With the launch of our Mediaweek Premium content offering recently, we are launching a subscriber drive.

Although Mediaweek receives advertising revenue, our business model continues to be very much a mix of subscriber revenue and ad dollars.

Subscribers can sign on for $19.95 a month, $199 a year, or a statewide company sub can be had for $995 (all good deals given our magazine pricing was $649 a year).

Become a Mediaweek subscriber here.

Joining Mediaweek’s James Manning at 2.30pm today on Sky News Business (Foxtel 602):

• Damian Eales, News Corp Australia’s chief operating officer, Publishing
• Julian Delany, managing director of News Digital Networks
• Lou Barrett, managing director, National Sales at News Corp

At the start of the conference call, Lachlan Murdoch said, as is company practice, they would not be commenting on market speculation as he alluded to reports of a Comcast bid for the entertainment assets Disney is planning on acquiring.

The brothers did comment that any offers would of course be evaluated and the board of directors was well aware of its fiduciary duty to all shareholders.

Lachlan highlighted some of the best performing assets and content over the quarter:

• Earnings at the cable networks with 16% growth
• Fox News had its best quarter earnings ever
• Strong performance from the film studios, in particular Three Billboards and The Greatest Showman. He also mentioned next week’s release of Deadpool 2

With work progressing on the Disney transaction, Lachlan said the board hoped to be ready to ask for shareholder approval of the “New Fox” during the US summer.

Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

In a statement on the results, executive chairmen Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch said:

“We continue to make operational and financial progress against near-term objectives as we also work to close our strategic transactions. Our cable segment delivered its highest earnings ever in our fiscal third quarter, propelled by sustained double-digit gains in domestic affiliate revenues. Creatively, we are firing on all cylinders. Our stand-out programming continues to drive up the value of our video brands to distributors, as well as build our direct relationship with consumers, as we’re demonstrating with the successful inaugural season of Indian Premiere League on Star Sports and Hotstar platforms. Our film studio delivered box-office and awards momentum that we expect to continue with the upcoming release of Deadpool 2.”

Operational Highlights

Cable Network Programming

Cable Network Programming quarterly segment OIBDA increased 16% compared to the prior year quarter to $1.68 billion, driven by a 10% revenue increase on higher affiliate, syndication and advertising revenues partially offset by a 6% increase in expenses. The increase in expenses was primarily due to the first year of sublicensed Big Ten rights and higher sports and entertainment programming costs at Fox Networks Group International (“FNG International”), partially offset by lower sports programming costs at STAR India (“STAR”) due to a shift in timing of cricket matches.

Domestic affiliate revenue increased 10% driven by contractual rate increases across all of our domestic brands and domestic advertising revenue increased 3% from the prior year period due to higher pricing at Fox News. Domestic OIBDA contributions increased 15% over the prior year quarter reflecting strong growth across all of our domestic brands.

International affiliate revenue increased 14% driven by rate and subscriber growth at both FNG International and STAR. International advertising revenue declined 1% as strong growth at FNG International was offset by the negative impact of a shift in timing of cricket matches at STAR. International OIBDA contributions were 23% higher than the prior year quarter as STAR’s contributions more than doubled but were partially offset by lower contributions at FNG International, where higher costs more than offset the higher reported revenues.

Television

Television reported quarterly segment OIBDA of $78 million, a decrease of $112 million compared to the prior year quarter. The decline principally reflects the absence of advertising revenue and OIBDA generated from the broadcast of the Super Bowl in the prior year quarter. Additionally, this quarter’s results reflect revenue and OIBDA declines from lower National Football League (NFL) post-season ratings and three fewer NFL broadcasts in the current quarter versus the prior year quarter that more than offset double-digit retransmission consent revenue growth and improved entertainment OIBDA contributions.

Filmed Entertainment

Filmed Entertainment generated quarterly segment OIBDA of $286 million, a 23% decrease from the $373 million reported in the prior year quarter. The OIBDA decline reflects lower contributions from the television production business due to higher deficits related to more new drama series delivered during the quarter and the absence of revenues from the prior year subscription-video-on-demand licensing of The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.

Additionally, during the quarter, the Company incurred costs supporting FoxNext Games’s successful inaugural mobile game release, Marvel Strike Force.

Quarterly segment revenues of $2.24 billion were similar to a year ago as higher theatrical revenues at the film studio reflecting the successful worldwide theatrical performances of The Greatest Showman, The Shape of Water and Maze Runner: The Death Cure were offset by lower worldwide syndication revenues at the television production business.

20th Century Fox’s films led the industry in awards season, both in terms of nominations and wins. Our films earned an industry-leading 6 Academy Awards, including Best Picture for The Shape of Water, and 7 Golden Globe Awards, following 27 nominations in both instances, the most of any studio.

By James Manning

The new breakfast host at Macquarie Sports Radio in Melbourne is no stranger to breakfast radio or to listeners of sister station 3AW.

For many years Tony Leonard was the fill-in breakfast host, along with Darren James, for 3AW’s Ross and Dean and then Ross and John shows for many years.

Leonard is also a familiar voice on weekends hosting and commentating some of the AFL games 3AW covers, something he continues to do.

Leonard is also the host of Pub of the Week on Fridays during Neil Mitchell’s #1 3AW morning program.

Of his years filling in for Ross Stevenson, Leonard was under no illusion who the audience really wanted. “No matter how good, entertaining or engaging I might be, people would just be thinking, can we get him off and just get Ross back!” Leonard told Mediaweek.

—

This is an excerpt from the full article, which appears on Mediaweek Premium. Read the full article here, or subscribe to Mediaweek Premium here.

Top photo: Macquarie Sports Radio’s Tony Leonard (L) with Jimmy Bartel and Tony Shaw

By James Manning

One of the few independents left with radio stations in a sizeable single regional market could be in play.

Mediaweek had an unconfirmed report that Ron Camplin’s two Bathurst radio stations – 99.3 B-Rock and 1503 2BS Gold – are about to change hands.

The ownership speculation came just hours after Camplin was awarded a rare international honour.

The elderly regional radio owner has received many awards over the years, but speaking to Mediaweek on Wednesday, Camplin indicated this award was special.

But first things first, what about that ownership speculation? “I’m far too old to be in radio,” laughed Camplin, 87, indicating he might be ready to quit the sector. “When we have something to report we will tell you.” He said he is regularly talking to many people about all sorts of things.

Ron and Stephanie Camplin

He did remind us though that he and his staff continue to have fun running the profitable business in Australia’s fastest-growing inland city.

A likely owner would perhaps be Southern Cross Austereo. When asked about the likelihood of a Bathurst regional acquisition, an SCA spokesperson told Mediaweek they had no comment.

Bathurst Broadcasters changed advertising representation from The Radio Sales Network last year to Southern Cross Austereo radio sales. B-Rock also takes a substantial amount of SCA’s Triple M content including Kennedy Molloy, Luke Bona overnight, My Generation with Ugly Phil and Roy and HG.

Camplin’s award came during the annual International Broadcasters IdeaBank annual conference. The group’s conference was being held in Bathurst for the second time – the first was in 1989 – with a group of 40 Americans invading the fast-growing regional city this week.

The award was the Lifetime Achievement Award for 70 successful years in commercial radio. The Lifetime Achievement Award has only ever been given out five times since 1964 and this was the first time it had been awarded in Australia.

The International Broadcasters IdeaBank is an association of operators who share their learnings, with Camplin telling Mediaweek he had learnt much from the group that he has implemented over the years to his stations. He also noted some of his initiatives have been successfully replicated by other owners around the world too.

Membership of the IdeaBank is restricted to just 100 and no competitors from a member’s market are allowed to join. Although members tend be smaller hands-on operators, they represent some big markets in the US and some members are also on the board of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).

Other members in Australia include ACE Radio and the former major shareholder of Deniliquin’s 2QN and The Edge Dave Robertson.

Pureprofile utilised APN Outdoor’s national digital rail network to encourage commuters to download and engage with their online research panel. Run exclusively through XtrackTV, the campaign yielded a 121% increase in Pureprofile app downloads (compared to the prior 12-week average), as well as a 35% increase in Pureprofile panel registrations during the period.

The campaign, which featured a 15-second TVC on XtrackTV screens across five metro markets, lasted two weeks from January to February 2018 and saw Pureprofile app downloads more than double.

The study found 77% of respondents admitted they “notice or pay attention to XtrackTV”, 73% agreed they “often find themselves looking at the ads to kill time”, while 61% said they like seeing advertising on XtrackTV.

APN Outdoor’s general manager, marketing, Charlotte Valente, said: “The results of our partnership with Pureprofile are incredibly exciting, proving the tangible benefits of the XtrackTV platform in driving immediate action.

“XtrackTV is the only full-motion, audio-enabled, national digital network. This, combined with the strengths of the rail environment in providing a high-dwell, high-frequency, captive audience, truly cements why 67% of participants said they looked into the Pureprofile advertisement immediately while still on the platform.”

Pattie Boyd was the wide-eyed, model face of 60s London who inspired ex-husbands George Harrison and Eric Clapton to write some of the greatest love songs of the 20th century. Boyd has arrived in Australia for shows where she brings her story and a gallery exhibition of her work.

Most famously, Harrison wrote “Something” and “I Need You”. Gripped by the desire to wrest Boyd from the arms of an increasingly errant Beatle, blues-god Clapton wrote “Layla” and, once they were married, “Wonderful Tonight”.

Pattie Boyd and George Harrison on their wedding day

Next week Boyd shares her compelling and entertaining life story to audiences in Sydney and Melbourne (and then Auckland too) during an intimate three hours of George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Me – An Evening with Pattie Boyd for promoter Liberty Stage.

It’s an era that’s been referred to as the “rock-ocracy” of the 60s. Those who moved in that circle included members of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd.

Though a fashion-world icon in her own right, after she met Harrison on the set of A Hard Day’s Night Boyd was carried along by the hysteric adulation of the Beatles era and became one of the world’s most talked about musical muses. She features in Clapton’s recent documentary Life in 12 Bars.

Boyd said: “I think there was definitely a more energetic and vibrant attitude between musicians. I think some of this shows in my photographs – it seems as if the 60s and 70s were a free society with not as many restrictions as [we have] now. Of course, I knew I was living an unusual and exotic life with all these divine people coming in and out of our lives.”

The Exhibition – Blender Gallery, Sydney

As well as the Evening with Pattie Boyd, Sydneysiders will be able to visit her second exhibition in 10 years at the Blender Gallery as part of the city’s annual Head On Photo Festival. It will feature selections from her remarkable archive in an exclusive exhibition.

Pattie Boyd holds a photo of George Harrison

Boyd’s modelling career and marriages put her in the enviable position of being able to take intimate photographs of some of the world’s greatest musicians. Accordingly, her photography documented events – public and personal – around the lives of Harrison, Clapton and their friends. They included Paul and Linda McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, members of the Rolling Stones, The Who, Cream and more – performing, recording and partying.

The exhibition opening on May 5 until June 2 will show many vintage prints and intimate Polaroids never seen before.

Blender Gallery, Sydney: 16 Elizabeth St Paddington NSW 2021

George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Me – An Evening with Pattie Boyd

Tuesday May 15: Four Seasons, Sydney
Wednesday May 16: Hotel Windsor, Melbourne

Timings

• 7pm – Cocktails & Canapes with Pattie Boyd
• 8pm – George, Eric and Me – An evening with Pattie Boyd
• 10pm – Close

Visit: pattieboydtour.com

McKay is an experienced TV producer with credits including The Amazing Race (US and a number of its international franchises including Australia), Netflix’s I Told You So, Seven’s Woolworths Carols in the Domain and more.

Mediaweek spoke with the activeTV founder and president at the end of last year. 

Michael McKay in the Philippines

Talking about the move to bring Celebrity Car Wars down under, McKay said: “We know it will appeal to local audiences and sponsors.”

London-based distributor TVF has been appointed to handle international sales of seasons one and two of Celebrity Car Wars. It has been recently commissioned for a third season by A&E’s History Channel Asia.

“Our primary broadcaster loves the unprecedented reach across Southeast Asia, audiences love the rivalries and epic challenges, and our major sponsor, Caltex, loves the natural brand integration activeTV delivers season after season,” said McKay.

The car show has a 40% female audience profile and has been watched by 21 million viewers across Southeast Asia. The second season of Celebrity Car Wars proved to be very successful on social media. It recorded a digital reach of 11 million on Facebook and 21 million on Instagram.

Celebrity Car Wars executive producer Chris Berry said: “Season two was the ‘Most Watched’ show amongst car fanatics and in some markets, it even beats out Top Gear and Formula One. Furthermore, it also delivers a broad family audience who tune in for the friendly rivalries between the celebrities, the amazing challenges like our Reverse Race and, of course, the car.”

The Celebrity Car Wars format is now available in Australia along with a slate of new originals in development by activeTV Australia.

By James Manning

Seven

Episode three of the week of Home and Away did 697,000 after two nights on close to 700,000.

It was time for the first competitor renovation on House Rules with Jess and Jared from Adelaide looking for some New York style. After two nights close to 600,000, the midweek episode did 624,000, unable to help Seven lift on what was its lowest Wednesday survey share if the year.

An episode of Modern Family did 357,000 followed by Back With The Ex on 140,000.

Nine

A Current Affair lifted to 859,000 with one story revealing some internet scammers.

The US sitcom hour started with Young Sheldon on 649,000 followed by The Big Bang Theory with 579,000.

Britain’s Got Talent then did 499,000.

TEN

Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone were promoting their new movie Life Of The Party on The Project and Fitzy did his best Peter Garrett on the set. The midweek audience was 551,000.

MasterChef featured the top 24 competing against each other for the first time in the MasterChef kitchen. Episode three of season 10 did 910,000, which is the best number so far in launch week as the show won its timeslot and was #1 non-news show of the night.

It was then time for the season finale of Hughesy, We Have A Problem which did 469,000 after 430,000 last night.

Dave Hughes in Hughesy, We Have A Problem

ABC

Week two of the new midweek lineup started with Home Delivery on 618,000 after this season launched with 609,000.

Episode two of Gruen screened after competing versions of Wil Anderson’s behaviour during the taping. This week Wil, Todd, Russel and guest panellists Kimberlee Wells and Claire Salvatti discussed Facebook and Brand Zuckerberg and a pitch to shut down the internet. After launching with 731,000 a week ago, last night did… 731,000.

The Weekly with Charlie Pickering then did 550,000 after launching with 565,000.

SBS

SBS screened the first Eurovision semifinal from Portugal last night with 271,000 watching. A smaller crowd of under 40,000 watched the semifinal live after 5am AEST. The second semifinal with Jessica Mauboy competing screens Friday live nice and early, and then again on Friday evening.

After 10pm The Good Fight did 99,000.