Business of Media
Carsales looks to attract advertisers outside the ‘auto-bubble’
Automotive classifieds business Carsales wants to grow its share of the advertising spend, not just in its core automotive markets but in adjacent lifestyle categories. The company says it can offer advertisers the same reach as many of Australia’s large news networks, reports AFR’s Miranda Ward.
The growth plan and the aim to deliver more for its advertising clients is the strategic vision of the recently appointed co-leads of the business’ media division, Vanya Mariani and Davor Vilusic.
Seven West Media gets its hands on Prime Media
Seven West Media chief executive James Warburton has returned for Prime Media with a cash deal valuing the regional broadcaster at $131.9 million, nearly two years after major shareholders Bruce Gordon and Antony Catalano torpedoed a scrip deal, reports AFR’s Max Mason.
Under the deal, Seven will pay $121.9 million for Prime, and a further $10 million in cash held by the regional TV business will be handed to shareholders in the form of franking credits or a capital return. Prime shares closed on Friday at 23¢ with a market capitalisation of $82.4 million. They jumped 16¢ to 39¢ by mid-afternoon on Monday.
Warburton told The Australian Financial Review there had been changes at Seven in the 745 days since he first came knocking for Prime in 2019, including significant debt reduction, strong TV and digital video ratings improvements, and the fact this offer was cash.
News Brands
Anita Jacoby to lead ABC Advisory Council
ABC Chair Ita Buttrose has announced production executive Anita Jacoby to lead the ABC Advisory Council, replacing outgoing Advisory Council Chair, Nicole Sheffield, reports TV Tonight.
Jacoby has a 35-year career in media with senior management and production roles across all Australian broadcasters including the ABC, SBS and commercial channels. Her previous roles include managing director of ITV Studios Australia, co-managing Zapruder’s Other Films, Associate Member of the Australian Communications & Media Authority and founder of the Jacoby-Walkley Scholarship.
Production credits include Enough Rope with Andrew Denton, Hungry Beast, The Gruen Transfer, Country Town Rescue, and Can of Worms.
Entertainment
‘I’ve probably broken some kind of Logie law’: Bert Newton’s secret gift to a dying AIDS patient revealed
“Promise me you won’t report this until I’ve carked it,” Australian icon and veteran performer Bert Newton begged entertainment reporter Peter Ford, reports SMH’s Marta Pascual Juanola.
It was 1990 and the entertainer and four-time Logie winner had just moved to daytime television as the host of The Morning Show on Network Ten, later rebranded as Good Morning Australia.
Now, as the country mourns the celebrated performer, who died on Saturday in palliative care at a private Melbourne clinic, Ford has broken his silence and revealed Newton gifted a Gold Logie to a dying AIDS patient.
See More: Bert Newton remembered: Australia celebrates life of an entertainer
Television
Simon Cowell quits new on-air gig to work behind the scenes
Simon Cowell is stepping back from TV to spend more time with his family, reports News Corp’s Clemmie Moodie.
The Sun reports the TV superstar is scaling back his on-screen presence after two decades as one of the biggest faces on British and American television.
Cowell, who has been an ever-present lead judge on X Factor and Britain‘s Got Talent for 17 years, will be replaced by Gary Barlow for his widely hyped new UK show, Walk The Line.
The 62-year-old star will be heavily involved off-air as executive producer rather than appear on screen as originally planned.
Media Watch questions unpaid plug on Today
Media Watch has highlighted what looks to be an anomaly in the broadcasting code after former cricketer Michael Clarke spruiked an alcohol company on the Today show last week, reports TV Tonight.
“I’ve signed up with Bevmart. Again, an alcohol company …” he told Allison Langdon.
“I’ve always drank spirits and they’ve got a number of great options, which is good …”
Alcohol ads are on breakfast TV due to the risk children may be watching.
Meghan Markle’s half brother Thomas dishes the dirt on the former duchess on Big Brother VIP
Meghan Markle’s estranged half-brother lashed out at his distant relative on Monday’s Big Brother VIP premiere by publicly sledging the former duchess and suggesting she has a mysterious habit of just ”dumping” people, reports News Corp’s Zoe Smith.
Thomas Markle Jr sat on a velvet chaise lounge and elaborated on several of the anecdotes he has previously told tabloids including the story behind the letter he wrote to Prince Harry, in which he warned the royal not to marry Meghan.
“The letter that I wrote to Prince Harry was a hundred per cent honest and heartfelt,” he said. “Meghan treats her family like she’s embarrassed of where she comes from. She’s very selfish, self-centred. I think she’s very shallow.”
The TV hit that wasn’t
It was one of the most dramatic episodes of the season, reports The New York Times’ John Koblin.
Monica Lewinsky, the heroine of Impeachment: American Crime Story, strikes an immunity deal with federal prosecutors, and President Bill Clinton admits to having had an affair to a grand jury and the nation as a whole. The episode also brought Hillary Clinton, portrayed by Edie Falco, to center stage for the first time.
The only thing missing was a big viewing audience.
Impeachment: American Crime Story, a series that attracted lots of media coverage before its September premiere, airs on the FX cable network Tuesdays at 10 p.m. Last week’s episode ranked 15th in the ratings for cable shows that day, tied with ESPN’s Around the Horn and MTV’s Teen Mom.
So why hasn’t the show landed with viewers in a big way? Why isn’t it a regular part of Twitter’s top trending topics? The answer lies in the fact that American Crime Story is not available on any major streaming platform and won’t be for another 10 months.