Thursday November 29, 2018

Mediaweek Industry Awards 2018

Welcome to the first Mediaweek Industry Awards that give our readers a voice to celebrate the best of the year.

The Mediaweek team has selected nominations in some categories, while readers can vote for anything eligible in other categories.

Our nominations have tended to go for major productions or companies. The nominations in the various categories aren’t exhaustive and there are some omissions. In radio we have stayed with commercial radio because that is our focus at Mediaweek. We don’t completely ignore ABC radio, but it is not our speciality.

In TV, ABC programs are eligible because many of them are made by outside companies, whereas ABC Radio is largely an internal operation. We started rather late planning this year. Next year we anticipate there could be more categories depending on reader feedback.

Vote here.

Mediaweek TV

This week on Mediaweek TV James Manning speaks with Peter Campbell, Head of Fox Sports AustraliaTune in to Mediaweek TV at 2.30pm on Your Money (Foxtel 601 and 95 FTA).

Earlier this year Foxtel lodged a winning bid to show all international  and Big Bash League cricket played in Australia. Fox Sports subsequently launched a Fox Cricket channel earlier this year and so far seems to be getting some impressive numbers for its coverage of India and South Africa in Australia. Next week they cover the first test against India.

 

Podcast Week: Amanda Tattersall’s ChangeMakers + Ash Williams

ChangeMakers has returned to PodcastOne Australia with a new series set to answer one of the most pressing questions of our time: How do we change politics?

By James Manning

New season of Amanda Tattersall’s ChangeMakers

ChangeMakers host Amanda Tattersall, co-founder of Getup and post-doctoral fellow of Sydney University, is passionate about sharing stories of groups and individuals endeavouring to change the political world.

“In Series 1, I had the great pleasure of speaking with incredible visionaries, philanthropists and activists, each seeking to bring about positive change and make the world a better place,” said Tattersall.

“In Series 2, I speak with everyday people who are rallying to change the political landscape, calling for action, accountability and transparency.”

In each episode, Tattersall goes direct to the source, understanding how groups and individuals have educated and armed themselves to combat gross political and civil injustice.

“I hope ChangeMakers highlights the enormous difference that individuals can and are in fact making.

“So often people feel incapable of bringing about change because they’re just one person.

ChangeMakers demonstrates how people can join together to make a difference, and how it is both our right and responsibility to do so”.

Five recent episodes of ChangeMakers explore:

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE: A Hollywood TV comedy show explored how you can use art in politics by doing a show about how police racially profile black people – black lives matter – and made it work for a commercial audience. Amanda speaks to the show’s co-creator Dan Goor, actor Terry Crews and the writer on the episode Phil Jackson.

UMBRELLA MOVEMENT: To try to win the right to vote in Hong Kong, a long campaign is run that subsequently explodes onto the streets, with a 79-day occupation of the financial centre of Hong Kong. Tattersall talks to several leaders behind the uprising, including Kinman Chan, who now faces 21 years in jail because of the protests.

INDIVISIBLE: In the days after Trump won the election, a couple of progressives wrote a modest Google Doc with ideas about how to challenge him. Their document – called Indivisible – soon grew to over 6,000 local groups seeking to shape policies like healthcare. Tattersall meets the key organisers behind of one of America’s most effective anti-Trump campaigns.

RECLAIM THE CITY: Apartheid in Cape Town pushed black residents to its outer limits. A housing movement is reclaiming a place in the inner city by occupying buildings there. Tattersall visits the illegal occupations in Cape Town and talks to the occupiers.

MARRIAGE EQUALITY: Tattersall talks to key operatives about one of the most bittersweet political victories in Australia’s history – the fight for marriage equality.

Listen to ChangeMakers here.

New episodes of Aussies in Hollywood

Three new episodes of Jenny Cooney’s excellent podcast series Aussies in Hollywood were recently released. One is with actor and model Luke Mitchell, another with New York-based Aussie writer, director and producer Baz Luhrmann and, get this, another with both actors and “golden couple” Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness being interviewed together.

Listen to Aussies in Hollywood here.

The Teacher’s Pet returns

This week has seen the release of a new episode of The Australian’s Walkley Award-winning investigative podcast series The Teacher’s Pet. The global podcast sensation examines Lyn Dawson’s suspected murder at the hands of her husband 36 years ago.

The new episode features new witnesses and interviews, after a three-month break that allowed time for leads to be explored by police and The Australian, working separately.

Two coroners found Lyn Dawson’s husband should be prosecuted for her murder. He was not charged after NSW prosecutors cited insufficient evidence. Dawson, now 70 and living in Queensland, denies killing his wife. The NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has been assessing a new police brief of evidence since April.

Read more about the new episode in The Australian here.

Ash Williams gives himself a podcast series

If someone is armed with a microphone and two batteries, anything could happen!

Nova Entertainment is distributing a new podcast series from the man who was a former anchor on the network’s Hughesy and Kate Melbourne breakfast show.

Ash Williams is now a multi-talented comedian, podcaster, host, actor and writer. He left Australia for Los Angeles in 2012 to pursue his stand-up and acting career.

Once in the US, Williams landed guest roles in Anger Management, The Exes and You’re The Worst and was a comedy regular at the world famous Comedy Store in LA. In the US he also continued to do radio and TV for numerous Australian networks.

He appeared in Pete Helliar’s It’s A Date, ABC’s In Gordon Street Tonight with Adam Hills, segments on The Morning Show and was a guest in the comedy podcast TOFOP with Wil Anderson.

Since returning to Australia in 2015, Williams has appeared on television shows including Today, The Daily Edition, The Project, Studio 10, ABC’s Dirty Laundry Live plus on radio with Nova, Fox FM, 2Day FM, Kiss FM and Triple M.

In 2015 he also created a live tonight show #AshWilliamsLIVE which developed a cult following on Instagram with guests including Hamish Blake, Dave Hughes and Ryan Shelton. His recent stand-up comedy shows I’ve Done Some Bad Things and Back In Business sold out during the 2016 and 2017 Melbourne and Sydney Comedy Festivals.

Earlier this year Williams played Rory Zemiro on Neighbours, a guest role where he played a gay exotic male dancer who has a bad back.

His new podcast titled The Ash Williams Show has ranked #1 comedy podcast on iTunes.

Listen to The Ash Williams Show here.

Inside the ARIA Awards: Sony Music’s tribute to Emmanuel Candi

• Music industry exec on former boss and great friend: “You only get one Denis in your life”

By James Manning

Longtime Sony Music executive and former ARIA chief executive Emmanuel Candi has been missing from the Sony Music front bench recently after a health challenge forced him to step back.

But it would take more than that to keep Candi away from the ARIA Awards and friends and colleagues were thrilled to see him and his family at the event last night.

Speaking at the ARIA chairman’s cocktail party, which precedes the Awards show each year, Denis Handlin, ARIA chairman and chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia and New Zealand and president Asia, paid tribute to his former right-hand man, who has taken retirement.

Emmanuel Candi with Denis Handlin

Handlin also made a special presentation to Candi, with a framed copy of the first-ever ARIA Chart.

Handlin said there were some stories he couldn’t tell about travelling and wortking with Candi over the years. But he did reveal one particular evening when they were out with one of the label’s biggest international stars. After a few shots, the artist decided to try to give Handlin a tattoo on his leg. After the artist rolled up Handlin’s trouser leg, Candi leapt across the room to intervene.

Speaking after the framed ARIA chart was handed over, an emotional Candi said the evening and the tribute mean a lot to him and his family. “It has been a great journey,” said the economics/law graduate who pursued his love of music and the music business. Looking back on his career, he noted that despite his education, “Nothing could prepare you for the music business. When you enter it you either learn quickly or you sink. It has been a priviledge for me to work with so many wonderful people over the years to support artists and to support songwriters to bring new Australian artists to the public.”

Candi posed for photos with his wife and children after the presentation. He was away from home for much of his career, from local trips to Canberra to visiting all corners of the globe. He joked it might take his family time to get used to his presence around the house.

He revealed to Mediaweek his wife had an early taste of just how unpredictable his travel plans could be. On a quick trip to Russia his return was delayed and he only managed to get home just in time for his wedding!

Addressing the chairman’s event audience, Candi said: “Most recently I have been working across Asia with Denis in helping build the industry right around the region.”

Candi noted one of the most satisfying parts of the business was funding the creativity of the artists it promotes.

Among the people Candi made special mention of were his recent boss and ARIA chairman Handlin, who he said had been at the forefront of making the industry better and championing Australian music since the first days of ARIA through all his time with Sony Music. “He also helps people in need through the incredible charity work and commitment that he has. I can’t thank you enough, Denis, for allowing me to be involved through the years.

“You only get one Denis in your life – someone who knows how to be always on the front foot, who cares with so much passion and ability. I have learnt so much from the man who has been like a dad, an uncle, a mentor, and I will be forever grateful for the wonderful support for me and my family over the years and particularly now.”

Candi paid tribute to former ARIA chairmen the late David Snell and the late Paul Turner. “I also want to thank people like Sebastian Chase, Lindy Morrison and Peter Garrett – people who really give a damn, stand up and do everything they can for the artists and the industry.”

People in the audience watching the tribute to Candi included colleagues from Sony Music plus other artists, CEOs and MDs from other labels and music businesses, promoter Michael Chugg, music journalist Kathy McCabe, Endemol Shine Australia’s Mark Fennessy and SCA’s Grant Blackley.

Top Photo: Emmanuel Candi with Denis Handlin

Amy Shark dominates ARIA Awards: Four wins include Album of the Year

Winners at the sold-out 2018 ARIA Awards, held at The Star Event Centre, Sydney, and broadcast nationally on the Nine Network, were announced on Wednesday night.

Gold Coast local Amy Shark took home a total of four ARIA Awards. Shark won the Apple Music Album Of The Year Award for her ARIA #1 album, Love Monster, as well as ARIA Awards for Best Female Artist and Best Pop Release. This adds to her win earlier this year at the 2018 ARIA Awards Nominations Event when her Double Platinum hit single I Said Hi picked up the Producer Of The Year Award.

Guests at The Star Event Centre and the fans watching on the Nine Network were treated to an epic performance from Shark, cementing her as one of Australia’s emerging stars.

It was also a very special night for the late Gurrumul, who was posthumously awarded ARIA Awards for Best Male Artist and Best Independent Release, also adding to his win earlier this year at the 2018 Nominations Event when he picked up Best World Music Album, and Best Cover Art for Caiti Baker’s work for Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow), taking his overall 2018 ARIA Awards tally to four for his #1 album, which made Australian chart history by becoming the first indigenous language album to debut at #1.

Jessica Mauboy and Briggs from A.B. Original performed a very special musical tribute to honour Gurrumul, who sadly passed away on July 25, 2017, at the age of only 46. Gurrumul’s daughter Jasmine Yunupingu joined the Australian musicians to perform a rendition of Gurrumul’s Wulminda, celebrating his life and legacy.

The tone of the 32nd ARIA Awards was set when 5 Seconds Of Summer, ARIA Award winners for Apple Music Song Of The Year and Best Group, opened the show with a performance of their smash single Youngblood. The performance also showed why Australian music fans voted the band Best Australian Live Act.

Courtney Barnett charmed audiences with a performance of her song Charity, taken from her #2 ARIA Album Tell Me How You Really Feel, which was awarded Best Rock Album, as well as Engineer Of The Year for Burke Reid’s work on the album.

Much loved Sydney singer-songwriter Dean Lewis delivered a powerful rendition of his ARIA #1 single and 4x Platinum single Be Alright, with the public voting for the video to win the ARIA award for Best Video.

Camila Cabello fans voted her Best International Artist following the release of her debut album Camila, which peaked at #3 on the ARIA Album Charts and reached Gold status in Australia.

ARIA Award nominees Sheppard won the ARIA Music Teacher Of The Year Award, sponsored by Telstra and supported by The Song Room, and Scott Maxwell from Grant High School in Mount Gambier, South Australia was the proud recipient.

Ahead of her official induction into the ARIA Hall Of Fame, Kasey Chambers was the recipient of the Best Country Album ARIA Award with The Fireside Disciples. Chambers then went on to perform her classic hit single Not Pretty Enough. Joined on stage by Missy Higgins, Kate MillerHeidke, Amy Sheppard and Paul Kelly, her performance also incorporated the track Ain’t No Little Girl, taken from her 2017 #1 ARIA Album Dragonfly.

Chambers has made ARIA history as the youngest female to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame.

Fans were also treated to performances from international superstars Rita Ora and George Ezra. Following the announcement of her Australian tour in March, Rita Ora performed Let Me Love You.

British singer-songwriter George Ezra impressed fans with his 3x Platinum #1 hit Shotgun, which continues its reign in the Top 5 of the ARIA Singles Chart.

The 2018 ARIA Awards host Keith Urban closed the ceremony with an exhilarating mash-up performance of his critically acclaimed track Parallel Line and was joined onstage by multiple ARIA Award winner Amy Shark for a version of The Fighter.

Denis Handlin, ARIA chairman and chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia and New Zealand and president, Asia, said last night: “On behalf of the ARIA board, I would like to congratulate all the winning artists and nominees at the 2018 ARIA Awards with Apple Music. It has also been an honour to welcome Kasey Chambers into the ARIA Hall Of Fame. The 2018 ARIA Awards have been a spectacular showcase of the vibrant array of homegrown talent that makes Australian music some of the best in the world. We would like to thank all of the 2018 ARIA Awards partners – Apple Music, Destination NSW, The Nine Network, The Star, Swarovski, Pepsi Max, Telstra and PPCA – for their valued support in making the ARIA Awards such a wonderful event.”

Dan Rosen, ARIA chief executive, added: “2018 has been an incredible year for Australian music and that was certainly evident by the phenomenal talent that graced the ARIA stage. The collection of tonight’s winners, nominees and performers highlight the world-class homegrown talent that we have here in Australia. ARIA congratulates all of tonight’s winners, in particular Amy Shark, Gurrumul and 5 Seconds Of Summer,a who all won multiple ARIA Awards.”

Full winners list here.

Roundup: Judith Neilson
How Judith Neilson will spend $100m on journalism initiative

Australian philanthropist Judith Neilson has announced a commitment of at least $100 million to create a world-leading journalism institute based in Sydney, the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism & Ideas.

The Neilson Institute’s mission will be to celebrate and encourage quality journalism in Australia and the world through education and grants and by hosting lively events on the big issues of the day.

Judith Neilson will be the patron of the Institute. However, she will play no direct role in its management or programs. It will be an independent and non-partisan institution.

“As an avid consumer of news, I recognise the need to support evidence-based journalism and the pursuit of truth in an increasingly complicated and confusing world,” she said.

“I am delighted to support the establishment of this Institute and I will look to experienced journalists and other experts to manage and guide its work.

“I know that traditional forms of journalism are going through massive change and Australian journalism and intellectual life need a shot in the arm.

“Journalism doesn’t just need critics, it needs champions – people and institutions with the resources to help educate, encourage and connect journalists and their audience in pursuit of excellence.

“Through targeted funding and education we can strengthen Australian journalism and help restore faith in its central role in a healthy democracy.”

Judith Neilson has purchased a building in Chippendale, Sydney, that will serve as the Institute’s headquarters. It is currently undergoing renovation to make it fit-for-purpose as a technology and media hub and events venue.

One of the Neilson Institute’s early priorities will be to support more reporting on Asia, and to help journalists engage more closely with their peers across the region.

“Asia will increasingly be a source of breaking global news and there is a need for informed, intelligent reporting and commentary on the region.

“My hope is that this new Institute can play a role in preparing Australian journalists for an exciting but more complicated and challenging future,” she said.

“I also hope that we can develop expertise here in Australia that will help journalists from around the world to better understand what will be the most important geo-political and economic region in coming decades.”

The Institute will be governed by an experienced board of directors and supported by an International Advisory Council. Work has commenced on a detailed program of activities and design for the Institute ahead of the Institute’s formal launch next year. A global search to identify key staff, including the founding executive director, will begin immediately.

The Institute will aim to collaborate with existing journalism schools and news organisations and act as a venue for debate about how best to report on the region, as well as on the key policy issues facing Australia.

“I want to contribute to something that makes a lasting impact and I acknowledge this will require a significant and sustained commitment,” Neilson said.

“I see it very much as a national project, an initiative that will deepen our understanding of the big issues facing Australia, and contribute to a more informed discussion of them.”

While the Institute will be headquartered in Sydney it will aim to conduct many of its activities around Australia and internationally.

About Judith Neilson

Judith Neilson is an Australian philanthropist, best known for building one of the world’s most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art, which is displayed at her White Rabbit Gallery in Sydney. She recently opened a state-of-the-art storage facility – Dangrove – in Sydney’s Alexandria to house her collection.

Judith Neilson maintains a longstanding interest in architecture and a range of humanitarian causes. She has endowed a Chair in Architecture at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), which leads research into innovative housing solutions for people displaced by natural disasters and conflict. The aim of this research is to meet immediate needs, but also to translate that knowledge into creating affordable housing solutions in urban environments around the world.

In 2017 she created the Judith Neilson Chair in Contemporary Art at the University of New South Wales and a scholarship in Contemporary Art at the University of Sydney. She is also a patron of Anti-Slavery Australia. In 2016 her charitable work and contribution to the arts were recognised by her appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and in 2018 she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the UNSW in recognition of her philanthropy and role in furthering knowledge of contemporary art.

Hard Quiz
TV Ratings Analysis: November 28

• Seven’s Wednesday win: Ob docs and drama the key
• Does Nine need a bigger audience for the ARIA Awards?
• ABC’s Big Wednesdays continue – Hard Quiz is the answer

By James Manning

Seven

The broadcaster has won its fourth successive night in the final week of survey with another #1 ranking in both primary and combined channel share.

Home And Away was just under 600,000 after two nights above that mark.

The ob docs Emergency Call (550,000) and Border Security (613,000) followed.

The Seven share then held up well with two hours of 9-1-1 that delivered audiences of 501,000 and then 433,000.

Nine

A Current Affair had a third evening over 700,000 with 721,000.

The primary channel was then the home for the 2018 ARIA Awards with an average audience across the three hours of 500,000. Not a brilliant number perhaps, but it is in line with last year’s 505,000 and doesn’t account for any viewing via 9Now. It was an audience that was also up on what Nine has been rating for much of the month on weeknights in the slot. The Awards themselves had many magical moments – including the speech and performance from Kasey Chambers to the wins and tribute to Gurrumul. But for many people the main memory might be the shambles at the end of the show when Bob Geldof joined Keith Urban for the main award. Geldof adlibbed and mumbled, eventually revealing to Urban he was not following the script because he couldn’t read it on the teleprompter across the venue!

10

The Project and 10 News First delivered the biggest audiences with those programs the only ones to make the OzTAM top 20. The Project was on 436,000 with the 5pm news bulletin on 432,000.

At 7.30pm Jamie And The Nonnas did 330,000 followed by Blind Date on 220,000.

ABC

The channel has been enjoying a massive month of Wednesday ratings with not many heavy-hitting early evening programs on offer elsewhere.

Hard Quiz had another great week with 742,000 after 743,000 last week. This week last year Hard Quiz did 639,000.

Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell then did 719,000 for its 100th episode after 682,000 a week ago.

Tomorrow Night then did 442,000 after 459,000 last week.

Adam Hills: The Last Leg was on much earlier this week with 252,000 after 154,000 watched late a week ago.

SBS

A new season of Destination Flavour launched last night with Adam Liaw in China. The premiere episode did 181,000.

The audience then grew to 189,000 for a Great British Railway Journeys repeat.

Week 48 TV: Wednesday
WEDNESDAY METRO
ABCSevenNine10SBS
ABC14.6%721.5%918.9%10 8.7%SBS One3.7%
ABC 22.6%7TWO4.0%GO!3.7%10 Boss3.6%VICELAND1.3%
ABC ME0.8%7mate3.4%GEM3.1%10 Peach3.0%Food Net1.5%
ABC NEWS2.1%7flix1.7%9Life1.6%  NITV0.1%
TOTAL20.1% 30.6% 27.4% 15.3% 6.6%
WEDNESDAY REGIONAL
ABCSeven AffiliatesNine Affiliates10 AffiliatesSBS
ABC12.7%723.8%913.9%WIN8.0%SBS One2.5%
ABC 23.6%7TWO5.3%GO!4.4%ONE3.8%VICELAND1.5%
ABC ME0.9%7mate3.6%GEM5.1%ELEVEN2.7%Food Net1.4%
ABC NEWS2.4%7flix2.0%9Life1.6%Sky News  on WIN0.8%NITV0.2%
TOTAL19.6% 34.7% 25.0% 15.3% 5.6%

 

WEDNESDAY METRO ALL TV
FTASTV
84.8%15.2%

 

WEDNESDAY FTA
  1. Seven News Seven 996,000
  2. Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 975,000
  3. Nine News Nine 900,000
  4. Nine News 6:30 Nine 870,000
  5. Hard Quiz ABC 742,000
  6. A Current Affair Nine 721,000
  7. Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell S9 ABC 719,000
  8. ABC News ABC 711,000
  9. 7.30 ABC 620,000
  10. Border Security – Australia’s Front Line Seven 613,000
  11. Home And Away Seven 597,000
  12. Emergency Call Seven 550,000
  13. The Chase Australia Seven 540,000
  14. 9-1-1 Seven 501,000
  15. 2018 ARIA Awards Nine 500,000
  16. Hot Seat Nine 472,000
  17. Tomorrow Tonight ABC 442,000
  18. The Project 7pm 10 436,000
  19. 9-1-1-Ep.2 Seven 433,000
  20. 10 News First 10 432,000
Demo Top 5

16-39 Top Five

  1. 2018 ARIA Awards Nine 120,000
  2. Border Security – Australia’s Front Line Seven 116,000
  3. Nine News 6:30 Nine 111,000
  4. Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 107,000
  5. 9-1-1 Seven 105,000

 

18-49 Top Five

  1. 2018 ARIA Awards Nine 221,000
  2. Nine News 6:30 Nine 215,000
  3. Border Security – Australia’s Front Line Seven 207,000
  4. Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 206,000
  5. Nine News Nine 204,000

 

25-54 Top Five

  1. Nine News 6:30 Nine 276,000
  2. Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 270,000
  3. Seven News Seven 267,000
  4. Nine News Nine 266,000
  5. Border Security – Australia’s Front Line Seven 254,000
WEDNESDAY MULTICHANNEL
  1. Dino Dana ABCKIDS/COMEDY 157,000
  2. Bluey AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 154,000
  3. Rosemary & Thyme PM 7TWO 152,000
  4. Peppa Pig AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 152,000
  5. Luo Bao Bei ABCKIDS/COMEDY 150,000
  6. Wanda And The Alien PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 149,000
  7. Peter Rabbit ABCKIDS/COMEDY 149,000
  8. Peppa Pig PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 145,000
  9. Andy’s Wild Adventures ABCKIDS/COMEDY 145,000
  10. Waffle The Wonder Dog PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 141,000
  11. The Big Bang Theory Tx2 9GO! 135,000
  12. Floogals AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 135,000
  13. Spicks And Specks ABCKIDS/COMEDY 134,000
  14. Octonauts ABCKIDS/COMEDY 132,000
  15. Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom ABCKIDS/COMEDY 132,000
  16. Becca’s Bunch PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 128,000
  17. Hey Duggee AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 127,000
  18. Judge John Deed PM 7TWO 126,000
  19. Fireman Sam AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 125,000
  20. The Simpsons-Ep.3 PM 7mate 123,000
WEDNESDAY STV
  1. Love It Or List It Australia LifeStyle Channel 141,000
  2. Grand Designs LifeStyle Channel 64,000
  3. Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 54,000
  4. Selling Houses Australia LifeStyle Channel 48,000
  5. NCIS TVH!TS 47,000
  6. The Bolt Report Sky News Live 44,000
  7. The Little Drummer Girl BBC First 40,000
  8. PML Overtime Sky News Live 40,000
  9. Seinfeld 111 39,000
  10. The Simpsons FOX8 38,000
  11. The Simpsons FOX8 38,000
  12. The Flash FOX8 37,000
  13. Criminal Minds TVH!TS 37,000
  14. Credlin Sky News Live 36,000
  15. Family Guy FOX8 36,000
  16. Bones TVH!TS 35,000
  17. Seinfeld 111 35,000
  18. Paw Patrol Nick Jr. 34,000
  19. Play Along With Sam Nick Jr. 33,000
  20. Curious George Nick Jr. 31,000

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

Fairfax Media shares cease trading as merger moves closer

Fairfax Media bowed out of the ASX yesterday, 26 years after Conrad Black and Kerry Packer brought Australia’s oldest publisher to market, reports The Australian’s Lilly Vitorovich.

The end of Fairfax as a listed-media company, which is expected to lead to job cuts, paves the way for its $4 billion merger with Nine Entertainment, to be wrapped up on December 7.

Fairfax was founded by John Fairfax, who bought The Sydney Morning Herald in 1841, and was run for decades by the Fairfax family. It lost control of the company in December 1990 when it collapsed and a receiver was appointed with company debts of $1.7 billion.

[Read the original]

Bollywood blockbusters bid to boost Queensland trade with India

Queensland will try to lure Bollywood blockbusters to film here as part of a push to boost trade with India by $1.5 billion over the next five years, reports The Courier-Mail’s Daryl Passmore.

The Palaszczuk Government will today launch a strategy to strengthen ties with the world’s fastest-growing economy.

“India is Queensland’s third-largest merchandise export market. That’s why it’s crucial we have a tailored trade and investment strategy to build our successes in this market,” said Innovation and Tourism Development Minister Kate Jones, who is on a trade mission to the subcontinent this week.

Queensland sold more than $9.8 billion of goods to India in 2017, with coal accounting for two-thirds of exports.

“New data released today shows with this strategy, we can expect to boost exports to India by 15% over the next five years – that’s a $1.5 billion injection to the state’s economy,” Jones said.

“Bollywood prefers shooting films abroad due to government approvals, public interference and security issues for celebrities compared to shooting in India. Last year Bollywood shot in 60 countries, but not Australia,” the strategy document says.

“Bollywood’s international shoot locations are one of the key influencers of Indian tourists’ destination choices.”

[Read the original]

Pirate war: Free TV welcomes online content theft crackdown

Free TV Australia has welcomed the passage of stronger laws to address online copyright piracy. Expanded site blocking legislation introduced by Minister Mitch Fifield and passed with support from the Opposition, Greens and cross bench senators will empower content creators to fight copyright infringement.

Free TV Australia CEO Bridget Fair said, “This legislation is a critical tool for content owners, including broadcasters, to protect their content against large-scale online piracy.

“Importantly, it acknowledges the role that online search engines play in facilitating access to pirated material. Content creators will now be able to seek orders to demote or remove search results for infringing sites.”

Free TV said broadcasters invest 6 out of every 10 dollars spent on Australian content production. They do this so that millions of Australians can watch great local content on commercial TV networks for free. Supporting measures that combat online piracy is critical to ensuring that this investment is not put at risk.

“We congratulate the Government for this important initiative which supports Australian creators to keep investing in great creative content.”

Minister for Communications and the Arts Fifield said the new laws will leave less room for harmful online pirates to sidestep Australia’s tough blocking measures.

“The Government has zero tolerance for online piracy. It is theft, and damaging to our creative economy and local creators. We are committed to protecting Australia’s creative industries and the world-class content we produce every year.

“The passage of our legislation today sends a strong message to online pirates that Australia does not tolerate online theft.”

News Brands

Police investigate Ben Roberts-Smith over alleged war crimes

The Australian Federal Police has launched a major investigation into Australia’s most decorated former soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, over allegations he committed war crimes in Afghanistan, report Fairfax Media’s Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters.

The AFP began investigating the Victoria Cross recipient in June over his alleged actions while serving with a special forces patrol during Australia’s longest war.

In a statement to Fairfax Media sent on Wednesday evening, an AFP spokesperson said: “The Australian Federal Police (AFP) received a referral to investigate allegations of war crimes committed by Australian soldiers during the Afghanistan conflict.”

Since Fairfax Media first detailed serious allegations about Roberts-Smith, he has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in Afghanistan, insisted he has a “spotless record” and insisted those making claims about him are disgruntled or jealous liars.

Fairfax Media detailed allegations about Roberts-Smith earlier this year, drawing on more than a dozen special forces insiders. Roberts-Smith responded to the reporting by launching defamation proceedings and claiming no witnesses would back up what he described as malicious and unfounded claims about his behaviour.

[Read the original]

McLachlan seeks to subpoena co-star's therapist in defamation battle

Actor Craig McLachlan is seeking access to notes taken by a therapist to whom his Rocky Horror Show co-star Christie Whelan Browne spoke during the 2014 run of the musical theatre show, as he sues the actor and two media outlets for defamation over sexual harassment allegations, reports Fairfax Media’s Michaela Whitbourn.

McLachlan, 53, is suing Fairfax Media, the ABC and Whelan Browne over a series of articles and reports in January claiming he indecently assaulted her and bullied two other female cast members during the stage production. The four-week trial is slated to start on February 4.

On Wednesday, McLachlan’s lawyers asked NSW Supreme Court judge Lucy McCallum to allow a question to be put to Whelan Browne about the name and address of her therapist, so they could issue a subpoena seeking access to the therapist’s notes recording any contemporaneous complaints about McLachlan’s alleged conduct.

Justice McCallum is expected to rule on both issues on Monday, along with a separate application by McLachlan’s lawyers to strike out part of the defence filed by the media outlets and Whelan Browne.

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Radio

New roles for two Southern Cross Austereo content directors

Southern Cross Austereo’s Hit Network and Triple M national content directors, Gemma Fordham and Mike Fitzpatrick, this week announced a major appointment that will have ramifications across their networks plus in Sydney and Adelaide in particular.

The first move sees Ryan Tothill on the move from Adelaide to Sydney. Just as Adelaide’s Hit 107 is about the launch a new breakfast show early in 2019, Tothill has been moved from his role as content director in that market to take on the role as assistant content director at 2Day FM in Sydney. Fordham told staff this week: “Tots has done a terrific job as content director of Hit 107 for the last two years and I know he found the decision tough when he was offered the Sydney role. Tots is a seasoned radio pro and will be an excellent asset to the 2DayFM content team as we continue to forge 2DayFM forward.”

Tothill’s role in Adelaide will now fall under Matthew O’Reilly who has been Triple M Adelaide content director. O’Reilly now takes on the expanded role as Adelaide content director, looking after both the Hit and Triple M brands in that market. After announcing the appointment, Fitzgerald said: “Matty has proven himself to be an excellent leader and, with his team, has taken Triple M to its greatest success in 15 years. We know he is the right person to take on the challenge of this new role and do an outstanding job across both.”

Television

Michael Idato: HBO’s Succession has parallels with the Murdochs

When trying to divine the origins of a cable television drama about an ageing media mogul and the complex succession plan under which he will hand power to his four offspring, it’s hard not to be persuaded that Succession is a thinly veiled dramatisation of the real-life Murdoch family, reports Fairfax Media’s Michael Idato.

The fictional patriarch is Logan Roy, owner of a vast media empire, with four adult children from different marriages: Kendall, Siobhan, Roman and Connor. The real-life Rupert Murdoch‘s family trust focuses its power on his four older children to two wives. To be frank, it’s not a big jump.

For the conspiracy theorists, it also might help explain why the HBO series, written by British screenwriter Jesse Armstrong, has taken so long to find a timeslot on the Murdoch-owned Foxtel. The series premiered in June in the US and it is now November.

For a platform which coined the phrase “express from the US” the rush to get Succession on air hasn’t exactly whipped up a gust.

Armstrong contends that not only is Succession not the story of the Murdochs, it is also not a revision of his earlier Murdoch script.

“This is a fictional family and I know a good deal about that family,” Armstrong says, referring to the Murdochs. “But in the writer’s room we talked about everyone from [British press baron] Robert Maxwell to Hearst, even the British Queen and Prince Charles, who has waited so long for his succession.”

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Really? It’s hard to believe who is the world’s highest-paid TV star

Judy Sheindlin – more commonly known as Judge Judy – reigns supreme not only in her own courtroom, but also across all of television, reports Forbes magazine.

Pocketing US$147 million pretax last year, Sheindlin is the highest-paid television host, outearning all others.

The sharp-talking daytime judge takes the top spot thanks to her even sharper deal-making skills: Last year she sold the rights to her Judge Judy’s 5,200-episode library, as well as future episodes of the show, to CBS for an estimated $100 million.

Between that pay cheque and the $47 million she gets for hosting Judge Judy and producing Hot Bench, Sheindlin took in triple her typical annual pay cheque. With that added to her bank account, she also became 48th-richest self-made woman in America, with a net worth of $400 million.

Like Sheindlin, all of the members of the list host US daytime television shows.

Forbes TV top 5

1. Judy Sheindlin $147m
2. Ellen DeGeneres $87.5m
3. Phil McGraw $77.5m
4. Ryan Seacrest $74m
5. Steve Harvey $44m

Bobby Brown sues over appearance in Whitney Houston documentary

Showtime Networks, BBC, and the producers of a Whitney Houston documentary entitled Can I Be Me? have been hauled into court by the late singer’s ex-husband Bobby Brown and the estate of daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

In a complaint filed Wednesday in New York federal court, the Brown family is seeking $2 million for their inclusion in the film.

“The film contains footage that Brown and BKB has never consented to have released,” states the complaint. “Brown and BKB appear in the film for a substantial period of time, in excess of thirty (30) minutes. The footage was actually recorded prior to the divorce in 2007 between Brown and Houston. Brown never signed or executed a release for the airing of the material that appears in the film. The footage of Brown is approximately fifteen (15) years old.”

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Whitney: Can I Be Me is available in Australia on Netflix.

Sports Media

ESPNcricinfo launches short-films series as part of 25th Anniversary

As part of the 25th anniversary celebration, ESPNcricinfo has created a series of five short films called ESPNcricinfo Films exploring tales from the world of cricket.

The series covers a range of intriguing topics from the transformation of the game over the past decade including the onset of the T20 format, the fierce rivalry of India and Australia over the years, and the recent cheating scandal in the context of similar ball-tampering controversies over the years.

The films will be hosted on ESPNcricinfo.com and the ESPNcricinfo app and will be released every Wednesday over the course of five weeks. The films will also be published natively on YouTube and Facebook.

The stories feature insights from past and present cricket stars, including former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and former Australia opening batsman Simon Katich, through to former Australia captain and renowned commentator Ian Chappell.

Lance Peatey, general manager, Southeast Asia, ESPN said, “At ESPN we pride ourselves on setting the benchmark for the best sports storytelling in the world, so it seemed a very natural fit to create five ESPNcricinfo Films to mark the 25th anniversary of ESPNcricinfo. The topics are lively, thought-provoking and relevant to all fans, and launching them across a Test series between Australia and India is very fitting.”

Fox Cricket: Will fans pay for what they used to watch for free?

If you’re a cricket devotee the coming summer is filled with doubt, writes Fairfax Media’s Craig Mathieson.

For a start the Australian test team, stripped of its two best players in captain Steve Smith and opening batsman David Warner due to their involvement in March’s ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, is up against it versus top-flight opponents even with the home advantage. Secondly, the biggest change in broadcasting rights since Kerry Packer took on the establishment 40 years ago will come into effect.

How will Test audiences react to Seven’s coverage after the seemingly perpetual presence of Ian Chappell, Bill Lawry, Mark Taylor and Ian Healy has ceased, and more importantly what will be the response to elements of the season going behind the subscription pay wall of Foxtel?

Fox Sports, which is placing a dedicated Fox Cricket channel in its line-up, will be hoping that cricket fans will subscribe. Certainly the cultural conversation has changed – Australians are already willing to pay a monthly fee to Foxtel for Game of Thrones and other imported dramas, while the monthly bill for subscription services such as Netflix and Stan has become the new normal. Fans of other sporting codes, such as soccer, have long since grown accustomed to paying for the best selection of live matches.

The first steps, such as coverage of Australia’s recent T20 matches, has been mostly positive. Most of the faces are familiar, albeit with the welcome addition of Fox Sport’s deep bench of capable female hosts and reporters, but the blazer era is certainly over.

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