Business of Media
ThinkTV reports TV ad market dips for 12 months to June 2023, BVOD dollars up
ThinkTV has announced the TV advertising revenue figures for the six and 12 months to 30 June 2023.
The TV advertising market, which includes metropolitan free-to-air, regional free-to-air, and Broadcaster Video on Demand (BVOD) excluding SBS, recorded combined revenue of $3.6 billion for the year to 30 June 2023, down 7.9 per cent compared to the same period ending 30 June 2022.
In the June half, TV advertising revenue was $1.6 billion, a decrease of 11.8 per cent when compared to the same period ending 30 June 2022.
Total revenue for the metropolitan free-to-air networks was $1.1 billion for the six months to 30 June 2023, down 15.3 per cent compared to the same period last year. For the 12 months, metropolitan free-to-air advertising revenue was $2.5 billion, down 10.6 per cent.
Investment in BVOD platforms 7plus, 9Now and 10 Play saw revenue increase 6.9 per cent to $188 million for the six months to 30 June 2023. BVOD revenue for the total financial year was $391 million, up 6.1 per cent year-on-year.
Matildas means money: Capitalising on Australia’s hottest brand
The Melbourne Cup claims to stop the nation. The Matildas World Cup quarter-final against France on Saturday night really did, comments Nine Publishing columnist Elizabeth Knight.
It was Australia’s most watched sporting event in almost 20 years, and Wednesday night’s semi-final may even get close to the record – Cathy Freeman’s 400-metre gold medal at the 2000 Olympics.
The Matildas have become an extremely valuable brand. For the World Cup’s free-to-air media broadcaster, Seven, the digital streaming partner Optus, and to a lesser extent the team’s main sponsor, Commonwealth Bank, taking a punt on the popularity of this tournament has been a bonanza.
We know that more than 7 million people watched all or part of Saturday night’s quarter-final against France, and that hundreds of thousands piled into other special-purpose venues and pubs and clubs to watch the game. Optus doesn’t provide its numbers but said World Cup games featured in the top five most-watched Optus Sport football matches and received 42 million social video views in Australia during the first four weeks of the competition.
It is fair to say that none of the media partners and sponsors could have dreamed when they signed up their respective deals of the extent to which this team would have captured the imagination – and the eyeballs – of the country.
Football Australia’s media partner Paramount/Ten paid $100 million for broadcasting the non-World Cup games, but this amount will be superseded when it comes up for renegotiation at the end of next year, with expectations Seven and Nine will become involved.
Television
Nine reveals Total TV audience for The Block’s launch week episodes
As the new series of The Block powers through Week 2, Nine has revealed the size of the audiences watching episodes shown in launch week. There was a Total TV audience of 1.148 million across the four episodes (625,000 metro/ 258,000 regional/ 264,000 Live + VOD).
Set in the Melbourne suburb of Hampton East, the new series features five houses designed and built in the 1950s. Ten brands return this year as major partners – Aldi, BlueScope Steel, Disney+, Domain, Ford, hipages, McCafé, Mitre 10, Lite n’ Easy and Xero.
New brands joining the show are Arnott’s, CommBank, Youi and Aussie Broadband.
Nicki Kenyon, director of Powered, said The Block provides a premium platform for brands to reach audiences at scale. “The Block continues to provide a premium platform for brands to reach audiences at scale. Year after year we have seen some of Australia’s favourite brands return to support The Block and work with us on exciting cross-platform integrations,” said Kenyon.
The Block 2023 house listings are live: First look at the price guides
The Block, celebrating 20 years since the first season aired in 2003, is back in metropolitan Melbourne this year in the family-friendly suburb of Hampton East, reports Domain’s Allison Worrall.
In a first for the show, the designs of the final facades of the five Charming Street properties were revealed to the contestants at the very start of the season, giving viewers and potential buyers a much earlier glimpse at the final products.
In addition to breathing new life (and a second storey) into the tired existing homes, the Blockheads are also tasked with creating a granny flat/studio on their properties.
When the freshly renovated homes go under the hammer in the season finale, it’s expected their price guides will exceed the suburb’s $1.648 million median for a four-bedroom home.
Agent price guides released exclusively with the listings on Domain range from $2.2 million to $2.4 million for Steph and Gian’s house, to $2.7 million to $2.85 million for Eliza and Liberty’s house. The other three homes fall in the middle, with price guides of $2.5 million to $2.75 million.
Colin from Accounts
BBC acquires second series of Easy Tiger’s Binge hit Colin from Accounts
Patrick Brammall (Offspring, Glitch) and Harriet Dyer (The Invisible Man, No Activity) will return to write, star and executive produce a second series of Colin from Accounts which will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. It will be produced by Easy Tiger Productions (Jack Irish, Rake, The Twelve). The series is distributed outside of Australia and New Zealand by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
The Foxtel Group announced recently the commissioning of a second series.
Alison Hurbert-Burns, commissioner and Binge executive director, said: “The funniest couple on TV (and their dog) are coming back.
“Binge is thrilled to confirm a second season of the award-winning Colin from Accounts. We left season one unsure if Ashley and Gordon could get Colin back so of course we need to see what’s next for these lovable characters that audiences in Australia, and the world have fallen in love with.”
Rob Gibson and Ian Collie, Easy Tiger, said: “It’ll surprise no one to learn that making Colin from Accounts was pure joy from beginning to end, so we can’t wait to dive into season two with Harri and Patty and the team. We’re deeply grateful for the ongoing support of our partners at Binge and so are the many fans who’ve been clamouring for more of Gordon & Ashley (and Colin).”
Series one launched on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in April 2023 to five-star reviews and an average audience of 2.2m (BARB 28 Day 4 Screen).
Head of BBC programme acquisition Sue Deeks said: “BBC viewers have been completely charmed by this award-winning romantic comedy, and have taken Ashley, Gordon and unlikely cupid Colin to their hearts. We are so delighted that there is going to be another series of the totally engaging Colin from Accounts for us all to enjoy.”
News Brands
New leadership CNN overhauls programming lineup
CNN, which has battled sagging ratings this year, on Monday unveiled a substantial remaking of its morning and evening programming, reports The New York Times.
The overhaul is part of an attempt by new leaders at CNN to stabilize the network, which has been buffeted by turmoil. The company’s former chairman, Chris Licht, departed in June after just over a year in the job, during which newsroom morale and profits fell.
Abby Phillip, a senior political correspondent and anchor of “Inside Politics Sunday,” will be the new host of the network’s 10 p.m. hour on weekdays. Laura Coates, an anchor and chief legal analyst at CNN, will host the network’s 11 p.m. hour.
CNN’s prime-time programming has been in flux since Chris Cuomo, its star anchor, was fired in late 2021 amid an inquiry into whether he aided his brother, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York. Last year, Licht moved another prime time host, Don Lemon, to the morning — an ill-fated decision that culminated in the host’s ouster in April.
CNN’s morning show, which has been anchored solo by Poppy Harlow for several months, is getting a new permanent co-anchor: Phil Mattingly, CNN’s chief White House correspondent.
Radio
Fox’s Brendan Fevola reckons Kyle and Jackie O live into Melbourne next year
Melbourne radio host Brendan Fevola has dropped a bombshell claim that will no doubt ruffle feathers in the Australian radio industry, reports News Corp’s Lexie Cartwright.
The co-host of Fox FM’s Fifi, Fev & Nick – which is owned by Southern Cross Austereo – said he’d been told that Kyle and Jackie O’s incredibly popular breakfast show (which airs on KIIS FM in Sydney) is set to air in Melbourne as well from next year onwards.
Speaking on Fox FM on Monday morning, Fevola told listeners he had received a phone call from someone who works in the radio industry in Sydney.
“He said, ‘You might have competition next year. Someone in our city is now gonna be in Melbourne,’” Fevola recalled. “Kyle and Jackie!”
Fevola made his feelings known right away, insisting Kyle and Jackie O wouldn’t work as a breakfast show in Melbourne.
“That’s not the right DNA,” the former AFL star said. “That’s a Sydney show. Surely they’re not coming to Melbourne … What the hell?”
Co-host Fifi Box agreed, saying about the Sydney-based stars: “You should be in Melbourne when you’re broadcasting to Melbourne.”
In response to the claim, a spokesperson from ARN (which owns the KIIS FM stations) told news.com.au: “We don’t comment on speculation and have nothing further to say.”
3AW shake-up: Could Tony Jones be set to snag a plum radio role?
Could longtime TV presenter Tony Jones be heading for a plum radio gig? Asks News Corp’s Jackie Epstein.
There’s talk in media circles that the Channel 9 sport presenter and Sunday AFL Footy Show host would be top of the list to front the 3AW drive program should there be a shake-up at the station.
Mornings king Neil Mitchell is in discussions about his future next year and should he not continue it’s understood Tom Elliott will be his successor.
That would leave a vacant seat in drive and, given the slot’s timing, it may mean Jones has to give up his TV news role which he has held for more than 30 years.
ABC Radio Newcastle farewells two of its favourite broadcasters
Two of ABC Radio Newcastle’s most popular presenters, sports commentator and broadcaster Craig Hamilton and Drive presenter, Kia Handley, say goodbye to listeners next week.
Both broadcasters have decided to finish their presenter and commentary roles with the ABC to pursue other interests.
In Craig’s case, it is to head off to a new career in the mental health sector, which he has been a leading advocate of since his diagnosis with bipolar disorder 23 years ago.
Craig is best known for his insightful and passionate sports commentary, which he started in 1995 with the ABC’s Sideline Eye weekend NRL program.
He has commentated on NRL matches, Grand Finals, State of Origin games and test matches for more than 20 years and names the calling of the Newcastle Knights Grand Final win over Manly in 1997 as a career highlight.
Kia has worked on ABC Radio Newcastle’s Mornings and Drive programs for the past four years. She studied Journalism at the University of Canberra and worked for regional newspapers and commercial radio before joining the ABC.
Kia Handley finishes on air on Friday 18 August and Craig Hamilton finishes on Saturday 19 August.
Sports Media
For the millions of new fans, this Matildas documentary is must-see TV
If you’ve come to the Women’s World Cup party late and you’re keen to get up to speed on the team’s journey thus far, the documentary Matildas: The World At Our Feet is an excellent place to start, reports Nine Publishing’s Kerrie O’Brien.
Released earlier this year, the six-part series includes one-on-one interviews with the players, fly-on-the-wall action with access to the team inside the rooms and on the field, in strategy meetings, on training camps, with coach Tony Gustavsson and at home.
Produced for Disney+ by Barking Mad Productions and Station 10 Media in association with Fremantle and Boardwalk Pictures, the series is directed by Australian filmmaker Katie Bender Wynn.