Thursday January 18, 2018

Taste editor Brodee Myers-Cooke: ‘The biggest change we’ve made in 11 years’

Last year was a big year for Taste.com.au with the NewsLifeMedia title relaunching its website for the first time in 11 years. This was a “massive undertaking”, Taste.com.au editor Brodee MyersCooke told Mediaweek. “It was the biggest change that we’ve made to Taste in 11 years.”


This year is about delivering on the new verticals that were introduced to the website following the redesign: Quick and Easy, Baking, Healthy, and Entertaining. The new verticals reflect the way that users browse Taste.com.au, Myers-Cooke said. “Usually when you update a website you’d expect to see a drop of about 10-20%, because of URL changes and what not. But all of our numbers went up.”

With over 50,000 recipes and 3.04 million unique browsers (November 2017), Taste.com.au is the biggest food website in Australia. “We are definitely a digital-first brand,” Myers-Cooke said. “We use digital to drive our magazine stories.”

The biggest food trend from 2017 “that can’t be ignored”, according to Myers-Cooke, is the rise of vegetarianism, veganism and meat-free food. “These were things that were much more niche five years ago. These things have blasted into the mainstream in the biggest way possible in the last 12 months.”

She predicted this trend would continue to rise in popularity this year. “Health generally is bigger than it’s ever been in food. People of all ages are really excited by healthy eating,” Myers-Cooke said.

At the end of 2017, Taste.com.au conducted a survey with 11,000 people about their food consumption habits. The results showed an overall health rating of 57/100. As a result of this, the title launched a health campaign on 28 December 2017 called Eat Real. “It’s about encouraging people to eat more fruits and vegetables as a starting point, and then more whole foods generally – less of the processed foods,” Myers-Cooke said.

Continued at mediaweek.com.au.

2Day FM not ageing quickly: “Long way from playing Michael Bublé”

As Southern Cross Austereo launched another new breakfast show – EmGrant and Ed – on its one-time flagship station 2Day FM this week, there seems to have been a noticeable change to the music being played.

SCA chief creative officer Guy Dobson told Mediaweek: “We have been listening to the audience and what they want to hear more of and we are just implementing that.”

He emphasised that some of the station staples remain: “We are still playing the hits and still playing the old-school.

“We take stock at the end of every year and work out what we need to do for the next year.”

When asked about any change to the target demo, Dobson said: “We are still largely targeting who we targeted last year, although we may be going slightly older.”

When asked if 2Day FM was moving into an older market currently serviced musically by WSFM and smoothfm, Dobson replied: “We are not playing the Bee Gees‘ ‘Massachusetts’ and we are not playing America‘s ‘Sister Golden Hair’. When you start hearing those songs on 2Day you can say we are moving into that territory.”

2Day FM did play the Bee Gees this morning though – they were heard via the sample in N-Trance‘s reworking of “Stayin’ Alive”.

When pressed about how much the music was changing, Dobson stressed there hadn’t been too much a change of direction. He then added Michael Bublé to the lists of artists you won’t hear on 2Day. “We are nowhere near playing any of that sort of music.”

He added: “We are just doing what is right for the 2Day brand. There has been a gradual progression over the summer [with regard to our music position].”

Amazon Music launching down under February 1
  • 45 million tunes including music from Vance Joy, Courtney Barnett, Gang of Youths, Sia and Morgan Evans
  • Monthly plans for Amazon Music Unlimited begin at “breakthrough price” of $4.99

Amazon Music has announced Amazon Music Unlimited will become available in Australia and New Zealand starting February 1, giving music lovers in both countries access to a catalogue of more than 45 million songs and hundreds of playlists and personalised stations.

Amazon Music Unlimited features hits from today’s top artists including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Khalid, and Big Sean, as well as hundreds of hand-curated playlists and personalised stations highlighting local musicians including Vance Joy, Courtney Barnett, Gang of Youths, Sia and Morgan Evans.

Beginning February 1, new subscribers can sign up for a free 90-day trial of Amazon Music Unlimited for a limited time, and discover the catalogue of unlimited, ad-free music streaming within the Amazon Music app for iOS, Android, PC, Mac, and on any Web browser at www.amazon.com.au/music.

Beginning today, customers in Australia can preorder an Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, or Echo Plus at www.amazon.com.au/echo, www.amazon.com.au/echodot and www.amazon.com.au/echoplus, with devices beginning to ship early next month.

Customers in Australia and New Zealand may also purchase devices at select major retailers in early February.

Customers who purchase an Echo device are able to ask Alexa to discover and listen to the music they want based on mood, genre, era, artist name, and song or album title.

“We’ve seen phenomenal feedback from customers who use Amazon Music Unlimited, and we’re thrilled to bring an entirely new world of music streaming possibilities to listeners in Australia and New Zealand,” said Sean McMullan, head of international expansion for Amazon Music. “We’re opening doors for our customers to have access to an incredible catalogue of music, and to be able to listen to some of their favourite artists while using the power of voice in exciting new ways.”

Amazon Music Unlimited offers more than 150 playlists and stations featuring popular and emerging artists from the region. Tailored by local Amazon Music experts, playlists include “Women Crush Wednesday” showcasing talented female singers from Australia and New Zealand, “Australian Rock Royalty” featuring five decades of music from rock legends, while “Top 50 Australia” and “Top 40 New Zealand” present songs from local charts, updated weekly so users can easily discover what’s trending and popular in their countries.

With the coming expansion, subscribers to the Individual Plan and Family Plan in Australia and New Zealand will have access to the Amazon Music app for iOS and Android, making a catalogue of more than 45 million songs available ad-free for offline playback on mobile devices, anywhere and any time without an internet connection.

Amazon Music Unlimited will be available through three monthly plan options: the Echo Plan, offering full access to Amazon Music Unlimited at the breakthrough price of A$4.99/month on a single Echo, Echo Dot or Echo Plus; the Individual Plan at A$11.99/month; or the Family Plan, coming soon, which will allow up to six members of a household to share a subscription for just A$17.99/month.

Week 3 TV, 2018: Wednesday
WEDNESDAY METRO
ABCSevenNineTenSBS
ABC8.2%722.0%914.4%TEN15.6%SBS One5.1%
ABC 22.6%7TWO4.1%GO!3.8%ONE4.5%VICELAND2.4%
ABC ME0.8%7mate3.5%GEM2.2%ELEVEN2.8%Food Net0.9%
NEWS 241.5%7flix2.4%9Life3.0%NITV0.1%
TOTAL13.2%32.0%23.5%22.9%8.5%
WEDNESDAY REGIONAL
ABCSeven AffiliatesNine AffiliatesTen AffiliatesSBS
ABC7.0%720.0%913.3%WIN15.9%SBS One4.4%
ABC 22.8%7TWO5.6%GO!5.5%ONE4.4%VICELAND2.7%
ABC ME1.1%7mate2.8%GEM3.9%ELEVEN2.4%Food Net1.1%
NEWS 241.6%7flix2.8%9Life2.7%NITV0.1%
TOTAL12.5%31.2%25.4%22.7%8.3%
WEDNESDAY METRO ALL TV
FTASTV
86.8%13.2%

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

Wednesday fta
  1. Nine News Nine 961,000
  2. Nine News 6:30 Nine 946,000
  3. Seven News Seven 898,000
  4. Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 812,000
  5. A Current Affair Nine 788,000
  6. Cricket: BBL Game 31 – Session 2 Ten 773,000
  7. Seven’s Tennis: 2018 Australian Open-Night 3 Seven 686,000
  8. Cricket: BBL Game 31 – Session 1 Ten 648,000
  9. ABC News ABC 631,000
  10. Hot Seat Nine 495,000
  11. 7.30 ABC 470,000
  12. Ten Eyewitness News First At Five Ten 435,000
  13. The Project 7pm Ten 397,000
  14. QI ABC 355,000
  15. The Voice Kids Nine 295,000
  16. Sunrise Seven 282,000
  17. The Bold And The Beautiful Ten 266,000
  18. Hot Seat -5pm Nine 262,000
  19. The Project 6.30pm Ten 253,000
  20. Seven’s Tennis: 2018 Australian Open-Day 3 Seven 249,000
Demo top fives

16-39 Top 5

  1. Cricket: BBL Game 31 – Session 2 Ten 221,000
  2. Cricket: BBL Game 31 – Session 1 Ten 180,000
  3. Seven’s Tennis: 2018 Australian Open-Night 3 Seven 164,000
  4. Nine News 6:30 Nine 141,000
  5. Nine News Nine 141,000

18-49 Top 5

  1. Cricket: BBL Game 31 – Session 2 Ten 360,000
  2. Cricket: BBL Game 31 – Session 1 Ten 300,000
  3. Seven’s Tennis: 2018 Australian Open-Night 3 Seven 254,000
  4. Nine News 6:30 Nine 253,000
  5. Nine News Nine 247,000

25-54 Top 5

  1. Cricket: BBL Game 31 – Session 2 Ten 384,000
  2. Cricket: BBL Game 31 – Session 1 Ten 329,000
  3. Nine News 6:30 Nine 307,000
  4. Nine News Nine 302,000
  5. Seven’s Tennis: 2018 Australian Open-Night 3 Seven 266,000
Wednesday multichannel
  1. Peter Rabbit ABC2 164,000
  2. Peppa Pig-AM ABC2 162,000
  3. Dot. ABC2 161,000
  4. Noddy Toyland Detective-AM ABC2 160,000
  5. Andy’s Prehistoric Adventures ABC2 158,000
  6. The Justine Clarke Show!-AM ABC2 158,000
  7. Peg + Cat-AM ABC2 157,000
  8. Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom ABC2 155,000
  9. Fixer Upper 9Life 155,000
  10. A Touch Of Frost-PM 7TWO 154,000
  11. The Big Bang Theory TX1 9GO! 150,000
  12. Go Jetters ABC2 149,000
  13. The Big Bang Theory 9GO! 147,000
  14. Sarah & Duck-AM ABC2 146,000
  15. Neighbours ELEVEN 146,000
  16. Billy Madison 9GO! 143,000
  17. Death Wish 3 (R) ONE 142,000
  18. Shaun The Sheep ABC2 138,000
  19. Pie In The Sky-PM 7TWO 136,000
  20. Octonauts ABC2 133,000
Wednesday subscription tv
  1. Melbourne: Real Housewives Of… ARENA 93,000
  2. Location, Location, Location LifeStyle Channel 49,000
  3. The Flash FOX8 49,000
  4. House TVH!TS 42,000
  5. NCIS TVH!TS 41,000
  6. PJ Masks Disney Junior 37,000
  7. The Big Country FOX Classics 35,000
  8. Judge Judy ARENA 35,000
  9. American Dad! FOX8 35,000
  10. Beverly Hills: Real Housewives Of… ARENA 35,000
  11. Paw Patrol Nick Jr. 34,000
  12. Shimmer And Shine Nick Jr. 34,000
  13. Balloon Barnyard Disney Junior 33,000
  14. Family Guy FOX8 33,000
  15. CI Australia: Families Of Crime crime + investigation 33,000
  16. Hunted FOX8 32,000
  17. Paw Patrol Nick Jr. 32,000
  18. The Big Bang Theory COMEDY CHANNEL 31,000
  19. Mickey And The Roadster Racers Disney Junior 31,000
  20. Live: WWE Smackdown FOX8 30,000

TV Ratings Analysis

Primary Channels
By James Manning

Sports fans controlled the remotes again last night and will do so until the end of next week.

The audience was split between the Australian Open on the screens of Seven and the Big Bash League on TEN.

Seven’s Australian Open averaged 686,000 on the primary channel while a second feed on 7mate averaged 88,000 for the evening session. The streaming audience continues to post strong growth with the day three numbers up 63% year-on-year.

TEN is again able to boast that the second session of the Big Bash League outrated the tennis 25-54 and all people. The midweek cricket clash was up over 80% for both sessions of the same game in 2017.

The best non-news audiences elsewhere included Nine’s The Voice Kids UK with 295,000 watching the final.

QI did best on ABC at 8pm with 355,000 watching Matt Lucas and broadcaster and actor Liza Tarbuck on the panel.

Vikings is up to episode eight already with more blood and gore and 142,000 watching on SBS. Earlier in the night a doco on the Brooklyn Bridge and then Simon Reeve in Turkey both did 230,000.

Media News Roundup THURSDAY

Investment

Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) has taken a $5m equity stake in media-MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) telecommunications start-up OVO Mobile and its expanding digital broadcasting platform, OVOPlay.

OVO is focused on building a telecommunications offering around an entertainment platform – specialising in sports content.

A number of sports have signed OVO on as their exclusive digital broadcasting partner including Gymnastics Australia, Water Polo Australia, Supercheap Auto V8 Supercars team, 400 Thunder Drag Racing and World SuperBikes.

In addition to the SCA deal, OVO has further secured its ongoing relationship with Optus, signing a fresh five-year exclusive mobile contract. As an MVNO, OVO Mobile services operate on the Optus 4G Plus network.

Read more at mediaweek.com.au.

Photo: OVO CEO Matt Jones

The Facebook algorithm change that has publishers panicking may be good news for a certain group inside the industry: influencers and their followers, reports Digiday.

As Facebook decides to favour content from friends and family over posts from (certain) publishers, agency buyers are telling clients to focus more on influencer content.

Facebook is telling agencies they won’t see any major changes for paid promotion, although ad rates might increase.

But influencer marketing seems poised to benefit the most from the change: When done on its own, influencer content essentially mimics content from friends and family.

[Read the original]

Outdoor

Queensland-based out-of-home media provider goa has announced the addition of another billboard to its growing Grid network and the first on the Gold Coast.


Goa’s digital billboard network has long been situated in the greater Brisbane area on prime advertising real estate.

That network now extends into Queensland’s major tourist destination and the home of the forthcoming 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The new site reaches a collective audience of over 900,000 people per week.

Goa has more sites planned in premium locations on the Gold Coast with a major announcement due in early 2018, just prior to the Commonwealth Games.

Read more at mediaweek.com.au.

Media People

Following the recent restructure of its commercial division, Fairfax Media has appointed Philippa Walker(pictured) to oversee the travel vertical within Australian Metro Publishing (AMP) business which includes The Sydney Morning HeraldThe AgeThe Australian Financial ReviewBrisbane Times, WAtoday and more.

In late 2017, the commercial teams were reshaped with a vertical focus under the pillars of business and government comprising finance, retail, government, energy & resources, tech & telco, and luxury and lifestyle encompassing travel, auto, food & entertainment, luxury and sport & wagering.

Walker joins the luxury and lifestyle division as head of travel. She will oversee Fairfax Media’s extensive travel vertical and brings to Fairfax an impressive history of travel experience including more than a decade at global travel agency The Travel Corporation.

Read more at mediaweek.com.au.

Australian actor Jessica Falkholt has been remembered for her bubbly personality and contagious smile following her death as a result of the horror road smash that also killed her parents and sister, reports The Australian’s Emily Ritchie.

The 29-year-old found fame on the small screen as Hope Morrison in Home and Away, with the long-running TV soap paving the way for her feature film debut in the forthcoming supernatural thriller Harmony.

[Read the original]

AAP noted:

The rising star had nurtured her love of acting while completing a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communication at the University of NSW, where she starred in several theatrical society productions including musical Cabaret.

After graduating, she found production jobs at the Seven Network and Carnival Films, and began building a portfolio of acting work thanks to television commercials.

Following her graduation from acting school, Summer Bay beckoned with the young actress scoring a role on Home and Away as Hope Morrison for 16 episodes in 2016.

[Read the original]

Seven released a statement yesterday that said:

Seven and the entire Home And Away family are heartbroken to hear of Jessica Falkholt’s passing.

Jessica’s shining talent was recognised and respected by all her castmates and crew and her beautiful friendship treasured.

We send our sincere condolences to her extended family and friends during this difficult time.

Television

Apple’s arrival in the scripted originals space already is changing the price for top talent on the small screen, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The tech giant, estimated to enter the scripted genre with a budget of US$1 billion in its first year, recently paid what sources say is upward of $1.25 million per episode to stars Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon for its 20-episode untitled morning-show drama. The eye-popping salaries also include fees for executive producing and points on the show’s backend. And that payday directly impacted the recently announced second season of HBO’s smash hit Big Little Lies, sources say.

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, say sources, received between $250,000 and $350,000 an episode for season one, plus exec producer fees and points off the show’s backend. Those numbers skyrocketed for season two not only because of the show’s success, but also because of the precedent of the massive payday Witherspoon scored from Apple.

Sources say the duo is getting in the $1 million-an-episode ballpark for season two, as well as points off the show’s backend and EP fees.

[Read the original]

TV Demand charts

The second season of Stranger Things was available on Netflix way back at the end of October 2017, but still it manages to rank #1 on the Digital Original charts in Australia and New Zealand. It has a massive lead over #2 in Australia, which is The Grand Tour. Although it ranks second in both markets the new series has not attracted much “old media” buzz despite being much better than series one.

On the Overall TV charts Game Of Thrones continues to lead with its vice-like grip on top spot. With no new episodes until 2019, how long will it be able to stay there and what could possibly topple it? Vikings and The Walking Dead are the next hottest in both markets.

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