Adrian Portelli, the high-profile billionaire who dominated The Block‘s record-breaking finale, has responded to mounting accusations that the auction was “rigged” to secure a win for fan-favourites Maddy and Charlotte. Despite his significant influence over the auction results, Portelli firmly denied any behind-the-scenes manipulation.

Portelli’s high-stakes moves unfolded during Sunday night’s finale, where he surprised viewers by successfully bidding on four out of the five properties. His strategy even included discreetly acquiring one home through a buyer’s agent to avoid tipping off other bidders. In total, Portelli spent a staggering $15.3 million, including a $3.5 million bid on the sisters’ house, securing them a $1.65 million profit.

Billionaire Adrian Portelli. Source: Nine.

Speaking on Nova 100’s Jase & Lauren on Monday, Portelli admitted to strategically influencing the auction order, saying, “We hand-selected the auction sequence to make sure the girls went last so we could get them to win.” However, he was quick to clarify that this decision was not disclosed to the other contestants.

Portelli’s plans were set in motion well in advance, designed to support his promotional platform, LMCT+, which went live immediately after the broadcast. “Me and my team orchestrated the whole thing weeks in advance. We filmed with contestants and set everything up, so we could launch the promotion right after the episode aired,” he revealed.

Despite his admissions, Portelli was adamant that the auction was fair. “I never said The Block was rigged,” he insisted. “The auction is a public event — anyone can participate. Once it starts, it’s out of the network’s hands. If I decide to bid $100 million on a $2 million property, that’s entirely my choice.”

The Block winners, sisters Maddy and Charlotte, with billionaire Adrian Portelli. Source: Instagram.

The intense bidding war stirred controversy among some viewers who questioned whether the finale was staged for dramatic effect. However, Portelli remained defiant, telling critics to “suck it up” and emphasizing, “It was my decision. The girls had the best house, and they deserved the win.”

A spokesperson for Nine Network defended the integrity of the process, telling Mediaweek, “The Block auctions are conducted by licensed real estate agents who must comply with all relevant laws under the supervision of Consumer Affairs.”

Portelli’s latest The Block purchases follow his headline-making 2023 acquisition of another contestant’s home for $4.3 million, which he later offered as a prize through LMCT+. As he continues to make bold moves in reality TV auctions, Portelli is leveraging his visibility to amplify his brand and disrupt the traditional auction scene

Great Southern Bank has launched chapter two of its ‘Happily Clever After’ brand campaign with creative agency Richards Rose, Dentsu Brisbane and the bank’s own in-house media team.

The campaign follows the first chapter launched in 2021 and continues to bring to life the homeownership journey as told through a modern-day fairy tale.

The focus is on the bank’s core purpose of helping all Australians own their own home, which 88% of Australians consider a key part of the Australian dream, according to the 2023 YouGov Australian Millennial Report.

“This campaign really captures something unique about the home ownership journey today, particularly for first home buyers and small business owners,” Megan Keleher, chief customer officer at Great Southern Bank, said.

“While there’s one common destination – home ownership – we know that Australians are finding a range of clever paths to get there, and Great Southern Bank is there to help them every step of the way.”

The campaign, ‘Happily Clever After’, will be seen across BVOD, YouTube, Cinema, OOH, digital, and social and runs from November 2024 into early 2025.

Keleher added: “Through distinctive imagery, lighthearted storytelling and by heroing hardworking, everyday Australians, we’ve grounded our campaign in the needs of our customers today. It was also vital to be true to who we are as a customer-owned, challenger bank – that authenticity has given our previous campaigns great longevity and lasting impact.”

“In this next chapter of the brand story, we meet two more Aussies pursuing their dream of home ownership,” Alex Stainton, Richards Rose’s executive creative director, said.

“As we all know, this journey continues to be challenging, so we’ve retained the optimistic, encouraging tone, as Great Southern Bank cheers on the side-hustlers and small business owners on their way to Happily Clever After. Throughout this adventure, we were blessed with some magic from our director, Beatrice Pegard, along with wonderful talent, who will soon be dancing their way across the vertical and horizontal screens in your vicinity.”

Credits

Client: Great Southern Bank
Chief Customer Officer: Megan Keleher
Head of Marketing: Deborah Woodford
Senior Marketing Manager Brand and Acquisition : Emma Barker
Senior Marketing Manager – Digital: Liam Crowe 

Creative Agency: Richards Rose
Chief Creative Officer / Founder: Adam Rose
Executive Creative Director: Alex Stainton
CEO / Founder: Digby Richards
Creative Group Head: Justin Lim
Senior Copywriter: Mark Sharman
Head of Production: Tanya Hairman
Head of Strategy: Joseph Smeaton
Head of Account Management: Kristen Sandberg
Account Director: Claire McGinley
Studio Manager / Finished Artist: Alistair Donald
Production Company: Collider
Director: Beatrice Pegard
Executive Producer: Rachel Ford-Davies
Producer: Sarah Nichols
DoP: Aaron McLisky
Editing: Adam Wills
Post House: FIN Design & Effects
Colourist: Matt Fez
Music Composition and Sound Post: Squeak-E-Clean
Photographer: Jeremy Shaw
Casting: Felicity Byrne, Byrne Creative

Media: Dentsu Brisbane, Great Southern Bank In-house media team

In a candid moment live on air Wednesday morning, 2GB host Ben Fordham revealed he had fallen victim to a peculiar form of bank fraud.

The incident occurred when Fordham attempted to transfer funds from a Commonwealth Bank travel card. While reviewing the account with a teller, he noticed something unexpected on the screen.

“When the teller brought up the screen, I saw the words ‘OnlyFans’,” Fordham shared with his listeners. “Now, OnlyFans is an adult subscription site where creators typically post content behind a paywall.”

“I had this embarrassing conversation where I said, ‘Look, can you please go back to that page? I’m certain I saw ‘OnlyFans’ listed there.’”

Fordham said the teller was pretending he hadn’t seen the adult subscription site’s name.

“I’m sure you hear this all the time, but I swear I have not spent any money with OnlyFans,” Fordham said he told the teller.

A series of $50 transactions had been made on the account and subsequently reversed.

Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn later addressed the issue on air, describing it as a standard case of fraud. “Hopefully, it wasn’t too awkward or embarrassing for you,” Comyn told Fordham. “In this situation, the transaction was made by a third party, and as the account holder, you weren’t involved. Our fraud guarantee ensures you’re fully covered, and we can reverse such transactions.”

Fordham thanked Commonwealth Bank for its swift resolution of the issue and advised consumers to regularly review their travel card statements, as these accounts are often overlooked for extended periods after returning from trips.

“Be vigilant, folks. It’s easy to forget about these things, but scammers are always looking for ways to catch people off guard,” Fordham said.

See also: ACMA reveals how Nine’s Ben Fordham and 3AW breached broadcasting rules, and ACRA winners: Jonesy and Amanda, Ben Fordham, Phil O’Neal, Luke Davis and Whippy all take home trophies. 

Sammy J is set to turn off the microphone next month after five years as the host of ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast.

He began hosting just weeks before the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, becoming a source of fun, information and companionship for locked-down Melbournians.

“Hosting Melbourne Breakfast was an unexpected opportunity that became an unexpected joy,” Sammy J said. “But radio demands all of you and deserves nothing less, and after five years I’m ready to trade the 4:15am alarm for more regular hours.”

“I leave with pride, gratitude, and a litany of cash-for-comment scandals that will be revealed in due course.”

Sammy J applied his creative thinking to his program and last year completed a 24-hour broadcast to raise money for SecondBite as part of the annual ABC Gives charity appeal.

In October, he wrote and led a skit of all ABC Radio Melbourne presenters for the station’s 100th birthday. As part of his Missing Moments series, Sammy J helped listeners experience the big events cancelled due to Melbourne’s lockdowns.

A prolific songwriter, Sammy J also wrote viral songs to farewell Melbourne’s e-scooters, the Airport Rail Link, Premier Dan Andrews and Captain Cook’s feet, to welcome Taylor Swift and to explain Lord Voldemort’s thoughts on a proposal to build a Harry Potter theme park.

In true Sammy J fashion, he farewelled listeners with a song on this morning’s program with a parody of Part Of Your World from Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

Shelley Hadfield, ABC Radio Melbourne acting manager, said Sammy’s quick wit and creative flair had given Melburnians a unique view of the news of the day.

“Sammy has asked the questions we never knew we wanted answered,” Hadfield said. “He’s grilled the Prime Minister and the Premier, he broke the news to Melbourne of the Queen’s death, and he’s interviewed musicians, magicians, meatworkers and mathematicians.

“But it’s Sammy’s connection with the audience which has been a hallmark of his time at 774. You only had to see the listeners turn up at the crack of dawn for his outside broadcasts to understand what an impact he has had on people’s lives.”

Sammy will present his final Breakfast program on Friday, December 13. Announcements about the 2025 line-up on ABC Radio Melbourne will be made in the coming week.

Australia’s most prestigious media event, the Mediaweek 100 lunch, returns for 2024 at the Pearl Ballroom, Crown Sydney, on November 22.

The Mediaweek 100 celebrates the leaders who are at the top of their game, alongside the teams driving their success at Australia’s leading media companies.

After what has been a turbulent year, this annual event attracts the industry’s most influential people.

You can buy your tickets here. 

This year’s list is set to look quite different from previous years as there have been many big changes in the industry. In 2023, spots #1 and #2 were taken by former Seven CEO James Warburton and former Nine CEO Mike Sneesby, respectively and both are no longer in those roles.

Warburton placed in the #5 spot on 2022’s list while Sneesby placed #1 that year.

Other execs who appeared in 2023’s top 10 lineup included Nova’s Peter Charlton, oOh!media’s Cathy O’Connor, Are Media’s Jane Huxley, Paramount’s Beverley McGarvey, ARN’s Ciaran Davis, SCA’s John Kelly, Foxtel’s Patrick Delany and News Corp’s Michael Miller.

See the full list of names for 2023 here.

James Warburton, former CEO of Seven West Media

You can view the full criteria and enter the Mediaweek 100 here.

While you don’t have to be nominated to make the list, our application portal is open to encourage submissions.

KEY DATES

Submissions close: Tuesday, 12 November 2024 (11.59pm AEST)

Event Date: Friday, 22 November, 2024 (12pm AEST)
Location: Pearl Ballroom, Crown Sydney

Tickets are available here.

As part of its presence at SXSW Sydney in 2024, The Growth Distillery hosted a series of 10 vodcasts hosted by Dan Krigstein and branded Rules Don’t Apply.

The special guest for this episode sub-titled “Breaking barriers” was Poppy Reid.

In his introduction to the episode, Krigstein welcomed his guest: “Poppy is the co-founder of The Brag Media. She was formerly the editor-in-chief of The Brag Media, which includes Rolling Stone, Australia and New Zealand, Variety Australia, Tone Deaf, The Industry Observer, The Brag and The Music Network across the portfolio.

[Mediaweek is now part of Vinyl Group which also owns The Brag Media.]

“Poppy is a multi-award winning journalist and commentator, having won the Music Journalist of the Year Award in 22 at the Australian Women in Music Awards. She received the publishing accolade at last year’s Mediaweek Next to the Best event.”

Poppy Reid

The discussion talked about starting a media business and Reid spoke frankly about the early trials and tribulations:

“We made every single mistake that you could possibly make in starting a company. The three biggest mistakes? One, we naturally had hardly any budget, so we hired a lot of entry-level very young people. We hired kids, and so they weren’t super experienced. They wanted to be led by us.

“Two…we didn’t know what the fuck we were doing. We were still learning how to be managers, how to be leaders. We were terrible. We were terrible managers. So, we hired young people, we did not have experience as leaders.

“The third mistake that we probably made, we had that idea of like, oh, let’s just throw things at the wall and see if it sticks. We were trying to be data-led, but we weren’t as data-led as we possibly could be. We just went, let’s just have a crack and probably weren’t as strategic as we should have been.

“Then we launched a magazine in Covid. We got the rights to bring Rolling Stone back to Australia.”

Despite the pandemic, Reid explained The Brag Media invested in digital marketing and counterculture strategies, focusing on youth and diverse artists.

Dan Krigstein

Cultural engagement strategy

She explained how the strategy involved listening to the audience and young staff, and identifying gaps in the market.

Reid’s personal passion for pop music and elevating women influenced cover choices, which resonated with the audience.

Leadership and management lessons

Later in the vodcast, Reid discussed recognising her initial management mistakes and investing in an executive coach to improve her leadership skills.

Key lessons included understanding that employees value flexibility, transparency, and understanding their impact within the business.

Watch this special episode of Rules Don’t Apply with Poppy Reid.

See also:
• Rules Don’t Apply: The Battle for Creativity: AI vs. Humanity with Futurist Brian David Johnson
• Layne Beachley first guest on Rules Don’t Apply vodcast series from The Growth Distillery
• Rules Don’t Apply: Unmasking Reality – Navigating Truth in the Age of AI with Noelle Russell
• Rules Don’t Apply: From airwaves to algorithms – Adam Spencer’s take on creativity and AI

Marketing leaders are prioritising measurement over privacy despite Privacy Act changes dominating industry headlines in recent months, the Yahoo’s Data Maturity Pop Quiz revealed.

New insights found from the quiz that 74% of advertising leaders see measurement and tracking as a top priority. In comparison, 12% of respondents lean toward privacy solutions despite impending changes to Australia’s privacy law.

The quiz, launched in August 2024, was an interactive, pop-culture-themed survey designed to help brands assess and enhance their data maturity and capabilities.

It had over 150 respondents across Australia and South East Asia from over 11 industry categories, including banking, government, FMCG and travel, to name a few. It provided participants with a tailored assessment of their data strategies and identified areas for improvement.

Dan Richardson, director of data and insights at Yahoo AUSEA

The report also found that 78% of the respondents rely on industry news and blogs for upskilling, while 25% turn to LinkedIn. This is reflected in the fact that most marketers are unaware of any readily available, fact-based educational resources outside of news articles, social media, and subjective opinions shared there.

Only 26% of respondents updated their audience strategies, according to the study, indicating a lack of agility as well as an understanding of segmentation best practice and the ongoing governance required to manage such data.

While 44% claim to be using advanced data technology, engagement in Google Privacy Sandbox and identity testing are on the decline as industry focus is moving towards measurement, with a growing interest in Data Clean Rooms and Multi-Touch attribution, although many businesses are yet to trial them, according to the research.

The survey found 43% ranked in the top tier based on their overall responses showing a positive trend towards data maturity practices and capabilities, but broader findings revealed a clear need for greater educational resources.

“The industry’s emphasis on measurement and segmentation shows where the immediate priorities lie, but it’s equally important to address the governance work needed to support these strategies,” Dan Richardson, director of data and insights at Yahoo AUSEA, said.

“A clear approach to data management will be key to ensuring responsible growth in this space.”

Lorraine Donnelly, head of data at Yahoo AUSEA

Lorraine Donnelly, head of data at Yahoo AUSEA, said: “The findings from this survey show us where brands and agencies are feeling the pinch and where they see opportunity. While there’s a clear call to action here around bridging the gap with advanced measurement tools and regular audience strategy check-ups, the matter of privacy is not one to be discounted.

“Resources like the IAB Data Collaboration Platforms Explainer and Identifiers Explainer Guide and Matrix offer valuable frameworks for brands, helping them understand data sharing and identity strategies while staying aligned with privacy requirements.

“We’re here to empower brands to take their data capabilities to the next level and help the industry navigate a complex data ecosystem with confidence so that measurement and privacy can evolve in tandem,” she added.

Insights from the survey highlight the need for robust, accessible tools for accurate measurement while also pointing to the importance of privacy considerations. As privacy regulations evolve, having the right resources and educational support will be crucial to empowering brands to make balanced, data-led decisions that respect privacy and prioritise transparency.

Wavemaker Brisbane, Elevencom and Perfection Fresh have teamed up to launch a new national campaign for Calypso Mangoes.

The media agency used its proprietary planning tool, CX Journey, to generate deep consumer behaviour insights and develop an audience-first approach to the media strategy and channel plan to craft a campaign that positions Calypso as the “must-have” mango of the season.

The campaign builds on its well-established brand identity by leveraging innovative media formats across Screens, Special Builds, OOH, Digital, Social, Search, and Partnerships, including a 3D OOH feature.

3D OOH will run across both QMS and Cartology and use anamorphic illusive design to transform OOH from a static display to a 3D experience to shoppers draw in and make Calypso the undeniable star of the fruit aisle.

Wavemaker Brisbane also has teamed up with oOh!Media to transform selected bus shelters into giant Calypso Mango boxes to capture attention and give Aussies a memorable commute.

The partnership also extends to a “Christmas with The Weekly” collaboration with Are Media’s The Australian Women’s Weekly, positioning Calypso Mangoes as the hero ingredient for Aussie Christmas recipes and celebrations.

“Embracing innovative formats like 3D OOH, custom builds, and content partnerships allows us to capture consumers’ attention and drive impact,” Imogen Speck, brand manager at Perfection Fresh, said.

“In collaboration with Wavemaker and Elevencom, we’ve brought the Calypso brand to life as an immersive 3D experience, whilst ensuring consistent use of distinctive assets, which is crucial for building and maintaining brand salience.

“This campaign underscores Perfection Fresh’s commitment to delivering perfection in both product quality and brand engagement, setting a high standard for excellence that consumers, retailers and growers can rely on to make each meal experience special with fresh, flavourful produce.”

Jane Sullivan, Wavemaker Brisbane managing director, added: “This campaign showcases Wavemaker Brisbane’s commitment to delivering innovative and impactful campaigns for our clients – and having fun while we do it. By amplifying the key sensory elements of Calypso Mangoes, we created a truly immersive experience across channels, setting the stage for a summer of mango indulgence.”

John McLachlan, director operations at Elevencom, said: “We’ve been developing creative for Calypso over many mango seasons, and it’s always a fun challenge coming up with new and engaging ways of communicating Calypso’s core proposition of irresistibility. We were thrilled to partner with the team to help create these eye-catching executions.”

The campaign runs until the end of January 2025.

Wavemaker Credits:
Jane Sullivan – Managing Director
Lily Nielsen – Managing Partner
Courtney McBryde – Group Business Director
Danielle Davies – Group Strategy Director
Eva Breda – Client Director
Lauren Richardson – Digital Director
Demi Groot – Digital Manager
Sophie Raftery – Associate Client Manager
Zoe Stanek – Associate Strategy Manager
Harriet Ryan – Client Coordinator
James Lever – Client Partner

Perfection Fresh Credits:
Luke Gibson – Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer
Kristie Emerson – Group Marketing Manager
Imogen Speck – Brand Manager

Elevencom Credits:
Dan Crocetti – Senior Art Director
Tim Arrowsmith – Senior Writer
Jono McCauley – Director Creative Strategy
Ryan Fallowfield – Director Creative & Branding
John McLachlan – Director Operations

By Natalie Harvey, CEO of Mamamia

As the dust settles after the US elections and analysis begins about how Donald Trump won so decisively, it’s true that there will be a confluence of reasons. What nobody on the left or right is arguing, however, is the seismic shift in influence from the old media to the new media, specifically podcasts.

Trump’s willingness to go to Austin, Texas and sit down with Joe Rogan for a three hour interview and Kamala Harris’ willingness to sit down with Alex Cooper for an interview on her show, Call Her Daddy were the two most talked-about media appearances of the campaign. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been such a surprise as research out of the US in the lead up to the vote showed that podcasts are the most trusted* source of media for registered voters, with 63% saying podcasts change their opinions on issues or topics in the news.

The Australian election is expected to take place in May and since the last election, “new media” has grown in both size and influence. I would LOVE to be a fly on the wall of the political party headquarters as they perform their own post-mortem while strategising about key messages and importantly, what platforms to get those messages out on.

With evolving consumption habits and audiences reconsidering what trusted media really is, it is obvious that along with key policies, the media plan from the 2022 election can’t be copied and pasted. The splits of investment must be adjusted significantly to make sure messages cut through and trusted platforms must over index in focus and spend.

Kamala Harris

This doesn’t just apply to political parties and elections though, my guess is that every marketer in the world will be re-evaluating their media mix this week and the role of “new media” post the US Election. How can Marketers build brand trust and drive action in new ways, using new media and lowering the reliance on performance and traditional media. Not saying at all that traditional media should be abandoned, but the splits of investment most certainly should be reviewed.

Back to looking at the US Election. There was certainly a lot of money spent by both sides. But what is really interesting is the level of conversation about the decision for both parties to appear on podcasts. Not only were the numbers enormous, dwarfing the capability of the traditional broadcast approach, but through leveraging the trust and deep engagement of the Call Her Daddy and Joe Rogan audiences, candidates had the ability to humanise themselves, go beyond a soundbite and create real connection with voters. The Democrats had huge door knocking and field infrastructure whereas the Republicans had none of that and clearly didn’t need it. Throughout this election cycle, Podcasts have been positioned as the new grass roots approach when it comes to driving social change and conversation.

Mamamia is the largest pure podcast network in Australia and the largest women’s media network in the country reaching 7.5million Australian women every month. So we were thrilled to see Podcasts up in lights with candidates understanding how powerful, relevant and crucial podcasts & hosts are.

Podcast hosts transcend traditional media commentators where lines must be toed or personal viewpoints are discouraged. Podcast hosts cross multiple demographics and connect in a way that is simply unrivalled by other platforms. That’s why millions of Australians flock to podcasts every month. To be part of the conversation and to hear from the people they trust the most.

Contrary to popular belief, women don’t just care about women’s issues. We care about the economy, about job security, the health of our friends and family, the safety of our country and what is going on outside our borders. When most voters are swing voters, you really can’t afford to ignore women, or assume you can get to them with mass, broad media. They might contribute to a number/ a reach goal but you won’t be able to connect with them like you can on our platforms.

Election night coverage on Sky News

Here’s some fun facts: 87% of our audience have thought about buying a product/ service after hearing about it on Mamamia podcasts. And if you want to get into the powerful dark social environments where women trade ideas, thoughts and look for support… well, 2 in 3 of our audience have told someone about a product/ service they have heard about on our Podcasts. Seems like an incredibly important platform to place your messages and an influential audience to be engaging with over the next six months if you are trying to grow trust & turn voters.

So with all that in mind, this is an open invitation to Prime Minister Albanese & Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to come onto No Filter, Mamamia Out Loud and The Quicky. If they want to connect with Australian women, they need to start with Mamamia. The traditional 30sec radio ad just won’t cut it. If politicians and leaders of our country want to understand the issues that are causing women concern and what they really want to hear about, come and talk to us. We would be more than happy to host a round table with our audience & our editorial team. Because if you aren’t addressing our genuine concerns, our audience absolutely will find someone else to vote for.

Mamamia has actually hosted every sitting Prime Minister and most opposition leaders since 2008 with the exception of Tony Abbott when he was Prime Minister and Scott Morrison in the last election.

Despite repeated invitations through his office, Morrison, who was running against Anthony Albanese repeatedly refused to talk to any of our journalists or podcasts hosts at Mamamia, preferring to focus on legacy media like 60 Minutes and the Australian Women’s Weekly. Anthony Albanese, however, did a No Filter with Mia Freedman which was one of the biggest episodes of the year.

*Source Voxtopica Survey, The Podcast Influence. September 2024

See also: Mamamia Upfront 2025: Edu-tainment strategy expanded with four new content categories for women

–

Top image: Natalie Harvey

Foxtel has taken the axe to its pricing structure in a monster Black Friday sale.

While discounting is not unknown across the Foxtel offering, it is surprising to see such generosity from the TV streaming platform as it moves many customers across from the Foxtel business to streaming app alternatives like Kayo Sports and Binge.

The sale is now live and continues until December 3, 2024.

There are a range of Foxtel bundles where the prices have dropped significantly.

The best Foxtel deal

The key offer that stands out is a package called Sport + Drama + Entertainment where the price has plunged from $103 a month to a much more reasonable $60. It’s not just for a short period either – the cheaper price will be charged to subscribers for 12 months.

The fine print on this deal reads: Minimum cost $720 on a 12-month direct debit plan, based on Sport bundle with iQ5. New customers only. Residential customers and standard install only. Offer ends 03/12/24.

The highlights of this package include:
• Cricket live in 4K Ultra HD + over 50 sports live
• Foxtel Plus world’s best drama, latest entertainment, lifestyle, docos, reality & more
• Multiscreen easily watch on another screen
• No set-up costs

Full details of all the Foxtel Black Friday discounts are available at Foxtel.com.au.

Other Black Friday packages include:
Platinum Plus dropping from $145 monthly to $90.
Sports + Movies dropping from $128 to $75 monthly.
Sport dropping from $103 monthly to $60 monthly.
Movies dropping from $98 monthly to $60.

* These price drops are only available if signing up for a 12-month plan.

Every Foxtel bundle includes live TV and On Demand and the ability to load other FTA TV apps and other streaming apps. Also available are the Foxtel Go App, to watch live TV and On Demand on mobile devices, plus the MyFoxtel App to plan viewing and manager your Foxtel account.

See also: BINGE to offer sport streaming via Kayo Sports, Hubbl launching Aussie-first bundle combining Netflix and Kayo

Fender has launched a collaboration with Sanrio to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty.

Hello Kitty is known for empowering self-expression and embracing individuality, and this collaboration transcends generations with her cute and colourful aesthetic merged with Fender’s sonic innovation and brand legacy.

The global collection delivers performance and stylish flair, combining accessible price points, stunning designs, and the quality musicians expect from Fender. The collection speaks to both long-time Hello Kitty fans and new players.

“Hello Kitty has a global community of devoted fans, and much like Fender, has transcended generations, culture, and geography. This partnership speaks to the joy and creativity both brands have inspired worldwide,” said Edward “Bud” Cole, president of Fender APAC.

“It’s about more than just a guitar—this is about giving players a platform to express their individuality with quality instruments, gear, clothing and collectibles that spark creativity wherever they are.”

“As a cultural ambassador, Hello Kitty has been influencing a variety of industries, including music for 50 years,” said Craig Takiguchi, chief operating officer of Sanrio, Inc.

“In today’s dynamic landscape, where music and entertainment are constantly merging and inspiring each other, Fender’s legacy, and deep connection to pop culture uniquely positions them to become an even bigger part of our fans’ lives.

‘We’re excited to partner with Fender to give our community new, creative ways to express themselves through these iconic quality instruments and supercute accessories, continuing to bring our vision of ‘One World, Connecting Smiles’ to life on a global scale,” Takiguchi added.

The Fender x Hello Kitty 50^th Anniversary Collection includes a Limited Edition Squier Stratocaster guitar and a Fuzz Pedal, alongside eye-catching accessories such as an electric pink instrument cable, gig bag, and a collection of unisex clothing. From Hello Kitty-themed straps to pick tins, hoodies, tees and trucker hats, these items celebrate the spirit of creativity, inclusion and fun that defines both brands.

“This collaboration with Hello Kitty is a perfect blend of music and pop culture,” said Justin Norvell EVP Fender Product. “The limited-edition Squier Stratocaster merges Hello Kitty’s playful design with Fender’s craftsmanship, offering a high-performing instrument that’s as fun as it is functional.

“Our Made-in-Japan exclusives bring an extra level of artistry and attention to detail, making them standouts for both collectors and players. From the guitars to accessories like straps and fuzz pedals, this collection sparks creativity and celebrates individuality, while staying true to Fender’s legacy of quality and innovation.”

Keep Left has been appointed by St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria (SVDPV) to oversee public relations and social media while promoting its growing retail store offering.

SVDPV, affectionately known as Vinnies Victoria, has a network of more than 100 Vinnies Shops across the state, popular for fashion finds, unique homewares and bargains that contribute to a good cause.

Vinnies Victoria EGM for brand and commercial Charlie Spendlove said: “Thrifting is the new sustainable dopamine hit for style hunters everywhere. Once a niche trend, pre-loved fashion has gone mainstream as we saw at this year’s Brownlow when Dee Salmin turned her year 12 formal dress into a skirt!”

A study by RMIT University found Australians aged 18-to-34 are more likely to buy second-hand and last year, more than one million additional people visited Victorian Vinnies compared to the year prior with the 4,041,654 customers representing a 34.7 per cent increase.

Keep Left will develop and deliver an integrated PR and social media strategy as part of an always-on program, including design and asset creation and social training for staff.

Spendlove added: “Keep Left’s experience delivering engaging integrated strategies that build on cultural moments made this an easy decision. I’m confident this partnership will take our retail offering to the next level.”

Leaning into the agency’s ‘whole brain’ integrated approach which calls on multidisciplinary craft specialists, Client Partner Tiffany Simon will lead PR and social for Vinnies Victoria.

Simon said: “Sustainability and the circular economy are becoming increasingly important to Australian consumers and we’re looking forward to elevating the Vinnies Victoria retail brand as it goes from strength to strength. It’s an exciting opportunity to leverage the power of an integrated owned and earned approach while tapping into a growing trend linked to the important conversation about values-aligned shopping and sustainability.”

Brand activation agency Because ANZ is accelerating business development across Australia and New Zealand, appointing Chloe Woodhouse as the newly created director of growth.

Collaborating with brands such as Woolworths, Sydney Water, Kraft Heinz, and AGL, Because blends live shopper and digital to build relationships between brands and consumers.

Woodhouse joins Because ANZ to capitalise on the growing demand for brands to harness activations and foster stronger relationships with consumers to drive consideration, loyalty and sales both in the short and long term.

Meredith Cranmer, co-founder and managing director at Because ANZ said: “Chloe’s appointment is a pivotal moment for us as brands across Australasia increasingly seek to connect with consumers in more impactful ways. Her proven track record in driving business growth through strategic sales and marketing initiatives and strong client relationships makes her the perfect fit to lead our business development and ensure we continue to deliver exceptional results for clients.”

With more than 14 years experiential marketing experience, Woodhouse arrives at Because ANZ from the UK where she most recently was client development manager at UK experiential and creative agency Smyle. She has previously worked at Event Concept, London and Encore, Australia.

Speaking on her appointment, Woodhouse said: “This is an exciting time for brands in Australia and New Zealand as they seek to forge deeper and stronger connections with consumers. These brands want to invest with an experienced agency partner, such as Because, which effectively leverages experiential, social and digital to ignite growth. I’m thrilled to be joining the dynamic Because ANZ team and bring my expertise in building strong client relationships, and crafting successful sales strategies to the agency.”

Monday 11 November 2024: VOZ Total TV Ratings Overnight Top 30 – Programs ranked on reach

Total People TV Ratings

Nine’s A Current Affair recorded a total TV national reach of 1,594,000, a total TV national audience of 1,065,000, and a BVOD audience of 77,000.

Nine’s 9News recorded a total TV national reach of 1,993,000, a total TV national audience of 1,202,000, and a BVOD audience of 96,000.

Seven’s Seven News recorded a total TV national reach of 1,993,000, a total TV national audience of 1,255,000, and a BVOD audience of 71,000.

Also on Seven, My Kitchen Rules recorded a total TV national reach of 1,777,000, a total TV national audience of 1,053,000, and a BVOD audience of 105,000.

MKR’s final Ultimate Instant Restaurant came down to the wire, with kitchen queens Janey and Maddie fighting for a coveted spot in the top four.

With the threat of elimination hanging in the balance, the competition was intense as competitive brothers Rob and Liam – sitting at the bottom of the leaderboard – hoped the kitchen queens stumbled. “I’m hoping this is classic Janey and Maddie tonight: over promise, under deliver. It’s going to go very well for us,” Liam said.

“Losing out tonight to Rob and Liam is not on our menu.” Janey declared.

Janey and Maddie triumphed with a score of 63 out of 100, and Rob and Liam were eliminated from MKR.

10’s airing of Dessert Masters recorded a total TV national reach of 894,000, a total TV national audience of 369,000, and a BVOD audience of 23,000.

People 25-54

Nine’s 9News:
• Total TV nation reach: 583,000
• National Audience: 324,000
• BVOD Audience: 49,000

Seven’s Seven News:
• Total TV nation reach: 510,000
• National Audience: 299,000
• BVOD Audience: 37,000

Seven’s My Kitchen Rules:
• Total TV nation reach: 558,000
• National Audience: 320,000
• BVOD Audience: 56,000

10’s Dessert Masters:
• Total TV nation reach: 328,000
• National Audience: 157,000
• BVOD Audience: 12,000

People 16-39

Nine’s 9News:
• Total TV nation reach: 214,000
• National Audience: 122,000
• BVOD Audience: 24,000

Seven’s Seven News:
• Total TV nation reach: 193,000
• National Audience: 104,000
• BVOD Audience: 19,000

Seven’s My Kitchen Rules:
• Total TV nation reach: 245,000
• National Audience: 132,000
• BVOD Audience: 29,000

10’s Dessert Masters:
• Total TV nation reach: 113,000
• National Audience: 55,000
• BVOD Audience: 6,000

Grocery Shoppers 18+ TV Ratings

Nine’s 9News:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,566,000
• National Audience: 949,000
• BVOD Audience: 77,000

Seven’s Seven News:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,622,000
• National Audience: 1,027,000
• BVOD Audience: 57,000

Seven’s My Kitchen Rules:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,408,000
• National Audience: 847,000
• BVOD Audience: 86,000

10’s Dessert Masters:
• Total TV nation reach: 709,000
• National Audience: 295,000
• BVOD Audience: 19,000

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.

Vistar Media has launched its new retail and billboard auction packages to simplify access to premium DOOH inventory across Australia’s retail spaces and billboards.

The curated packages will enable advertisers to activate targeted campaigns at scale through Vistar’s demand-side platform (DSP) or any omnichannel DSP.

The auction packages aim to address a longstanding challenge in the market by separating retail and billboard screens into specific formats—such as large or small scale—making precise targeting easier and more efficient. Accessing these segmented inventories required reaching out to multiple media owners, but now advertisers can achieve this with a single deal ID, streamlining both campaign setup and execution.

Vistar’s auction packages include a range of offerings tailored to different campaign needs. Key packages include Retail Large Format, Retail Small Format, Small Scale Billboards (<25 sqm), and Large Scale Billboards (>25 sqm).

Advertisers will have access to specialised packages that allow simplified venue targeting in traditionally restricted categories, such as gambling, alcohol and political advertising. Other packages focus on key points of interest, such as inventory near universities and banks, or outdoor locations available during peak traffic hours.

Matt Steffenson, director of supply, APAC at Vistar Media, said: “We’ve taken the complexity out of the buying process by providing curated inventory packages that unlock access to screens targeting large and small format retail venues and billboards—something previously difficult to achieve without multiple direct PMPs with every network. With these packages, brands can now quickly connect with their desired audiences through relevant inventory, without the operational hurdles.”

With this launch, the OOH company continues to expand the capabilities of programmatic DOOH, empowering marketers with flexible options to execute data-driven campaigns. This innovation allows advertisers to deliver messaging in the moments that matter—whether they’re targeting shoppers in retail environments or commuters during peak travel hours. The segmentation ensures campaigns can be highly relevant and impactful, with reduced complexity for buyers.

Vistar Media’s auction packages also reflect its commitment to providing advertisers with both flexibility and transparency. By enabling access to restricted category inventory and highly sought-after locations, Vistar offers brands the tools to maximise reach, ensure relevance and create impactful, measurable campaigns.