Details of Catalano’s plans for Fairfax were shared with supporters of his last-ditch legal bid to halt Fairfax’s $4 billion merger with Nine Entertainment ahead of the Federal Court potentially giving the green light to the deal next Tuesday.

Catalano’s plan would include selling Fairfax’s Macquarie Radio stake for $180 million-$200m, streaming provider Stan for up to $300m, offloading New Zealand assets and Australian rural assets in a series of sales that could reap more than $200m, and disposing of some newspaper mastheads, forecasting service Weatherzone and other holdings such as property.

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Turley has been the chief investment officer for MediaCom for the past five years, most recently holding the title chief investment and growth officer. She has previously held senior sales roles at Seven Network and Network Ten and is an advisory board member for the Sony Foundation.

She is joining the Finecast/GroupM investment team as client consultant to leverage opportunities in this space at group level.

Over the past five years, Turley has led MediaCom’s investment team, building a strong leadership group with world class understanding of the traditional and digital mediums. She played a key role in driving the evolution of how the agency plans and buys media.

In this new role, she will work with Finecast managing director Brett Poole and the Finecast team as well as GroupM CIO Nicola Lewis and the GroupM investment team and each of its agencies to leverage investment strategies.

Mark Lollback, GroupM Australia and New Zealand CEO, said: “Since launching to the market Finecast has been received incredibly well by clients and the team has been doing an incredible job. To keep up that pace, ensure continued growth and make sure that we are able to deliver for our agencies and clients, and the business, we are expanding the team.”

Brett Poole, Finecast Australia managing director, said: “Nicole is one of the best TV buying talents in Australia and we’ve been lucky to have her within GroupM at MediaCom. We are thrilled to have someone of her calibre join the team to supercharge our growth and support the team.”

Nicole Turley said: “Addressable TV is where television advertising is going and GroupM and Finecast are at the bleeding edge of this innovative space. This is an incredible opportunity to be part of that, work with our broadcast partners at Seven, Nine, Ten, MCN/Foxtel and SBS and drive the growth and expansion of addressable TV in Australia.”

Her appointment is effective immediately.

Adam-Gedge has three decades of executive experience at leading technology and consulting firms in the market. She joins from Avanade Australia, where she was managing director, and was previously managing partner and vice president of Global Business Services at IBM, as well as holding senior roles at PwC and Arthur Andersen.

In her new role Adam-Gedge will be responsible for building relationships to create exponential value for clients by unlocking growth and increasing efficiency. She will be tasked to drive forward Publicis.Sapient’s reputation in the market for delivering clients’ transformation initiatives through its combination of technology, data sciences, creativity and industry expertise.

Adam-Gedge will report to Nigel Vaz, CEO of Publicis.Sapient International and Publicis Groupe Global Lead for digital business transformation. She joins the Publicis.Sapient International Leadership Team and will work with the existing Publicis.Sapient Australia leadership.

“Sarah is an exceptional talent with a strong reputation for building and growing Australian businesses. Her experience and strengths in technology and consulting, strong C-level relationships and personal reputation in the market make her the perfect person to take Publicis.Sapient to the next level in Australia and to accelerating our clients’ businesses by ensuring they successfully transform for the digital age. I’m excited for the experience and diversity of perspective she will add to our team,” said Vaz.

Sarah Adam-Gedge commented: “I’m delighted to join Publicis.Sapient at such an important time in its evolution, and to help build on its reputation for helping businesses to reinvent and transform themselves to keep pace with a rapidly changing world. As part of Publicis Groupe, with its commitment to creativity and technology in service of superior customer engagement, I look forward to helping make a significant impact for our clients.”

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Photo: Sarah Adam-Gedge with Nigel Vaz

David Anderson, the ABC’s acting managing director, made his provocative call yesterday in front of the newly formed ABC Alumni, a lobby group of former staff members at the ABC headquarters in Ultimo, Sydney.

They included former Foreign Correspondent presenter George Negus, former Four Corners and Australian Story presenter Caroline Jones, and former NSW premier Bob Carr, who once worked as an ABC Radio current affairs journalist. “While we have editorial independence, our financial independence is also important to me,” Anderson said. “It is one of those issues I am calling out… the need to have a sustainable budget that we can rely on into the future so we can continue to provide our services for now and for ever more.”

Kerry O’Brien, the former host of Four Corners and The 7.30 Report, said the independence of the ABC board was paramount. “Not the appearance of it, not the bullshit version, but real, arm’s length independence. And the government that can’t guarantee that is a government that should be judged by all ABC (supporters) around the country as a government that is found wanting.”

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Free TV CEO Bridget Fair said: “It is with great regret that Free TV announces that Harold Mitchell has taken the decision to resign as Chairman of Free TV. Harold’s contributions to the industry cannot be overstated. Over the past five years he has overseen some of the most significant developments in the commercial television sector and delivered superb leadership and advice, for which we are sincerely grateful.

“Harold’s expertise, experience and commitment will be very much missed throughout the organisation. He leaves a lasting and important legacy at Free TV, having significantly changed the industry for the better in his time as chairman.”

Free TV noted Mitchell has played a key role during his tenure as chairman include the historic repeal of the media ownership laws, the removal of commercial television licence fees, the transition to digital-only television, defeating the proposal to increase SBS advertising time limits and maintaining the anti-siphoning list.

Meanwhile The Australian reports Harold Mitchell will “vigorously defend” himself against accusations by the corporate watchdog that he breached his duties during a broadcast deal struck with Seven West Media while he was director of Tennis Australia.

Mitchell said he had been “forced” into making the decision to step down from his Free TV role following the “false accusations by (ASIC), which I intend to vigorously defend”.

See separate Seven statement regarding the ASIC investigation.

Before joining CNN, McKeehan worked at the South China Morning Post as online editor, where he expanded the team and helped significantly increase the publication’s reach across wider Asia and beyond. He also led the design, build and rollout of a multiplatform editorial CMS for content production.

Before that he was with News Corp in Australia after a stint with The Sun newspaper in the UK.

McKeehan’s roles in Australia included time at the Townsville Bulletin, The Daily Telegraph and most recently as editorial digital integrations manager in 2014.

Executive editor of CNN Digital International Inga Thordar said: “Brett’s editorial experience, understanding of the region and dedication to putting the audience at the core of everything we do position him for great success leading our Asia-Pacific region. His multiplatform skills perfectly complement the approach we are taking at CNN Digital internationally, and we are thrilled to have him join our team.”

Established in 2011 to recognise the contribution of screen industry pioneer Natalie Miller, the Fellowship is open to all women working in the Australian screen industry and aims to provide financial assistance to pursue professional development in their fields through attachments, internships, secondments, travel and other means in order to reach their full leadership potential.

This year’s recipient, Miriam Katsambis, has extensive experience in the Australian screen industry, having worked for over 12 years in various legal, advocacy and policy development roles across state and federal government screen agencies, guilds and industry bodies, and most recently as Legal Counsel at Entertainment One Films Australia, the Australian/New Zealand subsidiary of Entertainment One.

The Fellowship is the only grant of its kind in the country and offers up to $20,000 for a professional development program that will deliver significant benefits to the applicant and the wider Australian screen community. Earlier this year, Village Roadshow came on board as a co-sponsor, which sees the global entertainment company provide $50,000 over five years to support the Fellowship.

Since 2012, six other Fellowships have been awarded to Rachel Okine (Vice President of Acquisitions STX international), Harriet Pike (Head of Production & Development, WildBear Entertainment), Rebecca Hammond (Post Production Manager, Beyond Productions), Courtney Botfield (Film Distribution and Marketing Consultant/Producer), Sasha Close (Film Programming Manager, Wallis Cinemas) and Kristy Matheson (Director, Film Programs ACMI).

It’s the third consecutive week at the top in Australia and New Zealand for Sabrina. It’s the second consecutive week on top for The Walking Dead in both markets. However, as we have noted many times, The Walking Dead is rarely off the chart, and ranked #1 for 19 consecutive weeks on the Overall TV Chart in Australia from January this year.

This week on the Digital Originals, Castle Rock and Ozark returned to the top 10 in Australia. In New Zealand, Narcos and Star Trek: Discovery were back in the top 10.

No new arrivals to the Overall TV chart in Australia, although Game Of Thrones surged higher in both markets.

MasterChef Australia gained a medal for being in the final four in the Non-Scripted Entertainment category at the International Emmy World Television Festival.

Mark Fennessy, its executive producer and Endemol Shine Australia CEO, said it was a great honour for the show to be a finalist.

“For our market to take a food or cooking program into primetime had virtually never been done,” he said.

“It had lovely elements to it. It was feelgood, it was aspirational.

“It’s not just about the food. It is personal accomplishment.

“It is a personal thing (for the competitors) but it is shared with everybody as well.”

MasterChef transcended all cultures and languages, Fennessy said.

Producer Jo-anne McGowan and writer-director Sally Aitken accepted the medals for David Stratton’s Stories of Australian Cinema in the Arts Programming section.

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Instead, it’s just the usual ideological spin we have come to expect from public broadcasters.

But what’s odd about this documentary is that the independent Perth-based film company Joined Up Films, which did much of the filmmaking, intended to make a more balanced program about sexism.

Indeed, they encouraged me to take part because the survey results showed quite a different picture from the male-bashing dogma SBS is promoting.

The SBS sexism documentary is further proof that key players in these organisations are intent on stirring up trouble between men and women, in the face of evidence that most want a ceasefire.

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The makers of Netflix’s House of Cards found this out recently when their series finale was roundly panned by critics. HoC, of course, was up against it from the start of its last season, with the unfortunate circumstances of Kevin Spacey’s departure throwing plans into disarray, but even so, fans were disappointed by an ending to the Underwood saga that came across as both silly and unfulfilling.

The show’s writers were onto a hiding to nothing: there’s never been a universally acclaimed series finale, unless it was Six Feet Under’s epic decades-spanning montage, and even then you can bet some fans were spitting chips at the pretentiousness of it all.

Breaking Bad closed things off in what many, including this writer, considered a beautifully apt fashion, but there were others who found the whole thing ridiculously over the top, to the extent that they crafted theories about it all being a dream to salvage the show’s integrity in their own mind.

Likewise, many consider The Sopranos’ jarringly ambiguous cut-to-black finish a work of sheer genius, and many consider it a pathetic cop-out devoid of imagination.

Next year will bring possibly the most-anticipated finale in TV history: the end of Game of Thrones. The fate of the throne of Westeros, the armies of men and of the White Walkers, and the resolution of the various loves and hatreds of the epic fantasy series will be revealed, and the only thing guaranteed is that it will be met with howls of anger from the internet.

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Shooting will recommence next September for screening in 2020-2021.

The renewal comes on top of season 7 already completed earlier this year, taking the series to a total of 100 episodes.

Several months ago there was speculation the series was concluding, but Foxtel indicated discussions were ongoing.

TV Tonight understands discussions to continue the show took place between Fremantle CEO Chris Oliver-Taylor, Fremantle director of scripted Jo Porter, Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany, Foxtel executive director of television Brian Walsh, and Foxtel head of drama Penny Win.

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Former showbiz correspondent John Caldwell, who hosted the Celeb HQ show on KIIS FM, has launched the action with the Fair Work Commission, filing papers in Sydney on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for ARN said on Wednesday afternoon: “ARN is not aware of any proceedings commenced against KIIS FM or ARN by John Caldwell, and will rigorously defend any claims if they commence.

“John Caldwell’s contract was ended in October. Due to privacy reasons we don’t comment on individual contracts. However, John was given the reasons for his contract ending.

“ARN prides itself on its passionate work in the area of diversity and inclusion, particularly with LGBTQI initiatives and the broader community.”

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He’s going to be busy, but at least he can wave goodbye to 4am starts.

Triple M Brisbane’s previous music director, Ben Wood, recently moved south to take on a new role as operations manager at Triple M Melbourne.

Menz has worked as an assistant music director at Nova Melbourne, content director/music director for Star 104.5 on the Central Coast and in operations at Triple M Adelaide.

Triple M Brisbane content director Rex Morris said, “Scott works brilliantly with all personality types both on and off the air and enjoys a deep respect from all his team members. He has been an integral part of the show’s most recent record-breaking success, and so this promotion is richly deserved.”

Menz wraps up his duties with The Big Breakfast at the end of the year and the recruitment for his replacement begins immediately.

But Wednesday night, Brooklyn Ross popped up on the small screen, looking for a date on Network Ten’s Blind Date, reports Daily Mail Australia’s Alisha Buaya.

Brooklyn explained he was looking for a man who he can have fun with, that he didn’t mind someone with long hair and was hoping to date someone “exotic” and not Caucasian like him.

His nerves appeared to dissipate as soon as he got into the seat and began asking his three handsome suitors questions about themselves.

The 30-year-old told host Julia Morris he was ready to settle down and have kids.

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The Bulldogs players were charged after being photographed nude at the Harbour View Hotel at the Rocks during the traditional end-of-season bonding night. The incident has been a costly one for the club and the players involved. The NRL suspended half of its $250,000 fine of the Bulldogs, although the full amount will be deducted if the club breaches the governing body’s code of conduct over the next 24 months.

Fine’s high-profile lawyer Elias Tabchouri said his client was likely to plead guilty but blasted the “prying eyes” of the media for his predicament.

“This shouldn’t be before the courts,” Tabchouri told Fairfax Media. “These guys don’t drink all year. They have one day of the year to do this. It is done in the private confines of an organised function by the club. Then these people come intrusively with telescopic lenses to invade that privacy and somehow judge them for conduct in a circumstance where these guys are not aware they are being watched.”

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Health groups are calling on the league to junk the promotion of the unhealthy foods that clubs would prevent their players eating and drinking.

The review of the 2017 Grand Final telecast found fast food marketing and promotions appeared 452 times, or 36 minutes of advertising.

Obesity Policy Coalition executive manager Jane Martin said more than 322,000 viewers under 15 were bombarded by junk food and soft drink marketing that would be outlawed on children’s programs.

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