Thursday September 24, 2020
Podcast Week: Veronica Milsom’s Zero Waste Baby, I Spied’s ASIO reveal
Veronica Milsom’s Zero Waste Baby Zoe
The former triple j presenter Veronica Milsom has set herself a significant challenge for her first podcast series – Zero Waste Baby. She wants to bring up her second child Zoe to have as small an impact as possible on the environment.
“I have finished the series which covers the first three months of Zoe’s life,” Milsom told Mediaweek. “PodcastOne releasing two episodes on September 30 and then one every week from then on.”
Milsom said she expects some of the content to be controversial and surprise some on the “zero waste” community. “It will also give people a window into my world. There is no privacy for me. I even took a microphone into the birth suite and recorded the labour which is on the podcast. Some might find it confronting.”
Going zero waste for bringing up babies is difficult. “Nappies are especially problematic. Craig Reucassel is one of my guests and he doesn’t think disposable nappies or reusable nappies are very good. They both have their issues. The carbon footprint involved in reusables is massive.”
Milsom has long wanted to be a podcaster and her deal with PodcastOne has started her off. “This series is like a comedy documentary and the storytelling involved has been really fun.”
Milsom only finished at triple j in March this year, just three weeks before the birth of Zoe. Returning to radio at some stage is still a goal at some point. “I am not sure what sort of a station I would try to get involved with.” Prior to triple j, Milson worked with both Nova and smoothfm.
Her arrival at PodcastOne adds to former triple j colleagues who have series with the podcaster including The Breifing’s Tom Tilley and former breakfast hosts Matt and Alex. “PodcastOne has been great holding my hand as I learn podcasting,” said Milsom.
Listen to Zero Waste Baby trailer here.
Michelle Stephenson catches her spy
Nova Entertainment’s national newsroom manager Michelle Stephenson has been a podcast fan for some time. She previously hosted a series called Who Doesn’t Love Politics for Nova two years ago. Now she is back with an intriguing adventure called I Spied on the Diamantina podcast network. Diamantina is also the home of The Betoota Advocate and Chat 10 Looks 3 with Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb.
It was during Who Doesn’t Love Politics that Stephenson originally crossed paths with David Callan. The talented allrounder ticks a number of boxes – former ASIO agent, comedian and actor. Callan was living in Canberra looking for a job that gave him flexibility to work in the theatre – hence the gig with ASIO.
“His stories were so great and we got along really well,” Stephenson told Mediaweek. “This year he reached out telling me he was planning a podcast about his time in ASIO and asked if I would be interested in hosting. We did a demo and it worked well so we are deep into recording the first season.”
While I Spied is co-hosted by Callan aka “Agent Frosty”, Stephenson revealed that he doesn’t like the moniker, “because in ASIO there are no agents. His nickname in the organisation was Frosty and we do cover that in one of the episodes.”
Callan/Frosty was an intelligence officer in ASIO for seven years. “In episode one we talk about why and how he started with ASIO.”
It’s perhaps surprising that a former spy is allowed to talk about his time with the company, but that’s what I Spied offers. There’s talk about working with Russian operatives and there is mention of China too. The discussions will appeal to many including international affairs nerds. “My undergraduate degree was in politics and international relations and it’s been great to use everything I learned in the podcasts. David is well versed in history and politics. There’s are fair bit of humour too!”
Stephenson listens to lots of news podcasts including the daily ABC broadcast of AM, Podsave America (a no-bullshit conversation about US politics), The Party Room (with Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas), The Bill Simmons Podcast and The Daily (The New York Times).
Nothing but the truth with Grant and Chezzi
Grant Denyer and his producer/presenter wife Chezzi Denyer this month launched their unfiltered tell-all podcast It’s All True?
The couple offer listeners an insight to what happens behind closed doors with tales that didn’t make the gossip magazines. The TV super couple open the book on their drama-filled 10-year marriage, with a funny and honest joust about the good, bad and ugly of life. Much of their relationship has been invented by the tabloids, so this time they’re telling their own stories no matter how god-awful, embarrassing or hilarious. It’s a straight-from-the-horse’s-mouth account of life with the Denyers. It ain’t always pretty, but it’s been one hell of an entertaining ride!
In the first episode listeners heard how the Denyers went from working together and not liking each other, to becoming a secret couple; how Grant broke his back and Chezzi nursed him back to health whilst struggling to get him off the pain meds and ultimately re-gaining her identity.
In the second episode, the Denyers discover why their eldest daughter, Sailor, struggled with home-schooling and was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD, Chezzi’s near death experiences and Grant’s unresolved psychological trauma from his reporting days on Sunrise.
Here comes the judge(s)
The Australian Podcast Awards (APAs) has announced its 2020 judging panel who will together determine the best Australian podcasts of 2020.
Media personalities and podcast creators Osher Günsberg and Georgia Love join this year’s judging panel, along with News Corp’s national entertainment editor, Jonathon Moran, The Project’s (Network 10) planning producer, Sean Marsicovetere, and The Sydney Morning Herald/The Age technology and podcast reporter, Peter Wells. Space limitations prevent Mediaweek from detailing the complete list of 50 (!) judges this year.
Acast launches Meta, a podcast about podcasts
In addition to judging the APAs this year (see above item), Nine Publishing journalist Peter Wells has partnered with Acast to launch a new podcast series…about podcasts.
Called Meta, it is promising to introduce podcast industry heavyweights and detail how Australia has become a podcast world leader.
Series one of Meta includes discussions with the voices behind some of Australia’s most iconic podcasts, including former Prime Minister Julia Gillard (A Podcast of One’s Own with Julia Gillard) and the ABC’s Dr Norman Swan (Coronacast) as well as journalists Ruby Jones (7am) and Rachael Brown (Trace, the Walkley Award-winning investigative series).
Trace: The Informer final reveals Lawyer X’s secret journey home
The ABC’s Trace podcast has revealed that underworld informer Nicola Gobbo left her overseas hiding spot in an audacious bid to return to her home country, leading to a tense standoff with police.
The defence barrister known as Lawyer X told Trace that soon after her return to Australia in December, Victoria Police issued her with an ultimatum: go back into hiding, or risk not living with your children.
Gobbo has disappeared again, into what she has called a ‘black hole’, and the ABC doesn’t know her whereabouts.
The remarkable story of Nicola Gobbo’s return to Australia is told in the final episode of Trace: The Informer, including details of a bizarre chain of police escorts that transported the family across three states.
The new revelations cap off an eight-part podcast series covering Nicola Gobbo’s life story and the reasons behind her decision to turn police informer.
A new behind-the-scenes documentary The Making of Trace: The Informer will also premiere on ABC iview next week, detailing the inside story of how journalists Rachael Brown and Josie Taylor tracked down Nicola Gobbo in hiding overseas, while delving into the complex and dangerous world of gangland criminals, police, and lawyers to tell the story of Lawyer X.
Supercars’ new broadcast deal: Foxtel & Seven pay $200m+ for 5 years
The five-year arrangement will run from next year until 2025 and is worth more than $200 million in cash and advertising.
That financial security will come at a crucial time as the sport moves into the Gen3 phase from season 2022.
The announcement ensures every practice, qualifying and race session will be aired live and ad-free on Foxtel, Fox Sports and Kayo.
See also: Foxtel reveals new five-year deal with Supercars for Fox Sports & Kayo
Seven will broadcast six Supercars rounds live each year of the new deal, including the iconic Bathurst 1000, plus a seventh event in the form of the annual Bathurst 12 Hour.
See also: Supercars returns to Seven: Seven races live every year from 2021
Supercars CEO Sean Seamer welcomed the news.
“This deal is the product of a significant body of work to ensure we have the best team possible to take us forward in to the future,” Seamer said.
“It provides certainty for our teams, fans and commercial partners that Supercars is here to stay as the top motorsport category in Australasia.
“I am delighted to continue working with Patrick Delany and his team at Fox Sports and Foxtel. Their commitment to the sport and standard of coverage is world-class and we’re looking forward to watching on as they showcase the future of Australian motorsport.
“We’re also thrilled to welcome back the Seven Network which helped bring motorsport to Australian living rooms way back in the early 1960s as the original broadcast partners of the Australian Touring Car Championship and the early days of Supercars.
“Seven is internationally renowned for its motorsport coverage so we’re excited to see them welcome a new generation of fans.
“I thank Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany and Seven West chief executive James Warburton for their plans and commitment to grow this sport over the next five years.
“I would also like to thank Network 10, who have been great partners of Supercars since 2015 and for their ongoing support throughout 2020.
“2021 will be the start of a new era with some old friends and I know everyone in Supercars is excited about what lies ahead.”
The news follows previous announcements of a new deal with Sky Sports New Zealand until the end of 2025 and a five-year category naming rights partnership with renowned automotive parts brand Repco.
Two events remain on the 2020 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship calendar; the OTR The Bend SuperSprint this weekend and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 across October 15-18.
Edwina McCann announces GQ Australia launching Big Ideas events
Held in partnership with Optus, and with supporting partner Paco Rabanne, the series of virtual panel discussions with thought leaders and innovators will tackle the issues that shape the way Australians live and think, today.
The series will culminate with the GQ Big Ideas Summit on Thursday 5 November, featuring an international special guest and a panel of Australian game changers.
McCann said: “In a year of upheaval we wanted to take a moment to celebrate those who are shaping the world we live in. These talks will cover everything from sport and politics to the future of work, and will define not only the issues that matter, but also what GQ stands for today.
“We’re delighted to partner with Optus for Big Ideas as we connect our audience with some of the thinkers, visionaries and mavericks leading us into tomorrow.”
Optus head of marketing Melissa Hopkins said: “At Optus looking to the future with a sense of optimism is at the heart of everything we do. Therefore, it was a natural fit for Optus to partner with GQ on the Big Ideas Series, to bring meaningful and inspirational conversations to life at a time when people need connection more than ever.”
The GQ Big Ideas Series begins tonight at 7.00pm AEST, with a discussion focused on the Future of Sport.
Twenty years since the iconic Sydney Olympic Games – and at a time when the Games has been postponed for the first time in history – the virtual panel features Olympic champions Ian Thorpe and Mack Horton, who will reflect on the place of sport in the Australian culture and how the pandemic has upended the sporting calendar. The panel is hosted by journalist and Sky News chief news anchor Kieran Gilbert.
The GQ Big Ideas Series will continue with the Future of Work session on October 8 and Future of Politics on 22 October, each featuring a stellar line-up of hosts and panellists.
GQ BIG IDEAS SERIES: 24 September, 8 October and 22 October at 7.00pm AEST
GQ BIG IDEAS SUMMIT: 5 November at 7.00pm AEST
Network 10 boosts digital leadership team with internal promotion
Reporting to general manager – digital, Liz Baldwin, Arden-Wood is responsible for the editorial and exclusive digital content on 10 Play, including digital content licensing, as well as the strategy for 10’s podcasting platform 10 Speaks.
Arden-Wood joined Network 10 in June 2011 as head of entertainment – digital and has held various senior digital roles at the company since. Most recently she was the digital content strategist, working with the content team and production companies to expand and build exclusive show content on 10 Play.
Liz Baldwin said: “As we continue to invest in the 10 Play and 10 Speaks platforms, strategically building their content libraries to engage more consumers and open up more opportunities for advertisers, it’s essential to have strong leaders across the team.
“Vanessa’s established relationships with key stakeholders, extensive digital experience and strong strategic acumen makes her the perfect candidate for the head of content and commercial partnerships – digital role. I’m thrilled to be welcoming her to the digital leadership team.”
Prior to 10, Arden-Wood worked in several senior digital roles at Illumina Digital, The Machine Room and Clipstream in London.
On her appointment, Arden-Wood said: “I’m really excited to be taking on this role. It’s a fantastic opportunity to work with a brilliant team, utilising my existing relationships and skills to continue building on 10’s success and engagement with audiences beyond linear.”
Bauer celebrates 40 years of The Weekly’s Children’s Birthday Cake Book
Each episode of the 4 x 10-minute series called, Cake My Day, features three passionate and aspiring home bakers from diverse backgrounds replicating their own masterpieces from the Children’s Birthday Cake Book.
Bauer has signed baking product maker Betty Crocker as sponsor of the series. Fremantle, who produced the series, worked with 12 participating teams from around Australia as they filmed their culinary adventures capturing the successes and failures along the way.
The series will run across the Facebook and Instagram platforms of The Australian Women’s Weekly and AWW Food and will be boosted by Bauer’s digital team.
Sally Eagle, general manager, publishing at Bauer Books and Gourmet Traveller said: “At a time where baking is seeing a resurgence in kitchens across the country and Australians are looking for creative ways to have fun at home, we know that Cake My Day will provide entertainment, laughter and a sense of nostalgia to our audience.
“Off the back of the successful August launch of the 40th anniversary of The Australian Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake Book, we are thrilled to be working with Betty Crocker as the sponsor of this fun and innovative web series.”
Joanna Denington, head of partnerships at Fremantle, added: “Marrying brands, stories and audiences together is not a new concept, however the way we go about it in 2020 needs to evolve. The key to it is finding brands that align in an organic way, creating a cohesive editorial fit. Our production partners at 720 have a track record for being innovative with their approach to taking projects to market so I’m thrilled to be collaborating with them and Bauer for this series.”
Cake My Day will launch on October 5.
Triple M and 15 great Australian artists to rock Oztober from Thursday 1st
Passing the baton to listeners this year, Triple M listeners will vote for their favourite homegrown act and one of the top 15 artists will be celebrated each day in a countdown to determine which artist is Australia’s G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time).
Hit & Triple M Network’s head of music Mickey Maher said: “2020 has been a tough year for many in the Australian music industry, so it’s more important than ever that Triple M shines the light on Aussie artists. Those emerging, and those who have given us so much over the years.
“Triple M has passionately and proudly supported Australian music for over 40 years and each year during Oztober, we crank it up a few notches and dedicate the month to celebrate what is great about our homegrown artists. From new Aussie rockers to the legends of Oz, from the radio to our special Oztober Garage Sessions, Triple M fans are in for a treat this year.
“Oh, and we will ask Triple M listeners to crown their Aussie G.O.A.T, the Greatest Aussie Artists of All Time!”
Triple M will deliver four Garage Sessions for listeners throughout the month. Fans can win their way to watch some of Australia’s renowned household names live, straight from their living rooms in a series of exclusive performances. Joining this year’s lineup will be, Hoodoo Gurus, DMAs, Dave Gleeson from the Screaming Jets, Hands Like Houses, Kingswood, Eskimo Joe, Something for Kate’s Paul Dempsey and Diesel.
Triple M will partner with Movember to support and raise awareness for mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
Triple M Club members will get first access to tickets for Oztober’s Garage Sessions at triplem.com.au or to win an exclusive invitation.
Australia’s biggest pop-up radio network returning October 26
In his first year since a decade spent building talent lists at two clubs, the Carlton legend and AFL hall-of-famer has signed-on to appear daily on the trade period’s only and original destination for player movements.
AFL Trade Radio lodged the paperwork today to secure Silvagni, giving up many future first round picks in the media off-season trade period to welcome the Blues great. He has promised to come and play like never before behind the microphone.
Silvagni headlines a block-buster line-up of football experts for this year’s AFL Trade Radio when it begins on Monday October 26.
Silvagni will join AFL Trade Radio regulars including the AFL’s number one news breaker Damian Barrett and Port Adelaide games record holder Kane Cornes.
And in another post season coup, AFL Trade Radio has coaxed one of the architects of its success, AFL hall of famer Terry Wallace, into extending his feted media career through the period. Wallace will be heard every afternoon alongside Barrett and Silvagni in what will be a must-listen drive show.
Other returning regulars and a raft of new big name signings will be unveiled before the media deadline closes for new signings.
Together, they will bring footy fans all the trades, insights, deals and movements as they happen for 14 days across the critical trade period for clubs and players.
Now in its 10th year, AFL Trade Radio has become the ‘go-to’ source for rolling headlines during the trade period – topping the All Australian Podcast ranker in October last year as the most downloaded podcast in the country.
AFL Trade Radio host Damian Barrett said he was excited to have ‘SOS’ join the panel of experts in 2020.
“There is no one better qualified to offer expert insight and analysis around player movements than SOS. He has masterminded some of the biggest trades and draft picks at both GWS and his beloved Carlton, he knows the people who crunch the deals and we are thrilled that he will join the AFL Trade Radio team this year,” Barrett said.
“As it has done since day one, AFL Trade Radio will provide behind-scenes access that no one else gets to all the trades, often before they happen, and we can’t wait to kick off again, straight after finals.”
One of three generations of players at the club, Silvagni played 312 games for Carlton and was named full-back in the AFL’s 1996 team of the century.
He was an assistant coach at several clubs and list manager at GWS before returning to Carlton in 2015.
In 2019, AFL Trade Radio broadcast 156 hours of radio and 130 hours of live video across AFL.com.au and the AFL Live app; with syndicated windows across the SEN network.
It amassed over 3 million audio and video streams on AFL.com.au and AFL app platforms across 13 days which was a 117% increase year-on-year. Both visual and audio consumption skyrocketed in 2019; consumers spent an average of 68 minutes streaming audio content while they spent an average of 29 minutes consuming video content.
It had over 2.6 million social video views across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and a remarkable 33 million Twitter impressions across the trade period.
Footy fans can listen live and video stream AFL Trade Radio on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App from 7am – 7pm each day until the trade period is complete on 12 November.
AFL Trade Radio is produced by Crocmedia’s Sports Entertainment Network.
TV ratings: Wednesday Week 39 2020
Primetime News
Seven News 1,063,000/1,025,000
Nine News 988,000/962,000
ABC News 761,000
10 News First 348,000/225,000
SBS World News 191,000
Daily current affairs
A Current Affair 694,000
7.30 637,000
The Project 286,000/464,000
The Drum 193,000
Breakfast TV
Sunrise 271,000
Today 215,000
News Breakfast 204,000
Late night news
Nine News Late 154,000
The Latest 119,000
ABC Late News 117,000
Wednesday TV
Seven: Home and Away had its biggest audience of the week so far with 627,000 after 495,000 and then 553,000 earlier this week.
An hour of Highway Patrol was on 412,000 and 369,000.
The 2014 movie Taken 3 then did 250,000.
Nine: A Current Affair slipped just below 700,000 after two nights close to 780,000.
The Block was well into the bedroom and bathroom build ahead of Sunday’s reveal. The episode was down week-on-week from 742,000 to 701,000. It ranked #1 across its timeslot though to keep Nine #1.
Australian Crime Stories featured the amazing Qantas bomb hoax tale and had 379,000 watching after a series debut last week on 442,000.
10: The Project looks like it won’t crack 500,000 this week after a third successive night just over 450,000.
The Bachelor saw Locky make his choice as to who would battle for his heart into tonight’s season finale. At the checkout ceremony, Izzy and Bec did not receive a rose leaving Irena and Bella still in the running. Walking Izzy out, Locky embraced her as the two shared an emotional farewell. Heartbroken that her relationship with Locky had come to an end, Izzy wished him good luck and reminded him how special his final two ladies were. The penultimate episode of the Covid-interrupted 2020 season was #1 under 50 last night on 584,000 after 618,000 last week. For the penultimate episode last year the audience was 761,000.
ABC: Former contestants returned to Hard Quiz last night as the show was again #1 non-news with 729,000 after 693,000 a week ago.
Mad as Hell then did 572,000 as Shaun Micallef again examined puns in The Daily Telegraph.
Utopia was on 376,000 and then Planet America did 314,000.
SBS: The penultimate episode of Arabia with Levison Wood was on 190,000.
Part two of Hillary was on 166,000, but the whole series is available on SBS On Demand.
The return of The Good Fight kept the Hillary Clinton theme running with 64,000 watching a world where Donald Trump wasn’t elected US President.
Week 39: Wednesday
| WEDNESDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 14.5% | 7 | 16.7% | 9 | 20.2% | 10 | 12.3% | SBS One | 4.5% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.5% | 7TWO | 4.2% | GO! | 2.2% | 10 Bold | 4.3% | VICELAND | 1.5% |
| ABC ME | 0.3% | 7mate | 3.0% | GEM | 2.4% | 10 Peach | 2.8% | Food Net | 0.9% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.5% | 7flix | 2.0% | 9Life | 2.2% | NITV | 0.1% | ||
| 9Rush | 1.2% | SBS World Movies | 0.7% | ||||||
| TOTAL | 18.6% | 26.0% | 28.2% | 19.4% | 7.7% | ||||
| WEDNESDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 12.2% | 7 | 18.8% | 9 | 17.0% | WIN | 7.9% | SBS One | 3.4% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.0% | 7TWO | 6.3% | GO! | 3.3% | WIN Bold | 5.0% | VICELAND | 2.0% |
| ABC ME | 0.7% | 7mate | 3.5% | GEM | 4.8% | WIN Peach | 3.0% | Food Net | 0.9% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.2% | 7flix (Excl. Tas/WA) | 2.0% | 9Life | 2.8% | Sky News on WIN | 2.8% | NITV | 0.2% |
| SBS Movies | 0.4% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 16.2% | 30.6% | 27.9% | 18.8% | 6.9% | ||||
| WEDNESDAY METRO ALL TV | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTA | STV | ||||||||
| 87.9% | 12.1% | ||||||||
WEDNESDAY FTA
- Seven News Seven 1,063,000
- Seven News At 6.30 Seven 1,025,000
- Nine News Nine 988,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 962,000
- ABC News ABC 761,000
- Hard Quiz S5 ABC 729,000
- The Block Nine 701,000
- A Current Affair Nine 694,000
- 7.30 ABC 637,000
- Home And Away Seven 627,000
- The Bachelor Australia 10 584,000
- Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell S12 ABC 572,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 564,000
- Hot Seat Nine 487,000
- The Project 7pm 10 464,000
- Highway Patrol (R) Seven 412,000
- Australian Crime Stories Nine 379,000
- Utopia (R) ABC 376,000
- Highway Patrol-Ep.2 (R) Seven 369,000
- 10 News First 10 348,000
Demo Top 5
16-39 Top Five
- The Bachelor Australia 10 211,000
- The Block Nine 153,000
- Nine News Nine 137,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 127,000
- The Project 7pm 10 111,000
18-49 Top Five
- The Bachelor Australia 10 314,000
- The Block Nine 310,000
- Nine News Nine 248,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 244,000
- Seven News Seven 226,000
25-54 Top Five
- The Block Nine 362,000
- The Bachelor Australia 10 310,000
- Nine News Nine 305,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 302,000
- Seven News At 6.30 Seven 272,000
WEDNESDAY Multichannel
- NCIS (R) 10 Bold 193,000
- The Coroner PM 7TWO 177,000
- School Of Roars ABCKIDS/COMEDY 158,000
- Bluey AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 158,000
- NCIS: Los Angeles (R) 10 Bold 154,000
- Love Monster ABCKIDS/COMEDY 152,000
- Bluey ABCKIDS/COMEDY 152,000
- Floogals AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 146,000
- Peppa Pig PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 141,000
- Peppa Pig AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 139,000
- Dino Dana ABCKIDS/COMEDY 136,000
- Noddy Toyland Detective PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 132,000
- Lewis PM 7TWO 131,000
- Rusty Rivets ABCKIDS/COMEDY 127,000
- Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures ABCKIDS/COMEDY 123,000
- Spicks And Specks ABCKIDS/COMEDY 122,000
- Neighbours 10 Peach 119,000
- Peter Rabbit PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 115,000
- ABC News Mornings AM ABC NEWS 114,000
- NCIS: Los Angeles Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 114,000
WEDNESDAY STV
- Gogglebox Australia Lifestyle Channel 187,000
- The Bolt Report Sky News Live 74,000
- Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 67,000
- Alan Jones Sky News Live 64,000
- Credlin Sky News Live 61,000
- Selling Houses Australia Lifestyle Channel 53,000
- Live: AFL 360 FOX FOOTY 48,000
- Family Guy FOX8 37,000
- The Kenny Report Sky News Live 37,000
- The Big Bang Theory FOX Funny 35,000
- Paw Patrol Nick Jr. 32,000
- PML Later Sky News Live 30,000
- Kirstie And Phil’s Love It Or List It Lifestyle Channel 28,000
- Peppa Pig Nick Jr. 27,000
- AM Agenda Sky News Live 27,000
- Abby Hatcher Nick Jr. 27,000
- Jeopardy! FOX Classics 26,000
- Hawaii Five-0 FOX One 26,000
- Live: NRL 360 FOX LEAGUE 26,000
- Location, Location, Location Lifestyle Channel 25,000
Shares all people, 6pm-midnight, Overnight (Live and AsLive), Audience numbers FTA metro, Sub TV national
Source: OzTAM and Regional TAM 2018. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM
Media News Roundup
Business of Media
Nine chairman Peter Costello warns of content cut if tech giants don’t pay up
In the company’s 2020 annual report, Costello said the US-based digital platforms had “enormous market power”, but weren’t subject to the content rules that apply to free-to-air broadcasters in the Australian market.
“They make very little Australian content and contribute very little to Australian employment. Nonetheless, they are able to use the premium content we produce to attract audiences in the Australian market,” Costello said.
Chief executive Hugh Marks said while Nine’s content investment has been “relatively stable over the past five years, the nature of that investment has changed significantly”.
“We have focused on platforms we can monetise, and that are growing and on the content that works across those platforms. We also need to control more rights to our content, to ensure we can determine and capitalise on all forms of distribution,” he said in the annual report.
Nine’s annual report revealed that Marks was paid $2.3m in the 2020 financial year, down about 28 per cent from $3.2m last year. Of that, $1.5m was his salary and fees, up nearly 11 per cent from last year, according to statutory remuneration figures. He didn’t receive a cash bonus, unlike last year when he took home $647,220.
News Brands
730 expose: ABC executives ‘had agenda against Peter V’landys’
The chief executive of Racing NSW and Australian Rugby League Commission chairman is suing the ABC and journalist Caro Meldrum-Hanna over the segment ‘The Final Race’ which aired on 7.30 last year.
“I feel deceived, I feel conned, I feel angry,” V’landys told the court on Wednesday, after watching the segment for the first time in the witness box. “It’s a 10 out of 10 stitch up, a hit job.”
Barrister Bruce McClintock SC, for V’landys, said the ABC acted with malice “at a senior level” when it spliced the racing chief’s 7.30 interview with footage of horses being slaughtered at the Queensland abattoir.
V’landys told the court that Racing NSW put aside “sufficient funds to re-home every (retired) horse” in NSW, with the agency dedicating about $2.5m a year to the welfare of racehorses. He also revealed that vets employed by Racing NSW had already visited 1200 retired racehorses this year to conduct welfare checks.
The hearing continues.
Channel 7 reporter flooded with support after Daniel Andrews treatment
The Channel 7 reporter has fired back after being slammed following a press conference with the Victorian Premier yesterday.
Hitchcock’s hard line of questions invoked a furious response online after the Sydney-based journalist, who has not been a regular attendee of Andrews’ daily briefings, engaged in a tense back-and-forth with the Premier.
Hitchcock was blasted on social media, causing the hashtag #ThisisNotJournalism to trend on Twitter.
Hitchcock this morning took to Instagram to share his response to the criticism and was met with an outpouring of support.
“Journalist asks tough questions to a politician at a press conference?,” he wrote alongside a photo of a news.com.au headline.
“Reasonably certain that’s part of my job description.”
The press conference turned sour when the reporter asked the Premier whether he would wreck his state’s economy to save lives.
He began by not answering the question directly, leading to a tense exchange with the reporter.
“Well, that’s a choice that we have made as a National Cabinet from day one,” he said.
The reporter responded, “That doesn’t answer the question.”
Andrews reacted by saying the same answer again before he was interrupted.
The reporter asked him to answer the question with a yes or no.
Andrews hit back saying; “How I choose to answer your questions is, with respect, a matter for me.”
Critics told Hitchcock to go back to Sydney, calling him rude and accused him of making false, sweeping statements.
Quaden Bayles and family to receive close to $200,000 in damages
The federal court will be told on Friday the parties have reached a settlement and the high-profile Daily Telegraph columnist has apologised on Twitter.
Katzmann will hold a remote case management hearing on Friday morning at which Devine, who is on secondment for 18 months to Murdoch’s the New York Post, will be represented by Susan Goodman of Holding Redlich.
Goodman told Guardian Australia her client’s matter was confidential and she could not comment.
News Corp did not respond to a request for comment.
It is unclear whether Devine or News Corp Australia will pay the damages and costs.
Television
Production venture formed by See-Saw Films and Samantha Strauss
See-Saw and Strauss recently worked together on dark comedy series The End, which Strauss created and wrote. The show is a co-production between Sky UK and Foxtel Australia, that is executive produced by Strauss and See-Saw’s Rachel Gardner, Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, alongside Sherman and Canning. Starring Harriet Walter (Succession) and Frances O’Connor (The Missing), it is directed by Jessica M. Thompson and Jonathan Brough and will air in the US on Showtime from 2021.
See-Saw’s producer/executive producer Gardner will work closely with Strauss on the Picking Scabs development slate.
“We want to tell stories that are a bit itchy and a lot addictive; that dig below the scab and broken skin and investigate all sorts of wounds that haven’t healed properly. Let them bleed, weep and breathe,” said Strauss in a statement.
“We’re thrilled to formalise this already great relationship with Sam and have several ground-breaking projects in development. Ironically, ‘The End’ was just the beginning,” said See-Saw’s head of television, Jamie Laurenson.
Strauss co-created the hit Australian teen drama series Dance Academy, which screened in over 160 countries and was nominated for two International Emmys, and won the most outstanding children’s series Logie awards in 2012 and 2013. Strauss was the lead writer on all 65 episodes.
See-Saw’s TV projects in the pipeline include Colin Farrell-starring The North Water for BBC Two, Gary Oldman-starring Slow Horses for Apple TV Plus, and Keira Knightley-starring The Essex Serpent, also for Apple.
10’s ‘strategic shift’ augurs badly for local news and on-air talent
The gamble with MasterChef paid off when the show was successfully relaunched for its 12th season with a new trio of judges. The Masked Singer averted a COVID crisis when there was an outbreak on set and the novelty show nevertheless managed to complete its second season. Even The Bachelor has kept its fairy lights twinkling, no small feat for a dating-and-mating show, continuing with virtual encounters when social-distancing requirements kicked in. Gogglebox, into its 12th season, has been pulling a sizeable audience.
That’s the upbeat angle; however, there’s also a picture that isn’t as rosy. Over the past months, there have been two brutal rounds of redundancies and some contentious revamps. The redundancies, announced in May and August with the latter month’s changes recently in evidence, have profoundly affected the news division and the morning show, Studio 10. As well as division heads, journalists and crew members, personalities who have been part of the network’s public face for years – and in some cases decades – have been shown the door.
In classic corporate-speak, 10 described the May round, which included the closure of the digital news site 10 Daily, as a “strategic shift”. Of the more recent upheavals, chief content officer Beverley McGarvey said that the decisions “are essential to future-proofing our business”.
Sport Media
Qantas sponsorship cut: 30-year support of Rugby Australia over
Qantas and the Wallabies have been linked for the best part of three decades, but the devastating financial impact of COVID-19 has hit rugby hard with the airline announcing it will end a deal worth roughly $5 million annually at the end of the year.
The news is a major blow to a struggling code that appeased Qantas during the Israel Folau saga last year when an easier option may have been to retain the star fullback rather than go through an expensive legal battle that cost the organisation millions of dollars.
With the Wallabies ranked No.7 in the world following a poor Rugby World Cup, the code has no broadcast deal beyond this year and is yet to finalise the make-up of Super Rugby in the future. Given the economic impact of COVID-19, it is not an ideal time for RA to be looking for a new major sponsor to emblazon its logo across the front of the famous gold jersey.
Qantas, which recorded a $1.9 billion annual loss for the 2019-2020 financial year, prompting thousands of job cuts, told RA it could not afford to continue with that deal and the governing body agreed to end the contract.
A Perth radio station reported on Wednesday evening that Fortescue Metals Group, the company founded by billionaire Andrew Forrest, was set to replace Qantas as the Wallabies’ new major sponsor. RA chairman Hamish McLennan rubbished the claim.
“Not true,” he said. “Haven’t even spoken to them.”
As Qantas ends Wallabies sponsorship, cuts off cash to cricket and soccer
The airline said on Wednesday it would provide “in-kind support” to Cricket Australia and the Football Federation Australia, such as free flights and marketing, but would not pay any sponsorship fees for the next 12 months.
Qantas said it would continue its association with the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia, and intended to fly the teams to the rescheduled Tokyo Games in 2021.
Qantas said it had also ended several of its arts and community sponsorship agreements, but would continue its partnership with the National Gallery of Australia and Museum of Contemporary Art.