Friday April 5, 2019
Boomtown architects on strategy: “A soft sell is not going to get it done”
By James Manning
Mediaweek covered the Boomtown launch event for the Your Money channel this week where we interviewed two of the architects of the campaign. Below are some highlights from the interview.
• Watch in full here.
Brian Gallagher told Mediaweek: “We came together last year and wanted to come up with a way of clearly articulating regional markets were this is a lost opportunity for advertisers who are not investing.
“It’s fantastic that as a group we were able to come up with a device to illustrate the 8.8m people who live there and that device is Boomtown.”
Penny Kaleta added: “It was really important for us to realise the power we have if we come together, uniting regional Australia as a channel rather than working in the fragmented markets as we were.”
The various media groups compete for ad dollars, but the effort to increase visibility of their audience binds them together.
Gallagher explained their message is going to two different groups of advertisers: “There are advertisers who spend exactly the right amount [in regional markets]. Companies like the major retailers and the Federal Government. Then there is a whole bunch of companies across multiple sectors, probably described as the companies who don’t have their own cash register in place.
“As a group we are very united to get those people to change their bias.”
Kaleta noted that although SCA trade in metro and regional markets, Gallagher was the right person to lead the push. “He is so connected to the metropolitan market and that is where we are trying to change the perception about regional. I’m a regional Australia specialist, but people in regional Australia know how great they are, so it is the metro markets where we need to change the misconceptions.”
When asked about the bold language being used in the communications with agencies – where buyers are being asked to rethink their habits, and stop being short sighted by ignoring a third of Australia – Gallagher said:
“I can’t imagine a soft sell is going to get it done. We have to have a red hot crack.
“To explain further to advertisers what they are missing out on we are doing it with data. We are able to stand in front of a client with the agency strategy team and talk about quantifying the brand share and the value of brand share the client is missing out on by not investing equally across the markets.
“We are able to redefine what good investment looks like by showing brands where they are significantly under represented. That is really compelling and it will really cut through.”
Kaleta said advertisers can reach 8.8m people in regional Australia much cheaper than it would cost reaching that market in metro. “It really depends on audience segmentation and market you want to attract. But when it comes to trading cost per thousand you can certainly get more for your money than in metropolitan. We use examples quite often that people in Wagga Wagga or Griffith want a choice of what breakfast cereal, shampoo or beauty products to buy. They are not being marketed at.”
If advertisers spend more in regional markets, where will the money come from?
Gallagher: “Clients have to make a value judgement about where they are investing. I can think of certain platforms where there seems to be a discrepancy in relation to transparency, visibility and measurement.”
Are we talking digital?
“You might have said that. You can afford to be that pointed, I probably can’t.”
Cherie Romaro moves EON Broadcasting’s 2CH to Classic Hits format
By James Manning
At the time of her appointment, Romaro said: “I am looking forward to leading the team at 2CH, working closely with them to build on their past work and create a great radio station, specifically targeted to Sydney’s ‘baby boomer’ listeners.”
Speaking to Mediaweek in an important week for the station, Romaro added: “We wanted to find out what 2CH’s true position in the market could be. One we found that we would go about rebuilding, which is exactly what I’ve been doing in the past four months.”
In that short time Romaro has been an agent of change.
“The major change has been moving the music to a classic hits baby boomer fomat. We have branded 2CH from Easy Classics to Classic Hits. The reason for doing that is there is a big gap in the market.
“WSFM has moved to play more songs from the 1990s and 2000s with tracks from people like Beyoncé and P!nk, very contemporary artists.
“Smoothfm also is playing a wide range of tracks and has been able to own its position.
“We have created a position for Classic Hits which takes in all the artists basically those other stations had left behind. Artists like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye. The list is endless – we play a lot of 60s and 70s and a little bit of 80s.
“I want to own the baby boomer over 50+ footprint for music and the advertisers, so the older audience has somewhere to go other than talk [radio].”
Don’t call it an AM music station, even though 2CH is a music station on the AM band. That labelling only tells a small part of the story.
Romaro noted for anybody listening via other platforms the music quality is much better and the equivalent of FM broadcast music. “We have a beautiful DAB+ signal and I have been programming the station as it was being broadcast with the highest quality of sound. If you call it an AM music station you are putting it in a box it doesn’t need to be in.
“There are so many ways to listen to Classic Hits 2CH – you can stream it, you can put in on via the app, listen through your laptop plus DAB+ or AM.
“A lot of people are discovering us through all the other options.”
Romaro noted some international markets have shut down their AM and FM analogue networks to focus on digital. “I think that is the future for Australia as well.”
The one-time 2MMM, 2Day and Mix 106.5 executive has always demanded great imaging wherever she has worked in media. “I like to create the imaging to fit with not only the weather, the seasons or even the feel of the day. We are about to release out winter imaging.
“I am a huge fan of great packaging – you can play the right music and have the right presenters, but if you don’t have right imaging to complement that then you are losing an opportunity.”
The newish 2CH breakfast show with Indira Naidoo and Trevor Sinclair pre-dates Romaro’s arrival the station and she has been working with the team on its restructure. “It has been a slow build and a lot of the older 2CH listeners found it really hard to accept the change. However in the most recent survey results, breakfast had one of the biggest increases.”
“They have gone from an all people share of 2.5% to 4.1% in breakfast.
“We have now found a way to keep the loyal, longstanding 2CH listeners happy and we are starting to attract the baby boomer 50+ audience that is looking for the music they can’t hear anywhere else.
“We are also running a 24-hour news service because our listeners want information as well as the music. We didn’t want to lose listeners going elsewhere to find news.”
Romaro said 2CH has been careful to keep the music quota high in breakfast. “The team has responded to that and so has the audience too. We are getting a lot of positive feedback on Trevor and Indira and Dave Gibson pops in a few times a week. He brings a fun element and people remember him from his Triple M days.” Gibson worked with Doug Mulray, Andrew Denton, Amanda Keller and Rob Duckworth during his Triple M years.
The biggest change for listeners to come to grips with recently has been the departure of Bob Rogers from mornings.
“Tim Webster has taken over that morning slot and it has been received extraordinarily well. The listeners love him,” said Romaro.
Rogers remains the host of a Saturday evening show called Reminiscing.
Romaro is adamant that not until the station is performing at its best will she start spending marketing dollars. “We are a little bit away from that. Our evening show is very different with Chris Kearns doing a program called Tonight Live, which is different from not having anyone live in the studio. Another newer program is drive with Ian Rogerson.
“We have basically rebuilt the station, in doing so trying to embrace the loyal 2CH listeners from the past. It is still early days – one good survey doesn’t make it successful. We’d like some more surveys over 4% and then move to 5% and then I will feel we have a good solid base for the future.”
As to how running a station in today’s market differs from when she was in charge of the then young 2Day FM brand, Romaro said: “The principles do remain the same, but the execution is a little different. You need to find the gap in the market, do it well and better than your competitors, and then tell the people about it.”
“And make sure the advertisers know about it as well.”
EON Broadcasting announced this week it was extending its SCA partnership for agency sales.
Romaro said Macquarie understood the reasons for 2CH switching agency sales representation. “One of the reasons we changed our agency representation was the fact that SCA represents EON Broadcasting on the Sunshine Coast and it was a natural progression to extend our relationship to 2CH and 2CH DAB+.”
2CH will maintain its own direct sales team. The new direct manager Barry Quick starts next Monday. In recent years Quick was CEO at SEN 1116 and then Raceforce Media as well as spending time as commercial director at 6PR.
Romaro added EON Broadcasting will be launching two new digital formats for later this year. “Formats that aren’t being done in the market yet,” is all she would divulge at this stage.
OMD Sydney appoints Corinne Moth to head up Qantas & Estée Lauder
Moth’s extensive media experience spans over 18 years in the Australian market, working across a diverse range of client categories including travel & accommodation, telco, automotive, beauty, entertainment, beverages, consumer electronics & finance.
Aimee Buchanan, CEO, OMD Australia said, “Corinne and I have a long history, first working together over 18 years ago. She is an excellent operator who is passionate about building trusted client partnerships and high performing teams. Corinne truly immerses herself within her clients’ businesses. OMD is lucky to have such a highly regarded, industry professional joining the team.”
Moth said of her appointment, “I’m very excited to be joining the OMD team, and becoming part of an agency culture I’ve long admired. I’m privileged to be working with premium brands that are at the forefront of their categories and together with the team, look forward to driving effective business strategies for continued success”.
Moth will join the Sydney leadership team and will report into Kim Hamilton, managing director, OMD Sydney. She will commence on Monday 8th April, 2019.
Mercado on TV: Eddie McGuire, Ray Hadley & You Can’t Say That
It kicked off last Wednesday with a searing first episode with survivors of domestic violence and soon you will not see a better or moving explanation about what intersex actually means. How much better it is to have respectful conversations about difficult subjects. Maybe this show should be required viewing for all boofheads, and so too should be Employable Me (Tuesday on ABC).
Employable Me returns for a second season with a brand new cast of job seekers looking for work, but impairments such as Tourette Syndrome and dwarfism lead to constant rejection. Showing resilience and optimism, all keep on searching, and it makes for inspiring TV.
Listen: Mediaweek TV podcast with Andrew Mercado
• Mediaweek contributor Andrew joins James Manning as they cover programs as demure as Dancing With The Stars to outrageous shockers like The Dirt, Netflix’s Mötley Crüe biopic. Along the way they also cover Christians Like Us, Mum, Veep, Our Planet, After Life, Restoration Australia, Australian Crime Stories, Killing Eve and much more.
It’s good to see reality shows about actual real life, as opposed to all those other reality shows about fake romances. Married At First Sight finishes another record breaking run next Monday, with Nine promising the most “explosive” dinner party episode yet. And come Tuesday, 10’s Bachelor In Paradise begins, with former wannabes coming back for more drama. How long will it be before MAFS gets a spin-off so its desperadoes can try again? Married At Second Sight, anyone.
Netflix’s reboot series of Dynasty is also getting desperate as it churns through more drama in one episode than the original 80s soap would do in an entire season. They have already killed off one Cristal, only for Blake Carrington to hook up with another one (don’t ask), and now Alexis is bandaged up in hospital after being pushed face first into a burning fireplace.
That’s because actress Nicolette Sheridan has quit to spend more time with her terminally ill mother so when the bandages come up, Alexis will be being played by someone else. It is all eerily similar to when Rowena Wallace left Sons and Daughters, and Pat the Rat returned from Rio De Janeiro as Alison Carr. Belinda Giblin took over that role, but since she is now busy playing Alf’s long-lost love interest in Home and Away, who will play the next Alexis? How about Heather Locklear, who once played Dynasty’s Sammy Jo. Maybe it would keep her from being arrested again because her life has recently been just like an episode of You Can’t Ask That. Maybe doing another Dynasty will get her back on track.
TV Demand: The OA and The Act creating a buzz in Australia & NZ
For eight weeks the Overall TV Shows chart has been dominated by Game Of Thrones. Indeed all this year it has been either GoT or Brooklyn Nine-Nine on top of those charts in the two markets.
There was some action a little further down the Digital Originals chart though. The OA arrived on the New Zealand chart last week at #10, but this week is jumps to #3 in that market, the same place on the chart where it is in Australia at the end of this week. Netflix dropped what it is calling Part II on March 22 with eight new episodes. The story revolves around a young blind woman who resurfaces after seven years. She can now see, but refuses to cooperate with her adoptive parents or the FBI. Brit Marling stars and she also co-created the series.
Also new on the Digital Originals is The Act, a US crime drama from Hulu based on real life events starring Patricia Arquette and Chloë Sevigny.
On the Overall TV charts, The OA makes it into the top 10 in both markets.
It seems unlikely that Game Of Thrones will lose top spot at least for the next couple of months.
TV Ratings Analysis: April 4
Thursday: Week 14 2019
By James Manning
• Seven News 884,000/837,000
• Nine News 853,000/861,000
• A Current Affair 548,000
• ABC News 568,000
• 7.30 393,000
• The Project 207,000/394,000
• 10 News First 357,000
• SBS World News 115,000
Breakfast TV
• Sunrise 280,000
• Today 188,000
Seven
Seven has recorded a second successive victory this week and should have enough momentum to win the week.
After three nights over 700,000 this week, Home And Away was on 554,000 screening in four markets (no Adelaide).
The AFL then had a strong Thursday audience with 675,000 after 635,000 last week. The Cats win over the Crows was easily the #1 show in Melbourne with 387,000 and #1 in Adelaide with 171,000.
Nine
A Current Affair went into four markets only for the last Thursday this year ahead of the end of daylight saving this weekend. The audience was 548,000.
The NRL Thursday night match saw the Roosters easily account for the Broncos with 448,000 watching after 486,000 on Thursday last week.
10
Gogglebox was easily the channel’s Thursday best again with 579,000 after 585,000 a week ago. It ranked #1 18-49 for the night.
Earlier The Project featured Dave O’Neil with 394,000 after 7pm.
A screening of the 2018 Montreal Comedy Festival at 7.30pm did 302,000.
ABC
Bill Shorten’s Budget Reply speech went out at 7.30pm with 412,000.
That meant 7.30 went to air at 8pm with 393,000.
Escape From The City was then back in the schedule with another trip to Orange being seen by 329,000.
SBS
The biggest metro audience was at 7.30pm for Splendour and Misery: The Last Tsarinas on 166,000.
The Thursday night drama Project Blue Book had 163,000 watching two episodes.
Week 14 TV: Thursday
| THURSDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 9.6% | 7 | 24.4% | 9 | 18.4% | 10 | 11.4% | SBS One | 4.4% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.7% | 7TWO | 3.7% | GO! | 3.0% | 10 Bold | 4.0% | VICELAND | 1.2% |
| ABC ME | 0.6% | 7mate | 3.7% | GEM | 1.4% | 10 Peach | 2.1% | Food Net | 1.3% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.8% | 7flix | 2.9% | 9Life | 2.1% | NITV | 0.3% | ||
| 7Food | 1.2% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 14.7% | 36.0% | 24.9% | 17.4% | 7.1% | ||||
| THURSDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 9.3% | 7 | 18.4% | 9 | 17.8% | WIN | 12.4% | SBS One | 4.4% |
| ABC KIDS/ ABC COMEDY | 2.8% | 7TWO | 5.7% | GO! | 3.6% | WIN Bold | 3.7% | VICELAND | 1.3% |
| ABC ME | 1.1% | 7mate | 4.3% | GEM | 2.5% | WIN Peach | 2.4% | Food Net | 1.3% |
| ABC NEWS | 2.1% | 7flix | 3.5% | 9Life | 1.8% | Sky News on WIN | 1.0% | NITV | 0.4% |
| TOTAL | 15.3% | 31.9% | 25.7% | 19.5% | 7.4% | ||||
| THURSDAY METRO ALL TV | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTA | STV | ||||||||
| 83.0% | 17.0% | ||||||||
THURSDAY FTA
- Seven News Seven 884,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 861,000
- Nine News Nine 853,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 837,000
- Seven’s AFL: Thursday Night Football Seven 675,000
- Gogglebox 10 579,000
- ABC News ABC 568,000
- Home And Away Seven 554,000
- A Current Affair Nine 548,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 518,000
- Hot Seat Nine 459,000
- Thursday Night NRL Live Nine 423,000
- Budget 2019: Opposition Reply ABC 412,000
- The Project 7pm 10 394,000
- 7.30 ABC 393,000
- Seven’s AFL: Thursday Night Football – Pre Match Seven 367,000
- Seven’s AFL: Thursday Night Football – Post Match Seven 365,000
- 10 News First 10 357,000
- The Chase Australia-5pm Seven 343,000
- Escape From The City ABC 329,000
Demo Top 5
16-39 Top Five
- Seven’s AFL: Thursday Night Football Seven 168,000
- Gogglebox 10 162,000
- Thursday Night NRL Live Nine 123,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 109,000
- The Project 7pm 10 109,000
18-49 Top Five
- Gogglebox 10 275,000
- Seven’s AFL: Thursday Night Football Seven 267,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 223,000
- Nine News Nine 210,000
- Thursday Night NRL Live Nine 190,000
25-54 Top Five
- Gogglebox 10 316,000
- Seven’s AFL: Thursday Night Football Seven 289,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 277,000
- Nine News Nine 244,000
- Seven News Seven 232,000
THURSDAY Multichannel
- Bluey AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 194,000
- Father Brown PM 7TWO 172,000
- Rusty Rivets ABCKIDS/COMEDY 157,000
- NCIS (R) 10 Bold 156,000
- Peter Rabbit ABCKIDS/COMEDY 155,000
- Octonauts ABCKIDS/COMEDY 145,000
- Bluey ABCKIDS/COMEDY 145,000
- Dino Dana ABCKIDS/COMEDY 144,000
- Andy’s Wild Adventures ABCKIDS/COMEDY 144,000
- Floogals PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 139,000
- Bondi Rescue Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 135,000
- Peppa Pig AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 134,000
- Peppa Pig PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 127,000
- Fireman Sam PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 126,000
- Wanda And The Alien PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 126,000
- Bob The Builder PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 119,000
- Hawaii Five-O (R) 10 Bold 119,000
- Kazoops! PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 118,000
- Seven’s AFL: Thursday Night Football 7mate 117,000
- Criminal Minds-Ep.2 Pm 7flix 116,000
THURSDAY STV
- Live: NRL Roosters V Broncos FOX LEAGUE 251,000
- Live: AFL Adelaide V Geelong FOX FOOTY 248,000
- Live: Thursday Night Footy On Fox FOX FOOTY 120,000
- Live: The Late Show With Matty Johns FOX LEAGUE 101,000
- Live: Thursday Night Footy On Fox FOX FOOTY 76,000
- Live: NRL Thursday Night League FOX LEAGUE 72,000
- Selling Houses Australia Lifestyle Channel 64,000
- The Bolt Report Sky News Live 59,000
- Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 58,000
- Gold Rush Discovery Channel 53,000
- Outback Opal Hunters Discovery Channel 45,000
- Budget 2019 With David Speers Sky News Live 43,000
- PML Later Sky News Live 39,000
- Budget 2019: Labor’s Reply Sky News Live 37,000
- Peppa Pig Nick Jr. 36,000
- Credlin Sky News Live 36,000
- Peppa Pig Nick Jr. 35,000
- Family Guy FOX8 35,000
- It Takes A Killer crime + investigation 32,000
- Peppa Pig Nick Jr. 31,000
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
Media News Roundup
Business of Media
Ministers comment: Ridding ourselves of the evil on Facebook
The Morrison government doesn’t think it is unreasonable for Facebook and Twitter to stop showing murder, rape or torture on their apps and websites. We also don’t think it’s unreasonable that if they have reasonable grounds to believe their platforms have evidence of a murder or a rape occurring in Australia, that they tell our police about it. These laws were passed urgently because the Coalition didn’t think Australian parents would find it reasonable for us to allow such material to be lawfully available for weeks during the election period. They wanted action, so we listened and delivered.
There has been some concern voiced by traditional media outlets that the new laws could somehow infringe on their ability to report the news. This is not the case. We have been careful in drafting these laws to ensure protections for responsible news organisations presenting news in the public interest.
We are not aware of any example where an Australian media organisation has engaged in the sort of conduct that would contravene these laws. A free press is a fundamental pillar of a strong democracy, but so is the principle that the law should apply equally to all.
Atlassian boss Mike Cannon-Brookes slams passage of social media laws
Cannon-Brookes, who was named Australia’s fourth richest person in The List in The Australian on the weekend, said that the bill – passed today – was poorly drafted and “filled with huge holes.”
“It’s sad. It’s another example of where they’re driving things through quickly without thinking,” Cannon-Brookes told The Australian.
“There are lots and lots of obvious flaws in this bill.”
Facebook to block foreign ads, start fact-checking ahead of election
The social media giant’s crackdown on misleading articles and advertisements to avoid problems ahead of the polls comes amid intense global scrutiny on the platform’s role in the spread of hate-speech and fake news.
Facebook Australia director of policy Mia Garlick said in a post on the social media platform’s blog on Friday (seen by this masthead in advance) that the new approach would reduce misinformation, disrupt bad actors and increase advertising transparency.
“Combating foreign interference is a key pillar of our approach to safeguarding elections on our platform. As part of this commitment, we’re temporarily not allowing electoral ads to be purchased from outside Australia ahead of the election in May,” she said.
The restriction will be brought in the day after the election is called, and will include all ads found to be coming from offshore and with any reference to politicians, parties or election suppression.
Fifield demands more efficiency from ABC as extra funds denied
The ABC will receive $3.2 billion over the next three years, an increase from $3.16bn after a new budget injection.
The national broadcaster was allocated an additional $43.7 million in the federal budget to continue the Enhanced News measure, which supports local news and current affairs, Senator Fifield said.
“All commonwealth entities should continually work to be the best and most efficient steward of taxpayer dollars,” he told The Australian last night.
Anderson issued his warning yesterday after the Morrison government refused to meet the broadcaster’s demand to restore funding stripped in last year’s budget.
In a provocative move only weeks before a federal election, the acting ABC boss raised the spectre of job losses in a message to staff, which was posted on the ABC’s website.
Read message from David Anderson on the Federal Budget here.
News Brands
Survey says: Male voices ‘louder’ in gender study of media
The Women for Media Report titled “You can’t be what you can’t see”, produced by Sydney’s University of Technology and supported by Reserve Bank board member Carol Schwartz and husband Alan’s Trawalla Foundation, took a snapshot of the most influential news sites on four consecutive Thursdays in October last year. In February, it also analysed the top five opinion pieces on each site across Tuesday to Saturday in one week.
It found that, while half of Australia’s 15 most influential news sites achieved gender parity on the representation of male and female journalists, women accounted for only 34% of direct sources quoted and 24% of indirect sources.
Radio
Local executive appointed new general manager of SCA Townsville
The announcement was made by Damon Rielly, SCA executive general Manager – Queensland, and will see Cazzulino leading the operations of Townsville’s two leading stations Hit103.1FM and Triple M 102.3FM, as well as SCA’s Nine Network sales affiliation.
“Cassandra brings extensive experience in marketing, events and project management as well as launching, growing and leading her own successful business. Most recently, she was the chief executive officer of the Townsville Turf Club,” said Rielly.
“She is a passionate North Queenslander and a proud Townsville local, is strongly networked in the business and social community and is already well-known to our team. Her diverse experience is the perfect addition to our Townsville team, who have delivered consistent results over the past few years.”
Cazzulino said she was honoured to have been selected to lead the Southern Cross Austereo team.
“I’ve enjoyed being a client of SCA in the past and have always been impressed with how professional, knowledgeable and passionate the team are. This is a wonderful opportunity to join SCA and I’m very excited to take up the reins,” she said.
“SCA Townsville is a dedicated, high performing team, who passionately support the local community and continue to deliver dynamic, authentic and unique content. Together, and with brands such as Hit 103.1 and Triple M, we will continue the success of being a leading media company and proactive member of the local community here in Townsville, as well as part of the incredibly strong national SCA family,” she said.
Cazzulino will commence on Monday 29th April.
Former 2GB sports caller Andrew Moore on Ray Hadley ‘bully’ claims
Moore – an ABC Grandstand rugby league host – labelled Hadley a “bully” who “thrives on intimidation” during an explosive ABC 7.30 program on Wednesday night.
Moore said he was now at ease after speaking publicly for the first time about his more than three-decade association with the 2GB broadcaster.
“I didn’t feel a weight lifted off me when I did the interview to be honest, but this morning a hundred per cent I do,” Moore said. “I feel so different from what I thought I’d feel. I was nervous and anxious.”
Moore said he had been inundated with messages of support from former colleagues, rugby league players and politicians.
Ray Hadley under investigation for fresh bullying claims at 2GB
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Andrew Hornery reports the inquiry into the claims, which stem from an incident in 2016, is underway at Macquarie Media’s 2GB, Sydney’s No.1 talkback radio station.
There is also understood to be a litany of other bullying claims against Hadley made by the same individual, who remains employed at 2GB but has been on leave over the matter since March 25 and is now seeing a psychologist.
The 2GB employee, who the Herald has chosen not to name, made the accusations after becoming aware of similar claims made by Hadley’s former panel operator of 16 years, Chris Bowen.
On Thursday afternoon Macquarie Media chief executive Adam Lang said any complaints from staff were the subject of “a confidential process”.
“Regarding your query about a serving employee making a recent complaint about Mr Hadley, claims and complaints received are handled by way of a confidential process between the person complaining, the person being investigated and the company,” he said.
Television
Andrew Knight, Daina Reid honoured by Film Victoria
Andrew Knight was recognised with the 2019 Jan Sardi Award for his significant achievements as a screenwriter.
His body of work includes Fast Forward, Full Frontal, SeaChange, Jack Irish, The Water Diviner, Ali’s Wedding and Hacksaw Ridge which landed a BAFTA nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2017.
Daina Reid was awarded the 2019 Fred Schepisi Award for significant achievement in directing.
Her credits include Blue Heelers, The Secret Life of Us, Rush, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Offspring, Paper Giants, Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War, Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS, The Secret River, Sunshine and I Love You Too. She received a Directors Guild of America nomination for The Handmaid’s Tale. Reid is currently filming in Canada.
‘Desperate ratings war against MAFS’: MKR’s Victor slams TV show
Melbourne-based bartender Victor Aeberli was this week embroiled in the cooking show’s first so-called sex scandal, with his secret relationship with competitor Piper O’Neill raising eyebrows and questions of a conflict of interest.
He’s also been shown as intimidating and antisocial in some of his scenes on the show, the most controversial of which saw him spinning a knife at the table during one of the dinner parties.
Now, Victor has spoken out about his portrayal and blames the Seven Network’s ratings war with Nine’s Married at First Sight – as well as his tendency to challenge production requests – for his “horrible” edit.
“I thought season 10 would be different. Apparently I was wrong. They’re in this desperate ratings war against MAFS. Some days we’d film until five o’clock in the morning.”
Having learnt his reality TV lesson the hard way, Victor’s advice to other Australians who find themselves in a hostile reality TV environment is simple: remove yourself from the situation.
Endgame: on the set of the final chapter of TV’s biggest show
Hollywood, and its warming glow, may be a universe away yet we are standing in the epicentre of HBO’s critical and commercial jewel, and the world’s biggest television show, the fantasy drama Game of Thrones, which is filming its eighth and final season.
For one of the show’s biggest stars, the 32-year-old British actor Kit Harington, all of that doesn’t sit too badly on his resume as a first television gig out of drama school.
“[My life] post-Thrones, as it were, it’s a strange thing to think about,” Harington says. “I’ve never been in an institution as long as this, not school, not anything. The experience I’ve had is more significant than any experience of my life. It’s as big as it gets.”
On the set – that is, ankle deep in the mud at Winterfell – the scale of Game of Thrones is inescapable. Everything is immense: the locations, and the aptly named Titanic Studios in Belfast, which is home to the show’s vast production operation, cavernous sets and art and costume departments.
Other locations, past and present, include Malta, Iceland, Croatia and Spain. At its peak the series ran three units, six directing teams and a company of more than 250 actors and almost 800 crew.
Tim Goodman: ‘Game of Thrones’ one of TV's all-time greatest dramas
The best advice I can give you about this season and the series finale is: Just watch. You can’t control the outcome. Reading the tea leaves of teasers and trailers is going to lead you up the garden path.
Beyond that, half the people will hate the ending and the other half will split themselves into atoms debating how it was sort of satisfying but could have been better if X, Y and Z happened. It’s better to just be happy you got to see it at all.
Which brings up a question I’ve been pondering for a while now: When Game of Thrones finishes, how high will it rank among the all-time great dramas?
Answer: High. Very high.
Sports Media
ESPN Acquires Exclusive Rights to the Emirates FA Cup in Australia
ESPN has reached a multi-year agreement for exclusive rights to the Emirates FA Cup, the oldest and longest-running domestic cup competition in soccer. The agreement grants ESPN exclusive rights across Australia, Latin America (Spanish-speaking) and the Caribbean, effective from 2019.
The agreement will bring 79 Emirates FA Cup matches – beginning with First Round and running through the Finals – to ESPN networks in Australia. ESPN’s networks are available to subscribers on Foxtel, Kayo Sports and Fetch.
The deal kicks off this Sunday, April 7 with the 2019 semifinals featuring Manchester City F.C. facing Brighton & Hove Albion live at 2.25am AEDT, followed by Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Watford F.C Monday April 8 live at 12.55am AEDT.
Additional content will be featured across ESPN platforms, including Emirates FA Cup highlights and the FA Community Shield, the annual football match between Emirates FA Cup and Premier League titleholders to start the English football season, which is also part of the deal.
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Photo: Luke Shaw of Manchester United during the The 2019 FA Cup 5th round match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge
Port Adelaide coach joins SEN SA breakfast and SEN’s Whateley shows
Hinkley will appear alongside Kane Cornes and Andrew Hayes every Tuesday on breakfast.
Hinkley joins Port Adelaide star player Robbie Gray, as well as Adelaide Crows vice captain Josh Jenkins, as regular guests on the program.
Kane Cornes
The new partnership with Crocmedia also sees Hinkley feature on Whateley – Gerard Whateley’s signature show, broadcast into both Adelaide on 1629 SEN SA and Melbourne on 1116 SEN – every six weeks.
The Port Adelaide coach will continue a recurring spot on the Crocmedia produced Sportsday SA, broadcast into Fiveaa and Triple M Mt Gambier.
Host of 1629 SEN SA breakfast Kane Cornes said Hinkley would provide compelling radio each week for football fans.
“We pride ourselves on being the show for all local footy fans – Adelaide, Port Adelaide, SANFL and local supporters,” Cornes said.
“Our commitment to calling SANFL games and the opinions of voices like Josh Jenkins speak to that aspiration. To have added my former coach in Ken is a real coup for our show and 1629 SEN SA.”