Friday October 25, 2019
Former Block star Jess Eva on TV trauma as she builds a bigger and better life
The new Triple M radio co-host told Mediaweek about her connection with this season of The Block, how the show pushed her to try new things and her weight loss and sponsorship with Lite n’ Easy.
Eva said Triple M partnered with The Block and did a challenge on the show this year. “It turned into a bit of a drama, so it ended up getting three days of prime time coverage, which was a bit of fun.”
In regards to watching The Block, Eva said she couldn’t watch it for the first couple of weeks because of the post traumatic stress of it all. “I saw them pulling up in their cars on the first day and I thought ‘oh god, I’m not ready’. But, as time has gone on, I’ve really liked it and some of the contestants have reached out to chat,” said Eva.
The Block contestants 2018
“I try to let them know that the media scrutiny doesn’t last forever. We’re all just normal people and you get tossed into a spotlight, so at times you can feel a bit stressed. You just have to think at the end of the day that 45,000 couples applied for the show and you were one of the five couples that were chosen. It’s exciting!”
Eva revealed she and her partner Norm Hogan have stayed in touch with a few of the couples from this year. “Norm has stayed really good friends with Andy and Deb. They’re three hours away from Sydney and when he drives from Queensland to Sydney, he always stops by for a cuppa. He’s really made himself at home,” laughed Eva.
“Jesse and Mel – I’ve had a little bit to do with them. They’re the main couples that I’ve really been communicating with throughout the series. Mitch and Mark – I can’t wait to have a wine with them because I think they’re absolutely wicked. There was another contestant I also connected with when she was feeling a little sad throughout the series, I just gave her a bit of an empowering talk to try and let her know that everything’s okay and to stay positive and there’s a really beautiful opportunity here.”
The Block 2019
Eva said she received backlash on her physical appearance during The Block last season, and actually went on A Current Affair to confront one of the internet trolls who consistently made nasty comments towards her on Twitter. Eva said she brought a six pack of coronas and was ready to have a chat with him, but he wasn’t home. However, Eva recalled she felt better just making that step.
The former Block star said media backlash is one of the heaviest moments for contestants. Eva said she feels like if you’ve been through something from start to finish, you can have those conversations and are able to give advice. “I wasn’t like ‘oh god, they (the contestants) need my help, I’m very wise’,” she laughed. “I just want everyone to be happy. You see a few past contestants – not in our series – but in the past, and some of them say they feel like they wasted their time being worried or sad, or angry or paranoid, and they wish they just enjoyed it.
“When it’s rolling out on TV and you watch it, it’s more strenuous than the build, because you watch it as a viewer and you worry about what the world is thinking about you. Then other times you may think ‘oh, that’s a good episode’. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster,” said Eva. “When else are you going to be on Australia’s number one rated TV show? Just enjoy the experience.”
Eva said Julian Cress, the co-creator of The Block, is the most empowering person in the world. “He and Scott Cam were the first people to properly believe in me. They started the ripple effect for me to have a crack at bigger and better things.”
Not long after last year’s season of The Block finished, Eva joined Lite n’ Easy as an ambassador who shared her success story of losing 10 kilograms in just two months. “It was so fun. I lost a bit of weight on The Block, but then I pretty much ate for the next four months after the show finished when catching up with everyone afterward and having BBQs and beers. I just ballooned – I reckon I was close to 100 kilos,” said Eva.
“I didn’t necessarily care if I was big or skinny, I just wanted to be a bit healthier. When The Block crew mentioned Lite n’ Easy said they’ll give me some food, I was like ‘you beauty!’. Then they said they’d like me to be an ambassador, and I was like ‘you beauty times two!’,” laughed Eva.
Next week: Jess Eva on Moonman and the Triple M experience
The Amazing Race: 10’s next hit series? Cast, host & pro-co all set
Cast: The channel has received nothing but praise for The Amazing Race amazing cast including nuns, newlyweds and nurses of all ages and all backgrounds.
Production company: Chris Culvenor and Paul Franklin’s Eureka Television are making the show for 10 in partnership with the show’s creators from Profile Television, Bertram Van Munster and Elise Doganieri.
Host: Football-turned-Footy Show co-host Beau Ryan moved from Nine to 10 last year. He started in primetime on the brave Sunday Night Takeaway experiment. He survived that ratings crash to get his own show.
Ryan told Mediaweek just a few days before launching his solo hosting career he moved on from Nine looking for new challenges when offered the chance to join Network 10.
“I dipped my toe into the water earlier in the year and I was promised there would be bigger things for. When 10’s Beverley McGarvey mentioned The Amazing Race I knew straight away it was something I was just right for. I knew straight away it was something I wanted to do and it was my first chance to be a solo host.”
Ryan said he enjoyed his time on Sunday Night Takeaway working with Julia Morris and Chris Brown, despite the adaption of the UK format not working here. “I got a lot of experience and got to know a lot of people at 10 very well.”
Although The Amazing Race is another format, it is one that has been on air here before both with the original format and Australian adaptions. “There is quite a bit of pressure and I’m nervous, but it is also super exciting.”
Ryan said he was familiar with the format when first approached, having seen some of the series made for Seven. “Since signing on I have watched a lot of the US original hosted by Phil Keoghan, more of the Australian one, and also the Asian version. I have seen how other hosts operate and then tried to put my own spin on it.”
During the filming, which ran for close to a month, Ryan said he was sleep deprived for much of it, “but I’m so proud of what we are about to put to air”.
Keoghan has hosted the US format through 31 episodes in 19 years. Ryan joked that even 10-15 years would be just great for him!
The press kit for The Amazing Race called Ryan a “loose cannon”. He laughed when asked about that, “I’m not sure about that. Unpredictable would be a good one. I have been in trouble before, but I just try and be me, say what I think and how I feel.
“The beauty of The Amazing Race is that the previous work I have done on live TV and radio has prepared me for it.”
His unpredictability is something that attracted the producers of The Kyle and Jackie O Show where Ryan has been a stand-in guy when one of the hosts takes a day off.
“It has been hard for this past month because I was overseas, but I am still on standby for them. I love working for them and I usually stand in and work with Jackie because I’m usually filling for Kyle. It has given me a lot of experience interviewing people in front of such a huge audience.”
The casting looks like it could be one of the attractions on The Amazing Race with a very diverse group of competitors. They range in age from 18 to 59, although Ryan didn’t spend too much time with them. “I had extensive notes about all of them, but I didn’t get to see too much of them because we were always travelling. The producers also didn’t want me to spend too much time with them, to keep my emotion out of it. But I do get to see them at the start and end of each leg.
“The teams were in isolation for the majority of the race when they are not travelling.
“They are all really good people from different walks of life, all on a journey. That’s what I love about the show. Anyone can compete and anyone can win it – that’s the beauty of the race.”
When Ryan travelled between different legs he is on the road with a producer, a camera person and the audio person. “We were together much of the time, we also ate together and pretty much lived together. We relied very much on each other. They relied on me to get the piece finished and I relied on them for scripting and to nail the shot.”
“To be honest I had something of a withdrawal when we finished. It was great to be home with my family, but it felt like I was missing an arm.”
Call times where before dawn often, but Ryan said the body clock was so out of whack that it didn’t seem to matter. “I never really knew what time it was!”
Ryan worked under 10 executive producer Stephen Tate who was on location for the start and the finish of the series. “He was so helpful to me and I speak to him regularly. I also can’t speak highly enough of the team from Eureka. Before I started I was anxious and nervous, partly because I’d never been away for that long. I also had no idea what to expect. After I met the crew and we shot the first week in Korea I felt so comfortable. When it was over I did miss everyone.”
Ryan said he thought he would have no problems keeping the results secret until the series unfolds on air, except for one person.
“My daughter is my Achilles heel. I find it very hard to say ‘no’ to her. So far I haven’t told anybody anything.”
Ryan said he hopes viewers will pick a team they can either relate to or they want to win.
Mediaweek is banking on Sid and Ash. “They are probably smarter than you think,” said Ryan. “They are real dark horses. That’s a good choice.”
Mercado on TV: Getting real with reality – the fakest show on television?
Reality television will continue, of course, because there will always be people willing to do anything to be on TV. Some shows require you to have no skills, except for lip filler, but others demand intelligence, talent and/or tenacity. The Amazing Race Australia (Monday on Ten) clearly accommodates everybody, as it switches networks and introduces its most diverse cast ever.
Shows that require skills include The Block, Ninja Warrior and The Voice (Nine), MasterChef and Australian Survivor (10), plus House Rules: High Stakes and Australia’s Got Talent: The Champions (Seven, because having an extra bit in your title is now a prerequisite for aging franchises).
Show that don’t require as many skills can still be entertaining, like Dancing With The Stars and I’m A Celebrity (10), and The All New Monty: Guys and Gals (Seven) whose 2020 extra title bit is apparently a riff about Todd McKenney’s favourite Broadway musical of 1950.
Being able to cook is no longer a prerequisite as MKR: The Rivals (Seven) will now make its contestants live together in the same house. Or maybe it’s houses. Either way, they will probably be mansions for Dynasty-like catfights and it already sounds more lavish than the new Big Brother Revolution (Seven) which will have people living in a tiny house inside a studio, and being pre-taped instead of live.
Maybe Big Brother will be harmless fun again, or will it want to be trashy like MAFS and Love Island Australia (Nine)? Let’s just hope it is not as braindead as Trial By Kyle (Thursday on 10) where next week, some bloke is called “a little bitch”, “dickhead” and “annoying little shit”. Oh and “feel free to flog him in the hallway”. Really?
Trial By Kyle is the fakest show on television. Why make everything up if nobody can pull it off, especially when a much better show could be done with the only real person in there. Anna Heinrich may be a former contestant from The Bachelor, but she is also a smart, beautiful, REAL lawyer. Give HER a Judge Judy spin-off show.
Gus Worland departs breakfast radio to focus on Gotcha 4 Life
A passionate advocate for men’s mental health, Worland created the Gotcha 4 Life Foundation in 2017 and the move will allow him to focus even more of his attention on the burgeoning foundation.
However, Worland won’t step away from radio entirely, with Triple M securing him to re-create the station’s famous Deadset Legends show in 2020. The show, which began in 1997 with Ray Warren, Mike Whitney and Debbie Spillane, ended in 2015, and will return in January 2020 with Worland being joined on the panel by legendary NRL and Rugby Union dual international, Wendell Sailor, and 325-game Sydney Swans player and two-time premiership winner, Jude Bolton.
Head of Triple M, Mike Fitzpatrick, said: “I’m hard pressed to find a more loveable and big-hearted man than Gus. He’s been a part of our Triple M family for over 10 years now, and that’s no small feat.
“His idea to re-create Deadset Legends on Saturday mornings is an opportunity we jumped at. Gus, Wendell and Bolts – three true legends to keep Sydney across all the sport they need to know about to start the weekend.”
Worland was an inaugural member of The Grill Team with Stuart McGill and Mark Geyer in 2009 and this year joined Lawrence Mooney and Jess Eva and Chris Page on Moonman in the Morning where he’s continued to be a much-loved part of the team.
“Breakfast radio has played such a massive role in not only my life but also my family’s. I’ve met some lifelong friends and I wouldn’t change one thing,” Worland said.
“To wake up Sydney each morning, have a few laughs, and report the stories that matter, has been a true pleasure! It’s now time for me to step down from my radio commitments to spend more time on my mental health foundation Gotcha 4 Life. We’ve achieved so much in the past two years, I’m excited to spend more time on this and see what we can do!
“I’m glad to be able to stay with the MMMs to talk about one of my lifelong passions, sport! And to do so with two sporting legends in Wendell and Jude!”
Worland’s co-host, Lawrence Mooney, said: “Gus Worland is a big, beautiful man that exudes a joy for life. It’s a great energy to be around and I’ve loved working with him.”
Gus’ last show on Triple M Sydney with Moonman in the Morning will be November 8th.
Gold 104.3 & KIIS 101.1 back at Flemington as ARN renews Cup deal
KIIS 101.1 will bring the party to VRC members in the Nursery, and again host clients, talent and celebrities in The KIIS Pony Club, across Cup Week.
As part of the program both KIIS 101.1’s Jase & PJ and KIIS Network’s Will & Woody will give listeners around Australia the chance to win their way to the Carnival.
GOLD104.3 will also be giving listeners the chance to win their way to Melbourne’s biggest event.
GOLD104.3 will also cross live from Flemington Racecourse, with the latest updates on what is happening trackside on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day and Kennedy Oaks Day.
ARN CEO Ciaran Davis said: “ARN is excited to continue its partnership with the Melbourne Cup Carnival for at least the next two years, going from strength to strength since we first united with the VRC in 2017. The Carnival is an integral part of Melbourne’s culture, and the perfect fit for KIIS 101.1 and GOLD104.3 who proudly share and celebrate the very best of Melbourne’s events, music and lifestyle with their listeners every day.
“We look forward to enhancing the partnership further, offering our listeners and clients bigger and better opportunities to be involved with one of the most exciting annual events on the Australian calendar.”
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Top Photo: Jase and PJ at the KIIS Pony Club
Network 10 celebrates 60 years on-air in South Australia with special report
The report features rare archival footage of the early days of television news- gathering in Adelaide, as well as interviews with staff members from across the decades. Some of them who are still with ADS, have been on the news front line in South Australia for more than half those 60 years.
Network 10’s executive editor, Adelaide Fiona Clark said: “The faces may change, and the technology forever speeds up and improves, but our passion for reporting on what matters to the community in which we live is no different now than it was for our pioneering colleagues six decades ago. We’re proud of our ADS heritage, but we’re also energised about the decades still to come.” Clark has been been with ADS for over 20 years.
Network 10’s general manager, Adelaide Frank Filosi said: “We’re thrilled to be celebrating 60 years of informing, engaging, entertaining the people of South Australia. We’ve achieved so much together.
“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the South Australian community and sponsors for their unnerving and valuable support over the last 60 years. I also want to thank the Network 10 executive team for their continued belief and investment in what we do. And most importantly, I wanted to thank the staff of ADS 10, past and present, for their passion and hard work day in and day out to make the ADS 10 operation such a success.” Filosi has been with the network in Adelaide for almost 34 years.
Foxtel Media announces 10 brand partners for Fox Cricket
Eight of the partners have returned after the successful 2018-2019 season, with ahm and Specsavers joining the line-up for the first time this year. All partners will be executing integrations across Fox Cricket’s digital and broadcast assets.
Foxtel Media Sales and Brand Partnerships Director, Martin Medcraf, said: “We are thrilled to see so many of our key partners return to Fox Cricket for another year and welcome ahm and Specsavers to the channel. The huge success of the channel last year has proven the strength of our integration model and the power of Fox Sports broadcasting.
“Our partners align to Fox Cricket for one main reason, to be part of an innovative channel that connects with a highly engaged audience over an important period: summer. This year we have lots more broadcasting innovations up our sleeve to enhance, and not interrupt the viewing experience, and our partners have come on board to be part of our new advertising approach.”
Head of Fox Sports, Peter Campbell, said: “The support from our advertisers has been overwhelming this year thanks to our proposition to continue to connect brands with fans through the shared love of cricket, on any device, in premium integration environments. Last year, we invested in building advertising opportunities that weaved our partners advertising messages into the very fabric of the broadcasting experience, and the response from our viewers was hugely positive. We look forward to offering the same, plus new experiences, to cricket fans this year on behalf of our partners.”
Fox Sports Head of Television, Steve Crawley, said: “We are stepping it up a notch this summer with plenty of innovations to ensure we analyse and deliver nuggets of insights to viewers that you can only get with Fox Cricket. Plus, we will have the biggest line up of cricket led by the best commentary team with the most in-depth opinion, analysis and entertainment, all in the one place, on Foxtel.”
Pedestrian Group announces its plans for 2020 at Fun Fronts event
The event, which was held in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney for a record number of clients (more than 500 people attended across the three cities), highlighted the vast array of opportunities across its six sites and cinema.
Matt Rowley, CEO of Pedestrian Group, said: “Fun Fronts are always a highlight in our diary because they give us the chance to prove how much appetite the industry has for a spicy idea. This round is no exception and is made even more exciting by the fact that we’re able to demonstrate the power and differences in the Pedestrian Group audiences, in-depth, for the first time.”
Vanessa Lawrence, Publisher of Pedestrian Group, added: “We have a better grasp of what makes the audiences of our six distinct sites tick than ever before thanks to insights and really, really vocal readers who tell us what they do and don’t want. The content you’ll see from us in the coming six months and beyond is reflective not only of what we know will resonate but ideas that will create the best integration opportunities for our awesome partners.”
The 2020 slate of ideas Pedestrian Group has taken out to market for sponsorship include the below:
PEDESTRIAN TV
Next year, Pedestrian TV (PTV) will launch ‘Econom-Ex’, an initiative which will see PTV pay for readers’ breakups.
With stats showing the average break-up costs $5,000 or more, PTV wants to help and that’s where Econom-ex comes in. In the spirit of new beginnings, PTV will invite newly single readers to nominate themselves as most deserving of a break-up fund by submitting a funny video via the hashtag #shitmyexsays for the chance to have their breakup paid for by PTV.
To cap off the campaign, PTV will partner with Openair Cinemas to throw an outdoor dating event-cum-romcom movie night in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Titled “The Ex-change”, readers will be invited to bring their unsuitable-but-still-suitably-nice ex to the event and swap them with someone else’s former flame. A marketplace will also be set up, where readers can sell the stuff their ex-partner left behind.
2020 will also see PTV launch Pop On, Pop Off, Australia’s first pop culture bus tour which will transport PTV readers to iconic landmarks in and around Melbourne – from Fountain Gate to Split Point Light House and Brighton Secondary College. The trip will finish with a screening of episodes from Australian iconic TV shows at a pop-up cinema on St Kilda Beach, hosted by Openair Cinemas.
And next year will also see PTV live up to its ethos of delivering the news differently through the introduction of NEWS INK, a weekly news programme where a host will explain the biggest story of the week to a PTV reader, all while they’re inked with a tattoo designed to reflect that same story. Designed by a different tattoo artist each week, at the end of the year, there will be a total of 52 tattoos documenting the big stories of the year all on one PTV reader.
PTV readers will also have the chance to have their say on the story of the week via a NEWS INK Facebook Group where they’ll be able to vote for the story of the week and what the tattoo could be.
BUSINESS INSIDER
In 2020, Business Insider will launch a two-day ticketed event called F.I.R.E Festival – a festival dedicated to “Financial Independence, Retire Early” – a community focused on chasing a debt-free lifestyle, high savings and smart investing with a vision to retire by 35. Attendees of the festival will hear ground-breaking saving, investing and fortune-building tips from the mouths of young guns who could already retire.
Next year, BI will also launch a video and podcast series called You Made Millions How?, which will spotlight the small-to-medium business success stories its readers have never heard of. They’ll discuss the strategies and shortfalls of their business models and give readers a template for their own future success.
POPSUGAR
In 2020, Popsugar will launch The Mother Load – an initiative designed to offer support and help for the next generation of mums. From choice to conception, to challenges and changes, Popsugar will lend a supportive hand with honest personal essays written by real women and high-profile mums, myth-busting interviews with health and wellness experts and product recommendations from the group’s team of editors.
Popsugar will also create an online “mother’s group” via a Facebook group called Breasties – a space to share concerns and ask questions in a judgement-free zone.
Popsugar will also be continuing to focus on health and fitness in 2020. With inclusivity at its core, Popsugar will launch You Can Fit With Us, an initiative designed to bring positivity around health and fitness to life. Popsugar will partner with Openair Cinemas for a series of ticketed nighttime health and fitness events where attendees will be invited to stretch and sweat their way through a workout as the sun goes down before a lineup of Popsugar fitfluencers and wellness warriors who represent a range of body types take to the stage to talk about everything from taking on trolls to mindful eating.
This experience will be supported by fitness guides for the couch potato to the marathon runner, healthy recipes, activewear edits, and even a personalised gym finder.
KOTAKU
Gaming site Kotaku will kick off an initiative called Develop-her, designed to spotlight the most kickass female game developers in Australia. Kotaku readers will be invited to nominate rising stars, all of whom will be profiled across Kotaku, before a panel of female judges chooses one worthy nominee to receive a sizeable grant that goes towards bringing her next awesome idea to life.
Kotaku’s Develop-her hub will also house a series of Ted X-style talks with experienced local and international developers to empower the next-gen of game-makers at the same time.
2020 will also see a first for Kotaku – clients will be invited to gamify their brand, bringing it life in fun, inventive and creative way that cannot be achieved through traditional advertising.
Byte Club will imagine a brand’s product as the hero of an 8-bit, arcade-style game. Kotaku will work with developers to create mods for existing games or create games from scratch to embed within native content and other parts of the Kotaku ecosystem. Kotaku wants to create new and exciting associations between brands and one of the largest and hungriest demographics in Australia: gamers.
GIZMODO
As Australia’s leading tech site, next year Gizmodo will celebrate 20 emerging leaders who see the world from outside of the box – the game changes, the innovators, the brilliants minds of our generation.
2020 Visionaries will be capped off with an event series called 2020 Academy where Gizmodo’s info-hungry audience can learn first-hand from the minds of the future.
LIFEHACKER
Lifehacker is the ultimate authority on optimizing every aspect of its readers’ lives. Now, Lifehacker is asking its readers to share their niftiest shortcuts with the world for the chance to win bragging rights as Australia’s Next Top Lifehacker.
The campaign will be driven by user-generated content as Lifehacker calls on 30-second video entries of peoples’ best shortcuts – from cutting up a pineapple in 10 seconds to separating egg yolks using nothing by a water bottle – which will be submitted to a hub where readers will vote for their favourite before a winner is announced.
AFR Young Rich List: 29 new, 23-year-old Ben Simmons youngest
The Financial Review Young Rich List has been tracking the wealth of Australia’s richest people aged 40 and under for 16 years. Young Rich Listers must be self-made and not have inherited their wealth.
The AFR has published its 2019 list this week.
The 100 wealthiest young Australians in 2019 have a collective $41.2 billion – nearly double 2018’s total of $23.5 billion. With the Atlassian co-founders excluded from that amount, the wealth of the rest of the Young Rich list grew from $11.3 billion in 2018 to $14.5 billion this year.
Rich List editor Michael Bailey said: “The Financial Review Rich List really demonstrates how the wealthiest self-made young Australians are growing their businesses at a rate that is challenging legacy ASX companies.
“It’s fascinating to see businesses like Canva that is just five years old that are now worth seven times as much as Here There & Everywhere, the 30-year-old, ASX-listed media and entertainment company. The Young Rich List is growing solidly again in 2019, and it’s quite interesting to see how Australia’s young entrepreneurs are thinking about business, growth and success.”
Matthew Drummond, editor of The Australian Financial Review Magazine, added: “The Young Rich List is the only true measure of the business success of Australia’s young entrepreneurs, sports stars and actors. While technology is still the best way to get onto the Young Rich List, this year’s list is notable for the number of sportspeople, especially basketballers.”
AFR Young Rich List Top 10
Cannon-Brookes, 39, claimed the first place on the Young Rich List. He is worth $13.499 billion, just ahead of his Atlassian co-founder Farquhar, 39, who is worth $13.215 billion. In 2018, the pair had a combined wealth of $23.5 billion – Cannon-Brookes was worth $7.124m while Farquhar was worth $7.128m.
Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar have now topped the Young Rich List a record eight times, after jointly taking out the number one spot in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Coming in at third place are the only other billionaires on the 2019 Young Rich List – Melanie Perkins, 33, and Cliff Obreacht, 32, co-founders of beginner-friendly graphic design software company, Canva. The pair are valued at $1.35 billion on the List, although that would be nearly $400 million higher if calculated today because Canva raised money at a higher valuation on October 17 and the List’s calculations are ruled off in the first week of September. Their valuations have risen dramatically since 2018 – from $177 million – due to a new understanding that they and key staff collectively retain more than half of the business.
Collis and Cyan Ta’eed, co-founders of Envato, an online marketplace for digital assets ranging from WordPress templates to 3D-printing renders, claimed fourth place on the Young Rich List with a worth of $799 million, up from $428 million in 2018. Aged 40 and 38, they are the CEO and executive director of Envato respectively.
In fifth place is 39-year-old Ori Allon, down from fourth place in 2018. The co-founder and executive chairman of Compass, a real estate technology company often described as the Uber of the real estate industry, is worth $747 million, up from $539 million last year.
Peter Greensill, co-owner of Greensill Farming and board member of the Greensill company, is sixth on the Young Rich List with $745 million, up from $412 million in 2018. The 38-year-old businessman from Bundaberg spends most of his time overseeing his family’s sweet potato, sugar cane and watermelon operations.
The first debutant in the top 10 is Shangjin “Jin” Lin, the only son of Chinese property billionaire Yi Ling. He is the 30-year-old founder and group managing director of Aqualand and is worth $659 million, claiming seventh place on the Young Rich List.
In eighth place is Tim Gurner, 37, founder and CEO of luxury developer Gurner. He is worth $608 million, down from $631 million in 2018 when he was third on the Young Rich List.
Claiming ninth position on the Young Rich List is the co-founder and global chief revenue officer of listed “buy now, pay later” service Afterpay Touch Group, Nicholas Molnar, 29. He is worth $564 million, a jump from $341 million in 2018.
Rounding out the top 10 is fitness power couple Kayla Itsines, 28, and Tobi Pearce, 27. The co-founders of Bikini Body Training Company and owners of fitness app Sweat have a combined fortune of $486 million. The couple were ranked fifth and sixth on the Young Rich List in 2018, however their personal worth did not grow in the past year, resulting in them slipping to number 10
Technology dominates Young Rich List as sport grows
Technology remained the dominant sector on the 2019 Young Rich List, with software-as-a-service businesses such as Atlassian and Canva responsible for 11 of the 100 fortunes on the List, while e-commerce or online marketplace businesses made 25 of the fortunes. These numbers are down from 13 and 28 respectively in 2018 because of the rise of sport as a wealth sector, thanks to Australian basketballers infiltrating the ranks of the United States National Basketball Association (NBA).
Sport as a sector contributed to 16 fortunes, with six Australian NBA players making it onto the Young Rich List, five for the first time, including Ben Simmons.
The roll-call of Australian sporting names on the List includes: Adam Scott (20); Andrew Bogut (32); Jason Day (50); Daniel Ricciardo (53); Michael Clarke (71) Tim Cahill (72); Lleyton Hewitt (77); Chad Reed (81); Joe Ingles (88); Patty Mills (89); James Spithill (90); Matthew Dellavedova (92); Ben Simmons (93); Steve Smith (95); Dante Exum (97) and Marc Leishman (100).
Who has fallen off the Young Rich List?
The co-founders of Pedestrian.TV, Oscar Martin and Chris Wirasinha, fell off the 2019 Young Rich List, just missing out with $27 million.
Also off the list are Mark McDonald and Josiah Humphrey, co-founders of app developer Appster, which collapsed last year
Smoothfm’s Mike & Jen host Melbourne Frocktober Frocktail fundraiser
The breakfast radio hosts were joined by colleagues and celebrity guests throwing their support behind the cause. smoothfm partnered with the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) to raise funds for Frocktober. Mike and Jen had invited guests to get “frocked up” for a night of fashion and fun alongside smoothfm weekend presenter David Campbell.
In attendance was actress Krista Vendy, who celebrated her first wedding anniversary on the weekend wore her wedding dress, Neighbour’s actor Sharon Johal also wore traditional wedding dress, and smoothfm’s Jennifer Hansen got frocked up and right into the spirit of the cause by participating in a special fashion parade showcasing a frock that has special meaning to them.
Smoothfm915’s Frocktober event – David Campbell and Sharon Johal
Now in its 13th year, Frocktober continues to build momentum each year as it empowers women around Australia to Dress up, Raise Funds and Frock Cancer. Ovarian cancer is the most lethal of gynaecological cancers and without an early detection test, it claims another life every eight hours.
Jennifer Hansen said: “It was great to have David Campbell along who helped draw the raffle, and Leanne Flynn, an ovarian cancer patient, and the OCRF Community Ambassador – they gave heartfelt and emotional speeches which really brought home how this disease has such a devastating effect on women and their families. Leanne is an inspiration. She works so hard to spread the word and raise awareness while herself is still undergoing treatment. She really is an incredible woman.”
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Top Photo: smoothfm915 Frocktober Event – smoothfm hosts Mike Perso, David Campbell, Jennifer Hansen and Simon Diaz
Screen Australia has announced $2 million in doco funding
The projects include a feature documentary from Christiaan Van Vuuren and Craig Reucassel about the power of money in our political system called Democracy Project; a short documentary The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone from transgender activist Georgie Stone and director Maya Newell (Gayby Baby); and three new single documentaries for SBS’s Untold Australia strand.
Bernadine Lim, Screen Australia’s Head of Documentary said, “We are thrilled to support such a range of projects from all over Australia that shed light on a number of critical issues including climate change, human rights, inclusion and wildlife protection.”
“It’s particularly exciting to support inventive storytelling methods with students shooting their own footage about the recent school climate strikes in More Learning, Less Activism, and feature documentary Ablaze featuring musical performances from director and opera singer Tiriki Onus as he delves into a mystery about his grandfather.”
The Producer Program projects are:
• Ablaze
• Democracy Project
• Hating Peter Tatchell
• More Learning, Less Activism
• Quoll Farm
• The Children in the Pictures
• The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone
Below are some highlighted documentaries from the above list:
• Ablaze: A feature documentary from JOTZ Productions about opera singer Tiriki Onus who finds a 70-year-old silent film believed to be made by his grandfather, Aboriginal leader and filmmaker Bill Onus. The film is co-directed by Tiriki Onus and Alec Morgan (Australia in Colour), produced by Tom Zubrycki (Fair Game) and executive produced by Sue Maslin (The Show Must Go On). This project is developed with support from Screen NSW and financed with support from the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) Premiere Fund, Film Victoria and the Documentary Australia Foundation.
• Democracy Project: The first feature documentary from writer/director Craig Reucassel (The War On Waste) and presenter Christiaan Van Vuuren (Bondi Hipsters), which explores the extent to which money has infiltrated Australian politics. After Van Vuuren’s anti-gun YouTube song went viral, he realised that Australian gun laws are not as tight as he initially thought. The documentary will follow Van Vuuren on a mission to uncover issues beyond just gun control, in a democratic system where money and influence cross paths. The creative team includes producer Aline Jacques (Living Universe) and executive producers Jen Peedom (Mountain) and Jason Burrows (Between a Frock & A Hard Place) of Jungle Entertainment. This project is developed with assistance from the Shark Island Institute and the ABC.
• Hating Peter Tatchell: A feature documentary from WildBear Entertainment about Australian-English human rights and LGBTQI+ activist Peter Tatchell who has affected change by publicly breaking the rules for more than 50 years. Written and directed by Christopher Amos (Dressed As A Girl), Hating Peter Tatchell is produced by Veronica Fury and Dena Curtis.
• The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone: A 20-minute documentary from South Australia’s Closer Productions that takes viewers into the life of Georgie Stone, one of Australia’s most well-known young transgender activists. This project is written by Stone and directed by Maya Newell (Gayby Baby).
The Commissioned Program projects are:
• Every Family has a Secret series 2
• Birdsville
• Bowled Over
• Stutter School
Below are some highlighted documentaries from the above list:
• Birdsville: From Mint Pictures it is the story of the remote Queensland town of Birdsville. Home to around 100 people, twice a year the population swells to 10,000 partygoers for the Big Red Bash music festival and the Birdsville Races. This project will capture the chaos of these events and follow the locals over one year as they go through a period of change, with a number of local businesses going up for sale and putting the town’s future in question. Birdsville has been commissioned by SBS as part of Untold Australia.
• Bowled Over: A one-hour documentary for SBS’s Untold Australia, which centres on Taboo, a group of drag performers who have found an unlikely following in their town of Ipswich, Queensland. They may have kept a local lawn bowls club financially afloat for the past nine years with their packed-out live shows, but with the impending retirement of Taboo’s ‘biggest wig’ at the show’s 10th anniversary, the club’s future is again being plunged into uncertainty. The race is on to find a successor. This project is developed and produced with investment from Screen Queensland and financed with support from SBS.
• Stutter School: Viewers will follow four brave Australian stutterers and their families as they undertake a once-in-a-lifetime journey to confront their fears, find their voice and transform their lives. The creative team features director Liz Allen (Love Me As I Am), producer Heather Nash (The Mosque Next Door) and executive producer Laurie Critchley (Love Me As I Am). This project is financed with support from SBS.
For more info on all these projects read here.
John Preston steps down from his role as Chairman of Publicis Media ANZ
Michael Rebelo, CEO of Publicis Groupe ANZ said Preston has significantly contributed not just to the Publicis business, but also more broadly to the Australian media and marketing industry over the years.
“The addition of John’s award-winning agency to the Publicis fold has helped further strengthen our unique offering at Spark Foundry; while his strategic counsel at a broader Publicis Media level has been invaluable as we focus on the continued strengthening of our brands. We wish John all the best in his philanthropic endeavours and adventures,” Rebelo said.
On his decision to part ways with Publicis, Preston said: “After over three decades in media, it’s time to try my hand at something new and very different. My career in media has been a fantastic journey working with a host of amazing and inspiring people along the way. The industry has been good to me and I am proud of what I have achieved. It’s hard to leave an industry I love so much so I’m sure I will remain involved in some consultancy or advisory capacity in the future.
“However, the sale of Match has given me the freedom to get back to my roots as a marine biologist. I am plotting a path to help combat climate change by getting involved in projects in marine conservation and adventure philanthropy, where I can combine my passion for travel with contributing to the welfare of the planet.
“Publicis has been a great business partner as well as being flexible to work with, allowing me to adapt into various roles for which I sincerely thank them.I wish the team in Australia and New Zealand, led by Michael Rebelo, all the best in its future business transformation.”
Gerry Boyle, CEO of Publicis Media APAC & EMEA added: “John is one of Australia’s most respected media professionals, with a wealth of knowledge, an entrepreneurial spirit and proven leadership skills. Since we met in 2015, we have enjoyed a strong working relationship and John has made an amazing contribution to our business, first through Match, and laterally as Chairman of Publicis Media. On behalf of Publicis, we thank John for his time with us and wish him all the very best in his rekindled passion in marine conservation. I have no doubt he will make a positive impact there.”
Triple M's Moonman in the Morning team announce Drought Support Tour
Lawrence Mooney, Jess Eva, Gus Worland and Chris Page will share the stories of famers and regional communities to help understand firsthand what they are suffering, and to encourage those in the city areas to give a helping hand where they can.
Through his mental health charity Gotcha 4 Life, Gus Worland will host a series of mental health chats to get the local community talking about the emotional strains they are going through and provide some tips to help them. Lawrence ‘Moonman’ Mooney will bring the comedic relief with a stand-up comedy show in Dubbo and Parkes.
Triple M Sydney have partnered with Coles who have teamed up with the Country Women’s Association (CWA). The CWA distributes grants to drought-affected farming families across Australia to help cover household expenses such as food, medical, electricity and water bills. Head into any Coles supermarket or Liquorland store across Australia to donate at the checkout.
Moonman in the Morning Drought Support Tour schedule:
Tuesday 29th October
Arrive in Dubbo in the afternoon Local business visits – schedule TBC
Wednesday 30th October
Live Breakfast show from Hit Dubbo
Farm and community visits – schedule TBC
Gotcha 4 Life session with Gus Worland & comedy night with Lawrence Mooney South Dubbo, Tavern
Thursday 31st October
Live Breakfast show from Hit Dubbo
Farm and community visits – schedule TBC
Gotcha 4 Life session with Gus Worland & comedy night with Lawrence Mooney Railway Hotel, Parkes
Friday 1st November
Moonman in the Morning live show outside broadcast – performance by Scott Darlo The Ophir Hotel Orange, 6am-9am
News Director Hal Crawford to leave MediaWorks next February
Crawford said: “This newsroom is very dear to me and very dear to New Zealand. It’s a special place and very hard to walk away from. I have felt supported by a very fine group of people from the moment I walked in in 2016, and together we have achieved a lot and told some very important stories.”
While at the helm of Newshub, Hal has overseen the launch of The Project and The AM Show, the relaunch of the Newshub website and the steady rise of that website in both audience engagement and revenue.
CEO Michael Anderson said: “I know this has been a really hard decision for Hal and it is one he has made for family reasons. He has been talking to me for some months about his family’s desire to move home and he confirmed with me a couple of weeks ago he wants to be back in time for the 2020 school year.
“Hal has achieved a huge amount in his time with us. Newshub has gone from strength to strength under his leadership – for which he should be very proud. I am incredibly sorry to see him go and wish him all the very best.”
TV Ratings Analysis: October 24
Thursday Week 43 2019
By James Manning
• Seven News 868,000/830,000
• Nine News 707,000/705,000
• A Current Affair 594,000
• ABC News 584,000
• 7.30 473,000
• The Project 236,000/395,000
• 10 News First 312,000
• The Drum 147,000
• SBS World News 126,000
Breakfast TV
• Sunrise 276,000
• Today 197,000
Seven
Home and Away was part of Seven’s early evening along with Seven News. An hour of News around 850,000 and then 90 minutes of the soap on 507,000 was enough to secure Seven a primary win.
The 2017 movie Kong: Skull Island then did 260,000.
Nine
Nine News just made it over 700,000. The bulletins ranked #1 in Sydney, but trailed Seven in all other metro markets.
A Current Affair did 594,000 followed by an hour of RBT on 440,000.
Love Island then did 298,000. Six of the eight most streamed shows this week were episodes of Love Island.
10
The Project didn’t crack 400,000 last night with a Kyle Sandilands pre-record filled the last few minutes of the show. The pre-record allowed Tommy Little to drop an F-bomb.
The Bachelorette Australia then did 624,000 after 698,000 a week ago.
Trial By Kyle finally got into the schedule over a year after the pilot episode. A launch audience of 363,000 was a modest return after Gogglebox did 790,000 a week ago in the timeslot. Among those who didn’t watch it last night were many from the team working on The Kyle and Jackie O Show who fessed up this morning. Jackie O did watch on 10play before work at 5am this morning. Trial By Kyle did win its timeslot and the numbers were close to the overnight audience of 372,000 for the pilot.
ABC
Escape From The City was in FNQ around Port Douglas with 459,000 watching.
An episode of Vera then did 366,000.
SBS
Who knew there is a great food market in Logan? Ainsley Harriott had tracked it down and that was the location for Ainsley’s Australian Market Menu with 128,000, down from 170,000 the week prior.
The audience then jumped to 210,000 with the magic word David Attenborough drawing the crowd watching India’s Wild Eden.
Week 43 TV: Thursday
| WEDNESDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 13.4% | 7 | 17.9% | 9 | 16.1% | 10 | 12.7% | SBS One | 4.6% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 3.1% | 7TWO | 4.3% | GO! | 3.3% | 10 Bold | 4.3% | VICELAND | 1.0% |
| ABC ME | 0.7% | 7mate | 4.3% | GEM | 3.3% | 10 Peach | 2.3% | Food Net | 1.3% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.4% | 7flix | 2.1% | 9Life | 2.6% | NITV | 0.2% | ||
| 7Food | 0.9% | SBS World Movies | 0.4% | ||||||
| TOTAL | 18.5% | 29.5% | 25.2% | 19.3% | 7.4% | ||||
| WEDNESDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 13.2% | 7 | 21.1% | 9 | 12.4% | WIN | 10.8% | SBS One | 3.7% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 3.1% | 7TWO | 5.9% | GO! | 3.3% | WIN Bold | 4.5% | VICELAND | 1.0% |
| ABC ME | 0.9% | 7mate | 4.6% | GEM | 4.4% | WIN Peach | 1.6% | Food Net | 1.2% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.5% | 7flix (Excl. Tas/WA) | 1.9% | 9Life | 2.5% | Sky News on WIN | 1.2% | NITV | 0.2% |
| 7food (QLD only) | 0.8% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 18.8% | 34.3% | 22.7% | 18.2% | 6.1% | ||||
Thursday FTA
- Seven News Seven 868,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 830,000
- Nine News Nine 707,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 705,000
- The Bachelorette Australia 10 624,000
- A Current Affair Nine 594,000
- ABC News ABC 584,000
- Home And Away Seven 507,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 491,000
- 7.30 ABC 473,000
- Escape From The City ABC 459,000
- RBT Nine 440,000
- Hot Seat Nine 411,000
- The Project 7pm 10 395,000
- Vera (R) ABC 366,000
- Trial By Kyle 10 363,000
- The Chase Australia-5pm Seven 330,000
- 10 News First 10 312,000
- Love Island Australia Nine 298,000
- Sunrise Seven 276,000
Demo Top 5
16-39 Top Five
- The Bachelorette Australia 10 223,000
- Seven News Seven 103,000
- Love Island Australia Nine 99,000
- Trial By Kyle 10 97,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 92,000
18-49 Top Five
- The Bachelorette Australia 10 358,000
- Seven News Seven 174,000
- Trial By Kyle 10 173,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 164,000
- The Project 7pm 10 158,000
25-54 Top Five
- The Bachelorette Australia 10 373,000
- Seven News Seven 212,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 208,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 202,000
- Trial By Kyle 10 199,000
Thursday Multichannel
- Father Brown PM 7TWO 155,000
- Bluey ABCKIDS/COMEDY 152,000
- PJ Masks AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 142,000
- NCIS (R) 10 Bold 136,000
- A Touch Of Frost PM 7TWO 136,000
- Peppa Pig AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 135,000
- Hawaii Five-O 10 Bold 132,000
- M- The Italian Job PM (R) 7mate 131,000
- The Numtums Shorts PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 128,000
- Nella The Princess Knight PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 125,000
- Thomas And Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 124,000
- Play School Nursery Rhyme News Time PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 122,000
- Peppa Pig PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 122,000
- Dino Dana ABCKIDS/COMEDY 121,000
- Luo Bao Bei ABCKIDS/COMEDY 119,000
- Rusty Rivets AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 119,000
- Floogals ABCKIDS/COMEDY 119,000
- Play School AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 116,000
- Survivor: Island Of Idols 9GO! 115,000
- Fireman Sam PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 115,000
Thursday STV
- The Great Australian Bake Off Lifestyle Channel 85,000
- Outback Opal Hunters Discovery Channel 67,000
- Live: Prime Minister’s Xi V Sri Lanka FOX CRICKET 58,000
- Gold Rush Discovery Channel 50,000
- Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 49,000
- The Bolt Report Sky News Live 44,000
- Blue Bloods TVH!TS 43,000
- The Simpsons FOX8 40,000
- The Simpsons FOX8 38,000
- Criminal Minds TVH!TS 36,000
- Love It Or List It Australia Lifestyle Channel 36,000
- Love It Or List It Australia Lifestyle Channel 36,000
- Family Guy FOX8 35,000
- NCIS TVH!TS 34,000
- Credlin Sky News Live 32,000
- PML Later Sky News Live 29,000
- Father Brown UKTV 29,000
- Border Security: Australia’s Front Line FOX8 29,000
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation TVH!TS 27,000
- NCIS TVH!TS 27,000
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
Southern Cross Media pushes for change to compete with digital
At its Annual General Meeting, chairman Peter Bush said the business believed in the “resilience” and “value” of regional radio, but said the regional television model faced challenges that needed to be addressed.
Bush said broadcasting legislation “constrained” the operating model for regional broadcasters, and prevented them from competing in the internet era.
“There are significant disparities in regulation of content and advertising on broadcast platforms compared to online platforms,” he said.
“The ACCC’s final report on the digital platforms inquiry has recommended that the government should address these regulatory disparities.”
Lights, camera, action! Hoyts eyes off Palace Cinemas
Palace owner the Zeccola family has tapped PwC to run a sale process and Hoyts is one of a handful of parties to have expressed an early interest.
The Zeccola family has run Palace since the 1960s and does not have plans to sell out altogether, sources said. From humble beginnings in Victoria, the family operates 22 cinemas and more than 150 screens in locations on Australia’s east coast, as well as in Adelaide and Perth.
Guy Sebastian and former agent legal dispute to be heard in 2020
The Australian Idol singer sensationally split from his long-time manager Titus Day in late 2017 after the 12-year relationship soured.
Sebastian took the matter to the Federal Court in mid-2018 and it has been working its way through administrative meetings since.
The singer and the agent both allege they’re owed hundreds of thousands of dollars by the other.
Federal Court Justice Tom Thawley, on Thursday, set the case down for three days of hearings in June next year.
Sebastian is seeking $200,000 in performance and other fees.
Your Right To Know
Journalist barred from Australian free speech conference
Mimi Mefo, winner of this year’s Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award, was due to give the keynote address at the Integrity 20 conference hosted by Griffith University, but was told in correspondence that Australian authorities, “were not satisfied that the applicant’s employment and financial situation provide an incentive to return”.
Mefo told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that she was concerned officials denied her visa based on “stereotype views of Africans” rather than on her circumstances. “Maybe it would have been different if they just Googled me or looked at my Twitter or Facebook page. Not everyone who comes to Australia [from Africa] wants to stay.”
Attorney-General Christian Porter hits out at Right-to-know campaign
Porter suggested media organisations could pose a threat to national security, citing the case of Julian Assange, who published military and diplomatic documents on his WikiLeaks website.
The dumping by WikiLeaks of caches of secret documents was widely condemned for revealing the names of informants and intelligence sources, potentially putting people’s lives at risk. “He was given a Walkley,” Porter told 6PR.
Porter’s comments come after a coalition of media organisations demanded six reforms to protect journalists and whistleblowers. The reforms include the right to contest warrants for journalists and media organisations, an overhaul of whistleblower and defamation laws and the Freedom of Information regime.
“What is being asked for is an exemption to laws that might affect journalists for, quote, doing their job,” Porter said. “Now that’s national security laws. That’s criminal laws. And there have been instances where journalists have gone too far. And there just shouldn’t be a blanket exemption because of someone’s belonging to a profession.”
There’s need for secrecy – it’s a question of balance
That the press often falls far short of its lofty ideals is certainly true; but no matter how imperfect it may be, analysis and experience show that where it is muzzled, corruption flourishes, rights are ignored and democracy atrophies.
It is, however, no coincidence that when America’s founding fathers entrenched free speech in the first amendment to the US constitution, they also provided, in article one of the constitution itself, for the houses of congress to shield from the public matters “as may in their Judgment require Secrecy”.
John Rolfe: Press freedom still the same old story
“Doesn’t look like we made any of tomorrow’s front pages,” he lamented after a long day of meetings with leaders from Brunei, Indonesia and China. I replied: “No, Prime Minister. There was never much chance of that.”
Because in an unprecedented move, every daily newspaper in the country had agreed to “splash” on Monday with a new Right to Know campaign.
Each masthead’s front page carried a mocked-up heavily redacted government document. All but a few words were blacked out.
News Brands
Eileen Berry acting president & chief executive at Melbourne Press Club
Berry, who is the club’s other vice president, was overwhelmingly elected by the board on Thursday morning, with its remaining members keen to get back to business, including planning for the Quill awards and the Perkin award.
The Australian reports there is no danger of the awards being axed following the departure of vice-president and co-host of ABC News Breakfast, Michael Rowland, president Adele Ferguson, and CEO and former editor of The Canberra Times Mark Baker on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Television
BBC Earth increases channel audience after replacing BBC Knowledge
In launch week, primetime share was up 67% on the previous three months for BBC Knowledge. The advertising demo of Live P25-54 also saw a significant increase, with primetime share up 60% on the previous three months, and primetime average audience increasing by 42%. Primetime average time spent viewing was up 34% and 35% of the audience reached were new viewers.
Earlier this month BBC Knowledge had a subscription homes TV share of 0.4% and a weekly reach of 307,000.
BBC Earth showcases a broad range of world-class factual programs including the best of Sir David Attenborough from BBC Studios Natural History Unit, alongside adventurous travels, human stories and science programs from experts such as Michael Mosley, Louis Theroux, Kate Humble, Professor Brian Cox and Ben Fogle.
Tim Christlieb, director of branded services, Australia and New Zealand said: “We are thrilled with the performance of BBC Earth on Foxtel. In its first week we have seen bigger audiences with a stronger engagement compared to BBC Knowledge. The strength of the global brand and the mix of natural history, science, travel and human stories are resonating with traditional BBC Knowledge viewers who are still able to see many of their favourite shows and presenters on the channel, as well as attracting new audiences to the channel.”
Upcoming shows on BBC Earth in November include the Australian premiere of Earth’s Natural Wonders, David Attenborough explores intriguing stories of animal peculiarities in Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities, charismatic wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan spends time with the bear cubs of the Bubonisty Orphan Bear Rescue Centre in Russia in Grizzly Bear Cubs and Me and Sam Neill takes viewers on a journey through Wild New Zealand.
BBC Earth is sponsored by Tourism and Events Queensland.
Melbourne radio host questions Seven’s Plate of Origin copyright
The Seven Studios-produced format is described as “a worldwide food fight (which) will pit cuisine against cuisine, plate against plate, cook against cook.”
On Thursday morning on 3AW Stevenson said, “Two years ago I hawked around my idea for a cooking show, called World Cup of Food in which ethnic cuisines competed against each other in a format, to see which was the best. I hawked it around and was told ‘No, we’re not interested.’ So when I read that this new show is an original format, in which teams from diverse cultural backgrounds will compete to see which cuisine will reign supreme it is very, very familiar to me.
“I’ll have a talk with someone today about how they came up with this so-called original format.”
Shaun Miller from Shaun Miller Lawyers told TV Tonight there is no copyright in broad brush themes or ideas, but in the expression of those ideas.
“Channel 7 may have been inspired by the concept of worldwide cuisines being pitted against each other, as presented to them by Ross Stevenson, but Channel 7 may have added a great deal of its own originality to what is to become Plate of Origin, including in terms of the way in which contestants are selected, the powers of the judges, the rules of the contest and things like set design and theme music.”
Sports Media
Smash Factor: New Fox Cricket device to reveal batsmen’s secrets
Speculation over bat speeds and shot power, as well as the eternal search for ‘the middle’, has long fascinated cricket’s army of obsessed followers, commentators, and players from the backyard to the MCG.
In a world first for cricket broadcasting, all will be revealed this summer as Fox Cricket launches its revolutionary Smash Factor, which will provide an unprecedented level of batting analysis for viewers in real time, all thanks to a tiny sensor hidden behind the sticker on the back of the players’ bat.
Smash Factor will measure data such as bat speed, launch angle, shot power and timing, while the sensor will pick up vibrations off the bat to determine an accurate reading out of 100 for whether the player has hit the ball out of the “sweet spot”.