Monday November 12, 2018

Triumphs, Tears And Tantrums: 10’s Secret Life Of Four Year Olds

• After Ambulance, could 10 have found another hit UK format?

After the triumph of 10’s new Ambulance Australia series comes another late 2018 debut – The Secret Life Of Four Year Olds. With access to their private world, the series follows the lives of 10 four-year-olds and 10 five-year-olds at a pivotal time in their development.

The series slots into the Monday 7.30pm hour vacated by Blind Date.

One connection between Ambulance and Secret Life is 10’s executive producer Sarah Thornton, who worked on both. While Ambulance was made for 10 by Endemol Shine Australia, Secret Life comes from Screentime. Exec producing for Screentime was Jennifer Collins, who recently moved to Fremantle as director of content. Co-ex-producer at Screentime was Emily Griggs. Narrating the series is The Project’s Carrie Bickmore.

Sarah Thornton

Thornton told Mediaweek that Secret Life is a UK format. “The format stemmed from a one-off documentary in the UK that Channel 4 made. It wasn’t planning to turn it into a series but it was such a surprise hit that it was continued.” UK series have been screened in Australia on Foxtel’s Lifestyle.

Some of the production crew on Secret Life actually went from this show to Ambulance, which was produced more recently.

Thornton likes her tech and she reckoned Secret Life used one of the largest fixed rigs ever used on a factual show in Australia.

“What they did was set up a genuine preschool environment and rigged it with cameras and a control room. The show employed two child psychology experts – Dr Caroline Moul and Dr Dave Pasalich – who observed the children’s behaviour as they went about normal routines in day care. The children also took on tasks and challenges that were designed by the production team in collaboration with the psychologists.”

A fixed rig is a fancy word for cameras positioned around a location or precinct.

Thornton explained: “It is one way to bring scale to factual storytelling that you otherwise couldn’t have. Although the cameras aren’t hidden, the people being filmed really forget they are there. What you get is an incredible insight into human behaviour, not produced human behaviours that we often see on television.”

There are no camera operators, sound people or producers on set during filming.

Although most of Secret Life was filmed on the preschool set, there are back-stories where the program visits the families to introduce the parents.

Thornton is more than happy with the final product, paying credit to what she called “the extraordinary children who were incredibly well cast”.

She added: “Even though the show was completed some time ago, I still remember all the kids by name and even remember what they did.

“Screentime did a fantastic job casting the series.”

Thornton explained there are very strict rules for the amount of time the kids could spend on camera. “We also alternated casts, so we could give the kids a break before we needed them again. We were careful that filming wouldn’t be too intrusive into their lives and of course followed all the guidelines in terms of the amount of time they could be on camera.”

Parents were allowed to stay on set if they wished, watching from a parents room fitted with a monitor.

The show has talked through the storylines of each episode with parents before it goes to air. “They know what to expect. There are amazing journeys for the children and the program captures children who don’t get on, good behaviour and challenging behaviour.”

As the parent of a small child, Thornton said Secret Life was not about judging any of the kids.

Top Photo: The Secret Life Of Four Year Olds

Digital rebrand: Oath officially launches in Australia and New Zealand

Oath today launches in Australia and New Zealand as part of its global rollout.

Oath ANZ, led by managing director Paul Sigaloff, is telling the market the new brand will offer significant value to consumers and advertisers while nurturing and empowering local talent at all levels.

Oath ANZ is a subsidiary of Verizon, an umbrella brand for all of AOL and Yahoo’s media and technology properties.

Oath reaches over one billion consumers globally and approximately half the online population of Australia* and New Zealand*, with brands including Yahoo News, HuffPost, TechCrunch, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Lifestyle and Tumblr.

Paul Sigaloff

 

The power of those brands is complemented by the Oath Ad Platforms, combining the assets from BrightRoll, ONE by AOL and Yahoo Gemini.

Commenting upon the launch Sigaloff identified this as an exciting time for Australian and New Zealand consumers:

“Oath is more than just a media brand. We are differentiated through our unique combination of culture and code. We understand the changes in consumer behaviour and are investing in local content and consumer experiences that are reflective of modern day consumption. This in turn will deliver premium experiences to Australian and New Zealand consumers,” he commented.

“In addition, combining the reach of this content with the power of our technology and data stack creates a compelling proposition to advertisers in a climate of transparency and accountability.

“Oath ANZ is focused on creating relevant and trustworthy content experiences across the whole suite of Oath brands. The market sentiment so far has been overwhelmingly positive and the team and I are excited to be bringing this new proposition to life,” Sigaloff said.

The Oath portfolio in ANZ includes Yahoo News, HuffPost, AOL, Yahoo Finance, TechCrunch, Yahoo Sports, Engadget, MAKERS, Flurry, Oath Ad Platforms, RYOT, Yahoo Lifestyle and the Build Series.

*AU Source: Nielsen September 2018, NZ Source: Oath Internal Data

Oath ANZ is a premium media and technology company in the ANZ market, which reaches nearly half of the Australian population every month. Oath ANZ publishes websites including the Yahoo homepage, Yahoo News, Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Finance, as well as Yahoo Lifestyle, and connects people through Yahoo Mail. Our digital advertising business, with a large footprint in both the display and AdTech markets, leads with a unique ability to be a part of cultural conversations and capability in code data, to deliver innovative solutions to some of the largest advertisers in the country.

Top 10 Game Charts: Red Dead stays on top

In the least surprising turn of events this year, Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption II has lassoed Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 from the number one spot and galloped directly to the top of the heap.

Luke Reilly games editor, IGN Australia

In the least surprising turn of events this year, Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption II has lassoed Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 from the number one spot and galloped directly to the top of the heap.

Red Dead Redemption II actually had the largest opening weekend for any entertainment product in history, raking in USD$725 million in sales in just three days.

It is now the second highest grossing entertainment launch ever, just behind Grand Theft Auto V (which was released on a Tuesday, and also published by Rockstar).

Red Dead Redemption II has gone on to sell over 17 million copies and has moved more copies in eight days than the previous game in the series moved in eight years.

There have been several other new entries in the charts this week, including Just Dance 2019, LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4/5-7 Collection, and Diablo III: Eternal Collection – the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch port of Blizzard’s legendary RPG. It feels unlikely these will hover in the top 10 charts for too long, however.

ARIA Charts: Ariana Grande narrowly fails to topple Gaga & Brad

• Singles: Ariana Grande narrowly fails to topple Gaga & Brad
• Albums: King Gizzard week, but Matt Corby highest of 9 top 20 debuts

Singles

The A Star Is Born duo Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper hold the #1 spot with Shallow for a third consecutive week.

There was very nearly a change at the top though with Ariana Grande crashing deep into the top 10 for a debut at #2 with Thank U, Next, the teaser title track from her next album.

Grande was also the only new arrival into the top 10, with Khalid’s Better making way for the sole newcomer.

Making its was back into the chart at #26 was Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody after a total of 47 weeks on the chart.

Also sneaking into the chart from outside top 50 was American rapper Sheck Wes with Mo Bamba at #48.

Albums

Despite all the new arrivals, the A Star Is Born soundtrack is again #1 for a third consecutive week. The flood of new releases were boosted by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard re-releasing their first four albums and an EP from 2011. The Melbourne band hasn’t released an album this year after pumping out five in 2017. To celebrates the re-releases, a King Gizzard pop up store appeared in New York’s East Village on Friday November 2 with goodies including the Aussie reissues and screen print posters.

Three of the 10 new releases to enter the top 50 made the top 10:

#4 Matt Corby with Rainbow Valley
#7 Barbra Streisand with Walls
#10 King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard with Eyes Like The Sky

Also finding a home in the top 10 this week at #3 is Queen’s Greatest Hits, up from #11 to #3 after charting for 311 weeks.

Queen’s The Platinum Collection is also into the top 10 at a new peak at #5 after 82 weeks on the chart.

The other top 50 chart debuts this week:

#12 King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard with Float Along – Fill Your Lungs
#13 King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard with Oddments
#14 King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard with 12 Bar Bruise
#15 King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard with Willoughby’s Beach
#18 Metro Boomin with Not All Heroes Wear Capes
#19 The Prodigy with No Tourists
#25 Bob Dylan with More Blood, More Tracks: The Bootleg Series Volume 14
#47 Vince Staples with FM!

Week 45 TV: Seven well ahead as Nine dips to year low share

Seven won the fourth-last week of survey for 2018 as it steered to victory on six nights in primary share.

By James Manning

Seven

The stats are more impressive with combined channel share – Seven was triumphant on all seven nights.

It achieved all this without the week’s biggest TV event, The Melbourne Cup, contributing to the primetime share.

Seven’s primary share’s strongest night was Tuesday on 24.0% with Bride & Prejudice followed by The Good Doctor.

The strongest combined channel share was 33.9% on Saturday where the Harry Potter franchise did much of the heavy lifting.

Seven’s year-to-date combined all people share is 30.5% to Nine’s 27.4% and 10’s 17.4%.

Seven’s Best

The Melbourne Cup 2,561,000 (Metro 1,899,000)
Seven News 1,421,000 (Metro 940,000)

Nine

Nine had its lowest primary share of the year – 16.2% – if we discount the 15.8% during the week of the Commonwealth Games.

Nine managed a primary channel win on Thursday, thanks in part of Paramedics, but it couldn’t grab a combined channel share win that night. Its best primary channel share was 17.1% last Sunday.

Nine’s Best

Nine News 1,112,000 (Metro 841,000)
A Current Affair 948,000 (Metro 677,000)

10

Network 10 had its lowest primary channel weekly average – 11.2% – since a 10.9% in the first week of August.

The combined channel share of 16.3% was the lowest since 16.2% also from that week in August.

The channel’s best was 14.3% on Thursday where The Bachelorette and How To Stay Married combined.

10’s Best

Have You Been Paying Attention? 855,000 (Metro 624,000)
Ambulance Australia 823,000 (Metro 520,000)

ABC

The ABC had its best week of the year in primary share thanks in part to the festival of Malcolm Turnbull on Thursday night’s Q&A. Also a big contributor was the Spicks And Specks Reunion Special, which got the week off to a great start as part of a Sunday share on 16.4%.

ABC’s Best

Spicks And Specks Reunion Special 1,369,000 (Metro 905,000)
ABC News Sunday 1,139,000 (Metro 741,000)

SBS

SBS was trading close to where it has been for much of the year on 5.3% with a combined share of 7.9%.

The channel will face the challenge of keeping its Food audience when 7Food Network starts to simmer in a couple of weeks.

SBS’s Best

Britain’s Most Historic Towns 411,000 (Metro 277,000)
Michael Portillo’s Abandoned Britain 397,000 (Metro 281,000)

TV Ratings Analysis: November 11

• Nine’s rocking win: 60 Minutes early, then Queen & The Beatles
• Music battle: Nine’s Queen doco out-rates Seven’s All Together Now
• More music: Kylie & Guy on The Project, Guy on ABC’s Don’t Stop

Seven

All Together Now – The 100 featured a surprise performance from Dame Shirley Bassey (aka Gaynor Tension), who managed to score 85 with a fun take on a classic that didn’t quite tick all the boxes. The episode was on 684,000 after 660,000 a week ago.

Sunday Night featured a major report from senior investigative reporter Steve Pennells, who infiltrated El Chapo’s empire and discovered that, despite the much-hyped trial, it’s business as usual. After 554,000 a week ago, last night was on 432,000.

In a change from Sunday night real crime, Seven went with what is often a tried and tested winner – the royal family. Harry And Meghan: The First Tour did 195,000. It ranked fourth in the slot though last night.

Nine

Family Food Fight was moved out of its Sunday slot after another poor result last week. That meant 60 Minutes got a chance to shine at 7pm with 643,000 watching after 440,000 a week ago in the later timeslot. Reports included Tom Steinfort in Africa where an Aussie commando is helping fight animal poachers, plus Allison Langdon reporting on an Australian law stopping a woman who suffered sexual abuse from speaking out.

Also getting an earlier timeslot was the second part of Queen: Days Of Our Lives, which did 691,000 after the first part was on 296,000 a week ago. What a difference a week and an hour earlier makes!

Nine then programmed Ron Howard’s Beatles doco Eight Days A Week to follow Queen with 289,000 watching until after 11pm.

TEN

Lisa Wilkinson spent time with Kylie Minogue on The Sunday Project ahead of the superstar’s 2019 tour. Kylie was asked about her brand, love rats, her new man, and she even managed to turn the chat to her music in the all-too-short interview. The music theme continued with Guy Sebastian at the desk just moments before his three-part series Don’t Stop The Music started on the ABC (which didn’t get a mention). The Sunday episode did 326,000 after 339,000 last week.

$50,000 was up for grabs on Game Of Games with 229,000 tuning in after 296,000 a week ago.

NCIS followed with 283,000.

ABC

Guy Sebastian’s Don’t Stop The Music launched with 465,000, which was enough to rank #7 for the night.

The final of Pine Gap followed with the drama also finding a spot in the top 10 with 348,000. The series launched with an audience of 581,000 watching a double episode.

SBS

The Romans delivered more ratings magic for the channel with Pompeii’s Final Hours: New Evidence on 240,000.

SBS World News was on 142,000 and then The 2000s did 115,000.

Week 45-46 TV: Friday-Sunday
FRIDAY METRO
ABCSevenNine10SBS
ABC13.2%722.5%915.6%10 11.3%SBS One6.3%
ABC 22.8%7TWO3.3%GO!4.1%10 Peach3.6%VICELAND1.1%
ABC ME0.5%7mate3.0%GEM2.3%10 Boss2.1%Food Net1.0%
ABC NEWS3.1%7flix1.8%9Life2.2%  NITV0.1%
TOTAL19.6% 30.6% 24.2% 17.1% 8.5%
SATURDAY METRO
ABCSevenNine10SBS
ABC11.8%723.3%914.9%10 7.2%SBS One5.8%
ABC 24.2%7TWO4.6%GO!5.4%10 Peach2.2%VICELAND1.5%
ABC ME0.8%7mate3.6%GEM4.5%10 Boss1.9%Food Net0.9%
ABC NEWS2.0%7flix2.5%9Life2.5%  NITV0.3%
TOTAL18.8% 33.9% 27.4% 11.4% 8.5%
SUNDAY METRO
ABCSevenNine10SBS
ABC11.0%718.0%921.6%10 8.8%SBS One5.0%
ABC 22.9%7TWO3.8%GO!3.6%10 Peach3.0%VICELAND1.3%
ABC ME0.6%7mate5.5%GEM3.2%10 Boss1.9%Food Net1.0%
ABC NEWS2.1%7flix3.0%9Life3.4%  NITV0.3%
TOTAL16.6% 30.3% 31.8% 13.7% 7.5%
SUNDAY REGIONAL
ABCSeven AffiliatesNine Affiliates10 AffiliatesSBS
ABC10.0%717.0%918.6%WIN8.9%SBS One5.0%
ABC 22.7%7TWO5.0%GO!4.0%ONE2.0%VICELAND1.4%
ABC ME1.3%7mate6.5%GEM6.4%ELEVEN1.9%Food Net0.8%
ABC NEWS2.2%7flix2.6%9Life3.0%Sky News  on WIN0.5%NITV0.3%
TOTAL16.2% 31.1% 32.0% 13.3% 7.2%

 

SUNDAY METRO ALL TV
FTASTV
81.7%18.3%

 

All People Rankings

Friday Top 10

  1. Seven News Seven 855,000
  2. Nine News Nine 808,000
  3. Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 790,000
  4. Nine News 6:30 Nine 732,000
  5. ABC News ABC 589,000
  6. A Current Affair Nine 551,000
  7. Better Homes And Gardens Seven 520,000
  8. Gardening Australia ABC 481,000
  9. The Chase Australia Seven 449,000
  10. M- Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Seven 420,000

 

Saturday Top 10

  1. Seven News Seven 724,000
  2. Nine News Nine 672,000
  3. Abc News ABC 633,000
  4. M- Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them Seven 577,000
  5. Victoria ABC 370,000
  6. Doc Martin (R) ABC 351,000
  7. Getaway Nine 280,000
  8. Grease Nine 265,000
  9. Weekend Sunrise Seven 253,000
  10. 10 News First 10 250,000
Sunday FTA
  1. Seven News Seven 903,000
  2. Nine News Nine 815,000
  3. ABC News ABC 705,000
  4. Queen: Days Of Our Lives Nine 691,000
  5. All Together Now – The 100 Seven 684,000
  6. 60 Minutes Nine 643,000
  7. Don’t Stop The Music ABC 465,000
  8. Sunday Night Seven 432,000
  9. Pine Gap ABC 348,000
  10. The Sunday Project 7pm 10 326,000
  11. Insiders AM ABC 300,000
  12. The Beatles: Eight Days A Week-The Touring Years Nine 289,000
  13. NCIS 10 283,000
  14. Landline PM ABC 268,000
  15. 10 News First 10 254,000
  16. Pompeii’s Final Hours: New Evidence SBS 240,000
  17. Weekend Sunrise Seven 233,000
  18. Game Of Games 10 229,000
  19. Australia Remembers: Centenary Of Armistice Canberr AASBECRVICE AM 228,000
  20. Seven News At 5 Seven 220,000
SUNDAY Multichannel
  1. M- Thor PM 7mate 188,000
  2. Hey Duggee AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 146,000
  3. Masters Of Flip 9Life 139,000
  4. Border Security – Australia’s Front Line -7TWO 139,000
  5. Border Security – Australia’s Front Line -7TWO 138,000
  6. Bluey AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 138,000
  7. Border Security – Australia’s Front Line -7TWO 137,000
  8. Midsomer Murders 9Gem 133,000
  9. Fixer Upper 9Life 131,000
  10. Dino Dana ABCKIDS/COMEDY 130,000
  11. Border Patrol PM 7TWO 130,000
  12. Peg + Cat AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 129,000
  13. Back To The Future Ii 9GO! 127,000
  14. Shaun The Sheep ABCKIDS/COMEDY 126,000
  15. Peppa Pig AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 125,000
  16. Sarah And Duck AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 125,000
  17. Peter Rabbit ABCKIDS/COMEDY 123,000
  18. Floogals AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 120,000
  19. Luo Bao Bei ABCKIDS/COMEDY 120,000
  20. Bananas In Pyjamas AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 120,000
SUNDAY Subscription TV
  1. Live: ODI Aus V RSA Game 3 FOX CRICKET 326,000
  2. Live: ODI Aus V RSA Game 3 FOX CRICKET 277,000
  3. Live: The Big Break FOX CRICKET 273,000
  4. Live: ODI Post Game FOX CRICKET 231,000
  5. Live: ODI Pre Game FOX CRICKET 62,000
  6. Live: Football: A-League MVC V CCM FOX SPORTS 505 61,000
  7. NCIS TVH!TS 54,000
  8. NCIS TVH!TS 53,000
  9. ICC Women’s World T20 FOX CRICKET 53,000
  10. Live: Motorsport: F1: Brazil Qualifying FOX SPORTS 506 52,000
  11. Blockers Foxtel Movies Premier 39,000
  12. Paul Murray Live Sky News Live 36,000
  13. Criminal Minds TVH!TS 36,000
  14. Eat Well For Less LifeStyle FOOD 36,000
  15. 24 Hours In Emergency LifeStyle Channel 35,000
  16. S.W.A.T. FOX8 35,000
  17. NCIS: Los Angeles TVH!TS 35,000
  18. Live: Football: A-League Adel V Perth FOX SPORTS 505 34,000
  19. The Simpsons FOX8 33,000
  20. The Big Bang Theory COMEDY CHANNEL 33,000

Shares all people, 6pm-midnight, Overnight (Live and AsLive), Audience numbers FTA metro, Sub TV national
Source: OzTAM and Regional TAM 2018. The Data may not be reproduced, published or communicated (electronically or in hard copy) without the prior written consent of OzTAM

Media News Roundup

Business of Media

Stuart Simson: How the Fairfax-Nine merger could go off the rails

With Fairfax shareholders scheduled to vote next Monday on the merger with Nine Entertainment, it appears that all concerned are heading for a train wreck of Pilbara proportions, writes former managing director of David Syme & Co, the publisher of The Age, Stuart Simson in The Australian.

Fairfax continues to struggle in monetising its digital audiences with advertising, and the metro dailies remain finely balanced. The difference going forward is the metros will not have the experience of a Greg Hywood and, with the pressures in the other Fairfax markets, Nine will face some nasty short-term choices. With pressure mounting on all fronts, Nine will most likely fast-track a number of actions. The New Zealand assets will, one way or another, be sold, as Fairfax has been attempting to do but frustrated by a competition regulator living in the past.

The same fate will come to the vast Australian regional publishing assets. The final domino to fall will be the end of publishing of the Monday-to-Friday editions of The Age and The Herald and, assuming the Nine-Fairfax merger proceeds, this will now happen sooner rather than later.

It is quite possible the whole merger will end in tears for shareholders.

[Read the original]

Nine’s 2GB/3AW: John Singleton not keen to be junior radio partner

John Singleton said rumours he has already sold his 32% share in the Macquarie Radio network to Channel 9 are “premature” but added he has no wish to be Nine’s junior partner, reports News Corp’s Annette Sharp.

On Friday Singleton confirmed he was ready to sell his stake in the national radio network, which owns dominant talk show stations 2GB and Melbourne’s 3AW.

“I have no interest in just being a small investor in a bigger media operation,” Singleton said.

Singleton said the proposed $90 million deal “will make Nine and me happy”.

[Read the original]

Ahead of vote, Fairfax shareholders quietly supportive of Nine merger

There is a groundswell of support among Fairfax Media investors for its merger with Nine Entertainment, but many shareholders are keeping their cards close to their chest with one week left before the final vote on the deal, reports The AFR’s Max Mason.

Patrick Potts, research analyst at Martin Currie Australia, which owns both Fairfax and Nine shares, said he sees the upside in the merger, but declined to comment on which way the Melbourne-based fund intended to vote as a matter of standard protocol on voting intentions.

“As Fairfax shareholders, we’re continuing to be supportive of the deal and we think the strategic merit of the merger between Fairfax and Nine makes sense,” he told The Australian Financial Review.

Martin Currie Australia holds a 6.1% stake in Fairfax and 5.3% in Nine.

[Read the original]

As Disney’s profit soars, details revealed about new streaming service

Disney revealed late last week it had returned to annual profit growth after a difficult 2017, the result of blockbuster movies, rising theme park attendance and a stabilising ESPN, reports The New York Times.

Despite reporting a record profit of US$12.6 billion for its fiscal year, the Walt Disney Company spent most of a call with analysts discussing its high-risk plan to introduce a Netflix-style subscription streaming service late next year, which will carry enormous content, technology and marketing expenses.

Robert A Iger, Disney’s chief executive, unveiled the name of the streaming service on Thursday, telling analysts on a conference call that it would be called Disney Plus, styled by the company as Disney+. The name parallels the one for Disney’s fledgling sports streaming service, ESPN Plus.

In addition to the original shows and films already announced, Disney Plus will include a live-action Star Wars series based on the rebel spy Cassian Andor, a character from the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Diego Luna will reprise the role, Iger said.

 

Disney Plus will also feature a live-action Marvel series about Loki, the god of mischief from the Thor movies. Tom Hiddleston will reprise that role.

[Read the original]

News Brands

Mark Day: Unified newsroom makes irresistible economic sense

Heading into next week’s Fairfax Media shareholder vote, Nine Network chief Hugh Marks has said he intends to maintain separate newsrooms when the broadcaster merges with the legacy print company, writes The Australian’s Mark Day.

This is a practical decision, designed to allow the two organisations with different cultures, outlooks and work practices to continue with a minimum of disruption. But it may also be a short-term decision because of the irresistible economics. Nine has already flagged a review of operations next year, which may include newsroom amalgamation.

There is an obvious economic advantage in sharing resources, but other less tangible benefits are available. There are many questions about how newsroom operations may be shared or divided involving a juggling act of rounds, reputations and egos.

But it can be done. Two years ago Kerry Stokes’s The West Australian and The Sunday Times newspapers merged their newsroom with the jointly owned Channel 7, Perth, and digital sites the­west.com.au and PerthNow.

[Read the original]

ABC says claim its reporter leaked groping allegations is defamatory

ABC journalist Sean Nicholls has described a claim made in The Australian newspaper that he provided information to a Liberal Party minister about an allegation the NSW Labor leader had groped a fellow journalist at a function as false and defamatory, reports Fairfax Media’s Nick O’Malley.

A spokeswoman for the ABC said the organisation had asked The Australian for an apology and correction but had not had a response at the time of writing on Friday afternoon. Asked if the ABC would pursue legal action she declined to comment.

A News Corp spokesperson told Fairfax Media The Australian stands by the story and has nothing to add.

Nicholls said in a statement issued by the ABC: “Today’s report in The Australian is wrong and an outrageous slur on my integrity.”

“I have never given information to a Liberal politician – or any politician – about an allegation involving an ABC journalist and Luke Foley. As Ashleigh Raper’s powerful and brave statement on Thursday said, I have refrained from discussing any details of what I witnessed for almost two years, honouring her request.

“Had The Australian put this defamatory claim to me prior to publication I would have told them it was false. For the record, I fully support Ashleigh’s account of what happened.”

[Read the original]

Bitter End: Four Corners’ inside story of the ABC’s corporate meltdown

Tonight, Four Corners investigates the corporate crisis that engulfed the ABC and brought down both the managing director and the chair in the space of one brutal week.

Reporter Sarah Ferguson, in interviews with the two key individuals at the centre of this tumultuous episode, investigates the tensions and allegations that have rocked the national broadcaster – from the appointment of a “change agent” to reinvent the corporation, to the assertion of political interference at the highest levels.

Former MD Michelle Guthrie speaks for the first time about her sacking and the breakdown of her relationship with the ABC board. Former chair Justin Milne gives a frank account of the power struggle behind the scenes.

In the seven weeks since the ABC’s corporate meltdown there has been plenty of speculation but little detail about the events that unfolded behind closed doors at the national broadcaster.

Bitter End, reported and presented by Ferguson, goes to air on tonight, November 12 at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday November 13 at 1pm and Wednesday 14 at 11.20pm.

It can also be seen on ABC News channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.

Publishing

GQ Magazine Awards week: GQ Woman of the Year first reveal

Actor Elizabeth Debicki has been revealed as GQ Woman of the Year, ahead of the GQ Men of the Year awards set to take place in Sydney on November 14.

GQ Australia reports Debicki has had a busy couple of years. She landed roles in major TV series and movies like The Night Manager, The Great Gatsby and Guardians of the Galaxy 2 in addition to parts in smaller films, such as Simon Baker’s Breath.

Currently shooting The Burnt Orange Heresy in Italy, the 28-year-old says it’s an “all-consuming” role, much like, she impresses to GQ, this year’s Vita and Virginia was for her too. That film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this year with Debicki playing British writer Virginia Woolf.

“We made that quite a while ago and none of us could ever in a million years have imagined that #MeToo would happen. That it would screen at Sundance Film Festival in the middle of that movement, and that it would be received at that time with that mindset – it’s an incredible thing because people were ready for it, despite how difficult it is and how disturbing it is and how triggering it is.”

The GQ Australia edition listing all the Men of the Year winners will be released on Thursday November 15.

Photo: Elizabeth Debicki in GQ Australia

News Corp: George Calombaris on team of new delicious. travel section

In his first column as the delicious. travel-editor-at-large, George Calombaris celebrates the Greek capital’s renaissance:

I can’t explain it. It’s spiritual for me; a place that gets under my skin. But you never come here, because you have no reason to – you only stop over en route to a Mykonos beach party. Peeps, stop and stay a while. Athens is back, and back in a big way! They say pressure makes diamonds and this city currently is, and has been before, a polished diamond. Yes, Athens is still going through tough times economically. However, through adversity comes opportunity.

The city is buzzing. The Greek youth have had enough and are now upstanding. Areas throughout this city are coming alive, from the art culture right through to my favourite, the food culture. Some of the coolest young chefs have opened amazing eateries and the bars are mind-blowing. Don’t be afraid to walk; Athens is awesome on foot. And please do me a favour: when you’re standing at the foot of the Acropolis, remember that it was built mid-5th-century BC. Well before you and I were born, as well as our great, great, great grandparents.

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Meredith sells Fortune magazine to Thai businessman for US$150m

Fortune magazine, a founding brand of the once-mighty Time Inc empire that started publishing right after the stock market crash of 1929 and went on to chronicle the rise and fall of America’s biggest companies, has been sold to a Thai businessman for US$150 million, reports The New York Times.

Chatchaval Jiaravanon, whose family controls Charoen Pokphand, one of Thailand’s largest companies, will acquire Fortune as a personal investment, according to a statement from the magazine’s current owner, Meredith Corp. He intends to increase investment in Fortune’s digital capabilities, geographic expansion and editorial talent, the statement said.

Jiaravanon is the second unexpected buyer for a Time Inc title in recent months. In September, Meredith said it would sell Time magazine to Marc Benioff, the billionaire chief executive of the software company Salesforce, for about $190 million.

“This was a great outcome,” Alan Murray, who had been Time Inc’s chief content officer and will become Fortune’s chief executive, said in an interview, adding that Jiaravanon “has ambitious goals for the magazine”.

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Audio

Not happy: 2GB executives lay down the law to Alan Jones

Alan Jones has been sensationally disciplined by the board and management of Macquarie Media, which refuses to confirm or deny if it has forced its star breakfast presenter to pay some of the costs of the multimillion defamation action brought against the company by the Wagner brothers, reports The Australian’s Stephen Brook.

The board is unhappy with the top-rating veteran broadcaster over three incidents: the Wagner defamation case; the use of the racial epithet “nigger in the woodpile” when discussing Liberal leadership turmoil; and the aggressive Louise Herron Opera House interview.

Macquarie Media chairman Russell Tate told The Australian: “Absolutely, we had a couple of big issues. As you would expect, the board and management have been very mindful about these things and decided to make sure they don’t happen again and that’s been done. Alan is a professional. He gets it.”

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Television

TV producer Gavan Disney has died aged 69 after long illness

Former TV producer Gavan Disney, best known for Hey Hey It’s Saturday and Healthy Wealthy & Wise, died this week, aged 69, reports TV Tonight.

He died following a long illness.

Disney was instrumental in the career of Daryl Somers, both running DAS Entertainment with Ernie Carroll, until a split in 1990. He was also an early executive producer of Hey Hey It’s Saturday and manager of careers including those of John Blackman and Molly Meldrum.

He later moved to Ten where he co-created and produced Healthy Wealthy & Wise running from 1992 until 1998.

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