Monday September 17, 2018
YouTube at VidCon: Viewing patterns, time watching, myths & Wengie!
By James Manning
As VidCon is all about online video, Facebook’s photo-sharing platform was making a noise about the new Instagram product IGTV in the Instagram Lounge.
Meanwhile across the hallway, Google’s video platform was hosting guests in the YouTube Lounge.
Several levels of security were strictly monitoring access to either lounge.
Both tech giants presented various sessions. One of the more entertaining was YouTube executive Jon Youshaei with a presentation titled Beyonce’s Surprising Secret to Creativity.
Hosting guests to the YouTube Lounge was the director of marketing for Google Australia, Aisling Finch.
“VidCon is very important for us – it is where the whole community comes to life,” Finch told Mediaweek. “It covers the fans and consumers, but also the creative and the advertisers. It is wonderful to bring them all together and we are delighted VidCon has returned for a second year.
“For YouTube we like to hero the creators who are at the heart of the platform. For advertisers it is important to show them that ecosystem and how creators and consumers are engaging.
“It is also important to show advertisers who are effectively using the platform for their business results.”
Finch told Mediaweek YouTube gets behind creatives to ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity by democratising content creation to get the most out of the platform, to engage with audiences and to monetise that content.
After years where mobile was a big source of growth, and still is, for YouTube, Finch noted TV is now the fastest-growing platform for YouTube. “We are seeing changing behaviours even on a more established platform as ours. We need to keep advertisers abreast of that changing content consumption and what that means for how they engage with their brands.”
Finch added that Aussie consumers are very engaged with YouTube. “For adults 10+ there are 15.7m users engaging with the platform every month. What is maybe even more impressive is the amount of watch time.
“They are spending on average 22 hours 29 minutes a month.
“We are very proud that Australian creatives punch above their weight. There are 89 YouTube creators in Australia that have more than 1m subscribers and that is the highest per capita in the world. It is wonderful to be able to meet with them at VidCon and celebrate the community.”
Education is one of the online video categories where Australians do well. And any discussion about Australians with big YouTube followings can’t avoid acknowledging the achievements of Wengie with over 12m subscribers.
“I had the opportunity to meet her at VidCon last year and she has amazing videos from life hacks to beauty tips,” said Finch. “She is Chinese-Australian and her parents moved here when she was young. Now she is the top Australian YouTube creator. She has really taken advantage of the platform and grown her audience and her fan base. She was an accountant before she took to YouTube!”
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This is an excerpt from the full article, which appears on Mediaweek Premium. Read the full article here or subscribe to Mediaweek Premium here.
Brisbane Radio Wrap: Day 2 – SCA stations rank #1 and #2
By James Manning
Maybe more so in the days before Paul Thompson started acquiring new metro FM licences and before ARN sharpened its claws with new management.
104.5 Triple M 10+ 11.6%, Breakfast 12.7%
Cumulative audience: 10+ 437,000, Breakfast 269,000
Triple M national head of content Mike Fitzpatrick was succinct when he talked about the Brisbane station’s success recently.
“Having the stations #1 and #2 in the market is excellent for SCA.”
And he’s not wrong. The closest that SCA gets to having two stations topping the rankings is in Melbourne and Perth. It would dearly wish that might happen one day again in Sydney, and Adelaide too for that matter.
Marto, Robin and The Moonman were behind the Triple M growth here with their breakfast show up 1.6 to 12.7%, which is the trio’s best result. The arrival of the very busy Lawrence Mooney (aka Moonman) saw him replace Ed Kavalee, who moved to 2Day breakfast. The 10+ share of 11.6% was also a recent high. The station highpoint is a share of 13.5% in afternoon, which includes hosts Joey Henderson and from 3pm the Brisbane Rush Hour show. Kennedy Molloy pushed drive share higher, +1.2 to 12.3%.
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Top Photo: Robin Bailey and Marto with The Honey Badger
Magazine disposal: TIME has its third new owner in nine months
The company that acquired the Time Inc media brands in January this year, Meredith Corporation, has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the TIME media brand to Marc and Lynne Benioff for US$190 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close within 30 days.
The Benioffs indicated they are purchasing TIME personally and the transaction is unrelated to Salesforce.com, where Marc Benioff is chairman, co-CEO and founder. The media brand will continue to be led by TIME’s current executive leadership team.
A statement accompanying the sale noted TIME is a global, breaking news multimedia brand that reaches a combined audience of more than 100 million readers in print and online, including over 50 million digital visitors and 40 million social followers each month.
“We’re pleased to have found such passionate buyers in Marc and Lynne Benioff for the TIME brand,” said Meredith president and CEO Tom Harty. “For over 90 years, TIME has been at the forefront of the most significant events and impactful stories that shape our global conversation. We know TIME will continue to succeed and is in good hands with the Benioffs. We thank the TIME team for its ongoing hard work and passionate commitment.”
Meredith acquired TIME as part of its purchase of Time Inc., which closed on January 31, 2018. Shortly thereafter, Meredith announced it was selling Time Inc.’s news and sports brands – TIME, Sports Illustrated, Fortune and MONEY – to focus on brands serving its core audience of American women. Meredith expects to announce agreements for the remaining asset sales in the near future.
Vanity Fair has reported that as any as 80 people initially expressed interest in the Time Inc title Meredith was selling, with 15 of them having discussions with Meredith.
“We are honoured to be the caretakers of one of the world’s most important media companies and iconic brands,” said the Benioffs. “TIME has always been a trusted reflection of the state of the world, and reminds us that business is one of the greatest platforms for change.”
The Wall Street Journal reported new TIME owners join other wealthy people from the tech world to buy a traditional news publication. In 2013, Jeff Bezos, chief executive of Amazon.com, bought the Washington Post. And last year, Laurene Powell Jobs, the wife of the late Steve Jobs, acquired a majority stake in the Atlantic magazine via her organization, the Emerson Collective.
As part of the transaction, Meredith will provide short-term business continuity services and has entered into a multiyear agreement with the Benioffs to provide services such as consumer marketing, subscription fulfilment, paper purchasing and printing. Meredith will also be able to include the TIME brand in large corporate advertising buys.
Bauer Media and Ten launch a new motoring show to come in 2019
The program called WhichCar TV will premiere on Ten on January 13, 2019. Each episode will be packed with new car adventures and reviews, and provide a glimpse into the local car culture.
WhichCar TV will showcase car journalists from Wheels, Motor, 4X4 Australia, Unique Cars and Street Machine.
Bauer Trader Media general manager Terry Williams–King said: “We are thrilled to be working with Network Ten to bring Australians a show highlighting the incredible variety of new cars in Australia today. We are also proud to have the support of our major sponsor Continental Tyres on this exciting journey with us.
“Bauer’s great motoring brands – from WhichCar to Wheels, 4X4 to Unique Cars – have already established themselves as leaders in video storytelling via the WhichCar.com.au website. Bringing those skills to a wider television audience is a natural next step.”
WhichCar TV builds on the successful relaunch of the WhichCar brand earlier this year, in which all of Australia’s best car magazines unified their individual websites at WhichCar.com.au.
Men’s Health editor steps down to join startup
Luke Benedictus will be stepping down from his role as editor of Pacific Magazines’ Men’s Health. He will be moving to Melbourne to be closer to his family.
Benedictus has been with the title for 10 years – four as editor. During this time, he has led the relaunch of its website and digital content strategy. Men’s Health social media platform currently has a reach of 1.4 million.
Benedictus will continue to work with Men’s Health in a some capacity, Pacific Magazines CEO Gereurd Roberts said in an email to staff.
The email read in part:
“I am writing to let you know that our understated, English, secret comedian (as he has often been described to me), health-promoting all-round good guy Luke Benedictus has made the decision to relocate to Melbourne, in order to bring his young brood closer to family. Unfortunately, this means that Luke will be resigning from his position as Editor of Men’s Health.
“His commitment to his team and our company has been outstanding, and while we will be losing Luke on a full-time basis I am happy to say that he will not be lost to the brand or our business, and we are looking to keep him working on Men’s Health out of Melbourne in a new capacity, alongside other opportunities in front of him.”
Benedictus’s last day as editor of Men’s Health will be November 19.
Following his move to Melbourne, Benedictus is set to become the content director of The Father Hood, a new media platform and community targeted at fathers. The brand’s digital home at www.the-father-hood.com is set to launch at the beginning of October 2018.
Benedictus’s new role at The Father Hood is effective from November 20. He will join the website founders Andrew McUtchen (Time & Tide, GQ) and Jeremy Macvean (Movember, Radiate).
“Modern dads are more actively involved in their kids’ lives than ever before. Yet there’s no dominant voice that’s managed to connect with the 4.6m Australian dads out there,” said Benedictus. “We’re the team best placed to do it. Between us we have runs on the board communicating with a sizable male audience, building an online tribe around a common interest and doing it all under a subject area not traditionally associated with guys, such as health and now parenting.”
Natalie Bassingthwaighte announced as Changing Rooms host
Australian entertainer Natalie Bassingthwaighte will be back on television screens as the host of the revamped renovation hit Changing Rooms. The show will air on TEN and WIN Network in 2019.
Bassingthwaighte has had a long association with Ten with previous appearances on Neighbours as Izzy, chef Gillian in The Wrong Girl and as presenter on the reality dance show So You Think You Can Dance Australia.
More recently, Bassingthwaighte was in the South African jungle on season four of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!.
Bassingthwaighte said: “When Network Ten called to ask if I would be interested in hosting a show called Changing Rooms. I said, ‘You had me at Changing Rooms.’
Also:
• Amanda Keller and Grant Denyer to host Dancing With The Stars
• Chris Brown and Julia Morris confirmed for Chris & Julia’s Sunday Night Takeaway
“I absolutely love everything to do with design and I am forever quite literally changing every room in my house! It’s the perfect fit and I am incredibly excited.”
Changing Rooms will see couples swap houses with their family, friends or neighbours. Guided by leading designers, each couple will decorate several key rooms in each other’s home before meeting up again for a final reveal.
Ten executive producer for Changing Rooms, Sarah Thornton, said: “Natalie is the perfect choice to host Changing Rooms. She is fun, authentic, and engaging, and that is what has made her so popular with Australian television audiences for many years.
“We are thrilled to see her bring a contemporary twist to the original and best home renovation show.”
Changing Rooms will be produced by Endemol Shine Australia for Ten and will start production in October 2018.
The previous local version of the show ran for about 10 years on Nine and was presented by Suzie Wilks. The last episode was screened in 2005.
Ten appoints market sales directors, except Sydney
• Damon Jackson has been promoted to Melbourne sales director.
• General manager of Brisbane and South-East Queensland Angela Neville has added Brisbane sales director to her responsibilities.
• Cameron Mudge, who is currently leading sales at MCN in South Australia, will be Ten’s new Adelaide sales director.
• Longtime Ten sales leader both at Ten and then MCN, Paul Townsend, will be sales director for Perth. Townsend has also been appointed general manager of Perth.
Jackson and Neville’s roles are effective immediately. Mudge and Townsend will join Ten in December 2018.
The market sales directors will report to the soon-to-be-appointed national sales director. Townsend will also report to Ten’s chief operating officer Annabelle Herd in his capacity as general manager of Perth. Meanwhile, Jackson and Mudge will work closely with Ten’s general managers in their respective states, Toni Skaife in Melbourne and Frank Filosi in Adelaide.
Ten’s chief sales officer Rod Prosser said: “We are building something exciting here at Ten. With our brilliant entertainment programming lineup over the coming months, we have a great story to tell and more commercial opportunities than ever. Damon, Ange, Cam and Paul are experienced, well-respected leaders in their respective markets. They are also passionate about Ten, our multiplatform offering and what we can achieve by bringing the advertising sales team back in-house. All of them are great ambassadors for Ten, having worked closely with the company for many years. I’m thrilled to have them part of the sales leadership team to take Ten’s commercial strategy into the future.”
Herd said: “Paul has an infectious energy and there are few people that know the WA market as well as he does, so I’m really pleased that he will be leading our operations in Perth. I’d also like to thank Frank Filosi for his outstanding leadership in WA over the past four years. He has done a phenomenal job and will leave the station in great shape. Even though he is busier than ever as our general manager of network operations and Adelaide, Frank will work closely with Paul when he joins Ten to ensure a smooth transition.”
Announcements of Ten’s Sydney sales director, national sales director and digital sales director are yet to be made.
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Top Photo: Damon Jackson( Melbourne), Cameron Mudge (Adelaide), Angela Neville (Brisbane) and Paul Townsend (Perth).
Founding Elle Australia editor-in-chief leaving after five years
She has been with Bauer for a decade including five years in her current position.
Following Cullen’s departure, Genevra Leek will step up as acting editor-in-chief for Elle.
In March this year, the fashion magazine launched its first ever “print-on-demand” cover for the May 2018 issue, with five collector’s edition covers featuring young Australian female stars. In June 2017, Elle made history by becoming the first Australian magazine to shoot both its cover and fashion editorial using the iPhone 7 Plus.
Of her departure, Cullen said: “In Elle we created a fashion magazine unlike any other on the Australian newsstand, one that questions the norm and champions the new, for a woman who cares about what she thinks and what she stands for just as much as about what she wears.
“To have the honour of editing it at this powerful moment in time for all women has been a dream come true. But after 25 years in publishing, 10 years as an editor at Bauer and more than five years helming Elle, the time has come to make the decision that feels right for me and my family. Thank you to everyone I’ve worked with over my career at Bauer, and especially to the wonderful Elle team, in whose highly capable and talented hands I leave this brand that I continue to love so much.”
Bauer Media’s general manager for publishing Fiorella Di Santo said: “Justine’s contribution not only to Elle but also to the magazine industry has been significant. Since launching Elle five years ago, Justine has twice won PA Cover of the Year and has also secured consecutive year-on-year readership increases. She has continued to innovate and bring new ideas that keep the industry fresh while also delivering engaging content that inspires readers. We want to thank Justine for her incredible contribution and wish her every success for the future.”
Box Office: Predator ends up #2 in first week
By Trent Thomas
Book Club and The Meg both depart the top five after healthy runs of four and five weeks respectively.
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies! in its first full week of release came in at number six, continuing the momentum of its good reviews, to generate $530,620 at the box office.
Overall, it was a good weekend for the box office with a 4% increase on the previous weekend with the top three films all close in totals.
#1 Crazy Rich Asians $2.42m
Despite a 41% decrease from the week before, the smash hit rom com stays on top for the third week in a row with an average per screen of $7,732 and a total domestic gross of $16.96m.
#2 The Predator $2.38m
Close to taking top spot in its first week the Shane Black-directed fourth instalment in the Predator film series had the highest average per screen out of all films this weekend with $10,144.
#3 A Simple Favour 2.13m
Not far behind the totals of the first two entries on this list, A Simple Favour, based on the 2017 novel of the same name, had an average of $6,682 across 319 screens.
#4 The Nun 1.75m
Dropping two spots this week the horror flick from the Conjuring universe is still producing a strong average per screen with $7,635 but is limited by being shown only on 230 screens across the country.
#5 Christopher Robin
Cracking the top five in its first week the Marc Forster-directed adaption of the Disney franchise Winnie-the-Pooh was able to average $4,162 across 350 screens, which was the most screens any film was shown on this weekend.
TV Ratings Analysis: September 18
By Kruti Joshi
Nine
It was time for the buyers jury on The Block last night. Familiar faces to longtime viewers, agents Greville Pabst, Frank Valentic and Nicole Jacobs, made up the jury. They were responsible for all the purchases at The Block auctions in 2018.
The team tipped to win was Bianca and Carla from apartment five. However, it was the Gold Coast couple, Norm and Jess, who took home the $10,000 prize money with a total of 27.5 points.
Bianca and Carla came second with 26 points. This episode of The Block had 1.092 million watching.
Other shows from Nine inside the top 10 TV shows for last night were News (1.002 million and 994,000) and A Current Affair (869,000).
Seven
Seven started its afternoon schedule with The Chase 5pm on 394,000. The audience built up to 1.061 million for News in the first hour starting at 6pm, then 1.041 million at 6.30pm.
Home and Away then followed at 7pm on 655,000.
TEN
The numbers for Have You Been Paying Attention? slipped week on week. However, the show still had 744,000 watching and ranked #8. Fifi Box, Peter Helliar and Melanie Bracewell joined the usual contestants Sam Pang and Ed Kavalee on the show. Actor Madeleine West from TEN’s upcoming drama Playing For Keeps and The Bachelor’s eliminated contestant Tenille were the guest quizmasters on last night’s episode.
Australian Survivor just managed to secure a spot in the top 10 shows with 732,000.
ABC
Four Corners was the channel’s most-watched show with 755,000.
Last night’s episode of Australian Story was about Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins. She opened up about her battle with endometriosis and her separation from Purple Wiggle Lachlan Gillespie. Watkins described 2018 as one of the “strangest” years in her life. This episode of Australian Story had 718,000 watching.
Other shows from the ABC in top 20 were News (733,000), 7.30 (674,000), Media Watch (627,000) and Q&A 455,000.
Week 38 TV: Monday
| MONDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | Ten | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 15.2% | 7 | 14.1% | 9 | 23.1% | TEN | 13.7% | SBS One | 4.2% |
| ABC 2 | 2.3% | 7TWO | 3.6% | GO! | 3.8% | ONE | 3.5% | VICELAND | 1.0% |
| ABC ME | 0.6% | 7mate | 4.4% | GEM | 2.6% | ELEVEN | 2.0% | Food Net | 0.9% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.1% | 7flix | 2.2% | 9Life | 1.6% | NITV | 0.2% | ||
| TOTAL | 19.2% | 24.2% | 31.1% | 19.2% | 6.3% | ||||
| MONDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | Ten Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 14.5% | 7 | 14.5% | 9 | 19.8% | WIN | 10.3% | SBS One | 3.2% |
| ABC 2 | 3.3% | 7TWO | 5.1% | GO! | 5.5% | ONE | 3.5% | VICELAND | 1.4% |
| ABC ME | 1.0% | 7mate | 5.2% | GEM | 4.4% | ELEVEN | 1.7% | Food Net | 1.0% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.6% | 7flix | 1.5% | 9Life | 1.5% | Sky News on WIN | 0.8% | NITV | 0.4% |
| TOTAL | 20.4% | 26.3% | 31.2% | 16.3% | 6.0% | ||||
| MONDAY METRO ALL TV | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTA | STV | ||||||||
| 86.8% | 13.2% | ||||||||
MONDAY FTA
- The Block – Nine 1,092,000
- Seven News Seven 1,061,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 1,041,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 1,002,000
- Nine News Nine 994,000
- A Current Affair Nine 869,000
- Four Corners ABC 755,000
- Have You Been Paying Attention? Ten 744,000
- Abc News ABC 733,000
- Australian Survivor Ten 732,000
- Australian Story ABC 718,000
- 7.30 ABC 674,000
- Doctor Doctor Nine 667,000
- Home And Away Seven 655,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 631,000
- Media Watch ABC 627,000
- The Project 7pm Ten 549,000
- Hot Seat Nine 537,000
- Q&A-Le ABC 455,000
- The Chase Australia-5pm Seven 394,000
DEMO TOP FIVE
16-39 Top 5
- The Block – Nine 325,000
- Have You Been Paying Attention? Ten 298,000
- Australian Survivor Ten 275,000
- The Project 7pm Ten 188,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 152,000
18-49 Top 5
- The Block – Nine 523,000
- Have You Been Paying Attention? Ten 442,000
- Australian Survivor Ten 395,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 295,000
- The Project 7pm Ten 277,000
25-54 Top 5
- The Block – Nine 586,000
- Have You Been Paying Attention? Ten 460,000
- Australian Survivor Ten 403,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 347,000
- Nine News Nine 323,000
MONDAY Multichannel
- The Big Bang Theory Tx2 9GO! 220,000
- The Big Bang Theory Tx1 9GO! 205,000
- Peppa Pig- PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 180,000
- NCIS E 2 (R) ONE 177,000
- Noddy Toyland Detective- PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 165,000
- Little Roy- PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 164,000
- M- Predators- PM 7mate 164,000
- Death In Paradise 9Gem 163,000
- Peter Rabbit ABCKIDS/COMEDY 162,000
- Dot. ABCKIDS/COMEDY 161,000
- Octonauts ABCKIDS/COMEDY 160,000
- Rusty Rivets ABCKIDS/COMEDY 156,000
- Hey Duggee- PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 156,000
- NCIS (R) ONE 151,000
- Andy’s Wild Adventures ABCKIDS/COMEDY 149,000
- Neighbours ELEVEN 149,000
- The Big Bang Theory Tx3 9GO! 147,000
- Fireman Sam- PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 146,000
- Doc Martin- PM 7TWO 145,000
- Peppa Pig- AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 144,000
MONDAY Subscription TV
- Live: AFL 360 FOX FOOTY 79,000
- Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 65,000
- Live: On The Couch FOX FOOTY 65,000
- The Bolt Report Sky News Live 56,000
- Live: NRL 360 FOX LEAGUE 51,000
- Credlin Sky News Live 49,000
- The Simpsons FOX8 49,000
- The Simpsons FOX8 46,000
- Outsiders Sky News Live 44,000
- Family Guy FOX8 38,000
- NCIS TVH!TS 37,000
- The Pacific: In The Wake Of Captain Cook History Chann l 36,000
- Sunny Day Nick Jr. 36,000
- Jeopardy! FOX Classics 35,000
- Bones TVH!TS 35,000
- Live: Big League Wrap FOX LEAGUE 35,000
- Live: Controversy Corner FOX LEAGUE 35,000
- Paw Patrol Nick Jr. 34,000
- Peppa Pig Nick Jr. 34,000
- Peppa Pig Nick Jr. 34,000
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
Brokers pitch for News Corp’s $115m stake in HT&E
This time it is brokers circling News Corp and its 13.3% stake in Australian Radio Network owner Here There & Everywhere, worth $115 million.
Brokers have been sounding fund managers on their appetite for HT&E stock in recent days, keen to build a buyer group big enough to bid News Corp for its stake.
They reckon News Corp is a seller and for the first time in months the window is open.
ABC and Fairfax pursuit of Ben Roberts-Smith ‘malicious’
In one extraordinary email sent to Fairfax investigative reporter Nick McKenzie in May, Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith’s lawyer, Mark O’Brien, said he had evidence the journalists pursuing his client were acting with malice, citing several texts by ABC journalist Dan Oakes.
O’Brien said Oakes had made “his motive very clear” in his investigation of his client, saying in one text: “Sometimes karma needs a helping hand”, and “the Australian public has been sold a lie, and it needs to be exposed. It is as simple as that.”
ACCC puts telcos on notice over ads for ‘unlimited’ data packages
According to the ACCC, mobile operators have been less than forthcoming when it comes to highlighting the limitations of the so-called “unlimited” plans, released to the market between March and June 2018.
“The headline claims were, in most cases, qualified with disclaimers that were not sufficiently prominent or clear to explain to consumers the existence and impacts of the limitations,” the regulator said on Monday.
ACCC boss Rod Sims said that the advertising seen so far was not up to scratch and warrants stronger enforcement, including much higher penalties and proceedings against executives who knowingly approve misleading advertisements.
AI, VR and FinTech in focus as Microsoft takes on its first Aussie startups
The program, known as ScaleUp, was announced in February and targets startups that have typically received initial funding and are looking to expand. It promises to help fast-track their growth by linking them with potential customers, Microsoft partners and technical guidance, without giving up any equity.
The Australian startups selected are Auror, Daisee, FreightExchange, Hyper Anna, InDebted, Kapiche, Karbon, Makers Empire, Teamgage, SimpleKYC, Start VR, VendorPanel and Winimy AI.
Many have secured funding in recent times, including virtual data scientist Hyper Anna, which raised $16 million from investors including Sequoia China last year; AI startup Daisee, which was co-founded by former local Google boss Richard Kimber and raised $8.8 million from Alium Capital in April; and cloud accounting startup Karbon, which raised $7 million in June.
Rupert Murdoch to Kerry Stokes: ‘Malcolm has to go’
Uhlmann (who barely two years ago was considered the Genghis Khan of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and one of several reporters Chris Mitchell offered Dennis Shanahan’s job to) lashed Holt Street for “waging a war against the prime minister of Australia” and Sky News for “turning Liberal-National Party voters into One Nation voters after dark” (presumably much like The Age is turning Labor voters into Greens voters over breakfast). Cue spirited avowals of impartiality, independently arrived at, from a conga line of marquee News Corp talent. “At not one point has The Daily Telegraph or The Australian newspaper advocated for any change whatsoever,” Sharri Markson intoned.
In this context, bear the following in mind: Rupert Murdoch was in Australia the week Turnbull was toppled. The Sun King and the Crown Prince of Point Piper spoke by telephone before the Liberal leadership was spilled on August 24. The media proprietor denied his empire was campaigning for the PM’s ouster, besides The Australian. “Boris [nickname of the paper’s editor-in-chief Paul Whittaker] is the only one.”
P2P Transport to spend $17m with Telstra to make taxis roving digital billboards
The company will pay Telstra $17 million over three years for the telco to provide the hardware and network services required to enable real-time, targeted advertising to be displayed digitally on 900 P2P vehicles.
P2P chief executive Tom Varga told The Australian Financial Review he was hopeful this new advertising division could account for 25-30% of revenue in a few years.
“This opens up another organic revenue stream,” he said. “We have vehicles on the road that we’re renting to drivers and generating income, but now we’ll have 900 vehicles with digital advertising on top of the them.
“It’s a proprietary solution developed over 2½ to three years of research and we’ve tested everything under the sun. We’ve tested it for the heat issues commonly associated with LCD screens and we’ve taken on the advertisers’ perspective about the design and the quality.”
Television
Jimmy Barnes documentary to premiere on TV in October
The documentary on the renowned Australian singer will be screened on October 1. It takes a look at how an unknown boy, James Dixon Swan, became an Australian legend known as Jimmy Barnes.
Mark Joffe is the director of the documentary made by Universal Pictures. Some of his well-known work includes Jack Irish, House of Hancock and The Man Who Sued God.
Nine to hold a benefit concert in Tamworth for drought-stricken farmers
It will be aired on Nine and 9Now. Australian singer John Farnham is the headline act for the concert. Other artists who will be performing are Daryl Braithwaite, Guy Sebastian, The Veronicas, as well as Jon Stevens and Andrew Farriss from INXS.
Purple Wiggle Lachlan Gillespie reveals relationship friction came from work pressures
After announcing their apparently amicable split last month, Gillespie broke his silence on the ABC’s Australian Story.
Yellow Wiggle Watkins, who revealed in The Daily Telegraph that she initiated the split, has attempted to smooth any suggestion of negativity between the pair, but Gillespie was more open on Monday night’s episode.
“We’re very different, Emma and I. We’re very… I think I’m the more romantic one. She’s very much down the line and she just… she’s got her own way of doing things,” Gillespie said.
“It’s not easy spending that much time together with the pressure of work, too.
“I think it has gone through ups and downs. There’s not a lot of time in between to spend together outside Wiggles.
“It has all been all-consuming, and that’s been a tricky thing to get right, I suppose.”
Jessica Marais announces she is taking a break from acting
The move comes after the 33-year-old pulled out of attending the Logies in July, also citing health reasons.
The acting break means Marais has stepped aside from her lead role in Nine’s new drama Bad Mothers, which was due to start production next month.
Her management released the following statement this week: “Jessica has decided to step away from acting for the remainder of 2018 to focus on her health and spend time with her family. She is disappointed that she will not be a part of the Bad Mothers production with such an incredible cast and team behind it, but knows that it is important to take time out to maintain ongoing balance and wellbeing.”
Department of Agriculture spent $99,000 hiring Catriona Rowntree to shoot video
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Agriculture spent $99,000 hiring Rowntree to star in its new video, which was shot in Far North Queensland.
The Channel 9 Getaway presenter took the trip in May this year to film the video, which the department says is “part of the government’s plan for stronger farmers, communities and a stronger economy”.
Locations included Cairns, Thursday Island and the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula.
Yesterday, Rowntree’s manager Sean Anderson said the sum included travel costs.
Netflix announces season two date for The Sinner
And Australians have watched on with envy as our American counterparts started watching season two, asking, when’s the next chapter coming out on Netflix?
Well, it’s finally been confirmed: The second season will drop on Netflix in Australia on November 9.
The first season was centred on a woman named Cora (Jessica Biel), who inexplicably stabbed someone to death in a trance during a family outing to the beach. The eight episodes were all about finding out why she snapped and what traumas lay in her past.
Audio
Kyle Sandilands says he was sick not suicidal after having days off
Jackie O Henderson is absent today leaving footy star Beau Ryan continuing to plug the holes.
The 47-year-old, who took the sick days after it was revealed that his top FM breakfast show had slipped to number two to WSFM’s Jonesy and Amanda, told listeners he was suffering from migraines as a result of sleep apnoea.
Sandilands also addressed suicide rumours today, simply saying, “Don’t worry. I’m a rock.”
Ray Hadley forced to apologise to former prison guard for sex slur
In July this year, Hadley told his listeners that the 22-year-old prison officer from country NSW had sex with convicted drink-drive double killer Jarad Smith in a segment calling prisons “hotbeds” of forbidden sexual relationships.
“Let me introduce you to a prisoner who is currently on day release. Jarad Smith, 23. Back in 2015, he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death. His ute hit two pedestrians in Rozelle,” the 2GB host said on his top-rating morning program on July 25.
Sports Media
SBS to broadcast the Matildas’ international matches
Then the Matildas face off against Chile in two matches in November as the countdown to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup continues.
The announcement follows the recent news that SBS is once again the free-to-air broadcaster for the Westfield W-League, in partnership with Fox Sports.
See the broadcast schedule for the international matches at mediaweek.com.au.
Friday night’s preliminary final could be biggest crowd in modern AFL history
MCC boss Stuart Fox told the Herald Sun with perfect weather forecast on Friday and tickets already sold out everything was shaping up for a monster crowd.
Just under 40,000 tickets were sold to Richmond and Collingwood members with the usual Ticketek issues frustrating fans.
The MCC also sold out its portion of reserved seats, with a portion of the MCC reserve open as usual to walk-up members.
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