Friday February 1, 2019
MKR's Pete Evans & Manu Feildel with Mediaweek Getting down to business:- Manu on endorsements, Pete’s TV productions
By James Manning
Mediaweek has also released separate podcasts with both Pete Evans and Manu Feildel.
Listen to the podcast here or on iTunes.
You seem to have a great relationship with Seven. Remind us of your work in addition to MKR?
Manu: I have done My France With Manu three times – I have visited two coasts and then done a zigzag from Paris to Champagne down to the Pyrenees. We go away for three weeks at a time and do about 20 stories in three weeks. It is go, go, go with a team of seven in a van. It is not glamorous, but I enjoy it so much.
We then did Around The World With Manu on a trip visiting London, Dubai, Mumbai, Calcutta, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York and back to London in six weeks. It was full on as well.
Then we did the southern states of America [Manu’s American Road Trip] from Miami to Texas, which was again three weeks with 3,000km of driving.
This year I was going to California but it has been pushed into next year.
It is great Seven is giving me the opportunity to let me do other things I enjoy.
My Kitchen Rules is the big picture – six months shooting, it is long, it is tiring and after it is over I need to go away and have a good holiday.
I love the other shows – it would be any chef’s dream to travel the world and eat food.
Would you like to do more shows in Europe?
Manu: To be honest with you I have seen more of Europe since I was living in Australia than when I was living in Europe. The things that I love about Europe are the history and the food.
What commercial arrangement do you have?
Manu: Obela is a company that makes hummus and other dips. I have been with them for nearly three years and it is a great relationship. There is a lot of hummus on the market. They approached me three years ago, but I said I was not really interested. They persuaded me to come and see them at their office. They had all the dips on a table without the labels for a taste test. I had to taste all of them and tell them which was the best. I pointed to one, and bloody hell, it was Obela. They sold me straight away with that.
I have also been working with Campbell’s for nearly six years. We might be on the way out though as we are not thinking the same any more. That is how it works, you can’t always agree on everything.
I signed up with Hoyts Cinemas last year and created a menu for their Lux experience. It has been difficult to set up in cinemas around the country with different sized kitchens and different types of cooks. We got it working well and have re-signed with them this year.
I have also signed with Home WA and I have endorsed the kitchen in their homes.
I have also become the Australian Egg ambassador. I didn’t even know there was such a thing. There are so many things you can do with eggs.
Seven has also introduced me to Finder.com.au and I have just done some ads for them.
Do you still write cook books?
Manu: I have stopped the books. It is a lot of work and was taking me a long time. It takes over a year to put together. To be honest with you there are enough cookbooks on the market.
What sells now is health and I am not that guy.
Has any other network approached you to change channels?
Manu: Funny that. I wonder if the reason why is that they may not be able to offer me anything else. It would be funny for people who become the face of a channel to jump ship. Seven has looked after me very well and we have a great relationship and no one is offering me any better so I am happy.
—
Pete Evan’s growing TV production business
Pete: I have two different programs on Netflix. There is a documentary called The Magic Pill, which has gone global and a TV series called The Paleo Way, which is a cooking series.
I am starting a new documentary this week filming in the US and Canada on the cannabis industry and the health implications that are associated with CBD oil and cannabis.
I self fund these productions myself – these are my passion projects. I have always had a passion for film and my dream has been to be a director.
I also have another documentary planned for 2020 and another TV series probably for 2022. I love being in front of the camera, but I also love to create and produce shows.
I have three cookbooks coming out this year. I create the content and hire the photographers and stylists. I do things very uniquely in the publishing world and the television and film world.
I also have a strong belief I will find a home for my work because I think my work is important and they are projects that will change people’s lives.
I get many, many emails and messages about how somebody’s life has been changed by the work we are doing on these other projects.
I love being an employee of Seven’s and it helps me push my creative side into making other content. I love the balance of the two worlds.
Podcast Week: Howie with Warnie, Taste.com.au, The Guardian
By James Manning
PodcastOne’s Mark Howard has launched the fifth series of The Howie Games with a not-to-be-missed two-part interview with cricketing legend Shane Warne. Among the many gems unearthed in the interview is just how much Warnie loves his music. He tells Howie he has been to 30 Bruce Springsteen concerts.
In this series Howie also has a two-part podcast with another cricket legend, Ellyse Perry.
Listen to The Howie Games here
Slow Burn, Joe Rogan and NPR win at new US Podcast Awards
The first-ever iHeartRadio Podcast Awards in the US have recognised podcasts in over 20 categories including True Crime, Comedy, Music, Health, History, Entertainment, and more.
Taking home the coveted title of Podcast of the Year was Slow Burn, produced by Slate Plus, and hosted by Leon Neyfakh. The show touches on major political scandals including the impeachment of President Bill Clinton and his controversy with Monica Lewinsky (season two) and the Watergate scandal (season one).
Other winners of the night included Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert from Breakout Podcast, Joe Rogan’s The Joe Rogan Experience for Best Comedy Podcast, Jana Kramer’s Whine Down for Best Entertainment TV Podcast, and many others.
NPR was also honoured with the first-ever iHeartRadio Podcast Pioneer Award. The radio network was recognised for being a driving and innovative force in the creation of the podcasting industry with the renowned non-profit multimedia organisation’s groundbreaking contributions to podcasting’s expanding role in today’s popular culture.
Taste.com.au launches Eat Real Unwrapped
Taste.com.au has released a new six-part podcast series Eat Real Unwrapped.
The new podcast busts the myths and breaks down the barriers to healthy eating, bringing in leading experts and scientists from Australia and around the world. The series leads listeners step-by-step in easy, tasty bites to a foundation eating plan that can be built on and personalised, episode by episode, to create an eating plan for life.
Taste.com.au editor-in-chief Brodee Myers said: “It’s time to get real about healthy eating and through this podcast series we’re going to do just that.
“There is so much confusion and so many myths around healthy eating. It’s almost like cracking a cold case. It’s not quite true crime meets nutrition, but the life you save could be your own.
Brodee Myers
“Our ultimate goal is pretty lofty. We want to change the way Australians are eating, embracing healthy eating because they want to, not because they have to. We want to get there without banning foods or compromising the joy of food. We want to knock down every barrier that’s standing in the way psychologically and physically, whether it’s know-how, inclination or FOMO around exciting food experiences.”
Created and produced by taste.com.au the podcast is hosted by Brodee Myers.
To accompany the series taste.com.au will release a raft of new content. Each episode links to meal plans, articles and tools for listeners to put the science into action.
The Eat Real Unwrapped podcast series is sponsored by Massel’s certified organic stocks.
Listen to the Taste.com.au podcast here.
Guardian Australia podcast features lesser-known wildlife
Hosted by Benjamin Law, a new podcast for Guardian Australia showcases unusual creatures that often don’t receive the attention they deserve.
Animal-lovers Benjamin Law and zoologist-turned-filmmaker Chris McCormack explore Australia’s unusual fauna in Look At Me, a new six-part podcast series that launched this week.
Ben Law, said: “Like all kids in the antipodes and beyond, I’ve always had a soft-spot for Australian fauna. Kangaroos, wombats, platypuses and echidnas – how could you not love these loveable and outrageously odd critters? What I didn’t know before signing up to this project was how odd they can get. We’re talking about nightmarish giant worms carving through the earth and the sluttiest cephalopods you can imagine. (Of course, I’m saying this in a slut-positive way.) I can’t see Australian animals the same way now, and I doubt you will too.”
Lenore Taylor, Guardian Australia editor, said: “In a world full of political upheaval and bitter debate there is something wonderful about a series focussing on the fascinating attributes and habits of some seriously weird Australian creatures.”
The Look At Me podcast is supported by the Australian Conservation Foundation and produced by Remember The Wild in collaboration with Guardian Australia.
The series is overseen by Guardian Australia’s award-winning podcast producer Miles Martignoni who also produces Guardian Australia’s Politics Live podcast and #MeToo podcast, Witch Hunt.
Listen to the first episode of Look At Me here.
Nine’s 60 Minutes reminds about True Crime podcasts
In addition to reporting the best TV current affairs, Nine’s 60 Minutes has reminded listeners about the podcast series True Crime, which features a deeper look at five of the most unforgettable – and heinous – crime stories in recent memory. The 60 Minutes True Crime podcasts have featured in a five podcast series:
• Catching A Monster (Peter Scully)
• Where Is Baby Tegan? (Keli Lane)
• The Whole Hoax (Belle Gibson)
• Gable Tostee – The Interview
• Samantha Knight – Never Forgotten
Listen to the True Crime podcasts here.
Mediaweek podcast- Pete Evans: My Kitchen Rules turns 10
He takes us behind the scenes on the show and talks about his best and worst days. He also details his growing media empire away from the hit Seven series and why he gets bombarded on social media when people don’t understand the format properly.
Mediaweek podcast: Manu Feildel- My Kitchen Rules turns 10
He talks about his early days on the show and reveals the six chefs who tried to get on MasterChef before he joined MKR. He takes us on his MKR journey and tells about all his other Seven projects. Manu goes through his long list of endorsements and we ask if anybody has tried to poach him from Seven over the years!
Sydney gets Saturday Nova breakfast with Matt, Sarah & Matty J
Australian Bachelor and media personality Matty J teams up again with Matt De Groot and Sarah McGilvray, from Nova 96.9’s Fitzy & Wippa breakfast show, on Saturday mornings from 2 February.
Matty J said, “Two weeks over summer was so amazing that I had to come back for more…If I’m going to be a good Dad I need even more practice at dragging myself out of bed at an ungodly hour, and I’m incredibly thankful to Nova for the opportunity. The two infants I’m lucky enough to co-host with will make great training too.”
The show is promising a mix of music, interviews and topical and entertainment news as well as updates on Matty J and Sarah’s respective pregnancies and Matt’s upcoming wedding.
Matt De Groot said “Our two week summer-fling didn’t feel near long enough, so it’s great to get the chance to turn it into a full blown relationship. Being the first weekend show on Nova here in Sydney for years is a huge honour and one that isn’t lost on us. Our only aim is to have as much fun on the air as we have off it.”
Sarah added, “Five alarm clocks wasn’t enough, so I jumped at the chance for a sixth morning on air. Plus the chance to work with two good looking guys for a change. Impossible to turn down.”
Matt, Sarah and Matty J can be heard Saturdays from 6am-8am on Nova 96.9 in Sydney.
Super Bowl LIII live on ESPN with broadcast for Australia & NZ
For the first time, ESPN ANZ is producing an exclusive live broadcast of the game for Australia & New Zealand viewers, called by ESPN Monday Night Football’s team of Joe Tessitore, two-time Super Bowl winner Booger McFarland (Tampa Bay Buccaneers & Indianapolis Colts) and 11-time Pro Bowler and Dallas Cowboys legend Jason Witten.
ESPN will produce more than 40 hours of live programming from Atlanta including an Australia/New Zealand 30-minute pre-game show starting at 9.30am. Hosted by Joe Tessitore, the show includes the countdown to kickoff, the most up to date game analysis, pre-game entertainment and the national anthem.
Leading brands including Mercedes-Benz, Subway, NIB, Holden, BFGoodrich and Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel have been confirmed as premier partners for the broadcast.
Nik Weber, head of Disney ESPN Media sales & partnerships said: “We are thrilled to have these brands on board and look forward to connecting them with our Super Bowl audience using a collection of premium integrations and sponsorships. These never before achievable opportunities are a direct result of ESPN’s Monday Night Football team producing and calling the game specifically for the Australia and New Zealand audience. It’s a really exciting proposition for both our advertising partners and our fans.”
ESPN TV Shows Originating from Atlanta (all times AEDT):
• SportsCenter On the Road Sage Steele will host noon segments and the full 6 p.m. ET SportsCenter Wednesday through Friday, Steve Levy will host late night segments Wednesday through Sunday, and Michael Eaves will join Levy for postgame coverage live from the field following Super Bowl LIII. NFL analysts Tedy Bruschi, Ryan Clark, Matt Hasselbeck, Booger McFarland, Jeff Saturday, Charles Woodson and Darren Woodson and insiders Louis Riddick, Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will contribute to SportsCenter throughout the week.
• First Take (ESPN 2 Thursday – Saturday at 2am replays at 9am): ESPN’s popular morning debate show featuring Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman and host Molly Qerim Rose will be live from the Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart. The show, which is free and open to the public, will welcome a full lineup of sports and entertainment guests.
• NFL Live (Thursday – Saturday at 5.30am ): Hosts Wendi Nix (Wed, Thu) and Suzy Kolber (Fri) will be joined by Super Bowl champions Tedy Bruschi, Ryan Clark, Booger McFarland and Darren Woodson and NFL Insiders Louis Riddick, Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter.
• NFL Matchup (Monday 1.30am and 4am on ESPN 2): Trey Wingo will break down Patriots-Rams with NFL writer and analyst Matt Bowen and NFL Films’ Greg Cosell.
• Postseason NFL Countdown (Monday at 2am): Suzy Kolber, former Super Bowl MVP Steve Young and insiders Louis Riddick, Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will kick off ESPN’s four-hour Super Bowl pre-game show from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Countdown will also feature host Sam Ponder, Super Bowl XL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, Hall of Famer Randy Moss and Super Bowl champions Rex Ryan and Charles Woodson, all based at ESPN’s main set in Centennial Olympic Park.
• Super Bowl Pre-Game Show (Monday 9.30am): Joe Tessitore hosts ESPN’s pre-game coverage, joined by a range of guests.
• Super Bowl LIVE Broadcast (Monday 10am): the exclusive live broadcast of the game for Australia & New Zealand viewers, called by Joe Tessitore, Booger McFarland and Jason Witten.
• NFL PrimeTime (Monday at 2.30pm): Chris Berman, Randy Moss and Steve Young will deliver highlights and conduct interviews from the field following the game.
• Throughout the week, Sal Paolantonio (covering the Patriots) and Josina Anderson (Rams) will report on the Super Bowl teams, and Dianna Russini (ESPN Social) and Dan Graziano (ESPN.com) will provide additional updates from Atlanta.
ESPN Digital
ESPN’s digital coverage of Super Bowl LIII will feature analysis, commentary, breaking news, video and more across ESPN.com and the ESPN App leading up to, during and after the game. ESPN.com’s roster of on-site journalists includes NFL senior writers Dan Graziano, Mike Sando, Mina Kimes, Ian O’Connor, Kevin Van Valkenburg and Seth Wickersham, NFL Nation reporters Mike Reiss (covering the Patriots), Lindsey Thiry (Rams), and Kevin Seifert (with the biggest, best, and controversial calls, and a full review), analyst Bill Barnwell (with a postgame breakdown of how the game was won), and more.
Mercardo on TV: Fantastic drama and laugh-out-loud reality
As always, hosts Julia Morris and Dr Chris Brown have been on fire together (which bodes very well for their Sunday Night Takeaway coming soon), and production has been first rate. The celebrity challenges have been more extreme than ever, and hearing Richard Reid scream, while being electrocuted as he ran around with rotting food, is the funniest moment on TV this year.
Coming a close second is Married At First Sight, a show that now has its formula down pat. A first time viewer might think the show is all about happy-ever-after, given how well all the “weddings” seem to go. It’s only long-term viewers who know this is never a fairytale – scrutinise the background action for clues as to how it will all unravel. Clue number one – any bride who has a heavily tattooed brother and a father who used to be a boxer, is probably going to turn out to be a handful. And particularly when she is a “city girl” paired up with a regional farmer. Nobody needs another season of The Farmer Wants A Wife to know that this rarely turns out well.
As for MKR, sorry guys, but given I am hooked on those other shows, there is simply no time for your 10th anniversary season. And are you really going to continue starting it from 7pm? If Home And Away isn’t rating what it used to, maybe you need to look back over its 30 year history, because it’s been down and come back up before. What brings viewers back is a hot new storyline (i.e. not another tired tale about bad boys and drugs) and/or the return of a fan favourite (and Kate Ritchie has already told TV Week she won’t say no if “Mr Stewart” asks nicely).
This would be a good time to revamp Home And Away because Aussie drama could be on a roll. Bloom, which dropped on Stan for New Years Day, was brilliant, and I could not fault that cast of Bryan Brown, Jacki Weaver, John Stanton, Anne Charleston, Terry Norris, Rod Mullinar and Ryan Corr.
The Cry, which premieres on ABC this Sunday, is just as compelling. Strictly speaking, it is a BBC production, but there has been some assistance from ABC, not to mention the great Victorian scenery and Aussie actors like Ewen Leslie, Asher Keddie and Alex Dimitriades. The whole series will be available to binge from Sunday on iview and that is exactly what I will be doing…as soon as MAFS and I’m A Celeb finish. It’s going to be a very late night.
—
Top Photo: The Cry
TV Ratings Analysis: January 31
Week 5 2019 – Summer schedule – Thursday
By James Manning
FTA early evening TV news
• Seven News 934,000 and 887,000
• Nine News 833,000 and 824,000
• ABC News 641,000
• 10 News First 414,000
• SBS World News 120,000
Breakfast TV
• Sunrise 285,000
• Today 203,000
• ABC News Breakfast 111,000
Week 5 Reality Battle
Married At First Sight
• Monday 1,003,000
• Tuesday 955,000
• Wednesday 1,027,000
• Thursday 1,001,000
My Kitchen Rules
• Monday 816,000
• Tuesday 814,000
• Wednesday 789,000
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here
• Sunday 681,000/647,000
• Monday 676,000
• Tuesday 605,000
• Wednesday 569,000
• Thursday 606,000
Seven
The channel’s primary share dropped to 16.6% after three successive nights above 20%. The Big Bash League was no match for My Kitchen Rules. The game between Hobart and Adelaide did 390,000 for the first session and then 402,000 for the second.
Nine
After two nights just under 700,000, A Current Affair climbed just over the 700,000 mark.
Married At First Sight did strong business again and has now smashed past 1m metro three out of four nights. The 2018 series didn’t crack 1m metro until its third week on air.
A second episode of New Amsterdam then followed with 508,000 after it launched with 608,000 on Wednesday night.
10
Claire Hooper was a guest on The Project with 421,000 tuned in after 7pm.
The Thursday episode of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! managed to rank #1 under 50 for the night behind MAFS. The episode offered much for fans of the format – tears, testicles, tantrums, subtle digs, awkward family dinner chat and a game of snog, marry and avoid! The episode was up from the Wednesday numbers marginally to 606,000.
The final episode of The Conners then did 316,000.
ABC
Escape From The City visited Toowoomba this week with 423,000 watching. The format is faithful to the UK original, but some of the properties on offer aren’t very tempting. And why are some episodes disappearing from iview already?
Week 5 TV: Thursday
| THURSDAY METRO | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven | Nine | 10 | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 10.9% | 7 | 16.6% | 9 | 23.8% | 10 | 12.2% | SBS One | 4.0% |
| ABC 2 | 2.4% | 7TWO | 3.4% | GO! | 3.6% | 10 Bold | 4.0% | VICELAND | 1.5% |
| ABC ME | 0.7% | 7mate | 2.7% | GEM | 3.4% | 10 Peach | 2.4% | Food Net | 1.3% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.7% | 7flix | 2.1% | 9Life | 1.8% | NITV | 0.1% | ||
| 7Food | 1.4% | ||||||||
| TOTAL | 15.7% | 26.2% | 32.6% | 18.6% | 6.8% | ||||
| THURSDAY REGIONAL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Seven Affiliates | Nine Affiliates | 10 Affiliates | SBS | |||||
| ABC | 11.4% | 7 | 17.2% | 9 | 18.2% | WIN | 12.9% | SBS One | 3.4% |
| ABC 2 | 2.7% | 7TWO | 5.1% | GO! | 3.9% | WIN Bold | 3.7% | VICELAND | 1.8% |
| ABC ME | 0.8% | 7mate | 3.3% | GEM | 5.6% | WIN Peach | 2.0% | Food Net | 0.8% |
| ABC NEWS | 1.5% | 7flix | 2.4% | 9Life | 2.3% | Sky News on WIN | 0.7% | NITV | 0.4% |
| TOTAL | 16.4% | 28.0% | 30.0% | 19.3% | 6.4% | ||||
| THURSDAY METRO ALL TV | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTA | STV | ||||||||
| 85.2% | 14.8% | ||||||||
THURSDAY FTA
- Married At First Sight – Nine 1,001,000
- Seven News Seven 934,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 887,000
- Nine News Nine 833,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 824,000
- A Current Affair Nine 708,000
- ABC News ABC 641,000
- I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! 10 606,000
- 7.30 ABC 510,000
- New Amsterdam Nine 508,000
- The Chase Australia Seven 490,000
- Escape From The City ABC 423,000
- Hot Seat Nine 423,000
- The Project 7pm 10 421,000
- 10 News First 10 414,000
- Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League – Hobart V Ade S2 Seven 402,000
- Grand Designs Australia ABC 392,000
- Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League – Hobart V Ade S1 Seven 390,000
- Seven’s Cricket: Big Bash League – Hobart V Ade Inn Brk Seven 364,000
- The Chase Australia-5pm Seven 330,000
Demo Top 5
16-39 Top Five
- Married At First Sight – Nine 279,000
- I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! 10 142,000
- Seven News Seven 127,000
- Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 118,000
- New Amsterdam Nine 107,000
18-49 Top Five
- Married At First Sight – Nine 466,000
- I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! 10 275,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 213,000
- Seven News Seven 209,000
- New Amsterdam Nine 200,000
25-54 Top Five
- Married At First Sight – Nine 500,000
- I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! 10 313,000
- Nine News 6:30 Nine 268,000
- Nine News Nine 250,000
- Seven News Seven 246,000
THURSDAY Multichannel
- NCIS (R) 10 Bold 149,000
- Death In Paradise 9Gem 140,000
- Father Brown PM 7TWO 140,000
- Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom ABCKIDS/COMEDY 130,000
- Deepwater Horizon 9GO! 129,000
- Neighbours 10 Peach 123,000
- Hawaii Five-O (R) 10 Bold 122,000
- Midsomer Murders 9Gem 115,000
- Floogals AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 114,000
- Dino Dana ABCKIDS/COMEDY 113,000
- Hawaii Five-O Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 111,000
- Murdoch Mysteries PM 7TWO 111,000
- Bondi Rescue Ep 2 (R) 10 Bold 111,000
- Peppa Pig AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 111,000
- Young Sheldon – (R) 9GO! 111,000
- Noddy Toyland Detective PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 111,000
- Hey Duggee AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 110,000
- Dot. AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 109,000
- Young Sheldon Tx1 – (R) 9GO! 108,000
- Peter Rabbit ABCKIDS/COMEDY 108,000
THURSDAY STV
- Live: Between The Innings FOX CRICKET 205,000
- Live: BBL: Hurricanes V Strikers FOX CRICKET 185,000
- Live: BBL: Hurricanes V Strikers FOX CRICKET 182,000
- Ron Iddles: The Good Cop crime + investigation 73,000
- Live: B4 The Bash! FOX CRICKET 64,000
- Live: BBL Post Game FOX CRICKET 58,000
- Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 49,000
- The Bolt Report Sky News Live 48,000
- Gold Rush Discovery Channel 45,000
- Call The Midwife BBC First 42,000
- Yes, Prime Minister FOX Classics 38,000
- Outback Opal Hunters Discovery Channel 37,000
- Family Guy FOX8+2 36,000
- American Dad! FOX8+2 36,000
- High Plains Drifter FOX Classics 33,000
- Homicide Hunter crime + investigation 32,000
- Criminal Minds TVH!TS 31,000
- Bones TVH!TS 30,000
- Criminal Minds TVH!TS 30,000
- Grand Designs House Of The Year LifeStyle Channel 30,000
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
Grant Broadcasters appoints head of national sales & marketing
Simpson (pictured) will now be responsible for all national revenue through Grant Broadcasters’ sales representation company TRSN, as well as a range of other sales and marketing projects for the broader group.
Grant Broadcasters’ new COO, Rick Lenarcic, announced the appointment this week and said: “The time is now right for us to consolidate the operations of TRSN under one senior executive. Jeremy has a huge amount of experience leading national sales teams and he also knows how to work effectively with local station managers. We will also utilise Jeremy’s extensive management experience across the wider Grant Broadcasters company.”
“I have worked closely with the TRSN teams for the past two years and know that we deliver an excellent service to our agency and client partners. Combining the 53 Grant Broadcasters stations with our incredibly strong independent network partners we have the largest portfolio of regional radio stations in Australia, so for a small team we pack a powerful punch,” said Simpson.
Simpson will join Grant Broadcasters’ senior leadership team reporting directly to Rick Lenarcic. The appointment is effective immediately.
As well as interests in 53 regional radio stations, Grant owns a sales representation company (TRSN) representing a further 70 independent radio networks and stations, publish several local lifestyle magazines and have a significant online presence in local markets.
BBC First acquires new channel sponsor ahead of returning series
Cunard will become the channel sponsor for BBC First from Sunday, February 3. The sponsorship comes as BBC First with a deal that includes sponsorship of a string of returning dramas: Tin Star, Victoria, Death In Paradise and Shetland.
Tin Star series 2 begins Tuesday, February 19 at 8.30pm.
Series 3 of Victoria launches Thursday March 14.
The eighth series of Death In Paradise is already screening on Fridays at 8.30pm.
The murder-mystery Shetland returns soon for its fourth series.
The four-month package, developed by Multi Channel Network, will see BBC Studios’ produce a suite of assets that will give Cunard the ability to align their brand into premium environments across BBC First’s TV, and social platforms. These include integrated billboards, partnership spots and behind-the scenes footage giving viewers extra insight into these much-loved returning dramas.
Facebook’s shares surge as advertisers ignore scandals
The company said fourth-quarter sales were US$16.91 billion, ahead of the $16.4 billion analysts expected, with earnings topping expectations. The results sparked a share surge of more than 11% in pre-market trading in New York, poised to hit their highest level since late September.
Facebook’s audience grew, bolstering its ability to collect data from users that can lure advertisers. Daily active users averaged 1.52 billion in December, up 9% from a year earlier and slightly ahead of Wall Street forecasts. The company also reported an uptick in users in mature markets like Europe, which investors were concerned had reached saturation.
Executives were upbeat on a conference call with analysts, citing user numbers to argue that privacy travails and concern about Facebook’s role in society haven’t damaged the business much. They also said it’s possible to fix those issues while expanding the business.
ABC board meeting today: Michelle Guthrie back on the agenda
Dominating the agenda of the first ABC board meeting of the year: the ineffable Guthrie and the legal case she has launched against the national broadcaster, the ABC’s former chair Justin Milne and three of the board’s current members: investment banker Joseph Gersh, executive coach Donny Walford and Minerals Council of Australia chair Vanessa Guthrie.
The first case management hearing of Guthrie’s general protections action will be heard on Tuesday in Sydney’s Federal Court by Justice Jayne Jagot (dubbed “Triple J” at Ultimo).
News Brands
Clementine Ford departs Nine: Quit or fired, but she’s gone
“Clementine Ford has been a contributor for The Herald and The Age for the past seven years and we thank her for her work over that time,” Monique Farmer, life editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, said in a statement provided by a Nine spokesperson.
However The Australian’s Deborah Cornwall reports – Feminist “warrior” Clementine Ford sacked by Nine:
Nine Entertainment has claimed its first scalp since taking over the Fairfax Media stable, sacking its most incendiary columnist, self-styled feminist warrior Clementine Ford, after she called Scott Morrison a “f..king disgrace”.
Nine insiders told The Australian Ford had been on notice for some time and management would not continue to tolerate her abuse and often breathtakingly aggressive delivery.
By yesterday morning, Ford had already gone into crowd-funding mode, begging her social media followers for financial support.
She posted a link to her Patreon account yesterday asking people to pledge money online.
Foreign journalists and Chinese assistants harassed claims new report
Journalists covering the sensitive area of Xinjiang, in the northwest, facing increasing harassment by security officials, according to a report issued this week by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China.
The report reveals increasing pressure on journalists working for the ABC in China, with its former correspondent Matthew Carney under surveillance in his home and office and given only a short extension of his visa after reporting on a trip to Xinjiang.
“I had a high level of surveillance of my home and office, on phone, all communications apps: WeChat, Gmail, ABC email, malware on my phone,” he said in the report released on Wednesday.
Carney, who returned to Australia in December and is now the executive producer of ABC TV’s Foreign Correspondent, said in the report that two interviews with Chinese authorities last year for his visa renewal had been “angry, confrontational and threatening”.
Radio
Radio teams broadcasting from Radio Row ahead of Super Bowl
They stopped off in Los Angeles where McGuire was on the red carpet at the G’Day USA event. He was later reporting from the Staples Centre for an NBA clash between the Lakers and the Sixers, where he spoke with Aussie NBA superstar Ben Simmons after the game.
This morning Luke and Eddie were hosting the show live from Radio Row in Atlanta. Travelling with the team is executive producer Michael James who has been doing roving interviews from the Super Bowl media centre.
Also broadcasting from Atlanta this week has been 1116 SEN hosts Gerard Whateley and Garry Lyon.
The SEN Melbourne breakfast show was split between Atlanta and Melbourne with co-host Tim Watson remaining behind. Guests this morning from the US included the WBC Heavyweight Champion of the World Deontay Wilder. Lyon shared a Tim Tam with the boxing champ on air.
Weekend radio listeners will be able to hear Saturday morning networked SEN show Off The Bench coming from Radio Row with host Craig Hutchison also in Atlanta after anchoring the show from the Sundance Film Festival a week ago.
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Top Photo: SEN’s Garry Lyon in Atlanta this morning from Radio Row
Sports Media
Fox Cricket commentator calls for review of Big Bash season
The likes of Michael Vaughan, Neroli Meadows and Mark Howard have become stars in their own right as part of Fox Sports’ expanded coverage but even the former concedes CA has to review the competition.
Vaughan says something has to give if riches on offer elsewhere or the length of the tournament are to blame for a decline in international star power.
“When players are choosing to play in Bangladesh over playing in the Big Bash, that’s what I’d be worried about and I’d be asking why,” Fox Cricket expert Vaughan said.
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