Business of Media
Google to pay former NSW deputy premier $715,000 for defamation
Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro has been awarded $715,000 in defamation damages from Google for a “vindictive” social media campaign that left him traumatised, reports AFR.
The tech giant and commentator Jordan Shanks who posted defamatory videos on its YouTube platform also face possible prosecution for contempt of court.
The now-retired MP sued Google and Shanks over videos titled “bruz” and “Secret Dictatorship” published on his friendlyjordies channel in 2020.
The videos included claims that Barilaro was a corrupt conman who should be jailed, who committed perjury nine times and engaged in blackmail.
The now-retired MP settled his Federal Court case against Shanks in November when he provided an apology, edited the videos and was ordered to pay $100,000 costs to Barilaro.
Palmer splashed $31m on ads during six-week election campaign
Mining magnate Clive Palmer spent more than $31 million bombarding voters with advertising for his United Australia Party during the six-week federal election campaign – more than the Labor and Liberal parties combined – but is unlikely to pick up a single seat, reports SMH’s Lisa Visentin.
The $5.2 million-a-week advertising blitz was in addition to the $31 million Palmer poured into UAP ads in the six months leading up to the campaign’s official start, according to estimates by Nielsen Ad Intel, which tracks ad spending across metro TV, print, radio and digital.
But despite contesting all 151 House of Representatives seats and fielding a Senate ticket in each state and territory, UAP has secured only 4.12 per cent of the primary vote in the lower house count and 3.43 per cent in the Senate count.
Veridooh raises $5million in funds to help international expansion
Veridooh has raised $5 million in Series A funding which the startup will use to expand internationally as part of its mission to boost transparency, automation, and intelligence in out-of-home (OOH) advertising.
The funding round was led by prominent venture fund EVP, with partner Dan Szekely leading the deal. Following the investment, Szekely will join the award-winning Australian ad tech company board alongside its co-founders Mo Moubayed and Jeremy Yang.
The oversubscribed funding round included Jelix Ventures, an Australian and New Zealand investment firm which focuses on globally scalable businesses, as well as Aconex cofounders Leigh Jasper and Rob Phillpott’s funds Saniel and Gravel Road.
Veridooh’s flagship solution, SmartCreativeTM, independently tracks, measures, and verifies the performance of digital OOH campaigns, increasing transparency and buyer confidence in the industry. Using the Veridooh dashboard, clients have full visibility over their campaigns, with access to more than 300 metrics, such as location, plays, exposure time, ad length, and share of time, which they can use to analyse and optimise their campaigns.
The SmartCreative technology doesn’t require integration with media owners which means it’s able to be used anywhere in the world.
By creating an independent data-based currency, Veridooh said it’s paving the way for new levels of confidence and transparency in OOH advertising which will unlock further revenue for advertisers, media agencies, and media owners.
Outdoor
OMA welcomes GoTransit Media Group, The Media Shop and Vicinity Centres
The Outdoor Media Association (OMA) has welcomed its newest members GoTransit Media Group, The Media Shop (TMS) and Vicinity Centres.
TMS and Vicinity Centres also join MOVE (Measurement of Outdoor Visibility and Exposure).
Charmaine Moldrich, CEO of OMA said: “We continue to diversify our membership with the addition of these three media-display members operating in their unique spaces in Out of Home (OOH). GoTransit will provide a timely perspective on regional signage, while Vicinity Centres operates in office, hotel and retail.
“TMS is an established OOH media provider with a new DOOH offering complimenting their traditional and non-traditional solutions. These new additions to our camp bring us closer to representing 100 per cent of the industry,” she added.
Radio
Surprise Triple M radio gig for Anthony Maroon as Gus Worland’s replacement
Anthony Maroon has landed a surprise radio gig, reports News Corp’s Jonathon Moran.
The former Triple M weekend footy host went live on Monday at 4pm alongside Jude Bolton and Wendell Sailor on weekday drive show, The Rush Hour with Gus, Jude and Wendell.
It came after usual co-host Gus Worland had to undergo an emergency hernia operation after attending a Gotcha4Life fundraiser in Orange at the weekend.
“What started with a fundraiser for my foundation @gotcha4life in @visit_orange at the mighty @orangeemusrugby on Saturday night turns into an emergency hernia operation,” Worland wrote on Instagram, sharing an image of himself in a hospital bed.
“Brilliant staff. Here for a few days.”
Nine Radio launches round two of internship program
Nine Radio is launching the second round of its internship program following the highly successful introduction of its radio internship program in January.
The internship program is designed to discover the next generation of radio professionals who will be afforded the opportunity to shape the future of Nine’s market-leading radio stations across Australia.
Successful candidates will have the chance to gain invaluable experience while learning from the best talent in the industry.
Importantly, the six-week internships are paid, and will be offered at each Nine Radio station: Sydney’s 2GB, Melbourne’s 3AW, Brisbane’s 4BC and 6PR in Perth.
During the program, interns are provided with hands-on training in radio producing, broadcasting, journalism and social media.
Successful applicants will spend time with producers and on-air talent, and in Nine’s radio newsrooms, to learn how to produce engaging and entertaining programs, and fast and accurate news bulletins.
Television
10 in joint dramas with UK’s Channel 5
Neighbours will wrap filming this Friday, ending an era of local drama for Network 10, reports TV Tonight.
But the organisation has three future drama projects with UK’s Channel 5, the same network that announced it would shift its spend from funding Neighbours in favour of local content.
It follows Fremantle-produced Lie With Me created by Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison drawing bumper ratings in the UK.
“We did Lie with Me, last year but there are three more, and they’re all being shot Australia,” said Network 10’s Senior Vice President, Programming and Content Daniel Monaghan.
“What they did with Lie with Me, and what their intention is to do is (dramas) set in Australia but with British characters. The lead in Lie with Me was a British actress from EastEnders. So that meant something to them because it was more of a hybrid.”