In November 2020, Southern Cross Austereo announced Dave Hughes, Ed Kavalee, and Erin Molan would be 2DayFM’s new breakfast team, with Hughes and Kavalee moving over from the station’s national drive show.

Mediaweek spoke with Ed Kavalee about the new breakfast crew, his opinions on game shows, his film work, and Have You Been Paying Attention? 

After previously manning the Sydney breakfast slot for 2DayFM before joining Hughes on drive, Kavalee said that it feels like he never left.

“On the first day when my security pass worked, I thought… this was good.”

Kavalee said that it was Hughes who brought up the idea of moving to the breakfast slot in Sydney.

“Hughesy suggested he was interested in doing this and we both thought about Erin, she was someone I always liked and now we are happy campers.”

Going from drive to morning

After moving back to Sydney, Kavalee believes that he is uniquely positioned because he has worked the breakfast slot for 2Day FM before.

“You have to be slightly sick to go to breakfast radio, but it’s that old thing where you go where the ball is. Breakfast is the most alive show, and Dave and I don’t drink, we are pretty vice-less characters and we thought it’s a challenge, but we like it.”

Adding Erin Molan to Hughesy and Ed

Kavalee said that he has known Molan’s work for a long time and believes the team has struck gold with her.

“Last time I was doing this job, Erin was someone that I wanted to have as a part of this show. She was just too locked up with 2GB and Nine, you weren’t even allowed to say her name. This time around we were talking to Gemma Fordham and she suggested Erin. Dave and I literally both jumped up and said yep.”

With Kavalee and Hughes both working for Network 10, he admits that they have been trying to get Molan to jump over from Nine but said that the biggest threat might have been Seven.

“When Sam Amrytage stepped down as host of Sunrise, I said that’s disappointing for you because we have you locked up.”

Ed Kavalee game show host?

Kavalee is a lifelong game show fan and admits that he is working on something at the moment with a TV network (but won’t say what).

“I am a game show freak, my dream in life is to come up with a game show format. I am one of the only losers in the world who has gone back and watched the original pilot from the American Price is Right at the American Television Museum.

“The key to the Price is Right is that the winning has to start at the beginning with the ‘come on down’! That is the first win and you have got to get it right.”

Thoughts on Larry Edmur and The Chase Australia

By coincidence, while talking to Kavalee, Larry Edmur walked past on his way to dinner which prompted the radio star to comment on whether Seven made the right call on tapping Edmur for the role of hosting The Chase Australia.

“Larry will be sick at hosting The Chase. I was doing a short film when I was at Sydney Uni and Larry was the acting coach, he denies it, but he told me once the key to acting is all in your smile and I said ‘you would say that’.”

Thoughts on Andy Lee and The Cube Australia

Kavalee said that he watches the British version of The Cube and loves it, and thinks 10 also nailed it’s decision when choosing a host in Andy Lee.

“Andy is a key get for the show because he is personable and funny, but he also loves little challenges. You hang out with Andy and before you know it you are involved in some ridiculous game where you are betting on if someone will trip over the plastic things at concerts that they put up so people don’t fall, so he is the exact right man for the job.”

Future film projects?

When asked about future projects (besides game shows) that Kavalee wants to work on, he said that he wants to make another film.

“I did the dumbest thing that you could do in the world, I made a self-funded telemovie 10 years ago that we sold to Channel 10.

“And from that process, I got an idea for a small film, an ensemble comedy that I am threatening to make.”

Kavalee said that he has one distinct accomplishment as a filmmaker.

“I am the only person in the world to ever cast Dave Hughes in anything, I have made two self-funded films stupidly, and he was in both of them.

“Dave Hughes auditioned for two films, Cracker Jack and The Nugget. Both times the character was written for and named after him. Both times, he auditioned and lost the role. He is a terrible actor.”

Have You Been Paying Attention during Covid 19?

Have You Been Paying Attention? hasn’t returned yet in 2021 but Kavalee said that production last year during Covid was an interesting experience.

“We started on Zoom and then we went to silos at Channel 10. Sam Pang somehow scored the new studio, I was in a cupboard and Tom Gleisner was in the coffin that he sleeps in.

“As I was saying all last year we have wanted to the show remotely for years because we can’t stand each other so this was just an excuse.”

Kavalee said that one thing didn’t change which he described as a Sam Pang classic.

“A guest quiz master will come on and Sam will go ‘they were nice, they will go all right’ and we all go ‘that was Conrad Sewell he has had a fair few hits and he is on your radio station every day!’”

Sony Music Entertainment Australia has renewed its agreement with multi-platinum and award-winning artist Guy Sebastian under a new long-term recording deal.

While the exact terms of the deal have not been revealed, the new contract means Sebastian will celebrate two decades with the label during its term.

Sebastian and Sony Music have also announced the formation of a new joint venture label with Sebastian discovering and developing talent across the country. Details of the label will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Denis Handlin and my fantastic Sony Music family has been and continues to be the most incredible home for me since the beginning of my career,” said Guy Sebastian. “Sony Music is a unique label that has always nurtured my talent as well as supporting my creative freedom. I am humbled at the success we have had with my music and repertoire in Australia and globally, and I am so excited for this next chapter in our partnership.

“I feel immensely grateful that we are now able to establish my own label as I feel it is so important at this stage of my career to nurture and develop other creatives. This is something I am passionate about, I find immeasurably rewarding, and it also makes me so happy. Finally, a big thank you to all my fans and the industry at large; without their love and loyalty towards me and my music, I wouldn’t be here today.”

“Guy Sebastian is an exceptionally talented and a wonderful person,” said Denis Handlin, chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia and New Zealand. “Eighteen years after first joining the company, Guy’s is in the prime of his career and his most recent album is the best to date. We are proud and honoured to extend our partnership so that we can continue to take his career to even greater heights. We are also thrilled to launch a new JV label with Guy that will uncover and foster a new generation of Australian talent. Guy’s music will endure for decades with many more exciting opportunities and special magic moments to come.”

Signed to Sony Music Entertainment Australia in 2003, Sebastian is one of Australia’s most successful, celebrated and enduring artists. He has achieved six #1 singles, three #1 albums, over 720 million streams worldwide, and been recognised with 42 Platinum certifications in Australia.

Sebastian’s ninth studio album, T.R.U.T.H. debuted at #1 on the ARIA Albums chart on release in October 2020. This year, he will also return to his role as a coach on The Voice Australia and embark on a national tour in November and December.

See also: Sony Music secures music royalty with signing of Kate Ceberano

Nova 100 has announced that it is partnering with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the 15th time. Nova 100 will provide listeners with access to and showcase the biggest, as well as new and up and coming, comedians throughout March and concluding at the end of the Festival on 18 April. 

Nova 100’s Chrissie, Sam & Browny will celebrate the official launch of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with their annual live outside broadcast on Wednesday 24 March from 5am at the Melbourne Town Hall (Lower Town Hall). Nova 100’s The Early Show with Deano, Jack & Ash will kick off the morning followed by Chrissie, Sam & Browny from 6am. Listeners can win their tickets to the invitation only event both on air and via the Nova 100 win page, with guests to be entertained by comedians including Adam Rozenbachs, Arj Barker, Ben Knight, Dave O’Neil, Michelle Brasier, Nath Valvo, Peter Helliar, Ross Noble and Zoë Coombs-Marr throughout the morning. Nova 100’s Chrissie, Sam & Browny, together with sponsor TAC who have been a major partner of the Festival since 2017, will make sure that will listeners have a laugh, and that guests will also have the chance to win $1000 cash multiple times throughout the show. 

Chrissie Swan said, “Melbourne just isn’t Melbourne without the Comedy Festival! We are so excited for the performers and comedians to be back in their natural habitat and for all Melburnians to get back to this world class celebration of all things funny.” 

Chrissie, Sam & Browny will also chat to some of the comedians, weekdays throughout the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, to showcase many of the comedy shows on offer. VIP tickets to Chrissie, Sam & Browny’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival live broadcast can be won by tuning into the show from 6 to 9am weekdays. 

Listeners at home will be able to join in by listening to Nova 100 from 5am, following Chrissie, Sam & Browny on Instagram during the morning, and checking out the Chrissie Sam & Browny show page at novafm.com.au. 

This year will also see the return of Friday Funnies, an annual event that gives key agencies and clients of Nova Entertainment an exclusive, invite-only experience of the Festival. Hosted by Nova 100’s Deano, Friday Funnies will bring together acts from the MICF for a special, one-night-only performance at the Forum Melbourne. 

Throughout the Festival, Nova will feature ticket giveaways to shows on the circuit and will cover the Festival extensively on-line with reviews, highlights, videos and interviews. Content will be available on novafm.com.au. 

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is held from 24 March to 18 April. Check out www.comedyfestival.com.au for further details. 

Zenith predicts that telecoms advertising will grow at an average rate of 4.5% a year to 2023 as its recovers from an 8.7% decline in 2020, according to Zenith’s Business Intelligence – Telecommunications report, published today. Telecoms adspend in the 12 key markets included in the report will rise from US$17.8bn in 2020 to US$18.7bn in 2021, and then return to its pre-pandemic level of US$19.5bn in 2022.

In Australia, growth in adspend will be slow and steady. It is forecasted to reach US$314m by 2023, compared to US$365m in 2019. As with other markets, digital advertising will rebound more strongly than other media channels, with spend expected to near pre-pandemic levels by 2023 to reach US$217m, compared to US$224m in 2019.

Smartphone sales will start to spring back this year once consumers feel more confident in their future. Consumers are becoming more willing to finance and purchase handsets independently from their network providers, giving manufacturers and retailers a greater incentive to advertise handsets themselves. Meanwhile, the networks will seek to recoup their investment in 5G licenses and infrastructure through new services and more expensive data packages. All these trends will help fuel healthy growth in telecoms advertising over the next three years. Zenith predicts telecoms adspend will grow 4.7% in 2021, 4.4% in 2022 and 4.3% in 2023. 

Voice and data services are commoditised and functionally indistinguishable to consumers, who expect them to work flawlessly in the background and only pay attention to them when they go wrong. High-impact advertising in mass-audience media like television and radio allows telecoms companies to differentiate themselves from others through branding, and makes them more relevant to consumers by promoting their association with things consumers are passionate about, such as entertainment, sport, and music. Telecoms brands therefore spend substantially more on television and radio advertising than the average brand – in 2020 they spent 42% of their budgets on television and radio, while the average brand spent 30%.

But as audiences migrate online, telecoms companies are refocusing on communicating their brand narratives to mass digital audiences. Telecoms brands spend less on digital media than average (49% of their budgets went to digital channels in 2020, compared to 56% for the average advertiser), but digital advertising is also the only channel in which telecoms adspend is increasing. Zenith forecasts that telecoms brands will increase their digital adspend at an average rate of 5% a year between 2019 and 2023. By 2023, digital advertising will account for 54% of all telecoms advertising.

“Covid-19 has demonstrated how dependent we are on good, fast, and reliable internet connections. Telecoms companies have been the unsung heroes of the pandemic, shifting our lives online and keeping us connected to entertainment, work, and commerce,” said Ben Lukawski, global chief strategy officer, Zenith. “Their challenge is to go from being unsung to being acknowledged and appreciated for their efforts. The spread of 5G and the reality of our new-found virtual lives give telecom brands the opportunity to move into the limelight.”

According to results from a ZenPoll conducted last week, the most important aspects for Australian consumers when choosing a network provider are cost (57%), followed by unlimited calls & messaging (38%) and amount of data (34%), and then brand reputation (27%). 

In other findings, the top uses for smartphones among Australian consumers (excluding calls and messaging) were checking the time/watch (63%) and reading/sending emails (62%), closely followed by social media (57%), maps/directions (56%), and online banking (53%).

Zenith Australia’s head of strategic insights, Kim Xavier, said: “It’s clear that connection is a key driver in how people use their smartphones, whether it’s to look at emails, or go onto social media. To reiterate this point, we also found that more than 60% of Australians feel being reachable and connected are the most important factors associated with telco services.”

Ziff Davis Australia will begin publishing BabyCenter Australia in a move that will see Ziff Davis become one of the largest pregnancy and parenting publishers in the country.

BabyCenter is a recognizable name in pregnancy and parenting advice due to BabyCenter’s top-rated pregnancy tracking app and its assistance in providing medically reviewed pregnancy advice.

BabyCenter joins What to Expect, another pregnancy and parenting brand in the Ziff Davis stable which includes IGN, PCMag, and Mashable. BabyCenter Australia was already owned by Ziff Davis’s parent company J2 Global, with this change bringing it under the local Ziff Davis Australia team.

Dylan Whitlock (pictured) has been promoted to account manager to lead the advertising sales efforts of this new parenting division. 

“I’m thrilled to be leading the charge here in Australia for two of the most iconic pregnancy and parenting brands in the world. BabyCenter and What to Expect deliver a wealth of guidance, support, and information for new and continuing families, and I’m looking forward to connecting Australia’s biggest parenting brands with the most influential parenting website and audience in the country.”

Previously, BabyCenter Australia was represented by Foxtel Media in the Australian market but that relationship has come to an end as Ziff Davis Australia looks to expand into the pregnancy and parenting category. 

James Whitehead, general manager at Ziff Davis Australia, said “Following our global realignment of our world class brands in 2020, and the success of our local commercial team under the leadership of Ben Hutton, now is the perfect time to expand our owned & operated portfolio. This move provides new audiences for our existing clients to reach and opens a wealth of new advertising categories for the local business.” 

Ever since the start of survey in the second week of February (Week 7 of the TV ratings year) Nine has been the clear leader. In Week 12 Nine kept that winning streak intact with its sixth consecutive week as #1 primary channel and #1 network.

Nine

A hit 7.30pm franchise is always going to set you up nicely. Just remember how My Kitchen Rules set up Seven’s year consecutively for close to a decade. For the last few years the Q1 dominance has belonged to Nine courtesy of Married at First Sight. The reality show format made by Endemol Shine Australia for Nine throws strangers together in a “marriage” and then stands back and watches the fireworks.

The four Married at First Sight episodes screened last week were the four most-watched pieces of TV last week with three of those episodes averaging over 1m metro viewers. The second Married at First Sight commitment ceremony was the most watched show of the TV ratings week with an average national audience of 1.430 million (metro 1.095m/regional 334,000). Nine reported MAFS on its BVOD service 9Now continues to dominate the rankings with the most-watched episode so far being episode 4 with an aggregate of 449,000 viewers.

Nine managed to score the top five shows of the week with the addition of Nine News Sunday which won its slot thanks to a lead-in from the first Sunday afternoon NRL game in Sydney and Brisbane.

Nine’s other programming to crack 500,000 is all linked to its news and current affairs output. Nine News of course, then A Current Affair on 677,000, 60 Minutes on 622,000, and the new Liz Hayes-hosted series Under Investigation on 530,000.

Making it over 400,000 were NRL Thursday on 426,000 and the drama Amazing Grace on 415,000.

See also: Week 11 TV ratings: Relationships rate – MAFS keeps Nine #1, Harry & Meghan lift 10

Seven

While Seven was still in second place, it was able to record its best primary and network shares of the six-week survey period. The lift comes off the back of the AFL on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Seven News and AFL Thursday on 680,000 both made the top 20 shows for the week. Next best were Friday AFL on 580,000 and Home and Away on 519,000.

Close to 500,000 were Saturday AFL on 484,000 and Sunday’s Ultimate Tag replacement Ivan Milat’s Buried Secrets on 480,000.

In summarising the AFL impact, Seven reported network share 25-43 up 19% week-on-week, primary channel share up 23% week-on-week.

Natalie Barr didn’t slow the Sunrise train with her arrival in the chair as the permanent co-host alongside Kochie. The show remained a clear leader with 426,000 national and 242,000 metro Monday to Friday.

10

The Amazing Race Australia flirted with half a million metro viewers last week, but didn’t quite make it. The three episodes had audiences of 491,000 (Monday), 480,000 (Tuesday), and 462,000 (Sunday). The series’ final episodes screen this week ahead of the Easter break before the return of MasterChef Australia.

Also close to 500k was Gogglebox on 483,000.

The Project weekday average was 383,000 with the Sunday episode on 367,000.

The midweek game show The Cube managed 317,000.

ABC

The 600k club on ABC had three members – News Sunday on 685,000, News Monday to Friday on 617,000, and the ever-reliable Hard Quiz on 622,000.

Saturday’s Death in Paradise was on 599,000. Other titles amongst the most-watched were Australian Story on 578,000, 7.30 on 566,000, The Weekly on 544,000, and the debut of Fisk on 540,000.

SBS

Two Michael’s were hosting the biggest TV audiences at SBS. Michael Palin took over top spot with 244,000 watching Michael Palin in North Korea and 242,000 saw another Michael Portillo-hosted episode of Great Australian Railway Journeys.

Also over 200k were Australian In Colour on 206,000 and The Secret Life of Light Houses on 205,000.

Singles

British band Glass Animals hits number one on the ARIA singles chart for the fourth week in a row with their song Heat Waves.

The highest rating Australian artist on the singles charts remains Sydney’s The Kid Laroi, who has moved from third to second place with the single Without You, from his album F*ck Love (Savage) which peaked at number one on the album chart. The move has knocked Olivia Rodrigo’s Drivers Licence down to third, with the track celebrating its tenth week on the chart.

In tenth position, Silk Sonic’s Leave The Door Open has moved up three spots. The song cracks the top ten a week after making its debut. The duo – Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak – made their live debut when they performed the song as part of the Grammy Awards ceremony this week.

Justin Bieber’s Hold On jumps six spots to #13 in its second week on the chart. Its move comes the week before parent album Justice is likely to make a big debut on the albums chart.

There are only two new additions to the singles chart this week. On The Ground by Rose came in at at #31, and Telepatía by Kali Uchis debuted at #39.

Albums

In its 51st week in the top 50, Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia returns to number one on the albums chart. The second studio album from the English singer-songwriter debuted at number two on the chart in April 2020 and hit number one for the first time in its third week in the top 50. Its return to the top ten came after the release of a deluxe reissue, known as The Moonlight Edition, in mid-February.

Future Nostalgia won Best Pop Vocal Album at the 63rd Grammy Awards. The album has resulted in four top ten singles for Dua Lipa: Don’t Start Now, Physical, Break My Heart, and Levitating. 

Just like the singles chart, the highest ranking Australian artist is The Kid Laroi at number two with F*ck Love (Savage).

Rob Zombie takes out his second straight album chart top ten entry with The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy. The American metal veteran’s seventh solo album comes five years on from previous release, The Electric Warlock Acid With Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser which peaked at number eight.

This week’s other new entrants to the album charts are Roses by The Paper Kites at #23, When It’s All Said And Done… Take Time by Giveon at #32, and Wild West Mixtape by Central Cee at #37.

2021 ARIA Chart Toppers

Singles
January 4 24Goldn Mood
January 11 24Goldn Mood
January 18 Olivia Rodrigo Drivers Licence
January 25 Olivia Rodrigo Drivers Licence
February 1 Olivia Rodrigo Drivers Licence
February 8 Olivia Rodrigo Drivers Licence
February 15 Olivia Rodrigo Drivers Licence
February 22 Olivia Rodrigo Drivers Licence
March 1 Glass Animals Heat Waves
March 8 Glass Animals Heat Waves
March 15 Glass Animals Heat Waves
March 22 Glass Animals Heat Waves

Albums
January 4 Taylor Swift Evermore
January 11 Taylor Swift Evermore
January 18 Barry Gibb Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook
January 25 Illy The Space Between
February 1 Bluey Bluey The Album
February 8 The Kid Laroi Fuck Love (Savage)
February 15 Foo Fighters Medicine at Midnight
February 22 The Rubens 0202
March 1 Tash Sultana Terra Firma
March 8 Architects For Those That Wish To Exist
March 15 Kings Of Leon When You See Yourself
March 22 Dua Lipa Future Nostalgia

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Primetime News
Seven News 1,077,000
Nine News 1,049,000
ABC News 654,000
10 News First 3222,000 (5:00 pm)/ 253,000 (6:00 pm)
SBS World News 187,000/111,000

Daily current affairs
Insiders 447,000
The Project 285,000 (6:30 pm)/ 435,000 (7 pm)

Breakfast TV
Sunrise 256,000
News Breakfast 245,000
Today 239,000

Late Night News
Nine News Late Edition 356,000

Nine

Nine has comfortably won Sunday night with a 26.2% primary share and a 34.7% network share, which were both more than five points clear of its nearest competitor.

The main driving force for this win was Married at First Sight and its commitment ceremony which had 1.11m viewers. This is the third-highest metro audience average of the year and the highest for MAFS in 2021.

Following MAFS was 60 minutes which had 589,000 tune in as the show covered brain banks and the murder of Toyah Cordingley.

Earlier in the day Nine’s NRL coverage of the Sydney Roosters v The Wests Tigers had 289,000 viewers, with 189,000 coming from Sydney which made it the #2 non-news show in that market behind only MAFS.

9GO! was the #1 multichannel thanks to a Star Trek double header.

Seven

Seven aired the second half of Ivan Milat: Buried Secrets last night and had 502,000 viewers, which was up on the 481,000 that part one had last Sunday. 

This was followed by the film The Equalizer 2 which had 281,000.

The first Sunday AFL fixture of the year between Greater Western Sydney and St. Kilda had 419,000 tune in with 174,000 in Melbourne and 137,000 in Perth (#1 non-news program).

10

On The Amazing Race Australia 493,000 watched the 21st leg of the race as the teams skolled an emu egg in a hot shed in Dubbo. No one was sent home last night, as the show get close to the finish line. 

The Sunday Project had 285,000 and 435,000 tune in as the show covered the NSW floods, and former Wallaby Brett Sheehan talked about the cost of concussions.

ABC

Grand Designs New Zealand had 438,000 while airing in the 7:30 pm slot last night and was followed by the drama Harrow with 401,000 which was down on last weeks 436,000.

SBS

The top program on SBS last night was a repeat of Inside the Orient Express with 171,000.