ABC hits back at critics | A peak behind The Block | Foxtel left behind in pay TV surge | Mumbrellacast looks at #metoo and ratings | 43 new jobs | 'Blow Me' cleared by Ad Standards

[View Newsletter Online]( [Mumbrella Newsletter][Mumbrella Newsletter]( Get reliable advertising pre-testing methods at Mumbrella MSIX There has been a lot written about advertising pre-testing, and a lot of confusion as to its merits. [Mumbrella MSIX]( will host a panel that will explore whether or not it should be done, if it adds value to the creative process, and if so, what methodologies are the most reliable and valid. A one-day conference for any marketer, MSIX is the only event that brings science and creativity together. [Check out the first program announcements now.]( Features [Behind the making of Nine's 'human drama': The Block]( The Block has been described by co-creator Julian Cress as the most ‘expensive reality show’ in the world. But how does it come together? On a trip to Melbourne as a guest of Nine, Mumbrella’s Zoe Samios chats with Cress and director of content partnerships – entertainment, Sarah Stewart, about how one of Australia’s longest standing reality show reinvents the wheel for both audiences and advertisers. [READ MORE »]( News [Mumbrellacast: The #MeToo Ad Week outrage, Ten and MCN breakup, and Kim Portrate on the future of TV ratings]( In this week’s edition of Mumbrellacast, Think TV’s CEO Kim Portrate joins the team to discuss the controversial #MeToo panel at Advertising Week, the future of TV ratings and Ten’s split from MCN. Plus we unpack this week’s biggest news in media and marketing. In our 12th episode, the news team discusses the shock departure of Telstra’s CMO Joe Pollard; the news website that implemented a month-long ban on men; and Vegemite’s first ad in six years by its new creative agency Thinkerbell. [READ MORE »]( News [ABC hits back over criticisms of its new lifestyle platform]( The ABC has hit back at reports this morning its soon-to-launch lifestyle platform, ABC Life, will be designed to “replicate content that does well on commercial sites”. Earlier this morning The Australian published an article suggesting a number of publishers and broadcasters were outraged over the ABC’s plans to launch a replica version of BuzzFeed, which would seek to compete with the commercial sector in areas such as recipes, sex and relationships, travel and fashion. [READ MORE »]( News [Foxtel left behind as Australians move to subscription video says Roy Morgan Research.]( Netflix and Stan have seen their viewer base surge last quarter while Foxtel’s audience reach has slightly dropped, claims Roy Morgan research. According to the research company, the number of Australians living in a household with a Netflix subscription stands at 9.8 million, up nearly 30% on a year ago, while Netflix has surged 39.2% to pass the 2 million mark. Foxtel though saw a 2.7% drop to 5.4 million. [READ MORE »]( Opinion [It's time to stop the keep cup deluge]( We’re over keep cups and it’s time for marketers to look for more sustainable and original gift ideas argues Gillian Corban. If you’re drowning in a sea of branded keep-cups, I feel your pain. [READ MORE »]( News [Chatime ad cleared despite coining the phrase 'Blow Me']( The ad watchdog has cleared Chatime’s recent campaign which coined the phrase ‘Blow Me I’m a Hot Tea’. A complaint submitted to Ad Standards alleged the ad included a “suggestion of oral sex on a billboard”. [READ MORE »]( News [Sian Whitnall becomes OMD Australia's chief digital officer]( OMD Australia has appointed Sian Whitnall as its chief digital officer. Whitnall returned to OMD last year to head the Sydney office’s digital team after two years with Ikon where she was head of digital amplification and trading. [READ MORE »]( News [Mindshare's Louisa Mennell joins Ikon Communications as national head of performance]( Louisa Mennell has joined Ikon Communications as its national head of performance. Mennell joins Ikon following the agency’s restructure in June last year which saw Chris Ernst promoted from national head of performance to managing partner of Ikon Brisbane. [READ MORE »]( Sponsored Post Learn Programmatic Buying and Selling Strategies from the Largest Programmatic Consulting Firm in the World [Join us 07-08 August in Sydney for the 2018 Programmatic Training Series](, hosted by Prohaska Consulting. This 2-day event geared towards both buyers and sellers will provide you with valuable fundamentals as well as advanced knowledge from veteran industry instructors in a unique, collaborative environment. Having trained over 2300 buyers and sellers, Prohaska Consulting provides critical career skills and insights for the world’s top agencies, brands and publishers. [Spots still remain, register today.]( News [ABC's OzPod to return for third year]( ABC Radio’s podcasting conference, OzPod, will return for the third year, this time headlined by podcast producers Julie Lowrie Henderson and Veronica Simmonds. Henderson is a New York producer and series host for ESPN 30 for 30 podcast, ‘Bikram’ while Simmonds is an award-winning Canadian Broadcasting Corporation producer. [READ MORE »]( Opinion [Why the media are to blame for racialising Melbourne’s ‘African gang’ problem]( Media organisations need to look hard at their coverage of Australian race issues and the power of the words they use when covering those stories, writes the University of Adelaide’s John Budarick in this cross post from The Conversation. Just before Channel 7 aired a Sunday Night special devoted to Melbourne’s “African gangs” problem earlier this month, the race discrimination commissioner, Tim Soutphommasane, went on Twitter to criticise a promotion spot as “fear-mongering and racial hysteria”. [READ MORE »]( Opinion [The My Health Record debacle and the need for trust in communications]( The rush by the public to opt out of the Australia government’s digital health record program is a reminder for crisis managers and PR professionals that effective communication demands a framework of trust, writes Issue Outcomes’ Tony Jacques. It’s no secret that citizens don’t trust governments. Yet that lack of trust has seldom been so manifestly evident as when the Australian Government solemnly promised to safeguard the nation’s most intimate and personal health data. [READ MORE »]( News [Ten's Australian Survivor tops demos despite slight dip in second show]( Ten’s Australian Survivor was the most watched non-news show of Thursday evening, leading entertainment offerings with 615,000 metro viewers. Though it fell from Wednesday night’s premiere of 716,000 metro viewers – the show led its time slot, beating Seven’s Single Wives, which had a metro audience of 293,000 at 7:30pm, down from last week’s 343,000. [READ MORE »]( News [The Brand Agency opens destination marketing division and appoints Gwyn Dolphin]( Perth-based agency The Brand Agency has appointed the former CEO of Tourism WA Gwyn Dolphin to launch its destination marketing division. In his new role as head of destination marketing, Dolphin will lead the new division which aims to provide advice to organisations operating in the entertainment, events and tourism sectors. [READ MORE »]( News [Havas Media wins five new clients including Seafolly and Tony Bianco]( Havas Media has secured five new clients including Seafolly, Tony Bianco, Perfetti van Melle, SunRice and Aspen’s S26. Havas Media’s CEO, Mike Wilson, said in a statement: “Our dedication to providing our clients with intelligent media solutions has driven this continued new business momentum. [READ MORE »]( News [Roo & Ditts renew breakfast spot with Triple M Adelaide]( Triple M Adelaide breakfast duo, Mark Ricciuto and Chris Dittmar, have renewed their contract for another three years. Starting out in Triple M’s drive slot in 2011, the pair moved to breakfast in June 2014 as part of the Southern Cross Austereo owned station’s attempt to move off the bottom of Adelaide’s commercial M radio ratings. [READ MORE »]( News [Government News website relaunches]( Intermedia Group owned Government News has relaunched with a rebrand of the online publication that covers local, state and federal government issues. “We’re delighted to unveil the latest iteration of this veteran publication – a redesigned, contemporary platform that vividly displays our journalism and commentary,” said Darragh O’Keeffe, editor of Government News. [READ MORE »]( News [Lipp Media, a podcast network by women and the LGBT+ community, launches]( A new podcast network, Lipp Media, has been launched With the aim of providing popular, well-produced and profitable podcasts produced by women and members of the LGBT+ community. Founder of Lipp Media, Dan Gregg is a music video producer, community radio presenter and podcast creator, having run the Popchops podcast for the past four years. [READ MORE »]( News [Men's lifestyle site ETFM gives contributors an ownership stake]( Lifestyle website EFTM, Everything For The Man, has announced long-term contributors Geoff Quattromani and Chris Bowen will join founder Trevor Long in co-ownership of the business. Originally established in 2011 by technology commentator Trevor Long with Damian Francis and Nick Broughall, the site will see videographer Rob Locke also take a stake in the business. [READ MORE »]( News [Contiki Australia appoints Common Ventures for upcoming campaign]( Contiki Australia has appointed Common Ventures to create its upcoming campaign following a competitive pitch. Tour operator Contiki said it was seeking a creative agency to work on a specific advertising campaign for the company in May. [READ MORE »]( Sponsored Post Publish Awards shortlist revealed. Awards ceremony tables now on sale. The [Publish Awards]( shortlist was announced this week, with over 150 entries making the cut including Bauer Media, Flight Centre, Nine, Buzzfeed, Frankie Press, Medium Rare Content Agency and many more. Tickets are now on sale for the awards night, on September 20 at Sydney’s Doltone House Jones Bay Wharf, where renowned British comedian and writer, David Baddiel, has been confirmed to MC. [Secure your tickets now.]( FYI • [Jaywing appoints 13 new people]( • [Stan Cheung joins CX Lavender as digital design partner]( • [Luxury Travel Magazine announces Gold List 2018 Winners]( Jobs [43 new jobs]( MOST DISCUSSED [‘The only women to benefit from #MeToo are black dress designers,’ media exec tells conference]( [Aussie icons star in Thinkerbell's first work for Vegemite]( [Joe Pollard departs Telstra, with CMO role to be split across business units]( [John Stanley second casualty of Macquarie Sports Radio breakfast]( mumbrella.com.au Sent By Focal Attractions Pty Ltd 46-48 Balfour Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008, Australia If you would rather not receive this newsletter, you can [unsubscribe]( or [manage subscriptions here.](