Magazines hold particular power in the luxury category for brands and consumers, according to Are Media general manager of fashion and beauty, Nicky Briger.

While “the cost of everything is skyrocketing”, Briger tells Mediaweek, there is still demand for what she calls “the finer things” – “people still want to treat themselves after years of lockdown and economic uncertainty.”

According to Forbes, the luxury market will be worth USD$1.65 trillion this year – including cars, experiences, wines and spirits, home furnishings, and art. Goods categorised as ‘personal luxury’ – clothing, accessories, beauty, jewellery, and watches – will account for 24% of the total market, or USD$400 billion.

Consumers want to be guided in their luxury purchases and rely on curation. That’s where glossy magazines still come in, according to Briger. In terms of ad spend, Guideline SMI figures show magazines held relatively steady in 2023, down 1.2% overall, but back just 0.1% in print. Just this month, Briger was part of ELLE Australia’s relaunch and first issue.

At the time the issue hit stands, Briger told Mediaweek that the physical magazine renaissance was tied to luxury: “There were 132 magazines that came back into print or launched in America over the last 12 months, and the same is happening in Australia.

“For us, it’s definitely that disassociation from digital, you just want to completely relax and cut off. You use a different part of your brain when you’re reading or looking at a magazine, and feeling and touching it. There’s something really special about having something tangible in your hands that you can carry and hold, and put on your coffee table. It is almost like a luxury item in itself.”

Briger adds now that this tactile experience was “one of the reasons ELLE Australia returned to print”; the first issue’s paper stock was sourced from Germany. ELLE proves that readers want to be immersed by a physical product that focuses on “stunning photography and exceptional writing”. The physical magazine “legitimises the [ELLE] brand.”

“It is precisely that immersion, that esteem and that trust which places magazine brands at the top for guiding the global cultural narrative in fashion, beauty, and luxury.”

Briger says that luxury brands want to be associated with the curation, photography, and writing found in a high quality print product.

“One of the biggest endorsements for magazines is the ongoing support they receive from leading fashion and beauty marketers,” she continues. “Powerhouse luxury brands like Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Cartier, who shape the high-end fashion narrative and have notoriously high standards for brand affiliation, continue to invest heavily in leading fashion magazines.

“Clearly, they recognise the power of magazines – print, digital or both – and their ability to connect with consumers, shape their attitudes and behaviour, and drive intent.”

In becoming a home for luxury brands, magazines are becoming luxury brands themselves, Briger argues, especially because they are led by “editors and creatives [who] have spent decades immersed in fashion, beauty and luxury.”

“They have intimate knowledge of trends, brands and what people want to see, buy and wear.”

Editors are no longer just journalists and newsroom leaders, but “experts in the digital space”. From that level of experience and curation, “to the tick of endorsement from luxury giants who advertise, these brands continue to gain and hold the trust of consumers,” Briger says.

So while “the creator economy continues to thrive … so do trusted publications in terms of sales and influence.” It’s not a choice between the creator economy and legacy media, though, Briger contends, since editors themselves have become public personalities and quasi-influencers with large social media followings.

“By putting editors and experts in the spotlight on social media, publishers leverage their talent as influencers,” Briger says. “High-budget production means shoots gather the best from photographers, stylists, fashion directors and talent, allowing them to build their portfolios and share premium content across their own channels.”

The way magazines, and their staffers, show up on social connect the masthead brands – and their advertisers’ brands – to new audiences, who trust their favourite editor’s or writer’s curatorial voice.

“Every single photo shoot and story is informed by the discerning eyes and nuanced understanding of people who’ve watched the industry evolve. It’s this depth of knowledge and meticulous approach that helps mag brands maintain their position as trend-setters and trusted guides for consumers.”

News websites and apps reached 96.3% of online Australians aged 14 and over, or more than 20.6 million people, in February, according to Ipsos iris.

The data also revealed that politics, tax cuts, wars, and storms drove the biggest consumption.

Key political news events that received audience attention were Barnaby Joyce’s fitness to remain in politics after his ‘fall’ from grace, the stage three tax cuts redesign, the prospect of interest rate cuts, and former prime minister Scott Morrison’s final day in politics.

Other news stories, such as the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, the Victorian storms, the murders of Luke Davies and Jessie Baird and missing mother Samantha Murphy, the Grammy Awards, and the NFL Superbowl, also received strong interest.

The chart below shows the News brands’ ranking during February 2024 by online audience size.

News.com.au led the charge as Australia’s top digital news brand in February, with an audience of more than 12.4 million.

Editor Kerry Warren said February was all about Taylor Swift and the frenzy surrounding her Australian tour dates which drove the site’s second-biggest entertainment number since Ipsos iris launched in January last year.

“We went all-in on Taylor Swift mania, running coverage of every concert, launching a dedicated vertical video carousel and even changing our logo to a news.com.au friendship bracelet.

“The Tay Tay effect also saw news.com.au enjoy millions of video views, particularly on mobile with our vertical video platform.

“But it wasn’t just a big month for entertainment – we led in all categories, with a healthy gap between us and our nearest competitor of more than 1.3 million,” she added.

Warren said there was significant breaking news that dominated News.com.au headlines in February, with the alleged murders of former Channel 10 reporter Jesse Baird and flight attendant Luke Davies and the disappearance of Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy.

It was also a huge month for royal news, with the palace announcing King Charles’ hospital admission and the Princess of Wales’ planned abdominal surgery on the same day. 

Following News.com.au in the news category were ABC News, nine.com.au, Daily Mail Australia, and 7news.com.au rounding out the top five. 

Ipsos iris, Australia’s digital audience measurement currency endorsed by IAB Australia, also showed the most consumed website and app categories in February. Leading the way was search engines (21.3 million), followed by social networking (21.3 million), technology (21.3 million), retail and commerce (21 million) and entertainment (20.9 million).

The rankings revealed more than 13.8 million people aged 14+ used a career website or app in February. While this was on par with January, the time spent on careers sites and apps increased significantly compared to January, up +14.9% per person.

People aged 25-39 are driving the increase, spending 1.3 hours per month on career websites and apps. LinkedIn lead the category, followed by Seek, Indeed and Jora, with Glassdoor rounding out the Ipsos iris rankings.

The chart below shows the Career brands’ ranking during February 2024 by online audience size.

Energy supplier/utilities was the fastest growing category in February, rising by 5.2% compared to January, as Australians sought out deals on providers. The events and attractions category rose by 2.4% with the music events sub-category jumping 68% compared to the previous month as Taylor Swift interest spiked again.

In addition, as children returned to schools and young people to universities, the average time spent online in the Education category increased by 15.5%.Overall, 21.499 million Australians aged 14+ used the internet in February and spent an average of 4.4 hours a day online, or 112 hours for the month.

Brooke Boney will be leaving Nine’s Today Show after the Paris Olympics, announcing the news on Friday morning.

Boney told audiences that she has been offered a place at Oxford University to commence later in 2024, and will be leaving Today to pursue that opportunity.

“I don’t want to go into too much right now, because there’ll be plenty of time for goodbyes and thank yous, but I just wanted to share that good slash bad news with you all this morning,” she said.

“It’s been a dream of mine to be able to study at an overseas university, and it just felt like the right time to take that step.

“I’m so grateful to come in here every day and I love you all so much. So it’s made the decision really difficult. But it just means that you’ll all have to plan trips to the UK to come and visit.”

Brooke Boney shares a MAJOR announcement with The Today Show family. 💛 #9Today pic.twitter.com/9EGUKbHGny

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) March 21, 2024

Boney joined the Today Show at the start of 2019 as the show’s entertainment reporter, making the move over from triple j where she was a newsreader.

Since then, Boney has made a name for herself, taking on gigs such as hosting Carols by Candlelight, joining Will McMahon on KIIS FM Drive while Woody Whitelaw was in the I’m A Celebrity jungle, and hosting the ARIA Awards. 

A year after she took on the Today Show role, Boney told Mediaweek that despite working in breakfast radio and breakfast TV, she detests the early morning alarm.

“I am a sucker for punishment. I don’t know how I ended up being someone who does all these breakfast shows when I am naturally a night owl who loves my sleep-ins.

“One thing that I have found is that I am also a real creature of habit, so it does suit me to have the same bedtime every night and the same wake-up time every day, and to get out of bed and have the exact same routine for five days of the week.”

See Also: “I am a sucker for punishment”: Brooke Boney’s breakfast TV wakeup call

ABC Radio Sydney Afternoon presenter James Valentine has announced on air that he will be taking three months off to recover from oesophagus surgery. 

Valentine announced to listeners on Thursday, March 21 that he had a 4-centimetre cancer tumour where his oesophagus meets his stomach. The surgery will remove his entire oesophagus and then stretch his stomach up and attach it to his throat.

Valentine said his cancer diagnosis dates back to December, where he was at a friend’s party and upon eating massaman curry, he started to choke badly. 

He then went to an endoscopy clinic to get a gastroscopy, and upon completing it, the doctor told him he had a 4-centimetre tumour.

“The next morning I get up at 3:45 am. As I’m driving to work, it’s like I start to remember a dream. It doesn’t quite make sense. After the radio shift, I ring my wife Joanne and say, “This might sound like a stupid question, but I have cancer, right?

“Immediately it was meetings with oncologists, radiologists, and surgeons and, in early January, I started five weeks of chemotherapy and radiation. (For reasons that must be obvious, I don’t like to use the more common term — radiotherapy.)

“And this is where my cancer and treatment differ from many others.

“I got chemo and radiation straight off, but only a mild dose designed to shrink the tumour and clean out the body before surgery. I got tired from the radiation, the chemo made me feel like my whole body had been sluiced through with liquid aluminium foil but I could go to work, do the radio, and I even did a gig or two playing saxophone.

“Much to the annoyance of my bald brothers, my hair didn’t fall out.

“So, I’ll be gone for a while. Probably two or three months. I’m going to make sure I’m fully recovered and my stomach is going to stay attached to my neck before I attempt broadcasting again. Wouldn’t want it to come loose mid-show.

“Cancer is confronting and of course, I’m equal parts hopeful and terrified. Lord knows what I’ll be like a few months from now. I think I’ll be fine. That’s my ending. But right now, I’m still at the beginning.”

Tim Webster will replace James Valentine in Afternoons during his absence. 

Screen Producers Australia (SPA) has announced the winners for 12 production categories at the 22nd Annual SPA Awards. The Awards celebrate content produced by SPA members and champion outstanding Australian screen productions, showcasing the skill, imagination, and innovative thinking of Australia’s production businesses and industry.

Werner Film Productions were the big winners. It has been a massive week for the business run by Joanna Werner. Just last Monday it was revealed she had sold the production business to BBC Studios. Then today she collected multiple awards including Production Business of the Year. Werner Film also picked up Drama Series Production of the Year for series two of The Newsreader.

Joanne Werner and BBC Studios’ Kylie Washington earlier this week

The Awards night event was held at Star on the Gold Coast. The Awards mark the end of the three-day Screen Forever conference.

The evening was hosted by Matt Okine. Presenters included Marta Dusseldorp, Leah Purcell, Rob Collins and Remy Hii.

Lifetime Achievement Award

As previously revealed, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Fiona Eagger and Deborah Cox, Every Cloud Productions

The Awards ceremony saw Amy Parry named as the recipient of the $20,000 Ones To Watch Screen Internship grant, supported by Screen Australia and Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped In Black) awarded the annual SDIN Award.

Deb Cox and Fiona Eagger

SPA Awards winners and nominees (winners in red)

Series

Animated Production of the Year (joint winners)
100% Wolf: Book of Hath – Flying Bark Productions
Beep and Mort – Windmill Pictures
Ginger and the Vegesaurs S2 – Cheeky Little Media
Kangaroo Beach Season S2 – Cheeky Little Media
Koala Man – Princess Pictures
YOLO: Silver Destiny S2 – Princess Pictures

Children’s Production of the Year (excluding Animation)
Crazy Fun Park – Werner Film Productions
Rock Island Mysteries S2 – Fremantle Australia
Spooky Files – Tony Ayres Productions and Megaboom Pictures
Surviving Summer S2 – Werner Film Productions
The PM’s Daughter S2 – Fremantle Australia
Turn Up The Volume – Matchbox Pictures and Film Camp

Comedy Program or Series Production of the Year
Class of 07 – Matchbox Pictures
Deadloch – Guesswork Television and OK Great Productions
Gold Diggers – KOJO Studios
Hannah Gadsby: Something Special – Guesswork Television
In Limbo – Bunya Productions and Heiress Films
Mother and Son – Wooden Horse

Documentary Series Production of the Year
Folau – In Films
Matildas: The World at Our Feet – Barking Mad Productions
Ningaloo Nyinggulu – Artemis Media and Matter of Factual
Old People’s Home For Teenagers – Endemol Shine Australia
Queerstralia – Guesswork Television
The First Inventors – Ronde Media
The Swap – Southern Pictures
The Way We Wore – Stranger Than Fiction Films and Wheels Rolling Productions

Drama Series Production of the Year
Bay of Fires – Archipelago Productions and Fremantle Australia
Black Snow – Goalpost Pictures
Erotic Stories – Lingo Pictures
Love Me – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia
NCIS: Sydney – Endemol Shine Australia
Scrublands – Easy Tiger Productions
The Newsreader S2 – Werner Film Productions
Totally Completely Fine – Fremantle Australia
Wellmania – Fremantle Australia

Entertainment Production of the Year
Adam & Poh’s Great Australian Bites – i8 Studio
Dancing with the Stars S32 – BBC Studios Australia
Gogglebox Australia S18 – Endemol Shine Australia
Grand Designs Australia S10 – Fremantle Australia
Hard Quiz S9 – Thinkative Television
The ABC Of…S2 – Guesswork Television

Online Series Production of the Year
#VANLIFE (EMOTIONAL) – Armchair Safari and 16CZECHS
Dick Slider S3 – Scenario Productions
Life of Kea – Toprock Productions and Kea Productions
SUKA – Wise Goat Productions
Touch The Sky – Nora & R.D. Productions
Unerased – Mashup Pictures

Reality Series Production of the Year
FBOY Island Australia – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia
Love Triangle S2 – Endemol Shine Australia
Real Housewives of Sydney S2 – Matchbox Pictures
The Bachelors Australia – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia
The Great Australian Bake Off S7 – BBC Studios Australia
The Summit – Endemol Shine Australia

Telemovie or Miniseries Production of the Year
Bad Behaviour – Matchbox Pictures
The Claremont Murders – Endemol Shine Australia
The Clearing – Wooden Horse
The Messenger – Lingo Pictures
While the Men are Away – Arcadia

SPA Awards: Feature

Feature Documentary Production of the Year
Flyways – Storyland
Harley & Katya – Stranger Than Fiction Films
Living With Devils – Smith & Nasht
ONEFOUR: Against All Odds – Stranger Than Fiction Films and Entropico
The Cape – Wooden Horse
The Giants – General Strike and Matchbox Pictures
The Jewish Nazi? – Mint Pictures
The Platypus Guardian – WildBear Entertainment

Feature Film Production of the Year
Carmen – Goalpost Pictures
Foe – See-Saw Films
Limbo – Bunya Productions
Shayda – Origma 45
Streets of Colour – Frankendipity Enterprises
The Royal Hotel – See-Saw Films

SPA Awards: Short Film

Short Film Production of the Year
Blame The Rabbit – Highview Productions
Jia – Niu Studios and Toprock Productions
My Jumper, It Roars! – Flying Bark Productions
Raising Thunder – Jasmine Rose Productions
Ratbag – Bus Stop Films
The Bank Manager – Quamby Studios

Business Awards

Services and Facilities Business of the Year
Hazbin Hotel – Princess Bento Studio
Heartbreak High S2 – Cato Location Services
Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles – The Post Lounge
Various Productions – TAG Travel Group

Breakthrough Business of the Year
i8 Studio
Stranger Than Fiction
Truce Films
Wooden Horse

Media Super Production Business of the Year
Bronte Pictures
Goalpost Pictures
Matchbox Pictures
Princess Pictures
Prospero Productions
See-Saw Films
Werner Film Productions
Wooden Horse

Screen Business Export Award
Bad Behaviour – Matchbox Pictures
Black Snow – Goalpost Pictures
Class of ’07 – Matchbox Pictures

Top image: Joanne Werner and colleagues celebrate SPA Awards wins

See also: BBC Studios Productions Australia acquires Werner Film Productions

This week’s Meeting of the Minds sees David Nutman and Tasma Hunt from independent agency Common Ventures reveal their leadership heroes, current streaming binge and career goals.

The Mediaweek series showcases their diverse perspectives, thoughts and opinions by bringing together two different points of view from an industry rookie and an experienced expert.

Daniel Nutman, senior creative, Common Ventures

Best career advice – “You can have anything, not everything”
 
I can’t remember who said it, and it’s more life advice than career, but really – is there a difference between the two?

My favourite podcast/read – Pivot for tech news. On Strategy with Fergus O’Carroll for strategy inspiration. David Saderis for relief and writing inspiration.
 
Current streaming binge – As a new father, binging has been replaced by intermittent fasting. But lately, the Youtube homepage/recommended videos have made me their son.

Leadership hero – Leadership starts with “What needs to be done?” That can’t be answered without listening.
 
Brian Grazier has made a career of active listening and keeping a curious mind. He founded Imagine Entertainment in 1986 with Ron Howard, and has helped create some of cinema’s greatest movies.
 
A few years ago he wrote, A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life. It’s one of the most rewarding books I’ve read.

I wish someone had told me – I feel I’m still waiting for this advice.

Guilty content pleasure – Squid Game Reality Show (Netflix) is the Neapolitan of guilty pleasure viewing.
 
The challengers of Survivor sandwiched between the voyeurism of Big Brother and the drama of MAFS. Delicious.

Best training course/session –  Mark Ritson Mini MBA
 
For most of my life, I’ve focused on creativity. But more recently, that focus has turned to business more broadly.
 
The Mini MBA was eye opening. It made me release the challenges and goals of clients and put my role into perspective. Also, it sharpened up my question asking skills during discovery sessions with new clients/briefs.

Your mentor – All my current mentors are people from history (R.I.P.) or too famous to actually give me advice. But I know the benefit actual mentors can bring. So I’m on the lookout for someone.
 
After all, I can’t really grab a coffee with Anthony Bourdain, and David Saderis is terrible at returning my emails.

Hot medium or show – Augmented or filmed OOH executions that are really created for social feeds. See Oatley’s latest work filmed on the streets of Paris.

Favourite media event – Cannes in Cairns

Wish I’d done that – I wish I’d written Kayak’s brain surgeon. I wish I’d written Uncommons’ Insure your happiness. I wish I’d written F*ck the poor. I wish I’d written any of the songs from Hamilton. I wish I’d written Robin William’s speech in the park scene from Good Will Hunting.

Career goal for 2023 – Gaining knowledge is great, but it’s a waste of time if you don’t put it into practice.

I’ve read a lot of Byron Sharp, Mark Ritson, Robert Heath and a stack more over the last year. My focus now is to actually practice those principles in the real world. You know, real briefs that don’t have the research and data of P&G or the budgets of Maccas. My aim is to build the confidence to have the conviction to influence those around me. I believe in it, I need to make others believe as well.

TLDR: My ‘24 motto “Don’t just read the book. BE THE BOOK.”

Tasma Hunt, account manager, Common Ventures

Best career advice – If you don’t laugh you’ll cry.

My favourite podcast/read –  Read: Any of the Bronte sister’s novels. Don’t let their age or size worry you, you won’t be able to put them down. And, falling in love with a mean, broody and unavailable man is a trope that still stands the test of time.

Or ‘The History of Art without Men’ by Katy Hessel. It’s a great rage-read if you’re looking to learn some art history whilst simultaneously discovering just how brutally excluded women have been from the arts for centuries.

Podcast: Binchtopia. The hosts are so funny, and put in the hard yards to research niche topics like the manosphere, trad-wives, and gossip as an act of feminist resistance!

If you’re feeling a bit more broey, Last Podcast on the Left is hilarious and SO well-researched. The breadth of topics is next level if you’re a nerd for horror. Serial killers, hauntings, aliens, the plague and terrible, terrible lost-at-sea stories. Not for the squeamish.

Current streaming binge – I’m doing my best to minimise screen time, so I wouldn’t say I’m binging anything at the moment. But during a recent bout of the flu, I watched all of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. It’s sort of an underdog in the Real Housewives franchise, but the backdrop of uber-religious Utah makes the drama absolutely off its rocker.

Leadership hero –  The devil works hard, but Kris Jenner works harder.

I wish someone had told me – You’re doing amazing, sweetie.

Guilty content pleasure – Love Island, but I don’t feel guilty about it.

Best training course/session – Am I allowed to say my Bachelor’s degree?

Your mentor – I don’t have an “official” mentor as such, but as the youngest at the agency, I count myself lucky to work with some pretty A+ senior creatives and suits. The culture at Common Ventures is egalitarian enough that if you’re looking for some sage advice, you’ll easily find it from a designer through to the ECD, delivered without judgment. The only exception is Daniel. Don’t take advice from Daniel.

Hot medium or show – Pat McGrath recently creative directed the makeup at the Maison Margiela Couture Spring/Summer 2024 show by John Galliano. The porcelain skin look resembles a statue and it has been driving the internet bonkers trying to figure out what product she used to create it. Makeup and hair are such an underrated medium when it comes to telling a story and creating a character.

Favourite media event – I haven’t attended a whole lot of media events just yet, but SXSW was pretty cool and my Account Director, Alex and I managed to snag seats at Chance the Rapper’s keynote. Bonding moment <3

Wish I’d done that – I wish I’d bought the Dilara Findikoglu ‘witches’ hoodie when it was on sale in 2021.

Career goal for 2023 – I’m hoping that some projects I’ve worked on like the ‘Unforgettable Cake’ for Meals on Wheels NSW will get picked up for some industry awards this year.

I think it goes without saying, but I’m also just hoping to get generally better at my job, hone in on the things I’m good at, and improve on some things I’m not so good at. It’s all a constant work in progress!

–

To take part in future editions of Meeting of the Minds please email: [email protected]

For past editions of Meeting of the Minds see here

See also: ACMA appoints Common Ventures as creative partner for BetStop campaign

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Top Image: David Nutman and Tasma Hunt

On Sunday, 24th March at 7:30 pm, all eyes will be on 10’s new season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here as Aussie darling Robert Irwin makes his debut as co-host alongside Julia Morris.

I’m A Celeb executive producer Tamara Simoneau told Mediaweek that Irwin brings truckloads of energy to everything that he does.

“The press tour he’s been doing with Julia, his energy just springs off the screen, and he is just who he appears to be,” she said.

“I feel Australia really knows him, and knows he isn’t faking his sincerity or personality. Having him on board is exciting because it makes the whole show feel like it’s got this first-series energy around it.”

This week, Robert Irwin was named Australia’s most popular broadcast personality in the Australian Talent Index’s 2024 Top Talent Report, before the show had even aired. He eclipsed 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 women and was considered the celebrity who gives the most back to the community, according to the Index.

Entering its 10^th season, Simoneau says Irwin has been a main playmaker in evolving the show from its very first season, even energising producers to change things up.

“While the format of the show is the same one that viewers know and love, Robert has energised us on the show to come up with all these new fantastical ideas around challenges and things that we can do within the show.

“While he is so knowledgeable about the wildlife in Africa where will we be filming, he doesn’t know Africa the way we do, so that’s going to be really interesting.

“He brings all this great knowledge about animals that we use in the show, but we’re excited to throw him a few curveballs along the way as well.”

In the ultra-competitive world of Aussie reality TV programs, Simoneau says authenticity is the main thing that sets I’m A Celeb apart from the rest.

“Our authenticity comes from our audience involvement, they have so much buy-in with the voting. The celebrities sign up for whatever is about to take place without really knowing what that will be, that level of authenticity you just don’t get on any other show.”

Network 10 is welcoming new and returning sponsors to the I’m A Celeb jungle including ahm Health Insurance, Bedshed, Mahindra, McDonalds, Nature’s Own and Surf.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! is produced by ITV Studios Australia.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! premieres Sunday 24th March at 7:30 pm on 10 and 10 Play. 

Foxtel Media has announced the brands that have signed on as sponsors for the 2024 AFL season.

Sportsbet, Pointsbet, Maccas, KFC, Red Rooster, Sixt, KIA, Carlton Draught, McCain, Bunnings Warehouse, Coles, Host Plus, Industry Super Funds, Sony, Chemist Warehouse, NAB, Ford, Toyota, AAMI, Telstra, Musashi, Ashley & Martin, Steel Blue, Drummond Golf, NIB and Harvey Norman are all returning for the 2024 season.

Three new sponsors – GMHBA, Tradie Beer and Jim Beam – have also joined the lineup.

The AFL opening round simultaneously commenced in Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane to grow the code in the northern markets. Four matches were played involving the Sydney Swans, the GWS Giants, the Brisbane Lions, the Gold Coast Suns and major clubs from Victoria including Melbourne, Carlton, Richmond and Collingwood.

The Foxtel Group’s on-screen talent will be buoyed by the off-season recruiting coup of Jack Riewoldt. Riewoldt, who has been part of the Fox Footy family for a number of years, will step into a full-time role following his official retirement in 2023.

This season, Foxtel Media will include more targeted and tactical squeeze backs, a new asset that allows non-AFL partners to integrate into live play. It is also offering select Quarter-Time and Three Quarter-Time Naming Rights opportunities for brands.

Martin Medcraf, director of sports sales and brand partnerships at Foxtel Media said the 2023 season was the highest rating AFL season of all time for the Foxtel Group.

“Given how things have started, we’re heading towards another sensational season of sport. More excitement and value await players, fans and advertisers alike,” he said.

“Our world-class technology across Foxtel Group platforms creates a premium experience for both viewers and brands. Following the success of the first NRL round in Las Vegas, our expectations are high, and we’re pumped to create a more exhilarating experience for everyone.”

oOh!Media, Crown Resorts, Nine Perth, and Val Morgan are returning as major sponsors for the 2024 Oasis Ball.

Each company is on board to support the Oasis Committee’s efforts to raise $150,000 for The Salvation Army and Oasis House. 

Michelle Testa, Carat client partner and 2024 chairperson said: “Our industry is feeling the bumps and hurdles of the current state of the economy, and we acknowledge that we are not immune to the budget cuts and reduced spending in extracurricular activities such as sponsorships and events.

“What was most pleasing in each of the meetings with our major sponsors was their alignment with our concern that we must be better as an industry at reconnecting with our purpose and mission to be a force for good.”

Testa added that the group has “ideated around boardroom tables over the past few months to enhance the experience for our guests whilst ensuring we balance the glamour of the event and find new ways of delivering our fundraising goal.”

The Salvation Army’s WA Youth Programmes are designed to serve some of the most disadvantaged young people within the community. These young people’s lives have been impacted by their parents’ or guardians’ alcohol and drug addiction, mental health, and unstable home environments. 

The focus of the Oasis Project is Oasis House in Mirrabooka, with funds raised supporting a range of initiatives aimed at giving young people a safe and stable environment in the first instance and help them transition to independent living. 

This Oasis Ball, now in its 28th year, will be held on Friday 17 May 2024 at Crown Towers. More than 900 guests are expected to attend.

See also: First bus shelter installation marks beginning of oOh!media’s Woollahra expansion

News Corp Australia continues to expand its True Crime Australia platform with the launch of its latest podcast series, The Mushroom Cook.

Led by the Herald Sun’s investigative team and journalist Brooke Grebert-Craig, ‘The Mushroom Cook’ delves into the tragic incident surrounding what was seemingly an ordinary family lunch in rural Victoria, but ended with the loss of three lives.

The series uncovers the background of the accused, Erin Patterson, who prepared the fatal mushroom meal, and provides an overview of the ongoing court proceedings as Patterson faces trial for murder.

Sam Weir, editor of the Herald Sun, remarked on the significant impact of the story, which has garnered attention not only within Australia, but around the world.

“Since this story broke our team has worked tirelessly to uncover every angle of the police investigation including the accused’s online history and digital footprint, her life on remand in a women’s maximum security prison and the effects of death cap mushrooms,” said Weir. 

“Our journalists bring you the details of the alleged victims, the survivors and those working behind the scenes on Australia’s most high-profile murder case.”

Dan Box, NewsCast editorial director, audio, commended the team’s commitment to the story, stating, “The team behind this podcast have worked hard to report on this case with the sensitivity, compassion and rigour such a tragedy deserves.”

“While it is ultimately up to the jury to determine what happened, our team’s approach to this series is in the finest tradition of news reporting and I am proud to have worked with them,” said Box.

The podcast will receive extensive coverage, including interactive digital features and videos across News Corp’s mastheads: the Herald Sun, The Daily Telegraph, The Courier-Mail, and The Advertiser.

The Mushroom Cook will fall under News Corp’s True Crime Australia umbrella, which started in 2018 as a means to utilise its its team of investigative journalists and archival resources, capitalise on Australia’s growing interest in true crime stories and attract new subscribers.

See also: Brands’ job not to ‘build trust, but to break cynicism’: News Corp’s 2024 Frontiers

In the current landscape a recent study, On-Demand Expertise: the Anatomy of Trusted Audio Advisors by News Corp’s the growth-solutions hub, The Growth Distillery, shed light on the significant role podcasts play in the daily media consumption habits of Australians.

According to the study, three-quarters of Australian listeners tune in to multiple podcasts each week.

Furthermore, at IAB Australia’s eighth annual Audio Summit in February of this year, neuroscience research, from the report Crime Pays: Guide to Understanding True Crime Podcast Audiences and Advertising Opportunities, unveiled the substantial impact of the genre for advertisers and audiences.

The research, created in partnership with IAB Australia and neuro-marketing and neuro-analytics company Neuro-Insight, demonstrated the True Crime genre effectively delivers advertisers’ engagement and memorability, with levels proven to influence consumer decisions and behaviour.

See also: New research shows true crime podcasts are criminally effective for advertisers

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released a public discussion paper inviting stakeholders to contribute to the future use of the country’s radio frequencies. 

Many of the current 20-year spectrum licences issued to Australia’s major telcos are set to expire between 2028 and 2032. This spectrum is mainly used to provide mobile telecommunications services across Australia. 

This is the first time the ACMA has been responsible for considering the future of these licences that, under law, may be renewed, partially renewed, or refused to be renewed. 

To inform its future decisions, the ACMA’s paper seeks information from incumbents on their current and future use of this spectrum and from potential new users on alternative uses. 

ACMA authority member and spectrum lead Adam Suckling said radio waves are a finite public resource that the ACMA manages with the aim of delivering the most effective social outcomes. 

“Given the critical importance of spectrum usage to industry, the economy and the public, we are starting the process now – well in advance of the expiry dates,” he said.

“We are talking about very high value spectrum, ideal for facilitating 5G mobile internet and even 6G as we look ahead over the next decade and beyond.

“We are seeing new technologies and innovations on the horizon, such as network sharing models and satellite applications, that could boost competition nationally as well as improve network coverage in regional areas.

“We recognise that this is not a ‘greenfields’ exercise with the use of some frequency bands for a particular service, such as wireless broadband, not in contention. However, with around three-quarters of long-term spectrum licences expiring, it is timely to consider whether there is potential to enhance competition and provide more choice for consumers.

“As the ACMA works through this process, we will be guided by the public interest objectives of the Radiocommunications Act and ministerial policy statements.”

The ACMA will release its preliminary views on long-term options for the relevant spectrum in late 2024.

Claxon has been appointed as the digital performance agency of record for cosmetic clinic brand Sisu Clinic.

Work has already commenced between the independent agency and the Irish cosmetic clinic brand, which has flagship locations throughout Ireland, the UK, and the USA.

Claxon will build a new SEO strategy for the Irish cosmetic clinic brand’s refreshed website and focus on implementing the brand’s global SEO strategy, increasing organic traffic to drive performance for their clinics globally.

Jade Axford, Claxon’s chief growth officer, said the team is looking forward to being the brand’s digital partner and building its SEO to help the clinic achieve its ambitious growth plans. 

“Sisu Clinic’s philosophy is built on a personalised approach and providing unparalleled service to its patients which aligns very closely to Claxon’s client service proposition. With a global multi-billion cosmetic medicine industry thriving, and we look forward to continuing to work alongside Sisu’s team as they expand further,” Axford added.

Jade Axford

Dr Brian Cotter, founder of Sisu Clinic, said the partnership with Claxon represents “a powerful synergy between Claxon’s digital expertise and Sisu Clinic’s commitment to deliver world-class aesthetic services.”

“We look forward to celebrating mutual success and reaching new milestones in the global burgeoning cosmetic industry,” Cotter added.

The account win for Claxon comes after the agency promoted Jake Kay-Lawson to strategy director, reporting directly to general manager, Danny Molyneux.

Kay-Lawson joined Claxon in 2017 as a creative director. He has played a pivotal role part of driving its strategic and creative output across all disciplines, producing notable campaigns for Euka, Binance, Accor, chempro and F45.

His immediate remit is to maintain the agency’s high growth momentum by formulating, facilitating, communicating and ultimately executing strategies that drive results.

Kay-Lawson’s promotion comes after the agency appointed Brian Collins into the newly created role of head of growth.

See also: Claxon appoints Brian Collins as head of growth

Crimtan has promoted Lauren Crosby as commercial director for Australia and New Zealand to lead the sales leadership team.
 
In the role, she will be responsible for building and leading the region’s commercial team to grow the business across direct and contracted clients and agencies.
 
Crosby was previously head of client services for JAPAC at Crimtan and has been pivotal in the growth and success of the programmatic company’s Asia Pacific business.

Crimtan has also unveiled changes to its Australia and New Zealand commercial teams, with Karim Abboud stepping up to accelerate business growth by implementing commercial strategies as sales director. He joined the company in May 2023 from Pure.amplify, where he was business director (Media).

Andy Battye joins Crimtan from Spotify and Teads this month, taking on the role of sales manager.

Meanwhile, Daniel Kamalaneson, who joined Crimtan from Foxtel Media in August 2023, and Sorcha Young, who joined Crimtan from Pureprofile in November 2023, have been appointed client service managers.

The pair will continue to grow existing client relationships and will work closely with the commercial and ad operations team.

Joshua Wilson, Crimtan commercial director (JAPAC), said Crosby’s addition to the ANZ operations will help their clients maximise marketing budgets for optimum performance.

“Crimtan has always taken an educational and consultative approach with brands and advertising agencies to keep them up to date with the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape,” he added.
 
Crosby said that she was looking forward at the opportunity of leading the ANZ team’s growth trajectory and expanding relationships with brands to build efficient marketing campaigns.
 
“Having been with Crimtan for over four years as the head of customer success for APAC, my role was focused on growing existing client relationships, and I am privileged to work with an incredible team,” she said.
 
Abboud also said he was looking forward to being part of the Crimtan team, helping drive new partnerships and improving technology to help brands navigate the change and to continue delivering value for its customers.
 
–
 
Top image: Lauren Crosby

The Gentlemen

The Gentlemen was a 2019 movie from Guy Ritchie. From memory, it was good, even though I can’t remember anything in it except for Hugh Grant. Now it has been spun off into an 8-part TV series. While I may not be able to recall this plot in a few years, there is still lots of fun to be had.

Theo James is superb in the lead role playing the newly crowned Duke of Halstead. He discovers his father’s estate is home to a secret underground hothouse growing marijuana. Now he has to deal with an assortment of criminal gangs, not to mention his wacky family, played by Daniel Ings and Joely Richardson.

Guy Ritchie is still doing the same geezer action schtick he started back in 1998 with his first film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. But who cares that he’s repeating himself when The Gentlemen is so hilarious and stylish. Get on board, it’s lots of fun.

Steve Coogan as Jimmy Savile

The Reckoning

The Reckoning (Foxtel/Binge), a 4-dramatisation of perverted TV star Jimmy Savile, got a bad wrap from UK critics who called it unenlightening. Having now watched it all, I could not disagree more.

Saville rose to fame as a DJ in the 60s, and he ended up hosting Top Of The Pops. Moving in powerful circles, he received an OBE and a knighthood for his “charity work”. But as this mini-series shows, it was all a scam so he could molest and abuse multiple minors, helpless patients in hospitals, and even dead bodies.

Given this went on in plain sight for several decades, surely it’s worth examining how this happened. It is not pleasant viewing in the same way that Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Netflix) was. It is vital, however, that these twisted individuals are put under the spotlight, in the hope that it never happens again.

The cast of Palm Royale

Palm Royale

Palm Royale (Apple TV+) is set in 1969 and has a cast to die for, which includes Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney, Laura Dean, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas and Carol Burnett. Now 90 years old, Burnett’s character is in a coma for the first two episodes and she won’t be able to wake up fast enough for me.

The show is all about Kristen Wiig’s character trying to make her way into Palm Beach high society. It’s hard to fathom why though when all the rich women are such mean girls. The sets are amazing and the costumes are to die for, but Palm Royale is in desperate need of a more believable plot.

TV Gold: Two episodes of Mediaweek’s weekly TV podcast

Listen now on your favourite podcast platform for 30 minutes of TV reviews and recommendations every week from Mediaweek’s Mercado on TV columnist Andrew Mercado and editor-in-chief James Manning.
We want your comments, feedback and questions – [email protected].

This week: The Reckoning, Palm Royale, The Gentlemen

The important, yet challenging-to-watch, story of Jimmy Savile is recreated in The Reckoning (Binge/Foxtel, series). Savile is played by Steve Coogan who lands a job with the BBC in the 60s on Top of the Pops. The series explores the impact of his crimes and the difficulties faced by those who tried to raise the alarm.

Palm Royale (Apple TV+, series) features Kirsten Wiig as an ambitious woman trying to become a member of the most exclusive club in Palm Beach in the 60s. Watch it for the wonderful period recreation and the excellent supporting cast.

Our third series up for review this week is The Gentlemen (Netflix, series), from creator/writer/director/executive producer Guy Ritchie. It is really the surprise package out of these three series. It tells the story of a son who unexpectedly inherits the family estate instead of his older brother. And wow, does he uncover a few surprises hidden in that estate!

Bonus episode: Leah Purcell on High Country and The Drover’s Wife

This week, the star of High Country, Leah Purcell, features in a special episode of TV Gold. The episode follows on from bonus episodes recorded with Marta Dusseldorp and Rebecca Gibney.

In this week’s bonus episode, Leah Purcell joins Andrew and James to talk about Binge’s High Country. She discusses what drew her to the script, working on location in Jamieson and the brilliant cast.

We also get news about the possibility of a second season of the mystery thriller. Leah also discusses the chances of a sequel to her movie, also set in the high country, The Drover’s Wife.

Listen online here, or on your favourite podcast platform.

After a year-long break, BINGE has released House of the Dragon’s season 2 trailers, with one trailer dedicated to House Black and the other dedicated to House Green. 

The two duelling perspectives set up the action-packed season ahead, with the fallout of season 1 lingering over the two houses. The Dance of the Dragons storyline is being set up, which sees House Black go to war against House Green due to their differing claims as to who should be sitting on the Iron Throne. 

The greens support Aegon Targaryen’s claim to the throne, while the Blacks support Rhaenyra Targaryen’s claim.

With both sides having a dragon arsenal at their disposal, expect a lot of dragon skirmishing along with the usual Game of Thrones political deception and double-crossing. 

The series itself is based on Geroge R.R. Martin’s fantasy novel “Fire & Blood,” House of the Dragon is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. 

The trailers can be found below: 

Season 1 of House of the Dragon broke viewing records across Foxtel and Binge in its premiere on August 22, 2022. 

It set a new viewing record with 1.235 million viewers watching the first episode, becoming the biggest premiere for any show in history across Foxtel and Binge. 

For season 1, a three-month campaign was also launched by Binge in partnership with Thinkerbell, Mindshare, We Are Social, Wonder and Habitat.

Dragons were unleashed across paid, owned, earned and social channels, with the campaign enjoying a placement on the southern hemisphere’s largest billboard. The campaign also reached national television, cinema, print, outdoor and radio advertising.

In a stunt to garner excitement over the campaign, giant dragon eggs were placed – or “washed up” on Anglesea Beach along the Great Ocean Road. The dragon egg then popped up in Melbourne’s Federation Square, resulting in a following “discovery” campaign across Instagram and TikTok.

The egg at Federation Square, Melbourne.

House of the Dragon Season 2 premieres June 16 on BINGE and Foxtel. 

TV Report 21 March 2024:

Nine TV Report

NRL – Panthers v Broncos

Nine’s draw for the night was the Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers, which saw superstar Nathan Cleary take control of the game to hammer the Broncos, ending with a 34-12 win at BlueBet Stadium in Penrith.

A Current Affair

Over on A Current Affair, the program looked inside the black market of backyard solarium salons and met with chopper crash families who want laws to change. 

Seven TV Report

Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly

Over on Seven, Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly saw Rachel and Colin looking forward to a fresh start, but their trio of German Schnauzers was making that impossible as the dogs loved to terrorise the neighbourhood.

Home & Away

Earlier in the night was Home & Away as Stevie’s stalker returned, Cash crosses a boundary and Justin and Lead have a change of heart.

10 TV Report

The Project

The Project on 10 welcomed multiple celebrity guests to the desk including Harry Potter’s Miriam Margolyes, Alex Albon and singer Michael Bublé.

The Dog House Australia

On 10’s The Dog House Australia, Nick recently moved out of his home and tested to see if puppy Hugo was the right fit.

ABC

7:30

7:30 highlighted the housing crisis and the whistle being blown on ‘excessive fees’ charged by a major strata firm. Sarah Ferguson also interviewed the UK’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

Foreign Correspondent 

On Foreign Correspondent, the program went to Punjab in northern India to look into the Sikh separatist movement and how it is fighting to create its own independent Khalistan nation.

SBS

Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy

Actor Stanley Tucci visited the Green Heart of Italy. While this small rural region lives in the shadow of its more glamourous neighbour, Tuscany, Umbria has an ancient history that predates the Romans. With the highest consumption of pork per capita in Italy, it is a carnivore’s dream. 

Wednesday 20th 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 2,591,000, a total TV national audience of 1,608,000, and a BVOD audience of 344,000.

Nine’s A Current Affair recorded a total TV national reach of 1,694,000, a total TV national audience of 1,044,000, and a BVOD audience of 83,000.

Seven’s The Front Bar recorded a total TV national reach of 1,115,000, a total TV national audience of 523,000, and a BVOD audience of 20,000.

Also on Seven, Home & Away recorded a total TV national reach of 1,117,000, a total TV national audience of 772,000, and a BVOD audience of 79,000.

10’s airing of Ambulance Australia recorded a total TV national reach of 566,000, a total TV national audience of 266,000, and a BVOD audience of 8,000.

See Also: TV Report March 20, 2024: Tori unveils a final shocking revelation on MAFS

People 25-54

Nine’s Married at First Sight:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,068,000
• National Audience: 714,000
• BVOD Audience: 222,000

Nine’s A Current Affair:
• Total TV nation reach: 536,000
• National Audience: 290,000
• BVOD Audience: 49,000

10’s Ambulance Australia:
• Total TV nation reach: 178,000
• National Audience: 87,000 
• BVOD Audience: 5,000

Seven’s The Front Bar:
• Total TV nation reach: 370,000
• National Audience: 181,000
• BVOD Audience: 12,000

Seven’s Home & Away:
• Total TV nation reach: 350,000
• National Audience: 234,000
• BVOD Audience: 45,000

People 16-39

Nine’s Married at First Sight:
• Total TV nation reach: 534,000
• National Audience: 356,000
• BVOD Audience: 142,000

Nine’s A Current Affair:
• Total TV nation reach: 243,000
• National Audience: 120,000
• BVOD Audience: 28,000

10’s Ambulance Australia:
• Total TV nation reach: 61,000
• National Audience: 26,000 
• BVOD Audience: 2,000

Seven’s The Front Bar:
• Total TV nation reach: 139,000
• National Audience: 60,000
• BVOD Audience: 6,000

Seven’s Home & Away:
• Total TV nation reach: 151,000
• National Audience: 105,000
• BVOD Audience: 27,000

Grocery Shoppers 18+

Nine’s Married at First Sight:
• Total TV nation reach: 2,027,000
• National Audience: 1,280,000
• BVOD Audience: 277,000

Nine’s A Current Affair:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,316,000
• National Audience: 817,000
• BVOD Audience: 67,000

10’s Ambulance Australia:
• Total TV nation reach: 459,000
• National Audience: 216,000 
• BVOD Audience: 6,000

Seven’s The Front Bar:
• Total TV nation reach: 867,000
• National Audience: 405,000
• BVOD Audience: 16,000

Seven’s Home & Away:
• Total TV nation reach: 913,000
• National Audience: 607,000
• 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.