Business of Media
MediaSmiths polishes client list with addition of Australian Dental Association
Independent media agency MediaSmiths has been appointed by the peak national body for dentists, Australian Dental Association (ADA), to help convince Australians of the importance of proper dental care.
MediaSmiths will help increase awareness of regular dental care with the public and raise the profile of the ADA and its members by encouraging everyone to book an appointment with their dentist for regular check-ups.
MediaSmiths has developed a multichannel campaign including radio, transit, out-of-home digital and social.
The campaign’s focus is to drive awareness and encourage all Australians to look after their health and visit the dentist and in particular one of the 9,500 ADA Member Dentists across Australia. The theme line “Let’s be Frank” was used in a small-scale TV campaign in Melbourne by the ADA Victoria which has been expanded nationally by MediaSmiths to bring Frank, a life-sized tooth, to life. The campaign leads consumers to the ADA’s national website to click on ‘Find a Dentist’ for their local ADA dentist.
MediaSmiths managing director Angela Smith said: “We approached the Australian Dental Association proactively with some creative ideas after reading a frightening statistic that over 54% of us only brush our teeth once a day. We are absolutely thrilled to be working with the ADA on a campaign that shares such an important message regarding our health.
“Dental health and hygiene need to be a priority for all of us, and through education and reminding the public of this message and where they can find their accredited ADA dentist, we are working on something that will have benefits for all. It’s a clever, clear and simple message that can save all of us in the hip pocket and keep us all healthier.”
The Australian Dental Association win follows other new clients at MediaSmiths including Ray White Real Estate Paddington and Woollahra and Odoo.
MiQ appoints Damien Healy as Digital Operations Officer
MiQ has announced the appointment of Damien Healy (pictured) as Digital Operations Officer for the Asia Pacific region.
In addition to leading MiQ’s APAC product strategy and development, Healy will be responsible for scaling its agency and advertiser relationships. He will report to MiQ ANZ CEO, Jason Scott.
Healy has 20 years’ experience in product and operation leadership positions driving business growth and profitability for major advertising technology and media performance companies across international organisations.
Most recently, Healy was Global Officer, Programmatic & Addressable Media at Dentsu International in London, where he led the global strategy across Dentsu’s programmatic and addressable service lines, including the development of new cross-channel-digital operating models, teams, and platform products. He also spent five years at groupm’s Xaxis where he led operations, platforms, and product as EMEA COO, building out 24 successful markets through a period of rapid growth and expansion.
During his career, Healy has also worked with Havas, Facilitate Digital, Microsoft and Sensis.
MiQ ANZ CEO, Jason Scott said: “In addition to leading MiQ APAC product strategy and development, Damien will be helping us to scale our agency and client relationships mapping their vision and business direction with our technology, data, and execution pathways to supercharge our partnerships in an evolving market.”
Ladbroke’s parent shows interest in Tabcorp wagering and media unit
Tabcorp is understood to have engaged with Ladbrokes owner Entain and private equity firm Apollo Global Management in the past week, in what some are taking as a signal that a sale of parts or all of the business could now be more likely, reports The Australian’s Bridget Carter.
Tabcorp was expected to announce the outcome of its strategic review by Wednesday, according to sources, but that has now been delayed to Friday or early next week.
London listed sports betting and gambling company Entain is considered by many as strongly positioned to buy the group’s wagering and media unit given that strong synergies exist.
ABC’s delays compulsory online login rollout by nearly six months
The ABC has delayed its controversial decision to introduce mandatory log-ins for its iview streaming service by nearly six months, reports The Australian’s Sophie Elsworth.
The public broadcaster was originally due to roll out compulsory logins throughout July and August but on Wednesday revealed this would now be pushed back until the end of the year.
The significant delay comes after the ABC’s managing director David Anderson previously said the log-in requirement would be an “immediate inconvenience” for users.
“We had initially intended to roll out mandatory log-ins across July and August but have decided to slow things down to ensure our audiences understand the benefits they will receive from creating an ABC account and the ways we manage and protect their personal information,” an ABC spokesman said.
CBD finds Warwick Fairfax who reports in from his very foreign posting
It is 34 years since the $2.25 billion privatisation of his 150-year-old family company destroyed his inheritance and plunged the Fairfax media company into chaos and later receivership, report CBD columnists Samantha Hutchinson and Stephen Brook in Nine newspapers.
But “young” Warwick Fairfax is back. And he is keen to tell everyone – for a price – that he has learnt from his mistakes.
After the debacle, Fairfax hightailed to the US where he lives with his wife Gale and three children. Nowadays he is a management and ethics guru and tells everyone that the Fairfax disaster has been the making of him.
Fairfax runs Crucible Leadership, a self-help consultancy that teaches people about getting beyond failure.
His takeover of Fairfax when he was 26 and just prior to the global stock market crash in October ’87. His team of advisers, including businessman Laurie Connell (later jailed), were in line to secure a staggering $100 million fee. After receivership, Kerry Packer and Canadian media tycoon Conrad Black (later jailed) took stakes in the diminished empire.
News Brands
Former ABC journalist Emma Alberici out at Compare the Market
High-profile journalist Emma Alberici’s appointment last September as chief strategy officer at insurance-owned comparison site Compare the Market drew blanket coverage, reports The AFR’s Rear Window columnist Myrian Robin.
Understandably, given her spectacular departure a month earlier from the ABC, where she had most recently been economics editor.
Seven months later, her leave-taking at Compare the Market was far more quietly achieved.
“Emma Alberici left Compare the Market to pursue other opportunities closer to home in Sydney, and we thank her for her commitment and passion for the business during her time with us,” a spokesman told us, while also confirming her April departure date.
Publishing
Lovatts Media’s Nourish magazine launches the 2021 Nourish Vegan Awards
Plant-based magazine Nourish has launched the 2021 Nourish Vegan Awards. The awards will celebrate the best in plant-based living, as voted by plant-forward consumers across Australia. The magazine is published by Lovatts Media.
The Nourish Vegan Awards expert panel have shortlisted 9 brands across 26 categories, with each nominee chosen for its quality, impact, and commitment to plant-based living. The awards acknowledge dedicated vegan brands, businesses diversifying into plant-based options, and leading lights in vegan advocacy.
This year’s panel is made up of Australia’s leading minds in the world of veganism, including Nourish editor Rachael Morris, author and journalist Katrina Fox, chef and TV presenter Simon Toohey, Vegan Australia board director Lucy Stegley, Collective Fashion Justice director Emma Hakansson and plant-based Ultra Trail champion Lucy Bartholomew.
Voting for the 2021 Nourish Vegan Awards commences at 9am on Thursday 1st July at NourishVeganAwards.com. All voters will have the chance to win 1 of 5 premium prizes including Coles gift cards, a Vitamix Ascent commercial-grade blender, and e-gift cards to luxury online beauty and lifestyle store VeganBeauty.
The winners of the awards will be announced on World Vegan Day, 1st November 2021, with the complete Nourish Vegan Awards guide published in issue 67 of Nourish, on sale 1st November 2021.
The Nourish Vegan Awards 2021 supporting partners are Coles, Cruelty Free Super, Vitamix, VeganBeauty and Vegan Easy.
Radio
Howard Stern goes on extended holiday after signing $665m deal
Radio jock Howard Stern has finally managed to shock his fans — by taking the entire US summer off after signing a new deal with his radio network Sirius XM said to be worth $665 million ($US500m), reports the New York Post.
It appears the “King of All Media” needs to rest on his enormously wealthy laurels and allegedly negotiated a clause in his new Sirius XM contract to give him a break between the end of June and early September.
But Sirius XM subscribers are revolting, saying Stern — who usually spends time at his Hamptons spread during the summer — has to honour their monthly commitment, lest they cancel their subscriptions.
Television
The Morning Show, Sunrise rocked by producer Garry Siutz’s death
Cast and crew of much-loved breakfast television programs The Morning Show and Sunrise have mourned the loss of one of their own, reports News Corp’s Jonathon Moran.
Channel 7 executive producer Sarah Stinson led the tributes to much loved hair and makeup artist Garry Siutz, who died this week after a short battle with skin cancer.
“Our beautiful friend @garrysiutz passed away yesterday. A light has gone out that can never be replaced. Wildly eccentric, brave, hilarious and oh-so-interesting,” Stinson wrote in a moving Instagram post. “His family meant everything to him.”
The Morning Show hosts Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur were among those to remember their colleague.
“Loved him. To bits,” Gillies wrote, Emdur adding: “What an absolute legend. He gave us more stories and more belly laughs than anyone else in the biz. We will miss him and the world will miss him.”