Monday October 22, 2018

Nine Entertainment Co’s Hugh Marks on Fairfax merger plans & Nine audience growth

At the Nine 2019 Upfront last week, Nine CEO Hugh Marks spoke on Mediaweek’s Your Money segment.

Don’t miss the leaders of the Australian media sector every week on the new Your Money channel at 2.30pm Thursdays.

“We have a good message that we have had a good year and we will have an even better year next year. We have had consistency,” said Marks.

“The one thing about media at the moment is that it is changing at a rapid pace. As a business we need to keep innovating to stay ahead of the game.”

Here are the highlights from our discussion:

What are you telling the market about the Nine-Fairfax merger?

It is still subject to ACCC process and the shareholder vote, which will come over the next couple of months.

It is a great opportunity now to tell advertisers what the new business will look like and what it means for you.

How concerned have you been about share price movements?

It is a little frustrating. I feel it as much as anybody does. I would love the share price be higher. That is my job – to increase shareholder value. We still have to be focused on what is the business, where we believe we can build real long-term value and what are the things we need to do there. We need to be consistent with that strategy because if you bounce around too much all the time you can’t get those results. Long-term strategic plans are so important.

You seem to be getting lots of advice about the merger.

Advice is useful and I listen to everything I get told. The best thing I can do is listen and absorb what I think is useful and [disregard] what is not. At the same time stick to my plan and make sure the team is making the right decisions. We talk a lot internally and I certainly take a lot of advice from my senior team, who are really excellent.

Nine TV schedule largely unchanged for 2019.

That is a good sign. We have made a lot of gains across this year which means we can go into next year with a stable schedule that we can build on. We have more local content that will deliver better audience results and better results for marketers, which is what today is all about.

One of your announcements today was Nine’s new do-it-yourself advertising service.

[Companies like Google and Facebook] are very good on the technology side and we had to step up our game. We are good at content and have got better over the past few years. Next year we will be even better again. We have to innovate to make it easier to deal with Nine to provide the certainty that when you buy Nine to get ratings, you actually get those ratings. All of those things are so important in the modern landscape.

Is there a big market of potential smaller advertisers you are perhaps not tapping yet?

We are about making it easier for all clients. If we can make the process of booking advertising easier, then it decreases the cost of actually doing it. Is there a big market we are not tapping? I don’t know. That remains to be seen. But opening up Nine to a broader range of clients can only be a good thing.

You have been patient with a new franchise like Family Food Fight that didn’t have a spectacular first season.

That is fair comment. In past years we may not have gone for a series 2. We looked at the show and what we thought was good about it and what we could improve. We made some pretty simple changes to the format. The concept of bringing family recipes to television was always appealing. In this day and age, if you have something that works and you feel it can be made better, then you are better reinvesting in it than chopping and changing [programming] too quickly.

What is the attraction of bringing back SeaChange?

It offers at its core what is still a very contemporary issue – making the escape to a quiet life. There are other shows we are also looking at. Drama will make a resurgence in the next few years and it is certainly working very well on the on-demand platforms like 9Now.

For a lot of viewers SeaChange will be a new product and we are very excited to bring it back.

Has your growing multiplatform audience been building revenues as quickly?

Revenue is lagging with the growth in audience a bit. In the first quarter 9Now was up over 60% in terms of audience, revenue was up 50%+ and it is an area that continues to grow quickly for us. It is a really important complement to our linear FTA business.

The digital publishing business is also growing – we have more platforms and more brands.

How much will you integrate the Fairfax brands into the existing Nine digital publishing platform?

All those [Fairfax] brands stand well with their own reputation and own audience. That diversity is important to what our business will look like in the future. You can reach different audiences with different brands on different platforms. There have been 150 years of investment in the Fairfax brands and we will be doing our best to reinvest and grow those brands.

ACRAS 2018 – Kyle and Jackie O win at Radio Awards

Kyle and Jackie O win again as The Kyle and Jackie O Show, KIIS 1065’s breakfast program, has won the Best On-Air Team (Metro FM) category, at the 30th Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs), announced Saturday evening at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson, who have previously won the award in 2006, 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2015, have won for the second time since joining the Australian Radio Network’s KIIS in 2014. Neither presenter was at the event, with ARN’s Duncan Campbell accepting on their behalf.

For the second consecutive year, Best On-Air Team (Metro AM), was won by the Continuous Call Team (Ray Hadley, Bob Fulton, Darryl Brohman, Erin Molan, Mark Riddell, Chris Warren & Mark Levy), 2GB, Sydney, Macquarie Media Limited.

Kate Ritchie, part of the national Nova drive team since 2014 with Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold, won Best Entertainment Presenter. The successful national drive show, Kate, Tim and Marty took out both Best Networked Program and Best Syndicated Program.

Ben Fordham, 2GB’s drive time host, won the Best Talk Presenter for the fourth time and was also awarded the prestigious Brian White Award for Radio Journalism. Best Current Affairs presenter was won by 3AW morning presenter Neil Mitchell bringing his ACRA award winning total to 21.

Grant Denyer, a member of the 2DayFM Breakfast with Grant and Ed show (SCA) started on radio in Sydney this year and won Best Newcomer On Air. Best Music Presenter was won by smoothfm presenter Melissa Doyle.

BEST NEWCOMER ON-AIR Grant Denyer; 2Day FM, Sydney NSW, Southern Cross Austereo Metropolitan at ACRA’s 2018

New podcast categories were introduced this year to celebrate the best commercially produced podcasts in Australia by commercial radio networks and their partners and in recognition of commercial radio’s leading role in driving investment and growth across the sector.

The awards Winner of the Best Radio Show Podcast was Chrissie, Sam & Browny – Chrissie Swan, Sam Pang & Jonathan Brown (Nova Entertainment). Best Original Podcast was won by Mum Says My Memoir is a Lie – Rosie Waterland (PodcastOne SCA) and Best Original Podcast Branded was won by Modern Babies from Genea and the Nova Entertainment Podcast Team.

Winners of other major awards were:
Best Newsreader FM – Ron Wilson (smoothfm)
Best Newsreader AM – Erin Maher (2GB)
Best Sports Presenter – Isa Guha, Triple M, Melbourne

Melbourne radio legend Lee Simon was inducted into the Hall of Fame recognising his outstanding lifetime achievement and contribution to the radio. Simon, who recently announced his retirement from Triple M after 47 years in the industry, started his radio career at 3AW in 1971. He was part of the launch of EON FM in 1980 as both an on air presenter and program director. The station went on to become Triple M and Simon was responsible for launching AFL on FM in 1995. Simon has been part of Triple M’s AFL coverage ever since, until his final day on AFL Grand Final day this year.

Entries were received from 260 metropolitan and regional radio stations across Australia. Stations outside the metropolitan areas are well represented at the ACRAs with more than 200 finalists from country and provincial stations.

Organised by Commercial Radio Australia, the 96 national Awards cover 37 categories. Winners are announced in each category across four areas: metropolitan, provincial, country and Syndication/Production Company and encompass all areas of commercial radio broadcasting including news, talk, sport, music and entertainment. The ACRAs are peer judged by industry members.

WINNERS FOR 2018 AUSTRALIAN COMMERCIAL RADIO AWARDS (ACRAs)

Please note: Category Finalists are denoted with the following letters:
Country>Provincial>Non-Metropolitan>Metropolitan>Syndication/Production Company

 BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO FM
The Kyle & Jackie O Show; Kyle Sandilands & Jackie Henderson, KIIS 106.5, Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network M        

BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO AM
Ray Hadley’s Continuous Call Team; Ray Hadley, Bob Fulton, Erin Molan, Darryl Brohman, Mark Riddell, Mark Levy & Chris Warren, 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M

BEST ON-AIR TEAM COUNTRY & PROVINCIAL
Brekkie with Courtney & Lippi; Matt Lipiarski & Courtney McIntyre, Mixx FM, Hamilton VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
Rabbit & Julie Goodwin; Dave Rabbetts & Julie Goodwin, Star 104.5, Gosford NSW, NOVA Entertainment P

BEST ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTER
Michael Moffett; Triple M, Coffs Harbour NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C
Tanya Hennessy; hit104.7, Canberra ACT, ARN/SCA P
Kate Ritchie; Nova Network, NOVA Entertainment M        

BEST TALK PRESENTER
Sarah Boorer; 2BS Gold, Bathurst NSW, Bathurst Broadcasters C
Brian Carlton; LAFM, Launceston TAS, Grant Broadcasters P
Ben Fordham; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PRESENTER
Katie Woolf; Mix 104.9, Darwin NT, Grant Broadcasters NM
Neil Mitchell; 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Macquarie Media Limited M

BEST SYNDICATED AUSTRALIAN PROGRAM
Kate, Tim & Marty; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell, Marty Sheargold & The Nova Entertainment Syndication Team, NOVA Entertainment     

BEST SPORTS PRESENTER
Martin Agatyn; 7AD, Devonport TAS, Grant Broadcasters C
Tom King; K rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters P
Isa Guha; Triple M, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST NETWORKED PROGRAM
The Morning Rush; Jon Vertigan & Kate Meade, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
Australia by Night with Stephen Cenatiempo; Stephen Cenatiempo, Triple M regional network, Southern Cross Austereo P
Kate, Tim & Marty; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell & Marty Sheargold, NOVA Entertainment        M

BEST MUSIC PRESENTER
Bryce Ruthven; Edge FM, Deniliquin NSW, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
Josh Olek; K rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters P
Melissa Doyle; smoothfm, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment M

BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Triple M’s Give Me 5 For Kids; Southern Cross Austereo Marketing, Regional Triple M Network, Southern Cross Austereo NM
KIIS1065 & Kyle & Jackie O; ARN Marketing & KIIS1065 Content Team, Australian Radio Network M

ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE
Voyager2.0: API powered asset management; Phil Elzerman, Dan Jackson & Cameron St. Clair, Triple M, Sydney NSW, Southern Cross Austereo        

BRIAN WHITE AWARD FOR RADIO JOURNALISM
Katie Woolf; Mix 104.9, Darwin NT, Grant Broadcasters NM
Ben Fordham; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M

BEST NEWCOMER ON-AIR
Paris Humphrey; OneFM, Tamworth NSW, Super Radio Network C
Christie Hayes; i98FM, Wollongong NSW, WIN Network P
Grant Denyer; 2Day FM, Sydney NSW, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE
2018 Grand Final Call; Ben Casanelia & Tom King, K rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters NM
The 2017 AFL Grand Final; Triple M Football, Triple M, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST NEWS PRESENTER COUNTRY & PROVINCIAL
Lance White; 3CS & Mixx FM, Colac VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
Caitlin Unger; Star 104.5, Gosford NSW, NOVA Entertainment P

BEST NEWS PRESENTER – METRO FM
Ron Wilson; smoothfm, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment M

BEST NEWS PRESENTER – METRO AM
Erin Maher; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M

BEST DIGITAL RADIO FORMAT
Coles Radio; Coles Radio Team, NOVA Entertainment

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMEDY SEGMENT
Parenting the Teenagers Maiden; Jon Vertigan, 3YB, Warrnambool VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
First World Problems; Nick Gill, Jess Farchione, Simon Baggs, Ashleigh Smith & Mark Brewer, hit106.9, Newcastle NSW Southern Cross Austereo P
Sam Pang joins smoothfm; Chrissie Swan, Sam Pang, Jonathan Brown & Dean Thomas, Nova 100, Melbourne VIC, NOVA Entertainment M

BEST SHOW PRODUCER – ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC
Nicole Levey; Tanya & Steve, KOFM, Newcastle NSW, Southern Cross Austereo NM
Sacha French; The Hughesy & Kate Show, Hit Network, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST SHOW PRODUCER – TALK/CURRENT AFFAIRS
Eddie Williams; 2CC Breakfast with Tim Shaw, 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network NM
Paul Christenson; The Alan Jones Show, 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M

BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR
Mike Ormond-Birch; Sea FM, Devonport TAS, Grant Broadcasters C
Trent Towson; Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P
Jack Ball; hit105, Brisbane QLD, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR
Molly Perrett; bay 93.9 & K rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters NM
Andy Procopis; KIIS & GOLD Networks; Australian Radio Network M

BEST PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Angela Frino; 2QN & Edge FM, Deniliquin NSW, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
James Speed; K Rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters P
Adrian Brine; FOX FM, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Everybody’s Sister Connie Johnson; Kristen Henry, Mix 106.3, Canberra ACT, ARN/SCA NM
Danny Frawley with Hamish McLachlan; Hamish McLachlan & Danny Frawley, SEN 1116, Melbourne VIC, Pacific Star Network M

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
Andrew Andrews; Real FM, Mudgee NSW, Super Radio Network C
Matthew Fulton; Hot Tomato, Gold Coast QLD, Hot Tomato P
Jerimiah Busniak; Hit Network, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST MUSIC SPECIAL
Zoo FM turns 21; Melanni Heldon, Zoo FM, Dubbo NSW, Super Radio Network C
A-Z of Forever Classics; Peter Davidson & Marc McCreadie, 2CA, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network P
Paul McCartney ONE-ON-ONE with Amanda Keller; WSFM Content, Campaigns & Activations & Amanda Keller, WSFM, Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network M
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours; Barry Bissell, Jeff Jenkins & Andy Wells, Andy Wells Media S/P

BEST STATION SALES ACHIEVEMENT
4SB Sales; Kingaroy QLD, Resonate Regional Radio NM
1116 SEN Direct Sales Team; Melbourne VIC, Pacific Star Network M

BEST AGENCY SALESPERSON
Anne Sutherland; The Radio Sales Network, Melbourne VIC, Grant Broadcasters

BEST DIRECT SALESPERSON
Kristy Cooper; 2DU & Zoo FM, Dubbo NSW, Super Radio Network C
Mandy Mills; Sea FM & Gold FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P
Duncan Fosdike; hit107 & Triple M, Adelaide SA, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – SINGLE
Dela-Vee Hair Studio; Ray Adams, 3HA & Mixx FM, Hamilton VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
Music Box; Anna Cook, Star 104.5, Gosford NSW, NOVA Entertainment P
WAAPA Carousel; Aussie Moore, Mitch Mitchell & Carl Step, Mix 94.5, Perth WA, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – CAMPAIGN
Wyong Family Practice – Bad Ink; Cameron Horn & David Horspool, Sea FM, Gosford NSW, Southern Cross Austereo NM
Pancake Parlour; Darren Collins & Chris Gates, FOX FM, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST SALES PROMOTION
Lucky $5 Note; Jeanette Loring, 7BU, Burnie TAS, Grant Broadcasters C
Block Your Street; KOFM Promotions Team, KOFM, Newcastle NSW, Southern Cross Austereo P
Tradie-oke; Fifi Box, Brendan Fevola & Byron Cooke, FOX FM, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST MULTIMEDIA EXECUTION – SALES
Mixx FM & Coles Colac Store Opening Promotion; Nick Hay & Anne Sutherland, Mixx FM, Colac VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters NM
Quit with Haydo The Studio Adelaide; Triple M, Adelaide SA, Southern Cross Austereo
Kyle and Jackie O’s You Get A Car; KIIS 1065 Campaigns & Activations, Content, Integration and Sales, KIIS 106.5, Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network M

BEST MULTIMEDIA EXECUTION – STATION
The Danihers vs The All Stars AFL Legends Game; Leigh Ryan, Mandy Page, Triple M Riverina & Triple M Riverina MIA Production Team, Triple M Riverina & Triple M Riverina MIA, Wagga Wagga NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C
Hit104.7 Skyfire 30; Zak Davies, Ned Breward, Josh Torney, Matty Heap, Rod Cuddihy, Adam Jansen, Bethany Larsen, Taylor Hunt, Alexandra Carlon & Georgia Duck, hit104.7, Canberra ACT, ARN/SCA P
#Yes2Love; Tim Arnold, Julia Foskey, Madaline Edye & Eleni Paneras, The Hit Network, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST STATION PROMOTION
The Big Sherrin; Triple M Riverina MIA Promotions Team, Triple M The Riverina & Triple M Riverina MIA, Griffith NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C
Eviction Bus; Sea FM Team, Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P
Nova’s Red Room Global Tour 2017; Nova’s Red Room Project Team, Nova Network, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment M

BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT
Walking Tall; Matty Stewart & Matt Monk, Coast FM, Warrnambool VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
i98FM’s Illawarra Convoy; i98FM Convoy Team, i98FM, Wollongong NSW, WIN Network P
Radiothon; Katherine Tonkin, Peter Clay, Alex Martin, Polly-India Morcillo, Polly Goodchild & Vanessa Butcher, smoothfm, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment M

BEST NEWCOMER OFF-AIR
Alexandra Knock; 3YB & Coast FM, Warrnambool VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
Nat Penfold; The Edge, Western Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network P
Pedro Cuccovillo Vitola; KIIS 1065, Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network M

BEST ORIGINAL PODCAST – UNBRANDED
Mum Says My Memoir Is A Lie; Rosie Waterland, PodcastOne, Southern Cross Austereo      

BEST ORIGINAL PODCAST – BRANDED
Modern Babies; Genea & the Nova Entertainment Podcast Team, NOVA Entertainment

BEST RADIO SHOW PODCAST
Chrissie, Sam & Browny; Chrissie Swan, Sam Pang & Jonathan Brown, NOVA Entertainment

ACRAS 2017: Who won last year
Inside ACRAs 2017 with winners Smallzy, Erin Molan & Georgina Ingham-Myers
Hosts again for the 2017 ACRAs were The Chaser’s Andrew Hansen and Chris Taylor.

ACRAs 2017: Ray Hadley’s (almost) unedited Hall of Fame acceptance speech
“After 19 years at 2UE I left. I didn’t actually leave, I was sacked.”

ACRAs 2017: Amanda Keller’s Hall of Fame acceptance speech
“Have I just carked it?”

Stan releases first look at Jackie Weaver/Bryan Brown drama Bloom

As production wraps in Victoria on Stan’s new six-part drama Bloom, the streaming platform has released first look images from the shoot.

One year after a devastating flood kills five locals in an idyllic country town, a mysterious new plant appears with the power to restore their youth.

To be released this summer, the series is being made for Stan by Playmaker.

Two-time Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook, Animal Kingdom) plays Gwen, a previously successful actress now suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Bryan Brown (The Light Between Oceans, Red Dog: True Blue, Sweet Country) plays Ray, Gwen’s husband. Loving, gentle and intelligent, Ray has been forced to move his wife into a care facility due to her worsening Alzheimer’s. He is heartbroken that she no longer remembers him and he’ll do whatever he can to support her and keep her alive.

The other key cast includes Phoebe Tonkin (The Originals, Safe Harbour, The Vampire Diaries, The Affair), Ryan Corr (Holding The Man, Hacksaw Ridge), Daniel Henshall (Okja, The Babadook, Snowtown), Sam Reid (‘71, Prime Suspect 1973, The Railway Man), Genevieve Morris (No Activity, That’s Not My Dog!), Anne Charleston (Neighbours, Emmerdale, Prisoner Cell Block H), Terry Norris (Jack Irish, The Dressmaker, Killing Time), Amali Golden (The Other Guy), Nicki Sheils (The Eye of the Storm, Neighbours), Tessa Rose (Glitch, Cleverman), John Stanton (Dr Blake Mysteries, Beneath Hill 60) and Rod Mullinar (Reef Doctors, Dead Calm).

Creator, writer and executive producer Glen Dolman first received critical acclaim for Hawke and has since gone on to work in the US (High Life and the forthcoming The Ark And The Ardvaark).

Director John Curran most recently directed Chappaquiddick with other key credits including Tracks, The Killer Inside Me, The Painted Veil.

Bloom has been produced by Sue Seeary (Love Child, House Husbands and most recently Bite Club), the series is executive produced by Dolman alongside Stan’s Rob Gibson and Nick Forward (Romper Stomper, No Activity, Wolf Creek, The Other Guy) and Playmaker’s David Maher and David Taylor (Bite Club, The Wrong Girl, Love Child and forthcoming Reckoning) and shot by AACTA-winning cinematographer Geoff Hall (Wolf Creek, Red Dog, Chopper). Mat King (Pine Gap, Doctor Who, Law & Order UK) directs the final episodes of the series.

 Bloom sneak peak:

Screen Australia announces $2.7 million for 14 projects

Screen Australia has announced production funding for 14 documentary projects through the documentary producer and commissioned programs.

Screen Australia has announced production funding for 14 documentary projects through the documentary producer and commissioned programs.

 This latest slate includes Revelation, a three-part series commissioned by the ABC, where award-winning journalist Sarah Ferguson investigates the forces behind child abuse inside the Catholic Church and the extraordinary cover-up that took place, a feature documentary that tells the story of iconic indigenous performing arts company Bangarra called Firestarter – The Story of Bangarra and an online series called States of Consent that focuses on a victim of sexual assault trying to get justice against all odds.

Screen Australia head of content Sally Caplan said, “Documentary continually works as a platform to amplify marginalised voices and ideas, and there is a variety of stories in this slate from multicultural, transgender and indigenous perspectives that will enrich and enlighten viewers.

“The documentary art form allows us to unravel and explore complex and often challenging topics, and these projects take on some difficult and topical subject matter including death, abuse and consent. These are important Australian stories that will be recorded as part of our shared national history.”

In total $1.3 million was allocated through the Producer program, and $1.4 million through the Commissioned program.

For the full list of documentary projects read here.

Top 10 Game Charts: Black Ops 4 captures top spot

Call of Duty has been the biggest franchise in gaming for many years now, so it’s no surprise to see the latest in the series – Black Ops 4 – debut at number one on the retail charts.

By Cam Shea editor in chief, IGN Australia

This year’s instalment does things a little differently, eschewing a traditional story-driven single player campaign in favour of introducing Blackout mode, Call of Duty’s take on the battle royale genre popularised by PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and Fortnite.

It’s a smart decision, and has been well-received critically. Rounding out the package, Zombies mode returns, with intricate new maps, key gameplay tweaks and intense core action, while the multiplayer suite is slightly more of a mixed bag.

Making room for Black Ops 4, last week’s top three games have all moved down a spot, while other recent releases – Spider-Man, WWE 2K19, Forza Horizon 4 and NBA 2K19 – are also still represented.

ARIA Charts: Paul Kelly’s Nature biggest hit of three Aussie albums

• Singles: With George Ezra again #1, Halsey only top 10 newcomer
• Albums: Paul Kelly’s Nature biggest hit of three new Aussie albums

By James Manning

Singles

Not a lot of movement near the top of the chart again this week.

George Ezra keeps top spot for a fifth consecutive week after 14 weeks on the chart.

The only new arrival in the top 10 was Halsey with her track Without Me climbing from #11 to #10. Making way for her arrival was Jonas Blue with Rise down from #10 to #13.

This week’s highest new entry was Zeze from Kodak Black featuring Travis Scott and Offset.

There were two other songs new to the top 50:

#23 Woman Like Me from Little Mix featuring Nicki Minaj. With a new album due next month, this is the first time in the chart for the British girl group since 2017. Jess Glynne composed the song with Ed Sheeran and producer Steve Mac, but it didn’t make her album and the song was offered to Little Mix.

#40 Mia from Bad Bunny featuring Drake. First time on the chart for the Puerto Rico rapper in his own right. He previously charted in July this year performing on Cardi B’s I Like It.

Albums

Another Aussie #1 album this week with Paul Kelly going straight to the top with his 24th album Nature. Surprisingly he has had just two #1 albums, this and his former release, Life Is Fine, in August last year.

This is the 10th Australian album to make it to #1 in 2018.

The two other new entries to the top 10 this week are also Aussie artists:

#4 Anon. with Hands Like Houses. The fourth album from the Canberra rock band gives them a new chart peak after their 2016 album Dissonants got to #7.

#5 Morgan Evans with Things That We Drink To. The second album from Australian country singer-songwriter after his self-titled debut album Morgan Evans peaked at #20 in 2014.

#8: Powderfinger returns to the top 10 with Internationalist following the album’s reissue. The former #1 album has now charted for a total of 121 weeks and it earned the band four ARIA Awards in 1999.

Three other albums made the top 50 on debut:

#16 Quavo with Quavo Huncho. First solo album from the US rapper.
#18 Jess Glynne with Always In Between. The English singer-songwriter’s second album features a track written by Ed SheeranThursday.
#19 A second British singer-songwriter Ella Mai with her self-titled debut album enters the chart just one place behind Glynne.

TV Ratings Analysis: Week 42 and October 21

Nine has won the week in both primary channel share (19.8%) and combined channel share (28.9%). The result was Nine’s fifth weekly combined all-people share win of the year.

By James Manning

Week 42 Ratings review: Nine’s winning week

Seven has won all the other weeks of the year.

Nine: Best of the week was The Block from Sunday October 14 with 1.15m followed by Tuesday and Monday episodes, which were also over 1m.

Seven: The channel had its lowest primary channel share since the last week of August. Seven News Sunday from October 14 had the biggest audience for the channel with 1.02m. After the news, the channel’s next best was All Together Now also from October 14 with 746,000.

TEN: After last week’s improved share, the numbers dropped back to TEN’s lowest since the first week of August. The biggest audience was 769,000 for last Monday’s Have You Been Paying Attention?. Gogglebox was not far behind on 729,000.

ABC: The primary channel had its best survey week share of the year – 13.4%. The channel’s best was 831,000 watching the Saturday night ABC News for information about the Wentworth by-election. Hard Quiz also had a good week with 707,000.

SBS: Channel share was back above 5% for the first time since August. The channel’s best audience was 299,000 watching a repeat of Michael Portillo’s Abandoned Britain.

Week 43 Sunday

• Nine has started the sixth-last week of survey for 2018 in top spot after winning week 42. Nine has won every Sunday since the launch of The Block 12 weeks ago.
• The Block starts its final few episodes with final rooms reveal
• 60 Minutes had one of biggest audiences for Thurston interview
• New All Together Now and Game Of Games continue to slide

Seven

All Together Now did 675,000, down from 746,000 last week after launching with 813,000 the week before.

Sunday Night then did 456,000 after 571,000 a week ago. The episode featured Matt Doran drinking and fishing with Charlie Sheen head of Sheen’s Australian tour.

Nine

The penultimate Sunday of The Block saw the final areas of the challenge apartment delivered, which marks the end of the work from the judges this season. They had some fun too with the last few spaces – particularly Neale Whitaker, who imagined a dead clown in one of the rooms. There were also a few tears from the Blockheads after 12 weeks of hard work. Tonight is an episode about the open for inspection weekend ahead of the auction final episode next weekend.

The Sunday episode of The Block did 1.19m after 1.15m last week.

60 Minutes then had one of its biggest episodes of the year with 882,000 tuning in for the Johnathan Thurston interview.

TEN

Sunday night episodes of The Project are now the place for superstar interviews conducted by Lisa Wilkinson and last night she was with David Beckham, who is visiting Sydney. The show also had Dr Kerryn Phelps in the studio. No Honey Badger this week for a change. The episode did 370,000 – down on both the previous weeks that did feature the unable-to-commit star of The Bachelor.

Game Of Games then did 325,000 after its previous outings on 416,000 and 536,000.

New NCIS then did 307,000.

ABC

The first episode of Invictus Games Today launched very well at 7.40pm on 675,000 with the first episode featuring an interview with Prince Harry.

The second week of Pine Gap followed. After a double episode launched with 581,000 a week ago, the third episode had a smaller audience of 433,000.

SBS

The channel’s best was the Cairo episode of Ancient Invisible Cities, which did 246,000.

Trump’s Showdown then did 204,000.

 

Week 42-43 TV: Friday-Sunday
FRIDAY METRO
ABCSevenNineTenSBS
ABC13.2%719.9%916.3%TEN12.3%SBS One5.6%
ABC 23.0%7TWO3.2%GO!3.4%ONE3.9%VICELAND1.6%
ABC ME0.7%7mate2.8%GEM3.1%ELEVEN2.5%Food Net1.0%
ABC NEWS2.1%7flix2.6%9Life2.4%  NITV0.5%
TOTAL18.9% 28.5% 25.1% 18.7% 8.7%
SATURDAY METRO
ABCSevenNineTenSBS
ABC18.5%718.5%915.3%TEN4.9%SBS One4.5%
ABC 23.4%7TWO3.0%GO!5.2%ONE2.3%VICELAND1.2%
ABC ME0.5%7mate3.7%GEM5.7%ELEVEN2.7%Food Net1.0%
ABC NEWS4.9%7flix1.9%9Life2.5%  NITV0.3%
TOTAL27.3% 27.1% 28.7% 9.9% 6.9%
SUNDAY METRO
ABCSevenNineTenSBS
ABC12.5%718.7%925.5%TEN8.8%SBS One5.1%
ABC 22.8%7TWO4.4%GO!2.8%ONE1.8%VICELAND1.2%
ABC ME0.7%7mate3.6%GEM3.3%ELEVEN1.5%Food Net0.9%
ABC NEWS1.7%7flix2.0%9Life2.5%  NITV0.1%
TOTAL17.7% 28.7% 34.1% 12.2% 7.3%
SUNDAY REGIONAL
ABCSeven AffiliatesNine AffiliatesTen AffiliatesSBS
ABC13.1%716.2%923.6%WIN7.9%SBS One4.5%
ABC 22.8%7TWO4.1%GO!4.8%ONE1.8%VICELAND1.4%
ABC ME1.0%7mate5.1%GEM5.9%ELEVEN0.8%Food Net1.1%
ABC NEWS1.3%7flix1.3%9Life2.4%Sky News  on WIN0.3%NITV0.3%
TOTAL18.2% 26.7 36.7% 10.8% 7.3%

 

SUNDAY METRO ALL TV
FTASTV
85.2%14.8%

 

All People Rankings

Friday Top 10

  1. Seven News Seven 773,000
  2. Nine News Nine 771,000
  3. Nine News 6:30 Nine 749,000
  4. Seven News / Today Tonight Seven 706,000
  5. A Current Affair Nine 574,000
  6. ABC News ABC 565,000
  7. Better Homes And Gardens Seven 522,000
  8. The Chase Australia Seven 472,000
  9. Gardening Australia ABC 464,000
  10. Father Brown (R) ABC 427,000

 

Saturday Top 10

  1. ABC News ABC 831,000
  2. Seven News Seven 699,000
  3. Nine News Saturday Nine 645,000
  4. Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Opening Ceremony ABC 606,000
  5. Pine Gap-Encore ABC 443,000
  6. M: Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban Seven 428,000
  7. Forrest Gump Nine 379,000
  8. You Can’t Ask That: Invictus Games ABC 375,000
  9. Getaway Nine 307,000
  10. Nine News: First At Five Nine 255,000
Sunday FTA
  1. The Block Nine 1,192,000
  2. Nine News Nine 966,000
  3. Seven News Seven 907,000
  4. 60 Minutes Nine 882,000
  5. ABC News Sunday ABC 747,000
  6. All Together Now – The 100 Seven 675,000
  7. Invictus Games Today ABC 478,000
  8. Sunday Night Seven 456,000
  9. Pine Gap ABC 433,000
  10. The Sunday Project 7pm Ten 370,000
  11. Insiders-AM ABC 333,000
  12. Game Of Games Ten 325,000
  13. Supercars Championship: Gold Coast 600 D2 Race 2 Ten 320,000
  14. Armed And Deadly Nine 311,000
  15. NCIS Ten 307,000
  16. Ten Eyewitness News Ten 289,000
  17. The Sunday Project 6.30pm Ten 277,000
  18. Vera (R) ABC 273,000
  19. Nine News: First At Five Nine 264,000
  20. Ancient Invisible Cities SBS 246,000
SUNDAY Multichannel
  1. Border Security – Australia’s Front Line-E3-PM 7TWO 176,000
  2. Border Security – Australia’s Front Line –E2 -PM 7TWO 172,000
  3. Border Security: International-E2 PM 7TWO 159,000
  4. Border Security – Australia’s Front Line-PM 7TWO 156,000
  5. Bluey-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 155,000
  6. The Big Bang Theory TX3 9GO! 155,000
  7. Border Patrol-PM 7TWO 154,000
  8. Insiders-AM ABC NEWS 145,000
  9. M- The A-Team-PM 7mate 142,000
  10. Peppa Pig-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 139,000
  11. Bananas In Pyjamas-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 135,000
  12. Border Security: International-PM (R) 7TWO 130,000
  13. Sarah And Duck-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 127,000
  14. Peppa Pig-PM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 126,000
  15. Midsomer Murders 9Gem 121,000
  16. The Big Bang Theory TX2 9GO! 118,000
  17. Border Security: International-PM 7TWO 117,000
  18. Play School-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 115,000
  19. Dot. ABCKIDS/COMEDY 114,000
  20. Kiddets-AM ABCKIDS/COMEDY 113,000
SUNDAY Subscription TV
  1. Live: Supercars Gold Coast FOX SPORTS 506 212,000
  2. Live: Supercars Live FOX SPORTS 506 164,000
  3. Live: Supercars Gold Coast FOX SPORTS 506 154,000
  4. Live: Supercars Gold Coast FOX SPORTS 506 135,000
  5. Live: Supercars Gold Coast Supports FOX SPORTS 506 132,000
  6. A Place To Call Home showcase 128,000
  7. Live: Supercars Live FOX SPORTS 506 118,000
  8. Live: Supercars Live FOX SPORTS 506 113,000
  9. Live: Supercars Gold Coast FOX SPORTS 506 110,000
  10. Live: Supercars Gold Coast Supports FOX SPORTS 506 104,000
  11. Live: Supercars Live FOX SPORTS 506 100,000
  12. Live: Supercars Live FOX SPORTS 506 86,000
  13. Live: Motorsport: F1: USA Qualifying FOX SPORTS 506 80,000
  14. Live: Football: A-League Perth V WSW FOX SPORTS 505 58,000
  15. Live: Supercars Gold Coast Supports FOX SPORTS 506 58,000
  16. Live: NBA After The Buzzer ESPN 56,000
  17. NCIS TVH!TS 55,000
  18. Live: Football: A-League Bris V C Coast FOX SPORTS 505 53,000
  19. Midway FOX Classics 46,000
  20. Outsiders Sky News Live 45,000

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

Perth’s Telethon 2018 raises record $38m, total to-date passes $300m

The people of Western Australia have raised a record breaking $38,000,554 for Telethon 2018. The total now raised since Telethon was launched in 1958 has now passed $300m.

In a highlight, Curtin University and the Telethon Kids institute announced the creation of the Kerry Stokes Chair in Child Health in recognition of Kerry Stokes’s contribution to the health and welfare of children in WA.

Telethon 2018 kicked off Saturday night to a sold-out audience at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. The marathon 26 hours of TV went live on Channel 7 Perth and across WA on GWN7 and was streamed nationally via the telethon7.com, thewest.com.au and perthnow.com.au website.

Ray Burgess and Casey Barnes were among the stars who entertained, plus Leo Sayer and Glenn Shorrock came from the Lexus Ball to give a surprise stellar performance. The Lexus Ball raised $1,700,000.

The team at Telethon and Channel 7 Perth led an army of more than 250 TV production crew, 600 entertainers and 1,000 volunteers to make this year’s Telethon weekend the most successful ever.

A huge lineup of 7 Network personalities flew in from around Australia including David Koch, Mark Beretta from Sunrise; Lynne McGranger, James Stewart, Rohan Nichol, Patrick O’Connor, Sarah Roberts, Lukas Radovich, Sophie Dillman, Anna Cocquerel and Sam Frost from Home And Away; Wendy Moore, Carolyn Burns-McCrave and Perth finalists Chiara and David from House Rules; Issa Schultz, Matt Parkinson and Brydon Coverdale from The Chase Australia; Sam Lane, Sam McClure, Mel McLaughlin and Nathan Templeton from Seven Sport; Karen Ledbury and Larry Emdur from The Morning Show and Tom Williams from The Daily Edition; Perth teams Stella & Jazzey and Marco & Davide from MKR; Peter Ford, Seven Entertainment Reporter; Greg Gould and Silvie Paladino from All Together Now; Adam Dovile from Better Homes and Gardens; Andrew Denton from Interview and Perth’s own Joel Creasey from Take Me Out.

They were joined by 7 Perth stars – Rick Ardon, Susannah Carr, Basil Zempilas, Sam Jolly, Matt Tinney, Ryan Daniels, Angela Tsun and Adrian Barich, plus many more from 7 News as well as Today Tonight’s Monika Kos, Mark Gibson, Graeme Butler, Mark Readings and Syan Dougherty, plus many of Perth’s radio personalities from Mix 94.5, hit 92.9, 96fm, 6PR and 6iX.

Seven and News Corp explore co-productions and marketing initiatives

Seven West Media and News Corp are exploring a number of strategic tie-ups, including co-productions and marketing initiatives, which would see the pair’s media portfolios work more closely without a corporate transaction, reports The AFR’s Max Mason.

Seven will hold its annual upfronts on Friday, where it will outline its content and strategy for the year ahead. However, talks with News Corp are believed to be in their early stages and there are no expectations of tie-ups being announced Friday.

[Read the original]

ABC board refuses to answer minister Fifield on independence

A new row has erupted between the ABC and the government over an investigation into allegations raised by sacked managing director Michelle Guthrie as the national broadcaster prepares to face a hostile grilling at Senate estimates, reports The Australian’s Stephen Brook.

ABC acting chair Kirstin Ferguson has refused a request from Communications Minister Mitch Fifield to reveal the scope or time frames of an investigation into problems Guthrie raised with the organisation’s board the day before she was sacked.

As the ABC’s acting managing director David Anderson prepares to front a tense Senate estimates committee on Tuesday, he will be flanked by ABC editorial director Alan Sunderland, who plans to retire next year, and ABC finance and strategy chief Louise Higgins.

In contrast to the ABC, public broadcaster SBS smoothly appointed acting managing director James Taylor as its permanent managing director last week, which was greeted by cheers and applause when announced to staff inside the broadcaster’s atrium at its Sydney headquarters.

Taylor will attend his first estimates hearing as boss, accompanied by SBS director of corporate affairs Claire O’Neill.

[Read the original]

News Brands

Fairfax defends Ben Roberts-Smith defamation claim ahead of hearing

Fairfax Media says it did not defame Australia’s most decorated soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, in a series of reports questioning the actions of Australian special forces soldiers during the war in Afghanistan, reports Fairfax Media’s Michaela Whitbourn.

But if the Federal Court accepts he has been defamed, Fairfax says it can prove the truth of a series of allegations he claims the publisher made against him, including claims of war crimes and domestic violence.

Roberts-Smith – one of four living recipients of the Victoria Cross, Australia’s highest military honour – is suing Fairfax Media in the Federal Court over a series of articles published in June this year in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times.

He claims the articles defame him in a number of respects, including by painting him as a war criminal who broke the moral and legal rules of military engagement.

In a written defence to his claim, filed in the Federal Court and released publicly on Friday, Fairfax says the articles do not convey the defamatory imputations pleaded by Roberts-Smith and that he is not identifiable in some of the articles.

The articles were written by journalists Nick McKenzie, Chris Masters and David Wroe, who are being pursued by Roberts-Smith alongside Fairfax.

Roberts-Smith has strenuously denied the allegations and said the defence filed by Fairfax “goes well beyond what was actually written in its original stories” and “adds damaging new claims, clearly intended for media consumption, that are demonstrably different from what was originally alleged in its original publication”.

[Read the original]

Publishing

Bauer bullish on magazines, profits and life after Cosmopolitan closure

Bauer Media remains profitable and committed to its Australian operation despite a string of magazine closures topped off by the demise of Cosmopolitan, says its local chief executive, reports The Australian’s Lilly Vitorovich.

“They think it’s a great place to be,” Paul Dykzeul says of the family-managed, Hamburg-based company. “I have never had one indication from them that Australia is not part of their long-term thinking.

“I’ve been involved with the business for the last 12 years, and it’s never not been profitable,” he said. “This perception that somehow Bauer is an unprofitable business is laughable beyond belief. It’s a very profitable business and remains a very profitable business. Most of the rubbish that’s written about us is written in the online space. Who cares? No one reads it. It’s irrelevant. Don’t mean anything to me.”

[Read the original]

Television

Nine’s Lego Masters goes into production: $100,000 to the winner

Production has commenced in Melbourne on Nine’s new family entertainment series Lego Masters.

In the show, hosted by Hamish Blake, eight pairs will undertake different Lego challenges to win the ultimate prize of $100,000. Their design and engineering skills will be tested, as well as their storytelling ability. The contestants will have 2.5 million Lego bricks at their fingertips.

Blake will be joined on Lego Masters by judge and resident Lego expert Ryan “The Brickman” McNaught. He is one of only 14 Lego-certified professionals in the world and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere.

Michael Healy, director of television for Nine, said: “We are very excited about Lego Masters. It will redefine family entertainment in 2019 because there’s no greater brand that resonates more with families than Lego.”

Lego Masters comes from producers Endemol Shine Australia, who produced Australian Ninja Warrior, MasterChef and Married at First Sight. The show will premiere on Nine in 2019.

TV buyers descend on Mipcom: drama, unscripted and streaming deals

Despite the perception that Netflix has rewritten the rulebook on television distribution, the great disruptor was reduced to just another face in the crowd last week as annual TV show market Mipcom turned up the heat in Cannes, France, reports Fairfax Media’s Michael Idato.

Australia’s programmers walked away with a swag of content including a remake of The War of the Worlds (from ITV, heading to Foxtel), a new drama titled The Gulf (Nine), the spy thriller The Little Drummer Girl (Foxtel) and the Apollo 11 documentary series Chasing the Moon (SBS).

The biggest noisemaker in that space was ITV’s Love Island, with a planeload of contestants from various iterations of the show (including Josh Moss and Amelia Marni from Love Island Australia) making an appearance at the event. ITV has the show sold to 65 countries and no fewer than eight versions of the show on-air.

The other two key unscripted titles were Fremantle’s The Greatest Dancer, in which ordinary people perform dance auditions behind a screen (think of it as the TV version of the line “dance like nobody’s watching”) and Warner Bros’ The Big Audition, which secretly films professional acting and musical theatre auditions.

It was also announced that Australia (and New Zealand) are to get not one but two new streaming services: the AMC Networks-owned horror/thriller service Shudder and art cinema platform Sundance Now, which will have original drama, true crime, foreign language cinema and documentary content.

[Read the original]

Outlaw Rebecca Gibney on the crime capers in Wanted season three

When Wanted began in 2016 the characters of Lola Buckley (Rebecca Gibney) and Chelsea Babbage (Geraldine Hakewill) were thrown together as two virtuous strangers in the middle of a crime caper, reports TV Tonight.

By season three much has transpired pushing the two their limits.

“Season three is about becoming outlaws and embracing that and deciding they’re not going back. They’re not going back to the lives they thought they wanted. Big time,” Rebecca Gibney explains.

“There’s no turning back because of the things they do in season three. Unless it becomes Orange is the New Black meets Wentworth. But that’s not going to happen. Wentworth has done incredibly well so we’re not going to try to compete with that!”

Gibney is co-creator and executive producer of the Seven series her company R&R Productions produced with Matchbox Pictures. In just two seasons the series has filmed in Sydney, rural Queensland, Thailand and New Zealand, but season three shifts to South Australia.

[Read the original]

Sports Media

Crocmedia launches Summer of Cricket at the home of cricket

Crocmedia launched its 2018/19 Summer of Cricket at the MCG last week with a lineup of some of the best names in the sport.

Acclaimed broadcaster and chief sports caller Gerard Whateley will lead the ball-by-ball action alongside former players Damien Fleming, Simon Katich, Mel Jones, Lisa Sthalekar, Ryan Harris, Doug Bollinger and Aakash Chopra.

Commentators Anthony Hudson, Liam Pickering and Jack Heverin round out the broadcast team.

Crocmedia is the exclusive provider of Big Bash radio coverage for the next six years, with all BBL matches broadcast into four capital cities and across regional Australia.

BBL fans can tune in to all 59 matches via Big Bash Nation, which will be syndicated to partner radio stations across the country including 1116 SEN in Melbourne, Macquarie Sports Radio Sydney 954 AM, Melbourne 1278 AM, Brisbane 882 AM and DAB+ Perth.

Read more at mediaweek.com.au

Broadcasters hire 45 cricket broadcasters, but no role for Michael Clarke

Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has been dropped by the one Australian television company he still had a relationship with, Channel 9, his media employer since 2014 when the then-injured Australian cricket captain was recruited by Nine as a guest commentator for its coverage of the third Test, reports News Corp’s Annette Sharp.

Since securing the rights in April, executives at Fox Sports and Seven have been frantically working the phones to recruit 45 – yes, that number again, 45 – expert cricket commentators for the forthcoming summer season.

Despite the extraordinary size of their commentary teams – Fox has 30 commentators, Seven has 15 – neither has offered a microphone to Clarke.

Nine meanwhile has retained veterans Bill Lawry, Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor for future cricket coverage and dropped Clarke, Mark Nicholas and Michael Slater, who was picked up by Seven.

Radio networks Macquarie, ABC and Melbourne’s SEN have all also given Clarke a wide berth.

[Read the original]

New sponsor: Racing.com jockeys for position in tough market

Horse racing broadcaster Racing.com is making a pitch to advertisers outside its traditional base of betting companies, as the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival arrives at the pointy end, reports The Australian’s John Stensholt.

Racing.com, a joint venture between Seven West Media, Racing Victoria and the Victorian racing clubs, has signed McDonald’s as a new sponsor and is on the verge of clinching deals with several more brands that have not previously advertised with them.

The broadcaster has a free-to-air channel showing Victorian, South Australian and Hong Kong racing, a subscription-TV channel as well as an online live race streaming service, and will show about 1,000 hours of live racing during the spring.

[Read the original]

To Top