Business of Media
carsales appoints Sam Zadgan as general manager – commercial partnerships, media
carsales has appointed Sam Zadgan, general manager – commercial partnerships as the newest member to its media leadership team.
Zadgan will manage strategic commercial partnership opportunities and innovation across carsales’ portfolio. He is also tasked with building upon existing supporting solutions to key industry challenges, and enhancing the carsales media and service offering.
Sam Zadgan
With 20+ years of media industry experience, Zadgan worked at Publicis Media Australia as general manager. He also held commercial roles at Dentsu Aegis Network, BBC Studios and Verizon Media.
“carsales is a data and audience-rich business with a history of innovations in technology. Even with the strength of the company, its products and teams have demonstrated to date, it retains almost untapped potential as a digital disrupter. I look forward to building our partnerships and reinforcing and expanding the long-term relationships across the media ecosystem,” said Zadgan.
“My previous interactions as well as the reputation of carsales as a great business with great people, was a strong attraction for me. From day one, I have experienced an entrepreneurial and natural, down to earth atmosphere, throughout the business which is energising to be a part of.”
News Brands
Simon Anderson appointed Ticker’s first UK & European correspondent
Ticker News has appointed an international breaking news reporter, based in London.
Simon Anderson will be Ticker’s first UK and European correspondent. He will report directly from London across the week, filing breaking news reports on location.
Until recently, Anderson has been the ITV News editor and field producer, as well as a digital news curator with Upday, a fact checking media company in conjunction with Facebook UK.
Simon Anderson
Ticker CEO and founder Ahron Young said Anderson brings a range of experience from the broadcast media industry, with skills as a news producer, field producer, online video editor, and as a television news reporter.
“Ticker loves London!” said Young. “Now we’re about to shake up the local news industry with our coverage of breaking news, business and tech. Simon is the perfect candidate. I was once an Aussie journo living in London. It’s a rite of passage. He brings credibility and good humour to a great role for us.
“Originally from Sydney, Australia, Simon is keen to combine his years of experience in newsrooms and editing roles, with on-camera reporting.”
Anderson commented: “I’ve been keenly watching Ticker’s journey over the past two years and I’m absolutely thrilled to be leading the expansion into London and Europe for Ticker News, it’s a great honour. This opportunity to work for a business that is so fresh and rapidly growing could not be more exciting.”
As the second international expansion after Singapore, London will become Ticker’s first European base. With offices situated in the heart of the city, Ticker will present exclusive interviews and live coverage on breaking news.
Bright new star! How Janine Perrett got inside the Media Watch bunker
Stepping into Media Watch for a two week stint, Janine Perrett is full of praise for how it operates, reports TV Tonight.
Taking up an invitation to guest host Media Watch was not something Perrett had to think hard about. Over four decades in journalism she’d worked at The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, Nine Network, Sky News, and been both US and UK correspondents.
No surprise she was executive producer Tim Latham’s first choice when host Paul Barry was knocked out of action in a cycling accident earlier this month.
“I think a lot of people would be wary of it, but I’ve gotten to a point after 40 years in my career, I felt confident I could do it fairly. I wasn’t worried about upsetting anyone.
“But it’s very much Paul Barry’s so there were a whole lot of reasons it was daunting. It was great people were very positive. I was very pleased about that.”
Paul Barry will be back in the Media Watch chair on Monday night.
He has been recovering from a broken hand and pelvis after a bingle with a car, whilst cycling earlier this month.
Radio
Jessica Rowe still angry at Eddie McGuire over ‘boning’ saga
Jessica Rowe has made it clear she still hasn’t forgiven Eddie McGuire for the infamous 2006 “boning” saga, reports News Corp’s Andrew Bucklow.
Rowe was a guest on Kyle and Jackie O to promote her new podcast, The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show.
On KIIS FM, Kyle suggested that she should invite McGuire onto her podcast.
“No,” Rowe replied with a nervous laugh.
“You won’t put him on to apologise?” Kyle asked.
“I don’t think he would,” Rowe said.
“I think he might. He might have grown up as well,” Kyle said.
“Well, let’s hope so,” Rowe said. “I wish him well in the sense that we have all moved on, but still, even though I was talking about letting go … we still mute him (McGuire) when he comes on (on Millionaire Hot Seat) before Pete’s (Overton) news.”
Television
Netflix releases new Tony Ayres series Clickbait: California comes to Melbourne
Netflix has dropped their highly anticipated new series Clickbait and if it isn’t at the top of your watchlist right now, it should be, reports Screen Australia.
Created and produced in Melbourne, Netflix’s latest original series is described as “a taut, propulsive, twist-filled cyber thriller”.
Tony Ayres co-creator of Clickbait said: “Melbourne is incredibly user friendly and there’s a diversity of locations so we can get a lot of different kinds of looks. I have a very emotional connection to my city so I’m always happy when I get to film at home.”
Starring Adrian Grenier, Zoe Kazan and Betty Gabriel, Clickbait follows father and husband Nick Brewer (Grenier), who is abducted in a crime with a sinister online twist. Those closest to him, sister (Kazan) and wife (Gabriel), race to uncover who is behind his disappearance and why.
While locations around Melbourne doubled for Oakland, California, the Brewer house which features in many scenes was just one of a number of sets created at Docklands Studios Melbourne.
“Docklands Studios Melbourne is a one-stop shop – we had great production facilities, fantastic space for the art department and wardrobe, and we were seconds away from where we needed to be at any given time,” Ayres said.
The eight-part series also showcases the talent of Melbourne-based key creatives and crew, with local directors Emma Freeman and Ben Young working behind the camera on the series alongside lead director Brad Anderson.
Some of the reviews for Clickbait couldn’t be more different. The SMH said: “Netflix thriller asks big questions, keeps you hooked.”
The Guardian commented: Silly Netflix thriller isn’t worth clicking on.
Betoota Advocate on Nine Perfect Strangers: F*cked up rich people in Byron
Betoota Advocate has been watching the new Australian drama Nine Perfect Strangers. The headline above their post said:
F*cked up rich people detached from reality unsurprisingly filmed in Byron Bay.
Nicole Kidman is back on the screen in a new TV thriller about a bunch of delusional rich people with lots of baggage that they think will be fixed by immersing themselves in a high-end luxury lifestyle in a picturesque town with no poor people.
Based on a book written by the same Australian author that wrote that other book that Kidman also made a TV series about, Nine Perfect Strangers tells the story of just that. Nine perfect strangers who descend upon a picturesque to detach themselves from reality and mercilessly gossip about each other.
The series centres around a mysterious Russian naturopathy guru played (Kidman) who runs ‘Tranquillum House’ – a sinister wellness retreat that is bordering on a cult.
The guests arrive in town with a drama-packed backstories and secrets, and begin to implode one-by-one, as they realise that running away to the leafy hills to drink smoothies actually doesn’t bring them any peace.
Sunrise hit with Covid scare as crew member tests positive
Sunrise has been hit with a major Covid-19 scare as a crew member tested positive to the virus overnight, reports News Corp’s Lexie Cartwright.
Co-host Natalie Barr opened today’s breakfast program revealing newsreader Edwina Bartholomew was a “close contact” of the positive case and was being forced to self-isolate at home.
Channel Seven confirmed an employee tested positive on Thursday after working at Sunrise’s Martin Place, Sydney offices on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The staff member, who is fully vaccinated and doesn’t live in a hotspot, was immediately tested after they were identified as a close contact of another case.
Mel Schilling joins Married at First Sight UK
Married at First Sight psychologist Mel Schilling has joined the UK series, reports TV Tonight.
She joins Paul C. Brunson and Charlene Douglas as Season Six expands with format changes introduced by the Australian series… plus rows, cheating, and scandal in tow.
The Australian MAFS was a ratings drawcard in the UK during lockdown and production halts.
Sports Media
Brian Taylor describes his lucky escape from a gas explosion, but back at work soon
Channel Seven commentator Brian Taylor says he was lucky to escape with minor injuries after a gas explosion at his Gippsland property, report News Corp’s Nui Te Koha and Jackie Epstein.
The popular footy caller was trying to light a hot water service when it blew up in his face.
“After that the shock sets in, just that first three or four seconds … put my hair out and get out of there and move on,” Taylor said of his initial reaction on 7 News.
“And get a wet towel on my face, which all the locals helped with, and that saved any swelling or blistering on my face.”
Taylor was airlifted to the Alfred Hospital from his farm in Walhalla, 180km east of Melbourne.
He suffered “minor burns” to his face and was flown to Melbourne for routine monitoring and observation.
“I’ve got quite a big forehead,” Taylor said. “It’s burnt right back to my hair and the old moustache got a bit of a touch up as well.”
Seven’s Andy Maher announced during The Front Bar last night that Taylor will be back at work commentating for Seven on the weekend.
Tennis, horseracing plans on track despite Covid-19 uncertainty
Melbourne faces the prospect of losing the 2021 AFL grand final to Perth but can still look forward to the spring carnival of horseracing and Australian Open tennis – for now, reposts AFR’s Miranda Ward.
Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley revealed on Thursday that players would not be forced into hotel quarantine to compete in the 2022 Australian Open, which is due to begin on January 17.
Instead, “player bubbles” would be established in an effort to make the event attractive for athletes without compromising on Covid-19 safety, and crowds may still be able to attend.
“They’re protected, they’re kept safe among themselves and safe from the community as well,” Tiley said during a launch event hosted by broadcast partner Nine, which also owns The Australian Financial Review.
ABC partners with Siren Sport to promote women’s voices
The ABC is has announced a new partnership with Siren Sport which will see them work together to advance the coverage of Australian women in sport.
Siren Sport is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to elevate women’s voices, as well as those from diverse and marginalised groups, in Australia’s sports media.
Over the next 12 months the partnership will provide opportunities for experienced and emerging sport writers to have stories published on the ABC Sport website.
“We are thrilled to be able to partner with our national broadcaster to continue to build on our work championing women in sport and add more to the ABC’s already great women’s sports coverage,” said Siren co-founder Danielle Warby.
“Together, we’re giving women in sport the visibility they deserve. This partnership with ABC Sport empowers us to continue our work and connect with a broader audience, which is really exciting.”
“We’ve made great strides in our coverage of women in sport over the past two years and this partnership with Siren will greatly complement that work,” said ABC Sport editor James Coventry.
“Our audience can only benefit from the variety of perspectives that Siren’s writers will bring to our coverage.”
The partnership will also include a program aimed at developing emerging writers from diverse backgrounds.
“ABC Sport is as passionate as we are to create pathways in sports media and we are excited to continue this work, together,” said Warby.