The Seven Network is bringing the AFL and cricket to their new home on 7plus Sport.

The launch of 7plus Sport means Australians can now live stream AFL football matches and international and domestic cricket on home soil – including the 2024 AFL Grand Final and the upcoming Test summer between Australia and India. 

Fronting the new 7plus Sport campaign is 7plus Sport “fanbassador” Shannon Noll, who has reimagined his hit What About Me in a new television commercial.

It also features 7SPORT’s biggest names including Ricky Ponting alongside his son Fletcher, Bruce McAvaney, Mel McLaughlin and Aaron Finch, and showcasing the smorgasbord of sports available to all Australians on the digital platform.

Gereurd Roberts, group managing director, Seven Digital, said: “The launch of 7plus Sport represents the most significant change in Australian sport in decades. For the very first time, all Australians will be able to watch AFL and cricket anywhere, at any time and on any device – live and free. To say it is a game changer for fans, sporting organisations and advertisers is a massive understatement.

“In addition to AFL and cricket, we will be rolling out many new programs and features across 7plus Sport to keep fans informed, entertained and engaged week in, week out, 52 weeks a year. Stay tuned for some big announcements.”

Seven’s head of sport digital, Kirsty Bradmore, said: “This is a landmark moment in Australian sports broadcasting, and we cannot wait to finally deliver every nail-biting moment of Saturday’s AFL Grand Final and the upcoming summer of cricket, all live and free on 7plus Sport.

“With supercharged digital rights for our nation’s biggest and most popular winter and summer sports, we’re not just delivering more sports content than ever before, we’re making them accessible to every Australian everywhere.

“In 2025, 7plus Sport will become the ultimate destination for AFL fans, delivering footy content every day of the week. Whether it’s live matches, in-depth analysis, or exclusive behind-the-scenes content, AFL fans can stay connected to their favorite sport like never before, anytime, anywhere,” she said.

Seven’s full digital rights to the AFL starts with the Brownlow Medal and Saturday’s 2024 AFL Grand Final and include the AFLW and the full 2025 season, with matches across every round of the AFL season, and all Finals Series matches available to stream on 7plus Sport live and free.

Seven’s digital rights to cricket debuted on Thursday, 19 September with the Women’s International Series against New Zealand, and continue with the WBBL from Sunday, 27 October; the men’s five Test Series against India from Friday, 22 November; BBL from Sunday, 15 December; and the Women’s Ashes Series from Sunday, 12 January.

There has been plenty of activity in the past few days at the world’s biggest streaming service.

Netflix just happens to be the biggest streaming service in Australia too with over 6m subscribers for the year ended June 20, 2024.

See also: Telsyte SVOD report: Ad-supported tiers grow, Netflix still #1, Total subscriptions up 4% to 25.3m

The platform has started to roll out pre-publicity for what promises to be another hit series – the Australian-produced Territory.

Its release follows a string of hits right across the year.

The latest blockbuster to top the charts globally and in Australia is Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

The new series from Ryan Murphy has managed to unseat The Perfect Couple from the top of the most-watched charts in Australia. However, the Nicole Kidman series recently topped the Australian charts for two weeks.

Other Netflix hits this year have included Emily in Paris S4, Cobra Kai S6, Bridgeton S3, Eric, Baby Reindeer, Heartbreak High S2, The Gentleman, and of course the multi-award-winning Boy Swallows Universe.

Audiences for the Australian series were impressive. Boy Swallows Universe had a total of 13m global views for the first six months of this year. Heartbreak High S2 logged 10m views. The appearance of the second season also triggered a further 7m views of the first season in the first half of 2024.

Those numbers are strong, but not enough to go close to the most-watched on the platform.

Netflix Top 10 First Half 2024

1. Fool Me Once 108m
2. Bridgerton S3 92m
3. Baby Reindeer 88m
4. The Gentlemen 76m
5. Avatar: The Last Airbender 71m
6. Griselda 69m
7. American Nightmare 55m
8. 3 Body Problem 52m
9. Berlin 49m
10. One Day 39m
(Source: Netflix. Figure is for millions of total global views, Jan-June 2024)

Helping The Perfect Couple to top spot

Part of the Netflix success for its major series in Australia has been the quirky marketing campaigns undertaken at launch for many series.

Earlier this month, Nicole Kidman and her co-star Liev Schreiber were floating on Sydney Harbour. The duo, whose show The Perfect Couple debuted at #1 on Netflix, cruised past iconic Sydney landmarks with a sinister glare.

Kidman and Schrieber play Greer and Tag Winbury in The Perfect Couple, the whodunit limited series. Set in the picturesque seaside town of Nantucket, Greer and Tag are the uber-wealthy and glamorous parents of the groom-to-be, and pose as the ultimate hosts for what promises to be the premiere wedding of the season – until a body turns up on the beach.

During their day on the Harbour, the couple were anchored at Sydney’s answer to Nantucket, Watsons Bay.

A bespoke cocktail dubbed “The Peachy Couple” was created in honour of the series, a delicate peach and bergamot spritz that puts an ominous twist on the classic spring favourite. It was available for purchase at the Watsons Bay Hotel restaurant from 13 to 27 September.

The Perfect Couple amassed over 20.3m views and was a top 10 show in 91 countries around the world including Australia, New Zealand, The US, Canada, France and the UK.

Here comes Netflix’s next Aussie hit, Territory

Netflix is marketing the new series that is set in a billion-dollar industry with a fierce succession war, with a family at odds.

The upcoming series, which debuts on Netflix on October 24, follows the fight for power in the remote Australian outback when the world’s largest cattle station is left without an apparent heir.

Territory stars Anna Torv (Fringe), Sam Corlett (Vikings: Valhalla), and many more in an epic and dangerous battle for land and legacy.

The series was filmed across the Northern Territory and South Australia in locations including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park and Tipperary Station, a real-life, working cattle station.

Production notes: Territory

Territory is a joint production between Easy Tiger (Ian Collie and Rob Gibson) and Ronde (Ben Davies).
The creators are Timothy Lee (Mystery Road, Bump) and Ben Davies (Bondi Rescue, The First Inventors, Outback Ringer).
Executive producers are Davies, Rob Gibson (The Twelve, Colin from Accounts), and lan Collie (Jack Irish, Scrublands).

See also: Netflix reveals Territory is now the name of its next big Australian original plus cast reveal

The annual Blis Golden Shaker inter-agency mixology competition has been held for 2024. This year’s competition is being called the biggest and best to date.

The industry event has been held since 2015. The Blis Golden Shaker gives would-be mixologists a chance to ‘shake’ and ‘stir’ their way into history.

This year saw six agencies competing for the coveted trophy at Employees Only Bar, Sydney in front of nearly 200 agency and industry guests.

The agencies in the competition were Speed, OMD, Metropolis, Thump, Havas and Initiative.

Elias Psarologos, regional director, ANZ at Blis said: “This years’ agencies really brought their creativity and flare with them to create some delicious and amazing-looking cocktails in front of the amazing support from the industry. It was fantastic to see such enthusiasm and passion for the event which makes it a joy to keep bringing back for our agencies year after year.”

Zac Messih, head of marketing, APAC at Blis, said: “As one of this year’s judges, it was fantastic to have a front-row view to watch everyone shake and stir their signature cocktails. Each of the six team’s drinks they served up were unique and very tasty which had us judges splitting hairs to crown a winner. However, with a unanimous decision, we named Speed this year’s champion mixologists.”

About Blis

Blis takes a radically different approach to omnichannel planning, buying, and measurement that’s rooted in geography, not just identity.

Blis explains its omnichannel advertising solution: Using AI, we understand and help show what makes audiences unique, in terms of where they can be found online and in the real world and how they engage with content. We can then reach and measure these audiences in a unified way across every device and channel without relying on cookies or IDs. This unique technology consistently delivers substantially better performance, scale, and buying efficiency than ID-reliant strategies alone. We’re also the only major DSP that doesn’t mark up media, meaning more of our clients’ budgets can go to work on great publishers and content. We were founded in the UK in 2004 and operate in over 40 markets worldwide.

See also: Blis promotes Elias Psarologos to regional director, ANZ

By Luke Brown, CEO of Affinity Group

As Australia’s marketing industry watches closely, the ongoing Google ad tech trial in the United States could become a watershed moment for digital advertising worldwide.

This trial, which challenges Google’s dominance in the ad tech space, isn’t just a legal showdown — It’s a battle that could reshape the very foundations of how digital advertising works. For marketers in Australia, this case carries implications that extend far beyond borders, influencing how we plan, execute, and measure our campaigns in the years to come.

The trial’s impact: More than just Google’s business model

The trial revolves around allegations that Google has used its market power to stifle competition, maintain a monopoly in ad tech, and disadvantage advertisers, publishers, and rivals alike. While the courtroom drama might seem far removed from the day-to-day realities of running campaigns, the outcomes could bring sweeping changes to our industry, altering the dynamics of ad pricing, access to data, and the tools we use.

In the words of Dina Srinivasan, a noted antitrust scholar who has been following the case closely, “This trial is not just about Google; it’s about the future of the internet. The outcome could redefine the rules of digital advertising, creating a more competitive landscape that benefits everyone from publishers to small businesses”.

Here’s what Australian marketers should be paying attention to as the trial unfolds:

1. Increased scrutiny on data practices and privacy

One of the most significant elements of the trial is its spotlight on data privacy and the competitive advantage gained through vast, monopolistic data collection. Google’s access to massive amounts of user data underpins its dominance in the ad tech ecosystem, enabling precise targeting that other platforms struggle to match.

For Australian marketers, this trial could foreshadow stricter regulations on data collection and usage, aligning with the global trend towards greater consumer privacy protections. As we prepare for Australia’s own privacy law reforms, it’s essential to consider how future rulings could limit data access and demand more transparency from ad tech players, forcing brands to rethink how they gather and leverage consumer insights.

2. Potential breakup of Google’s ad tech stack

A core argument in the trial is that Google’s control over both the buy and sell sides of digital advertising constitutes an unfair advantage. If regulators decide that Google’s ad tech stack needs to be broken up, it could open the market to more competition, potentially leading to a more level playing field for advertisers and publishers.This would be a game-changer for Australian marketers, who have long relied on

Google’s suite of tools for campaign execution. More competition could lead to innovative alternatives that offer better pricing, transparency, and more control over ad placements. However, it could also mean that brands and agencies will need to adapt quickly to new tools and platforms, creating both challenges and opportunities in the process.

3. Implications for ad pricing and transparency

One of the ongoing frustrations with the current ad tech landscape is the lack of transparency around pricing. Google’s role as both a player and referee in digital ad auctions has led to concerns about inflated prices and unclear costs. The trial could push for greater transparency in the ad bidding process, giving advertisers more clarity on where their dollars are going and why.

For Australian advertisers, this could be a welcome shift. A more transparent ad market would allow brands to make more informed decisions about media spend, optimise campaigns with greater accuracy, and ultimately, drive better ROI. Marketers need to be prepared to adapt their strategies to potentially new auction dynamics and be ready to leverage new platforms that prioritise transparency.

4. Shifts in market power and the rise of new platforms

Should the trial result in restrictions on Google’s operations, it could catalyse the rise of alternative ad tech platforms. This is a moment where innovation could thrive, and we might see new entrants challenging the status quo, much like TikTok did in the social media space. Emerging players could offer fresh approaches to targeting, measurement, and creative execution, creating new opportunities for brands looking to diversify their digital ad spend.

For marketers in Australia, this means staying vigilant and open to testing new platforms as they come to market. Diversification could become a key strategy, ensuring that brands are not overly reliant on a single tech giant and are well-positioned to pivot in a rapidly changing landscape.

5. The evolving role of marketing companies in a post-trial world

Finally, the trial could redefine the role of agencies in the ad tech ecosystem. As the industry adapts to potential changes, agencies and businesses will need to guide their clients through new complexities, from managing diversified tech stacks to navigating evolving privacy regulations. At AFFINITY, we see this as an opportunity to double down on our role as trusted advisors, providing the insights and support brands need to navigate these uncharted waters.Preparing for a new digital advertising landscape

The Google ad tech trial is far more than a legal battle — it’s a signal of broader shifts in the digital advertising landscape that will impact marketers around the globe, including here in Australia. As Srinivasan aptly put it, “This is a defining moment for digital advertising, and its effects will ripple across every market where Google operates”.

While the outcomes remain uncertain, one thing is clear: the days of business as usual in digital advertising are numbered. Now is the time for marketers to stay informed, agile, and ready to adapt to whatever comes next. Whether its embracing new technologies, diversifying ad spend, or doubling down on privacy-first strategies, being proactive will be key.

At AFFINITY, we’re closely watching these developments, ready to leverage business advantage and lead our clients through the changes ahead. Because in the fast-evolving world of digital advertising, staying ahead of the curve isn’t just about being informed — it’s about actively seeking opportunities for growth.

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Top image: Luke Brown

Tony Armstrong has announced he will leave ABC News Breakfast in October after three years on the show.

Armstrong, a proud Gamilaroi man, will continue to work with ABC, hosting a new show to be announced later this year and begin airing in 2025.

Armstrong said: “I just want to thank Brekky and the broader ABC News team for welcoming me in with open arms and helping me grow over the past few years. I love live TV and those moments that are unplanned and unpredictable where anything can happen.

“I’ve been so lucky to be surrounded by an incredible team and it’s those friendships that I’m going to cherish the most.”

Armstrong, who was nominated for his Gold Logie this year, has hosted a number of ABC series in recent years, including Tony Armstrong’s Extraordinary Things and A Dog’s World.

He first charmed Australian audiences on News Breakfast as a fill-in sports presenter in 2020, before taking up the role full-time the following year.

2024 Gold Logie nominees Sonia Kruger, Tony Armstrong, Larry Emdur, Julia Morris, Andy Lee, Robert Irwin.

Armstrong quickly made a name for himself as a fresh and versatile television personality, winning the Graham Kennedy Award for most popular new talent at the 2022 Logie Awards. His meteoric rise continued when he won the 2023 Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter and nominated for the Gold Logie earlier this year.
 
Justin Stevens, ABC director, news, said: “Tony Armstrong is a once in a generation talent and it has been fantastic watching him soar in his role at News Breakfast. I can’t wait to see what he does into the future and see his career continue to go from strength to strength.”
 
“I am so sorry three years of talking sport and swapping gags with Tony is about to end,” ABC News Breakfast host Michael Rowland said. He is an engaging colleague and a good friend. In fact, there’s no one I would rather sit through an earthquake with. (We did. Google it.). All the best with what comes next, mate.”
 
ABC News Breakfast host Bridget Brennan: “How blessed we’ve been to have Tone on our screens every morning, bringing the sparkle, joy and heart that only Tony can! Tony is a wonderful friend and everyone at News Breakfast is going to miss his infectious and caring nature.
 
“I know it’s meant so much to me and to thousands upon thousands of First Nations viewers waking up to see Tony representing us on the daily. Can’t wait to see what you do next, Tone! Maybe sleep?!”

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Top image: Tony Armstrong

The ACCC has begun separate proceedings in the Federal Court against Woolworths Group Limited and Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd.

The consumer watchdog alleges the supermarket chains breached the Australian Consumer Law misleading consumers through discount pricing claims on hundreds of common supermarket products.

The allegations relate to products sold by each Woolworths and Coles at regular long-term prices that remained the same, excluding short-term specials, for at least six months and, in many cases, for at least a year.

The products were then subject to price rises of at least 15% for brief periods before being placed in Woolworths’ ‘Prices Dropped’ promotion and Coles’ ‘Down Down’ promotion, at prices lower than during the price spike but higher than, or the same as, the regular price that applied before the price spike.

ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said: “Following many years of marketing campaigns by Woolworths and Coles, Australian consumers have come to understand that the ‘Prices Dropped’ and ‘Down Down’ promotions relate to a sustained reduction in the regular prices of supermarket products.

“However, in the case of these products, we allege the new ‘Prices Dropped’ and ‘Down Down’ promotional prices were actually higher than, or the same as, the previous regular price.”

“We allege that each of Woolworths and Coles breached the Australian Consumer Law by making misleading claims about discounts, when the discounts were, in fact, illusory.”

“We also allege that in many cases both Woolworths and Coles had already planned to later place the products on a ‘Prices Dropped’ or ‘Down Down’ promotion before the price spike, and implemented the temporary price spike for the purpose of establishing a higher ‘was’ price,” Cass-Gottlieb said.

The ACCC alleges the conduct involved 266 products for Woolworths at different times across 20 months, and 245 products for Coles at different times across 15 months. The representations were made on pricing tickets displayed to consumers in-store on supermarket shelves and online, usually with a ‘was’ price displayed showing what the price was during the short-term price spike and the date of that price.

The ACCC identified this conduct through consumer contacts to the ACCC and social media monitoring, and then conducted an in-depth investigation using its compulsory powers.

Cass-Gottlieb said: “Many consumers rely on discounts to help their grocery budgets stretch further, particularly during this time of cost of living pressures. It is critical that Australian consumers are able to rely on the accuracy of pricing and discount claims.

“We allege these misleading claims about illusory discounts diminished the ability of consumers to make informed choices about what products to buy, and where.”

The consumer watchdog estimates that Woolworths and Coles sold tens of millions of the affected products and derived significant revenue from those sales.

The ACCC is seeking declarations, penalties, costs and other orders. The ACCC is also seeking community service orders that Woolworths and Coles must each fund a registered charity to deliver meals to Australians in need, in addition to their pre-existing charitable meal delivery programs.

Broadcaster Caroline Wilson featured on the 3AW Rumour File this morning. The implication being that she might be changing channels – moving from Channel Nine to Channel Seven.

The Rumour File caller had his rumour branded “changing channels”. The call went like this:

“Two football personalities from a TV show are following their colleagues to another station.”

The 3AW breakfast team with Ross and Russ and station manager Stephen Beers

The caller didn’t have much more to offer. 3AW breakfast hosts Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft then took over and posed a number of questions. “Are they both male,” asked Stevenson. The show then played a clip of Caroline Wilson claiming, “You’re a bit of beat-up merchant.” Another clip featured Wilson saying, “Absolute bulltish”. The short segment then ended with another Wilson clip: “You’re a pair of absolute dills.”

Updated: Caroline Wilson’s colleague at 3AW and on Footy Classified, Matthew Lloyd, confirmed tonight he’s “bitterly disappointed” Wilson has decided to make a bombshell move to Channel 7. He was speaking on 3AW’s Wide World of Sports.

“I’m bitterly disappointed but no one is bigger than the show,” he said on 3AW.

As first flagged on 3AW’s Rumour File on Monday morning, Matthew Lloyd has confirmed Caroline Wilson will make the shock TV switch.

If Seven has in fact secured the services of Caroline Wilson, and another as-yet-unnamed Nine contributor, they will be joining Kane Cornes who has just one week left at Nine.

The moves to rebuild Seven’s AFL offering comes ahead of the 2025 season where Seven will be able to stream its weekly AFL matches. So far people wishing to stream AFL coverage had to subscribe to either Foxtel or Kayo Sports.

Seven’s new director of network sport, Chris Jones, recently told Mediaweek about the planned changes to programming coming in 2025.

“Our football coverage is fantastic, but there’s certainly opportunities for us to grab more share of audience,” said Jones.

“I would love to have more programming on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next year where we can tell AFL stories, and feature them prominently on 7plus and on Seven.”

What about new commentators and analysts? “When the weekend rolls around, yes, let’s bring in fresh talent. I don’t think we’re done yet from that point of view.”

Seven’s Chris Jones

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

In addition to Cornes, there’s been speculation Seven has also targeted Foxtel’s Gerard Whateley.

“There’s an ambition from our [AFL] team to set the agenda, perhaps a little more than what we have in the past.” Jones talked about “analysis shows for the football lovers where we can dive into what’s going on and why, the politics of football, the trade stories, and more.”

He added the 2024 team continues to do a great job. “Right up until Grand Final day they have all done a remarkable job. On that day we have four-time Premiership players and Premiership captains Luke Hodge and Joel Selwood.

“Dale Thomas has been an absolute sensation this year. He is going from strength to strength and is going to be a huge part of the team moving forward. We already of course have Matthew Richardson who’s probably the most loved, based on all of our sports broadcasts from an expert point of view.

“There’s already great depth, but we’d like to bring even more talent into the team to complement those that we’ve already got.”

See also: Behind the mic at radio ratings magnet: Who’s who in the 3AW breakfast team

Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westcott, hosts of the Hit Network’s Saturday Nights show Lucy & Nikki and LiSTNR podcast Happy Hour with Lucy & Nikki, are extending their national radio show to include Friday nights.

From Friday 27 September, Lucy & Nikki will be heard from 7pm-10pm on Friday and Saturday nights across the Hit Network.

Jackson and Westcott’s expanded presence on the Hit Network follows a successful breakthrough year with their show taking the helm as Australia’s #1 FM metro Night show for All People 10+ on Saturday nights.

In addition, since joining LiSTNR, the pair’s podcast, Happy Hour with Lucy & Nikki, has consistently featured in the top twenty of the Australian Podcast Ranker Top 200 Australian Podcasts, with an average monthly audience of more than 250,000 listeners.

“Surprise!” Lucy said. “We’re excited to announce an extra night for the Lucy & Nikki national radio show on the Hit Network!”

Nikki continued, “We are just so overwhelmed with all the love from our listeners, that it felt only right to give them more laughs, candid chats, and unforgettable moments. Tune in for a bonus dose of fun as we extend the show for one more night!”

Head of Hit Metro content, Amanda Lee, said: “We are thrilled to have Lucy and Nikki expanding their presence on the Hit Network. From their very first show, it was obvious that the girls were a natural fit for the Hit Network and the perfect way for our listeners to fire up their weekend nights.

“The Lucy & Nikki show on Saturday nights has been such a huge success, with our listeners loving the girls’ fun fuelled approach, that we couldn’t resist expanding the show to a second night.”

Nova Podcasts has strengthened its reach with 18 to 34-year-old listeners by adding the One Daydream Network’s Just for Girls and Where’s Your Head At? podcasts to its line-up.

Just For Girls is hosted by Australian ‘it’ girls Izzy Armitage and Sam Guggenheimer, who candidly share their experiences navigating life in their twenties, covering everything from relationship dramas and dating to TikTok trends and moving out on their own.

The podcast brings 100,000 monthly Australian downloads and an engaged audience of young listeners and social media followers to the Nova Podcast Network.

Guggenheimer said: “Izzy & I are very excited to now be part of the NOVA family! We started this podcast for girls in their twenties who are figuring out life, just like us. Nothing is sacred – we talk about navigating boys and relationships, girl drama, travelling the globe and juggling all of life’s curveballs in-between.

Where’s Your Head At? was created by Love Island favourites Anna McEvoy and Matt Zukowski after their success as finalists in the 2019 season. Focused on relationships, break-ups, reality TV, trending shows and everything in between, the podcast has become a go-to destination for young listeners seeking laughs, gossip and behind-the-scenes insights. It has roughly 70,000 monthly Australian downloads.

Zukowski said: “Anna and I are stoked to be back with our NOVA family! We have come a long way since the days of Love Island and so has our podcast – we started as two-single twenty-something-year-olds, and our audience has been through life-milestones, relationships, break-ups and now marriages with us! It’s pretty cool that we’ve gotten to grow up on mic.

“We still talk about all things relationships – there’s always intimate details, gossip, laughs and hopefully helpful advice based on situations we are  experiencing at the time. Anna is now married to Michael and I am getting married to Tammy in November – so the future is very exciting for both of us as we step into the new chapter and have our loyal audience follow along the journey too.”

Just for Girls and Where’s Your Head At? are created by the newly established One Daydream Network, a podcast production company who produce Australian podcasts across a range of genres. These signings form the start of a partnership between the One Daydream Network and NOVA Entertainment.

SBS has appointed Jessica Honeychurch as Victorian digital sales manager for the hybrid-funded national broadcaster.

The new role sees Honeychurch drive ongoing growth of leading BVOD service SBS On Demand. She steps into the role after spending the past two and half years as SBS’s NSW digital sales manager

Before joining SBS, she held sales roles at Paramount and MCN. She also held digital planner and buyer roles at media agency Wavemaker, in Adelaide.

Sam Spark, SBS Victorian sales manager, welcomed Honeychurch to the team and said, ” Jessica has a strong background in digital and is exceptionally well regarded by the market. We could not be more excited to have her here in Melbourne,” Spark added.

“I’m excited to take on this role in what is a very important market for SBS,” said Honeychurch of her new role. “I have loved the past two and half years as part of the Sydney team and am now looking forward to telling the SBS On Demand story in Melbourne.”

Honeychurch’s appointment comes after Adam Sadler resigned as SBS’ director of media sales after six and a half years.

Adam Sadler

Jane Palfreyman, SBS’ chief marketing and commercial officer, has assumed temporary leadership of SBS Media over the coming months, as the broadcaster goes through a process to recruit a new director of media sales.

During Sadler’s tenure, he spearheaded SBS On Demand’s opt-out for advertising in certain categories and SBS’ Beyond 3% Initiative, which grew media spend in the First Nations media sector.

Sadler said that SBS Media has “truly been a force in the market in recent years.”

“We have shown how SBS is a force for good at the intersection of public and commercial media. We have led the market in the shift to digital video, but we have also led on other key areas such as responsible advertising and investment in First Nations Media,” he said.

“The senior team is in a really strong position and now is the right time for me to move on to new challenges.”

See also: Adam Sadler resigns as SBS’ director of media sales

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Top image: Jessica Honeychurch

Promax held its Australian & New Zealand conference and awards night last week.

Promax is an association for the entertainment marketing industry, representing the community of content creators, marketers and designers in media. Its mission is to foster community, creativity, and inspiration that drives tangible results for our members.

Supports broadcast sponsors this year were Sky News Australia and Paramount ANZ. It was a monster awards event with a massive 88 winners of Gold and Silver trophies for 2024. The only other Australian media awards event that comes close is probably the ACRA event which last year listed 80 different winners for radio and podcasting across Australia.

Sky News Australia was a winner in five categories, the Paramount ANZ group was a winner of Gold and Silver 25 times. Nine won a total of 10 trophies.

Winners at this year’s Promax event included:

BBC Studios, Sky News Australia, Nine Network, Warner Bros Discover ANZ, ABC, 10 Paramount, Fox Creative, Sky New Zealand, SBS Australia, Waakata Maori, Binge, TVNZ, NBC Universal, TVNZ Blacksand, Paramount Brand Studio, Are Media, Prime Video Australia & New Zealand, and Carnival Studio.

Channels and programs that were the subject of winning promo spots included BBC First, Paris Olympics, ABC iview, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Gladiators Australia, Sky News’ Ross Greenwood, Deal or No Deal 2024, Lego Masters, Gladiators Australia, The Block, Married at First Sight, The Twelve, Tour de France, Love Island on TVNZ, MasterChef and BBC Earth.

MFA EX Sydney saw media professionals from different levels descend upon the White Bay Cruise Terminal on Thursday for a day of people development and to drive the industry forward.

The conference celebrated what the industry has achieved and looked ahead to its future and the innovations set to create change.

This year’s content was curated by industry leaders, including Katie Rigg-Smith from WPP, Linda Wong from MFA, Chloe Hooper from Barefoot, and Dan Johns from Tumbleturn Marketing Advisory.

In her opening address, MFA organisation CEO Sophie Madden said the conference is a day for “creating and inspiring change, and ultimately to deliver great effectiveness in everything we do, because we are the changers.”

“Each and every one of us has a role to play in that,” she added.

See also: ‘Creating and inspiring change’: MFA EX Sydney sparks effective, challenging and inspiring industry conversations

Madden noted that next month, MFA and fellow industry bodies will launch Ad Net Zero, a climate action plan for the media industry to support.

On the speaker line up of the day, Madden said she loved seeing the passion and commitment of the community to be changers together. “There’s no better example of that than so many of the sessions today which are true collaborations between agencies. I don’t think we’ve seen that at MFA EX before.”
 
She praised presenters from competing agencies for having the initiative to come together to do a session on stage and inspiring the industry to change for the better. 

See also: OMD Create wins Grand Prix at the 25th MFA Awards for Telstra’s ‘Free Calls to Santa’ campaign

Mind the Gap: Tips to Bridge the Media-Marketer Relationship

Cam Luby, head of consumer marketing at Optus, told attendees he believes there is a “chasm of knowledge and understanding that exists between marketers, media agencies and creative agencies.

“If you want to be the changers like you say that you are, closing the gap is what you need to do,” he said.

Luby share tips to bridging the gap, including: 

• Keep it simple: Being understood is better than being smart
• You’re a connector: Look for opportunities
• Hold the jazz hands: Marketers will take risks if there’s a safety net
• Don’t focus on being right: Being interesting is better than being right

It’s Time to Break the Rules 

EssenceMediacom’s Sophie Price and Jack Graham took to the stage to share their five rules for breaking the rules in the industry.

• Know the rules to break the rules
• Breakthrough the category norms
• Use data to take calculated risks
• Build a bank of breakthrough case studies 
• Set up your management to prove success

See also: ‘Creating and inspiring change’: MFA EX Sydney sparks effective, challenging and inspiring industry conversations

Last Thursday, the MFA celebrated its 25th Awards evening at the White Bay Cruise Terminal.

The industry’s night of nights was hosted by comedian Claire Hooper and celebrated the most effective and impactful work created by media agencies that demonstrate the industry’s purpose of We Are The Changers.

Campaigns for Google, KFC, L’Oréal, Goodman Fielder, ALDI, Sanofi, NRMA Insurance, Black Dog Institute were among those that took to the stage as winners.

OMD Create has taken home the Grand Prix at the 25^th MFA Awards for its ‘Free Calls to Santa’ campaign for Telstra at last night’s black tie gala dinner in Sydney.

Sophie Madden

Pat Crowley

Pat Crowley and Sophie Madden

Claire Hooper

Chris Colter and Sophie Price

Claire Hooper

EssenceMediacom, Initiative, Wavemaker, Kinesso, UM Australia, Zenith Media, Hearts & Science and Atomic 212 were among the agencies to have their work recognised.

Industry giant Harold Mitchell was posthumously inducted into the MFA Hall of Fame, recognising his contribution and legacy in helping to build the media agency industry in Australia.

Sophie Price, chief strategy officer of EssenceMediacom, was also recognised with the MFA Industry Contribution honour, for her pivotal role in leading the strategic development of the industry’s widely adopted We Are The Changers purpose.

MFA CEO Sophie Madden said: “Celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the MFA Awards is an important milestone and a valuable reminder of our impact as an industry of Changers. The finalists and winners of the MFA Awards represent the very best of change-making media thinking and effectiveness, and set the bar high for the standard of work being produced by Australian media agencies.
 
“Congratulations to all the worthy winners and heartfelt thanks to the MFA Awards Steering Committee and our judges, who generously devote a huge amount of their valuable time to the significant task of identifying and awarding media excellence.”

Earlier that day, the MFA held its annual conference MFA EX for a day of people development and to drive the industry forward.

See also: Photo Gallery: Who’s who at the Media Federation’s event MFA EX 2024

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Top image: Sophie Madden

The Australian’s Paul Garvey has been named the 2024 WA Journalist of the Year at the WA Media Awards, and won the Beck Prize for Political Reporting, for his series of articles titled “Direction 99 Debacle”.

Garvey’s reporting forensically examined close to 200 Administrative Appeals Tribunal decisions examining Australian immigration cases and unearthed stories of numerous violent criminals spared deportation because of the Minister’s Direction 99.

The judges said of Garvey’s work:
“Garvey’s meticulously-researched investigation revealed case after case of violent offenders, sexual predators and drug traffickers being spared deportation as a result of Giles’ previously little-known Direction to members of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.”

Another big winner on the night was the ABC team led by reporter Kathryn Diss, which won six categories. The team included Keane Bourke, Daryna Zadvirna, and Jake Sturmer, all of whom fronted a two-year whole of newsroom effort to tell the stories behind WA’s youth justice crisis, by focussing on “An Avoidable Tragedy: The Death of Cleveland Dodd”.

An initiative of MEAA, the WA Media Awards support and encourage professional and ethical reporting, and celebrate excellence in Western Australian journalism.

Paul Garvey

ALL MEDIA (Including online publications)

BUSINESS, ECONOMICS OR FINANCE REPORT
Brad Thompson, Peter Ker, Australian Financial Review, “Andrew and Nicola Forrest – Splitting the Fortescue fortune”

COLUMNIST – The Matt Price Prize
Brendan Foster, WAToday, News.com, “Body of Work”

CULTURE AND ARTS REPORT – THE A.H. Kornweibel Arts Prize
Victoria Laurie, Business News, “State of the Arts: Funding Fails in the Wealthy West”

FREELANCE JOURNALIST
Victoria Laurie, Business News, Sydney Morning Herald/The Age, Good Weekend Magazine,  “State of the Arts and Stolen Memories”

HEALTH / MEDICAL REPORT
Ayla Darling, Teresa Tan, Dan Harrison, ABC, “Behind Closed Doors: How one child’s voice exposed the dangers of rape inside mental health hospitals”

LEGAL AFFAIRS REPORT
Rebecca Peppiatt, WAtoday, Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, “The case of the missing millions”

NEW JOURNALIST OF CADET – The Eaves-Prior Day Prize
Harriet Flinn, Seven West Media, Vice 

OUTSTANDING JOURNALISM STUDENT AWARD
Chloe Henville, Western Independent, “Changes in regional WA”

POLITICAL REPORT – The Beck Prize
Paul Garvey, The Australian, “Direction 99 Debacle”

REGIONAL & COMMUNITY – Three News Stories / Features outside a 70 km radius of Perth
Mya Kordic, Erin Parke, Rosanne Maloney, Andrew Seaborne, Vanessa Mills, ABC, “Kimberly Boat Arrivals”

SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
Peter Milne, WAtoday, “The real legacy for WA from Alcoa”

SOCIAL EQUITY REPORT
Kathryn Diss, Keane Bourke, Daryna Zadvirna, Jake Sturmer, ABC, “An Avoidable Tragedy: The Death of Cleveland Dodd”

SPORTS REPORT – The Gilmoir-Christian Prize
Nadia Mitsopoulos, ABC, “WAIS gymnasts seek justice”

TEXT FORMATS

BEST HEADLINE (Ten words or less)
Michael Palmer, David Friedlos, Seven West Media, “Brains Trust” 

FEATURE – The Hugh Schmitt Prize
Jade Jurewicz, STM, Seven West Media, “Power of Love”

NEWS
Josh Zimmerman, The West Australian, “Joondalup Health Campus failures”

SUBURBAN – Three news stories / features within a 70 km radius of Perth
Rachel Fenner, Seven West Media, “Voices of Rockingham”

PHOTOGRAPHY

COMMUNITY / REGIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Brianna Fiore, ABC, “Refugees in rural Australia”, ‘Country town Imam”, and “Gay conversion therapy still legal”

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH / PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY
Jake Sturmer, ABC, “The More Things Change”

NEWS PHOTOGRAPH
Daniel Wilkins, The West Australian, “Tiffany’s Farewell”

RADIO / AUDIO JOURNALISM

AUDIO FEATURE – Based on a single story
Erin Parke, ABC, “Slave Names”

AUDIO NEWS STORY
Kathryn Diss, ABC, “An Avoidable Tragedy”

MULTIMEDIA

MULTIMEDIA FEATURE
Kathryn Diss, Keane Bourke, Daryna Zadvirna, Jake Sturmer, ABC, “An Avoidable Tragedy: The Death of Cleveland Dodd”

MULTIMEDIA NEWS
Kathryn Diss, ABC, “An Avoidable Tragedy”

TELEVISION / VIDEO JOURNALISM

CAMERAWORK
Simon Hydzik, Seven, “Israel-Hamas War”

NEWS REPORTING
Kathryn Diss, Mitch Edgar, Lauren Buckley, Mark Evans, Jake Sturmer, ABC, “An Avoidable Tragedy: The death of Cleveland Dodd”

VIDEO FEATURE
Rhiannon Shine, ABC, “ABC 7:30 Body of Work”

2024 MEAA CLARION AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO JOURNALISM
David Cusworth

2024 WA JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Paul Garvey, The Australian, “Direction 99 Debacle”

See also: Two young Australian media execs star in INMA 2024 Global 30 Under 30 Awards

The app for Australian burger brand Grill’d has won in the Digital Design category for exceptional design and innovation at The Australian Good Design Awards.

The app was launched last April, designed by digital agency Dept, and underwent a complete transformation focusing on enhancing user experience and efficiency.

The 2024 Australian Good Design Awards showcased design excellence in a grand ceremony at Sydney’s International Convention Centre (ICC). This year’s theme, ‘The Design Effect’, underscored the crucial role design plays in shaping better products, services, spaces, and experiences while driving the transition to a more sustainable, less carbon-intensive future. 

“Grill’d aimed to enhance their app platform’s user retention and satisfaction by addressing scalability and market demands,” The Jury praised Grill’d App said.

“The project boosted competitiveness and user experience through meticulous design and strategic improvements. The Jury recognises this project for its professional execution and its alignment with market expectations. It is a prime example of how targeted design solutions can drive business success.”

Dept was in charge of designing the new Grill’d app, serving as a pivotal extension of Grill’d’s internal product, tech, and creative teams The backend architecture was re-engineered to eliminate redundant information handling, a simplified sign-up process, and an effortless selection of preferred burger combinations for the Favourites section.

“We’re so proud to see our design work for Grill’d recognised by the Good Design Awards,” Evan Davey, partner and SVP of Growth from Dept. “Working alongside the Grill’d team, we aimed to deliver an experience that was both sleek and easy to use, that continues to create engagement and connection with their customers and helps drive growth for their business.”

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved with the Grill’d app, delivering an ordering experience defined by simplicity, making it easy to enjoy healthy burgers, customised to taste and dietaries,” Anna Pearce, head of digital and relish at Grill’d.

“Paired with Relish ‘8&Donate’ initiative, we empower members to enjoy their perks and give back to their local communities. We’ve woven heart into functionality, and this is just the beginning—many more exciting enhancements are on the horizon.”

Rachel Wye, managing director of Good Design Australia, said: “This year’s Awards reflect the profound ripple effects that exceptional design can have on people, place, and planet.

“The projects honoured in these Awards exemplify how thoughtful design can drive meaningful change, not only enhancing user experiences and the way people interact with the world but also contributing to a more sustainable and prosperous future. The Australian Good Design Awards are proud to recognise the truly inspirational work that is being done across different design disciplines, sectors, and industries in Australia and overseas.”

TOP 5

1. The Wild Robot – $1,696,375 (debut)

Dreamworks’ The Wild Robot has dethroned Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The animated film is based off the book series of the same name written by Peter Brown. Coming in first place this week, The Wild Robot took $1,696,375 in its first week, averaging $4,020 over 422 screens.

Synopsis: Shipwrecked on a deserted island, a robot named Roz must learn to adapt to its new surroundings. Building relationships with the native animals, Roz soon develops a parental bond with an orphaned gosling.

2. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – $1,552,978 (1)

Warner Bros. Beetlejuice sequel has been 36 years in the making and most of the original cast is back reprising their wacky roles, including director Tim Burton. Rising star Jenna Ortega is also in the film, coming off the back of her wildly successful role as Wednesday Addams in the Netflix Original Series, Wednesday. Coming in first place this week, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice took $1,552,978 in its third week, averaging $3,570 over 435 screens.

Total Australian Box Office gross to date: $9,413,535

Synopsis: Three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River after an unexpected family tragedy. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life soon gets turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter discovers a mysterious portal to the afterlife. When someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times, the mischievous demon gleefully returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

3. Transformers One – $1,275,820 (debut)

Coming in third place this week, Transformers One took $1,275,820 in its first week, averaging $3,082 over 414 screens.

Synopsis: Brothers-in-arms Orion Pax and D-16 become sworn enemies Optimus Prime and Megatron.

4. Deadpool & Wolverine – $657,270 (3)

Walt Disney’s Deadpool & Wolverine continues to perform exceedingly well, hitting over $1 billion in box office gross globally. This is the Merc with the Mouth’s first appearance in the MCU, which is now possible due to Disney buying Twentieth Century Fox in 2019. Aussie Hugh Jackman also returns as Wolverine. The film now has the eighth-biggest opening weekend of all time globally. Coming in fourth place this week, Deadpool & Wolverine took $657,270 in its ninth week, averaging $2,373 over 277 screens.

Total Australian Box Office gross to date: $65,487,442

Synopsis: Deadpool’s peaceful existence comes crashing down when the Time Variance Authority recruits him to help safeguard the multiverse. He soon unites with his would-be pal, Wolverine, to complete the mission and save his world from an existential threat.

5. Runt – $615,813 (debut)

Coming in fifth place this week, Runt took $615,813 in its first week, averaging $2,080 over 296 screens.

Synopsis: Annie and her adopted stray dog Runt try to win the Agility Course Championships at the Krumpets Dog Show in London so they can save the family farm.

Top 6 – 10

6. Speak No Evil
7. Harold and the Purple Crayon
8. The Substance
9. It Ends With Us
10. Alien: Romulus

Sunday 22 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 2,971,000, a total TV national audience of 1,151,000, and a BVOD audience of 90,000. 

Seven News recorded a total TV national reach of 2,233,000, a total TV national audience of 1,335,000, and a BVOD audience of 61,000. 

Early Evening TV Ratings

Nine’s The Block recorded a total TV national reach of 2,290,000, a total TV national audience of 1,273,000, and a BVOD audience of 192,000.

Seven’s The Voice recorded a total TV national reach of 2,224,000, a total TV national audience of 1,020,000, and a BVOD audience of 83,000.

ABC’s Return to Paradise recorded a total TV national reach of 1,103,000, a total TV national audience of 745,000, and a BVOD audience of 62,000.

10’s airing of The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition recorded a total TV national reach of 1,073,000, a total TV national audience of 482,000, and a BVOD audience of 34,000.

Mid-Evening TV Ratings

Nine’s 60 Minutes recorded a total TV national reach of 1,672,000, a total TV national audience of 658,000, and a BVOD audience of 71,000.

Seven’s Spotlight recorded a total TV national reach of 1,215,000, a total TV national audience of 558,000, and a BVOD audience of 32,000.

People 25-54

Nine’s The Block:
• Total TV nation reach: 864,000
• National Audience: 542,000
• BVOD Audience: 118,000

10’s The Amazing Race:
• Total TV nation reach: 440,000
• National Audience: 206,000 
• BVOD Audience: 19,000

Seven’s The Voice:
• Total TV nation reach: 651,000
• National Audience: 294,000
• BVOD Audience: 44,000

People 16-39

Nine’s The Block:
• Total TV nation reach: 393,000
• National Audience: 252,000
• BVOD Audience: 68,000

10’s The Amazing Race:
• Total TV nation reach: 158,000
• National Audience: 73,000 
• BVOD Audience: 10,000

Seven’s The Voice:
• Total TV nation reach: 278,000
• National Audience: 118,000
• BVOD Audience: 22,000

Grocery Shoppers 18+

Nine’s The Block:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,745,000
• National Audience: 992,000
• BVOD Audience: 154,000

10’s The Amazing Race:
• Total TV nation reach: 825,000
• National Audience: 363,000 
• BVOD Audience: 27,000

Seven’s The Voice:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,719,000
• National Audience: 799,000
• BVOD Audience: 67,000

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.