Woman’s Day will focus on its digital content, lifestyle coverage, and an inaugural live event in 2025, according to Susan Armstrong, General Manager of Entertainment at Are Media.

Armstrong, who oversees Who, Woman’s Day, New Idea, TV WEEK, Take 5, That’s Life, and various puzzle titles, shared the plans with Mediaweek, highlighting that in 2025 the brand will bring back its standalone website, womansday.com.au.

Before selling its stable of magazines to Are Media in 2020, Bauer introduced a one-stop site – nowtolove.com.au – for all its titles in 2017 with each masthead sitting under the umbrella website. Woman’s Day, TV Week and Take 5 remain under that URL.

Now, womansday.com.au will be revived, and there will be increased emphasis on the title as an omnichannel brand.

“Woman’s Day is pretty iconic,” Armstrong said. “It has been a well-established part of this country’s media for nearly 80 years, and that history and trust has built a really loyal audience.

“By focusing on it, we’re not just preserving its legacy; we’re evolving it for a digital-first era where brand identity and audience loyalty are more critical than ever.

Susan Armstrong

“Now To Love has been a valuable part of our ecosystem, but this shift allows us to channel its strengths into a singular powerhouse brand,” said Armstrong.

“The content and audience insights cultivated through Now To Love won’t disappear, they will integrate into Woman’s Day’s strategy, enriching its offerings across all touch points.

“This pivot positions us to deliver more impactful content and innovations that will keep Woman’s Day thriving well into the future.”

Woman’s Day cover

‘Lifestyle content is why our audience buys our print product each week.’

While the famous celebrity and gossip content will still be important to the brand, Armstrong says “lifestyle content really sits at its heart”.

“It’s actually why our audience buys our print product each week and returns to our website day after day,” she said.

“They might come for the celebrity stories, but they stay for so much more: recipes, health, homewares, fashion, beauty, travel.

“In fact, it’s not the gossip but rather our recipes and health stories that continue to rate above 70% in terms of
importance to our audience.”

In mid-next year Woman’s Day will also hold its first live event – Woman’s Day Out – as the brand comes to life for the reader.

“We’re working through the finer details of this ticketed event, but suffice to say, it’s planned for the middle of next year and will feature celebrities, speakers and sponsors talking about everything from mature skin moisturisers to midweek meal ideas. It’s basically going to be Australia’s highest-read weekly magazine brought to life,” Armstrong said.

“It’s a way to elevate the Woman’s Day brand, deepen engagement and attract advertisers looking to connect with this hugely engaged and often overlooked audience.”

‘There are no plans to merge titles’

Despite the focus on Woman’s Day for 2025, Armstrong is quick to reassure that the other weekly titles under her remit are not forgotten – and there are no plans for any of them to merge, despite New Idea, Who and Woman’s Day offering similar content.

“We pack quite the punch when our brands join forces – 37 magazines sold every minute, 4.5 million followers on social, 120,000 weekly EDM subscribers, 2.9 million yearly competitions entries,” she said.

“Overall, that’s six million Australians reached every month through our weekly lifestyle brands. We want to continue to build on the strengths of each brand while making sure we’re delivering even more engaging content across the board.

“But to be clear, there are no plans to merge titles.”

Armstrong sees New idea as different to Woman’s Day in its approach and tone.

“New idea’s a little bit cheekier, a little bit more fun. Woman’s Day is very traditional in the way they serve their content. When we’ve done the research we have two different audiences looking for different things.

“I think with New Idea, the opportunity is that we have a lot of celebrity columnists and we’re starting to move towards that health and wellness space…

“While they (the magazines) might appear on the outside to be quite similar, they do really have different DNAs.”

New Idea

‘The Prime Day deal with Amazon was a huge milestone for us.’

While declining to give circulation figures for the weekly titles, Armstrong pointed out the power of print is enjoying a resurgence with Are Media printing more than 500,000 Amazon Prime Day bespoke catalogues which were wrapped around all weekly titles.

“The Prime Day deal with Amazon was a huge milestone for us,” she said. “It was Amazon Australia’s first-ever print execution, and it was incredibly exciting to be a part of.

“We were able to provide a personalised experience through our custom catalogues, which included QR codes, editor’s picks and a nationwide competition. I believe the decision to go print for Prime Day came from Amazon’s desire to make a physical connection with their audience in a way that digital marketing simply couldn’t.”

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GQ Australia has celebrated the 16th GQ Men of the Year Awards in association with Defender. Fifteen awards were presented at a black-tie event at White Bay Power Station ahead of the special GQ Men of the Year collector’s edition being published in The Australian on Friday December 13.

The GQ Men of the Year Awards in association with Defender recognise and celebrate extraordinary individuals who have achieved success and continually raise the bar in their chosen field.

Supporting partners of the 2024 GQ Men of the Year Awards include Belvedere Vodka, Jean Paul Gaultier fragrance, Michael Hill, and W Sydney.

Some of Australia’s biggest stars walked the GQ red carpet in Sydney last night, including GQ Man of the Year Sam Worthington, recipient of the GQ Sporting Icon award Eddie Betts, GQ Designer of the Year Jeremy Hershan, GQ Actor of the Year Felix Mallard, Social Force Sam Elsom, Sportsperson of the Year Emma McKeon, International Musician of the Year Orville Peck and International Actor of the Year Cooper Koch plus the public voted award for Breakthrough Sportsperson of the Year Noemie Fox and International Sensation Gabbriette.

GQ Australia Editor-in-Chief Jake Millar said: “The GQ MOTY awards in association with Defender are always a really fun night out, though what I enjoy most is the opportunity it provides to showcase the sheer breadth of talent we have both here and around the world.

“Comedic duo Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald hosted the awards, as we recognised talent from across the worlds of sport, art, entertainment, fashion, music and more – a collection of outstanding individuals who have defined 2024.

“I’m thrilled to have Sam Worthington as this year’s GQ Man of the Year. He is not simply the most successful Aussie actor of all time, thanks to his starring role in the Avatar films, but he is also among our most prolific, appearing in nearly 70 features over the course of his career. This year alone he has released seven films, a remarkable output that demonstrates the range of his talent.

“He joins a collection of some of our favourite figures, from American actor Cooper Koch, to swimming superstar Emma McKeon, icon Eddie Betts, musician Nick Ward, designer Jeremy Hershan and actors Felix Mallard and Sam Corlett. They have all not only had a big year, but together they also represent the values at the heart of GQ today.

“A big congratulations to all of our winners, and huge thanks to our presenting partner Defender, as well as supporting partners Belvedere Vodka, Jean Paul Gaultier fragrance, Michael Hill, and W Sydney.”

“No one truly understands our mission, brand, and product better than the people who live our values and use our product daily. That’s why we chose to build an in-house agency—to ensure our brand remains authentic and aligned with who we are,” Cat van der Werff, Canva’s executive creative director, told Mediaweek.

Van der Werff, who recently shared her insights on evolving in-house agencies and attracting top talent at the In-House Agency Council (IHAC) event in Melbourne, explained that the flexibility of an in-house team allows Canva to grow its creative strategies in real-time, in line with the brand’s goals.

“As our goals evolve, we can adapt our strategies while maintaining brand consistency. This ensures our identity stays cohesive and impactful, even as we expand into new markets, products, and campaigns,” she said.

The benefits go beyond adaptability. According to Van der Werff, having an in-house team fosters collaboration across departments—from Marketing and Sales to HR—eliminating silos and enabling integrated campaigns. It also streamlines decision-making, accelerates timelines, and creates tighter feedback loops, driving efficiency.

Van der Werff on building Canva’s in-house agency with its founders

Van der Werff joined Canva in 2018 as its first brand designer. At the time, the brand identity was in its infancy.

“When I asked for brand guidelines, I was handed… a logo. While there wasn’t much of a traditional brand identity, our founders had already established a strong ethos rooted in Canva’s mission and values,” she recalled.

Her early efforts included workshops with Canva’s founders to define the company’s values, voice, and visual identity. This collaboration laid the foundation for Canva’s core brand pillars: empowering, inspiring, and human.

“Today, I’m proud to lead a team of over 100 incredible creatives who are building a globally beloved brand and realising our mission to empower the world to design,” Van der Werff said.

A key part of building Canva’s in-house agency was close collaboration with leadership.

“We’ve evolved to involve our entire leadership team—from sales to engineering and beyond. This sparks innovation, fosters new ideas, and ensures alignment, keeping us forward-thinking at every stage,” she said.

“It’s one of the benefits of working in-house—you have a level of access that’s hard to achieve on the agency side,” she added.

Opportunities over challenges

While building an in-house agency came with its challenges, Van der Werff framed them as opportunities. One such opportunity was balancing brand authenticity with efficiency at scale.

To address this, the team developed templates and Brand Kits that empower every team member to create on-brand content. For example, during Canva Create this year, the team designed a visual identity toolkit—including event logos, colour palettes, and press materials—that allowed Canva to scale content production efficiently while staying true to the brand.

The ‘Love Your Work’ campaign

A standout example of Canva’s in-house capabilities is its recent Love Your Work campaign, inspired by research revealing that many people feel disconnected from their work.

The team filmed seven Canva users from diverse backgrounds—a teacher, a DE&I manager, and a business analyst among them—showcasing their stories without scripts to ensure authenticity. Early prototypes were tested with users to refine the creative.

“With audio becoming a signature element of our campaigns, we collaborated with Get Gospel, a UK choir that uses Canva for their own marketing, to record the backing track,” Van der Werff shared.

The campaign was rolled out across various formats, from TV to organic social content, emails and OOH on buses and airports to target commuters.

Van Der Werff’s strategy to taking agency services in-house

The 2023 In-House Agency Landscape Report, produced by the In-House Agency Council (IHAC) and Kantar Australia, revealed that 78% of marketers in Australia were working with an in-house agency, compared to 63% only two years prior.

As brands look into taking agency services in-house, Van Der Werff noted that when considering an in-house or hybrid model, brands should ensure vision and values are the guiding light.

“For us, everything starts and ends with our mission to empower the world to design—it’s the foundation of our creative decisions, big and small,” she said of Canva’s journey.

“Building an in-house team has allowed us to live and breathe our values every day, making it easier to bring authenticity to every campaign and touchpoint.”

A key learning from Van der Werff shared from her last six years of building an in-house team is the value of continuous learning and iterating.

“Growing a team from one to 100+ has meant hiring people who are smarter than me at what they do so I can learn from them. Embracing what you don’t know and seeking out people who can teach you and push you to think bigger is all part of the journey,” she added.

Looking ahead for Canva

On the future of Canva’s in-house agency, Van der Werff said the team remains focused on ambitious goals, including expanding its reach into workplaces worldwide. Currently, 95% of Fortune 500 companies use Canva across Marketing, Sales, Creative, and HR.

“I’m excited to see how our brand pillars of Human, Inspiring, and Empowering come to life in different cultures and empower people from all walks of life to achieve their goals,” she said.

Beyond its commercial success, Canva’s commitment to being a force for good remains central to its identity. The company’s education and nonprofit programs already support over 70 million students and teachers and 670,000 nonprofits globally.

“Our two-step plan is simple: build one of the world’s most valuable companies and do the most good we can,” Van der Werff said. “I’d love for Canva to be known as the Patagonia of design, synonymous with both our product and our impact.”

–

Top image: Cat van der Werff

Seven’s former chief of staff, Josh Adsett, has been appointed executive editor for 10 News First Queensland, bringing over 25 years of experience reporting on Queensland’s most significant stories.

In his new role, Adsett will helm the 5pm bulletin for 10 News First Queensland, leading a dedicated team of journalists and production crews to deliver the news that matters most to Queenslanders.

Adsett, a Brisbane native, began his journalism career in 1998 with 7 Local News in Mackay. He went on to work as a reporter, story producer, and bureau chief with 7 News Brisbane Gold Coast Bureau, and later served as chief of staff for 7 News Gold Coast.

Adsett said of his new appointment: “The recent investment in Queensland by 10 News First underscores the network’s dedication to local news. Our mission is to keep Queenslanders informed, entertained, and empowered with stories that truly matter. TV news is vital—it holds leaders accountable, highlights achievements, and captures the moments that shape our lives. Every bulletin you see on 10 News First is crafted by proud Queenslanders for Queenslanders.”

“Our team is unmatched—presenters who combine strength, compassion, and an intimate understanding of our state. A change has arrived in Queensland news, and 10 News First is at the forefront. I’m honoured to lead such a loyal and experienced team as we deliver the very best for our viewers,” he continued.

Keep on top of the most important media, marketing, and agency news each day with the Mediaweek Morning Report – delivered for free every morning to your inbox.

Spotify has launched its 2024 Wrapped campaign, combining personalised user experiences with a multi-channel marketing push to celebrate a record-breaking year in music and podcasting. The campaign focuses on Australian artists, creative collaborations, and an experiential pop-up rave in Sydney.

Eligible users can now access their personalised Wrapped experience via the Spotify mobile app, which highlights their top artists, songs, and trends of 2024. Wrapped’s marketing rollout includes Out-of-Home placements in Sydney and Melbourne, featuring local talent such as Tones and I, Angie McMahon, and Lithe. The campaign was developed with creative agency Akcelo and social content agency Jack Nimble, emphasising fan engagement and local pride.

To mark the occasion, Spotify is hosting a Pop-Up Rave today at Parramatta Square in Sydney. Open to the public, the event features performances from ODDMOB, Young Franco, Sycco, Mistah Cee, and Talisha, celebrating the rise of dance music and rave culture in 2024.

Spotify head of marketing (ANZ), Rosie Rothery, said: “2024 Spotify Wrapped is all about celebrating the Australian fans, artists, and creators who made this year the record-breaking, culture-making, fandom-shaking year it was. On the tenth anniversary of Wrapped as we know it today, we want this to be our most iconic Wrapped yet.

“This year, we took our approach to the next level with an extended tease phase across Out of Home and Social, designed to ignite excitement among Australia’s Wrapped-loving public and build anticipation ahead of the launch. We dialed up the intrigue further by unveiling a mysterious Wrapped shipping container in Parramatta Square yesterday. Today, we’re thrilled to reveal its purpose—leaning into the explosion of dance music, and rave culture in 2024, we’re launching Wrapped with a pop-up rave featuring some of Australia’s most exciting DJs.”

Here’s what Australia streamed most this year:

Music (Australia)

• Iconic pop queen Taylor Swift has done it again for the second year in a row, and taken the top spot as Australia’s most streamed artist for 2024, while Benson Boone makes a debut on the Wrapped list with “Beautiful Things,” placed as the most streamed track across the country.
• The Wiggles were announced as Australia’s most-streamed local artists, followed by The Kid LAROI. The track “Riptide” by Vance Joy took number one place for Australia’s most-streamed local artist song, followed by CYRIL’s, “Stumblin’ In”. 
• Aussies are pop fanatics this year, with Taylor Swift’s “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY” taking the number one spot for Australia’s most-streamed album, followed by Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet,” and Billie Eilish, “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT”.

Podcasts (Australia)

• Most Popular Podcasts: The Joe Rogan Experience (#1) takes the number one slot again this year, for the most popular podcast in Australia.
• Following this, The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlet (#2), Huberman Lab (#3),  Casefile True Crime (#4) and Call Her Daddy (#5).

Australia’s Top Local Artists:

1. The Wiggles
2. The Kid LAROI
3. AC/DC
4. Vance Joy
5. RÜFÜS DU SOL

Australia Top Local Songs:

1. “Riptide” by Vance Joy
2. “Stumblin’ In” by CYRIL
3. “Saving Up” by Dom Dolla
4. “NIGHTS LIKE THIS” by The Kid LAROI
5. “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC

Tennis Australia is reinvesting in its long-term brand platform, Hits Different, by building on the momentum and deepening its impact with the launch of its second iteration for the 2025 Australian Open.

The new iteration, launched with creative agency BMF, introduces a fresh take on AO memorabilia, evolving it from typical merchandise into a line fans can wear with pride throughout the year, on and off the court.

Throughout 2025, Hits Different is set to create more immersive experiences, bringing fans of all kinds closer to tennis and each other.

Spanning TV, OLV, OOH, social, digital display, radio, EDM, POS, merchandise, and on-site channels, AO25 invites Australians into an expanded AO experience.

From kids’ days and family-friendly activities to live music and Melbourne’s best food offerings, Hits Different brings together a community where tennis is just one part of the summer celebration.

“AO25 comes with a clear mandate: grow the game by inviting new audiences and making the Australian Open an event that resonates with everyone from avid fans to those attending for the first time,” Britt Wickes, Tennis Australia’s head of event marketing.

“Hits Different will once again anchor the approach, reminding Australians why tennis in this country is unique and enhancing AO25’s reputation as a leader in world-class sporting experiences.”

Casey Schweikert, creative director, BMF, added: “Hits Different’ has always been about more than the tennis. It captures that buzzy energy and summer culture that the AO does so well.

“This year, we’re not only introducing new players, but expanding the world off the court – celebrating the music, characters, and vibes that make tennis in Australia so unique. And nothing says the AO like a few cheeky seagulls wanting to get in on the action.”

CREDITS
Client: Tennis Australia
Creative Agency: BMF
Photographer: Jo Duck
Production Company: Artboxblack
Production Company/Animation: BUCK
Music & Sound Production: Otis
Post Production: Bantam Productions
Media Agency: PHD Media
PR Agency: Tennis Australia

StackAdapt has appointed Alessandra Alessio as director of marketing for the APAC region.

Alessio will focus on elevating the multi-channel advertising platform‘s brand presence across the region and will lead marketing strategies to showcase the company’s full suite of capabilities and support brands navigating an increasingly complex digital landscape.

She brings just under two decades of experience in the digital advertising industry to StackAdapt and will spearhead growth initiatives across Asia-Pacific.

Alessio, who will be based in Singapore for the role, joins StackAdapt after 16 years at Google, covering B2B marketing and sales roles, focusing on adtech, measurement, and data privacy solutions.

She has worked in APAC for twelve years, of which eight years were spent in the Australian market. In her most recent role, she served in the APAC Scaled Ads marketing team.

Alessio said: “I was drawn to StackAdapt by its powerful multi-channel media buying platform and its incredible culture, which prioritises delivering exceptional service to agency and brand clients. With significant growth plans for APAC, I’m thrilled to help drive the next phase of expansion and innovation in the region.”

The appointment of Alessio follows the creation of a senior executive team across the APAC region this year, including recent appointments in Hong Kong and Japan.

“I’m delighted that Alessandra chose to join StackAdapt. Her deep understanding of our audiences, our industry and our region will only fuel our ability to grow our brand & our business,” said StackAdapt Asia-Pacific VP Liam McCarten.

“We’ve made a lot of progress in growing our visibility across APAC, but no doubt Alessandra will lead strategies and tactics that will elevate our standing and differentiation even further. We really believe we’re building a standout team in the industry. Alessandra fuels that belief.”

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Top image: Alessandra Alessio

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Hamish & Andy’s Remembering Project returns for the sixth season on LiSTNR

Hamish & Andy’s Remembering Project returns for a new season on LiSTNR for 12 episodes.

For season six, Hamish Blake and Andy Lee listen further back to their archive of more than 2,500 shows and, for the very first time, revisit and re-listen to their original demo tape, with both having very mixed feelings about hearing it.

In the season’s first episode, the pair listen back to two incredible moments from their radio days. One is the first time that Jack Post (aka ‘Cackling Jack’) appears on the show, and unsurprisingly, he is accused of weaselling! Plus, they revisit the blooper, which they both agree is one of their favourite radio moments of all time!

This season also ‘remembers’ Blake and Lee’s epic adventure of taking a convertible car through a car wash, the birth of ‘Napkin Ninja’, Blake’s psychic dreaming ability and their final performance as a band. In some more poignant moments, Blake gets sentimental as they listen back to voicemails from his late Grandma Moosie, and the boys remember what a pivotal part of the radio show she played for many years.

Reflecting on the new season, Lee said: “This season is a rollercoaster of laughs and emotions. We were especially hesitant to listen to our first-ever demo tape because we honestly couldn’t remember how it would sound. It definitely made us question how we ever thought we could make a career out of radio!”

[Read more]

Spotify shaking up podcast world with uninterrupted video, payments, and new creators platform

The month of November has seen major announcements from Spotify in the podcasting space.

In mid-November Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek spoke at the Spotify campus in Los Angeles about initiatives for uninterrupted video podcasts, audience-driven payments, and the new Spotify for Creators platform.

“We can provide an experience for your audience that is superior to any platform. And by giving you, the creators, another path to monetisation beyond ads, we’re freeing you up to spend more time doing what you love: creating,” said Ek.

Creators are taking notice of the changes. Why? Spotify is one of the largest platforms in the world for creators, with more than 640 million users and more than 250 million subscribers. Video consumption is rapidly growing on Spotify.

To find out a little more about the changes on the platform, Mediaweek spoke with Prithi Dey, podcast lead AUNZ at Spotify.

Dey explained the platform is no stranger to video content. “We’re seeing a lot of engagement with video content on Spotify. We’ve had video podcasts since 2019.”

“For audio-only podcasters, they are being an opportunity to grow via Spotify.” There’s good reason to consider adding video to audio-only content. More than 250 million users have watched a video podcast on Spotify, and nearly two-thirds of podcast listeners say they prefer podcasts with video. There are now more than 300,000 video podcast shows on Spotify

Dey: “Our focus is really trying to give creators from all different backgrounds the opportunity to grow their audience, monetise their content and give them the tools they need to be able to engage with their audiences.”

With no option for audio creators to offer subscriptions to podcasts on Spotify, their monetisation options were restricted. Now with the ability to share Spotify subscription revenue with creators, it provides a new revenue stream.

[Read more]

Uncomfortable Growth® Uncut. Episode 10 – Embracing Imposter Syndrome: Joanne Painters Journey to Success

In this episode, we peel back the layers to reveal ‘The Person Behind the Profile’ with Joanne Painter, Group Managing Director and Co-Founder of Icon Agency.

Joanne’s journey is all about resilience, personal growth, and leadership.

She opens up about battling impostor syndrome and reflects back on her early career in journalism and public relations, sharing how she often doubted her abilities despite her many accomplishments. Her honesty about these experiences is refreshingly real and offers comfort to anyone who’s felt the same way or still struggles with this.

Joanne also dives into the evolving challenges and opportunities for women in leadership. She talks about navigating double standards and how embracing authenticity has helped her thrive. Her insights on emotional intelligence (EQ) are especially relevant today, as she highlights how EQ is becoming a must-have skill in the workplace—particularly in our post-COVID reality.

On a lighter note, Joanne answers some fun rapid-fire questions, giving us a peek into her personal life—from her love for chickens to her passion for politics. These moments bring out her personality and add a warm, human touch to her professional journey.

“I think that sense of imposter syndrome and inadequacy was a thread that really underpinned the early years of my career,” she said.

“It’s absolutely fine not to be good at everything. I’m going to hire people who can fill my weaknesses.”

[Listen to the new episode here]

Imagination: The Key to Attention and Recall

By Venessa Hunt, ARN Director of Commercial Strategy & Growth 

In a world overflowing with visuals—endless social feeds and screens in every room—audio advertising has a unique magic. It’s the whisper in your ear that conjures an image only you can see, your imagination sparking as it fills in the details. And research shows us that this really matters when it comes to advertising effectiveness.

Unlike its counterparts, audio advertising invites you to imagine. It’s an invitation to be part of the story, and in some instances even craft the story.

Put your ear pods in, press play and close your eyes.

Audio advertising doesn’t just communicate – it lets the audience live the message.

It’s like a movie playing behind closed eyes, where every listener becomes the director. Whether it’s a sip of a cold drink, the engine of a roaring car, or the echo of laughter in a coffee shop, audio paints a personal picture that only your mind can create.

This doesn’t mean that visuals aren’t important, but it does mean that if we appreciate the power of imagination, primed with audio, only then can we truly get the best from our visual mediums, and make them work even harder for us.

[Read more]

Coles 360 is partnering with Qsic, a leading audio retail media platform, to bring AI-driven in-store audio to Coles Liquor stores, offering supplier brands an innovative way to connect with customers.

Qsic’s advanced platform will leverage Coles Liquor’s data, including transactional data, loyalty insights and stock inventory to optimise the in-store audio experience. By analysing product demand cycles, Qsic dynamically places advertisements during peak demand periods to maximise performance and revenue growth.

“Our pioneering audio platform extends Coles 360’s reach into the in-store environment, delivering highly relevant and localised ads at the point of purchase, while also enhancing the overall shopping experience. Retail partners using Qsic have seen an average sales quantity increase of 11%+ and a sales lift of 14%+; this is also not the ceiling by any means. By leveraging Coles Liquor’s data to fuel our in-store audio algorithm, we’re positioned to help brands drive sales, improve shopper engagement, and minimise wasted ad spend. These capabilities are truly game changing for any brand investing in retail media,” said Ben Dixon, head of retail media & partnerships at Qsic.

This new technology offers the opportunity for Coles Liquor supplier brands to deliver dynamic, targeted audio content at the critical point of purchase when customers are browsing in-store and making their purchase decisions. Brands can also produce dynamic audio ads with generative AI, reducing cost and production time from weeks to days.

Paul Brooks, general manager of Coles 360 said “This intelligent technology enables our suppliers to create dynamic creative for different markets and audiences, as well as targeting by state, or by the different banners, so First Choice Liquor Market, Liquorland or Vintage Cellars, allowing for more relevant messaging. We haven’t been able to offer in-store audio as a retail media opportunity in our Liquor stores before, so being able launch an audio solution that is insight and data-led, across the whole Coles Liquor Group, is really exciting.”

Qsic is currently being rolled out to Coles Liquor stores nationally enabling brands to connect with almost a million shoppers every week.

Mia Lloyd, Coles Liquor, general manager of Customer Loyalty said “We are thrilled to introduce Qsic’s AI-driven audio technology into Coles Liquor stores. By combining music with relevant, contextual messaging, we can create a shopping environment that truly resonates with our customers.

“This innovative approach not only enhances the store atmosphere but also supports the customer journey by providing timely, helpful information and offers that guide our customers through their purchasing decisions in a seamless, intuitive and data-driven way,” said Lloyd.

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Top image: Paul Brooks General Manager of Coles 360, Ben Dixon Head of Retail Media & Partnerships at Qsic & Mia Lloyd, Coles Liquor, General Manager of Customer Loyalty

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Coca-Cola Australia and The Salvation Army will light up Melbourne’s biggest billboard this festive season with notes of kindness that will help provide a meal to someone in need this Christmas.

The Emporium Billboard will be lit with personal notes of kindness from 9 December to 15 December, with each one adding another $10 to its $50,000 donation to The Salvation Army’s Christmas appeal.

The partnership between The Salvation Army and Coca-Cola, which was launched in 2017, has helped provide meals and services to help struggling Aussie families and members of the community during Christmas.

This year, thousands of messages from across the nation will contribute towards Coca-Cola’s goal of $100,000 or the equivalent of 10,000 meals, showing how small acts of kindness can have a huge impact.

 “Coca-Cola and meals has always been a perfect partnership,” Kate Miller, marketing director at Coca‑Cola Australia, said. “We’re so proud to once again be working with The Salvos to bring this to life in such a meaningful way.

“Partnerships like this enable us to give back and together, with the help of Australians, we can hit our goal of giving 10,000 meals to families and communities in need this Christmas.”

The Salvation Army expects an increase in people seeking and relying on help this year, with cost-of-living pressure and financial uncertainty continuing to rise.

Recent research from The Salvation Army found that almost half of Aussies (48%) are buying less presents for their kids this year, and 11.9 million Australians (56%) say they will spend less on food.

Major Gary Masters, The Salvation Army’s national communications manager, said: “Christmas is the busiest time of the year for The Salvos and we’re preparing to see more people than ever before reaching out to us for help. Whether it’s people on the brink of homelessness, people fighting to pay bills, or people who are just lonely, we want to give people the Christmas they deserve.”

As part of Coca-Cola’s 2024 partnership with The Salvation Army, it is also giving an additional $25,000 to five communities needing extra support this Christmas.

The Richmond Corps, The Well in Victoria, Lismore Corps, Liverpool Corps and Brisbane Street level Mission in Queensland, will all receive an extra special offering in the form of Community Christmas Dinners after experiencing a particularly challenging year due to homelessness, flooding and the cost-of-living crisis.

Masters added: “We’re grateful to Coca-Cola for supporting our Christmas Appeal as part of their Notes of Kindness campaign. This will have an enormous impact on communities across Australia – a delicious and hearty meal is so much better when it’s enjoyed with others – whether it be families or friends doing it tough, or individuals within the community connecting with other community members. This Christmas initiative is about coming together in a supportive and friendly environment and feeling the magic of Christmas.”

Wattle Court has partnered with independent growth agency Claxon and creative agency partner Embark to launch a new brand identity and positioning.

This campaign for the home building company is the first work to market since Claxon acquired Embark and jointly won the business following a competitive pitch.

Wattle Court’s new brand elevation includes a new positioning and brand ‘voice’ – plus a new logo and colour palate – designed to resonate with affluent second and third home buyers, showcasing quality, trust and a deep connection to the Australian landscape.

Jade Axford, chief growth officer, Claxon said launching a new brand positioning was core to the next phase in Wattle Court’s brand evolution.

“We needed to establish a creative launchpad that talked to elevated experiences; celebrated the brand’s rich heritage; and provide an immersive customer experience via the brand’s commitment to quality, innovation and community-focussed solutions.”

“That may seem like a tall order but if the truth be known it was the perfect client brief as our combined agency teams have proven expertise in crafting distinctive and meaningful brands.  We are so excited to elevate a business that is inherently proud of its Australian heritage and committed to building quality homes, and then bringing it to life via a brand story.

“We believe the new positioning makes Wattle Court stand out from its competitors and celebrates the brand’s philosophy to embody resilience, renewal and the essence of local craftmanship,” she concluded.

The dual agency remits covered the creation of a complete, new brand architecture and identity, including a new logo, colour palette and visual assets. Claxon’s responsibilities also included content strategy and creation to share the unique voice and story of Wattle Court; development of a user-friendly website and finally creation of a launch strategy that integrates digital and print marketing collateral.

“This brand elevation celebrates resilience, renewal and community, creating an emotional connection with high-end buyers,” James Coulson, head of brand at Claxon said. “And the name “Wattle Court” also has personal significance, adding authenticity and relatability to the new brand identity.”

Matt Hope, CEO, Wattle Court Homes, said: “Our new brand positioning and refreshed brand look and feel brings all that we stand for at Wattle Court to life and truly represents our brand’s ethos of quality and commitment.

“We are delighted with Wattle Court’s new branding and can’t wait for our customers to see and feel it at every touch point.”

Wattle Court’s new brand identity and official brand launch is effective immediately.  A larger campaign including community outreach, digital marketing and customer engagement via various online platforms will be rolled out in the coming months.

Credits
Client: Matt Hope – Chief Executive Officer, Wattle Court Homes
Claxon: Jade Axford – Chief Growth Officer
Claxon: James Coulson – Head of Brand

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Travel + Leisure Co has been recognised for its strong performance in marketing at the annual HM Magazine Hotel Management awards.

Gold Coast-based senior manager, PR and communications, Chris Logan, won marketing and communications associate, while the Culinary Journeys with Peter Kuruvita campaign won in the marketing campaign category.

The Culinary Journeys campaign encouraged club members to try local cuisine or use kitchens in their apartment-style accommodation to make memories with their families, inspired by freshly created culinary maps and blogs and onsite cooking demonstrations with celebrity chef Peter Kuruvita.

The vacation ownership and travel membership company also won awards in the Midscale Hotel and Service to the Community categories.

“We are thrilled with the welcome industry recognition from our hospitality peers at the HM Awards. This awards program continues to grow in prominence year after year and to achieve these acknowledgements in a range of disciplines indicates the excellent work our teams are doing across the business,” said Barry Robinson, president and managing director, international operations, of Travel + Leisure Co.

Elsewhere, the Asia Pacific philanthropic arm of Travel + Leisure Co., Wishes by Wyndham, has raised more than $700,000 for worthy charities since its inception and was recognised for the second consecutive year. In 2024, the volunteer committee has so far raised approximately $50,000 for Dolly’s Dream and Humpty Dumpty Foundation through raffles and events, including a nationwide egg and spoon race.

Travel + Leisure Co. oversees 90 properties in Asia Pacific and beyond and develops three shared ownership clubs under the Club Wyndham and Accor Vacation Club brands. 

With more than 1,800 nominations and 50 categories in 2024, the HM Awards are considered the most prestigious hospitality awards in the South Pacific region.

Award Winners

Service to the Community
Wishes by Wyndham

Midscale Hotel
Tryp by Wyndham Pulteney Street Adelaide 

Marketing and Communications Associate
Chris Logan

Marketing Campaign
Culinary Journeys with Peter Kuruvita

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Top image: Peter Kuruvita

Senetas Corporation has appointed Andrea Van Unen-Smith as chief marketing officer.

In the role, Van Unen-Smith will oversee Senetas’ marketing and public relations focusing on aligning with key industry narratives, including the impact of quantum computing on cybersecurity.

Van Unen-Smith brings a wealth of experience to the Cybersecurity and secure networking solutions company, with over two decades in technology marketing and communications, including roles at Juniper Networks, Palo Alto Networks, and UiPath.

Her expertise in driving comms strategy across cybersecurity, networking, and automation, makes her an ideal leader to drive Senetas’ next stage of growth. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in shaping marketing initiatives, developing impactful campaigns, and enhancing brand visibility in highly technical and competitive global markets.

“Andrea is an experienced marketing and communications leader with a deep understanding of the cybersecurity industry. Her appointment to the role of CMO will help us to drive growth in the global markets in which we operate,” Andrew Wilson, CEO of Senetas, said.

“Her proven ability to develop and implement strategic marketing and communication initiatives will be critical as we continue to bring innovative new products to the market and deepen our relationships with key partners such as Thales,” Wilson added.

Van Unen-Smith said of her appointment: “With increasing investment into quantum computing around the world, and the increasing adoption of AI, organisations from every sector will be looking to technology to both transform the way they work as well as to protect themselves from emerging threats.

“I’m excited to join Senetas’ and help raise awareness of its suite of cybersecurity solutions, which are at the forefront of cutting edge quantum-resistant network encryption, enabling businesses to operate with confidence today and in the future.”

–

Top image: Andrea Van Unen-Smith

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Advertising Council Australia (ACA), the national representative of Cannes Lions, has launched the 2025 Young Lions Australia Competition for the industry’s next wave of creative trailblazers.

The competition offers a career-defining opportunity for young professionals working in media, marketing, PR, film, or digital to represent Australia at Cannes Lions, the world’s most prestigious advertising festival, which will be held on the French Riviera from June 16 to 20 next year.

To mark the competition’s milestone 30th year, ACA has introduced new enhancements to give competition entrants the best chance of winning gold:

• Unprecedented industry support
For the first time, industry bodies the AANA, MFA, IAB Australia, and ACA will unitebehind 2025’s Young Lions, appointing five Jury Chairs, all leaders in their field, to oversee the competition briefs and judging.
• Mentoring from past winners, industry experts
Australia’s 2024 Young Lions alumni will mentor entrants, sharing insider tips from their Cannes experience to help craft standout presentations. One-on-one training from industry experts will further prepare local winners to excel on the global stage.
• Cannes-style speed challenge
The local competition will now mirror the intensity of Cannes Young Lions in France, with a compressed four-day format to better prepare participants for the infamous 24-hour creative sprint. Only those who think and create fast will make it through.
• Accommodation in the heart of Cannes: The winning teams will fly to Cannes in June, staying just a short walk from the Palais, and will have access to a dedicated support team. Festival passes, access to speaker sessions, flights and transfers are all included.

Tony Hale, CEO of Advertising Council Australia, said: “Young Lions is undeniably the pinnacle of international competitions for emerging industry talent—the benchmark every other creative competition strives to emulate.

“With expanded industry support in 2025, entrants will have an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their expertise and make their mark on the global stage. This really is the most remarkable career opportunity any young person in advertising, media, PR or marketing could have.”

Entries will be judged online by a renowned panel of industry specialists, and the top teams in each category will present their submissions live in Sydney in early April.
The winning team in each category will then be flown to Cannes to compete against their international counterparts.

Early bird registration is now open, offering a $100 discount until midnight AEDT on December 24 2024. The early bird cost for a team of two is just $200 + GST. General registrations close on March 11, 2025.

Key dates

• Early bird registrations open:   December 2 2024
• Early bird registrations close:   December 24 2024
• Registrations close:                 March 11 2025
• Competition brief available:      March 19 2025
• Webinar with charity & judges  March 20 2025
• Entries due:                           March 23 2025
• Online judging:                         March 26–April 1 2025
• Finalists announced:                April 4 2025
• Live presentations, Syd:           April 11 2025
• Winners announced:                April 11 2025
• Cannes Lions Festival:             June 16–20 2025

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Nine’s coverage of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 has been named as the best in the world at the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Golden Rings Awards, held at Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, this morning.

The 9Network was recognised with three medals for its record ratings coverage of Paris 2024, which reached nearly 20 million Australians across the two-week event.

With more than 100 submissions from around the globe across 12 Golden Rings categories, the 9Network won Gold for Best Olympic Programme. The award recognised the 9Network’s entire 24/7 coverage.

The 9Network was also awarded Bronze in the Best On-Air Promotion category, with the Tones & I version of Land Down Under winning praise. The promo was used in the lead-up to the Games and utilised the Australian landscape as a background for the athletes training for their shot at Olympic glory.

A Bronze medal was also awarded to the 9Network in the Best Athlete Profile category for its feature on gold medallist BMX rider Saya Sakakibara.

Nine’s Acting CEO, Matt Stanton, said: “We are honoured to receive this recognition from the IOC. Broadcasting the Olympic Games was an enormous undertaking by Nine and these awards are validation that we delivered to audiences what we promised – world-class coverage that reflected the Olympic Spirit. I want to express my thanks and congratulations to everyone at Nine who brought the passion, the excitement, the athletic determination and the beauty of Paris into Australian households and helped inspire a future generation of Olympians.”

Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll said: “Congratulations to Acting CEO, Matt Stanton and all the team at Channel 9 on their well-deserved recognition at the Golden Rings Awards. Their world-class coverage of Paris 2024 connected Australians with the remarkable stories of our athletes, capturing the spirit of the Games and uniting us all through the power of sport.”

Nine’s director of television, Michael Healy, said: “I am immensely proud at what our television teams have achieved this year. Being the Olympic Rights holder in Australia is a privilege and seeing our broadcast recognised on the international stage further highlights the incredible dedication, professionalism and passion of our people that brought the Games to viewers. Congratulations and well done to everyone involved.”

Nine’s director of sport, Brent Williams, said: “At Wide World of Sports we are honoured by this recognition from the IOC and our fellow Olympic broadcasters from around the world. It is a great acknowledgment of the dedication and passion of hundreds of people involved in Nine’s coverage of Paris 2024. A special thank you to the record-breaking Australian athletes who not only delivered so many unforgettable moments in their chosen sports but granted us incredible access to help tell their inspiring stories to the whole of the country through our broadcast.”

Tuesday 3 December 2024: VOZ Total TV Ratings Overnight Top 30 – Programs ranked on reach

Total People TV Ratings

Nine’s Travel Guides – Encore recorded a total TV national reach of 1,678,000, a total TV national audience of 804,000, and a BVOD audience of 57,000.

Nine’s 9News recorded a total TV national reach of 1,780,000, a total TV national audience of 1,128,000, and a BVOD audience of 92,000.

Nine’s A Current Affair recorded a total TV national reach of 1,480,000, a total TV national audience of 1,018,000, and a BVOD audience of 75,000.

Members of a class action against a major Aussie bank feel they have been wronged for a second time after lawyers took a large chunk of the settlement, leaving them with small payouts, reports A Current Affair last night.

ANZ customers Cathy and Jody are two members of a massive class action settlement which claimed the bank charged customers with personal credit cards interest on purchases that had been repaid on time, among other allegations of misconduct.

Of the $57.5 million settlement the law firm that ran the case – Phi Finney McDonald, pocketed $34.5 million, leaving thousands of victims of victims to share the remaining $23 million.

Seven’s Seven News recorded a total TV national reach of 1,778,000, a total TV national audience of 1,142,000, and a BVOD audience of 60,000.

Also on Seven, OzHarvest Unite to Feed Australia recorded a total TV national reach of 1,185,000, a total TV national audience of 280,000, and a BVOD audience of 14,000.

10’s airing of The Dog House Australia: All Shapes and Sizes recorded a total TV national reach of 725,000, a total TV national audience of 303,000, and a BVOD audience of 10,000.

People 25-54

Nine’s 9News:
• Total TV nation reach: 459,000
• National Audience: 269,000
• BVOD Audience: 46,000

Nine’s Travel Guides:
• Total TV nation reach: 528,000
• National Audience: 254,000
• BVOD Audience: 30,000

Seven’s OzHarvest Unite to Feed Australia:
• Total TV nation reach: 326,000
• National Audience: 67,000
• BVOD Audience: 8,000

10’s The Dog House Australia: All Shapes and Sizes:
• Total TV nation reach: 249,000
• National Audience: 101,000
• BVOD Audience: 5,000

People 16-39

Nine’s 9News:
• Total TV nation reach: 185,000
• National Audience: 100,000
• BVOD Audience: 23,000

Nine’s Travel Guides:
• Total TV nation reach: 198,000
• National Audience: 83,000
• BVOD Audience: 15,000

Seven’s OzHarvest Unite to Feed Australia:
• Total TV nation reach: 115,000
• National Audience: 28,000
• BVOD Audience: 4,000

10’s The Dog House Australia: All Shapes and Sizes:
• Total TV nation reach: 84,000
• National Audience: 40,000
• BVOD Audience: 2,000

Grocery Shoppers 18+ TV Ratings

Nine’s 9News:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,416,000
• National Audience: 905,000
• BVOD Audience: 74,000

Nine’s Travel Guides:
• Total TV nation reach: 1,308,000
• National Audience: 629,000
• BVOD Audience: 45,000

Seven’s OzHarvest Unite to Feed Australia:
• Total TV nation reach: 942,000
• National Audience: 226,000
• BVOD Audience: 12,000

10’s The Dog House Australia: All Shapes and Sizes:
• Total TV nation reach: 571,000
• National Audience: 238,000
• BVOD Audience: 8,000

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.