GFK Radio Ratings Survey 6, 2024

Sydney

Ben & K&J slip, Jonesy & Amanda climb at WSFM, Bogart up too at smooth

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Melbourne

3AW and smooth market leaders, Ross & Russ and Fifi, Fev & Nick flying, K&J slump

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Brisbane

B105 & Nova edge lower, Stav, Abby & Matt #1 brekky, BBQ Bob on fire

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Adelaide

Mix topples Triple M as #1 station, but Roo, Ditts & Loz still rule breakfast

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Perth

96FM new #1 in market, Nathan, Nat & Shaun still brekky champs, Triple M recovery

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See also: Radio Ratings 2024, Survey 5: Highlights + Full Results

GfK Survey 6 2024

Radio ratings survey period: Sunday July 7 to Saturday September 14

Biggest movers
UP: Magic 1278 +0.9
DOWN: Nova 100 -1.2

3AW 14.9% (14.7%)
Cume: 787,000 (+20,000)
2023 results Best (Worst)
Best 10+ 16.6% (13.5%)
Best Breakfast 22.7% (18.1%)

Breakfast was a monster 21.3% last survey. This survey period Ross and Russ were on an every bigger number – 22.5% which included their broadcast from Paris during the Olympic Games. It’s the station’s best breakfast share since Survey 1, 2023. Morning, afternoon and evening slipped. Drive with Jacqui Felgate and weekends were up.
Last survey was also the station’s best 10+ this year – 14.7% – and that now sits on 14.9%.

smoothfm 91.5 11.0% (10.2%)
Cume 1,205,000 (+41,000)
2023 results Best (Worst)
Best 10+ 9.9% (8.5%)
Best Breakfast 8.9% (6.6%)

After ranking #2 FM last survey, this time out smoothfm has hit top spot with what looks like its equal-best station share ever. The big mover was evenings where share was up 3.1 to 11.4%. Morning, drive and weekends were also up.
Cume bounced nicely to and is now over 1.2m, second only behind Fox.

Gold 104.3 10.0% (10.3%)
Cume 1,134,000 (+6,000)
2023 results Best (Worst)
Best 10+ 12.7% (9.6%)
Best Breakfast 12.2% (8.4%)

There was a market watch on Gold this survey after the ARN outfit recorded it’s equal second-lowest share in the past couple of years. The downward trend continued to 10.0% and Gold now ranked #2 FM behind smooth.
Breakfast with Christian O’Connell was steady and stayed on his recent low of 8.3%. Gold is the new #1 in drive with the smallest possible lead over former champ Fox.

101.9 Fox FM 9.1% (9.1%)
Cume 1,242,000 (-26,000)
2023 results Best (Worst)
Best 10+ 10.5% (8.8%)
Best Breakfast 11.0% (9.4%)

Let’s back away from “radio wars” 2024 gimmickry, there is always a battle for listeners as radio searches for excellence. Central always to that FM fight in Melbourne is Fox FM which this survey sees it ranked #3 FM. However, where it matters most – breakfast with Fifi, Fev and Nick – the station is again #1 FM, overtaking Nova. Cume slipped a little, but Fox still holds at #1.

Nova 100 7.4% (8.6%)
Cume 1,133,000 (-91,000)
2023 results Best (Worst)
Best 10+ 8.5% (5.7%)
Best Breakfast 7.3% (5.0%)

To the doubters about the chances of Jase and Lauren continuing at the top the FM radio chart, we can report this week that they have backed off just a teeny bit with share down from 9.9% to 9.6%. They now rate #2 FM breakfast, behind only Fox. It will be interesting what lies ahead though, as station cume slipped nearly 100,000 this survey. Breakfast cume was down too.

105.1 Triple M 6.4% (6.6%)
Cume 741,000 (-20,000)
2023 results Best (Worst)
Best 10+ 6.9% (5.3%)
Best Breakfast 7.2% (4.7%)

The breakfast show with Rosie, Wil and Daisy has survived the AFL Finals month, although this survey only accounts for the first week and a half of finals. The breakfast average this year has hovered just over 6.0%, but this survey the temp breakfast show slipped from 5.8% to 5.4%. Morning and afternoon held ground, while drive with JB and Billy was up 0.3 to 9.1%.

KIIS 101.1 FM 4.6% (5.6%)
Cume 951,000 (-72,000)
2023 results Best (Worst)
Best 10+ 7.6% (6.5%)
Best Breakfast 9.1% (6.5%)

Has a breakfast show ever had so much advice or ben so under the media microscope? Probably not…and that’s not about to stop here! You sort of get the feeling the The Kyle and Jackie O Show needs to back off from some of its marketing and let the audience do the talking. Look for a bit of organic growth. But marketing people we talk to reckon that’s also a dangerous strategy. K&J drifted lower from 6.1% to 5.2%. They tooj the station with them with falls right across the day.

SEN 3.9% (3.9%)
Cume 385,000 (no change)
2023 results Best (Worst)
Best 10+ 3.7% (1.8%)
Best Breakfast 3.1% (2.3%)

Before today, SEN was having a strong year. In the first five surveys it had just one result under 3.5% with listeners 10+. In 2023, seven of the eight surveys were below 3.5%. Breakfast too with Garry and Tim has been strong, with two surveys close or better than 5.0% and last survey it was on 4.1%.
Survey 6 sees the station steady on 3.9% and no change in cume either. Garry and Tim are in their last week of the year, with breakfast share also steady on 4.1%.

Magic 1278 2.4% (1.5%)
Cume 230,000 (+64,000)
2023 results Best (Worst)
Best 10+ 1.6% (0.8%)
Best Breakfast 0.8% (0.3%)

All the AM minnows reported growth this survey. Magic was up right across the board with breakfast up from 0.7% to 1.2%.

3MP 1377 1.8% (1.4%)
Cume 178,000 (+22,000)
2023 results Best (Worst)
Best 10+ 1.6% (0.6%)
Best Breakfast 0.8% (0.3%)

Good improvement here too with lifts in all dayparts. Breakfast lifted from 1.0% to 1.7%.

RSN 927 0.7% (0.5%)
Cume 87,000 (+31,000)
2023 results Best (Worst)
Best 10+ 1.2% (0.6%)
Best Breakfast 1.3% (0.8%)

It’s not even Spring Carnival yet share surged to 2.4%. Breakfast was up from 0.8% to 1.0%

Shameless Media’s new podcast, Inherited, releasing this week, aims to shine a new light on Australian talent and in doing so, also shines a new light on a tried and tested format. 

The Shameless Podcast, hosted by co-founders of the women’s media company, Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews, used to conduct typical interviews with Aussie talent that is still seen to this day across all major popular podcasts.

“In 2021, we realized we were tiring of the format on Shameless,” McDonald told Mediaweek.

“However in the time since then, Michelle has been at me to get back to it, but if I’m honest, I’ve always found the interview space quite saturated.

“I think the reason we stopped doing interviews is because in Australia, it’s quite a small pool of talent, you’ll often see a similar person, maybe on a publicity tour, doing a lot of the same shows.

“I thought, if we’re going to bring back interview content, we need to be bringing it back with an idea and a concept that you would still listen to even if the person has been interviewed 100 times. 

“We want it to feel like you’re getting something different, and that’s what Inherited is.”

Inherited is based on the premise that what one inherits in life is so much more than money, and no matter what stage in life you are, one has already inherited so many things.

“We break down the episodes into recipe, rule, relic and ritual, and we have each guest bring onto the show four different things that fit into each of those categories,” Andrews added.

“It’s so they can also talk about different chapters of their lives. It’s very introspective, wholesome and honest.”

While Shameless found its start in the world of podcasts, it now has expanded into pop-culture newsletters as well as out-of-home advertising, with prominent billboards seen in Melbourne and even New York City.

‘The Bourke’

Shameless bought ad space on oOh!Media’s six-story site in Melbourne’s CBD, ‘The Bourke’ and the billboards for Shameless seen in New York were organised in collaboration with Spotify.

“When it comes to advertising, the goal we’ve been working to over the last few years is making sure people know that Shameless Media is so much bigger than just the Shameless Podcast,” McDonald said.

‘The Bourke’

“It’s also reminding people that we’re not a little kid in this space anymore, we’re adults sitting at the table too, with a fully fleshed network.

“I think the most simple way to communicate that is through the most traditional form of advertising there is. Yes, we are audio first, yes, we are digital first, but we still can see the value of traditional forms of media in legitimizing you as a business.”

Shameless New York billboards

Going into 2025, McDonald and Andrews say the focus will be to consolidate their growing roster of shows and also take their ‘Everybody Has A Secret’ show live down the East Coast to get it in front of the show’s passionate listener base.

“I think long term, we plan on being one of the biggest [independent] networks in the country,” Andrews said.

“[At the same time], we’re not going to be the kind of company that churns out a bunch of podcasts every year, it’s just not who we are.

“Our strategy is to be as mindful and thoughtful as possible.”

The Inherited podcast is out now with first episode guest, Olympic Gold Medalist Jess Fox.

iProspect has been appointed by business management platform MYOB as SME media agency of record.

The dentsu media agency will apply a data-led approach to bring the latest business management innovation to Australian small businesses.

iProspect will support media strategy, channel planning, digital consulting, and media buying. Marcelle Gomez, iProspect’s managing director, said: “We started working with MYOB on a project basis, and it has been immensely rewarding to see that turn into a longer-term relationship in which we can partner with MYOB to support accelerated growth.”

Dean Chadwick, MYOB’s chief marketing officer, said, “Achieving the right channel mix is a living, breathing program of work in this ultra-dynamic media landscape, so we are delighted to have engaged with such a solid and complementary partner in iProspect.

“Harnessing intelligence to ensure our campaigns are always bang on target is a big priority. iProspect’s data-led approach maps well with MYOB’s rich understanding of the SME ecosystem, and we look forward to exploring where this partnership can take us.”

The appointment comes after iProspect won the global account for eBay. An iProspect spokesperson said in a statement to Mediaweek: “iProspect is honoured to be partnering with eBay’s visionary team in fully leveraging their market potential and helping drive their global transformation journey.”

“Our shared vision for accelerating growth and optimising performance across the media funnel through innovation, data, and technology was clear throughout the entire process. We are excited about our future success together.”

iProspect was also recognised as one of Australia and New Zealand’s best businesses in workplace policy and best practice, placing 10th on the 2024 AFR BOSS Best Places to Work List in the media and marketing category.

The agency was also recognised as the Google Honours Online Sales Premier Partner of the Year 2023; while globally, iProspect was recognised as the highest growth network according to RECMA Diagnostics 2024 bi-annual report. iProspect works with clients including Air New Zealand, William Grant & Sons, Kathmandu and Kering.

Guardian Australia has appointed Shannon Hollis as its new head of advertising.

Hollis brings over 15 years of advertising experience across various media organisations, including a background in international markets, having worked in London.

Most recently, Hollis served as acting general manager of audio at News Corp, where she oversaw the development of podcast content, leading the charge on advertising, product innovation, audience growth, and subscriptions.

Previously, Hollis held senior positions including head of commercial audio and head of commercial networks at News Corp, as well as client director at Hearst in London. Her career also includes partnerships with national brands like Panadol, Harvey Norman, Woolworths, and Optus, alongside global luxury brands such as Cartier, Omega, and Tiffany & Co. Hollis was twice named sales executive of the year at the Radio Today Awards in 2022 and 2023.

Rebecca Costello, managing director of Guardian Australia, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Shannon to Guardian Australia. Her leadership, strategic mindset, and proven track record in driving commercial growth will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our advertising partnerships. Shannon’s diverse experience in audio and digital media makes her the perfect fit to lead our dynamic team.”

Hollis said: “I’m excited to be joining Guardian Australia as head of advertising. This is an incredible opportunity to work for a brand that is deeply trusted by both advertisers and audiences. I look forward to expanding the commercial digital suite.”

Hollis will be based in Sydney and will join Guardian Australia on 14 October.

Atomic 212° has promoted Ashleigh Carter to the new role of general manager, Sydney.

Carter joined the independent media agency as media manager from MediaCom Australia in 2014. She was appointed media director in 2015, group account director in 2017 and head of client services in 2022.

Atomic 212° national managing director, Rory Heffernan, said: “Ash has been a key member of our team for the past decade and her leadership and dedication has played an enormous role in our journey to date. Ash has continuously delivered great results for our clients, our team and our business, and it’s a real pleasure to see her take on this important new role.

“I’m looking forward to working with her to take our Sydney agency to even greater heights. Congratulations Ash on this well-deserved promotion.”

Carter said of her promotion: “I’m excited for the opportunity to expand my remit within Atomic 212° and support the continued growth and success of our people, our product and our clients’ business results.

“I am inspired more than ever about our opportunity as the smarter, faster, more accountable media agency and look forward to building on the recent momentum over the next 12 months,” she added.

Carter’s appointment as Sydney general manager follows a series of client wins and retentions for Atomic 212° over the past year including BMW Australia and New Zealand, Bupa, the Northern Territory Government, Tourism Northern Territory, Northern Territory Major Events Company, Darrell Lea, Victoria University, My Muscle Chef, Vet Partners, Adyen and UKG, and most recently BlueScope and Great Wall Motors.

Claire Fenner, Atomic 212° national chief executive officer, said at the time of the BlueScope win: “We are excited about this new partnership, and we are honoured to be trusted as partners in the custodianship of two of Australia’s most iconic brands, COLORBOND steel and TRUECORE steel.”

Meanwhile, Heffernan said at the time of the GWM win: “We’re delighted to help further accelerate their marketing program by delivering on our smarter, faster, accountable media promise.”

Earlier this year, Foxcatcher launched WorldView Retail to maximise ROI and customer growth.

Worldview Retail enables brands to maximise ROI and customer growth by closing the gap between potential and converted customers and through intelligent segmentation.

Here Alex Cook, Foxcatcher director of sales, shares his thoughts on the first-party data solution and focusing media dollars on customers who are most likely to convert.

Alex Cook

Retail media offers a robust first-party data solution

With the uncertainty surrounding the future of third-party cookies, brands are increasingly turning to retail media as a robust, first-party data solution. Even though Google has postponed the depreciation of cookies, the limitations of cookie matching are still prompting marketers to seek more reliable ways to reach and engage with their audiences. This shift has accelerated the adoption of retail media, an approach that offers a unique combination of addressability, measurability, and relevance, all while targeting shoppers at the crucial point of purchase.

One of the key reasons retail media is gaining traction is its ability to leverage rich, first-party data directly from retail partners. Unlike traditional digital advertising, which often relies on third-party cookies to infer consumer interests, retail media taps directly into data that reflects real consumer behaviours – what products people are browsing, what they’re adding to their carts, and what they’re ultimately purchasing. This type of data speaks directly to the interests, needs, and preferences of an audience, providing brands with the tools to create highly targeted and effective marketing campaigns.

Predictive strategies for targeting on path to purchase

At Foxcatcher, we recognised early on the immense potential of retail first-party data, which is why we developed Worldview Retail. Our platform is designed to help brands harness the power of retail data to curate custom audience cohorts based on actual on-site purchases, forecast revenue opportunities, and understands customer lifetime value. By analysing purchase recency and frequency, we can offer predictive strategies that help brands decide who to target, when to invest in media, and how to navigate the often complex path to purchase.

Focus your media dollars

But why does this matter? Using first-party retail data allows brands to be much more precise in their marketing efforts. Instead of casting a wide net and hoping for the best, brands can focus their media dollars on customers who are most likely to convert, thus reducing waste and maximising the return on ad spend (ROAS). This approach is particularly valuable in today’s market, where every dollar counts, and brands are under increasing pressure to prove the effectiveness of their marketing investments.

Retail media doesn’t just benefit lower-funnel activities focused on driving immediate sales. It can also enhance top-of-funnel efforts like brand awareness and consideration. By using first-party data to better understand consumer behaviours and preferences, brands can create more engaging and relevant content across all programmatic channels, whether it’s display, digital out-of-home (pDOOH), BVOD, or audio. This kind of integrated strategy helps build long-term brand affinity while keeping an eye on real business outcomes.

Tying ad spend to measurable results

Retail media represents a significant shift in how brands think about and execute their marketing strategies. It’s not just about reaching consumers but understanding them in a more profound, data-driven way. By closing the loop on media investment and tying advertising spend directly to measurable business results, retail media offers a path forward in a world with diminishing reliance on third-party cookies.

Foxcatcher is excited to be at the forefront of this transformation. Our Worldview Retail platform is just one example of how brands can leverage the power of retail media to make smarter, more informed decisions. Embracing these new tools and strategies will be essential for brands looking to stay ahead of the curve and connect with consumers in more meaningful ways.

 See also: Foxcatcher launches WorldView Retail to maximise ROI and customer growth

Vinyl Group has entered into and completed an agreement to acquire the assets of London-based Serenade (“the Business”), a Web3 pioneer of physical and digital collectibles, through a Business Deed Sale, which includes 100% of the shares of the Business’ UK subsidiary.

Serenade’s digital marketplace has served 200+ global artists including Liam and Noel Gallagher, Muse, Sum 41, Twenty One Pilots and Thirty Seconds to Mars while sales of their NFC-enabled Smart Formats have grown 56% MoM since launching in January 2024, with a total of 12,000 units sold in H1 2024.

Serenade has commercial partnerships with 100+ record labels including Warner Music Group, Beggars Group, Concord, Glassnote, FUGA and PIAS. It will operate alongside the Vinyl.com brand with the goal of improving the gross margins of its fastest-growing division.

Serenade has also been in active discussions to expand its offering beyond music to sport and other entertainment verticals.

Vinyl Group has acquired 100% of the assets of Serenade (excluding their R&D receivable) in exchange for $800,000 in shares, valued at the fifteen (15) day Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) of Vinyl Group shares on the ASX for the period immediately preceding the Completion Date which is $0.09739, for a total of 8,214,274 ordinary shares. These shares will be subject to a twelve (12) month escrow from the date of issue.

As part of the deal, key Serenade employees have joined Vinyl Group. Serenade CEO Max Shand has entered into a full-time employment agreement with Vinyl Group, to both lead Serenade to achieve its performance goals while also helping to rapidly accelerate the Vinyl.com business, expanding its product offerings into physical and digital collectables whilst launching into additional markets.

Vinyl Group CEO, Josh Simons, said: “Max Shand has built Serenade into a business with significant potential, and through our acquisition of the platform, we’ll put the resources into Serenade to allow it to reach that potential. Vinyl Group is, at its core, a tech business and this was a great opportunity to expand our tech offering. We look forward to welcoming Max and other key members of the Serenade team to Vinyl Group.”

Shand, said: “I’m thrilled to announce the acquisition of Serenade by Vinyl Group, Australia’s only ASX-listed music company. From our very first conversation, it was clear that Josh, Jorge, and the Board shared our vision for supporting artists and audiences through outstanding music products, and so I’m excited to see how this partnership accelerates our impact. I also want to acknowledge the incredible Serenade team, whose passion, integrity, talent, and dedication made this all possible.”

Smelly Lunch Stories is an initiative launched by four senior industry leaders from across the media, marketing, and advertising industry to increase the number of people from culturally diverse backgrounds in executive management positions across the industry.

United by the same childhood memory – that their lunchboxes didn’t look like everyone else’s – Graham Alvarez-Jarratt, Michelle Miroforidis, Linda Fagerlund and An Le – are focused on creating real change in the industry.

That is, even though 25% of those in entry-level positions across the sector are from ethnically-diverse backgrounds, this drops to 12% in C-Suites, meaning that cultural representation is desperately missing in company leadership.

The four executives want to create an industry that isn’t just diverse, but an environment in which people from diverse backgrounds can belong and build a career as a future leader.

Linda Fagerlund, first-generation Vietnamese-Australian, co-founder of Smelly Lunch Stories, chief strategy officer of Mediahub ANZ, said: “We felt the urgent need to create this initiative, thanks to an uncomfortable truth that we have all faced in our careers.

“The further you go in this industry, and the more senior you get, the management and C-suite ranks get less culturally diverse. It’s an unspoken issue that’s really close to our hearts. We are at risk of losing an immense amount of creative and cultural capital as an industry, if we can’t foster one that truly embodies and is shaped by all the myriad of experiences representative of our diverse society and community.

“Our commitment with Smelly Lunch Stories is to start to build an environment in which having a diverse workforce is just the first step, not mission accomplished.”

Michelle Miroforidis, Greek-Australian, co-founder of Smelly Lunch Stories, head of connections strategy at It’s Friday, added: “As a proud first-generation Australian born to Greek migrant parents, my perspective is undeniably shaped by my dual identity. It took me years to fully embrace this truth and feel confident bringing my authentic self to the workplace.

“Through Smelly Lunch Stories, we hope to expedite this experience for aspiring culturally diverse leaders; to ensure they know they belong and can thrive as future leaders in our industry. Our goal is to advocate for greater representation of culturally diverse voices, decision-makers, and leaders in our boardrooms—for the benefit of all.” According to the Advertising Council Australia’s Create Space 2024 Census Report, 1 in 5 who identified as being an ethnic minority do not feel that they belong at their company.

‘Smelly Lunch Stories’ intends to carve out space within the industry to tell the stories of those from diverse backgrounds.

Graham Alvarez-Jarratt, Filipino-Uruguayan-Australian, co-founder of Smelly Lunch Stories, Dentsu Creative’s strategy partner, said: “The problem isn’t attracting those from different backgrounds – a quarter of people starting out in the industry are. The issue is keeping them. They look at the C-Suite and don’t see anyone who looks like them, which is bananas given we know how important diversity, in all its forms, is to creativity and innovation.”

An Le, Vietnamese-Australian and co-founder of Smelly Lunch Stories and head of brand marketing at BWS), added: “Together we started Smelly Lunch Stories with the ambition of bridging the cultural divide through storytelling. We’ll find, host and amplify the experiences of those who’ve made it to the top from ethnically diverse backgrounds, with the hope of inspiring the next generation to progress as far as they want to. We’re passionate about showcasing representation in marketing leadership – after all, you can’t be what you can’t see.”

Smelly Lunch Stories will kick off with its first event on October 31st, 2024 at social enterprise restaurant Kyiv Social in Chippendale, Sydney, featuring a lineup from across the industry, including moderator Gambol Creative’s Camey O’Keefe, Pedestrian.TV co-founder and Linkby co-founder, CEO Chris Wirasinha, WPP’s ANZ president, Rose Herceg and Smelly Lunch Stories’ own An Le.

With support from leading lifestyle publisher, UrbanList, the event is part of an ongoing series featuring a diverse rotation of the industry’s most prominent and emerging leaders engaging in lively conversation about their personal smelly lunch stories over food in vibrant restaurant locations.

Jacqui La’Brooy, chief commercial officer of Urban List, added: “When the SLS crew invited us to support and amplify their powerful stories, it was an immediate and enthusiastic yes. At Urban List, we’re committed to shaping culture in a way that inspires and drives positive change for the future. Our mission is to champion a more diverse and inclusive media landscape, and we proudly lead by example. Partnering with SLS allows us to create meaningful impact and amplify voices within our industry, aligning perfectly with our values.”

Smelly Lunch Stories events are open to everyone in the industry, particularly those who may be seeking inspiration and support on how to further their careers, to existing industry leaders and allies that want fresh and informed advice on how to best support their culturally diverse teams and workplaces.

Tickets are available here, with funds covering event costs. Plus, for every ticket sold, a meal will be provided to Sydney’s marginalised communities and Ukrainians in need, thanks to the Plate It Forward team behind Kyiv Social.

–

Top image: Graham Alvarez-Jarratt, Michelle Miroforidis, Linda Fagerlund and An Le.

The weekly podcast hosted by Craig Hutchison and Damian Barrett, The Sounding Board, had a special live episode last Friday.

The episode was from a live stage at the AFL Grand Final precinct outside the MCG on the eve of the big event.

Not surprisingly, the episode started with a discussion about the media merry-go-round. Barrett was trying his best to get Hutchy to talk about the media evacuation of talent he had masterminded at Nine.

Damo: You’ve been out basically manoeuvring, puppeteering the entire media industry Hutchy.

Hutchy: Don’t be facetious.

Damo: What have you been up to? You’ve taken all of the people I’ve got to know over 20 years at Channel 9 away from Channel 9. Even you are leaving Channel 9. Kane Cornes is leaving Channel 9, Caro is leaving Channel 9, who’s going to be left when you’re finished? We can have a serious conversation about this or we can have a jovial one, which do you prefer?

Damo: “You haven’t made it in Melbourne unless you are depicted in a Mark Knight cartoon and today Hutchy was depicted, maybe not favourably.” Source: Mark Knight, Herald Sun

Hutchy: It’s an emotive industry, media, and it’s been one of those weeks.
All that has happened to date is that after the show on Tuesday night at Footy Classified, I let my colleagues know that I was choosing to call it a day and to hang the boots up from an extraordinary run at Footy Classified over 18 years. And then in advance, I had contacted Eddie McGuire and set up a time to go and see him on Wednesday. Not because I needed to, but because originally Eddie was the one that gave me the opportunity to go to Nine and to host that show in the first place.
Then I let the Nine execs know on Wednesday that I didn’t intend to continue. It’s been a great run, 18 years. I’ve absolutely loved every minute of the show. I’ve enjoyed working with this ensemble in particular, Caro, Lordo and Kane.
It was a bit more combative in the early days, there was no room for the faint‑hearted and it was a hot seat and lots of angst and anger. It found a bit more of a modern contemporary tone as it went on. It’s been a wild ride and a lot of fun. For the last four years since my Footy Show stint ended, it’s been something that I’ve probably done more out of loyalty than out of any need because my focus has been on our business and building it.
We haven’t produced anything for Nine in the last four years, but my loyalty to the show and the people around it was probably the reason I kept going. To be fair to Channel 9, they’ve been unbelievably supportive with flexibility around that.

Damo: On the Monday after Round 1 next year, 2025 season in the AFL. It will be you, Caro and Kane and Nick Riewoldt up against Channel 9.
There are a lot of people out there who know you and know this show. Don’t lie to these people. You can lie to me, but don’t lie to our friends.

Hutchy: It’s too early. All I’d say is we are a production business ourselves, Rainmaker, our TV arm. We make a lot of shows for a lot of networks.
Clearly, our hat is in the ring to do more at Seven, as it always is, and that will unfold as it does in the coming weeks and months.
What I’m pretty clear on is I’m really appreciative of the opportunity. I love the time hosting that [Nine] show in particular and I’m only going to do things personally that are aligned to our business.
We look at projects that can work in the interests of our business. And that’s all I’m going to do. If I’m ever on television again, it will be aligned to our business and it won’t be any other way. If I’m not on television ever again, I’m very comfortable with that.
Channel 9 is not going to miss me for a second. They’ve got so many options. They’ve already got a second version of the show.

Damo: Monday night will be a new Channel 7 show, which you will be on. Are you going to be on the Tuesday night show as well? Or is that just Kane?
Look me in the eye. Will you be on Channel 7 post-round one 2025?

Hutchy: There’s clean air post-grand final to have a look at all that over the next few weeks.

Damo: I’m taking that as a yes.
I’ll just ask you one more question specifically about you and then we’ll move it on because there’s a lot of other media events this week that we need to tackle.
What happened last Tuesday on Footy Classified? I felt for Lordo, our great mate Matthew Lloyd who, as far as I know, will be staying at Nine. But the other three – you, Caro and Kane – were all moving on. That’s one aspect of what I want to ask you about.
The three of you are the most fearless media people I’ve ever come across. You all run into the fire when it’s raging because that’s where the story is.
You wimped it that night, Hutchy. You wimped it, Caro wimped it and Kane wimped it.
There was not one reference to what you’re all about to do and that is leaving Channel 9 and going to Channel 7. Collectively as a trio you were the biggest media story in that moment.

Hutchy: I think Nine was entitled to “say no mention of this on air tonight”.
They were. I would have done the same. Was that the directive? Yeah, that was the discussion. It wasn’t an unreasonable request. They probably had two options in the circumstances. One was to not do the show. Highly unlikely. Two was to bring the other team in. That would have been a move they considered. And the third thing was to say, you guys can finish respectfully, but please don’t draw any further attention to this. Absolutely entitled to do that.
Nine moved on without me once before very, very quickly and they’ll do it again.

Hutchy and Damo’s advice to Dale Thomas

The Dale Thomas-Kane Cornes slanging match reached new heights last week. It came up on the podcast this week too.

Damo: I was at one event, where it was broadcast as well, with Dale Thomas.
Let’s discuss the Dale Thomas – Cane Kornes skirmish.
I’m not going to use the word he did, it started with F, on two separate occasions, into a microphone at a public function this week. It was reported in the Herald Sun last night, that he had that view of Kane.

Hutchy: I’ll ask you, as a colleague of Dale’s, what did you think as a Triple M colleague?

Damo: I was on one panel where he said it. Look, it got a laugh. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t get a laugh in the room he was in. Personally, I wouldn’t have used that word.

Hutchy: Did you give him that advice afterwards? I haven’t, but I was going to ring him today.

Damo: I don’t think he cares for my advice. I am a media mate of Dale’s and I think he’s had an outstanding media year. I really do. But maybe don’t use that word into a microphone on any occasion.

Hutchy: He’s got strong opinions. His broadcast work is really good. His opinion work is good. He’s got a great personality. He’s got a sense of humour.
So he doesn’t need to do that. That’s just cut and dried. He’s got to put that club in the golf bag and take it away from what he does.
I know he was trying to be funny and he’s still learning. Everyone makes those mistakes along the way. We’ve all said things in rooms that we regret along the way, but he shouldn’t do that.

Listen to The Sounding Board podcast here.

Hutchy’s Seven connection: “The best journalist I have seen”

Craig Hutchison is not just another former Seven employee about to return to the broadcaster. He used to share a house with Seven’s new director of network sport, Chris Jones.

Jone explained the house-sharing arrangement recently to Mediaweek.

Chris Jones wanted to get into sports media early in his career. He told Mediaweek story of how he ended up sharing a house with former 10 and Seven reporter turned media mogul Craig Hutchison.

“When I was 16 I realised I wasn’t going to be good enough to be an elite footballer or golfer or tennis player. I thought the next best thing was to try and watch it. I sent a lot of letters off and didn’t have any luck. Then I made a video of the Channel 10 news team when Quarters was there and Tim Cleary was the producer and Hutchie was breaking all the stories at the time.

“I got a phone call to go in and do work experience and then really just clung on for dear life ever since then.

“At 17 when I finished school, I moved into town as a cadet journalist. Hutchie called me the rookie and lived with him.

“It was in Cutter Street, Richmond. We must have been there for four or five years together.

“It was incredible in terms of educating me about the flow of information, how to network with people, how to meet people, what made a story. Hutchy remains the best journalist I certainly have ever seen.”

See also: Seven’s new sports boss: Chris Jones details AFL, cricket plans and a whole lot more

Zitcha has secured $15 million Series A funding, led by US investment firm VMG Partners, to accelerate growth in the North American retail media market.

Australian venture capital business OIF Ventures, which raised the retail media platform’s seed funding round in 2022, has also invested in the Series A round, which will supercharge Zitcha’s plans to open new offices in the US and hire sales and customer success teams.

The expansion comes as US retail media revenues are forecast to grow to US$110-120 billion by 2027 according to the Boston Consulting Group, and US retail media networks are demanding integrated in-store and offsite advertising capabilities; evolving from managed to self-service models; and seeking joint business planning functionality. Zitcha’s platform aims to address these requirements, enabling retailers to monetise every transaction.

Zitcha currently empowers retailers across seven countries including Coles Group (Australia), The Warehouse Group (New Zealand) Peavey Mart (Canada) Leroy Merlin (South Africa) and also global brands including Unilever, Fisher & Paykel and Microsoft, Lego and Sennheiser.

Troy Townsend, co-founder and CEO, Zitcha, said: “The US presents an enormous opportunity for Zitcha. Our platform is uniquely positioned to help retailers and brands fully leverage the third wave of digital advertising and as US retail media networks mature, the demand for integrated, data-driven ad solutions has never been higher. With this investment from VMG Partners, along with their vast experience with consumer brands and retail technology, we are excited to tap into the immense prospects America offers.”

VMG Technology’s general partner, Carle Stenmark said: “Zitcha has enjoyed impressive momentum since launching just two years ago, driving innovation in retail media, building an industry-leading retail media platform and securing partnerships with some of the world’s preeminent retailers and brands.
 
“Troy and Jack have built a talented team of specialists and pursued a scalable program of global expansion. Their ambition and deep expertise in retail media made them an ideal match for us. We look forward to supporting the business and helping drive its US acceleration.”

Jack Byrne, co-founder and Zitcha chief operating officer, added: “The investment from VMG Partners and OIF Ventures allows Zitcha to scale our US presence and accelerate our entry into its red hot retail media ecosystem. But while the US is an obvious important growth opportunity, Australia, New Zealand and other key territories in Europe and Asia remain a priority.
 
“We are a proudly Aussie founded business and are committed to ensuring retailers and brands continue to receive the best of what we have to offer and the level of service they have come to expect.”

Townsend will relocate to the US to spearhead Zitcha’s North America expansion. Australia will remain as Zitcha’s headquarters with APAC as its platform and engineering hub and Jack Byrne will continue to manage Zitcha operations outside of the US.

–

Top image: Troy Townsend and Jack Byrne

IAB Australia will host its inaugural Leadership Summit in Australia on 20th November 2024.

The invitation-only event for the most senior leaders, will provide a crucial opportunity to discuss shared challenges, debate key issues and identify ways to positively shape the future of the advertising and marketing industry.

Daniel Knapp, IAB Europe’s chief economist and Anthony Katsur, CEO of IAB Tech Lab have both been confirmed as keynote speakers, while the IAB Australia Board will work with Gai Le Roy to shape the agenda for the summit.

The Summit will cover topics such as the economics of the media and advertising industry, data governance and privacy, the regulatory landscape, the development of standards and tools for a responsible and effective industry, changes to media and marketing workforces, the evolution of creative optimisation, the impact of AI and more. 

More than 400 decision-makers from agencies, advertisers, publishers, platforms and ad tech companies, as well as academics, government and regulatory representatives, will attend. Interested executives are invited to register and express interest in receiving an invitation to the event.

Vanya Mariani, IAB Australia board chair and commercial director – media at carsales said: “The IAB Australia Board is excited to host senior leaders in the industry and we encourage them to take time to participate in the big discussions needed in market, while being inspired and informed by an incredible line-up on international and local speakers.”

Le Roy added: “We are thrilled to have two incredibly smart and knowledgeable heavy hitters joining us for the Leadership Summit. Dr Daniel Knapp offers unparalleled insights into the economic shifts of the industry, while Anthony Katsur is the driving force developing solutions and standards to support the industry, as well as meeting the needs of regulators around the world.”

The Leadership Summit will be held on Wednesday, 20th November 2024 at the NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre in Surry Hills.

Nova Entertainment’s sole non-metro station Star 104.5 is the #1 ranked station in the Central Coast market.

The station had a special event at the end of last week to help keep it #1. Crowds gathered at a major promotional event from early Friday morning for the biggest giveaway in Star 104.5’s history – Gina & Matty’s Cash Car.

From 6am, hundreds of Central Coast locals descended upon Brian Hilton Skoda in North Gosford for a chance to win a 2024 Skoda Kamiq Runout valued at over $32k, along with $5,000 cash in the glove box.

Star 104.5 breakfast presenters Gina Jeffreys and Matt Baseley broadcast the show live from the local heritage business as close to 300 key holders walked the red carpet to test their keys, with only one key unlocking the major prize.

Star 104.5 breakfast hosts Gina and Matty

The lucky winner, Danielle Swain from Long Jetty, a single mum and disability support worker, said to Star: “It means the world to me. I’ve been a single mum for 10 years, and I’ve never had anything brand new, to be able to get to work in a brand-new car will be amazing. And this time of year is always hard, coming into Christmas.”

Star 104.5 program director Shayne Sinclair said: “Moments like these remind us all about how much of a meaningful difference radio can make to the community. Danielle from Long Jetty won the car she needs, and the cash she deserves.”

Over the seven weeks of the promotion, almost 300 cash car keys were won by Star 104.5 listeners, via on-air competitions and giveaways at local events. The winners were then invited to Friday’s climax, where they were given the opportunity to try out their keys.

See also: Nova Entertainment celebrates 20 years of Central Coast station Star 104.5

Star 104.5 has for the past four years held the position of the Central Coast’s number one radio station. The station provides a local news and entertainment offering at breakfast with Gina and Matty and then the best of Nova networked programming later in the day.

Boy Swallows Universe hasn’t finished with award shows just yet. The Netflix hit series from Brouhaha Entertainment which premiered in January this year, has already dominated the TV Week Logie Awards with five wins.

The series has now taken out six categories at the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACAs) national round with six wins for Australia & New Zealand.

The winners included Boy Swallows Universe actors Felix Cameron, Simon Baker and Sophie Wilde.

The series, based on the bestselling novel by Trent Dalton, will represent Australia at the Grand Awards and Gala Finals in Singapore on December 3rd and 4th, 2024.

The AACA judges noted that, fresh off his Logie Award win in July, young star Felix Cameron continues to build momentum. His portrayal in Boy Swallows Universe has now earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role – Australia at the AACAs, positioning him as a contender for an acclaimed international accolade this December. Cameron’s performance as a young boy navigating difficult circumstances has captivated both Australian and international audiences.

 Cannes Chopard Trophy winner Sophie Wilde shines once again in her role as a determined journalist in Boy Swallows Universe. Wilde’s portrayal earned her Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Australia, further solidifying her reputation.

Simon Baker, best known internationally for his role in The Mentalist, has added another accolade to his distinguished career, winning Best Actor in a Supporting Role-Australia for Boy Swallows Universe. Baker’s return to Australian television in such a profound role has been widely praised, demonstrating his range and emotional depth as an actor.

See also: Boy Swallows Universe was TV Week Logies biggest winner: Netflix owned drama awards

Boy Swallows Universe – Australia’s National Wins – Australia

Best Actor in a Leading Role: Felix Cameron – Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix, Brouhaha Entertainment)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Simon Baker – Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix, Brouhaha Entertainment)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Sophie Wilde – Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix, Brouhaha Entertainment)
Best Direction (Fiction): Bharat Nalluri – Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix, Brouhaha Entertainment)
Best Screenplay: John Collee – Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix, Brouhaha Entertainment)
Best Drama Series: Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix, Brouhaha Entertainment)

With Boy Swallows Universe picking up six national wins, including Best Drama Series, it marks an outstanding campaign for Netflix and Brouhaha Entertainment and is testament to its powerful storytelling, direction, and cast performances. As Australia’s content creators continue to make waves, the peer judged AACAs are a significant platform showcasing their remarkable work on the global stage.

ABC’s iview hit from Lingo Pictures – After the Party

Robyn Malcolm an AACA winner too

In the Best Actress in a Leading Role category, New Zealand’s Robyn Malcolm delivered a remarkable performance in After The Party (Lingo Pictures), earning her the national award. As a Series Mania winner, Malcolm’s emotional and compelling portrayal has once again captured the approval of her peers, solidifying her place among the finest performances in the Asia-Pacific region.

Others programs to win Australia and New Zealand AACAs

The Traitors New Zealand Series 1
South Pacific Pictures, All3 Media International

Eddie’s Lil’ Homies
NITV/Netflix, Australian Children’s Television Foundation

Windcatcher
Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Unless Pictures, Every Cloud Productions, Stan

Adam Luxton – Far North
White Balance Pictures, South Pacific Pictures, Warner Bros. Discovery

Ben Cunningham
The Pool, Shark Island Productions

Madam
Tavake & XYZ Films, Fifth Season, Warner Bros. Discovery

Russell Vines
Australia’s Sleep Revolution with Dr Michael Mosley
Artemis Media, SBS Australia

Hitler’s Jewish Soldier?
Mint Pictures, SBS Australia

Australian Crime Stories: The Investigators, Jane Doe
The Full Box, Nine Entertainment

Australia’s Sleep Revolution with Dr Michael Mosley
Artemis Media, SBS Australia

Sally Fryer
The Pool, Shark Island Productions

Tipping Point Australia Season 1
Banijay Entertainment, Endemol Shine Australia, Nine Network

MasterChef Australia Dessert Masters S 1
Banijay Entertainment, Endemol Shine Australia, Network 10

Adam and Poh’s Great Australian Bites
i8 Studio, SBS

Escalation: Climate, protest, and the fight for the future
Four Corners, Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars
All3Media International, Nine Network, Studio Ramsay

Windcatcher
Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Unless Pictures/Every Cloud Productions, Stan

Ahipara Voices for Far North by Moniker (Lukasz Buda, Samuel Scott, Conrad Wedde)
White Balance Pictures, South Pacific Pictures, Warner Bros. Discovery

OMD has helped AAMI cement its place as a cultural mainstay for the AFL Grand Final, evolving from a one-time spectacle into a tradition expected by fans nationwide for the third consecutive year.

The 2024 stunt ramped up the suspense as the match ball went missing yet again, sparking a nationwide search featuring an all-star cast including The Inspired Unemployed, Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald, Lee Lin Chin and hero Paralympian Alexa Leary, which kept viewers guessing right up until the ball was found at the MCG.

This year’s storyline pushed the boundaries of fan engagement. AAMI ambassadors Mon Conti and Trent Cotchin led the live-action sequence as they raced to locate the missing ball in front of 100,000 fans at the stadium.

Mim Haysom, executive general manager brand and customer experience at AAMI, said: “As Australia’s leading insurer, AAMI has a long history of helping Aussies get back on track when things don’t quite go to plan. Our AAMI to the Rescue campaign is an iconic demonstration of that on Australia’s biggest stage.”

At the heart of this campaign was OMD’s media-first strategy, designed to blend live and pre-recorded content seamlessly while engaging AFL fans across digital platforms like Reddit and SportBible. This approach ensured that AAMI’s message reached millions, creating a multi-platform experience that transcended the broadcast.

The campaign launched with a teaser during the pre-match coverage of the Geelong Cats v Brisbane Lions Preliminary Final on Saturday, 21st September. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon employed a crack task force including AFL legends Kevin Bartlett and loveable but slightly unreliable Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico, to ensure the ball’s safe delivery, as AAMI Women and ambassadors looked on with worried faces.

On game day, the epic 90-second in-broadcast integration ran alongside an extensive cross-platform amplification plan. This included a new partnership with Uber Eats, which sees the AFL Grand Final as their biggest day of retail trade. The campaign extended to spaces where footy madness thrives, including Reddit, SportBible, out-of-home (OOH) assets around Melbourne, and a Triple M Footy partnership.
 
Nick Hurley, director of sport partnerships at OMD, said: “Three years in and we’ve turned what began as a spectacle into a cultural tradition. Our media-first approach to the AFL Grand Final ensures that AAMI’s campaign isn’t just seen, but truly experienced by fans across platforms.

“With each year, we’ve pushed the boundaries of live and pre-recorded content, and the 2024 campaign is the perfect example of how powerful integration can be.”

 
Rob Maclean, Seven Network’s national sport sales director, added: “For the Australian market, the Toyota AFL Grand Final is our very own Super Bowl moment – brands can connect with the largest viewing audience of the year to make an impact and drive fame.

“AAMI has expertly leveraged the power of this mass cultural event in successive years, creating a meaningful and memorable interaction with footy fans via Seven’s live and exclusive broadcast.”
 
With over 4.02 million viewers tuning in to the AFL Grand Final broadcast, and millions more engaging across digital platforms, the 2024 campaign has continued to elevate the standard for integrated content in sports advertising. OMD’s cross-platform amplification plan ensured the ‘Clanger’ campaign reached a broad and diverse audience, cementing AAMI’s place as a reliable and iconic brand in the AFL’s biggest moment.

CREDITS:

Suncorp Group
Mim Haysom – Executive General Manager Brand & Customer Experience, Suncorp Group
Rapthi Thanapalasingam – Head of Brand & Content
Toby Gill – AAMI Brand & Marketing Manager
Breanna Webster – AAMI Marketing Specialist
Jenny Hutchison – Executive Manager, Group Sponsorships & Community
Gabrielle Emmett – Sponsorship Manager
Susie Turner – Sponsorship Specialist OMD
Nick Hurley – Director of Sport Partnerships, OMD Create
Lachlann Macrae – Sport Partnerships Manager, OMD Create
Liam Annesley – Sport Partnership Assistant, OMD Create
Elizabeth Murrel-Marsh – Account Director
Alyssa Mounarath – Account Manager
Rebecca Moore – Media Assistant

Seven Network
Nathan Carmody – AAMI Campaign Manager
Rachel Wren – Campaign Manager – AFL Lead
Stephen Johnston – AAMI Sport Sales Manager
Yianni Vivliotis – AAMI Sport Sales Executive
Gary O’Keeffe – 7AFL Executive Producer

Whooshka Media
Adrian Brown – Managing Director
Paddy Mithen – Director
Jodie Fisher – Producer
Sarah Cameron – Producer
Farrah Mu – Production Manager
Jamie Merendino – Editor
Ben Blennerhassett – DOP
Wild Rose Pictures – Art Department
Film Star Lighting – Grip/Gaffer
Aaron D’Arcy – Audio
The Bureau – VFX
CJ Dobson @ Moodlab – Colourist

Sunday 29 September 2024: VOZ Total TV Ratings Overnight Top 30 – Programs ranked on reach

6pm News TV Ratings

9News recorded a total TV national reach of 2,170,000, a total TV national audience of 1,263,000, and a BVOD audience of 97,000. 

Seven News recorded a total TV national reach of 2,226,000, a total TV national audience of 1,321,000, and a BVOD audience of 63,000. 

Early Evening TV Ratings

Nine’s The Block recorded a total TV national reach of 2,413,000, a total TV national audience of 1,315,000, and a BVOD audience of 192,000.

Seven’s The Voice recorded a total TV national reach of 2,321,000, a total TV national audience of 1,054,000, and a BVOD audience of 85,000.

ABC’s Return to Paradise recorded a total TV national reach of 1,058,000, a total TV national audience of 740,000, and a BVOD audience of 56,000.

10’s airing of The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition recorded a total TV national reach of 979,000, a total TV national audience of 516,000, and a BVOD audience of 36,000.

Mid-Evening TV Ratings

Nine’s 60 Minutes recorded a total TV national reach of 1,830,000, a total TV national audience of 699,000, and a BVOD audience of 77,000.

Seven’s Spotlight recorded a total TV national reach of 1,276,000, a total TV national audience of 582,000, and a BVOD audience of 34,000.

People 25-54

Nine’s The Block:
• Total TV nation reach: 945,000
• National Audience: 585,000
• BVOD Audience: 118,000

10’s The Amazing Race:
• Total TV nation reach: 405,000
• National Audience: 212,000 
• BVOD Audience: 20,000

Seven’s The Voice:
• Total TV nation reach: 709,000
• National Audience: 291,000
• BVOD Audience: 45,000

People 16-39

Nine’s The Block:
• Total TV nation reach: 421,000
• National Audience: 267,000
• BVOD Audience: 69,000

10’s The Amazing Race:
• Total TV nation reach: 160,000
• National Audience: 80,000 
• BVOD Audience: 10,000

Seven’s The Voice:
• Total TV nation reach: 257,000
• National Audience: 101,000
• BVOD Audience: 22,000

Grocery Shoppers 18+

Nine’s The Block:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,872,000
• National Audience: 1,035,000
• BVOD Audience: 153,000

10’s The Amazing Race:
• Total TV nation reach: 747,000
• National Audience: 389,000 
• BVOD Audience: 30,000

Seven’s The Voice:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,809,000
• National Audience: 836,000
• BVOD Audience: 68,000

Data © OzTAM and Regional TAM 2024. Not to be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) in whole or in part, without prior written consent of OzTAM and Regional TAM.