Yesterday at its Prime Video Presents Australia 2021 showcase event in Sydney, Amazon Prime Video announced the greenlighting of seven new Australian Original productions, the global acquisition of Nine Perfect Strangers outside of the US and China, revealed release dates, show titles, trailers and first looks for four previously announced Amazon Prime Video Australian Amazon Originals, and the sporting commentary team for its upcoming live coverage of the 2021 Australian Swimming Trials in June. At the event, Amazon Prime Video announced it has invested $150 million in local productions, resulting in more than 2,500 jobs across Australia since 2019, totalling 14 Amazon Australian Original series to date. 

“We’re incredibly focused on investing in and developing the world’s best talent to deliver the highest quality content for our Prime Video customers in Australia and around the world,” said Erika North, head of originals, Asia Pacific, at Amazon Studios. “We believe that putting the spotlight on the very best stories from Australian creators will not only excite our Australian viewers, but also our Prime members around the world. Today’s announcements are another step in our mission to bring outstanding content to fruition. We are proud to greenlight seven new Australian Amazon Originals with talented Australian’s, and today underlines our commitment to investing significantly in Australia within the creative community.” 

“We know that viewers in Australia want to see new, fresh, unique and authentic stories that they can connect with, and we’re committed to producing diverse Australian programming for Prime members globally,” said Tyler Bern, head of content, Prime Video Australia. “Australians are incredible storytellers and we are delighted to be working with some of the best filmmakers, writers, directors, producers and actors in the world. We have something for everyone from captivating sports documentaries, to hilarious comedy shows and world-class scripted originals. Amazon Prime Video is constantly on the lookout for new talent and ideas that showcase the best of Australia and we’re so excited to be announcing these incredibly varied seven new Australian Amazon Originals as evidence of our commitment to a diverse slate.”

At the event, Erika North, Tyler Bern, and Hushidar Kharas, head of Prime Video Australia, made a series of announcements, including:

Australian Amazon Originals:

The greenlight of Burning, the first Amazon Australian Original feature-length documentary made in Australia. Burning, from executive producers Cate Blanchett, and Eva Orner, who also serves as director, takes an unflinching look at the deadly Australian bushfires of 2019-2020, known as ‘Black Summer’. Burning is an exploration of what happened as told from the perspective of victims of the fires, activists and scientists. Produced by Propagate Content, Dirty Films and Amazon Studios, Burning will launch on Amazon Prime Video in 2021 in over 240 countries and territories around the world.

The greenlight of the new eight-part Australian Original comedy series Class of ‘07 will commence filming in Australia this December.  Class of ‘07 is created by award-winning Australian writer and director Kacie Anning (Amazon Prime Video’s Upload, The Other Guy) and produced by NBCUniversal International Studios’ Matchbox Pictures. When an apocalyptic tidal wave hits during the ten-year reunion of an all-girls high school, a group of women must find a way to survive on the island peak of their high school campus. Like Lord of the Flies (in cocktail dresses), the series follows a group of former classmates, now freshly entangled in decade-old drama, as they attempt to survive not just the apocalypse but each other.

The greenlight of Deadloch, the new Australian Original comedy series written by ‘The Kates’ (Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan) and produced by Guesswork Television, OK Great Productions and Amazon Studios. ‘The Kates’ latest creation is a feminist noir comedy set against a bucolic backdrop with a rising body count. Filming of the eight part Amazon Australian Original series will commence in Tasmania this November. 

The greenlight and release details of Head Above Water, an Amazon Original four-part docuseries that follows elite Australian swimmers Ian Thorpe AM, Bronte Campbell OAM, Kyle Chalmers OAM, as well as former-junior-champion-turned-international-musician, Cody Simpson in the lead up to the Games in July.  Produced by McAvoy Media, Swimming Australia and Amazon Studios, Head Above Water will launch on June 4, 2021 on Amazon Prime Video in Australia, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and select countries and will complete its global rollout later in 2021.

The greenlight of The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, a new Amazon Australian Original series based on the international best-selling book by Australian author Holly Ringland, and starring Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Sigourney Weaver. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart tells the story of a young girl, Alice Hart, whose violent childhood casts a dark shadow over her adult life. Produced by Australian hit-maker and Emmy Award-winner Bruna Papandrea from Made Up Stories, Endeavor Content, and adapted for the screen by award-winning Australian writer Sarah Lambert who serves as the series showrunner. Award-winning Australian filmmaker Glendyn Ivin is set to direct. 

The greenlight of The Moth Effect, a satirical, new six part, Amazon Australian Original sketch comedy produced by Bunya Entertainment, Amazon Studios and created by Nick Boshier (Bondi Hipsters) and Jazz Twemlow (Tonightly). The Moth Effect will launch one episode per month premiering on July 30, 2021 on Prime Video in Australia and select countries around the world. Together with some of Australia and New Zealand’s finest talent including Bryan Brown  Miranda Otto, David Wenham, Ben Lawson, Jonny Brugh, Peter O’Brien, Kate Box, Sam Cotton, Christiaan van Vuuren, Sarah Bishop, Nazeem Hussain, David Woodhead and Zoë Coombs Marr. The Moth Effect is set to deliver the finest sketch comedy for Amazon Prime members.

The greenlight of Warriors On The Field, an Amazon Original documentary presented by former AFL champion Michael O’Loughlin, will be premiering on Amazon Prime Video later in 2021. The documentary offers a compelling insight that explores the deeply personal and poignant stories of three Indigenous AFL players and celebrates Aboriginal Australia and its association with the Australian Football League. Sharing their stories alongside Michael (a Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri, Narungga man) is current AFL player Michael ‘Sonny’ Walters, a Noongar man from Fremantle Dockers, and up-and-coming North Melbourne star Tarryn Thomas, a Kamillaroi and Lumaranaana man, originally from Sydney.

New licensed content: 

Nine Perfect Strangers will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in countries outside the U.S.A and China later this year. An eight-part series based on The New York Times bestselling book from Australian author Liane Moriarty, Nine Perfect Strangers is produced by the teams behind Big Little Lies and The Undoing and was filmed in Australia in 2020. Nine Perfect Strangers is set at a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation as nine stressed city dwellers try to get on a path to a better way of living. Watching over them during this ten-day retreat is the resort’s director Masha (played by Nicole Kidman), a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies. However, these nine strangers have no idea what is about to hit them.  The series also stars Melissa McCarthy, Luke Evans, Asher Keddie, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Shannon,  Regina Hall, Manny Jacinto,  Grace Van Patten and Samara Weaving. Executive produced by Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky and Casey Haver for Made Up Stories, and Nicole Kidman and Per Saari for Blossom Films, and Liane Moriarty. The series is co-written by David E Kelley and John Henry Butterworth, who also executive produce. Jonathan Levine directs the series. 

Additional announcements on previously revealed titles:

Australian Swimming Trials coverage:

The full team of Australian swimming commentators include sports broadcaster and journalist Matt White who will serve as host across the six days of live swimming events, three-time Olympian Nicole Livingstone OAM, dual Olympian and gold medallist Grant Hackett OAM, and two time Paralympic gold medallist, Annabelle Williams OAM – all serving as experts.

Veteran sports commentator Jon Harker will be reporting from the booth; and dual Olympian and gold medallist Giaan Rooney OAM will be poolside.

Read More: Amazon Prime Video unveils Australian Swimming Trials commentary team and racing schedule

Back to the Rafters – Australia’s favourite family – the Rafter family attended the exclusive event and announced the much anticipated release date of the first Amazon Australian Scripted Original on September 17, 2021.  The cast that appeared on stage included  Rebecca Gibney (Julie Rafter), Hugh Sheridan (Ben Rafter), Angus McLaren (Nathan Rafter), Michael Caton  (Ted Taylor), Georgina Haig (Rachel Rafter) and George Houvardas (Nick ‘Carbo’ Karandonis). The six-part series, produced by Seven Studios and Amazon Studios, and created by Bevan Lee, picks up six years after we last said farewell to Dave, Julie and their family. 

Luxe Listings Sydney – Amazon Prime Video announced Luxe Listings Sydney will premiere globally in 240 countries and territories on July 9, 2021. The series stars of Luxe Listings Sydney and Australia’s top real estate agents, Gavin Rubinstein, D’Leanne Lewis, and Simon Cohen joined the stage to share details of the exciting new show.  Luxe Listings Sydney offers viewers an intimate look into the buying and selling of high-end, luxury real estate. Produced by Eureka Productions and executive produced by Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Rikkie Proost and Sophia Mogford. Luxe Listings Sydney is developed by Kentel and is co-produced by executive producers Benjamin Scott and James Kennedy.

Kick Like Tayla – star AFL Women’s (AFLW) footballer and boxing star Tayla Harris appeared on stage and spoke about being the subject of the brand-new Australian Original documentary coming to Amazon Prime Video later in 2021. Kick Like Tayla will give Prime members globally an exclusive insight into an incredible athlete, who balances a successful boxing career alongside playing in the NAB AFL Women’s Competition for the Carlton Football Club. Kick Like Tayla is produced in conjunction with the Australian Football League (AFL). Amazon Studios and Screentime. 

The Wilds – On a production break from filming series 2 of The Wilds in Queensland, the cast from the Amazon Prime Original young adult addictive thriller The Wilds, Mia Healey, (Shelby Goodkind), Shannon Berry (Dot Campbell) and Erana James (Toni Shalifoe) shared their excitement on the announcement of Series 2, filming on the Gold Coast and their reactions to the overwhelming response Series 1 received upon its release in December 2020. The Wilds is produced by Amazon Studios and ABC Signature Studios, part of Disney Television Studios. 

Since 2019, Prime Video has commissioned 14 Amazon Original series in Australia including The Test: A New Era for Australia’s Team, Making Their Mark, a series of 10 stand-up comedy specials by some of Australia’s best comedians, LOL: Last One Laughing AU with Rebel Wilson, and the upcoming Back to The Rafters, Luxe Listings Sydney, Burning, Kick Like Tayla, Head Above Water, Warriors On The Field, Class of ‘07, The Moth Effect, Deadloch and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart.  

Amazon Prime Video yesterday announced the line up of swimming commentators and the live swimming broadcast schedule ahead of the Australian Swimming Trials, which will take place in Adelaide from June 12 – 17, at today’s Amazon Prime Video Presents, hosted in Sydney. As part of the exclusive two-year partnership with Swimming Australia, Amazon Prime Video will be streaming the 2021 Australian Swimming Trials – live and exclusive in 240 countries and territories at no additional cost to Prime Members. All live swimming coverage will be available at no additional cost to Prime members, and fans can sign up or start a 30-day free trial by visiting primevideo.com.

Sports broadcaster and journalist Matt White will serve as host across the six days of live swimming events. Joining Matt as experts will be three-time Olympian Nicole Livingstone OAM, three time Olympian and gold medallist Grant Hackett OAM, and Paralympic gold medallist, Annabelle Williams OAM. Veteran sports commentator Jon Harker will be calling the action from the booth whilst dual Olympian and Olympic gold medallist Giaan Rooney OAM will be poolside. The Prime Video live broadcasting coverage of the swimming trials will be an Australian first, including a 30 minute preview show and a nightly wrap-up show.

“We’re excited to be bringing the upcoming live broadcasting of the Australian Swimming Trials to Prime members globally at no extra cost to their Prime membership,” said Hushidar Kharas, head of Prime Video Australia. “We know Australia is renowned for producing world-class competitive swimmers with all eyes on the upcoming swimming trials for their chance to compete on the international stage for the July games. We are proud of the exceptionally talented and experienced line-up of commentators who will work with Amazon Prime to deliver what will be the most comprehensive swimming trials to date.”

The live stream will run on Amazon Prime Video from Saturday June 12 through to Thursday June 17, 2021, with heats each morning from 10.30am AEST and the finals exclusive to Amazon Prime Video each evening from 7.00pm AEST. Amazon Prime Video will also broadcast the team selection announcements on the final days of competition.

“Swimming Australia is incredibly excited that our partnership with Amazon Prime Video will take the sport and our athletes to new broadcast heights in June as Australia’s best swimmers compete for team selection at the upcoming Australian Swimming Trials”, Kieren Perkins, Swimming Australia President said.  “The commentary team that has been put together is outstanding, with a mix of some of Australia’s most famous Dolphins (the national swimming team) along with a number of the country’s top sporting commentators – their sporting knowledge is second to none.”

Nicole Livingstone (@NicLiv) will be lining up in 2021 at her ninth Olympic Games in Tokyo after being involved in every summer Olympics since 1988, as an athlete, host and sports commentator. 12 years on the Australian Swimming team, Livingstone competed in three Olympic, three Commonwealth and six Pan Pacific swimming championships, winning medals at every level international competition. Holding the longest winning sequence of Australian Championships with 10 consecutive 100m backstroke titles. In the world of sports media, Livingstone has had a long and distinguished career.  Commencing with Wide World of Sports, Sports Saturday, Swimming and Surf Lifesaving broadcasts to hosting Commonwealth Games (1998 & 2006) along with reading national sports news on Nine News, Channel, Sports Tonight, The Project and sports presenting for weekend news services.  On commentating for Prime and her fellow commentators: “Amazon Prime Video has assembled the best team in our nation to deliver the sport that Australian’s love and admire. Grant is one of my favourite swimming analysts to listen to and learn from, his insight is second to none. If I had to pick two fierce and strong women to work alongside I could not have picked better than Annie and Giaan, who both bring Gold medal experience and an ability to bring the human side of sport to life. Matt White is the sport hosts’ host admired by all for his polished presentation and will keep viewers engaged and in the know. Jon Harker will bring all of the action in the pool to life as our Dolphins shoot for glory in Tokyo.”

Matt White (@mattwhite_tv) is the complete package in sports and news broadcasting. A multiple Logie-award winning commentator, host and media executive, White is currently the daily voice of talkback sport in Sydney as host of Mornings With Matt White on radio station 1170 SEN. White also commentates the network’s NRL matches and Test Cricket and will co-anchor SEN’s 2021 Tokyo Olympics coverage. After starting out in newspapers, White made his name as one of the original hosts of Sports Tonight and Channel 10’s Supercars and Formula 1 coverage before moving to the Seven Network where he hosted and commentated Summer and Winter Olympic Games, Motorsport, National News, Today Tonight – even a Royal Wedding. After two years as head of sport at Network 10, White is loving being back behind the microphone. “This is a new era for Australian swimming – not only back on our local screens with this new format and a new home, but across the globe on Amazon Prime Video with a world-wide audience,” White said. “It’s a privilege to be leading an on-air team of such incredible talent. And we’ve all known each other for a long time – it’s going to be great fun.”

Grant Hackett (@Grant_Hackett) is an international swimming legend, having dominated world distance swimming over a decorated decade-long career. With 36 gold medals across Olympics, World Championships, Pan Pacific Championships and Commonwealth Games, Grant brings a profiled edge to his broadcast involvement. The back-to-back Olympic champion and 16 times world record holder made his broadcast debut at the 2012 London Olympics with Channel 9 and he worked with Bein Sports covering the 2016 Rio Olympics. His point of difference is his sharp intellect and technical analysis. Grant is a passionate and articulate presenter, with a genuine interest in all aspects of the sport of swimming. He is a popular figure in the global swimming community, with a plethora of experience in and out of the pool.  “I am excited at the prospect of working with the entire Amazon Prime Video team for the upcoming Australian Swimming Trials,” Hackett said. “Nicole, Giaan and Annabelle bring a wealth of experience and knowledge from years of international involvement on all levels. Jon and Whitey (Matt) are hardened professionals, and they will provide extra depth and professionalism to the live coverage. The scale of Prime Video’s global audience will provide a massive boost for the sport.”

Giaan Rooney (@giaan.rooney) As an Australian Dolphin, Giaan holds medals at every level of competition, including an Olympic gold which she secured in 2004 at her second Olympics. From two Commonwealth Games gold medals at her first major international competition at just 15 years old, to two individual World Championship wins, Giaan came home with multiple medals from every major meet she contested. In 2006, Giaan retired from swimming to forge a successful career as an Australian TV presenter. Giaan’s high profile broadcast involvement with Channel 7 has included the Brisbane News team, 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2016 Rio Olympics, Australian Open coverage, commentator for the Australian Swimming Championships, and presenter on HelloWorld and The House of Wellness. Giaan has previously spent years with Channel Nine where she was involved across a range of shows including a co-anchor of Wide World of Sports, presenting stories on Getaway, Postcards, the 2010 Winter Olympics, 2012 London Olympics, Nine’s Spring Racing Coverage and the Today Show weather. “The Swimming Trials in the lead up to the Olympics are the most exciting domestic swimming event there is, so I’m absolutely thrilled to not only be in the thick of the action as the athletes chase their Olympic dreams, but to play a small part in bringing their stories to millions of sporting fans around the world with Amazon Prime Video,” Rooney said. “The cherry on top of this extraordinary ‘cake’ is being a part of one of the very best swimming broadcast teams ever assembled – I simply cannot wait!”

Annabelle Williams (@anniejowilliams) A Paralympic gold medallist, international motivational speaker, attorney, brand ambassador, board director, TV reporter and sports commentator, Annabelle competed in two Paralympic Games, broke five world records and won numerous medals for Australia, including gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Annabelle is a strong advocate for the rights of athletes and, at the age of 24, was awarded with the prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to sport. Annabelle is vice president of the Board of Paralympics Australia, chair of the Paralympics Australia Athletes’ Commission and a member of the Australian National Sports Tribunal. Annabelle is also a TV sports broadcaster and will be reporting the Tokyo Games later this year. “I am delighted to be working with Amazon Prime Video and the stellar line up of Nicole, Grant, Giaan, Jon and Matt, to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Swimming Trials to Prime Video audiences around the world,” said Williams. “As a Paralympian I am excited to be working with an organisation that is passionate about telling the incredible stories of our Paralympic athletes. Sharing their courage and resilience in the face of adversity and showcasing their incredible talents as elite athletes who are on the path to qualify for the Paralympic Games!”

Jon Harker is one of Australia’s most versatile broadcasters. Jon is a former award-winning journalist, national TV host and radio anchor. He has produced and directed documentaries, television programs and commercials, but at his core, Jon is a sports commentator. Jon has called some of the great Olympic moments. None more special or dramatic than the historic last second win of the Australian Women’s Water Polo team to take gold at the Sydney Olympics. “To be part of a new dawn on Amazon Prime Video live sports broadcasting is just so exciting. The production team behind the coverage is world class, what they will stream into 240 countries around the world will be cutting edge. And the swimming, as always, will be gripping,” said Harker. “The trials are cutthroat, young athletes who have dedicated their lives to one goal, know that in a few moments it could all be over. There will be tears of joy and heartbreak.  Shakespeare couldn’t have penned better drama.”

Upcoming 2021 Australian Swimming Trials live coverage on Prime Video includes:

Saturday June 12 / Day one

10.30am AEST / Heat schedule

W 100 FLY
M 400 IM
W 400 FREE (MC)
M 400 FREE (MC)
M 100 BREAST
W 400 IM
W 200 FREE (MC)
M 200 FREE (MC)
M 400 FREE

7.00pm AEST / Finals broadcasting schedule

W 100 FLY
M 400 IM
W 400 FREE (MC)
M 400 FREE (MC)
M 100 BREAST
W 400 IM
W 200 FREE (MC)
M 200 FREE (MC)
M 400 FREE

+ Post-Show

Sunday June 13 / Day two

10.30am AEST / Heats broadcasting schedule

W 100 BACK
W 100 FLY (MC)
M 100 FLY (MC)
W 100 BREAST
M 50 FREE (MC)
M 100 BACK
W 400 FREE
W 50 FREE (MC)
W 50 BREAST (MC)
M 50 BREAST (MC)
M 200 FREE

7.00pm AEST / Finals broadcasting schedule

W 100 BACK
W 100 FLY (MC)
M 100 FLY (MC)
W 100 BREAST
M 50 FREE (MC)
M 100 BACK
W 400 FREE
W 50 FREE (MC)
W 50 BREAST (MC)
M 50 BREAST (MC)
M 200 FREE

+ Post-Show

Monday June 14 / Day three

10.30am AEST / Heats broadcasting schedule

W 200 IM
M 150 IM (MC)
W 200 IM (MC)
M 200 IM (MC)
M 200 FLY
W 200 FREE
W 50 BACK (MC)
M 50 BACK (MC)
M 800 FREE

7.00pm AEST / Finals broadcasting schedule

W 200 IM
M 150 IM (MC)
W 200 IM (MC)
M 200 IM (MC)
M 200 FLY
W 200 FREE
W 50 BACK (MC)
M 50 BACK (MC)
M 800 FREE

+ Post-Show

Tuesday June 15 / Day four

10.30am AEST / Heats broadcasting schedule

M 200 BREAST
W 100 BREAST (MC)
M 100 BREAST (MC)
W 200 FLY
M 100 FREE (MC)
W 100 FREE (MC)
M 100 FREE
W 1500 FREE

7.00pm AEST / Finals broadcasting schedule

M 200 BREAST
W 100 BREAST (MC)
M 100 BREAST (MC)
W 200 FLY
M 100 FREE (MC)
W 100 FREE (MC)
M 100 FREE
W 1500 FREE

+ Post-Show

Wednesday June 16 / Day five

10.30am AEST / Heats broadcasting schedule

M 200 IM
W 50 FLY (MC)
M 50 FLY (MC)
W 100 BACK (MC)
M 100 BACK (MC)
W 200 BREAST
M 200 BACK
W 100 FREE

7.00pm AEST / Finals broadcasting schedule

M 200 IM
W 50 FLY (MC)
M 50 FLY (MC)
W 100 BACK (MC)
M 100 BACK (MC)
W 200 BREAST
M 200 BACK
W 100 FREE

+ Post-Show and the Paralympic Team Announce

Thursday June 17 / Day six

10.30am AEST / Heats broadcasting schedule

W 200 BACK
M 100 FLY
W 800 FREE
W 50 FREE
M 50 FREE
M 1500 FREE

7.00pm AEST / Finals broadcasting schedule

W 200 BACK
M 100 FLY
W 800 FREE
W 50 FREE
M 50 FREE
M 1500 FREE

+ Post-Show and the Olympic team Announce

Amazon reportedly in talks to acquire Hollywood film & TV studio MGM

• New name for combined AT&T/Discovery assets to be revealed in next few weeks
• Discovery president & CEO David Zaslav to lead new company
• AT&T will receive US$43b of cash, debt securities, and WarnerMedia’s retention of certain debt, and AT&T’s shareholders would receive stock representing 71% of new company
• Discovery shareholders will own 29% of the new company
• Merger would create $3b in cost synergies annually for the new company

Merger mania

The move by AT&T to offload assets it acquired during its acquisition of Time Warner three years ago comes as other companies jostle for production company assets in a world where the hottest entertainment business model is direct to consumer.

AT&T is selling the WarnerMedia brands for about US$43b after paying close to double that for Time Warner in 2018.

Could Amazon be the next acquirer of a Hollywood studio? As Amazon Prime Video executives hosted a Sydney showcase event where they introduced what they rightly described as a “monster schedule”, executives in the US were reportedly circling MGM. According to Variety the price tag for MGM was thought to be in the $5b-$10b range, with Amazon considering an offer of $9b.

See also: Amazon to spend $150m on 14 Australian original productions creating 2,500 jobs

Recent Hollywood mergers
WarnerMedia – Discovery $43b (2021 – deal to close in 2022)
Univision – Grupo Televisa $5b (2021)
CBS – Viacom $12b (2019)
Disney – Fox $71b (2019)
Sinclair – Fox Sports Networks $10b (2019)
AT&T – Time Warner $85b (2018)
Comcast – Sky TV $39b (2018)
Discovery – Scripps Networks $12b (2018)
Source: Variety

WarnerMedia – Discovery deal highlights

A stronger competitor in global streaming

The new company will compete globally in the fast-growing direct-to-consumer business – promising compelling content to DTC subscribers across its portfolio, including HBO Max and the recently launched discovery+. The transaction will combine WarnerMedia’s library with Discovery’s global footprint, local-language content and regional expertise across more than 200 countries and territories. The new company will be able to invest in more original content for its streaming services, enhance the programming options across its global linear pay TV and broadcast channels, and offer more innovative video experiences and consumer choices.

Entertainment brand powerhouse

The “pure play” content company will own one of the deepest libraries in the world with nearly 200,000 hours of iconic programming and will bring together over 100 popular brands in the world under one global portfolio, including: HBO, Warner Bros., Discovery, DC Comics, CNN, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Food Network, the Turner Networks, TNT, TBS, Eurosport, Magnolia, TLC, Animal Planet, ID and many more.

Leadership, governance and structure

The companies announced that Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav will lead the proposed new company with a management team and operational and creative leadership from both companies.

A day after the merger was confirmed, Discovery announced CEO Zaslav had his contract extended until 2027: “The extension was made in connection with the definitive agreement between AT&T Inc. and Discovery Inc. to combine WarnerMedia’s premium entertainment, sports and news assets with Discovery’s leading nonfiction and international entertainment and sports businesses to create a premier, standalone global entertainment company,” Discovery explained.

Discovery’s current multiple classes of shares will be consolidated to a single class with one vote per share.

The new company’s board of directors will consist of 13 members, 7 initially appointed by AT&T, including the chairperson of the board; Discovery will initially appoint 6 members, including CEO David Zaslav.

Outgoing WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar had only been in new job since May 1, 2020. KIlar oversaw the decision to release movies simultaneously in cinemas and on HBO Max last December. The move was thought to be a major mistake by many as it would eat into into a major revenue stream. Kilar will depart well compensated though. He was granted stock options worth US$48m a year ago and he is expected to get at least a minimum of $5m plus to see out his contract.

Transaction highlights

The transaction is anticipated to close in mid-2022, subject to approval by Discovery shareholders and customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals.

When Fred Botica hung up his headphones in March after 50 years in radio, Dean “Clairsy” Clairs stepped in to join Lisa Shaw on-air to launch 96FM Perth’s new breakfast show – The Bunch.

Mediaweek spoke with Clairs and Shaw about working together, their feedback so far, and what makes Perth special.

Working together

Even though The Bunch has only been on air for a short amount of time, Clairs and Shaw said that a lot of their on-air chemistry is based in knowing each other outside of the show.

Clairs: “We’ve known each other since 1989, so that helps.”

Shaw: “That helps a lot. It feels like we’ve been working together like this for a lot longer than we have. We knew because we go back such a long way, to the late ‘80s, that it was going to be good, but I don’t think we realised how much had sunk in there.”

Fred departing

Fred Botica’s retirement left some sizeable shoes to be filled, but Clairs said that stepping up left him with more nervous excitement than regular nerves.

Clairs: “Really the only nerves are about not stuffing it up.

Shaw: “Fred was very happy with it being Clairsy that he was handing the baton to – me being the baton. I think that helped.

“We had this great crossover week, and it was all really nice and genuine people were happy for the way it had turned out.”

ARN and SCA

Both Clairs and Shaw have worked with SCA before finding their current home at ARN. The pair say that while things have changed over their careers, both agree that they feel very comfortable where they are.

Clairs: “Well I’ve come from a three person show as the contributing anchor, to a two person show which is something I’ve always wanted to do, a two-hander. So that’s the main difference for me to be honest. And the music style is different to where I was.”

Shaw: “It’s a very comfortable feeling here. It’s not one versus the other, but I feel this very much suits where I am in my own life – and by that I mean my age.”

Clairs: “Level of experience!”

Shaw: “Level of experience! It feels very natural, what we’re dealing with. I feel very comfortable in that I can talk about things that I know the audience is going to get.”

Clairs: “I was at SCA for 30 years, so there were different levels and different stages throughout that time as well. So if you’re referring to just the end, it’s very different, and at other stages it feels very similar.

“But we both feel very comfortable, and our references to each other and to the audience, we get it. Same generation.”

Building an Audience

While it will take a while for any show to find its audience, Clairs and Shaw say that early feedback has been positive.

Shaw: “We’ve only been doing this together for a short amount of time, so there’s plenty of time. Sometimes I think it’s just word getting around. Definitely the audience we have I feel have settled in pretty happily.”

Clairs: “Personally I can only go by what Lisa and I have received on the phones, and that’s been people saying they’ve made the switch, or they’re saying ‘welcome back to the airwaves’ to me. So that’s all positive, but as Lisa said, it’s really early days. Fred was here with Lisa in Survey One and a part of Survey Two, so you probably won’t really know what’s going on in Perth until about Survey Four or Five this year.”

Despite how recently The Bunch went to air, the most recent survey showed an upswing of 1.5 points for the breakfast show.

Clairs: “We talked about it the week before, we went ‘oh, wouldn’t it be nice to be 9.5’. We weren’t expecting to be 10.4, so it’s a really good early indicator.”

Shaw: “I can’t remember in all my years there being a more tumultuous, interesting shift in Perth radio in general than at the start of this year, so the whole year will be very interesting to see how it pans out.”

Standing Out

The pair say that their knowledge and spontaneity help them make an impact in the market.

Clairs: “It’s a station and a show set up for its particular demos. We just like getting on and having fun. That doesn’t mean it’s not a prepared show, but a lot of stuff we’re doing is spontaneous, which I really love. We get some things that you may call an arc, and that may be a running gag or something, but I feel like we’re a bit more off the cuff.”

Shaw: “I feel like we’re both pretty handy with pop culture according to our demographic, and we both genuinely love music, so you’ve got those two things down that we don’t even have to think about, and that frees you up for the rest of it to just flow pretty easily. There’s also the fact that we do genuinely like each other after all these years.”

Clairs: “That’s a good sign!”

Finally, Clairs says that knowing your local market is what will make or break a station.

Clairs: “We’re very Perth, I think that’s the thing we’re really pushing. You can’t beat that. People talk about the way that audio is going along, the way the whole business is going, and if you want to continue to run radio stations and be successful, you have to really focus on your local markets, and we reflect that every time we come on air.”

New research conducted by Nine’s marketing solutions division, Powered and Fiftyfive5, reveals local identity is becoming increasingly more important for Australians, and is having a significant impact on our culture.

Now more than ever we have adapted to “living local”, from travelling closer to home, to increasingly supporting brands and businesses that align to hyper-local community values. As a result, marketers will need to have a timely, tailored and responsive approach to their messaging moving forward, and play to hyper-local identities in their campaigns. 

“We’ve noticed for some time now that unifying moments of disruption, such as the 2019 bushfires and 2020’s pandemic, have accelerated the hold that local identity has on our culture, and so we wanted to dive deeper into the implications for advertisers, marketers and their brands”, said Nine’s director of strategy, insight and effectiveness, Toby Boon.

Hannah Krijnen, director of Fiftyfive5, said the objectives of the research were fivefold. “We wanted to uncover the different ways localisation manifests in Australia, determine how the last 18 months shaped the way Australians engage with their communities, and understand the expectation of Australian consumers of how brands should engage with them in the current climate.

“We also evaluated how localisation and hyper-localisation brand messaging resonates with Australians, and distilled the best way for brands to engage with consumers through this trend”.

The independent study utilised a number of methodologies to dive deep into localisation: cultural forecasting with three global trend experts, an online community study with 40 Australians, and four-day online community study with 16 businesses, qualitative vox pops with Nine content experts, plus a nationwide survey involving 1,035 everyday Australians and 651 Australian businesses.

One of the most dominant insights uncovered in the research was the fact that the global Covid-19 pandemic has made us look inward rather than outward.

“This is almost a complete turnaround for a world governed by globalisation. So, to seize this opportunity, marketers need to speak directly to Australians, in an Australian voice, about distinctly Australian issues and problems”, said Boon.

This development can even be taken a step further, with another key insight from the research finding there is an ever-narrowing focus from nationhood, to statehood. 

“With unpredictable border closures and differing directives from our Premiers,  Australians are finding themselves feeling more connected with their state than ever before. We’ve seen this in the past of course, from the noisy clash of State of Origin, allegiances are running even deeper,” said Boon.

“The research reveals however, that experiences can differ significantly from state to state and even from metro to regional, and suburb to suburb, with Australians finding a sense of community amongst those experiencing the same thing as them.

“This means homegrown brands will need to take greater ownership of their role within the community, and international brands need to harness some Aussie magic to connect with local audiences”.

The research conducted by Powered and Fiftyfive5 is part of Powered’s Cultural Conversation series. It was presented at The Big Ideas Store in the session ‘Neighbourhood watch – is local the new global?’.

Stan today announced that it has partnered with WarnerMedia to secure more premium international drama for its subscribers.

After announcing an exclusive partnership with Walter Presents for international drama, Stan’s deal with WarnerMedia will see HBO Europe titles Patria, Success and Blinded by the Lights, premiere on Stan, commencing in May, while the latest season of 4 Blocks, from TNT, will also premiere on Stan, along with Arthur’s Law.

Cailah Scobie, Stan’s chief content officer, said: “Adding these fantastic HBO Europe and TNT titles to Stan further extends our premium international content offering and provides even more choice for Stan subscribers.”

Premiere dates are as follows:

• 4 Blocks (19 May)
• Success (28 May)
• Patria (8 June)
• Arthur’s Law (29 June)
• Blinded by the Lights (22 July)

Earlier this year, Stan also announced a partnership with the South Australian Film Corporation to launch a new matched development fund to boost the creation of new and original South Australian scripted series.

The initiative will focus on the development of bold, distinctive ideas with complex characters set in unusual worlds or situations that merit high production values, resulting in scripted series of world-class scope and scale. 

The projects must be original, serialised, returnable, and intended for production and post-production in South Australia. 

At the time, Stan’s chief content officer, Cailah Scobie said “As Australia’s unrivalled home of original productions, we are very pleased to partner with SAFC on this new development initiative. Supporting our talented local industry by bringing uniquely Australian stories to the screen is a core focus of our business and the launch of this new fund represents a great opportunity for Stan to discover the stories South Australian creatives have to tell.” 

The Stan and SAFC Development Fund is currently accepting applications for the first round of development, taking selected projects from concept to pitch-ready stage. Following pitching to Stan, two of the projects will then be selected for a further round of development and commissioning consideration from Stan.

News Corp Australia will unveil new-look Sunday magazines this weekend with Body+Soul expanding to become a standalone magazine and Stellar and The Binge Guide pairing up as a flip cover magazine.

From Sunday 23 May the new premium magazines will be published weekly in The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (VIC), The Sunday Mail (SA) and The Sunday Mail (QLD).

Expansion of the brands will be led by Sarrah Le Marquand editor-in-chief of Body+Soul, Stellar and The Binge Guide.

Le Marquand said the time was right for a Body+Soul makeover, as Australia’s leading health media brand turns 21 this year. 

“Since Body+Soul first launched, Australians have come to define the notion of health as encompassing not only physical wellbeing, but also lifestyle, relationships, sexuality, self-care and mental wellness,” said Le Marquand.

“In acknowledgment of this, on Sunday we unveil a new look Body+Soul, with increased pages of expert advice covering everything from fitness, nutrition and beauty to family issues, social dilemmas and – in response to reader demand – more shoppable content. And among the new faces joining our highly respected regular contributors are much-loved Olympian Lisa Curry and inspirational burns survivor Sophie Delezio.”

With enhanced editorial the new Body+Soul magazine aims to empower readers with the knowledge and motivation to improve all areas of their life, while also prompting thought-provoking conversations and debates and having a little fun along the way.

Each week Body+Soul will now also feature healthy taste.com.au recipes for those struggling with meal prep or looking for nutritious ideas for midweek dinners; and after its successful launch of The Edit section last spring, that content will now be expanded upon each week in Shop Body+Soul, allowing consumers to shop the issue via QR codes in conjunction with affiliate partners.

Body+Soul’s podcast offering is also expanding. Healthy-ish, hosted by Felicity Harley and Alison Izzo, has doubled its audience since moving to a daily format in August last year. Giving listeners the tools to make healthier decisions, for their mind, body and soul, the podcast series has been expanded to include a new long-form podcast Extra Healthy-ish offering extra bits from favourite guests, extra expert intel from doctors, dermatologists and dietitians, extra tips and extra tools.

Le Marquand said the all-new Stellar and The Binge Guide flip cover magazine will see Stellar continue to feature exclusive agenda setting celebrity interviews, news-driven profiles, fashion shoots and home and travel lifestyle content, complemented by the new-look The Binge Guide, which will tap into nostalgia and showcase new trends in television along with the seven day TV listings and TV Detective spread of reviews. 

This week, Stellar features an exclusive shoot and interview with The Veronicas; former Australian Idol co-hosts Osher Gunsberg and James Mathison discuss whether what Gunsberg calls the “ritual humiliation of people” in the show’s early episodes would be acceptable today; Shaynna Blaze explains what “mindful interior design” is all about; delicious. on Sunday has Indian recipes from British television chef and food writer Anjum Anand; and Stellar columnist and podcast host Samantha Armytage argues that, if you look in the right places, even social media can be nice. 

The Binge Guide cover features Selena Gomez, the latest movie star trading in the cinema for the kitchen, wherein Matt Preston reveals his wishlist for cooking celebrity shows and Aussie chef Curtis Stone tells The Binge Guide how he made his young son’s dreams come true by appearing on Gomez’s new show – and helped the actor/singer (via Zoom, of course) avoid setting her kitchen on fire.

The Eurovision Song Contest kicked off early this morning in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Representing Australia this year is Montaigne, who competed in the semi-final with her song, Technicolour, against 15 counties in semi final 1. She went up against competitors including 19-year-old Tusse from Sweden, Eden Alene who made history as Israel’s first Ethiopian representative, and fan favourite Maltese singer Destiny.

She competed via a live-to-tape recording of her song, and the Covid-19 pandemic meant that the decision was made not to go to Rotterdam in person. She was the only competitor in her semi-final to do so, as the rest of the countries competing were able to send a live performer.

See More: How SBS put together Australia’s Eurovision entry from across the globe

After her video was played back, she did a live cross to Rotterdam. Speaking about her performance, Montaigne said:

“I’m very happy with it. I’m very proud of it with the amount of time that we got given. I’m still really and I’m just really proud to be part of Eurovision.”

On Friday the second semi-final will air, showing off the talent of 17 more countries, 10 of which will be going on to compete in the grand final.

The ‘big five’ of Eurovision — United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain and Germany — automatically qualify for the final because of the financial contributions they make to the European Broadcasting Union. Eurovision hosts Netherlands will also go through.

This year will have an expected global audience of 200 million for Sunday’s grand final.

*****SPOILERS BELOW*****

Sadly, Montaigne hasn’t progressed to the Eurovision final. She’s the first Australian competitor not to reach the final since Australia first competed in Eurovision in 2015.

Going through to the next round are Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, Cyprus, Norway, Belgium, Ukraine, Malta, Azerbaijan and Israel.

Upcoming live early morning Eurovision 2021 broadcasts

Semi Final 2 – Friday 21 May, 5am (AEST) SBS

Grand Final – Sunday 23 May, 5am (AEST) SBS

Upcoming primetime evening Eurovision 2021 broadcasts

Semi Final 2 – Saturday 22 May, 8.30pm (AEST), SBS

Grand Final – Sunday 23 May, 7.30pm (AEST), SBS

SBS’s coverage of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest, featuring Montaigne, will be broadcast until May 23

Welcome to Australian Survivor: Brains V Brawn. With castaways pooled from all walks of life, don’t be fooled into thinking this season is an unfair match. 

The Brains are outstanding in their chosen field and there’s much more to them than meets the eye. Dismissing them as simply book smart is the quickest way to get blindsided.

Careful strategists, they know when to bide their time and are strongest when their backs are against the wall.

Think Brawn are all muscle, no hustle? Think again. These castaways may be the doers in their professions but as we all know in this game, physical strength can only get you so far.

With a laser like mental focus, they’ll do what it takes to get their way. The smiling assassins who like to win, they know keeping friends close and enemies closer is the only way to be the last one standing.

With Covid-19 meaning that Australian Survivor can’t return to its regular homes of Samoa or Fiji, earlier this year Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that the hugely popular reality TV show will be filmed in Cloncurry, 1,700 km north-west of Brisbane in outback Queensland.

Season 6 of the TV Week Logie and ACCTA Award-winning format, produced by Endemol Shine Australia for Network 10 and hosted by Jonathan LaPaglia, will inject an estimated $14.6 million into the state’s economy and create approximately 150 jobs for Queensland crew

At The time, chief content officer and executive vice president, ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand, Beverley McGarvey said, “We are thrilled that our new Australian Survivor castaways will have the chance to outwit, outplay and outlast each in other, right here in Queensland, Australia. Outback Queensland’s harsh climate and challenging weather conditions will turn the game on its head.

“Moving from the beaches of Fiji to the outback of North Queensland will shift the game in a way we haven’t seen before. If the castaways think they know how to play the game, they will need to think again.”

All seasons of Australian Survivor are currently available to watch on demand at 10Play.com.au.

Australian Survivor: Brains V Brawn. Coming soon only on 10 and 10 Play on demand.  

Cricket’s oldest and newest rivalries headline an historic Australian international summer cricket schedule that features a total of seven Tests for the men’s and women’s teams across all six states as well as one in the national capital.

Cricket Australia has revealed the summer international schedule which will see cricket TV broadcast rights holders Seven and Fox Sports have cricket on offer for viewers until February 20 next year.

In addition to the five-match Vodafone Ashes Series that will be preceded by the inaugural Test meeting between Australia and Afghanistan in Hobart, the men’s home season includes Dettol ODI and T20 clashes with New Zealand and a five-game T20 series against Sri Lanka to complete the international season.

Australia’s world champion women’s team will kick off the international schedule against their T20 World Cup opponents from last year, India, but the details of that tour are yet to be confirmed.

Meg Lanning‘s team will then embark on their own campaign to retain the Ashes, beginning with a Commonwealth Bank Test against England at Manuka Oval before the trophy’s fate is decided by three ODIs and as many T20s under the multi-format system first introduced in 2013.

After COVID-19 also put paid to plans for Afghanistan to play their maiden men’s Test against Australia last November, they will launch the 2021-22 men’s international season from November 27 at Blundstone Arena, where Tim Paine will captain his country for the first time on his home turf.

Paine’s quest to keep hold of the Ashes urn Australia retained in the gripping 2019 series in the UK gets underway on December 8 at the Gabba, where the hosts had established a winning streak stretching three decades until they were toppled by India earlier this year.

In Ashes Tests, Australia has remained undefeated at the Gabba since 1986-87 and can claim an even more imposing record in day-night Tests on home soil having won all eight of their pink-ball encounters since 2015-16, a record that will give them a boost heading into the second Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval from December 16, which will be played under lights.

Melbourne and Sydney will again host their traditional Boxing Day-New Year Tests with the new Perth Stadium to host the series finale from January 14, the first time an Ashes campaign has finished in Western Australia since 1990-91.

World Cup finalists New Zealand will play ODIs in Perth, Hobart and Sydney followed by a T20I at Manuka Oval, the Kiwis touring in place of South Africa, who were scheduled for a white-ball tour of Australia next summer under the ICC’s Future Tours Program (FTP).

The five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka will see matches in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Melbourne from February 11-20.

The configuration of the multi-format women’s Ashes has been altered to start with a Test (in Canberra from January 27-30) followed by three T20Is (at North Sydney and Adelaide Oval) and three ODIs (Adelaide and Junction Oval).

Summer of cricket schedule

Commonwealth Bank Women’s Series v India
Details TBC

Vodafone Men’s Test v Afghanistan
Nov 27 – Dec 1: Test match, Blundstone Arena

Vodafone Men’s Ashes v England
Dec 8-12: First Test, The Gabba
Dec 16-20: Second Test, Adelaide Oval
Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG
Jan 5-9: Fourth Test, SCG
Jan 14-18: Fifth Test, Perth Stadium

Commonwealth Bank Women’s Ashes v England
Jan 27-30: Test match, Manuka Oval
Feb 4: First T20, North Sydney Oval
Feb 6: Second T20, North Sydney Oval
Feb 10: Third T20, Adelaide Oval
Feb 13: First ODI, Adelaide Oval
Feb 16: Second ODI, Junction Oval
Feb 19: Third ODI, Junction Oval

Dettol Men’s ODI & T20 Series v New Zealand
Jan 30: First ODI, Perth Stadium
Feb 2: Second ODI, Blundstone Arena
Feb 5: Third ODI, SCG
Feb 8: T20, Manuka Oval

Dettol Men’s T20 Series v Sri Lanka
Feb 11: First T20, SCG
Feb 13: Second T20, The Gabba
Feb 15: Third T20, Metricon Stadium
Feb 18: Fourth T20, Adelaide Oval
Feb 20: Fifth T20, MCG

Saturday Night Live has found itself comfortably at the top of the Overall Australian Chart this week, with a whopping 31.39 point difference from market average.

The episode was one that had been anticipated ever since it was announced. Hosted by CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk made waves as he played Wario from Nintendo’s Mario series, a doctor on a soap opera, a Dogecoin expert, a cowboy, and himself in different sketches across the night. He also revealed his Asperger’s diagnosis.

In the wake of his appearance poking fun at the cryptocurrency, the value of Dogecoin fell more than 30% within 24 hours. The following episode of Saturday Night Live also saw its ratings dive to lowest level ever, but whether the plunge was connected to Musk’s appearance is debatable.

Topping the remaining three charts this week, The Handmaid’s Tale continues to enjoy a strong run after the release of its fourth series. 

Also appearing at the pointy end of the Overall Australian Chart is Channel 10’s MasterChef. There was chaos in the kitchen as Therese, Justin, Dan, and Brent took on a pressure test from chocolatier Kirsten Tibballs.

Feeling confident because desserts are her specialty, Therese seemed to be cruising through the test. That was, until she wasn’t. Despite the nation yelling at their screens for her to play her immunity pin and save herself, Therese didn’t play the pin because she believed her flavours would save her.

They didn’t.

Now in its third week of release, Netflix’s Shadow and Bone continues to perform well. This week the show averages 19.08 points above average in Australia and 10.63 points above average in New Zealand.

The series is based on the Grisha novel trilogy and tells the story of Ravka, a fantasy kingdom in a war-torn world plagued by the Shadow Fold.

Primetime News
Seven News 983,000/ 946,000
Nine News 914,000/ 875,000
ABC News 627,000
10 News First 354,000 (5:00 pm)/ 253,000 (6:00 pm)
SBS World News 182,000/143,000

Daily current affairs
A Current Affair 733,000
The Project 332,000 (6:30 pm)/ 493,000 (7 pm)
The Drum 178,000

Breakfast TV
Sunrise 273,000
Today 204,000
News Breakfast 171,000

Late News
Nine News Late Edition 315,000
ABC Late News 86,000
The Latest 77,000

Nine

Despite no 7:30 pm tentpole programming last night, Nine was still the #1 primary channel with 21.5% and was also the top network with 29.5%.

With Lego Masters ending on Monday night, and a break in the schedule before Celebrity Apprentice debuts on May 23, Nine aired the film Bohemian Rhapsody which had 517,000 viewers.

The win was also helped by A Current Affair which had 733,000.

Seven

Big Brother was the #1 non-news show last night and #1 in all key demos with a metro audience of 583,000.

The episode saw the intruders continue to battle to become fully-fledged housemates, with Brenton winning a spot through the challenge. 

It was up to the original housemates to choose the fourth and final intruder for the game. Sid and Ari wanted to keep Gabe, while Jess and Danny rallied hard for Alex.

In the eviction room, a teary Charlotte tried to sacrifice herself for twin sister Alex, but it wasn’t enough as Gabe received the most votes to stay.

As the twins departed, Big Brother delivered another twist, offering them a lifeline to stay in the game. With only one bonus spot to fight for.

The Good Doctor followed with 294,000 which was the same number as last Tuesday’s episode.

Home and Away provided Big Brother with a strong lead-in of 573,000 viewers.

10

MasterChef had 561,000 tune in as Beat The Brigade Week continued with the amateurs visiting MoVida Aqui, to face a team led Frank “Sodom and” Camorra, with Jess, Tommy, Dan and Scott losing and missing out on immunity. 

Afterwards How to Stay Married had 289,000 viewers as the episode had Greg (Peter Helliar) up against his archnemesis Luna (Casey Donovan) in a trivia competition he was desperate to win. 

Earlier in the evening, The Project had 332,000 (6:30 pm) and 493,000 (7 pm) tune in as the show covered vaccine passports, Bill Gates‘ divorce, and the US Government admitting that there is other life in space.

ABC

The ABC has returned to its normal Tuesday night lineup, after airing a budget special last week. 

Anh’s Brush with Fame returned with 462,000 as the episode featured celebrity chef Manu Feildel. This was followed by the season premiere of Love on the Spectrum with 402,000 viewers tuning in.

SBS

The top non-news program on SBS last night was a repeat of Who Do You Think You Are? with 167,000 viewers.