By James Manning

When magazine editor-turned TV style guru Neale Whitaker stepped down as the editor of Vogue Living in 2017 he had worked in publishing for 27 years.

Since then Whitaker has continued to write a weekly column for Stellar magazine, but otherwise he focuses on his TV work. A new season of LifeStyle’s Love It Or List It Australia returns this week and he is halfway through season 15 of The Block where he is a judge alongside Darren Palmer and Shaynna Blaze.

Listen to Neale Whitaker on the Mediaweek podcast with James Manning here.

“I got my first magazine gig in the UK in 1990,” Whitaker told the Mediaweek podcast. “It is exactly 20 years since I arrived in Australia. Matt Handbury brought me to Australia for Murdoch Magazines where I edited marie claire lifestyle. I note that Pacific Magazines have just this week relaunched the title.”

Whitaker then moved to FPC Magazines where he stayed for a number of years. His role at FPC included the launch of delicious. magazine 18 years ago. “I also edited Vogue Entertaining + Travel. I later moved to ACP Magazines and edited Belle for nine years.”

Whitaker got his start in TV exactly 10 years ago with producers Julian Cress and David Barbour on a show for Nine called HomeMade. The creators of The Block format had just returned to Australia after working in the US and Julian Cress cast Whitaker as a judge on the program.

HomeMade showed promise, but not enough for Nine to recommission past the first season. Instead they commissioned the producers to resurrect The Block, with Whitaker joining as a judge from series three.

“After a seven year hiatus I was the judge with John McGrath and I have been there for 13 seasons. It’s a wonderful show and has been very good to me. The Block has led to all the other things I am now enjoying in my career.”

Those 13 seasons were squeezed into nine years with Cress and Barbour making two series in a number of years.

Love It Or List It pushes Whitaker into design areas as he makes over a property every episode, which his co-host Andrew Winter tries to sell.

Neale Whitaker with Love It Or List It co-host Andrew Winter

The series, made by Beyond for LifeStyle, starts season three this week.

Whitaker said he had learnt much in his years in the design space in both publishing and broadcasting.

“Doing The Block and Love It Or List It has been my finishing school. I am always telling people I am not a trained interior designer. I might be an expert, but my knowledge comes through editing interior design magazines. I learnt a lot at the helm of Belle and then three years at Vogue Living, but that is nothing compared to what I have learnt during a decade at The Block and then three seasons of Love It Or List It.”

Does Whitaker ever get on the tools himself? [Laughs] “No, I’m not going to pretend I do. That is due to lack of time, not lack of inclination. I understand the renovation process and I can talk to my own builders and tradies in a language we can all understand.”

One of the joys of Love It Or List It is watching the hosts jousting.

“Working with Andrew is a lot of fun,” said Whitaker. “We genuinely get on very well. We are a similar age, both English and we share a similar sense of humour. We genuinely like each other and respect what we each do. Andrew is a real estate expert, probably the best in this country. We respect each other. And we have a lot of laughs along the way.”

There are two different Love It Or List It series in Canada (Vancouver and Quebec) and a UK series hosted by Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer. “That makes Andrew as Phil and me as Kirstie,” laughed Whitaker. “But I am fine with that.”

Whitaker tries to persuade the homeowner in each episode to stay in their property, Team Love It, while Winter tries to persuade them to sell the renovated home and upgrade, Team List It.

After two seasons Whitaker is narrowly ahead with more people choosing to stay in the renovated properties. He refused to give Mediaweek any hint of how the scorecard might look at the end of season three.

Watch Love It Or List It? on LifeStyle on Wednesday nights or on Foxtel On Demand.
Listen to Neale Whitaker on the Mediaweek podcast with James Manning here.

After a timely boost from their family members who where in attendance the contestants began the final immunity challenge where they held 10% of their body weight on either side of their body while standing on thin pedestals that dig into their feet.

After the longest challenge in Australian Survivor history Baden won immunity after Harry and Pia stepped down after 6 hours and 40 minutes giving him control over who got to go with him to the final two.

After the challenge the three competitors went straight to0 tribal for the final vote in front of the jury.

Pia and Harry both made their cases to Baden about why he should prefer to go to final two with them, with Baden ultimately choosing Pia after deciding that he and Harry had made too many moves together, and taking out the man known as the cockroach was the best final move.

In their final words to the jury Baden argued that he played an information game from the middle by working with both tribes and was a part of every major moves and knew every tribal result, with his strategy culminating in the final scalp of Harry.

Pia’s argument to the jury was based on the strength of her social game as the smiling assassin and how she played the best strategic game making big moves but used her alliance members as shields. 

In a heated tribal Baden and Pia argued about who played a stronger game with jury member David labelling them both goats (someone who follows). 

With Pia pressing hard against Baden about the role he played in getting to the final end a visibly flustered Baden began to struggle to make a coherent argument to the jury.

After a back and forth tribal the jury voted off the back of a big speech from Pia with both contestants families coming out for the vote. As host Jonathan LaPaglia read the votes Pia received every jury vote to become the Sole Survivor and win $500,000.

From fan favourites to devious villains, most loved heroes and everyone in-between, Australian Survivor: All Stars will feature 24 of the biggest game players, back for redemption, reward and revenge.

Network 10 chief content officer Beverley McGarvey said: “Over the past four sensational seasons of Australian Survivor, we have watched almost 100 fantastic contestants play the game. Now with the next All Stars season, we have the exciting opportunity to invite some of our most memorable players back for another chance to take home the title of Sole Survivor.

“Australian viewers have embraced the game play, the physical challenges, and the passionate characters that makes Survivor so unique and compelling. We can’t wait to return in 2020 with more twists and turns from the All Stars cast.”

This year’s hit season of Australian Survivor: Champions V Contenders broke audience records across all platforms – TV, online and social – making this season the biggest ever. Its TV audience (841,000) is up seven per cent year on year and its 10 Play broadcast video on-demand audience (81,000) is up 35% year on year.

Endemol Shine Australia CEO Carl Fennessy said: “We are immensely proud that Australian Survivor has resonated with viewers and really hit its stride. We look forward to bringing together a phenomenal All Star cast to play this incredible game.”

Australian Survivor is hosted by Jonathan LaPaglia and is produced for Network 10 by Endemol Shine Australia.

The special will go to air just hours after his funeral, which is being held at St Kilda’s Moorabbin headquarters. The service will start at 3pm and the public will be able to watch a live stream of the private funeral at Moorabbin.

There will be a lap of honour at 5pm.

Instead of flowers, Frawley’s family has requested donations to Beyond Blue.

In the Fox Sports special, 10 of Danny’s closest Fox Footy friends will share their fondest memories of the St Kilda great, including his funniest bits from family-favourite show Bounce and his best commentary moments.

Jason Dunstall, Cameron Mooney, Nick Riewoldt, Damien Fleming, Andrew Gaze, Alastair Lynch, Gerard Whateley, Sharni Layton, Paul Roos and Gerard Healy will remember Danny’s greatest performances on field and on camera, including his popular segments ‘Cut The Crap’ and ‘Yesterday’s Heroes’.

Danny was an original member of Bounce, introducing the revolutionary Golden Fist Award that is now a part of the footy vernacular and has been for more than 350 episodes.

This Wednesday after AFL 360, fans are invited to celebrate the best bits of Danny’s last 13 years at Fox Footy, plus re-live his journey as a player and coach.

Danny “Spud” Frawley: A Tribute airs this Wednesday 18th September at 8.30pm on Fox Footy – channel 504 on Foxtel.

With a growing consensus that Australian content rules must keep up with the growing appetite for on-demand and streaming media, a star-studded delegation including actors Marta Dusseldorp, Hugo Weaving, Leah Vandenberg and Rhys Muldoon, director Gillian Armstrong, screenwriters Shane Brennan and Ellie Beaumont, cinematographer Andrew Conder, and producers Barbara Stephen and Kevin Whyte will meet with politicians from all parties to call for obligations to make original Australian stories for all media platforms.

They are part of the Make It Australian campaign backed by the Australian Directors’ Guild, Australian Writers’ Guild, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance and Screen Producers Australia.

During the two-day visit, the delegation will also argue for the retention of Australian and children’s content rules for commercial free-to-air and pay television, competitive incentives to support film and television production in a global market, and sustainable funding for public broadcasters and Screen Australia.

They will explain that Australia’s screen industry delivers enormous cultural and economic value to our nation, generating about $3 billion in economic activity each year and employing about 20,000 people, but this cannot be taken for granted.

This is particularly the case for rapidly changing viewing habits which have seen vast audiences migrate from traditional terrestrial television to digital services like Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime and Stan.

New Communications Minister Paul Fletcher recently indicated that the government was considering some form of local content requirement for streaming video services.

“In a time of great challenge and change, telling our own Australian stories to each other and the world has never been more important,” said Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance chief executive Paul Murphy. “We will be urging federal politicians to not only keep in place Australian and children’s content rules for commercial television, but to extend them to the digital realm.”

Jacqui Lambie supporting action on local content with screen professionals including Hugo Weaving and Marta Dusseldorp and producer Kevin Whyte

“These rules ensure that a diverse array of Australian stories is shown on Australian screens, and without them we would be flooded with content that speaks with a British or American accent,” said Matthew Deaner, CEO of Screen Producers Australia. It is time that content regulation evolved to keep pace with changing audience and viewing habits so streaming services, ISPs and telcos also have obligations to invest in original local programming.”

Politicians will also be told how Australia’s screen industry is being held back by our tax system. The Make It Australian campaign has been calling for the producer offset for Australian TV, which is currently 20%, to be brought into line with the 40% offset for feature films.

“Australia is competing in the global market but we are held back by our tax system,” said Kingston Anderson, executive director of the Australian Directors’ Guild. “These uncompetitive tax incentives and rebates and uncertainty about top ups act as a hand brake on the Australian film and television sector’s future capacity to deliver quality content. Competitive tax offsets will increase production and support local jobs.”

The important role of public broadcasters and Screen Australia in the film and television ecosystem will also be raised with politicians.

Since 2014, almost $350m has been cut from the ABC. Over this same period, the ABC’s commissioning budgets for adult drama and children’s content each dropped by 20%.

“The ABC and SBS commission more local content than any other broadcaster, but they need to be properly funded,” said Jacqueline Elaine, executive director of the Australian Writers’ Guild. “It is time for our federal politicians to ensure funding of the ABC, SBS and Screen Australia is prioritised and returned to levels that enable them to adequately invest in the creation and development of Australian scripted and children’s content.”

While in Canberra, the Make It Australian delegation will meet with representatives of the Liberal, National, Labor, Green and Centre Alliance parties.

—

Top Photo: Anthony Albanese with actors Leah Vandenberg and Hugo Weaving in Canberra

Penny Fowler, News Corp Australia Community Ambassador, said: “Our business has had a long commitment to making a positive difference to the lives and communities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Importantly, this RAP further extends our efforts.”

News Corp has launched three RAPS since its first in 2011. Fowler said the company’s commitment to reconciliation had continued to evolve in that time, reflecting News’s pledge to always do more to enhance the lives of audiences and their communities.

“The people who make up News Corp Australia from the top down have a longstanding legacy of community work embedded in the culture of this company. Our new RAP furthers our commitment to all Australians and allows us to strengthen our relationships with Indigenous communities Australia-wide,” Fowler said.

News Corp Australia’s vision for reconciliation is most prominent in our dedication to reporting on Indigenous affairs across our national portfolio of media brands and platforms.

Working at The Townsville Bulletin

“Our media brands not only feature the most extensive coverage of the challenges and issues facing our First Australians, but are the first to also celebrate their uniquely long, rich history, and their diverse cultures,” Fowler said.

News Corp Australia’s efforts also extend beyond editorial coverage.

“Through our eight-year partnership with CareerTrackers, we have provided opportunities for 30 young Indigenous students to intern with our teams at News Corp, Sky News, Foxtel and Fox Sports in departments such as editorial, legal and human resources,” Fowler said.

“We work with The Clontarf Foundation to improve the life outcomes of young Indigenous boys through the power of sport as a motivator to stay in school. And we publish an annual Indigenous issue of The Australian’s The Deal which celebrates Indigenous success in business.”

Michael Miller, executive chairman News Corp Australasia, said: “More than 16 million people including leading thinkers, business people and decision makers, engage with News Corp Australia’s products every month.

“Our digital assets alone reach more than 10 million Australians monthly across all key categories. This reach and engagement provides us with the means to make a real difference in the lives of ordinary Australians and in our Indigenous communities.

“We absolutely believe in the social currency of what we do and the role we play in the national reconciliation movement.”

Karen Mundine, chief executive officer Reconciliation Australia said in her foreword to the RAP: “Through the development of an Innovate RAP, News Corp Australia continues to play an important part in a community of over 1,000 dedicated, corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have formally committed to reconciliation through the RAP program.

“Reconciliation is hard work – it’s a long, winding and corrugated road, not a broad, paved highway. Determination and effort at all levels of government and in all sections of the community will be essential to making reconciliation a reality.”

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Top Photo: Children from Beagle Bay community – Tatiana Kitchener, 9

By Trent Thomas

It is followed in the charts by some familiar faces in 13 Reasons Why, The Boys, Good Omens, Orange is the New Black, Game of Thrones, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Handmaid’s Tale which have all spent lard portions of the year on the TV Demand charts whether it be Digital Originals or Overall TV.

But with the biggest change coming this year is the influx of Amazon Original content, and Disney + and Apple TV+ on the way along with a slate of new shows by cable and network TV so we put together a list of things to watch out for that can break up the charts:

• Undone, September 13 on Amazon Prime Video

From BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg teams up with BoJack writer Kate Purdy to create this innovative new animation starring Rosa Salazar as a woman who comes out of a car accident with the ability to manipulate time which includes talking to her dead father played by Bob Odenkirk. 

• American Horror Story: 1984  September 19 on Fox Showcase

Based on the age-old premise of summer camp in the 1980s the show seems to be embracing camp in more ways than one this time around as the tried and true brand returns for a ninth season.

https://youtu.be/9wcEiFIM3mM

• Batwoman on Fox 8 October 10

Starring Australian actor Ruby Rose three years after Batman mysteriously disappeared, Gotham is a city in despair, and it is under the watch of Jacob Kane and his military-grade Crows Private Security. When the Alice in Wonderland gang targets the firm, Kane’s daughter Kate returns home, deciding that if she wants to help her family and her city, she will have to become the one thing her father loathes — a dark knight vigilante. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrIiPcv4_iY

• Watchmen on Fox Showcase Oct. 21

Featuring  Oscar winners Regina King, Jeremy Irons and Louis Gosset Jr. alongside Frances Fisher and Don Johnson, Watchmen is based on the famed graphic novel of the same name and is set in an alternate history where masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws. Written and executive produced by Damon Lindelof (Lost, The Leftovers) and directed by Nicole Kassell (Westworld, The Leftovers), the 10-part series embraces the nostalgia of the original graphic novel while setting out to break new ground of its own.

https://youtu.be/-33JCGEGzwU

• His Dark Materials on Fox Showcase November 5

Based on author Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy of the same name the series has been picked up for two seasons and features a cast led by Golden Globe winner Ruth Wilson (The Affair), Tony Winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) and Golden Globe nominee James McAvoy ( Atonement). The first 8-episode season follows Lyra (Dafne Keen), a seemingly ordinary but brave young woman from another world. Lyra’s search for a kidnapped friend uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children, which leads to a quest in understanding a mysterious phenomenon called Dust.

• The Mandalorian on Disney+ November 12

Showrunner Jon Favreau is attempting to bring the Star Wars franchise back to the Western and samurai movie-themed roots that inspired George Lucas when originally conjuring up the Star Wars universe. The titular character The Mandalorian is a bounty hunter played by Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones, Narcos).

Wednesday Week 38 2019

• Seven News 1,053,000/1,045,000
• Nine News 914,000/953,000
• A Current Affair 791,000
• ABC News 658,000
• 7.30 529,000
• The Project 296,000/539,000
• 10 News First 371,000
• The Drum 183,000
• SBS World News 137,000

Breakfast TV

• Sunrise 285,000
• Today 185,000

Seven

The channel’s ob doc double Border Security and The Force used to be an unbeatable combo in the schedule. Not so much these days. Last night both episodes were close to 450,000. They replaced Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, which moved later in the evening with 161,000 watching.

The Proposal was also moved later with 185,000 watching after 9.30pm.

Earlier in the night Home and Away did 633,000 after 692,000 on Monday.

Nine

A Current Affair slipped to 791,000 after 845,000 on Monday. The show provided another warning for investors thinking of timeshare as a way to spread their portfolio.

The Block doesn’t get outrated much, but last night it trailed Network 10 all people and in demos. As some light relief during Kitchen Week, Scott Cam held a lucky dip with all teams collecting large cash prizes except Mitch and Mark who only managed a $50 prize. They weren’t happy. The episode did 857,000 after 968,000 on Tuesday last week.

The penultimate episode of SeaChange was on 494,000 after 537,000 last week. In the new Mediaweek TV podcast, Andrew Mercado said he has had enough of the show, claiming recent storylines have been way too bazaar.

New Mercado & Manning podcast will be published later today here.

10

The Project was a plug-a-thon after 7pm with lengthy segments on Survivor, an interview with Luke in the studio, and then The Masked Singer, with Tommy Little visiting the set. The episode did 530,000 after 7pm.

The final moments of Australian Survivor lifted above 1m for the second time in a finale episode in the four years the franchise has lived at Network 10. And for the third time in four years a woman has been the Sole Survivor. This year it was the smiling assassin Pia Miranda, with the actress clinically detailing how she went about claiming her victims in an explanation of her methods to the jury last night. Baden was perhaps the surprise package this season getting all the way to the final two. But he failed to win over the jury with all nine members swept off their feet by Pia who won in a 9-0 landslide. For her trouble she walks away with half a million dollars. If 10 decides to invite all former winners back for the All Stars episode next year she could be visiting Fiji again sometime soon.

The final episode started on 923,000, which was actually just 3,000 less than the audience watching the Monday episode this week. By the time the jury was ready to vote the audience climbed to 1.04m, the first time over 1m since The Winner Announced reached 1.08m in 2016. The season last year didn’t end until the second week of October with both parts of the final under 900,000.

This year’s Survivor final again made 10 the #1 channel and network under 50 and all key demos for the night.

ABC

Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds had the biggest audience after the ABC News with 546,000, down from 658,000 a week ago with one episode left in the season.

Earlier in the night Foreign Correspondent was on 389,000.

SBS

Britain’s Most Historic Towns visited Oxford with 216,000 watching.

Insight was then not far behind on 194,000.