Wednesday October 21, 2020
Grand Final week: Seven’s Lewis Martin on navigating 2020 with the AFL
We are half-way through a massive week for Seven West Media. The broadcaster carried both AFL Preliminary Finals last weekend to huge audiences along with coverage of The Everest and the Caulfield Cup. On Sunday night it carried the Brownlow Medal virtual count.
This weekend of course is the AFL Saturday night Grand Final from the Gabba in addition to the Cox Plate preceding it in the afternoon.
“It’s all hands on deck,” Seven’s head of network sport and Melbourne managing director Lewis Martin told Mediaweek as he took a breath between meetings.
The company also had the successful launch of SAS Australia on Monday and on Wednesday is holding its Upfronts.
“And don’t forget The Front Bar finale,” Martin reminded us about one of Seven’s important winter franchises.
“A week like this is why we are in television. It’s no good employing helicopter pilots who are afraid of heights.”
Despite the hectic schedule, there was a sense of relief in Martin’s voice that the AFL and Seven had been able to get to Grand Final week. For a while it seemed they might not have much football to cover at all.
Martin recalled one of the year’s significant days. “Sunday March 22 I had a memorable call with [AFL CEO] Gil McLachlan. He rang me to explain we were going to have to hold the season. I had to speak to the commentators and production team while we were on air with the news.
“March 23 it was a terrible day. There was so much uncertainty and we had to let so many people go.” When the season resumed in June Seven recalled as many of the staff as possible.
Martin and his AFL executive producer Gary O’Keefe oversee the network’s football portfolio and make sure the games get on air – something that was more challenging than normal this year. “Gary has been in the cockpit with me the whole way,” said Martin. “He and I decided to ignore all the external noise and assumed there would be a season. We then got cracking building a range of scenarios. We worked very closely with the AFL. During adversity our relationships with the AFL and the clubs, and our advertisers, has become so much stronger.
“There were many things we looked at and tried that never made it to air. That meant by the time we got to air we had a plan that worked.”
The season fixture took a bit of time. “There would normally be three or four exchanges of the fixture before it was agreed on. This year the AFL’s Marcus King and Travis Auld did 101 versions of the fixture with us.
“Gary O’Keefe and I did in excess of 30 to 40 broadcast scenarios when normally we would do one.
“The AFL did well over 200 Covid plans.”
Abbey Holmes
Two people Martin made special mention of were Seven’s Tony Bogovic and Abbey Holmes. “Tony is a senior cameraman and was sent into quarantine in Brisbane. When we realised we didn’t have any directors to do the Darwin games we spoke to Tony and asked if he would go away for four weeks for me. He’s now been away for three months. He and quite a few others.
“Tony celebrated his wife’s 50th over a Zoom call and also his son’s 15th over a Zoom call. He was the director on our AFL Dreamtime weekend coverage and it was spectacular.”
Holmes is a former AFLW star and Australian Survivor contestant who had been working for Seven on its coverage this year. Martin noted how she volunteered to go into quarantine. “An absolute rising star,” said Martin, noting she had subsequently worked in Darwin, Alice Springs, Brisbane and Adelaide this year.
Martin reeled off a list of people who had all done great work above and beyond the call, including Bruce McAvaney and his colleagues. The production company covering the sport for Seven dug deep too. “At NEP, Soames Treffry and Jeff Coleman were with us every step of the way through the failures and the successes. A number of times we’d get within 24 hours of a broadcast and have to change the plan dramatically.”
With state boarders closing and games moved or postponed, Martin noted at times it became like a reality show. “It felt at times like they were changing the rules on us to make it interesting!”
One of the changes that impressed TV viewers this year was the seven-day-a-week period with games on every night, when 33 games (shared between Seven and Fox Footy) were squeezed into 20 days. Martin noted that Thursday night football finally had become a staple, as had The Front Bar which has become a must-watch for many.
Bruce McAvaney and Seven’s heir apparent
Seven’s leading sports caller spoke last weekend about how Martin has an annual call with him to talk about going again in the following year. So is Bruce McAvaney good to go for 2021? “He is…McAvaney is in great shape,” Martin told us. “This weekend he is like a kid in a candy store. We have set up a room for him at the Gabba to call the Cox Plate, and then he’ll move into the commentary position for the 2020 Grand Final. He and Brian Taylor have worked so closely together this season, albeit from different states.”
There has been speculation this year about Seven’s commentators jostling to take over as chief caller when McAvaney eventually steps down. Would be it be Taylor, Hamish McLachlan, Luke Darcy or maybe James Brayshaw? With McAvaney still calling it’s a decision Seven doesn’t need to make yet.
Martin said they all get on very well. “I know some people would love me to say otherwise, but I have got to tell you nothing beats when we are all in the same room together. There is no melodrama. There is a lot of humour, a lot of respect for Bruce and possibly the funniest bloke in the room is B. McAvaney. I value my relationship with them all greatly. I have asked a lot from all of them this year and they have all responded.”
Seven still the home for cricket
As to Seven’s dispute with Cricket Australia and speculation it wants out of the sport, Martin said: “We love our cricket and we are hoping there will be a sustainable outcome for the sport.”
When asked if he thought people would be watching cricket on Seven this summer, Martin said: “They should be watching cricket on Seven over summer. Seven is the home of cricket. We love cricket, but we are looking for a sustainable outcome in these dynamic times.”
The Australian launches its two-day E-Commerce Summit today
The way Australians do business irrevocably changed in 2020, triggering an unprecedented e-commerce boom. The Australian’s E-Commerce Summit, in partnership with Australia Post, aims to unlock the secrets to success in this fast-changing environment, reveal the innovations that have seen some businesses experience record growth and tackle the policy changes needed to continue the e-commerce trend.
The two-day summit, on October 21 and 22, will feature a slate of high-profile speakers and panelists who will give valuable insights for business owners, entrepreneurs, consumers and policy-makers.
The Australian’s Editor-in-Chief Christopher Dore said: “When Covid-19 crept into our lives earlier this year, it was impossible to fathom the enormity of what was about to unfold. Overall, we adapted quickly, becoming flexible, innovative and single-minded in forging our new reality.
“The coronavirus fuelled an unprecedented digital shopping boom, an e-commerce revolution, allowing many businesses to not only survive but thrive, finding new customers and more efficient ways to operate.
“The Australian has always been at the forefront of digital innovation, so it is fitting that for the next Summit in our events series, we have gathered some of the brightest minds in e-commerce to learn firsthand how companies dealt with this dramatic and sudden shift in consumer behaviour. The adoption of e-commerce is essential if Australia is to emerge from recession a more resilient and globally competitive nation.”
Headline speakers include Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia; Christine Holgate, CEO of Australia Post; Paul Fletcher, Minister for Communications and Arts; and Brad Banducci, CEO of Woolworths.
The speakers will be complemented with a series of panel discussions across the day, featuring industry leaders paving the way in the e-commerce space including, Sarah Hunter, CEO of Officeworks; Anthony Eisen, Co-Founder and CEO of Afterpay; Richard Murray, CEO of JB Hi-Fi; Jane Cay, Founder of Birdsnest; Brydie Stewart, Owner of Mary Maker; Justin Dry, CEO of Vinomofo; Mark Coulter, CEO of Temple & Webster; Erica Berchtold, CEO of The Iconic; and Matthew Swindells, COO of Coles.
Some of The Australian’s most senior editorial staff including John Durie, Eli Greenblat, Eric Johnston, John Lehmann, David Swan and Helen Trinca – together with Sky News Business Editor Ticky Fullerton – will discuss why Australia’s e-commerce revolution is only just beginning.
The Australian’s E-Commerce Summit runs from 9.00am to 12.00pm on both Wednesday October 21 and Thursday October 22, 2020.
Finalists revealed for the 2020 Media i Awards for sales excellence
Each agency respondent voted for their best media sales teams and representative in the respective channels they engaged in during 2020.
This year’s Media i Awards finalists will compete in the following categories:
• National Sales Team of the Year
• Sales Team of the Year by Market (NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia & South Australia)
• Sales Person of the Year – by Market, by Category (Television, Digital, Outdoor, Print Media, Radio)
Due to COVID-19 winners will be announced during a virtual ceremony in 2020. To join the event simply log into www.miawards.innovative.net.au just prior to 5pm [AEDT] on the 11th of November.
For further information on the awards night, go to www.mediaiawards.com.au
Charles Parry-Okeden, CEO Media i, commented “The Media i Awards not only recognise the professionalism and excellence of sales teams and individuals, but specifically this year the results they achieved for clients in collaboration with media agencies against what has been an incredibly difficult backdrop.
“The importance of the Media i Awards has been proven once again with this year’s voting representing near on 80% of the media owner facing agency fraternity. Finalists should feel immensely proud of their nomination in what is arguably the most significant program in its 10-year history,” said Chris Winterburn, managing director, Media i.
This year’s Media i Awards have once again been well supported by the media industry including the Media Federation of Australia and returning category sponsors Carat, Kaimera, Mediabrands, OMD, PHD, Starcom, The Media Store, UM and Zenith.
NATIONAL SALES TEAM AWARD NOMINATIONS
Nine TV
Nine Digital
Nova Entertainment Spotify
Network 10
Verizon Media
STATE SALES TEAM AWARDS NOMINATIONS
NSW Sales Team of the Year
ARN
Nine TV
Nine Digital
Nova Entertainment
Spotify
Verizon Media
VIC Sales Team of the Year
Nine TV
Nine Digital
oOh! Media
QMS
Network 10
Verizon Media
QLD Sales Team of the Year
JCDecaux
Network 10
News Corp Australia
QMS
Verizon Media
SA Sales Team of the Year
JCDecaux
Nine TV
Nova Entertainment
SBS
Network 10
WA Sales Team of the Year
ARN
JCDecaux
Nine TV
Nine Digital
Nova Entertainment
SBS
NSW SALES PERSON AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Digital Sales Person of the Year
Alysha Calder – Nine
Annie Hugo – Spotify
Giorgia Tavella– Verizon Media
Hayley Treasure – Spotify
Lana Selimovic – Verizon Media
Rhiannon Brown – MiQ
Print Media Sales Person of the Year
Brad Dwyer – Australian Community Media
Lloyd Whittaker – Nine
Maclean Sullivan – News Corp Australia
Nathaniel Caires – News Corp Australia
Olivia Simons – Are Media
Simon Cleary – Australian Community Media
Outdoor/Cinema Sales Person of the Year
Alex Anthony – VMO
Andrew Lowther – oOh! Media
Charlie Newton – JCDecaux
Samantha Barron – Shopper Media Group
Stephanie Davis – Shopper Media Group
Tom Ure – QMS
Radio Sales Person of the Year
Harrison Joffick – Nova Entertainment
Jade Randall – ARN
Kieran Grant – Nova Entertainment
Sally Cartmell – Southern Cross Austereo
Sophie Azzopardi – Nova Entertainment
Talya Levine – Nova Entertainment
Television Sales Person of the Year
Daniel Walsh – Network 10
Dean Bishop – Nine
Michelle Felettigh – Southern Cross Television
Oriane Thoral – Nine
Travis Kirk – Network 10
Victoria Phillipou – Network 10
VIC SALES PERSON AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Digital Sales Person of the Year
Ben Walton – News Corp Australia
Hamish Ward – realestate.com.au
Jacinta Dwyer – Spotify
Laura Rolfe Verizon Media
Luke Burr – Verizon Media
Print Media Sales Person of the Year
Ben Walton – News Corp Australia
Jessica Kakaflikas – News Corp Australia
Marcus Robat – Nine
Mark Nicevski – News Corp Australia
Tiffany Leahy – Nine
Outdoor/Cinema Sales Person of the Year
Amy Hoskin – Shopper Media Group
Andrew Poole – JCDecaux
Curtis Mason – Val Morgan Cinema
Patrick Healey – QMS
Warwick Kiel – oOh! Media
Radio Sales Person of the Year
Dane Pearce – Nova Entertainment
Matt Lambert – Southern Cross Austereo
Stephanie Booth – ARN
Tegan Miller – Southern Cross Austereo
Tess McLeod – ARN
Television Sales Person of the Year
Ben Taylor – Network 10
Chanel Weereratne – Nine Georgia Ratcliffe – Network Ten Jin Subasinghe – Network Ten Josh Gilbert – Network Ten
QLD SALES PERSON AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Digital Sales Person of the Year
Georgia Dein – Nine
Lauren Fitch – Nine
Lucinda Pfitzner – Verizon Media
Madison Wappett – MiQ
Tenielle Jordan – News Corp Australia
Print Media Sales Person of the Year
Brad Robert – The West Australian Newspaper
Claire Sheely – News Corp Australia
Nonie Campbell – News Corp Australia
Sam Broadbent – News Corp Australia
Tenielle Jordan – News Corp Australia
Outdoor/Cinema Sales Person of the Year
Aidan Price – QMS
Annika Schultz – oOh! Media
Courtney Johnson – QMS
Gillian Black – Val Morgan Cinema
Kieran Rogers – JCDecaux
Radio Sales Person of the Year
Alana Bulger – Nova Entertainment
Chris Reid – Southern Cross Austereo
Jessie Cuerton – ARN
Julian Dias – Nova Entertainment
Lauren Everist – ARN
Television Sales Person of the Year
Brendan Coleman – Seven
James Rose – Seven
Jayce Silvallana – Southern Cross Austereo
Jayne Balke – Network 10
Madeline Begg – Nine
SA SALES PERSON AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Digital Sales Person of the Year
Allison Bond – 10 Digital
Andie Killeen – 7 Digital
Eshanya Weerawarna – Nine
Jay Smith – MiQ
Lisa Norling – SBS on Demand
Print Media Sales Person of the Year
Brad Barber – News Corp Australia
Candice Arthur – News Corp Australia
John Boonen – Australian Community Media
Mark Bachetti – Nine
Mark Dunn – News Corp Australia
Outdoor/Cinema Sales Person of the Year
Annaliese Norsworthy – JCDecaux
Jane Baker – oOh! Media
Jessica Batrac – oOh! Media
Kath Haines – Val Morgan Cinema
Lucy Carey – JCDecaux
Radio Sales Person of the Year
Daniel Muscat – Nova Entertainment
Jenna Hawkins – ARN
Matt Russell – Nova Entertainment
Sean Cameron – Southern Cross Austereo
Thea Petros – Southern Cross Austereo
Television Sales Person of the Year
Alexa Borak – Nine
Bianca Kost – Network 10
Stephanie Rose – Nine
Suzanne Leong-Scott – Seven
Tareena Hatton – Network 10
WA SALES PERSON AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Digital Sales Person of the Year
Bart Atkinson – 7 Digital
Daisy Bridgwood – The West Australian Newspaper
Elizabeth Foxton – Spotify
Sebastian Tatur – Verizon Media
Warwick Kingston – Verizon Media
Print Sales Person of the Year
Carla Antoniolli – The West Australian Newspaper
Delece Katauskas – The West Australian Newspaper
Martin Atanassov – Nine
Matthew Reed – News Corp Australia
Nancy Kingston – The West Australian Newspaper
Outdoor/Cinema Sales Person of the Year
Anna Wyatt-Spratt – oOh! Media
Damien Bodestyne – JCDecaux
Georgia Yaksich – oOh! Media
Michelle Hawkins – Val Morgan Cinema
Phil Dada – JCDecaux
Radio Sales Person of the Year
Aaron Bryant – ARN
Clare Porter – Southern Cross Austereo
Daniel Rigg – Nova Entertainment
James Van Grootel – Southern Cross Austereo
Luke Kevin – Nova Entertainment
Television Sales Person of the Year
Annette Herbert – Seven
Chris Eyres – SBS
Jaimi-Lee Chatley – Nine
Megan Tuckey – Nine
Natasha Twentyman – Nine
—
Top Photo: Former NSW Sales Team of the Year winner ARN
Ten Australians confront their addictions in new SBS documentary Addicted Australia
In a television first, the four-part series, produced by Blackfella Films, provides unprecedented access to 10 Australians and their families as they battle addiction. Viewers follow their journey from despair to hope and possible recovery on a unique six-month treatment plan.
Around one in 20 Australians struggle with a substance use problem or addiction each year, but only one in four seek help. “Addiction is one of the most stigmatised of all health conditions,” says Professor Dan Lubman, Turning Point executive clinical director. Turning Point developed the targeted treatment program for these ten Australians. “The accompanying shame and stigma can result in a delay of up to 20 years from when somebody starts developing a problem with alcohol, drugs or gambling before they seek help.”
Addicted Australia lays bare the challenges faced by families and their loved ones who are searching for a different life. Viewers will see them in their everyday environments and witness firsthand the reality of the recovery journey; the highs and the lows.
These are just some of the stories of addiction explored throughout the documentary series. By opening this space, Addicted Australia aims to provide all Australians with a deeper understanding of addiction and recovery, reduce stigma and stereotype and spark a national conversation. By showing what addiction and treatment can look like, it also aims to encourage others to seek support.
Addicted Australia is a Blackfella Films production for SBS. Principal production funding from SBS in association with Screen Australia and financed with support from Film Victoria.
Addicted Australia premieres Tuesday 10 November, 8.30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand. The four-part documentary series continues weekly on Tuesdays at 8.30pm and will be available with simplified Chinese and Vietnamese subtitles.
TV Demand: The Haunting of Bly House joins the charts
The Netflix Original The Haunting of Bly House is the most noticeable new entry on the Digital Original charts. The show features a young governess hired to look after a man’s niece and nephew, however, apparitions begin to haunt the house. The show is loosely based on Henry James‘s work, primarily his 1898 novella The Turn of the Screw.
The series serves as the second entry in The Haunting anthology after The Haunting of Hill House was released in October of 2018, with neither stories being related. Both seasons share similar casts with Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Henry Thomas, Carla Gugino, Kate Siegel and Victoria Pedretti, appearing in both and portraying different characters.
Another new entry to the Digital Originals chart in NZ is Emily in Paris. The show stars Lily Collins who plays an American PR exec who moves to Paris for work. The Netflix Original comes from Darren Star who is responsible for creating shows such as Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, Sex and the City, and Younger.
Netflix continues to dominate the Digital Original charts with five entries on the charts in both Australia and New Zealand.
TV ratings: Tuesday Week 42 2020
Primetime News
Seven News 968,000/960,000
Nine News 909,000/912,000
ABC News 671,000
10 News First 300,000/222,000
SBS World News 156,000
Daily current affairs
A Current Affair 775,000
7.30 560,000
The Project 311,000/486,000
Breakfast TV
Sunrise 228,000
Today 221,000
News Breakfast 194,000
Late night news
Nine News Late 103,000
The Latest 102,000
ABC News Late 63,000
Tuesday TV
Seven: After starting the week on 585,000, Home and Away was on 557,000 for the Tuesday episode.
Episode two of SAS Australia featured life after the exit of Roxy Jacenko. There were a further two voluntary withdrawals with Schapelle and Arabella both departing. Following a launch episode pulling 834,000, the second episode delivered 795,000, keeping the show narrowly ahead of The Block. The battle for the key demos was close with just a handful of viewers separate the Seven and Nine 7.30pm formats.
The Tuesday movie was then the 2018 monster epic Rampage with 266,000 watching.
Nine: A Current Affair started with reports from Martin King and then Brady Halls. The Tuesday audience was 775,000 after 731,000 on Monday and was one of the offerings that kept Nine in front of Seven last night.
The Block was in the middle of Hallway Week with a challenge added to the episode featuring some Block Allstars from the 2019 series. After 835,000 on Tuesday a week ago, the episode was on 793,000 last night, just 2,000 behind SAS Australia.
With the US election two weeks away, Nine launched The Trump Show after The Block with friends and foes commenting on the US President’s move from reality TV to the White House. The series launched strongly on 483,000.
10: The Project featured Deborah Mailman talking about the new animated superhero movie Wombat Combat with 486,000 after 7pm.
The contestants on Junior MasterChef had to make donut topping and fillings with Ben in all sorts of trouble during the cook. At the end of the show Phenix and Salvo were sent home. After 576,000 last week on Tuesday, last night did 470,000.
An Ambulance Australia repeat was on 279,000.
ABC: The new factual series Outback Ringer from Ben Davis’ production business Ronde launched at 8pm with 397,000 watching.
Episode two of Big Weather (And how to survive it) was on 371,000 after 468,000 a week ago.
SBS: A repeat of Every Family Has A Secret was on 217,000 as was the following repeat episode of Insight.
Week 43: Tuesday
| TUESDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 11.6% | 7 | 19.6% | 9 | 21.1% | 10 | 12.4% | SBS One | 5.6% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.5% | 7TWO | 3.5% | GO! | 1.4% | 10 Bold | 3.4% | VICELAND | 1.2% |
| ABC ME | 0.5% | 7mate | 3.4% | GEM | 2.3% | 10 Peach | 3.0% | Food Net | 1.0% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.9% | 7flix | 1.5% | 9Life | 2.1% | 10 Shake | 0.4% | NITV | 0.1% |
| 9Rush | 1.1% | SBS World Movies | 0.6% | ||||||
| TOTAL | 16.5% | 27.9% | 27.9% | 19.2% | 8.5% | ||||
| TUESDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 11.8% | 7 | 20.8% | 9 | 15.0% | WIN | 9.7% | SBS One | 4.9% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.3% | 7TWO | 5.0% | GO! | 2.1% | WIN Bold | 4.3% | VICELAND | 1.5% |
| ABC ME | 0.5% | 7mate | 6.2% | GEM | 4.0% | WIN Peach | 2.8% | Food Net | 0.5% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.3% | 7flix (Excl. Tas/WA) | 2.1% | 9Life | 2.3% | Sky News on WIN | 2.4% | NITV | 0.1% |
| SBS Movies | 0.5% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 15.9% | 34.1% | 23.4% | 19.2% | 7.5% | ||||
| TUESDAY METRO ALL TV | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTA | STV | ||||||||
| 88.1% | 11.9% | ||||||||
TUESDAY FTA
- Seven News Seven 968,000
- Seven News At 6.30 Seven 960,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 912,000
- Nine News Nine 909,000
- SAS Australia Seven 795,000
- The Block Nine 793,000
- A Current Affair Nine 775,000
- ABC News ABC 671,000
- 7.30 ABC 560,000
- Home And Away Seven 557,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 515,000
- The Project 7pm 10 486,000
- The Trump Show Nine 483,000
- Junior MasterChef Australia 10 470,000
- Hot Seat Nine 451,000
- Outback Ringer ABC 397,000
- Big Weather (And How To Survive It) ABC 371,000
- The Project 6.30pm 10 311,000
- The Chase Australia-5pm Seven 309,000
- 10 News First 10 300,000
Demo Top Five
16-39 Top Five
- SAS Australia Seven 202,000
- The Block Nine 193,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 129,000
- Junior MasterChef Australia 10 117,000
- Nine News Nine 116,000
18-49 Top Five
- The Block Nine 364,000
- SAS Australia Seven 363,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 251,000
- Nine News Nine 238,000
- Seven News At 6.30 Seven 208,000
25-54 Top Five
- The Block Nine 413,000
- SAS Australia Seven 410,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 311,000
- Nine News Nine 295,000
- Seven News At 6.30 Seven 261,000
Tuesday Multichannel
- NCIS (R) 10 Bold 156,000
- Bluey ABCKIDS/COMEDY 156,000
- School Of Roars ABCKIDS/COMEDY 140,000
- Bluey AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 133,000
- Love Monster ABCKIDS/COMEDY 128,000
- PJ Masks PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 126,000
- Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom ABCKIDS/COMEDY 125,000
- The Big Bang Theory Ep 3 10 Peach 122,000
- Peppa Pig AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 121,000
- Highway Patrol-Ep.2 PM (R) 7mate 119,000
- Aussie Salvage Squad PM 7mate 116,000
- Inspector Morse PM 7TWO 115,000
- Go Jetters PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 114,000
- Peppa Pig PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 114,000
- ABC News Mornings AM ABC NEWS 110,000
- Highway Patrol PM (R) 7mate 108,000
- Andy’s Aquatic Adventures ABCKIDS/COMEDY 107,000
- Sir Mouse ABCKIDS/COMEDY 103,000
- CSI: Miami (R) 10 Bold 100,000
- Aussie Salvage Squad-Ep.2 PM 7mate 96,000
Tuesday STV
- Credlin Sky News Live 78,000
- Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 75,000
- The Bolt Report Sky News Live 69,000
- Alan Jones Sky News Live 67,000
- Open Mike: Mike Sheahan FOX FOOTY 52,000
- PML Later Sky News Live 44,000
- Live: NRL 360 FOX LEAGUE 37,000
- Live: AFL 360 FOX FOOTY 36,000
- Selling Houses Australia Lifestyle Channel 31,000
- Long Lost Family Lifestyle Channel 29,000
- Battle Of Britain FOX Classics 29,000
- The Kenny Report Sky News Live 28,000
- NCIS FOX Crime 28,000
- Escape To The Country Lifestyle Channel 27,000
- As Time Goes By FOX Classics 27,000
- Family Guy FOX8 26,000
- The Fan: Grand Final Special FOX LEAGUE 26,000
- Family Guy FOX8 26,000
- Live: The Back Page FOX SPORTS 503 25,000
- Border Security: Australia’s Front Line FOX8 25,000
Shares all people, 6pm-midnight, Overnight (Live and AsLive), Audience numbers FTA metro, Sub TV national
Source: OzTAM and Regional TAM 2018. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM
Media News Roundup
Business of Media
ABC losses deepen as job redundancies cost taxpayer dearly
The television and radio broadcaster, which receives more than $1bn from the federal government annually, recorded annual loss of $18.4m, primarily due to a $9.9m drop in the revaluation of its extensive property portfolio. The bottom line result compares original budget loss forecast of $11.1m, according to its 2020 annual report, which was tabled in parliament late Tuesday.
Details of redundancy costs come after the ABC recently unveiled its new five-year blueprint, which included the loss of up to 250 jobs, in a bid to help plug an $84m budget hole. A raft of journalists including Emma Alberici, Tracy Bowden and Michaela Boland have left the broadcaster in recent months.
ABC advertising and consultant costs spike in major restructure year
The public broadcaster spent $5.5 million on advertising for the year to June 30, bringing total costs of promotion and market research to a five-year high of $12 million. The ABC spent $2.7 million on advertising in the previous fiscal year.
US says Google breakup may be needed to end violations of antitrust law
The lawsuit marks the biggest challenge by the United States to the growing power of tech companies in a generation, comparable to the lawsuit against Microsoft Corp filed in 1998 and the 1974 case against AT&T which led to the breakup of the Bell System.
The complaint, which was joined by 11 states, says Google acted unlawfully to maintain its position in search and search advertising on the internet, and says that “absent a court order, Google will continue executing its anticompetitive strategy, crippling the competitive process, reducing consumer choice, and stifling innovation.”
The government said Google has nearly 90% of all general search engine queries in the United States and almost 95% of searches on mobile.
VidCon unveils first rebrand, expands global footprint through virtual events
As part of its rebrand, VidCon will also extend its VidCon Now digital event year-round. The news comes after VidCon successfully pivoted its 2020 US convention to a weekly virtual experience, attracting nearly one million unique attendees tuning in live and on VOD to programming across VidCon’s signature tracks, creator meet & greets, and consumer tentpole events. VidCon Now returns on October 27, 2020, with speakers and sessions from around the globe.
“We started VidCon more than a decade ago to help strengthen and promote the explosion of creativity that was happening online. We did that by bringing together the entire ecosystem: the creators who make amazing things, the fans who love them, and the industry that supports them,” said Hank Green.
Read more about VidCon at https://www.vidcon.com/.
News Brands
Paul Murphy, host of ABC’s PM and Dateline, dies aged 77
He was in the host’s chair at PM when Nelson Mandela walked free from Victor Verster prison, and during the Tiananmen Square protests.
Murphy first joined the ABC in the late 1960s and became a political reporter in the Canberra press gallery, before joining the ground-breaking ABC television current affairs show This Day Tonight.
In 1994 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to public broadcasting and to journalism. In 2000 he was awarded the Walkley Award for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism.
Former 7.30 host Kerry O’Brien described Murphy as a role model to him as well as a dear friend.
“Paul was a shining light in Australian public broadcasting; a man of fierce intellect, rapier wit and utter integrity who blazed trails, pursued scoundrels and was the master of the political interview.”
Nine’s Darren Wick charged with drink driving and reveals he’s an alcoholic
Wick had a blood alcohol reading of more than 0.2 on Friday night when he was pulled over after leaving the company’s Willoughby offices in Sydney.
In a candid email to staff today, Wick admitted he was an alcoholic and said he has sought professional help for his drinking.
“Sadly, in a moment of unacceptable madness, I’ve let you down,” Wick wrote.
“Last Friday evening, I stupidly jumped behind the wheel of my car drunk and attempted to drive home. I was pulled over by police in Willoughby and tested positive to high range drink driving, more than four times over the legal limit.
“I was subsequently charged and will soon face court to pay for my actions.”
A Nine spokesperson said the company would provide Wick with support.
“Darren Wick has done something serious and with significant consequences but we intend to support our friend and colleague as he commits to recovering from this illness and rebuilds his life,” the spokesperson said.
The Coalition has maintained its holy war against the ABC
Two weeks ago the boss of 7.30 announced that the “commissioning editor” as she was known was leaving. Jo Townsend had joined the ABC after a successful career in tabloid TV. She was brought in to 7.30 only a few years ago to enhance the visual appeal of the show and to attract audiences with more human interest stories.
That direction was driven from above but went down like a lead balloon with those who thought the program ought be doing more investigative and hard-hitting political stories.
The tendency to bring Laura Tingle in for the big “scandal de jour” but then insultingly dispose of her peerless and invaluable insights and commentary in little more than two minutes has also attracted plenty of raised eyebrows.
Hopefully 7.30’s detour from holding power to account is now consigned to the bin. The past week or so has shown the program revert to hard-hitting live political interviews that Leigh Sales can do as well as anyone – when given the airtime.
Television
SAS Australia: Nick Cummins and Sabrina Frederick’s shocking fight
The show sees celebrities complete a gruelling SAS (Special Air Service) selection course and I sat in horror watching a man repeatedly punch a woman in the head during a mini boxing match.
The confronting scene has raised important questions about gender equality and what exactly that looks like in 2020.
At 189cm and 96kg, former rugby player Nick Cummins, 33, lunged at 23-year-old AFLW star Sabrina Frederick and while the vicious fight was consensual, it made for uncomfortable viewing.
Radio
Roxy Jacenko hangs up on Triple M radio host Lawrence Mooney
Jacenko prerecorded an interview with Triple M Sydney breakfast hosts Lawrence Mooney, Jess Eva and Chris Page before 7am to discuss her short-lived appearance on Channel 7s SAS Australia.
Jacenko, who received over 2000 ‘trolling’ comments on social media after her appearance on the show, was so offended by the interview that she told Channel 7 to cancel all her media commitments for the rest of the morning (although she did speak to KIIS FM when Kyle Sandilands called her number directly live on air).
Triple M Sydney aired the interview with Jacenko after 8am, but news.com.au understands it was edited to remove at least one offensive comment from Mooney.
The Triple M host allegedly dismissed a comment from Jacenko that her health was her main priority after overcoming cancer, with Mooney saying that wasn’t relevant because it was three years ago.