Seven West Media’s commercial director, Bruce McWilliam, will be leaving the business after over two decades with Seven. 

McWilliam joined Seven as commercial director in May 2003, and his resume includes time at BSkyB and News International (News Corp’s UK arm). Moving forward, he said that he would be “focused on my corporate and media advisory and property interests.”

“I’ve had a fantastic 21 years with Seven since I joined originally with David Leckie and Peter Gammell and of course the Chairman, Kerry Stokes,” McWilliam said.

“I’ve been honoured to be part of the transformation, growth and success of the business over the years. 

“Working with Kerry Stokes and James Warburton in his two iterations at Seven has never been dull. I’m very proud of my association with Seven and the Seven team, and I wish them every success in the years ahead.”

SWM chairman, Kerry Stokes AC, said Bruce McWilliam had been “an excellent executive of Seven for the past 21 years, having been involved in all of the major corporate initiatives we have undertaken during that period, and a director of Seven Group Holdings for many years.

“I thank Bruce for his significant contribution to Seven West Media and Seven Group Holdings and wish him and Nicky all the best in the future.”

Finally, outgoing SWM managing director and CEO, James Warburton, called McWilliam a “doyen of the media industry and has been a fundamental part of all the corporate moves at Seven for more than two decades.

“Working with Bruce has always been very rewarding and entertaining, and he is always extremely generous with his time and advice. Everyone at Seven will miss his wise counsel, guidance, knowledge and sense of humour, and we all wish him the very best for what lies ahead.”

In December, Warburton announced his imminent departure. He plans to be in the role until the end of FY24 – June 30, 2024. He will be succeeded by Jeff Howard.

See Also: James Warburton announces his departure from Seven

Editorial staff at the ABC have passed a second vote of no confidence against managing director David Anderson, and other senior managers. The votes come in light of the broadcaster’s handling of complaints.

Staff have also called for the ABC’s head of content, Chris Oliver-Taylor, to step down due to his decision to dismiss broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf.

The meeting, made up of union members, was held in response to the Fair Work Commission hearings regarding Lattouf’s unfair dismissal claim, after she was sacked from her temporary job as host of ABC Sydney’s morning radio show in December.

In January, the original no confidence vote was passed 128 votes to three at a national online meeting attended by over 200 Media, Entertainment, and Arts Alliance (MEAA) members.

MEAA media director Cassie Derrick said that the handling of Lattouf’s termination “has done enormous damage to the integrity and reputation of the ABC.”

“Evidence provided in the Fair Work Commission hearing about the involvement of David Anderson and Chris Oliver-Taylor in her dismissal has further undermined the confidence of staff in the managing director and his senior managers to be able to protect the independence of the ABC.

“The Lattouf case continues a pattern of ABC journalists, particularly those from culturally diverse backgrounds, lacking support from management when they face criticism from lobby groups, business organisations and politicians.”

See Also: ABC board to hold emergency meeting after staff pass vote of no confidence in David Anderson

That vote was held in response to leaked messages seen and published by the Sydney Morning Herald from a WhatsApp group called Lawyers for Israel, that detailed a letter-writing campaign addressed to Anderson and ABC chair at the time, Ita Buttrose. 

The messages detailed members’ contact with the ABC – and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland – with requests that Lattouf be taken off the air; some messages included threats of legal action. 

At the time, a statement from the ABC Alumni, an association of high-profile former ABC staff, shared concerns about the ABC’s independence in light of the perception that the ABC had “buckled” to outside pressure.

Russel Howcroft doesn’t “know whether there is a more competitive industry than the advertising industry. I doubt it.” But the Melbourne radio market might come close.

With Kyle and Jackie O hitting the Melbourne airwaves from 29 April, the duo will be looking to steal share from somewhere, and are no doubt eyeing up the market’s current breakfast heavyweight: Howcroft and Ross Stevenson‘s 3AW show. In the first radio survey of the year, released last week, it had a 19.6% share, up 1.5 percentage points and more than seven percentage points above the nearest competitor in the slot.

Howcroft isn’t scared. “Competition brings out the best. It brings out the best in the best,” he tells Mediaweek.

“It’s a significant market, the Melbourne market. biggest radio market in the country. Significant revenue on the commercial side. And the 3AW breakfast listener, as I say, they are a huge part of our show.” 

Howcroft says the sheer power of 3AW’s audience is the number one thing he’s learned since starting in radio four years ago. “The audience are active participants in 3AW breakfast, and the show is their show.” Plus the group making the show is “like a creative ensemble.”

‘The management at 3AW, at Nine … they wanted me to do one’: AdMission

Across his career – whether as CEO of ad agency Y&R, at PwC, on Gruen, as one half of 3AW’s breakfast show, or on his new podcast AdMission – Howcroft has aimed to share this love of advertising, not just with the industry but also the broader public.

“I do put advertising at the centre of most things. And I like to talk about it being at the centre of most things. The fact that it subsidises democracy always gets a laugh, but actually, if it wasn’t for advertising, there wouldn’t be media. If it wasn’t for media, you wouldn’t have the fourth estate. I enjoy the conversation about what is advertising?”

The latest platform for that conversation is AdMission. Launched in February, the show sees Howcroft team up with Freddie Young, the co-founder of Good One Creative. Howcroft is a minor shareholder, and so is his son, Charlie Howcroft, who is also the agency’s creative director. That’s how Howcroft knows Young. 

“Freddy is a serious talent. He’s got a nice advertising brain. He’s articulate. And he is a deep thinker.”

The podcast came about because, “the management at 3AW, at Nine, they are very keen to pursue the podcast world. And they wanted me to do one.” So while “the world definitely did not need another podcast, let alone an advertising podcast”, Howcroft set about creating “one which is in my wheelhouse, that’s different.”

The dynamic of Howcroft and Young – “the young and the old,” as Howcroft puts it – felt like something unique. Howcroft was heading into a recording right after his interview with Mediaweek, emphasising what a “joy” it is to work on.

‘Capitalism at its best’: The agencies doing it best

Good One is just one of a litany of small, scrappy agencies to have emerged in recent years. Most indies have been founded by former holding company executives, and Howcroft finds it “hugely exciting” that those with an “entrepreneurial flair” are setting up their own shops.

When he talks about the agencies doing the work he’s most compelled by, he exclusively lists independents: Good One, of course, but also Thinkerbell – the agency Howcroft helped found when he was at PwC, before Thinkerbell bought back the embattled consultancy’s stake – Special Group, Howatson + Co (Howcroft says of Chris Howatson: “You could absolutely see the out of the box talent that he had right from the beginning”), and Half Dome.

“They’re easy to start,” he says of agencies, “you don’t really need a lot of capital to start an advertising agency.” And the demand is there – every business needs advertising, whether it’s “the local mowing service” or global behemoths.

“It’s capitalism at its best, really,” he says. “The advertising industry is almost a pure economy, in that you’ve almost got 100% awareness of the marketplace, you know who the competitors are, you know what the pricing is, give or take.

“There is a ladder of success, and the best win. That’s part of the joy.”

—

See also: Russel Howcroft on Radio: 4am wakeup worth it for original social media

Top image: Howcroft

Matt Gudge has been appointed chief marketing officer at Healthengine, the appointment booking platform headed up by Dan Stinton.

Gudge started in the role earlier this month after 11 months at Mable, a platform allowing users to book support workers. Previously, he was at Big Red Group for almost five years, holding positions including head of marketing and group marketing director.

Stinton, to whom Gudge will report, said the hire “reflects our commitment to investing in both talent and technology to improve access to healthcare for Australians.”

The former managing director of Guardian Australia became CEO of Healthengine in June 2023.

“While technology is a big aspect of the Healthengine story, we are also very much a people-based business – from the people around Australia who we help connect to essential health services, to the people within our business who drive quality outcomes for our customers,” Stinton continued.

“Matt is hugely experienced in a wide range of marketing functions, including brand strategy and development, digital and business development – and his arrival not only indicates Healthengine’s growth, but further expands the business’ ability to deliver the innovative, customer-focused solutions that we are renowned for.”

Across his career, Gudge has also worked in the UK. He said “health is an area I’m deeply passionate about, and a great deal of my work over the past decade has centred around online platforms and e-commerce, so Healthengine feels a very natural fit for me.”

Gudge added: “With a well-earned reputation as a business that delivers innovation and results, I’m thrilled to now be part of the Healthengine team.

“It’s exciting to have joined a company that places such a strong focus on innovation and meeting the needs and expectations of customers and supporting the healthcare journey of people around the country.”

Channel 10’s management has conceded that the network breached the conditions of the company’s enterprise agreement.

The union, the Media, Entertainment, and Arts Alliance (MEAA), raised concerns about issues surrounding the way that casual employees were paid – pointing to a breach over the payment of overtime for casual employees, and over failing to give casual employees access to their payslips.

In response, MEAA reports that Network 10 management has begun making payslips accessible and available to casual workers, in line with legal requirements addressing the issue.

This week, Paramount Global announced that Beverley McGarvey had been appointed President of Network 10, head of streaming and regional lead for Australia and New Zealand. The news follows last month’s announcement that Paramount Australia EVP and chief operating and commercial officer, Jarrod Villani, had left the company. 

McGarvey’s new role was made effective immediately, and sees her report to Pam Kaufman, President & CEO of international markets, global consumer products and experiences. She will also continue to lead Paramount+ in Australia, reporting to Marco Nobili, EVP and international general manager of Paramount+.

See Also: Beverley McGarvey confirmed solo lead of Paramount AUNZ

The win for Network 10’s casual employees was the second major news for MEAA this week. Union members and editorial staff at the ABC passed a second vote of no confidence against managing director David Anderson, and other senior managers.

The meeting was held in response to the Fair Work Commission hearings regarding Antoinette Lattouf’s unfair dismissal claim, after she was sacked from her temporary job as host of ABC Sydney’s morning radio show in December.

See Also: David Anderson faces second vote of no confidence from ABC staff

In January, the original no confidence vote was passed 128 votes to three at a national online meeting attended by over 200 Media, Entertainment, and Arts Alliance (MEAA) members.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup unlocked new audiences for brands to tap into, proved the commercial viability of women’s sport, and drove exponential growth for football clubs, according to FIFA Women’s World Cup head of marketing Kim Anderson.

“The Women’s A-League has had a really direct uplift with double memberships being bought across some clubs to Sydney FC having close to an eightfold increase in memberships,” Anderson told Mediaweek.

“What we did with FIFA was prove the viability and commercial model behind women’s sports. You can’t say anymore that women’s sport is not primetime material and that it’s not deserving of a commercial seat at the table.

“We have proven the business model, now there’s a real platform for other sports to take that and accelerate it even further.”

While unfortunately, the Matildas’ campaign for World Cup glory came to an end in their semi-final clash with England, Seven reports that the game reached 11.15 million Australians nationally.

The Australian team’s 3-1 loss to England had a national average audience on Seven and 7plus of 7.13 million, making it the most-watched TV program since the OzTAM audience measurement system started in 2001. OzTAM does not capture out-of-home viewing at pubs, clubs, and stadiums.

Anderson said a growing global trend is commercial partners having a mandate to split sponsorships equally between men’s and women’s sports.

“Women’s sport has the power to unlock an entirely new audience that brands haven’t been able to look at before.

“What we focused on at the Women’s World Cup was driving new growth and the audience we were targeting were not existing sports fans. So we have grown the pie, as opposed to just taking a selection of the pie.”

The marketing minds behind the FIFA Women’s World Cup wanted to build a culture brand, not a sports brand. Anderson said the team was building off a cultural movement already happening around women’s sports. 

“To me, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see how popular the Matildas got during the World Cup, because the magic of the tournament took over and it was heightened by just how far the Matildas got.

“Everything that went into building the experience that we did and engaging the people that we did was built to grow the momentum that we were already seeing.”

As a result of the World Cup, Anderson says significant investment has been made into development programmes for different elite teams around the world.

“It’s one of the most beautiful things to come out of the tournament,” she said.

“During the tournament, we saw really strong matchups in every game, as opposed to having sliding scale scores between different teams. 

“I hope that as the tournament continues and evolves, those blockbuster moments between prominent nations fuel the appetite for emerging nations to do the same.”

Ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, Uber Carshare has unveiled the second instalment of its ‘Australia’s Second Car’ campaign with F1 driver Valtteri Bottas.

Bottas has helped design and customise a classic ute to create the perfect second car, with everything for an “epic road trip”. Led by creative agency Poem, the earned media and social campaign aims to inspire Aussies to explore the country without the limitations of their first car. 

The ute has been revamped inside and out with a fresh coat of Uber Carshare matching teal paint, mullet aeration technology, a meat pie warmer, an esky to keep drinks cold, a bike rack, a fishing rod holder, freshwater shower, a hills hoist, thong holder and even in-built sunscreen and bug repellent dispensers.

Rob Lowe, founder of Poem, called Uber Carshare a “disruptive product” in the traditional rental car category. He said the challenge has been to create an idea that is “simple, human and culturally relevant”.

“Together, I believe we’ve been able to create something really special that explains what Uber Carshare is whilst carving it a place within Aussie culture.”

Andy Morley – who was recently promoted to director of marketing for Uber APAC, as revealed by Mediaweek – said the campaign is another “major step in our journey to drive awareness of Uber Carshare.”
 
“Our agency village of Poem, Hello Social and EssenceMediaCom have come together to deliver something truly impactful.”

He said that the Uber masterbrand has been “hyper-focused” on creating ads and working with talents and celebrities that resonate with Australian audiences. For example, Uber Eats’ renowned work with creative agency Special Group has featured celebrities such as Victoria and David Beckham, Kim Kardashian, and The Wiggles.

“When we were first presented with the opportunity to work with Valtteri, we could see the alignments between him and our brand straight away,” Morley added.

“Valtteri has a clear love for this country, a passion for exploring new landscapes (like a true Aussie) and we couldn’t think of anyone better to provide the ultimate road trip-worthy ‘Second Car’ for Aussies to enjoy.”

In addition to Valtteri’s iconic ute, there are other cars on the Uber Carshare platform which have been given the “VB road-trip worthy seal of approval”. 

These cars will be stocked with a VB road trip kit, including a car air freshener, beach towel, drinks cooler, sunnies, and more, for the first person to book them.

Supporting the launch content is a targeted influencer campaign developed by Hello Social including Lachy McIntyre, Ella Watkins and Shepmates. Social content will be supported by media spend via EssenceMediaCom.

CREDITS:
Client: Uber
Director of Marketing, APAC: Andy Morley
Chief Growth Officer, Uber Carshare: Mathieu Maire
Head of Brand Marketing, Uber Carshare: Tom Walter
Marketing Manager, ANZ: Ashley Martin
Creative Director, APAC: Adam Ledbury
Strategy Lead, APAC: Josh Pickstone
Communications Manager: Bonnie Ko 
Senior Social Media Associate ANZ: Chanelle Murray 
Legal Counsel, ANZ: Jessica Shao

Creative & Lead agency: Poem
Founder: Rob Lowe 
Creative: Jessica Cluff
Managing Partner: Katie Raleigh
Business Director: Rhania Farah
Senior Account Director: Erica Llorico

Production:
Director: Josh Logue
Executive Producer (Poem): Hattie Morgan 
Content Manager (Poem): Bianca Martinolli
Producer: Matthew Barber 
DOP: Simon Ozolins
First Assistant Camera: Sian Bates
Car Production: Sydney Scenery
Stills Photographer (Sydney): Reece McMillan
Stills Photographer (Adelaide): Matt Cherubino  

Post-production: 
Offline Editor: Josh Logue 
Grade: Martin Greer
Online: Adrian Eppel
VFX: Damian Dunne

Audio post: 
Sound Designer: Kate Stenhouse (Electric Sheep Music)
Publicity/Social: Poem
Social Lead: Georgia Crean
Senior Account Manager: Robbie Purcell
Senior Account Executive: Stephanie Leung
Account Coordinator: Lauren Duncan

Media agency: EssenceMediacom
Client & planning lead: Nathaniel Thompson
Group strategy director: Marine Turner
Marketplace director: Patrick Fakiye
Digital director: Matt Leahy 

Influencer: Hello Social
Managing Director: Sam Kelly
Director of Client Experience: Madeline Marovino
Group Account Director: Nicola Hanlon
Senior Account Manager: Charlotte Shackley
Senior Account Manager: Carla Wong

–

Top image: Valtteri Bottas

Compiled by Tess Connery

Behind The Briefing with Bension Siebert

LiSTNR’s daily news podcast The Briefing continues to grow, publishing episodes seven days a week covering a broad range of what’s making headlines. 

Having been part of the LiSTNR news team for over a year, but recently joining The Briefing as a host, Bension Siebert sits behind the mic on weekday afternoons. 

It’s Siebert’s first time behind the mic of a national daily news podcast, with a background in investigative reporting and across platform at the ABC and InDaily.

“Moving into podcasting has been really exciting,” Siebert told Podcast Week’s Tess Connery. “I feel like we’re bringing a really interesting, new version of the product into this new year.”

Bension Siebert

With episodes that span deep dives into the war in Gaza, through to research on how Salad Fingers was the video that sparked ‘the weird part of the internet’, Siebert said the team choose their content based on the many and varied interests of their audience. 

“Our audience is well-informed Millennials and Gen Z. The people that we’re talking to are interested in Gaza, they’re also interested in Salad Fingers, the real estate industry and the housing crisis, and all the way to Taylor Swift and Kate Middleton. It’s a really broad offering, which I think is a real strength for us.”

Whilst The Briefing is well known for its short, sharp recaps of the news, Siebert said the podcast is working on moving more into original stories, original interviews, and longer form investigative projects.

“Most recently, we had a three-part series on whether we should have a Royal Commission into the real estate industry, which my co-host, Sacha Barbour Gatt did an amazing job on. Right now, I’m working on an investigation that started in July last year, that we’re hoping to be able to break in the next month or two,” Siebert said.

“We’ve managed to be in the top five news podcasts in the country, and we’ve consistently appeared among the top 30 podcasts in the country. We’re hoping to continue our growth and appeal to an increasingly broad and diverse market.”

For those tuning into The Briefing, Siebert said he hopes people find “something new that they’re not hearing elsewhere.”

“We’re aiming for a tone that’s like your smart friend talking to you on a relatively casual basis. We’re not trying to be a really formal news product, but I think that’s something that people really connect with.”

The Briefing can be found every day of the week. Sacha Barbour Gatt hosts mornings on Monday and Tuesday, Antoinette Lattouf hosts Wednesdays, and Katrina Blowers holds down Thursday and Friday. On the weekend Antoinette Lattouf hosts Saturday and Tom Tilley on Sunday.

[Listen to The Briefing here]

BBC strikes deal with Amazon Music to bring BBC podcasts to Amazon Music listeners

BBC has announced a new deal with Amazon Music that will make BBC podcasts available on the streaming service for the first time outside the UK.

Beginning this week, subscribers to Prime and Amazon Music Unlimited services can access a suite of over 50 of the BBC’s most popular podcasts ad-free, including notable titles such as Americast, BBC Global News Podcast, Dua Lipa: At Your Service, The Global Story, Infinite Monkey Cage, Planet Premier League, and World of Secrets.

Additionally, the deal will also unlock ad-supported listening for the BBC’s complete catalogue from across BBC Studios, BBC Public Service, and the BBC World Service for Amazon Music users on the streaming services’ ad-supported free tier.

[Find BBC podcasts here]

Black T-Shirts podcasts returns for season three

Adam Ferrier and Brent Smart have returned for series three of their podcast Black T-Shirts.

The first guest for season three is the founder of Special, Tony Bradbourne. Established in 2007, Special has become one of the biggest independent agencies in the world.

Tony talks Adam and Brent through his ambition, competitiveness and drive, and how he maintains creativity within the agency. Tony, also talks about his desire to prove the proposition of the brands he works with, not just talk about what they do in ads.

[Listen to Black T-Shirts here]

Game Changers: Melbourne Radio Wars set to launch April 6

It’s the question that every radio pundit wants to know the answer to – can the world’s best radio show be number 1 in Australia’s biggest radio market?

The Melbourne Radio Wars hosted by Craig Bruce and Irene Hulme is a podcast dedicated to the most watched battle in radio history.

Kyle and Jackie O have conquered the Sydney airwaves for close to 20 years, now they’re taking on their biggest challenge yet.

Too Much: The podcasts for women who have been labelled ‘too something’ at work

In FW’s latest podcast, Too Much, eight high achieving women share the stereotypes they’ve faced at work. Whether they were labelled “too outspoken”, “too emotional”, “too gentle” or “too young”, these female leaders were subject to discrimination or prejudice that shaped their careers and their sense of self.

Too Much host, and FW founder, Helen McCabe said “at a time when Australian businesses are grappling with gender pay gaps being made public and a lack of representation in senior roles, hearing stories that explain why women choose to leave male-dominated industries is crucial.

“Every woman has been labelled ‘too something’ at work. The Too Much podcast is a chance for them to share their stories – often for the first time – as well as provide practical advice to other women about how to overcome stereotypes and find success in spite of them”.

[Listen to the trailer for Too Much here]

Australian Seniors launches season five of Life’s Booming podcast

Australian Seniors has unveiled the fifth series of its award-winning podcast, Life’s Booming – Is This Normal?

Hosted by James Valentine, Is This Normal? delves into the intricacies of ageing with candid conversations about the challenges and changes that come with it. From navigating menopause to addressing mental health concerns, the series tackles topics that are often brushed aside or considered taboo.

Series Five promises a lineup of episodes featuring guests including comedian Jean Kittson, acting veteran John Wood, and medical experts like Dr. Ginni Mansberg, Dr. Brad McKay and Dr. Sam Day, amongst others.

[Listen to Life’s Booming – Is This Normal? here]

Australians are making compromises to their values and brand loyalties to survive the soaring cost of living, according to a new report from M&C Saatchi Group.

Mediaweek attended the launch of the ‘Cost of Living Crisis and what Australians Want From Brands’ report, presented by Melinda Lofts, the agency’s head of CX, and research director Olivia Nadile.

The third iteration of the report revealed that 71% of Australians across all age groups are less loyal to the brands they usually use to survive, with the 50-59 age group leading at 80% affirming this behaviour change.

In contrast, Lofts revealed that while 25 to 29-year-olds were feeling the impact of the cost of living more, 62% of them were more loyal to brands than older generations.

She told attendees that although four out of five Australians believe in the importance of buying Australian-made, there has been a “massive dip” in buying homegrown brands.

“49% of Australians are purchasing fewer Australian products or brands now. We’re seeing the baby boomers stay loyal to Australian brands, but we can definitely say around the 39s are buying a lot of Australian brands,” she said.

This finding was slightly skewed towards respondents aged between 25-39 and females (51% compared to 45% for males).

Lofts noted that sustainability values are also being compromised as a result of the cost of living crisis, largely by Gen Z.

She said: “58% of Australians are buying less sustainable products as a result of the cost of living. What really surprised us is Gen Z, known for their activism and their focus on sustainability, this is the first time they’ve really dealt with the financial crisis.

“They’re the ones that often on the low incomes as well, so they actually being forced to make sacrifices in order to survive.”

M&C Saatchi Group’s report also highlighted the continued rise of the intentional shopper and explored the seven key spending trends impacting changing shopping behaviour.

85% of customers are more likely to be open to trying new brands or products, whether that be new retailers or buying cheaper substitute brands.

The report also found that 81% of Australians are taking advantage of loyalty programs to receive discounts and savings. Meanwhile, 89% are squeezing products to the last drop as Lofts noted the connection in the rise of “hacks” on TikTok maximising product usage and value, particularly in premium products.

80% of consumers are also spending more time researching products and seeking discounts. Lofts also noted that there is “less spontaneity” when shopping, with 80% of Australians going into supermarkets with a shopping list and sticking to it.

Connected to that is 68% of Australians spending extra time and visiting multiple shops to complete their shop in order make a good saving.

The report also noted that 47% are purchasing more online to save money, which Lofts said talks to the how Australians are being more considered with how they’re purchasing.

Elsewhere, the report also uncovered an increase in negative emotion, which signifies a substantial shift in the collective mood of the nation.

It noted continued concern for younger generations, where feelings of worry, anxiety, and fear are more prevalent than in more mature age groups.

Gen Z and millennials reported higher percentages of the feelings of being ‘depressed’ or ‘distressed’, which indicate younger generations are now facing more stress in relation to their financial state of affairs.

In a positive shift, however, there are steps all brands should consider taking, according to the agency, in order to help customers through the cost of living crisis:

• More tangible value for customers
• Prioritise your loyal customers
• Help provide customers with tools to aid planning their shops
• Invest in customer service
• Prioritise brand reputation and building

In 1980, the average supermarket presented shoppers with 14,000 products to choose from. By 2018, that number had increased to over 30,000, and it continues to increase today.

To help brands break through and make sure that their products are the ones consumers look to, The Growth Distillery created The Influence Codes, with a sneak peek of the research being presented at Newsamp’s 2024 Frontiers event.

“The higher the cognitive load, the more important affinity is going to be influencing your decision or your consumers’ decision,” director of The Growth Distillery, Dan Krigstein, told the room. 

“This is really interesting because it’s counter to the conventional marketing knowledge.

“You’re taught to find those moments of least resistance, find the troughs in the cognitive load and that’s where you put your message. What we can tell you is it’s actually the opposite.”

The research, which will be released in full in April, also pointed out that fundamentally, the world has been disrupted in three cultural waves that impact how people are influenced when they make decisions every day.

Dan Krigstein and Toby Harrison presenting at Frontiers 2024

The first, our information context, reflects how people operate in an information overload when only a few years ago, information was much more scarce. 

“We live in a world where we have more access to information in the palm of our hands than JFK did during the Cuban Missile Crisis – even if you’re a teenager. What that does is have a really crippling impact on our brain,” Krigstein said.

The second big change is the shift in culture codes. Society used to be far more rigid in how it reflected the movements in culture. If you wanted to know what modern masculinity looked like in the 1950s, you could pick up a magazine and see a man in a suit opening the door for his wife.

Co-presenting the research, Toby Harrison, chief strategy officer, growth, and innovation lead at Ogilvy AUNZ said “Lil Nas X is as much a key example of what country music is as Merle Haggard. Everything’s shifting, so it’s hard to have clear-cut handles on what culture is telling us.”

The third change is the ever-growing trust in institutions including government agencies, councils, state-based representation – and brands.

“The baseline level of cynicism across the populace is much higher, so much so that the foundational job of the brand is no longer to build trust, but to break cynicism,” Krigstein said. 

“That’s quite a profound shift in terms of the role that you play as a brand, going from introducing yourself from a baseline to build trust off of, versus from a baseline of cynicism to pull down from.”

Now in its fourth year, Frontiers is an annual event facilitated by Newsamp, with separate events for each media agency group nationwide, as well as independents. 

The day began with presentations by the Newsamp team of case studies highlighting the impact that the News Corp team can have on brands, before breaking out into workshops in the afternoon. 

This year, the event was centred around the theme ‘positive influence’.

“Frontiers came about because of COVID, because we were looking for a way to get together with agencies,” News Corp Australia’s managing director, national sales, Lou Barrett, told Mediaweek.

“It started with the consortium agencies so that we could deep dive with them into their clients and opportunities, but also given we’re such a complex business, it helps them navigate us. Sometimes our messages miss, because we are so complex. 

“Having that time – I called it getting them in a headlock, but I’ve now toned that down to a warm embrace – getting them together with us and deep diving on clients, it helps us deliver on client outcomes.”

News Corp’s Frontiers speaks to 76 agencies across 24 days’ worth of events, hosting 465 guests in 45 live workshops. The New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland events are done, with only South Australia’s consortium agencies sessions left to run on 9 and 10 April.

“In the indie space, things are turning around quite quickly and people are very cautious with their time,” CEO of the IMAA, Sam Buchanan told Mediaweek.

“When you come to the event, you know that that it’s going to add value – be it to your job or my client. The sessions are very well designed, and it does actually have a lot of impact in real life, with examples of things that people can take away to their clients.”

Dinner for Frontiers attendees in the NSW Hunter Valley

After the sessions, a post-engagement plan aggregates the commitments made in the sessions, and is followed by monthly WIPS with the attendees.

Melissa Hey, chief investment officer at Group M told Mediaweek: “These days are very valuable, because it brings together the senior leadership across our group and our agencies. It helps them as well to understand what’s happening, broadly, with News Corp – when I don’t think they have as much time as I do to do that day to day.”

EssenceMediacom’s CEO Pippa Berlocher backed this up, saying: “I moved back from Singapore, where I was for the last 14 years, to Australia in May. One of my biggest challenges is that I haven’t been in Australia for the best part of 20 years, so building up my network and building relationships is incredibly important.

“I was talking to Rohan [Nayee] who heads up CommBank for us, he was talking about some of the language that has been used today – instead of brands needing to build trust, it’s it’s about tearing down cynicism. Clients like the bank will really resonate with that kind of language.”

Paul Murphy returned to the market this week with the launch of his independent media agency, Kookaburra Riot.

Murphy, who was among the senior redundancies made at Dentsu late last year, said that starting up his own business has been on the cards for a long time.

“This is really a return to my heritage. I started indie side in Adelaide with KWP and then was lucky enough to be a part of Cummins&Partners,” he told Mediaweek.

With close to 30 years in the industry, he said that leading an independent allows him to be close to every aspect of the agency, from the product to culture.

“I found that working in larger agencies, I often felt further away from working directly on client challenges.

“I was definitely able to connect with clients, and they have always been generous with their time, but I had many conflicting priorities that took me away from some of the day-to-day tasks that I love.”

Murphy said he noticed a gap in what was being delivered to clients due to the fragmentation of channels, the complexity of technology, and the different specialisations needed.
 
“Clients often face off with discipline specialists at agencies, but they need to lead the dance when it comes to pulling the long-term communications vision together.”

Making the move

Since leaving a holding company and starting up his own shop, Murphy noted that the most significant change has been cash flow. He said, “Going from a salary to my own business is an adjustment.”

However, he highlighted that the payoff as an indie in a fast-paced industry has been freedom and the ability to be agile for clients.

“Everyone in the business knows that we work for our clients and have a role in delivering a product for them. Given how fast the industry is moving, agility is important.

“We can work with different tech and partners and adjust quickly as things change.”

Murphy said that Kookaburra Riot (riot being the collective noun for a group of kookaburras) is putting its most experienced people in “direct connection” with its clients’ businesses.

“This has simple and profound impacts on the client business and relationships.

“From engaging in long-term planning, continually evolving tech needs, adjusting process to context and relating campaign and media metrics back to business, just to name a few,” he added.

Looking ahead, Murphy said that developing clients’ brands and people is important. “I want to see people passionate about their craft and clients leaning into their ability to grow their business through the implementation of media-led solutions.”

–

Top image: Paul Murphy

By Louise Romeo, chief operations officer at Starcom Australia

In the ever-evolving landscape of media agencies, the fusion of human intelligence with artificial intelligence (AI) offers boundless opportunities for transformation. As we stand on the precipice of this technological evolution, it’s crucial to assess whether we’ve adequately equipped our talent to navigate this new terrain.

From automation to AI-driven decision-making, what once seemed like mere speculation in our trend decks has become integral to our workflow. However, as we strive for the pursuit of efficiency and rapid business growth, have we overlooked the true value of cultivating a culture of curiosity?

Reskilling emerges as the key to the future, with six in 10 workers needing training but only half having access to these opportunities. Progressive organisations that foster technical literacy and encourage curious minds can leverage the power of emerging technologies, establishing a cycle of continuous innovation.

An invisible intelligence

In the words of the great philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, “The ability to observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence.” Developing curiosity amongst our teams enables them to explore, learn, and develop without preconceived notions, unlocking their full potential. When this secret weapon becomes inherent in the way we behave, our teams become proactive in anticipating the changing market landscape, allowing them to deliver superior work for our clients and their brands.

Introducing CQ: The next frontier

Enter the concept of the curiosity quotient (CQ), a measure of an individual’s innate curiosity. Nurturing CQ within our teams fosters inclusivity, drives innovation, and facilitates AI integration. It complements traditional intelligence measures, underscoring the significance of curiosity in navigating a complex landscape. We place so much emphasis on IQ and logic, coupled with EQ to demonstrate empathy, but acknowledging where the concept of CQ fits in is key.

Evaluate, foster, and thrive

Investing in training, development, and recruitment strategies centred around curiosity is essential. By embracing curiosity as a guiding principle, we empower our teams to adapt, grow, and excel during times of uncertainty, but it all starts with understanding where your team currently sit on the curiosity scale.

As business leaders, we must be highly inquisitive ourselves to encourage curiosity and ongoing learning amongst our teams. Curiosity is closely intertwined with creativity and clarity – three vital attributes for effective leaders – so be sure to surround yourself with individuals who possess a naturally curious disposition.

Catalyst for change

Curiosity, intrinsic to human nature, propels us to challenge norms, refine strategies, and venture into uncharted territories. It serves as a catalyst for continuous improvement, fostering flexibility and laying the foundation for sustainable business models. Companies that prioritise curiosity stand as pioneers, leveraging technology to spur innovation and confront unforeseen challenges head-on.

When redefining our teams to incorporate both human and non-human elements, the symbiotic relationship between AI and human curiosity emerges as a potent force. While AI provides speed and precision, human curiosity offers creativity, intuition, and a willingness to embrace change, allowing us to create a new future versus one based on the predictions of the past.

Embracing the unknown

Curiosity is a powerful human trait in the workplace, with curious individuals typically demonstrating enhanced problem-solving skills. As we navigate the future, let us delegate tasks to machines where it makes sense to do so, and keep the ‘curiosity gap’ wide open, leveraging this human trait – one which we know machines will never match – to chart a path toward success in the age of AI.

—

See also: Ross Hastings: Marketing should be a culture, not a department

Top image: Louise Romeo

Mediaweek is excited to announce the next round of Sales Team of the Year entries is open. The awards are an initiative to highlight some of the high-quality work done in the industry. 

Each month, a media sales team will be selected by a rotating panel of judges as the nominee for that particular month, culminating in a set of nominees by the end of the 12 months. The judges will be assessing each team on criteria such as proactivity, strategy and execution, and client and agency relationship management.

See Also: Mediaweek’s Sales Team of the Year: NSW shines for News Corp Australia

The nominees will then all go into the running to win the overall title. 

The form to nominate a team can be found here

Justin Ladmore – Managing Director, Enigma Media
Celia Wallace – Partner, Today The Brave
Daniel O’Brien – Managing Director, Frontier Media

Justin Ladmore, Celia Wallace, and Daniel O’Brien

Key Dates for March:

Entries open: Thursday, March 21
Entries close: Friday, 5 April
Winner Announced: Monday, 29 April

GroupM agencies EssenceMediacom, Mindshare, and Wavemaker have partnered with Amaze, an organisation dedicated to creating an autism-inclusive Australia. 

This collaboration marks a step forward in GroupM’s Disability Action Plan (DAP), launched a year ago as part of the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programme, Better For All.

GroupM joined forces with Amaze in 2023 to support the development of the A-Plus Inclusion program and is now one of the first companies in Australia to roll out a pilot. 

This education programme, designed with Autistic people, provides organisations and teams with practical strategies to create a more inclusive workplace culture and environment. 

GroupM hosted an event at its Melbourne campus this week during Neurodiversity Celebration Week to kick off the partnership.

Scott Laird, GroupM chief people officer, said: “Our Better For All DEI Strategy is about identifying areas of improvement across all dimensions of diversity and developing plans and partnerships that solve for these areas and shape policies, programmes, and behaviours that create an equitable workplace that celebrates diversity of all kinds.

“The partnership with Amaze and the A-Plus Inclusion pilot programme represent significant milestones in our journey towards becoming a neuro-inclusive workplace, and the A-Plus framework can support other organisations across the media communications industry.”

Alexandra Lazarus-Priestley, chief change officer from Amaze, was part of the event to discuss the A-Plus pilot and share lived experiences.

“Over the past year and a half, we’ve been deeply engaged with both the Autistic and business communities to develop a program that empowers managers and people and culture teams to drive meaningful change for Autistic and neurodivergent individuals at work.

“What’s even better about this? We know that what supports neurodivergent people at work often benefits everyone. Let’s make work environments better for all.”

Amaze is also working with other organisations to scale the pilot to support more neurodivergent Australians to find and maintain employment in inclusive workplaces across the country. 

Thinkerbell has elevated head creative tinker Sesh Moodley to executive creative tinker, the independent agency’s equivalent of the ECD role.

Moodley joined Thinkerbell in 2020 when the Sydney team had just six people, after holding creative leadership positions at agencies like Crispin Porter + Bogusky, AKQA, 72andsunny and Saatchi & Saatchi across the UK, US, and Australia. Now, the ‘North’ campus has a team of more than 50.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Sesh for many years and his desire to agitate for brilliant ideas only seems to grow stronger,” Paul Swann, Thinkerbell North’s chief creative tinker said.

“He perfectly embodies the Thinkerbell model of Measured Magic and is always looking for ways to push boundaries’.”

The supplied AI ‘headshot’ of Moodley

Moodley added: “I’ve loved being part of the growth of Thinkerbell over the last four years. We’ve got an amazing roster of ambitious clients and a model that liberates creativity, I couldn’t be more excited about the next chapter.”

Moodley’s promotion continues Thinkerbell’s recent momentum. Mediaweek revealed that the agency had won Hort Innovation’s account from TBWA, and the agency has since released its first work for the client, along with campaigns for Guinness, Toohey’s, and Vegemite.

Thinkerbell also launched a water brand, marking its first foray into the product development space.

The Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2024 returns to Albert Park this weekend. Coverage on Fox Sports and Kayo starts Thursday. Network 10 free-to-air coverage starts Friday. Both broadcasters devote much of the weekend to action from the Albert Park track.

Foxtel and Kayo F1 weekend

Fans have been given a 24/7 dedicated channel on Foxtel along with additional feeds and bespoke content via Kayo Sports.

Viewers will be delivered more than 38 hours of live coverage, interviews and analysis. The coverage runs from Thursday to Sunday featuring Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, Supercars and Carrera Cup.

Kayo Sports subscribers can also watch every practice, qualifying session and race of the F1 live in 4K for the first time.

Kayo Minis will also be available within an hour of the end of the race for both Formula 1 and Supercars with four feeds offering even more insight for fans including – On Board, Timing, Pit Lane and Driver Tracker.

How the Australian F1 drivers finished in Bahrain

Fox Sports commentary team and guests

Interviews conducted by Fox Motorsport host Jess Yates will feature some of the biggest names in motorsport. They include Liam Lawson, David Croft, Valtteri Bottas, Guenther Steiner and James Courtney. Those guests will be integrated throughout the coverage.

Yates will be joined across the weekend by Australian motorsport legends Mark Skaife and Neil Crompton who will unpack every key moment, broadcasting live trackside from The Deck @ Thirteen on the final bend.

Coverage of F1 practice sessions and the Sunday Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix will feature the Sky Sports F1 team. The 2024 Sky Sports team includes Anthony Davidson, Damon Hill, Danica Patrick, David Croft, Jenson Button, Karun Chandhok, Martin Brundle, Naomi Schiff, Natalie Pinkham, Nico Rosberg, Rachel Brookes, Simon Lazenby and Ted Kravitz.

One of the McLaren cars driven by Melbourne’s Oscar Piastri

Fox Motorsport weekend start times

Thursday – 11am
Friday – 11.50am
Saturday – 8.45am
Sunday – 10am (with main race from 3pm)
Available via Fox Sports and Kayo Sports

The Fox Sports online home for the Australian Grand Prix has been branded the F1 Live Race Centre.

Network 10 Australian Grand Prix coverage

Free-to-air coverage will fill much of Friday, Saturday and Sunday on Network 10.
In addition to live coverage, 10 Play has much bonus Formula 1 content.

10’s Formula 1 Melbourne team

Formula 1 legend Guenther Steiner will join 10’s coverage, led by Tara Rushton and Scott MacKinnon. They will be joined by Formula 1 World Champion Damon Hill, Formula 1 expert Tom Clarkson, and motorsport commentator Richard Craill. Also on air will be Formula 1 reporters Rosanna Tennant and Sam Power.

Network 10’s F1 team

Top Gear at Australian F1 Grand Prix

10’s new series of Top Gear Australia is heading to the Albert Park circuit for all three days of action. Hosts Jonathan La Paglia, Beau Ryan and Blair Joscelyne will film the biggest, adrenaline-fuelled car entertainment show at the track, including a hot lap by the new Australian Stig, in their first Aussie appearance.

10 News First and The Project will also be covering the action from the Albert Park track.

Top Gear Australia

Network 10 commercial partners

Network 10 has detailed a record number of commercial partners and major package sponsors for 2024.

Headlining those partners are 7-Eleven, Harvey Norman, Salesforce, Shannons, Subway, Bob Jane and Universal Pictures, with major packages from Toyota, Visit Vic, Paramount+ and more.

Nick Bower, general manager – ad sales, Paramount Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), said: “The commercial demand to be part of Network 10’s Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix coverage has never been stronger, with integration being the most sought-after opportunity.

“Advertisers have realised the potential to tap into the strong and diverse audience that Network 10 and 10 Play’s coverage of the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix offers, as well as the creative and innovative commercial opportunities that come with it.

“We’re excited to deliver advertising excellence and market-leading brand integrations that drive results for our partners.”

Formula 1: 10 Play Links

2024 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix: All You Need to Know
10 Play Exclusive: Guenther Steiner Interview
Guenther Steiner Set To Fuel Star Power On 10
2024 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix: The Aussie Contingent
How to Watch the Formula 1 on 10 Play
Australian F1 Grand Prix Winners

The weekend schedule on 10

Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2024
Friday, 22 March
11.00am – 12.00pm AEDT Albert Park All Access Live and Free on 10 and 10 Play
12.00pm – 5.00pm AEDT Live and Free on 10 and 10 Play. Formula 1 Practice.
5.00pm – 6.00pm AEDT Live and Free on 10 Bold and 10 Play.

Saturday, 23 March
10.00am – 5.30pm AEDT. Live and Free on 10 and 10 Play. Formula 1 Qualifying.

Sunday, 24 March
8.30am – 5.00pm AEST. Live and Free on 10 and 10 Play. Formula 1 Race.

Network 10’s I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! host Robert Irwin has been named Australia’s most popular broadcast personality in the Australian Talent Index’s 2024 Top Talent Report.

Irwin, a relative newcomer to Aussie screens, took out the top broadcast talent spot, eclipsing the last report’s winner – comedian and TV personality Hamish Blake – in his debut appearance on the list.

Alongside his top broadcast position, Irwin was also voted number one broadcast talent by females and was considered to be the top celebrity who gives the most back to the community, according to the Australian Talent Index. 

Commenting on the report, Robert Irwin said: “I’m so excited to be honoured with the top spot in broadcast in this year’s Top Talent Report. Having an even greater platform to share my family’s message of conservation means the world to me.”

Hugh Jackman ranked number one on the overall celebrity list, alongside Chris Hemsworth, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie. 

The Top Talent Report showcases the latest findings of the Australian Talent Index – a talent measurement system that gauges consumers’ awareness, attitudes, and sentiments towards a range of Australian talent, including celebrities, actors, broadcasters, sports stars, and politicians. 

The Talent Index is calculated by subtracting the proportion of people who disliked a personality from those who liked or loved them, giving each a score ranging from -100 (universally disliked) to +100 (universally liked).

Most trusted

Long-time Better Homes & Gardens presenter Graham Ross and 60 Minutes report Liz Hayes were considered Australia’s most trusted broadcasters, followed by Cherie Barber and Nine News presenter Peter Overton.

Best Awareness

In terms of awareness among Australians, singer and The Voice coach Guy Sebastian topped the list.

Most authentic

Comedian, writer, actor and host of Thank God You’re Here Celia Pacquola was considered to be the most authentic. 

Most likeable

When it came to likeability, comedian Shane Jacobsen took out the top spot.

Most controversial

KIIS FM radio host Kyle Sandilands was considered Australia’s most controversial broadcaster, followed by shock jock Alan Jones on 2GB.

Most Entertaining 

Australian comedian, radio and television presenter and writer Sam Pang, topped the most entertaining list. 

Most relatable

KIIS FM radio host, Mitch Churi, who recently shared his weight loss journey to shed 40 kgs, was named most relatable.

Breakfast TV and radio – most likeable

Today Show presenter Sarah Abo was deemed the most likeable broadcaster, while The Fox radio host Fifi Box was dubbed the most likeable radio personality.

TV news and current affairs – most trustworthy

Nine’s Peter Overton and Liz Hayes were considered the most trustworthy broadcasters.

Luxury car dealership Autosports Group has appointed Zenith as its media agency following a competitive pitch.

From April, Zenith Sydney will handle media strategy, planning, and buying for the dealership network, which has over 55 retail businesses across Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, and Auckland.

Zenith Sydney MD Jonny Cordony said the win continues the Publicis agency’s momentum from 2023.

“We are humbled and excited to be partnering with Autosports Group to reinvigorate ROI and supercharge their growth in 2024 and beyond,” he said.

Autosports Group chief marketing officer Melinda Spencer added: “After an extensive review of a number of media partners, we felt that Jonny and the team at Zenith are the ones that will be able to really move the dial in terms of performance and will meet the needs of our growing business.”

The Autosports Group portfolio includes the likes of Aston Martin, Bentley, Ducati, Jaguar, Lamborghini, McLaren, and Rolls-Royce. Zenith will be charged with using data and tech to drive high net worth car buyers to dealerships.

—

See also: Superloop the challenger internet provider appoints Zenith Australia to media account

Top image: Cordony

New research from technology analyst firm Telsyte has valued Australia’s smart home market at $2.5b. This could grow to $5.1b by 2027.

The research further revealed that 7.6m households now have at least one smart home product. There are nearly 24 connected devices per home in 2023.

Smart homes now mainstream despite the cost

Almost half (48%) of invested adopters (consumers adopted five or more types of smart home devices) say the current smart home offerings are not yet “smart’” enough, according to the study.

Telsyte reports cost of living pressures outweighed the benefits of a smarter home. Over half (59%) report increasing financial pressure and are looking to adopt energy-optimising solutions for their home.

Robots, EVs and renewables and the smart home

Smart appliances include aircon, washing machines and fridges.

The study found nearly one in five (18%) households have a vacuum robot with more general-purpose robots on the way. iRobot is still the leading brand of vacuum robot despite increased competition.

The study found 28% of households want to reduce environmental impact with smart energy solutions. More are considering smart batteries.

Tesla Model 3

Connected electric vehicles

Higher fuel prices are tipping over new car buyers to EVs. Tesla still leads in sales, but EV models priced closely aligned to buyers’ expectations are increasingly popular.

Telsyte expects demand for home EV chargers set to rise with continued shortages in public spaces.

Here comes in-home AI

The past 12 months has seen a lot of hype around generative AI and services like ChatGPT. Telsyte found device product marketing is shifting from connected home to AI-enabled smart living.

“Australians will increasingly look for AI-powered smart living solutions that offer convenience, personalisation, and enhanced functionality,” Telsyte managing director, Foad Fadaghi, says.

Sixty per cent of consumers believe AI can manage a smart home better than themselves. In addition, 43% of people are keen on a smart home with advanced AI capabilities.

The research found there were an average of 23.8 connected devices in the home in 2023 with 16.1 non-smart devices, 7.1 smart home devices and 0.5 provisioning devices (e.g. modems).

The average number of Internet-connected devices in the home is expected to grow by nearly 10 in the next four years and the average number of smart home devices set to grow by nearly half by 2027, equivalent to more than 353 million internet-connected devices in total.

Telsyte forecasts the smart home market to be worth over $5 billion by 2027 with high-value smart home products such as smart batteries, smart appliances and services to drive smart home market value. Smart appliances could make up around a third of all appliance revenue by 2027.

Smart speaker growth slows

With smart speaker adoption stagnating, AI-powered experiences are poised to set off the next adoption wave.

Google is adding generative AI capability to its Google Nest smart speakers, which are already the main smart speaker for over half of user households.

Telsyte shared with Mediaweek details about smart speaker penetration. The two players with significant market share are Google and Amazon.

Smart TV adoption creeps higher

Telsyte also shared details of smart TV penetration into Australian households. In 2022, there were just over 7m smart TVs in Australian homes. That equates to a market penetration of 70.9%.

In 2023 that number grew to 7,770,000 with a market penetration of 75.6%.

Telsyte says this trend will continue. By 2027 the forecast is for just under 10m smart TVs in homes with a market penetration of 90%.

See also: Telsyte streaming report: Paramount+ fastest growing, Netflix reports first YOY drop

Hybrid work days here to stay

Being able to work from home or the office thanks to the pandemic has had a measurable impact on work spaces.

The lounge room, study and front entrance are the spaces where internet-connected devices were installed most in 2023, with the gaming room rising fast.

The study found more than a million (1.2m or 12%) Australian homes now have a dedicated workspace and another 500,000 (5%) households are interested in setting up a space dedicated to their hobbies and DIY.

Security and home

Telsyte found 1.6 million (16%) households claim they have seniors or members with a disability that require special assistance or care. Among those households, 1 in 3 (32%) are seeking additional help looking after these household members.

Smart video cameras remained popular in 2023 with increased availability of AI features and more affordable products with the market now worth over $330 million.

Subscriptions gaining appeal

Australians remain moderately interested (16%) in hardware subscription services, but more potential adopters are interested in this model.

Those interested are willing to pay from $26 to $44 per month for each service. Home automation services, utility and insurance providers are increasingly considered for subscription services.

Resolution Digital has been appointed to lead digital media and SEO for El Jannah, the Lebanese-Australian charcoal chicken chain.

El Jannah began in Granville in the late 1990s and quickly gained a cult following for its Lebanese-Australia charcoal chicken and garlic sauce. The restaurant plans to have 50 restaurants open in Australia by mid-2025.

Adam Issa, El Jannah’s head of marketing, called the collaboration a “significant milestone in enhancing the brand’s presence and digital footprint.”

“With the Resolution Digital team’s experience and performance approach, we are poised to elevate our marketing efforts even further, reaching new heights and connecting with our customers in more meaningful ways.”

Matthew Keegan, Resolution Digital’s managing director, said the team is excited to partner the Australian brand and “dedicated to growing their market presence in Australia at scale.”

“The win is testament to our evolution framework, which focuses on maximising the quick wins whilst strategically planning for the future of El Jannah”, Keegan added.
 
This win for Resolution Digital, which is part of the Omnicom Media Group, comes after the agency was named among the employers of choice at the 2023 Australian Business Awards.

The Employer of Choice (EOC) from the Australian Business Award recognises organisations that develop workplaces that maximise the full potential of their workforce through established policies and practices that demonstrate effective employee recruitment, engagement and retention.
 
Resolution Digital has been involved in industry opportunities, contributing to the wider community, and supporting and providing learning opportunities for people to keep across trends, updates, and Industry changes.
 
The agency has also been recognised as an industry partner Google Analytics Most Awarded Partner for the past three years. Its Culture Code covers culture, leadership and strategy and guides and defines working methods.
 
See also: Publicis Groupe, Dentsu, Ogilvy Australia and Resolution Digital named employers of choice at the 2023 Australian Business Awards

The ad-supported tier of Paramount+ will launch in Australia in June, at $6.99 a month.

The ‘basic (with ads)’ plan follows last year’s launch of the ‘premium’ tier in this market. The lower-priced plan gives the ability to stream all Paramount+ content on one device at a time.

The standard package is $9.99 per month for the ability to stream on two devices at once, and includes the ability to watch in HD and download content, while the premium tier is priced at $13.99 a month to have the ability to stream on four devices simultaneously, watch in even better quality (4K UHD, HDR10, ​Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos) and download content.

Marco Nobili, EVP and International General Manager at Paramount+ said: “Our pricing strategy and a market-by-market approach to our offering is key to providing customers choice, flexibility and value.

“As we launch ‘Basic (with ads)’ in our international markets, we can also offer our incredible content at an even more competitive price to ultimately increase our reach and expand our advertising offerings to partners. The ‘Basic’ tier allows us to continue to lead on value by providing consumers an even more affordable entertainment choice for the entire family.”

Nobili added that the premium tier has experienced success in Australia, Canada, and Latin America. Canada will have access to the ad-supported plan from next month, while the premium tier will roll out across Europe this year. Nobili says this expansion leaves him “confident this offering will enable us to reach new subscribers in Europe”.

The Paramount+ slate this year includes the likes of the upcoming Halo and final season of Star Trek: Discovery, plus the A-League and AFC Champions League.

“By introducing the ‘Basic (with ads)’ plan in Canada and Australia, we will enhance our value to our partners by enabling advertisers to buy across our global franchises, series and films through our digital platform, EyeQ, alongside the breadth of Paramount’s premium video inventory in a comprehensive and impactful way,” added president of international markets and advertising sales, Lee Sears.

See also: Streaming services need to share audience data and insights to grow ad investment

Paramount+ has announced that NCIS: Sydney has been greenlit for a second season, with production due to begin shortly.

The show was Australia’s most-watched local series premiere since the launch of Paramount+ and the announcement coincides with a season two renewal by CBS Television Network in the U.S.

Paramount ANZ’s creative advisor drama, Rick Maier said: “This is such a powerful acknowledgement of both the great work and the wonderful audience response for season one. We’re thrilled to be going again with our brilliant cast, story team, crew and the best backdrop we know.”

NCIS: Sydney follows a team of U.S. NCIS Agents and the Australian Federal Police who have been grafted into a multi-national taskforce to keep naval crimes in check.

Having only just found their feet, season two will see the agents of NCIS: Sydney square off against a much more powerful adversary.

Executive producer and showrunner for Endemol Shine Australia, Morgan O’Neill said: “We’re beyond stoked with the response to the first season of the show, both in Australia and around the world, and that the team at NCIS: Sydney are returning for a second season.

“We’re especially thrilled to invite our audience deeper into the lives of our core team, peeling back the layers to find out what really makes them tick. This will be even more important as we see the bonds of the new family tested to breaking point in the face of a much more potent enemy looming on the horizon.”

NCIS: Sydney stars Olivia Swann, Todd Lasance, Sean Sagar, Tuuli Narkle, Mavournee Hazel and William McInnes. The series is created by Morgan O’Neill, who serves as executive producer alongside Endemol Shine Australia’s Sara Richardson and Michele Bennett. Produced by Endemol Shine Australia for CBS Studios and Paramount Australia, and distributed outside Australia by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

See also: Paramount+ ad tier to launch in June

Women in Media has launched its annual survey to better understand and represent the views of women working in the sector.

The survey is run by the 6,400-member organisation for women working in all facets of the media and aims to improve diversity, equality, and inclusion for all women in the industry. 

Media executive and co-chair of WIM, Anita Jacoby AM said the survey provides important data that is compiled and released annually. 

“You may be new to the industry or a veteran with years of expertise or somewhere in between. If so, your voice and views matter and Women in Media wants to hear them,” she said.

“The survey lets you confidentially share your feedback about gender equality, career progress, and access to support and resources for women working in all roles and types of media.

“Your responses help Women in Media focus its efforts and build an inclusive and supportive community, creating connections, accelerating career development and maximising leadership potential for women working in all sectors of our media industry.”

While individual responses remain confidential, published findings will be released to participants, the media, the government, and the industry.

The survey closes Friday 19 April 2024 and can be taken here.

Patron Ita Buttrose AC OBE and co-chairs Victoria Laurie and Anita Jacoby are joined by a voluntary board of directors and state convenors overseeing branches in Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, the ACT, Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania.

The 2023 Women in Media Industry Insight Report found that barriers persist for women working in media, with the majority of women (54%) continuing to be either unsure or explicitly dissatisfied with the progress of their careers. 

This was reinforced by the 24.2% gender pay gap for the information media and telecommunications industry based on median total remuneration complied by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency. 

See also: Mediaweek HOT List March 2024: Closing gender pay gap, IMAA, NRMA, Innocean and Kia

Upon emerging victorious as the sole survivor on Australian Survivor, fan-favourite Feras Basal has revealed what he will be spending his $500,000 prize on.

Along with the bragging rights of becoming 2024’s Sole Survivor, the HR manager from Western Sydney said that he’ll be frugal with his winnings, but has one splurge in mind. 

“I’m not one to splurge at all; I will probably still have my Kmart clothes! The only thing I will splurge on is to go on a bit of a holiday for a bit,” he said.

“Other than that, the rest of the money is literally going to invest in our future. I know it’s the boring answer, but these days, chips are eight dollars!”

In a post-win interview with Chattr, Feras revealed that although they filmed the finale months ago, he didn’t find out that he’d won until the episode aired, which he watched with contestants Raymond, Kirby, Aileen, Rianna, Garrick, Viola, Frankie, Nathan, Jaden, Winna, Kelly and Sarah.

“I found out last night, so you can imagine how on the edge I’ve been for the past couple of months,” he revealed.

Prior to appearing on Australian Survivor, Feras had over 70,000 followers on his TikTok account, where he’d regularly post short comedy videos.

Feras revealed that he doesn’t want Survivor to be the last time he is seen on TV.

“I’ve always said this my whole life, I’ve always wanted to make a career out of entertainment,” he said. “Whether it be a TV show or reality show. I love that I can entertain people and that people are entertained by me.

“So whatever chance or opportunity I get to be on something else, I’m 100% going to take it and grab it.”

The grand finale of Australia Survivor recorded a total TV national reach of 1,201,000, a total TV national audience of 706,000, and a BVOD audience of 90,000.

TV Report March 20, 2024:

Nine TV Report

Married at First Sight

Nine’s evening began with a Dinner Party on Married at First Sight.

Lucinda and Timothy are in crisis having returned from Melbourne separately. While Lucinda is ready to share some honest feedback with her husband, Timothy has had time to reflect on his reactions and is ready to face the music.

While all the couples arrive at the cocktail party, Eden and Jayden have been delayed by a fight about Homestays and Eden’s nervous about facing the group’s questions about their relationship. Eden’s aversion to conflict has her terrified this argument will soon spiral into another at the dinner table. 

At the dinner party, Tori and Jack took the floor to share their news and plans with the group, with Jack revealing he had offered Tori a room in the Gold Coast. Lauren seizes the opportunity to question them both about Jack’s history of offensive behaviours, and Tori’s habit of letting offensive things slide. 

Tori reaches her limit and makes a final revelation: she intends never to speak to anyone in the group after the experiment. With Tori publicly ending her friendship with Lauren, she finds herself completely isolated from the group.

A Current Affair

Over on A Current Affair, Royal experts weighed in on the Kate rumours while a Sydney apartment block’s decision to go solar leads to a $200,000 nightmare.

Seven TV Report

The Front Bar

The Front Bar featuring Sam Pang, Mick Molloy and Andy Maher was next on Seven as they shared a laugh about the world AFL and caught up with stars of yesteryear and today, ahead of the third round of the AFL 2024 season.

Home & Away

Earlier in the night was Home & Away as Rose laid down the law while Tane and Roo pushed back. 

10 TV Report

The Project

The Project on 10 reported on Brisbane’s Olympic fallout and chatted with F1 Drivers Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen and actor Jake Gyllenhaal. 

Ambulance Australia

On 10’s Ambulance Australia, the program followed NSW Ambulance crews race to deliver a baby, save a four-year-old with a critical heart condition, assist a 91-year-old gentleman and respond to a serious motorcycle accident. 

ABC

7:30

On 7:30, the program highlighted more seats were on offer across the electorates as Tasmania heads to the ballot box on Saturday. Plus Penny Wong meets her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. 

SBS

Australia’s Sleep Revolution

On Australia’s Sleep Revolution, in the final weeks of the pioneering Flinders sleep trial, Dr Michael Mosley’s lifelong insomnia started to shift. 

See also: TV Ratings March 19, 2024: Homestay week brings real world trouble to the MAFS couples

Tuesday 19th Mar 2024: VOZ Total TV Ratings Overnight Top 30 – Programs ranked on reach

Total People TV Ratings

Nine’s Married at First Sight recorded a total TV national reach of 2,551,000, a total TV national audience of 1,503,000, and a BVOD audience of 323,000.

Nine’s A Current Affair recorded a total TV national reach of 1,713,000, a total TV national audience of 1,091,000, and a BVOD audience of 85,000.

Seven’s Highway Patrol recorded a total TV national reach of 806,000, a total TV national audience of 434,000, and a BVOD audience of 21,000.

Also on Seven, Home & Away recorded a total TV national reach of 1,117,000, a total TV national audience of 752,000, and a BVOD audience of 80,000.

10’s airing of Australian Survivor recorded a total TV national reach of 1,201,000, a total TV national audience of 706,000, and a BVOD audience of 90,000.

See Also: TV Report March 19, 2024: Australian Survivor 2024 winner crowned during landslide Tribal Council

People 25-54

Nine’s Married at First Sight:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,026,000
• National Audience: 669,000
• BVOD Audience: 209,000

Nine’s A Current Affair:
• Total TV nation reach: 591,000
• National Audience: 328,000
• BVOD Audience: 50,000

10’s Australian Survivor:
• Total TV nation reach: 530,000
• National Audience: 335,000 
• BVOD Audience: 58,000

Seven’s Highway Patrol:
• Total TV nation reach: 263,000
• National Audience: 142,000
• BVOD Audience: 13,000

Seven’s Home & Away:
• Total TV nation reach: 367,000
• National Audience: 241,000
• BVOD Audience: 46,000

People 16-39

Nine’s Married at First Sight:
• Total TV nation reach: 490,000
• National Audience: 316,000
• BVOD Audience: 132,000

Nine’s A Current Affair:
• Total TV nation reach: 259,000
• National Audience: 125,000
• BVOD Audience: 28,000

10’s Australian Survivor:
• Total TV nation reach: 250,000
• National Audience: 182,000 
• BVOD Audience: 35,000

Seven’s Highway Patrol:
• Total TV nation reach: 101,000
• National Audience: 58,000
• BVOD Audience: 7,000

Seven’s Home & Away:
• Total TV nation reach: 160,000
• National Audience: 108,000
• BVOD Audience: 27,000

Grocery Shoppers 18+

Nine’s Married at First Sight:
• Total TV nation reach: 2,012,000
• National Audience: 1,204,000
• BVOD Audience: 260,000

Nine’s A Current Affair:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,365,000
• National Audience: 867,000
• BVOD Audience: 69,000

10’s Australian Survivor:
• Total TV nation reach: 931,000
• National Audience: 540,000 
• BVOD Audience: 73,000

Seven’s Highway Patrol:
• Total TV nation reach: 634,000
• National Audience: 342,000
• BVOD Audience: 16,000

Seven’s Home & Away:
• Total TV nation reach: 880,000
• National Audience: 599,000
• BVOD Audience: 64,000

Data © OzTAM and Regional TAM 2024. Not to be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) in whole or in part, without prior written consent of OzTAM and Regional TAM.