Business of Media
Ahead of Paramount+ launch, Comcast and ViacomCBS explore streaming partnership
Comcast Corp Chief Executive Brian Roberts met with ViacomCBS Inc Chairman Shari Redstone in recent weeks to discuss a potential streaming partnership for international markets, according to people familiar with the matter, a sign the media companies see opportunities to join forces, reports The Wall Street Journal.
During the meeting, which was held around the end of June in New York, and which also included ViacomCBS CEO Robert Bakish, the executives discussed a variety of possible business partnerships that would allow the companies to enter non-US markets together, the people said.
The partnership talks come as both Comcast and ViacomCBS are preparing to expand their streaming services in international markets.
Facebook exposed over its handling of COVID misinformation
A new study has called out Facebook over its claim it is eliminating COVID-19 misinformation on its platform, reports News Corp’s Chris Griffith.
The study has found Facebook is not only recommending health misinformation sites to users, it’s also recommending new types of conspiracy groups to them, such as anti-mask sites and conspiracy theories about 5G to those seeking health information.
The scathing report, by online misinformation monitoring site NewsGuard, follows hot on the heels of US president Joe Biden’s condemnation of the platform.
Wavemaker names new Search Director to drive SEM strategy
GroupM media agency Wavemaker has appointed Katherine Williams (pictured) as search director responsible for SEM product and leading the specialist team.
Williams recently returned from five years in New York where she held roles at Initiative, Hearts & Science and Resolution implementing cross platform strategies in search, social, eCommerce and programmatic.
Williams has a wide range of experience across search, social, eCommerce and programmatic. She has worked across multiple categories and some of the largest global and Australian advertiser brands including SAP, P&G, Merck, Revlon, Mazda and Target.
James Hier, Wavemaker chief growth and product officer, said: “With more than a decade of experience in Search, in global roles across Australia, the UK and US, Katherine is a leading talent in performance marketing and a great new addition to our growing digital team at Wavemaker. Her passion is combining digital marketing with analytics to shape business growth which aligns perfectly with Wavemaker’s purpose of provoking growth for our clients. We’re thrilled to have her on board.”
News Brands
Hamish Macdonald’s return to The Project forces 10 to dump Peter van Onselen from show
Just 18 months after he quit Network 10 to host the ABC’s Q+A, Hamish Macdonald is going back to The Project – forcing 10 to dump Peter van Onselen from the show to make way for him, reports Guardian Australia‘s Amanda Meade.
Macdonald, 40, had a bruising experience in the high-profile ABC role, which saw him replace founding Q+A host Tony Jones, and he retreated from Twitter and Instagram last year saying he had “never had more abuse”.
Dogged by flagging ratings as Q+A struggled in a new time slot on a Thursday, Macdonald had enough and asked to be released from his contract. The ABC agreed, an unusual move in the middle of the TV season. ABC viewers, used to 12 years of Monday nights with a news and current affairs line up of Australian Story, Four Corners, Media Watch and Q+A, complained loudly about the change.
Van Onselen, who filled Macdonald’s seat at the Project desk when he defected to the ABC in 2019, was told by 10 news executives last week he was to be moved aside for the prodigal son.
Sources say he was happy not to work on Sundays and had earlier asked to cut back on his workload.
Robin Harding named Asia editor at the Financial Times
Robin Harding (pictured) has been appointed Asia editor at the Financial Times. When he takes up the role in mid-August, he will be responsible for steering coverage across the region, managing the FT’s network of correspondents.
An economist by training, Harding has served in a variety of posts, from London to Washington to Tokyo, where he has been bureau chief since 2015.
Making the appointment, FT editor Roula Khalaf said: “I am confident that Robin is the right person to defend and expand our reputation as a trusted, sharp and fearless source of information and comment across Asia. He is a strategic thinker as well as an astute and nurturing manager of talent. I am sure he will provide inspirational leadership in what is one of the most important and complex positions in our global network.”
Harding said: “Asia is the centre of global population, the centre of global growth and increasingly the centre of global politics as well. It will be an honour to work with the superb journalists of the FT’s Asia network as we tell our readers that story.”
Bezos donates US$100 million each to CNN contributor Van Jones
Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder and world’s wealthiest man, said Tuesday after flying to the edge of space that he planned to award $100 million each to CNN contributor Van Jones and chef José Andrés, reports CNN.
Bezos said that Jones and Andres were free to do “what they want” with the money.
“They can give it all to their own charity,” Bezos said at a press conference after his trip to space. “Or they can share the wealth. It is up to them.”
The money, Bezos said, was tied to a “surprise” philanthropic initiative he wanted to announce called the Courage and Civility Award.
The award aims to honour those who have “demonstrated courage” and tried to be a unifier in a divisive world, Bezos added.
“We need unifiers and not vilifiers,” Bezos said. “We need people who argue hard and act hard for what they believe. But they do that always with civility and never ad hominem attacks. Unfortunately, we live in a world where this is too often not the case. But we do have role models.”
Jones, accepting the award, said that “sometimes dreams come true.”
“You bet on me and I appreciate it,” Jones told Bezos, later adding that it was money for him to “give to others who have a similar spirit.”
Anderson Cooper, who was anchoring CNN’s special coverage on Tuesday, said on-air after Bezos announced the award that it was “quite a surprise.”
“None of us knew anything about it,” Cooper said.
Television
Newly crowned Farmer Wants a Wife couple asked to leave show
Watching their love story unfold on television these past three weeks was supposed to be a happy experience for newly revealed Farmer Wants a Wife couple Andrew Guthrie and Jess Nathan, reports News Corp’s Karlie Rutherford.
However the two, who are still together after filming wrapped over six months ago, reveal their experience on the reality television show was anything but romantic.
Nathan, 27, claimed she regularly felt bullied during the filming and thought that producers deliberately tried to keep her and Guthrie apart.
Nathan, who lives in Victoria, revealed the two even went to producers, declaring they had fallen in love and requesting to leave the show.
“Andrew knew he was going to pick me, so we went to the producers and told them we’d fallen in love and wanted to leave, but they said no,” she said.
“They also told us we couldn’t tell the other girls of our connection because it would mean the whole show would have to stop filming and people would lose their jobs.”
However a source close to the series strongly denied suggestions made by Nathan.
While in a statement, production company Freemantle acknowledged the “challenging” environment that is filming reality television.
Today co-hosts Allison Langdon and Karl Stefanovic in McDonald’s promo breach
Nine’s breakfast show Today breached broadcasting rules for failing to disclose a commercial arrangement with McDonald’s in relation to a segment aired in October last year, reports News Corp’s James Madden.
An Australian Communications and Media Authority investigation found Nine did not satisfactorily disclose that it had a commercial arrangement with McDonald’s to endorse its products.
Under the commercial television industry code of practice, broadcasters must disclose commercial arrangements to viewers if they air material that endorses or features the products of a commercial partner.
Screentime to produce New Zealand version of Lego Masters for TVNZ
Banijay company Screentime New Zealand will produce a local version of Lego Masters for TVNZ.
The competition reality hit has now been picked up by 14 broadcasters globally, with New Zealand joining recently confirmed adaptations for Spain and Norway.
More than 2.5 million bricks are now making their way to Aotearoa, for the new set. Lego Masters sees pairs undertake numerous challenges which test their creativity and building expertise. Lego Certified Professional (LCP) Robin Sather will be the judge and oversee the contestants throughout, offering advice as the stages get increasingly harder, pairs are eliminated and the pressure mounts.
Philly de Lacey, CEO of Screentime New Zealand said: “Following the success of Lego Masters in Australia, the US and Europe, we’re so excited for Lego fans in New Zealand to finally have the opportunity to compete in this incredible series. We can’t wait to see what amazing designs Kiwis will bring to the Lego table.”
Sports Media
AOC appoints Komo Digital as fan engagement platform supplier for Tokyo 2020
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has appointed MarTech scale-up Komo Digital Engagement as its official fan engagement platform supplier for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.
The partnership will see Komo deliver a state-of-the-art fan hub to support the Australian Olympic Committee’s first-ever digital fan engagement strategy for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
The custom digital hub created by Komo will leverage gamification tactics such as polls, quizzes, live trivia, predictive games, and more to deliver a one-of-a-kind COVID-proof digital experience for fans who won’t be able to attend the Games in Tokyo.
Komo Digital CEO Joel Steel welcomed the partnership with the Australian Olympic Committee with the deal placing the tech scale-up on the global stage to deliver a world-first experience for the Games.
“This partnership marks a first for the Australian Olympic Committee and highlights the dynamic and changing environment of the sporting industry. More and more we’re seeing fans crave in-depth experiences with teams, athletes, and the brands that support them. With the Engagement Hub Komo has developed for the Australian Olympic Committee, the Tokyo Olympic Games will become a first- of-its-kind experience for fans and deliver on these expectations,” said Steel.
In addition to delivering a fan-first experience, the platform also supports the delivery of value for the Australian Olympic Committee’s brand sponsors, allowing them to share unique offers, prizes and digital coupons.
Komo’s appointment as the Australian Olympic Committee’s official digital engagement platform supplier adds to the MarTech scale-ups growing list of Australian and global brands spanning across eleven industries including Marvel Stadium, Foxtel Media and Warner Music Group.
TV Ratings: NBA Finals close on 2-Year high
The deciding game of the NBA Finals on Tuesday delivered the biggest audience for the league in two years. ABC scored a big win in primetime, even though this year’s series was well below pre-pandemic levels, reports The Hollywood Reporter’s Rick Porter.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ 105-98 win over the Phoenix Suns — giving the franchise its first NBA title in 50 years — averaged 12.52 million viewers for ABC, the highest of the series by more than 2 million viewers and a 51 percent improvement over the 8.29 million who watched last year’s final game. It was the most watched NBA game since the end of the 2019 Finals. ABC’s broadcast also scored a 4.27 rating among adults 18-49, the biggest single-network rating in the key ad demographic since Super Bowl Sunday.