A lot has changed at Network 10 since Beverley McGarvey first joined the broadcaster in 2006. Executives have come and gone and the business has changed hands. It’s also grown significantly.

Regarding the 2022 Upfront this week, McGarvey – executive vice president and chief content officer for ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand – told Mediaweek one important message to the market was reminding them about the size of the business.

“Maintaining and growing our strength in broadcast is important whilst we’re growing our streaming business, including 10play. The big message to market is the scale of the business that we have here.

“Then secondary to that is the message that we’ve always said to clients, from a linear point of view, is we have a really strong schedule 50 weeks a year. And we will maintain that next year. We’ll be starting 2022 early as always on January 3. We have a really consistent lineup of content throughout the entire year.”

Listen to Beverley McGarvey talk with James Manning

After I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! drops in the first week of the year, 10’s major franchises return across the year.

McGarvey: “We then go into Australian Survivor, which we love to play in Q1 because it does really well. We couldn’t do it this year, obviously, because we didn’t have it ready in time. We then go into MasterChef which takes us into the back half of the year.”

MasterChef Australia now has a rich heritage in Australia and some of its past stars will be featured in the 2022 series.

“It’s great to be able to bring back some of those big likeable characters from earlier seasons in [the 2022 series subtitled] Foodies Versus Favourites. What we’ve really learned and what the audience tell us is, they love to see their favourites.

“People will really love to see Julie Goodwin back in the MasterChef kitchen. They also like discovering new talent.” Two things that will be combined in 2022.

MasterChef Australia is one of the few shows that seem to be able to run multiple episodes for 10 or more weeks without the audience dropping off.

McGarvey agreed: “MasterChef and Nine’s The Block are probably the two longest running shows in terms of volume, and both of those shows really hold their audience for that entire time.”

McGarvey noted that having My Kitchen Rules back on air next year will have an impact.

“Whatever comes into the market changes the dynamic. The thing with MasterChef is we play in a very particular space. It’s very authentically about the food. The characters that come along tend to be fascinating because of their interest in food. It’s always been about the food and those great people. It’s a long year, there’s plenty of room for [other] things. We certainly won’t change anything that we’re doing.”

Working Dog and its two formats

McGarvey said it is wonderful to see Have You Been Paying Attention? back for such a long run. Production company Working Dog have had The Cheap Seats re-commissioned for a longer run in 2022.

“Working Dog has discovered some phenomenal new talent [on HYBPA?] and now given that talent the opportunity to do something else. The Cheap Seats is a bit younger and a bit faster. If you watch that show, the pace is incredible. It really appeals to younger viewers.

“We’re also adding another comedy show to the lineup next year, Would I Lie to You? It’s such a phenomenal brand in the UK and has been around for a very long time. We’ve always been interested in it, we really have just always wanted to get the casting right.”

McGarvey shared that hosting the format here will be Chrissie Swan.

“Chrissie is a really warm and funny and a really generous performer. The two team captains will be Chris Taylor, of Chaser fame, who is an incredibly smart, funny and fast comic talent. Frank Woodley will be the team captain on the other side who is both smart but also a great physical comedian. We think that’s a really great foundation for that show.”

10 has found room in its schedule for one more dating show, but it’s a long way from The Batchelor franchise.

This one, First Dates Australia, used to be made for Seven. Now it’s coming to 10.

“Shows have moved around a little more in Australia recently than they have in past years,” said McGarvey. “For me First Dates feels like Gogglebox in that it is authentic Australians, it’s everyday Australians. It doesn’t have the same scale and glamour as the big dating shows, which remain important. First Dates is more quirky, awkward and fun…and just real. There’s a place for both of those dating formats at 10.”

10 News First

Although 10 doesn’t replicate the news and current affairs output offered elsewhere, McGarvey believes it is equally as important at 10.

“We play our news from 5pm until 6.30pm and news is really important to us. Our 5pm news does a really good job and it’s very consistent. We have recently restructured our news leadership, which is really exciting.”

McGarvey reminded us 10 also has an hour of The Project six nights a week, meaning it has 15 hours of news and current affairs in the early evening each week.

Premier League bidder

During the 10 Upfront this week, McGarvey got the job of announcing one of the most significant acquisitions for the network, the FA Cup.

“As any fan of football will know, the FA Cup is a great knockout competition from the UK and you get the best teams.”

McGarvey noted most of the FA Cup will be streamed on Paramount+, with some matches also available on 10.

With so much football on the 10 and Paramount+ platforms, how does McGarvey feel about bidding for the rights to Premier League when they are up soon?

“We’re an interested onlooker for all sports rights. For any major investment we look at it on a tactical basis and ask, ‘Does that make sense for us? Does it complement and enhance what we’ve got?’

“Like everything else, we will look at [the Premier League] as we did with the A-League and the FA.”

Paramount+ initial performance

“It’s exceeding our ambitions in subs and engagement. But when we launched Paramount+ it felt like we got to the beginning of the race. A streaming service is a hungry beast, it requires a lot of content that requires a lot of marketing. But it also offers us the opportunity to engage with different audiences and audiences in a different way.

“It also allows us to commission different types of content, which we’ve done.”

That content includes a third season of Five Bedrooms, Spreadsheet, and new for 2022 Couples Therapy and The Bridge. The most anticipated series however is The Last King of the Cross which we have covered before in previous interviews with McGarvey and also series EP Mark Fennessy. This week at the Upfront, 10 had a short reel promoting the series, albeit without any footage as shooting has yet to commence.

What’s missing from 2022 schedule

There is no official round-up of what’s missing during a network Upfront. There are a couple of 10 programs missing, and some yet to be announced. McGarvey confirmed that 10 had been unable to find a place in the schedule for Hughesy, We Have a Problem. Don’t expect Dave Hughes to go anywhere just yet. He’s still linked to The Masked Singer, keeping alive a relationship with 10 dating back to Rove Live.

The other major program not returning is Making It which launched with very disappointing audiences earlier this year.

There is no new Australian drama, yet. McGarvey indicated to Mediaweek there will possibly be something announced in the future for 2022.

The Foxtel Group has announced a series of multi-year agreements with ViacomCBS to provide blockbuster and catalogue Paramount Pictures movies, a large range of hit TV series, the Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and MTV channels, along with integration of the Paramount+ and 10 Play apps onto Foxtel set top boxes in 2022 for Australia.

This is the first commercial FTA app to launch on the Foxtel platform. Foxtel told Mediaweek today that discussions are underway with both Seven and Nine to welcome 7plus and 9NOW to the Foxtel platform.

The ViacomCBS agreements cover thousands of hours of entertainment including movies such as Top Gun: Maverick and Mission: Impossible 7 starring Tom Cruise coming in 2022, along with blockbuster franchises such as Transformers, Shrek, Madagascar and Star Trek. The agreements also deliver popular TV dramas including the pay TV premiere of Blue Bloods, BULL, FBI, FBI: Most Wanted, NCIS and the classic hit series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

This deal ensures that Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. content will continue to be available to Foxtel and BINGE subscribers, including kids’ series such as PAW Patrol. The MTV channel will also remain available to Foxtel and BINGE subscribers, including hit shows like Ridiculousness.

These agreements with ViacomCBS also accelerate Foxtel’s streaming aggregation strategy to bring together the best of TV, live and on-demand, all in one place. It will see the recently launched Paramount+ app, and the 10 Play app, integrated into iQ3, iQ4, and the brand new iQ5 set top boxes.

Patrick Delany, Foxtel Group chief executive officer said: “We are pleased to extend our long-term partnership with ViacomCBS, with more of the world’s best entertainment to power Foxtel and BINGE, and more apps for our Foxtel customers to enjoy, all in one place.

“The breadth of these agreements is strategically significant for the Foxtel Group. They highlight our strength as a local partner of choice for leading global studios and confirm there are new ways to partner with international media companies who have direct-to-consumer strategies for the benefit of customers.”

Foxtel Group’s chief commercial and content officer Amanda Laing added: “These deals give our customers more of the amazing entertainment they love, from one of the world’s best producers of media and entertainment content, along with more great local content. We are especially excited to offer our subscribers an amazing library of Paramount Pictures movies, as well as an exciting slate of Paramount’s upcoming blockbusters. Paramount has been delivering audiences the world’s best cinema for more than 100 years, and Foxtel is thrilled to be part of continuing that tradition – especially for highly anticipated releases like Top Gun: Maverick.

“We are also delighted to continue to deliver Nickelodeon kids content to our subscribers – Nick Jr. is consistently amongst our top 10 channels, keeping kids across Australia entertained. Our subscribers will also continue to enjoy MTV’s irreverent music and hugely popular reality programming, with shows like Catfish and The Hills: New Beginnings.”

“We are thrilled to extend our longstanding partnership with Foxtel Group,” said Dan Cohen, president, ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group. “Through their suite of platforms, we can reach viewers no matter how they choose to consume our world-class series and feature films. This partnership is consistent with our strategy to maximize the value of our content by licensing to third parties while still supplying programming to our own platforms.”

“We are pleased to partner with The Foxtel group to make available the Paramount+ app and the 10 Play app on the iQ3, iQ4 and the brand new iQ5 set top boxes”, said Jarrod Villani, chief operating and commercial officer and executive vice president, ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand.

Adding to the existing suite of app-based streaming platforms Paramount+ and 10 Play will join Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, ABC iView and SBS On Demand cementing the Foxtel set top boxes as the ‘all in one place’ destination for the world’s best streaming content.

See also: Foxtel Strategy Day: Allstar team talks up future of Australia’s biggest media company

ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand has announced a huge slate of new and returning content at its Network 10 Upfront 2022.

10 Upfront 2022: Returning Shows

On January 3, Lady Julia Morris and Dr Chris Brown will return to the Aussie jungle for their eighth season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.

In Australian Survivor: Blood v Water, players will compete in pairs. Each pair is bound by blood: identical twins, married couples, in-laws, siblings and cousins. 

MasterChef Australia: Foodies vs Favourites will see 12 fresh-faced foodies face off against a dozen of the best chefs ever seen in the MasterChef kitchen, including Alvin Quah, Sarah Todd, Michael Weldon and Julie Goodwin. They will be joined by returning judges Melissa Leong, Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allen.

Osher Günsberg will be back at the helm of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette Australia in 2022.

The Amazing Race Australia will be back racing around the world in 2022.

The Masked Singer Australia is also back for a new series of spectacle and speculation. Host Osher Günsberg and judges Jackie O, Dave Hughes, Dannii Minogue and Urzila Carlson are all on board in 2022 as the guessing games begin anew and the chant rings out again to ‘Take it off!’.

Have You Been Paying Attention? is back for its 10^th season with quizmaster Tom Gleisner and series regulars Sam Pang and Ed Kavalee.

The Cheap Seats will continue to whack on Tuesday night’s funny bone with co-hosts Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald.

The Dog House Australia returns in 2022 for a brand new series.

The First Inventors will transport viewers back in time – between 70,000 and 120,000 years ago – to a community in the midst of developing sophisticated stone tools, art, agriculture, irrigation and much more. Presenter Rob Collins will meet and collaborate with First Nations authorities whose frontline fieldwork offers an exciting new insight into ancient Indigenous innovations and discoveries.

 Amanda Keller, Chris Brown, Barry Du Bois and Miguel Maestre – are suiting up for another season of The Living Room. 

Gogglebox Australia will also be returning for another season on 10.

The Project enters its 13^th year in 2022 and will continue to provide Australians with news delivered differently six nights a week.

Internationally, 10 will be airing Ambulance UK, The Dog House, NCIS, Bull, FBI, FBI: Most Wanted, Jamie Oliver and The Graham Norton Show. 

10 Upfront 2022: New Shows

Hunted is the radical social experiment that sees ordinary Australians go on the run, attempting to avoid a team of expert hunters who are determined to track them down. 

First Dates Australia will be helping singles from all over the country find a very special someone.

Would I Lie To You? Australia – based on the hit UK format – is making its way to 10 in 2022. From the far-fetched to the perfectly plausible, two teams try and hoodwink each other with hilarious tall and twisted tales – and it’s up to viewers to separate the truth from the fiction.

Sport

In 2022, 10 will be broadcasting A-League matches live, as well as FFA Cup games and all the big clashes featuring the Matildas and Socceroos.

10 has also added the Emirates FA Cup – the world’s most prestigious domestic knockout football competition.

The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix roars back to life in 2022, while 10 will once again host all the excitement and glamour of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Multichannels

On 10 Bold, shows like Star Trek: Discovery, Law & Order: SVU, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, Blue Bloods, and Bull will return.

On 10 Peach, Neighbours, The Big Bang Theory, Mom, Seinfeld, and Friends returns. 10 Peach will also be covering two NBL matches every Sunday.

On 10 Shake, shows like PAW Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Blue’s Clues & You!, The Loud House, The Thundermans and Game Shakers will please the younger crowd, while The Office US, South Park, Workaholics, Catfish, Comedy Central Roasts, Comedy Central Stand Up plus Aussie stand up specials.

10 Play

10 Play will be providing more exclusive content including Australian Survivor, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, The Amazing Race Australia and The Masked Singer Australia. 

It will also host companion series like Australian Survivor’s Talking Tribal and The Masked Singer’s Behind The Mask, to fast-tracked international series like Survivor: South Africa and Bachelor In Paradise US.

10 Play will continue to run pop-up channels and live sporting content for Bellator and football in 2022.  

At the Network 10 Upfront 2022, 10 ViacomCBS announced its slate of content for Paramount+ for the rest of 2021 and for 2022 that includes local and international content from CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Showtime and the Smithsonian Channel.

Paramount+ in 2021

Paramount+’s slate of content for the rest of the year will include Australian original Spreadsheet which is a new Australian comedy about newly-divorced, mother-of-two Lauren (Katherine Parkinson, The IT Crowd) who is on the hunt for sex with no strings attached. 

Also coming to the platform is a range of international content such as the special event series Dexter: New Blood which will follow the continuing adventures of Dexter Morgan; The survival epic Yellowjackets, a startling combination of coming-of-age drama and psychological horror story starring Melanie Lynskey, Juliette Lewis,  Christina Ricci, and Tawny Cypress; Mayor of Kingstown which will follow the McLusky family, power brokers in Kingstown, Michigan, where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry; 1883 which promises to transport Yellowstone fans more than 130 years into the past to learn how the Dutton family got their start in Montana; Four Hours at the Capitol is a jaw-dropping, immersive documentary about the insurrection at the US Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, when thousands of American citizens from across the country gathered in Washington DC to protest the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Paramount+ in 2022

Five Bedrooms will return to Paramount+ for its third season. The show moved to Paramount+ for its second season after originally airing on Channel 10.

Couples Therapy Australia will be an emotionally raw, weekly therapy session. The critically- acclaimed docuseries sees real-life couples lay bare their intimacy issues with a professional therapist.

The drama 6 Festivals will follow three best friends as they bucket-list six music festivals over six months, whilst coming to terms with a shattering cancer diagnosis.

At the Network 10 2022 Upfront, 10 ViacomCBS has announced that two new premium and exclusive ad products – Dynamic e- Trading Placement and Happy Hour – are set to enhance 10 Play’s roadmap for 2022.

In this new ad-format, Dynamic e-Trade Placements offer a real-time solution for retail clients to showcase their inventory and products.

Advertisers can utilise dynamically changing pricing, images, or offers – perfect for multi-product retail executions or creative which move as things change.

Putting the viewer first, while also guaranteeing exclusivity to brands, 10 Play’s Happy Hour will showcase a brand while linking its message to an ad-free viewing hour coupled with a 60- second branded commercial and adjacent tag.

Liz Baldwin, senior vice president, head of streaming, ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand, said: “10 Play continues to go from strength to strength, and this year has been our biggest year yet.

“We’re focused on growth, through the expansion and upgrade of the 10 Play platform, and by bringing creative new opportunities to the market that will extend the success of our much sought- after suite of premium advertising products.”

Sophie Hicks Lloyd, director of digital sales, 10 ViacomCBS, said: “I’m really excited about the digital and data opportunities for 10 ViacomCBS in 2022.

“We are uniquely positioned to propel 10 Play and our clients’ brands forward through our privacy- compliant, people-based data offering, and premium, innovative connected television (CTV) apps.

“I’ve said it before – our point of difference is that we have purpose-built our digital capability with partners who give us the best opportunity to grow; we leverage opportunity and adapt to the changing ad tech and data world around us.

“Our additional connected television formats build on our current Premium Pause and Content Carousel innovations, delivering new ways for clients to sell their products and alter their messaging in real-time. And we’re looking forward to building on this in the coming months.”

10 ViacomCBS and The Football Association (The FA) has announced a media rights agreement at the 10 Upfront which will see Emirates FA Cup matches broadcast across Network 10 and Paramount+.

The world’s longest-running domestic knockout football competition, The Emirates FA Cup, not only features the best English clubs, including Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, and defending champions, Leicester City, but also some of the world’s best players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah and Jamie Vardy, and offers clubs across the English football pyramid a chance to play against them all.

The competition officially kicks-off with the First Round Proper on Saturday, 6 November, and will continue through to the Final at Wembley Stadium in May, 2022.

Adam Cush, director of sport production, 10 ViacomCBS, said: “In addition to being the proud home of all the A-Leagues, Matildas, Socceroos and FFA Cup matches, we are thrilled to bring Australian audiences a taste of the world’s favourite game featuring the best English clubs and some of the world’s best players.

“The oldest and most prestigious domestic cup competition in the world, The Emirates FA Cup, only adds to our football credentials as the new home of football.”

James Ralley, head of broadcast and media rights, The FA Cup, added: “The Emirates FA Cup is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and our agreement with 10 ViacomCBS is a great example of the competition’s continued importance around the world.

“We hope that Australian football fans enjoy Paramount+ and Network 10’s coverage of its special season.”

Earlier this week, 10 ViacomCBS unveiled its football commentary team.

All the A-Leagues, Matildas, Socceroos and FFA Cup matches will be broadcast live and hosted by sports presenter and journalist Tara Rushton, sports broadcaster Niav Owens, 10 Sport presenter Scott Mackinnon alongside callers and fan favourites Simon Hill and Andy Harper.

Providing expert commentary and analysis are Melbourne Victory legend, Archie Thompson, four-time FIFA World CupTM Socceroo Mark Milligan, Western Sydney Wanderers and former Matildas defender, Georgia Yeoman-Dale, ex-Socceroos and Adelaide United Championship winning striker Bruce Djite, three-time Sydney FC Championship winning forward, Alex Brosque, former Matildas midfielder and Brisbane Roar W- League Championship winner, Amy Chapman and former Socceroo and Sydney FC defender, Luke Wilkshire.

After 17 years behind the mic with the national broadcaster, Fran Kelly has announced that she will be leaving RN Breakfast on December 2nd.

On air on Thursday, Kelly said choosing to leave the role she’s had since 2005 was the hardest decision she has ever made. “I’ve been in this role for 17 years and I have loved every second of it. Each morning is an adrenalin-fuelled, non-stop live ride interviewing some of the greatest and most interesting minds in Australia and the world. I thrive on the thrill of both setting the day’s news agenda and engaging in the public discussions we have as a society.

“Presenting RN Breakfast is the best journalism job in the country and it is very hard to walk away from it. But Breakfast is a hard taskmaster – 17 years of early mornings is tough on the body and soul and I am choosing to leave now because I never want to give this job any less than 100 per cent.”

ABC managing director David Anderson said “Fran is no doubt one of Australia’s most respected political journalists but she’s so much more than that.

“I admire her ability to engage Australians in important conversations across a wide brief, from breaking news and national crises through to sport, music and the arts. She’s fearless when it comes to the tough political issues but also incredibly empathetic when talking to people about their lives.”

A former ABC 7.30 political editor and European correspondent for the ABC, Kelly will continue to play a key role at the national broadcaster in 2022 and beyond, including in its federal election coverage and as co-host of the political podcast The Party Room, along with other special projects to be announced next year.

The ABC will announce the new presenter of RN Breakfast later this year.

The announcement comes after ABC Radio Sydney breakfast hosts, Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck, revealed that this will be the last year they will present their show.

The Breakfast co-hosts told their listeners on October 1st that they had made the decision to ‘go out on a high’ with their last show scheduled for Friday, December 10th 2021. 

Listen to Robbie and Wendy on the Mediaweek podcast here.

The beauty industry needs to reflect greater diversity both in front and behind the camera, as consumers increasingly align with brands that share their values, according to a panel of leading experts speaking at the latest insight series from Are Media, TRENDtalks: Beauty.

Hosted by leading Australian beauty expert and presenter Michael Brown, TRENDtalks: Beauty also highlighted how technology is set to revolutionise Australia’s multi-billion dollar beauty market and why brands should use social media influencers differently.

Speaking about Are Media’s latest ‘Beauty Voices’ research, which revealed 92 percent of consumers feel strongly about more diversity when it comes to beauty advertising, Brooke Le Poer Trench, lifestyle director at The Australian Women’s Weekly said: “We also know that consumers are just looking for signs in every purchasing decision, that their values are aligning with the products they buying. That extends far beyond the ad campaign. I think we’re all trying to understand how we can use our buying power to help move this forward in a really positive way.”

Lyndall Campher, media director at L’Oréal Australia and New Zealand spoke about the global beauty giant’s ‘Sense of Purpose’ campaign which addresses issues around diversity, inclusivity, sustainability, climate change and animal welfare. 

“When we did research on this campaign we found that new customers coming into the market, particularly Gen Z, issues around sustainability and inclusivity are really important for them and they will only buy from companies with their own values or resonate with the values of the company.” Campher said.

Are Media’s Beauty Voices survey found 22 percent of influencer reviews actually influenced consumer purchase decisions, but Thattil argued how brands collaborate with influencers should change.

For Niamh Mooney, founder of Skin Software, influencers and user generated content have played a key role in informing its customers. “Influencers have been really effective in educating customers on prescription grade ingredients and also legitimising the brand as well.”

TRENDtalks: Beauty is the third in the popular insights series, following travel and food. To view the discussion click here.

Australia’s premium food and lifestyle brand delicious. this week celebrates its 20th anniversary with the announcement of an expanded network of consumer offerings and the release of a special collector’s edition.

delicious. has unveiled significant brand extensions including a new baking range that will be available exclusively through Woolworths stores nationally, the delicious. Drinks x Qantas Wine collaboration; and a brand new digital video program hosted by Darren Robertson.

News Corp Australia’s managing director of food and travel Fiona Nilsson said: “Over the last 20 years delicious. has consistently led the premium food lifestyle market. The brand has done this through constant evolution and highly successful expansions that deliver to consumer needs identified by our unparalleled data and insights. Now, to celebrate our 20th birthday we are expanding the delicious. proposition even further with the announcement of these exciting consumer offerings.”

November delicious. magazine, on sale today, is a 20 years’ collector’s edition with content and collaboration from some of the food industry’s best talent. The birthday themed issue features a special retrospective that highlights achievements, behind-the-scenes secrets and a shout out for some of the delicious. audiences’ most loved moments.

News Corp Australia’s editorial director of premium food and travel Kerrie McCallum said it had been an unlikely time to pull together the 20th birthday issue of delicious.

Listen to Kerrie McCallum talk with James Manning in the Mediaweek Studios

“We felt it was important to bring as much joy to this issue as possible, because we all need it – and birthdays should feel even more special during times like these,” said McCallum.

“The delicious. team managed to bake up a storm, and tested, poured, mixed and developed innovative ways to shoot (at home) to bring this milestone issue to our audience without compromise.

“A delicious. baking range, conceived in the first lockdown and finished in the next with our partners Healthy Generation, launches just in time for our 20th birthday. What better time to eat cake! Our four beautiful products, with more to come, are on shelves exclusively in Woolworths nationally, and we think they are a great option when time is of the essence.

“We are expanding our highly successful video offering with a new digital video program hosted by Darren Robertson. We currently receive more than seven million video views^ a month across our social channels and engagement in this space continues to grow. And we’ve collaborated with Qantas Wine to deliver premium Australian wine to consumers.

“I’m also pleased to announce that after seven years in the chair, I’m handing over the reins of editor-in-chief to my colleague Samantha Jones. Sam has been the editor of delicious. for six years, and knows the brand inside out. The magazine is in great hands with Sam.

“There is much to celebrate this month, and like the finest, most sparkling Champagne, delicious. only gets better with age. We can’t wait for you to see what we have in store next!”

delicious. Baking Range

delicious. is launching a baking range co-created with Healthy Generation which will be exclusively available in Woolworths stores nationally from 25 October. Offering consumers the ability to create recipes like they see in the pages of delicious., without having to cook from scratch, consumers will be able to purchase four products based on some of the brand’s most popular recipes – Double Choc Mousse Cake, Cookies & Cream Cake, Salted Choc-Chip Cookie Pie and Upside Down Golden Syrup Banana Cake.

Make it delicious., Digital Video Program

delicious. will launch a brand new digital video program, Make it delicious., hosted by chef and co-owner of Three Blue Ducks, Darren Robertson that helps viewers increase their expertise in the kitchen by creating at home versions of Australia’s best restaurant dishes. This program is taking a non-linear approach and has been built for success in today’s attention economy by leveraging digital and social channels for distribution. Episodes will be broken down into segments that can be enjoyed in isolation or be watched in their entirety. Make it delicious. will launch in early 2022 with Massel as the headline partner.

delicious Drinks X Qantas Wine

delicious. and Qantas Wine have teamed up to drive e-commerce through the sales of co-branded wine cases, and subscription wine plans that deliver premium Australian wine to consumers. Consumers can choose from a selection of quality cases or a wine subscription that suits both their palates and pockets. The wines are specially curated to perfectly pair with delicious. recipes each month, making food-and-wine matching effortless.

20th Anniversary

The delicious. brand has been helping consumers create impressive an effortless food experiences for 20 years. The November special collector’s edition of delicious. is a collaboration of contributors from the past two decades and the talented in-house team who bring the brands loyal audience recipes, stories and inspiration to create memories and magic in their homes.

To celebrate the anniversary, delicious. will launch Club 20, giving consumers the chance to win 20 covetable experiences and prizes that make up a $70,000 prize pool. Everything from personalised food and travel experiences, chef masterclasses, kitchen appliances, to the most beautiful tableware for their next dinner party are up for grabs.

The delicious. reaches more than 1 million* Australians every month across print and digital. delicious. has a social audience of more than 1.1 million across Facebook (859,795), Instagram (291,000) and TikTok (25,000).

Sources: *Roy Morgan Australia: 12 months ending Jun 2021. ^Average monthly video views on social media (Facebook/Instagram/Tiktok/YouTube) for the last three months (Jul-Sep 2021/Q1): 7.1m views per month.

See also: Travel + Luxury: Kerrie McCallum on News Corp getting serious about travel

Nova Entertainment has announced that after an impressive 18 years with the network, Kip Wightman has made the decision to depart Nova’s Brisbane breakfast team. During his tenure with Nova, Wightman has spent 15 years as co-host of one of Brisbane’s most successful breakfast shows, Ash, Kip, Luttsy, and Susie.

Wightman said it was tough to hang up his mic but the time was right for him to look for new opportunities.

“It has been a privilege to hang out with the people of Brisbane over breakfast these past 15 years, but the time is right for me to switch off the alarm and consider what’s next in my professional and personal life.

“Living in these strange times has made many of us reassess things, and while I’ve still got a lot of love for radio and broadcasting, my priorities have shifted. I’ve had a lot going on, some of which hasn’t been easy, and breakfast radio hours aren’t the best for a single Dad of a young son, so it feels right to call time on being a part of this dream team.

“I won’t miss the early starts, but I will miss everyone involved with the show, and everyone across the network who has made my years at Nova a great experience. I thank everyone for their support and apologise to my neighbours for being around far more than they are used to.”

Ash, Luttsy, and Susie said it would be weird to not have Wightman driving the desk after all these years.

“We selfishly thought we would be broadcasting together forever, so breaking up the band was never going to be easy,” the Nova Brisbane Breaky team said.

“We know that all good things must come to an end, but we look forward to calling Kip in the early hours to remind him of what he is missing.”

Brendan Taylor, Nova Entertainment’s group program operations director, reflected on Wightman’s contribution and career at Nova.

“It’s hard to put into words the impact Kip has had on our loyal listeners and the entire team. He’s been an important and influential part of Nova Brisbane from the very beginning. From all of us at Nova, I would like to thank Kip and wish him all the very best for the future,” Taylor said.

Ash, Luttsy & Susie O’Neill will continue as Nova 106.9’s number one breakfast show in Brisbane.

Top Image: Ash, Kip, Lutsy, and Suzie

Gamurs Group has announced the appointment of Alex Walker as its Vice President of content for the Asia Pacific region.

Walker joins Gamurs after more than six years at Allure Media and Nine’s Pedestrian Group, where he was editor of Kotaku Australia which launched in the Australian market in 2007.

Prior to Kotaku, Walker produced content for the ABC’s technology and gaming verticals after freelancing for PC Powerplay, Techly, Escapist Magazine, Cybershack, and games.on.net. He was one of the first reporters to dedicate his career to what is now a billion-dollar industry.

This newly created role will see Walker lead content creation and development for key Gamurs-owned titles in APAC, based in Sydney, when he starts on November 15. He will report to Gamurs’ Austin, Texas-based chief content officer, Kevin Morris.

“With Alex’s extensive editorial experience and with a background in esports and gaming content, I couldn’t think of a better fit for this position,” Morris said.

Riad Chikhani, founder and chief executive officer of Gamurs, said Walker’s appointment signals the company’s commitment to world-class journalism and content for its global audiences amid another year of exponential growth for the business.

“Alex has a passion and enthusiasm for our brand and the content Gamurs creates. To have him join during a period of immense growth only further complements and strengthens our market-leading position in the arena of gaming, esports and entertainment,” Chikhani said.

Walker said he is excited to join Gamurs Group at such a pivotal stage of growth. 

“I remember when I first started covering Australian esports in 2003, back when esports didn’t exist as a term and the idea of competitive gaming was very much in its infancy,” Walker said.

“It’s been fascinating to see an Australian publisher that understands and loves esports and video games grow so quickly, and I’m thrilled to come on board and apply all this experience to help Gamurs grow even further. The company shares my vision for the potential for esports and the broader video game market, and I’m excited to see what we can build together.”

Over recent years, Gamurs has made a number of acquisitions including We Got This Covered and Pro Game Guides joining Dot Esports, TouchTapPlay and Gamepur. 

The recent acquisitions added a depth of coverage to Gamurs’ far-reaching portfolio, with 40 million monthly users across its publishing sites generating more than 100 million content views.

A recent report by Accenture estimates the gaming industry generated over $412 billion in revenue last year, eclipsing television and music with esports now a billion-dollar industry.

ABC and Screen Australia, along with investment partners Screen Tasmania, Film Victoria and Fremantle have announced an eight-part crime/thriller drama series Bay of Fires has been commissioned to be filmed in Tasmania in 2022.

Created by Andrew Knight (Seachange, Jack Irish, Rake, Hacksaw Ridge), Marta Dusseldorp (Janet King, Jack Irish, A Place to Call Home) and Max Dann (Siam Sunset, Dance Academy, Spotswood), Bay of Fires will be produced by Marta Dusseldorp’s production company Archipelago Productions and Fremantle. The series will be written by Andrew Knight, Max Dann and Sarah Bassiuoni.

Set in the wilds of Tasmania, Dusseldorp will play lead character Stella Heikkinen whose fall from grace is as spectacular as it is life-threatening.

ABC head of drama, entertainment and Indigenous Sally Riley said, “Marta has long been a favourite of ABC audiences so we are delighted to have the opportunity to support her in taking the leap into producing. Bay of Fires is a drama with heart, dark humour and unique characters that will take audiences into a world full of intrigue, truffle pigs and oh yeah, murder of necessity.”

Marta Dusseldorp and her production company

Marta Dusseldorp, co-creator, producer and starring as Stella Heikkinen said: “The opportunity to collaborate and create an original Australian drama with the extraordinary Andrew Knight and Max Dann has been an amazing journey. Executive producer Greg Sitch and producer Yvonne Collins, along with Sally Riley, Louise Smith and the entire team at the ABC have been paramount to bringing Bay of Fires into being.

“My company Archipelago Productions partnering with Chris Oliver-Taylor at Fremantle is a natural fit and with Screen Tasmania, Screen Australia and Film Victoria’s belief and investment we are now preparing for production on the beautifully rugged West Coast of Tasmania in 2022.

“Taking the step into co-creating, producing and acting is something I have always dreamed of. It’s being closer to the process which I think is such an honour and a privilege. Being this close, I believe, also means you can be better and the stories can be better. Maybe it’s time to put down my make-up brush!”

“I am proud Bay of Fires is Australian and I am thrilled it will be on ABC and iview for everyone to see. When I moved to Tasmania it gave me the full inspiration to make this show. There are a lot of untold stories here, and a huge range of creative talent, and that’s what I am working to explore with Archipelago Productions.

“I had a development deal with Fremantle, and during that collaboration I always felt nurtured, respected and listened to. Partnering feels like a natural fit to me. With Chris Oliver Taylor by my side and Greg Sitch and Yvonne Collins I am generously supported and it feels like the dream team for me.”

Chris Oliver-Taylor, CEO Asia Pacific Fremantle and executive producer, said: “Fremantle are delighted to partner with the amazing Marta Dusseldorp to bring Bay of Fires to ABC viewers. Marta, Andrew Knight and Max Dann’s vision to tell such a compelling, yet grounded story will no doubt resonate with local audiences here and internationally. I am thrilled that Fremantle are part of this world class series.”

Screen Australia’s head of content Sally Caplan said, “Bay of Fires is a distinctive drama that is set to reshape the Tassie-noir genre with its dark humour and complex characters, zinging with sharp tongues. Along with a talented creative team, we’re also thrilled to support Marta Dusseldorp as she moves into producing, as well as starring in the series. This show will be one to look out for in 2023.”

Alex Sangston, executive manager Screen Tasmania said, “The Tasmanian Government through Screen Tasmania is thrilled to be supporting this landmark new series from Marta and her team. The series will also showcase Tasmania’s extraordinary West Coast landscape around the world, enabled by a generous regional and remote production grant.  In addition, the Government’s investment will provide invaluable expenditure into regional Tasmania and jobs for our creatives, actors and crews.”

Film Victoria chief executive officer Caroline Pitcher said, “We are always looking to back gripping and compelling drama to feed our audience’s hunger for great content. The delightfully dark crime thriller Bay of Fires will do exactly that, and we can’t wait to see local and global audiences alike devour this addictive new series.”

Filming will commence in Tasmania in mid-2022 and the series will air on ABC TV and ABC iview in 2023. Bay of Fires will be distributed by Fremantle International.

Production credit: Bay of Fires is an Archipelago Productions and Fremantle production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC and Screen Tasmania. Financed with support from Film Victoria.

See also: Fremantle announces expansion of development team

TV ratings: Wednesday Week 43 2021

The Block was the top non-news program in the total TV ratings with 1.552m, an increase of 24%. The episode saw tensions continue to rise based on how Kirsty and Jesse were affording to work on their house that is bigger than most of the other teams.

On Seven, Home and Away was the top non-news program with 1.165m. It was followed closely by the SAS Australia Reunion special with 910,000 (up 27%).

The season premiere of Gruen had 1.162m viewers after increasing its overnight ratings by 23%. Hard Quiz aired earlier that night and ended up with 1.017m.

Love Island Australia has continued its total TV surge, this time up 84% on its overnight ratings with a final audience of 708,000.

Although the #1 lift on the overnight TV ratings belonged to New Gold Mountain which was up 111% for an audience of 551,000.

Total TV Ratings for October 13, 2021

October 20 Overnight TV Ratings

• Nine wins Wednesday night thanks to The Block and ACA
• How many tuned in for Brooke Blurton’s world first on The Bachelorette?
• Love Island and New Gold Mountain both shoot up the total TV ratings

Primetime News

Seven News 975,000/925,000
Nine News 909,000/902,000
ABC News 671,000
10 News First 293,000 (5:00pm)/ 184,000 (6:00pm)
SBS World News 159,000 (6:30pm) 126,000 (7:00pm)

Daily current affairs

A Current Affair 691,000
7.30 553,000
The Project 232,000 (6:30pm)/378,000 (7pm)
The Drum 159,000

Breakfast TV

Sunrise 251,000
Today 245,000
News Breakfast 215,000

Late News

Nine News Late 97,000
ABC Late News 57,000
SBS World News Late 49,000

Seven

Home and Away was on 587,000 after a Week 42 average of 580,000.

An hour of Highway Patrol featured a compile of dreadful drivers, ranking them from #10 down to #1. The special episode was on 358,000,

The Got Talent franchise is called on to fill chunks of the schedule each year and at present it is America’s Got Talent. Audition episode 3 of US series 16 screened last night to 269,000.

Two episodes of season 3 of The Rookie delivered 174,000 and then 125,000.

Nine

A Current Affair investigation into the latest alleged building defects in a Sydney apartment building asked the question if it was time for a Royal Commission. The midweek episode was on 691,000.

The Block ended its penultimate week on 851,000. Work on garage, study and basements continued ahead of the final week focus on front gardens and facades.

Emily was shaking up the villa on Love Island with 217,000 watching.

10

The Project featured a Carrie Bickmore interview with Daniel Johns at the end of the hour. Johns talked about giving up millions to make himself happy. He also underwent years of “heavy, heavy therapy”. He talked about the newspaper story that saw him declare war on a News Corp newspaper. As to the future of his music, it will all be recorded. He told Bickmore he will probably never perform live again. The Project 7pm audience was 378,000.

The Bachelorette launched its new season last night with a twist as Brooke Blurton met eight Bachelors and eight Bachelorettes. The first time in the world that a Bachelorette has been bisexual on the program.

See more: A Woman of Now: How 10 made the most inclusive version of The Bachelorette yet

The biggest surprise on the red carpet came when Blurton’s fellow contestant on The Bachelor Australia, Jamie-Lee appeared with a letter that she had written Brooke the night she left the mansion.

Drama unfolded as Konrad planned to take Brooke to the loveseat they had built together and made it clear to everyone. But software sales executive Jess intentionally took Brooke to the seat and sat with her in an attempt to undercut Konrad.

The coveted white rose went to Dravid who arrived on the red carpet on a lawnmower with cups of tea that represented his Persian culture.

With only 16 roses up for grabs, Johann was sent home. The format launched with 397,000 and was the #1 show in 16 to 39s.

Episodes from seasons 5 and 6 of Bull followed with audiences of 183,000 and 120,000.

ABC

The Wednesday episode of 7.30 started with a recap of the day’s evidence at the ICAC Gladys Berejiklian inquiry. Norman Swan then followed with his thoughts on Covid-19 booster jabs for the audience of 553,000.

Hard Quiz featured another diverse line-up of contestants with subjects from King Henry VII to The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The shootout was between former NBA star Shaq and Priscilla. The audience of 595,000 saw movie buff Kim take the winner’s mug.

Christina Aventi and Karen Ferry were the guests on Gruen. The second episode of season 13 was on 702,000 after the series launched on 658,000. A Primo Scrambles ad analysis got airtime that money can’t buy. Russel Howcroft was the odd one out again who wants to try the product. The show ended with Colin Hanley who was the Flight Centre who doubled as a movie stunt performer.

Episode 4 of Frayed then did 262,000.

SBS

Dr Michael Mosley returned with the second episode of Australia’s Health Revolution. An examination of reversing Type 2 diabetes attracted an audience after the series launched with 262,000 a week ago.

An episode of 24 Hours in Emergency was on and was slotted in ahead of the penultimate episode of New Gold Mountain. The Australian drama about a murder on the Victorian goldfields was on 111,000.