ThinkTV, the prominent industry body for Australian television, has announced the departure of CEO Kim Portrate, leaving the organisation’s future in question. Having led ThinkTV since its establishment in 2016, Portrate’s exit comes at a time of significant changes within the Australian television sector and a wider push for improved collaboration across the industry.
Portrate, a seasoned industry veteran, has been a key figure in ThinkTV’s mission to advocate for broadcast television, particularly in an era of declining linear viewership and increasing competition from global digital platforms. Over the last decade, she led numerous groundbreaking research initiatives and campaigns, ensuring that TV remained a top priority for advertisers across Australia. Her leadership cemented ThinkTV’s role as a vocal advocate for the medium, a role that now faces a period of significant transition.
A statement from ThinkTV’s board expressed deep gratitude for Portrate’s contributions: “The ThinkTV board thanks Kim for her unwavering dedication and support over the last 10 years. She has been a powerful advocate for broadcast television, delivering groundbreaking research and campaigns that have ensured TV is the first on and last off the plan for many Australian advertisers. In the past decade, the industry has seen rapid change. To accommodate this, the structure and direction of ThinkTV has also shifted. ThinkTV will continue to champion the benefits of Total TV, and the board will share more details of how the organisation will do this in due course.”
While the statement indicates that ThinkTV will continue to advocate for the benefits of Total TV, questions remain about how the organisation will adapt to a rapidly evolving media environment.
Portrate’s departure follows a challenging period for ThinkTV, which faced a significant blow in 2023 when Foxtel, one of its founding members, defected from the group. This move also included Foxtel’s rejection of the OzTAM ratings system, further complicating the relationship between the organisation and key players in the television industry. The departure of Foxtel has left ThinkTV with three remaining stakeholders: Seven West Media (SWM), Nine, and Paramount, owner of Ten.
New leadership is also emerging on the ThinkTV board, with SWM chief commercial officer Henry Tajer and Nine’s acting chief sales officer Matt James set to join. Both men are relatively new to their roles, with Tajer appointed in January to replace long-time sales head Kurt Burnette, and James stepping into the role in December after Michael Stephenson’s move to ARN. Their appointments mark a new chapter for ThinkTV, but with the organisation facing challenges in an increasingly fragmented media landscape, the next steps will be crucial.