partners included Ford via Xaxis, among other brands across the automotive, tech, retail, health, and CPG categories.

Launched in partnership with Adelaide, a leader in the rapidly growing field of attention-based media quality measurement, Onyx aims to increase campaign effectiveness and return on ad spend for enterprise brands and agencies. 

Mediaweek spoke with Outbrain’s executive vice president brand solutions, Ayal Steiner, to find out all the ins and outs of Onyx.

For those unfamiliar with the product, what is the elevator pitch for Onyx by Outbrain?

“Onyx is a completely new branding platform designed to drive stronger brand impact from display and video ads by optimizing for user attention. Onyx is built to find and serve ads in placements and in moments that cut through the noise and win real user attention. Onyx uses Outbrain’s AI engagement engine to predict moments where users have shown to have higher attention levels. Using new interactive ad experiences that are built for user engagement, Onyx ensures ads are not just seen, but are actually engaged with.”

What inspired the creation of Onyx? Are there any gaps in the market you are looking to fill with it?

“Traditional advertising methods often struggle to capture and maintain user attention in the noisy digital environment. At the same time, an increasing percentage of advertisers are considering attention as a key metric for their campaign and brands are looking to boost their upper-funnel awareness and consideration campaigns.

“Onyx aims to fill this gap by going beyond traditional ad views, providing a solution that not only brings greater performance, but also optimizes user attention through strategic ad placements and measures the actual attention that users give to those ads.

“For the past 15 years, we’ve obsessed about building technology that revolutionizes the way advertisers worldwide engage and acquire customers through online advertising. We bring this DNA and level of accountability to brand marketers with Onyx as we harness the power of AI to predict the exact moment a user is ready to pay attention and engage with a brand message.”

Why was Adelaide the right fit to partner with on Onyx?

“Adelaide’s Attention Unit (AU) measurement aligns perfectly with the focus of Onyx when it comes to measuring user attention to ads. Adelaide’s AU measurement analyzes various media quality signals, eye-tracking data and full-funnel outcome data to provide a precise and nuanced media quality score. This measurement helps in assessing the effectiveness and impact of Onyx units.

“We don’t just measure attention, we maximize it during the campaign. The integration of Adelaide’s AU measurement into the Onyx engine allows for a comprehensive understanding of attention and its correlation with campaign success. By leveraging Adelaide’s expertise and data analysis capabilities, Onyx can provide valuable insights into moments of high attention, optimize ad placements, and offer brands a clear understanding of the quality and impact of their advertising efforts.”

What have some of the early results been for those using the product?

“The early results we’ve seen for advertisers using Onyx are promising! During the beta testing phase, Onyx ad placements on the Outbrain platform outperformed Adelaide’s benchmarks for display and rich media formats on all types of devices. In particular, the scores for mobile ads were outstanding, surpassing Adelaide’s benchmark for mobile banners by 53% and for mobile rich media formats by 20%.

“We are optimistic about the results gathered thus far and the platform is delivering on its goal to help brands reach their target audiences and make a lasting impression. It’s an exciting opportunity for advertisers looking to drive awareness and engagement with their brand messages across various devices.”

What are your goals for Onyx now that it’s out there in the world?

“Through Onyx, we want to continue to build on our 15-year history of creating technology that revolutionizes the way advertisers worldwide use online advertising and forge long-term partnerships.

“Looking ahead, we’re focused on continuously improving the platform’s features based on user feedback and market response to meet the evolving needs of advertisers. We’re also excited about expanding Onyx’s availability later this year to reach more people around the globe.”

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Top Image: Ayal Steiner

On Thursday evening, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland announced that the federal government has launched a review into the funding and governance arrangements of the ABC and SBS.

The terms of reference – which were developed in consultation with the ABC and SBS – are to “Support stable funding arrangements by identifying potential mechanisms to implement and maintain 5‑year funding terms at the amount announced by the government, while retaining the ability to provide additional funding during these terms” and to “Support effective governance arrangements for the national broadcasters.”

The review will not suggest changes to advertising restrictions or limits on the ABC or SBS, or changes to the legislative Charters or corporate character of the national broadcasters. Merging the two broadcasters is also off the table. 

Speaking at the ABC Friends Winter Dinner, Rowland said that “The Albanese Government is committed to delivering better funding for the ABC and SBS so they have greater certainty as they deliver on their Charters for the Australian people.

 “This review is an opportunity for Australians to have their say on the funding and governance arrangements for the ABC and SBS, including measures to support stable funding terms and promote effective board appointments.

“The ABC and SBS are key democratic and cultural institutions that provide essential services for communities across the country.”

After a public consultation paper, the review will be conducted by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. 

To make a submission, members of the public can have their say here.

Last month, in the wake of the assumption that by 2028 the majority of audience engagement will be on ABC’s digital platforms – the public broadcaster announced a series of sweeping changes. 

Referred to as ‘savings measures and reinvestment initiatives,’ the changes were designed to address rising costs and support the transition to a digital-first format.

See Also: ABC restructure: What’s in and what’s out at the public broadcaster

Continuing her speech at the dinner, Rowland criticised the previous government’s handling of the ABC in particular,  saying that “Under the former Liberal National government, the threat of privatisation was real, arbitrary funding cuts caused disruption and uncertainty, and there was scant regard for the independent merit-based selection process for ABC board members.

“These issues were considered at length in the Senate inquiry into allegations of political interference in the ABC, which reported in April 2019.”

Ita Buttrose currently leads the ABC board, and right now two of the nine positions on it are vacant. There are reports that the move to fill those positions could be “several months away”.

By Marty Roberts, SVP of product strategy and marketing at Brightcove

E-commerce continues to drive retail sales in Australia. It’s forecasted that 76% of the Australian population will use eCommerce services in 2023. As more businesses integrate e-commerce into their business model, it is harder for brands to cut through the noise and create meaningful relationships with consumers.

Online video provides new opportunities for businesses to engage consumers and increase sales conversions. Research by Brightcove reveals that 8 out of 10 consumers rely on video to make online purchase decisions. 

While incorporating online videos may seem straightforward, a lack of strategy can result in wasted resources and a low return on investment (ROI). A smart video strategy enables businesses to maximise the impact of video on e-commerce revenue, while also enhancing brand image.

A three-pronged approach to executing a smart video strategy

The experience

The video experience is key to any online video strategy. Fast loading times, high video quality and accessibility all improve a potential consumer’s perception of your brand and therefore, their intention to purchase.

As the demand for high-quality videos grows, it is even more crucial that businesses invest in a lightweight online video platform that is regularly updated to ensure optimal performance. Adaptive bitrates are another feature that allows video quality to adapt to available bandwidth, ensuring viewers can enjoy videos with minimal disruptions.

Finally, accessibility is not only important for those with disabilities, it also enables businesses to reach audiences who may choose to view the video without audio. Brightcove partnered with 3Play Media to provide a range of options to improve accessibility, such as closed captioning, live captioning, transcription, and audio description.

Interactivity

Interactivity is one of the most powerful tools to drive engagement and sales online. Whether your video is live or on-demand, there are opportunities to involve the audience, build brand loyalty and increase conversions.

For example, Brightcove Interactivity allows businesses to add polls, live chats and call-to-actions on videos through a range of overlays. However, more interaction is not necessarily better, as too many pop-ups and prompts can become confusing and distracting. It is best to start with no more than three interactions per video, while ensuring those interactions enhance the video’s goal.

Ad monetisation opportunities

Businesses can also take advantage of ad monetisation as a way to increase revenue returns that can be invested in their video strategy and ultimately grow their business further.

Ad monetisation involves inserting ads into owned video content, thereby generating additional revenue. Companies can then leverage that income to enhance their video strategy, creating higher quality and more engaging content for their audience. When carefully implemented, brands can take their video strategy to the next level without impacting the video experience. For example, Brightcove’s Ad Monetisation service optimises its ad server for efficiency, enabling businesses to insert ad content seamlessly, whether it is a video ad or overlay.

Video offers exciting potential for businesses looking to boost their e-commerce offering. However, it is crucial that they take a considered and strategic approach to their video strategy to be successful and maximise ROI. By investing in a quality video hosting platform, businesses can ensure they are delivering the best video experience while also having access to ad monetisation solutions that enables businesses to reinvest in their video strategy.

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Top Image: Marty Roberts

Radio Today has announced the winners of its 2023 Podcast Awards.

Podcasts of the Year

Society and Culture
Blak Matters – Major
Craze – Indie

Branded Podcasts
Along for the Ride – Major
So Watt? – Indie

Sports
Sports Bizarre with Titus O’Reily and Mick Molloy – Major
Australian MMA – Indie

Significant Other
Shandee’s Story – Major
More Than A Mother – Indie

Documentary
The Children in the Pictures – Major
Sick as a Dog – Indie

Health and Wellness
Healthy-ish – Major
Songs that Changed You – Indie

Interview
Separate Bathrooms – Major
Female Founders – Indie

News and Journalism
The Front – Major
Journo – Indie

Education
Tech Zero – Indie

Comedy
Hamish and Andy – Major
Toni and Ryan – Indie

Crime
Shadow of Doubt – Major
One Minute Remaining – Indie

Podcast of the Year 
Shandee’s Story – Major
Tech Zero – Indie

Readers’ Choice Podcast of the Year
The Matty Johns Podcast – Major
Toni and Ryan – Indie

Individual and Organisation Awards

Podcast Host or Presenter of the Year
Jack Lawrence – One Minute Remaining – Indie
Gary Jubelin – I Catch Killers – Major

Radio Podcast of the Year
Kyle and Jackie O – ARN

Podcast Executive Producer of the Year
Cameron Hutchings – Toni and Ryan – Indie
Lia Tsamoglou – The Australian – Major

Podcast Audio Producer of the Year
Tina Matolov, LiSTNR – Major
Dom Evans, Earsay – Indie

Podcast Innovation of the Year
Crime X

Podcast Hardware/ Software of the Year
Acast

Podcast Platform of the Year
LiSTNR

Podcast Publisher of the Year
LiSTNR – Major
Piccolo Podcasts and Media – Indie

Podcast Company of the Year
LiSTNR

Podcast Thought Leader of the Year
Elle Beattie – Nova Entertainment 
Del Fordham – News Corp

Podcast Executive Leader of the Year
Guy Scott-Wilson – Acast

Podcast Sales Executive of the Year
Shannon Hollis

The Outdoor Media Association (OMA) has announced that LED screen manufacturer Absen has joined the association as its newest member.

Established in 2001, Absen is a world-leading producer of LED display solutions and services for both indoor and Outdoor digital Out of Home (DOOH) applications. Headquartered in Shenzhen, China, their products are exported to more than 140 countries, including Australia.

Absen advocates for green, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly production. Their commitment to sustainable development has seen them ISO14001 certified for Environment Management Systems.

Tammy Yan, regional director of Oceania, Absen, said: “We at Absen believe that quality is the lifeline of products. Quality materials, advanced technology and corporate social responsibility, are the key to customer satisfaction. We are excited to join the Outdoor industry association in Australia at a time of growth in DOOH.”

Elizabeth McIntyre, CEO, OMA, said: “The Australian DOOH segment is tracking ahead of the global market, with net year-to-date revenue increasing 9.4 per cent from the same period last year. Absen join our other screen provider members who are all committed to producing high-quality products that ultimately bring information and amenity to communities.”

OMA members have access to a range of benefits, including audience measurement, industry research, advocacy, and networking opportunities.

This comes after the OMA released its updated 2022 Annual Report, in which the Top 10 Out of Home (OOH) Categories and Advertisers were listed based on the most recent Nielsen Ad Intel Data available at the time.

Nielsen Ad Intel has updated its data, which now places Ardent Leisure outside the Top 10 OOH Advertisers rankings, whilst Lion maintains its top 10 status from 2021 and Walt Disney Studios is a new top 10 entrant for the first time.

This change is the result of Nielsen Ad Intel’s continually updated data, which ensures the industry has the latest and most accurate information available.

See also: OMA updates Annual Report 2022 after receiving updated data

Hit Metro group content director, Amanda Lee, has announced the appointment of James ‘Speedy’ Speed as Mix 94.5 Perth content director.

The new role marks Speed’s return to SCA, having worked in numerous content roles, including SAFM Adelaide, HIT929 Perth and, most recently, at The FOX in Melbourne as assistant content director, and Hit and Triple M Central Coast content director.

Amanda Lee said: “Speedy is a Perth local who understands the power of localism, and alongside his knowledge of how to put together a great radio station, Speedy will ensure Mix 94.5 reaches new heights as Perth’s favourite radio station.

Commenting on his new role, Speed said: “Joining such an iconic brand like Perth’s Mix 94.5 is genuinely a dream come true. I have always been in awe of what Mix has achieved over the decades as a market leader and I cannot wait to work side by side with the team in contributing to its incredible legacy.”

Speed’s role is effective from 24 July and he will work closely with Steve Mummery, content strategy manager for Perth, and the Mix 94.5 content team.

In the fourth radio ratings survey for 2023, Mix 94.5 came in third on the list with a 12.9% share. The third survey of 2023 saw the station in the third position as well with a 13.4% share.

Mix 94.5’s breakfast lineup of Pete, Matt and Kymba decreased 1.5 points for a 12.3% share, placing second in the breakfast slot in this survey.

The national drive show of Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little dropped 0.9 points for a share of 12.7%, making it third in the drive slot. The station’s top demographic was 10-17, with 22.6%, but grew in the 25-39 demo by 0.6 points.

Read more: Perth Radio Ratings 2023, Survey 4: Nova holds the lead as 96FM remains second despite being down

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Top Image: James Speed

ARN has announced the next phase of its regional news expansion plans with the launch of iHeart Tassie, a weekly news series delivering in-depth coverage of current issues impacting the local Tasmanian community.

Produced and presented by Hobart 7HO breakfast newsreader Britt Aylen, this thought-provoking news series launches on air tomorrow and can be heard each Friday morning across ARN’s heritage Tasmanian stations.  Additionally, each 20-minute episode is available as a weekly podcast providing on-demand access for audiences.

The inaugural episode of iHeart Tassie is titled “Tassie, The Roadkill Capital” and delves into the alarming statistic of half a million animals that tragically lose their lives on Tasmanian roads each year. 

Aylen said: “I am honoured to be part of the iHeart Tassie news series. This platform allows us to bring attention to crucial local issues that deserve broader awareness and share local stories that matter to Tasmanians. Through in-depth investigation and storytelling, we aim to engage and educate our audience, fostering a stronger sense of community and understanding.”

Fiona Ellis-Jones, head of news and information at ARN, emphasised the network’s commitment to regional newsrooms, said: “Through iHeart Tassie, we aim to deepen our connection with the local community, keeping them informed and engaged on pressing issues. We will continue to showcase our talented journalists and expand our on-air and digital offerings for regional audiences, ensuring our listeners receive the local news they both need and deserve.”

The launch of iHeart Tassie follows the successful introduction of an extended local news bulletin and podcast in South Australia’s Spencer Gulf and Eyre Peninsula regions. These initiatives are part of ARN’s comprehensive expansion plans that will see similar formats introduced across all of ARN’s regional markets.

Aylen is an experienced writer and broadcaster who’s worked across multiple formats including television, radio and podcasts.  Passionate about sharing local stories, she’s well known for presenting the weather on 7 Tasmania Nightly News, but has also been heard on Hit 100.9, Triple M Hobart, Chilli FM Launceston, SAFM Adelaide, and across the ARN national radio network. Aylen lives in Hobart with her partner and daughter.
 
iHeart Tassie will commence on air tomorrow morning on ARN’s heritage stations LAFM, 7AD, 7BU, 7SD, 7XS as well as Hot AC stations 7HOFM, Chilli FM, Sea FM Devonport and Sea FM Burnie.
 
It is also now available as a podcast via ARN’s free iHeart app or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Top image: Britt Aylen

The Pistol has added two new hires to its senior team as it continues to experience significant business growth.

Digital specialist Emilia Chambers has been appointed head of strategy, while former The Pistol head of development Sarafraz Johl rejoins the business as head of technology.

Chambers brings more than 11 years of digital experience in the media industry in Australia and the UK to the digital solutions media agency, working across a range of client verticals, including FMCG, retail and travel. She comes to The Pistol from Carat, Australia, where she was head of digital for the Victorian team. She also spent nearly five years at iProspect, working as a client partner and digital director in Australia, and an account director in the UK.

Prior to that, Chambers held digital account manager roles at marketing agency Vizeum and Aegis Media in the UK.

Johl brings more than two decades of development experience across three countries to his new role, having worked in the UK, India, and Australia. Johl returns to The Pistol after work on its retail media platform Zitcha. Johl has also worked in senior developer roles at Motorola, the Australian Council for Educational Research, and Siebel.

Commenting on both appointments, The Pistol CEO, Jamie Nosworthy, said: “This is a time of great growth and expansion for our agency, and I’m thrilled to be adding new members to our team. Both Emilia and Johl bring a wealth of knowledge in their respective spaces to the business, along with a passion to deliver, and strong leadership skills to drive our business forward.

“Emilia is well-known for her enthusiasm for all things digital – as a leader in this space, she understands the complexity and ever-changing nature of the digital landscape can be challenging, and prides herself on supporting her colleagues and clients in navigating the digital realm.

“Johl was instrumental in the development of our retail media platform Zitcha, and we’re excited to have him as part of the core The Pistol team – he brings an unparalleled understanding of how to maximise retail assets to accelerate growth, and a passion for leading with tech.”
 
Chambers said of her appointment: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Pistol team at such an exciting time for the business. I’m looking forward to showing our clients the value of digital media, and how it can be used to expand and support the efforts of other channels to deliver a holistic marketing message.”

Manifest has been appointed as the creative agency of record for ethical Swedish accessory brand TRIWA.

The global brand comms agency has been Tasked with refreshing the pioneering makers of sustainable watches’ brand identity and strategy and running its creative press office simultaneously as devising and executing campaigns.

The appointment comes as the business is on the brink of rapid growth in its key markets USA, Australia, Nordics, and UK. The partnership is being led by the award-winning B Corp agency’s Stockholm and Melbourne studios.

Based in Stockholm, Sweden, TRIWA’s collection of watches and accessories are designed to offer not only a sustainable alternative, but to help societal issues by starting meaningful conversations about what it means to be a consumer product without leaving a vast amount of waste in its wake.

By tackling everything from water pollution, fossil fuels, ocean plastics and even gun violence, TRIWA hopes to inspire a new macro trend of well-doing among the fashion industry and beyond. 

Manifest founder and CEO Alex Myers said: “One of our values at Manifest is ‘if you can’t find what you’re looking for, build it’. A truer statement couldn’t be said of TRIWA as it has spent the last 15 years instigating a number of eco innovations in not just fashion but consumer products as a whole.

“From creating the first ever ocean plastic watch to making the first consumer products from deconstructed weapons and fossil-free steel, TRIWA is a prime example of what it means to properly show up for our planet.” 

Manifest’s appointment comes as TRIWA closes a new investment round under the guiding hand of CEO Ryan Looysen who recently joined TRIWA following time at Lush Cosmetics and BabyBjörn where he earned himself a reputation as the ‘turnaround guy’.

Looysen said: “As we look to bring our ethical ethos to new products such as belts, sunglasses, jewellery and more, we knew after the very first meeting with Manifest that it was the right agency to join us on this journey.
 
“With a presence in all our key markets and an innovative 24-hour creative services model, in just a few short weeks the Manifest team has been instrumental in helping us navigate what the next era of TRIWA looks like. We have some amazing campaigns in the works and I’m very much looking forward to seeing what we achieve together by using business as a force for good.”

Founded in 2007, TRIWA has sold more than 2.5 million watches worldwide and is 2030 Doconomy Carbon Footprint certified and through partnership with others driving positive change, every TRIWA item and action is connected to an ethical initiative. 

LiSTNR has announced the second season of The Minds Changing Lives in partnership with The University of Newcastle. The podcast showcases topics from life-saving cancer research to the cryopreservation of frogs and highlights essential research that changes lives. 

Following a successful first season of The Minds Changing Lives, which tackled everything from removing needles from diabetic testing to uncovering the secrets of the sea floor, season two again lifts the lid on the latest research from the University.

Host Shahni Wellington, from the University of Newcastle, interviews a range of the university’s best academic minds including Professor Phil Morgan, an men’s health expert who created the ‘Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered program’ that targets fathers as the agents of change in breaking down harmful gender stereotypes in sports; Professor Pradeep Tanwar, who is developing early detection methods for reproductive cancers; and Dr Rose Upton, a Conservation Biologist who is part of a team working on an integrated conservation approach to help save endangered frog species. 

See also: Podcast Ranker June 2023: LiSTNR’s Hamish & Andy #1 overall

University of Newcastle director of communications and engagement, Lou Morrissey, said: “We know our researchers are making a difference to people’s lives every day. Our team valued the opportunity to work with our researchers to demystify this research through The Minds Changing Lives podcast and also give a voice to the people in our community who are benefiting from the discoveries.” 

Host Shahni Wellington said: “Wow! I can’t believe we’re ready to roll out a stellar season two of The Minds Changing Lives. The entire team and I are incredibly proud of what we’ve produced and the important topics we delve into. From life-saving cancer treatments to the role education and community plays for people from a refugee background – The Minds Changing Lives continues to bring together innovative research and the human experience.  

“While we certainly knew the work being done at our university had real-world impact, it’s great to see the podcast making waves locally, nationally and internationally. This is a credit to our in-depth work and future-thinking, and I can’t wait for audiences to hear more ground-breaking content in season two.” 

New episodes of The Minds Changing Lives will drop fortnightly on Tuesdays on LiSTNR.

The Block returns in 2023 for its 19th season on Sunday, August 6, at 7:00 pm on Nine and 9Now. 

Set in the family-friendly Melbourne suburb of Hampton East, the new series features five houses designed and built in the 1950s and located on the aptly named Charming Street. The old houses are now aged in their 70s and the contestants will be tasked to give them a contemporary update. 

For the first time in Block history, host Scott Cam will be providing contestants with the full renovation schedule ahead of time this season. 

The contestants will be seeing all finished designs of the houses on Day 1 and they will also receive their entire budgets on Day 1 as well.

The contestants will soon find out that it’s not all smooth sailing when renovating an original 1950s home – structural issues, extreme weather events, and a mountain of demolition will test the five couples every step of the way. 

The couples in contention are: sisters Eliza and Liberty Paschke (personal assistant, 37, and integration producer, 34, VIC); parents Kyle and Leslie Cottone (firefighter, 36, and teaching aide, 34, WA); parents Leah and Ash Milton (first aid officer, 31, and builder, 36, QLD); married couple Kristy and Brett Beames (project manager, 34, and safety officer, 34, SA); and newlyweds Steph and Gian Ottavio (architect, 27, and start up worker, 27, NSW).

Real estate expert Marty Fox isn’t the only new addition to the lineup this season. The formidable foremen Keith Schleiger and Dan Reilly will be joined on site with the fan favourite from last year, Tom Calleja.

The designs of the homes in this series come from The Block’s resident architect, Julian Brenchley.

At stake is $100,000 for the overall winner of The Block, on top of any profit the five couples can all make on auction day.

The brand new season of The Block premieres Sunday, August 6 at 7:00 pm on Nine and 9Now.

10 have revealed the first look at The Traitors, returning to Australian screens for the ultimate game of trickery.

As the stakes in the series get higher and higher, a dangerous game will be played inside the grand old hotel full of deception, suspicion and betrayal. 

Host Rodger Corser is set to put 20 players, known as Faithfuls, through challenging missions to win silver bars for their prize pot. The Faithful must seek out the Traitors among them before they are eliminated by the saboteurs themselves.

The first look at the new season of The Traitors is below:

The Traitors is produced for Network 10 by Endemol Shine Australia and is coming soon to 10 and 10 Play.

This week, 10 also announced the premiere date for The Inspired Unemployed’s debut TV series.

Titled, The Inspired Unemployed (Impractical) Jokers, the show will be available air on 10, 10 Play and Paramount+ on Wednesday, 9 August.

The show will see Jack, Liam, Dom and Falcon egg each other on to make absolute fools of themselves in a public setting.

With no one else in on the joke, the foursome will compete to embarrass each other in the biggest way possible, with those failing at the task given a humiliating punishment.

All captured by hidden cameras, it’s awkwardness at its absolute best with sidesplittingly hilarious outcomes.

Jack Steele (Falcon) and Matt Ford, the duo behind The Inspired Unemployed are renowned content creators, having amassed 3.8 million followers on social media.

Now, Steele and Ford will host an eight-part Australian original series, produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia.

Earlier this year, Steele and Ford jointly said: “We are so stoked to be working with Paramount ANZ on this TV show, from the first video we ever made our goal was to always have a TV show and for it to actually be happening is a dream come true.

“We’ve always believed that laughter is the best medicine, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to spread joy and positivity to even more people through this platform.”

Read more: 10 announces premiere date for The Inspired Unemployed’s debut TV series

Hunted Australia 2023 Fugitives Megan Colwell and Gracie Dale were captured (albeit separately) after an intense game of cat and mouse, and for the aunty and niece duo, having the camera crew trailing them made them feel like the game was “rigged”.

Speaking to Mediaweek after their July 18 and 19 eliminations, Gracie said that they were concerned about the film crew giving away their whereabouts, especially when they were wearing disguises on the ferry in their final scenes together.

“We were very worried about that,” she admitted. “We kind of felt that it was rigged because obviously, the hunters are just going to look for [the camera crew].

“But our camera boys were awesome. They were part of our team, and they cared about us moving as much as we did, so they tried their best to hide as much as they could. Honestly, we were not worried about them at all.”

Gracie and Megan on Hunted. Ten

Megan added that the cameramen were partially hidden from view during the aforementioned ferry trip. “On the ferry, they were behind the pole and it’s not as obvious as it made out,” she explained. “They were either really far in front of us or really far behind us or using GoPros and stuff like that. So it wasn’t as obvious as people probably think, they’re actually really good at hiding, just like we are.”

And at one stage they were hiding under a rock, but their camera guy was “right next to us, cramped up on the rock.”

How Megan found out that Gracie was captured

Given Gracie was captured first, it wasn’t until Megan saw the Ground Hunters pull up and heard them talking that she realised that her niece had been caught.

“Neither of us knew you where the other one was, then after an hour of hiding in the bush. The Hunter’s cars pulled up behind the bush. I couldn’t believe it. I heard them pull up and they got out of the car and said we’ve got Gracie,” she explained.

“I only heard from them having a joke about who caught her and what happened, and I also heard them say they were going to put a drone up in the air,” she added.

Megan. Ten

Megan then revealed that she had overheard them talking about bringing out a “dog squad” which caused her to give up hope.

“I had actually sliced my thumb open when I jumped the fence so I was sitting in the bush dripping blood and I heard them say dogs and I was like, ‘No, this is too much’.”

Hunted Australia 2023 airs at 7.30 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on 10 and 10Play.  

The highly anticipated season two of Minx is set to make its premiere on Stan on Friday, July 21; however, it almost didn’t get off the ground.

The edgy comedy is about a young feminist in the 1970s, Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond), who is determined to make waves in the publishing world. But when she fails to find her dream job, she winds up taking a lead role in the first erotic magazine for women.

And even though it gained a cult following during its first outing, US streamer HBO Max decided not to renew the series, with the cast and crew — who were in their final days of filming the second season — left in limbo as to whether their show would see the light of day. However, as luck would have it, another streamer, Starz, decided to take it on and the chaotic story would live on.

Speaking to Mediaweek and Chattr’s The Entertainment Hotline Podcast (in a pre-recorded interview in June), director and executive producer Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) admitted that morale was low when they first heard the news of the cancellation.

“It was devastating,” Feig admitted. “I was there that day and was just trying to keep the cast upbeat because your show’s gone.”

Feig added that given everybody on set was a “professional”, the Minx community understood “the business”.

“Being able to rally and say we will find a home for this, [and] don’t worry. The fact that HBO Max didn’t just shut the lights off. That would have been devastating because there’s nothing worse than when something’s almost finished, and you’re really happy with what you’re doing, and then you realise that nobody can see what we just did.”

For stars Lovibond and Jake Johnson (Doug), who also appeared on the podcast in a pre-recorded interview, the cast also knew that there was a lot of “enthusiasm” for the show.

“We had that reassurance quite early on,” Lovibond explained. “There was a lot of enthusiasm and support for it.”

The season 2 cast of Minx. Stan

What will happen in season 2 of Minx?

Season one saw Doug walk away from Minx, giving all the power to Joyce. When season two opens, the pair sell Bottom Dollar (Doug’s publishing house) to a retired shipping magnate with unlimited money and power. Their magazine then becomes a commercial success, bringing more money, more fame and more temptations.

Under the new leadership, Doug struggles to find his footing and maintain his control within Bottom Dollar. 

“I don’t think he I think he didn’t want a part of Minx,” Johnson said during the interview. “I think Minx didn’t want him, so I think he did a selfless move. What a gentleman. I think in season two, he regrets it and I think what we figured out is, so do they. They want the old guy back in the barn.”

Lovibond added: “They’ve given away too much creative identity for the money. And then she sort of says, ‘I preferred it when it was just the two of us’. So as much as they irritate each other, they recognise that it’s much better when they were at the helm.”

Meanwhile, Joyce begins to lose sight of her core beliefs as she gets caught up in her rise to stardom. 

“It was definitely a challenge because it felt to me like we were exploring a very different side to her that you had only seen kind of tiny little snippets of in season one,” Lovibond said. “Like when she has a one-night stand for the first time and she can’t believe that she’s done that, but she really enjoyed it.

“There’s a scene really early on in season one where Doug sort of says to her, ‘You know, you can be more than one thing’. And she’s terrified because that’s not been her experience. But she’s realising, that actually, she can be more than one thing.”

Jake Johnson and Ophelia Lovibond. Minx

Elizabeth Perkins joins the cast of Minx

Iconic actor Elizabeth Perkins has joined the cast for the second outing, with Feig saying that they “needed such a specific character and type for the role” of Constance Papadopoulos.

“I worked with Elizabeth on Weeds and then Ghostbusters [reboot]. I love her because of that and Ellen [Rapoport – Minx creator] has always been a giant fan of hers. So, it really did feel like I don’t know who else we could possibly ask to play this role.”

Feig also added that “Elizabeth is so talented and such a good dramatic actor, but she’s also so funny”.

“She can find humour in a character like that. But she’s also intimidating. Constance was scary on the show, but in a great way, because she’s such a business person. Even though she likes everybody, she could definitely just pull the plug on stuff or fire somebody immediately, and that’s the kind of tension and conflict I like, because that’s very relatable to anybody who works.”

Lovibond and Elizabeth Perkins. Stan

Listen to the full interview with director Paul Feig and stars of Minx Jake Johnson and Ophelia Lovibond on The Entertainment Hotline Podcast.

The brand new season of Minx premieres July 21, only on Stan.

TV Week Logie award-winning comedian Dilruk Jayasinha was fired from an accounting job before realising that being a stand-up comedian was the job for him and thirteen years after starting in the biz, the 38-year-old is hosting RAW Comedy 2023, the largest and longest-running national open mic competition in Australia.

Showcasing budding comedians from all corners of the nation, the fresh comics hit the stage with their best five min sets to reach the penultimate grand finale which took place on April 16. Now, viewers will be able to watch the final on SBS Viceland on Saturday, July 22 at 9.30 pm.

Dilruk Jayasinha and the RAW Comedy 2023 finalists. SBS Viceland

For Jayasinha, hosting the inaugural gig (which is now in its 28th year) is a full-circle moment.

“All I wanted to do was perform at the National Final because there were going to be 1,200 people at the Melbourne town hall,” he told Mediaweek before the show’s air date.

“I remember going to watch the RAW Comedy gig as a punter. I still love going, I like feeling jealous of all these new comedians having the courage to get up there and do it.”

When it first came across his radar, Jayasinha was working across the road at an accounting firm and ducked out to catch the big show.

“Believe it or not, it was a Sunday and I was still in the office,” he said. “Because I was so bad at my job, I had to study on a Sunday and still do work and then I took a break to go watch the RAW National Finals across the road.”

Following this, the Have You Been Paying Attention? guest panellist participated in the showcase; however, never made it passed the first round.

“For me, finally getting there to the National Finals, even as the host — maybe not a competitor — is a genuine dream come true.”

Dilruk Jaysinha. SBS

Dilruk Jayasinha still can’t believe he’s in Utopia

Another “dream come true” for the comedian was getting the role of Ashan on ABC’s Utopia after being a “huge fan of seasons one and two.” 

“When they asked me to do season three, that was what I always hoped [for], that I could be on a show like that,” he admitted. “I didn’t ever think that it was going to be that show itself. Because I thought, ‘Oh, they’ve got the cast, there’s no room for me, why would I make it there?’ And all of a sudden, there was an opportunity.”

During his first scene on the hit show — which reaches over 1 million each week in Total TV viewers — Jaysinha had a bit of a moment, forgetting that he was actually on the show.

“I could not be more grateful because as much as I’d worked with Kitty Flanagan, for example, as a stand-up, she’s very different from her Rhonda character. So, the first scene I had in season three, I was at my desk and Rhonda kind of walked past and I remember having this flutter, like, ‘Oh my god, Rhonda is here’ kind of thing, like just forgetting that this is not Kitty Flanagan, a colleague. I forgot that I’m not on the other side of the camera. I’m not watching it.” 

Kitty Flanagan. Rob Sitch and Dave Lawson in Utopia. ABC

Dilruk Jayasinha on the hardest part about being a comedian

For Jayasinha, the “hardest part” about being a stand-up and actor is “behaving like a colleague and not a fanboy”,

“Almost everyone I get to call a friend or colleague now is like a version of a hero of mine,” he admitted. “Kitty and Celia Paquola, I can make a really strong case that they’re the best comedians in the country. Because not only are they great at stand-up, they’re exceptional at stand-up. They’re fantastic on a panel and off the cuff, but they’re amazing comedic actors as well. So, it’s like every facet of comedy that’s involved in this country, they do it and they do it at the top level.

“The fact that now I am sharing dialogue with them, or on the same comedy lineup as then…I cannot believe I get to do this.”

Jayasinha and Celia Pacquola in Utopia. ABC

While gigs have been flying at the comedian, he’s well-versed in how “volatile” the entertainment industry is.

“There’s no guarantee that you’re going to be around forever,” he said. “So, if that happens, if things start to go quiet for me, I don’t want to ever look back and go, ‘I wish I enjoyed it more while I had it’. So, that’s why I’m extremely vigilant about making sure that I pinch myself every single day that I get to do this.”

Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s 2023 RAW Comedy final on SBS VICELAND on Saturday, July 22 at 9.30 pm.

The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race (Wednesday on 10) is a charming new Aussie telemovie about the age-old battle between women and men. It’s comfortably familiar, with an undercurrent about small-town life. And whilst it doesn’t play like a pilot, it would make for a great ongoing series.

Genevieve Lemon and Robyn Nevin. Top: Claire van der Boom

Penny (Claire van der Boom) is a doctor returning home, but she upsets the townsfolk by asking why women don’t get the same prize money as men in the local potato races. All hell breaks loose, worsening the prickly relationship she has with her sister Nikki (Katie Wall). Luckily, there are also good times with growing nephews and gorgeous Aunty Barb (Genevieve Lemon) and Uncle Bob (Tiriel Mora).

Out to steal the show is bossyboots Joan (Robyn Levin), an uptight receptionist at the surgery who has two loser sons. Mark (Rohan Nichol) is depressed while his angry brother Gavin (Andy Ryan) rages at the pub about “lezzos and lefties”. That makes for a shocking moment but it is also begging for a backstory – why are some men in the bush feeling so adrift today?

Katie Wall

The time is always ripe for such a show, because Aussie country TV towns have often been big hits. There’s been Bellbird (1967, ABC), Matlock Police (1971, 10), A Country Practice (1981, Seven), Blue Heelers (1994, Seven), SeaChange (1999, ABC) and McLeod’s Daughters (2001, Nine). There’s been a gap since Doctor Doctor (Nine) went off the air in 2021, and Appleton should be next.

Is it a coincidence that The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race is written by Melanie Tait, who also co-hosts A Country Podcast, the podcast about A Country Practice? And is 10, by screening this telemovie at 7.30pm, trying to echo the success of Wandin Valley which ruled that time slot for 14 years! Paramount should commission a return visit to Appleton, because country women are always welcoming, even if some of the men are deadbeats.

Also next week: Don’t miss the incredibly moving documentary film fresh from cinemas, John Farnham: Finding The Voice (Monday on Seven). There’s a new #goplasticfree #designitbetter series of War On Waste (Tuesday on ABC), and the second season of Minx (today on Stan) is just as saucy as the first.

Read more Mercado on TV here.

Welcome to TV Gold: Mediaweek’s weekly TV podcast

Our name is new and so is the email address asking for feedback and questions – [email protected].
Listen now on your favourite podcast platform for 30 minutes of TV reviews and recommendations every week from Mediaweek’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning.

Listen online here, on the LiSTNR app or on your favourite podcast platform.

This week on the TV Gold podcast: The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race, Special Ops: Lioness and Minx (S2)

TV shows reviewed this week are the charming new Aussie telemovie The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race (10 and Paramount+), the new Taylor Sheridan and Nicole Kidman series Special Ops: Lioness and the still-saucy second season of Minx (Stan).

Bonus episodes this month: Marta Dusseldorp on Bay of Fires, Jason Herbison on Riptide

Email the hosts and tell us what you have been watching. The good and the bad. Emails to: [email protected]

• Sports fans also tune into Day Two of the fourth Ashes test match
• The Dragons took on the Tigers in the NRL

Total TV Ratings, July 13

826,000 watched 10’s MasterChef Australia where fan-favourite Declan was eliminated from the competition just before the Grand Finale, up 33%.

657,000 viewed Seven’s Home and Away where love was in the air for Mali and Rose while Cash had a new lead, up 34%.

590,000 tuned in for Seven’s AFL: Thursday Night Football as the Swans took on the Western Bulldogs, up 1%.

516,000 saw ABC’s A Life in Ten Pictures: Robin Williams, as a handful of iconic shots and private snaps showed another side to the iconic actor and comedian, up 12%.

Overnight TV Ratings, July 20

Primetime News
Seven News 827,000 (6:00pm) / 813,000 (6:30pm)
Nine News 778,000 (6:00pm) / 774,000 (6:30pm)
ABC News 511,000
10 News First 220,000 (5:00pm)/ 147,000 (6:00pm)
SBS World News 130,000 (6:30pm)/ 83,000 (7:00pm)

Daily Current Affairs
A Current Affair 679,000
7.30 354,000
The Project 167,000 6:30pm / 248,000 7pm

Breakfast TV
Sunrise 222,000
Today 200,000
News Breakfast 158,000

Seven won Thursday night with a primary share of 31.8% and a network share of 40.3%. 9Gem has won multi channels with a 5.1% share.

There was no Home and Away last night as 1,237,000 supported the Matildas in Seven’s FIFA Women’s World Cup opener. The powerhouse Aussie team defeated the Republic of Ireland 1-0 on home soil at Stadium Australia, with stand-in captain Steph Catley scoring the game’s only goal with a second-half penalty. 695,000 then stayed on for the Post-Match and 664,000 watched the Pre-Game.

Nine’s A Current Affair (679,000) put the spotlight on a collapsed Aussie building company that was accused of owing close to half a billion dollars and also looked at the high-speed police chase that took place across Sydney on Thursday, July 20. Then, 176,000 watched NRL Thursday Night Footy. The Dragons took on the Tigers with St George Illawarra taking the win, finishing 18 – 14. 546,000 also tuned into Session One of Day Two of the fourth Ashes test match while 320,000 watched Session Two and 378,000 watched Lunch. The Pre-Match was also viewed by 221,000. The highlight saw Brit Zak Crawley belt 189 runs from just 182 balls.

On 10, The Project (167,000 6:30pm / 248,000 7pm) welcomed icon John Cleese to the desk and the panel was also joined by Aussie indie-pop darling and Australian Idol judge, Amy Shark. Plus, The Project’s “resident round ball expert” Georgie Tunning revealed whether she thinks the Matildas could bring home the Cup this year. Then, it was an all-new season of Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly as Graeme Hall attempted to help Humphrey with his barking problem, before solving the mystery behind Remy’s fear of shiny floors, and also provided assistance to Dexter, who has a rather embarrassing habit. 308,000 tuned in. 

354,000 watched ABC’s 7.30 explore the possibility of an extreme Australian Summer and detailed the survival story of British-born, Ukrainian marine Aiden Aslin who was a prisoner of war held by Russia. After being beaten, tortured and forced to record propaganda videos, he’s now telling his story. 149,000 then watched A Life in Ten Pictures: Alexander McQueen. The episode showcased a handful of iconic photographs and snapshots revealing a new story of Alexander McQueen, seen through a unique lens, before 131,000 caught a repeat of Grand Designs New Zealand.

The highest-rating non-news show on SBS was Inside Sydney Airport with 116,000 tuning in to see Sydney Airport’s Baggage Manager Kevin having a day from hell as he worked through a number of mechanical breakdowns that could bring operations to a standstill.