Shows
Unmade: media and marketing analysis'We are ARN, and we're an entertainment company': Michael Stephenson takes chargeWelcome to the first Unmade podcast post sent via Substack since last week’s migration of our written content into the Mumbrella publishing stack. Fingers crossed the tech still works from our new domain, and this finds your feed.Today’s conversation features the first podcast interview with ARN Media’s new CEO Michael Stephenson, along with chief audience and content officer Lauren Joyce.Supercharging the ARN transformation strategyThe largest audience of Upfronts season gathered at Sydney’s Star Entertainment Centre last night to hear about ARN Media’s ambitious plans for 2026.Ahead...
2025-10-3044 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisClive Dickens on harnessing the AI opportunity as traditional jobs go awayWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade.Today, we talk to Clive Dickens, one of media’s innovators, about what he’ll be doing next.To get maximum value from a paid membership of Unmade, sign up today.Your annual membership gets you tickets to September’s REmade conference on retail media; to October’s Unlock conference on marketing in the nighttime economy; and to Unmade’s Compass end-of-year roadshow.You also get access to our paywalled archive.Upgrade today.Clive Dickens unveils his plans for Meliora, something...
2025-06-0427 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisLive from m360: The Unmade-Mumbrellacast crossover episodeWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade, recorded earlier today live on stage at Mumbrella360. To get maximum value from a paid membership of Unmade, sign up today.Your annual membership gets you tickets to September’s REmade conference on retail media; to October’s Unlock conference on marketing in the nighttime economy; and to Unmade’s Compass end-of-year roadshow.You also get access to our paywalled archive.Upgrade today.Radio salaries; the rise of LinkedIn video, Google’s AI video magic and the Mumbrella360 origin storyToday’s...
2025-05-2938 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysis'A love letter to the ridiculous and wonderful world of agencies': How Rob Mayhew went from adland to creatorWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we hear from adland satirist Rob Mayhew about making it in the creator economy, why he loves TikTok and LinkedIn, and how Facebook is just too greedy.Today is a good day to upgrade to a paid membership of Unmade. Your annual membership includes:A complimentary ticket to all of Unmade’s events, including HumAIn (May 6), REmade (September 23), Unlock (October), and Compass (across November)Member-only content and our paywalled archives;Your own copy of Media Unmade.Upgrade today....
2025-04-1725 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisHow local media remains divided as audience trust evaporatesWelcome to an end-of-week update from Unmade.In today’s audio-led post we share the panel discussion from the launch of the Edelman Trust Barometer. And further down on the Unmade Index, three minnows see price jumps while Enero slumps some more.Unmade’s AI event for the media and marketing industry, HumAIn, is coming fast. Our annual paying members are entitled to a free ticket. It’s just one of the benefits of a paying membership. Upgrade today.‘Is it fragmented? Absolutely. Is it going to improve? I can’t see it.’In toda...
2025-04-0357 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysis'I love winning': Atomic 212 boss Barry O'Brien on staying hungry, and selling to PublicisWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade in which we talk to the two key players behind Publicis Group’s purchase of independent Media agency Atomic 212. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* A complimentary ticket to all of Unmade’s events, including Compass Auckland (February 18), HumAIn (May 6), REmade (September 23), Unlock (October), and the Compass Australia series (throughout November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives; * Your own copy of Media Unmade.Capabilities and conflict: Why Publicis bought Atomic...
2025-02-0327 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Hugh Marks and Matt Stanton firm up for ABC and Nine; Plus our 2024 verdict, and 2025 predictionsWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today: Hugh Marks firms up for the ABC as Matt Stanton makes an inside run on Nine; Plus, what we learned this year, and what we’re expecting in 2025.This is the perfect time to upgrade your Unmade membership* A complimentary ticket to all of Unmade’s events, including HumAIn, REmade, Unlock, and Compass, all returning in 2025;* Members-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade.Do it before the end of next week, and we’ll give you a $50...
2024-12-1525 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Farewell The Monkeys; ACCC to muscle up against platforms; AI content theft;Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition, the government helps the ACCC muscle up against the platforms as Meta belatedly acts on scammy celeb ads; The Monkeys nostalgia as they rebrand to Droga5; acting on AI content kleptomania; and the end of the TV ratings year, but did anybody notice?If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* A complimentary ticket to all of Unmade’s events, including HumAIn, REmade, Unlock, and Compas...
2024-12-0118 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisLive from Compass Hobart: Avoiding invisibility, a burnout epidemic and the foolishness of hustle cultureWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we share the highlights from the opening chapter of this year’s Compass roadshow. And further down, the Unmade Index’s green streak comes to an end.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* A complimentary ticket to all of Unmade’s events, including HumAIn (2025), REmade (2025), Unlock (2025), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. Brand fame, burnout and doing more with less
2024-11-1339 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: AGMs, Upfronts, and the first podcast electionWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition, we ask whether Donald Trump’s podcast strategy will signal an advertising shift; we look back at the Seven and Nine AGMs, and forward to the ABC, Seven and Are Media upfronts.f you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* A complimentary ticket to all of Unmade’s events, including HumAIn (2025), REmade (2025), Unlock (2025), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your...
2024-11-1021 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysis'It's been cathartic': Foxtel's Mark Frain on parting ways with the TV establishment; Compass BrisbaneWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Along with revealing the lineup for the Brisbane edition of our Compass event, we today feature an in-depth interview with Mark Frain, CEO of Foxtel Media, recorded around last week’s Upfront event. Plus, a further dip in the Unmade Index.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* A complimentary ticket to all of Unmade’s events, including Unlock (October 31), Compass (across November), HumAIn (Q2 2025) and REmade (Q3 2025);* Members-only content; and all of our paywal...
2024-10-2332 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: How Campaign Brief double glazed adland's glass ceiling; Rape claim at NineWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition: We reflect on the industry’s move against Campaign Brief; And Nine is hit with a historic rape claim after publishing its culture report.We’ve upgraded Unmade’s membership. Annual members now get a free ticket to all of our events. That includes Unlock on October 31; our Compass series in November; and REmade and HumAIn next year.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership also inclu...
2024-10-2129 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisThe Unmakers: How Mercha is reshaping Australia's promo merchandise sectorWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we talk to two of the co-founders of Mercha - Ben Read and Sam Hardy. Plus, the top of town pushes down the Unmade Index.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* A complimentary ticket to all of Unmade’s events, including HumAIn (2025), REmade (September 2025), Unlock (31 October), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. The Unmakers: Meet Mercha - ‘A digital platfor...
2024-10-0331 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: How will ACCC intervention hit retail media?; Succession for Bruce Gordon; More AI magic (and menace)Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: We chew over what the ACCC’s concerns over Cartology and Coles 360 may mean for Australia’s retail media sector; Bruce Gordon retires; and yet another significant week in AI developmentsIf you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* A complimentary ticket to all of Unmade’s events, including HumAIn (2025), REmade (1 October), Unlock (31 October), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own c...
2024-09-3030 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Nine moves on from the Sneesby era; Upfronts season: Independents Day and Paramount on stageWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition, we explore what happens next at Nine, the NRL tries to bring Paramount into its next TV rights auction, and Upfronts season rolls on.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* A complimentary ticket to all of Unmade’s events, including HumAIn (2025), REmade (1 October), Unlock (31 October), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade...
2024-09-1618 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Earnings season rolls into Upfronts; Why 7am on Thursday is podcasting's golden hourWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition, streaming audio and video pull in advertising growth, while podcast audiences boom. Plus, we look back on results season and forward to Upfronts.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* A complimentary ticket to all of Unmade’s events, including HumAIn (2025), REmade (1 October), Unlock (31 October), and Compass (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. Vi...
2024-09-0219 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisBernard Salt on why the pursuit of lifestyle is the key to Australia's consumer psycheWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today’s conversation features demographer Bernard Salt on what really motivates Australians. Further down, the Unmade Index takes a breather after Nine’s financial results were no worse than expected.We’ve upgraded Unmade’s membership. Annual members now get a free ticket to all of our events. That includes REmade - Retail Media Unmade on October 1; Unlock on October 31; our Compass series in November; and HumAIn next year.Your membership also includes members-only content, access to our paywalled archives and your own copy of Media Unmade. Upgrade today.
2024-08-2936 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: How agencies are screwing news media with lazy brand safety; Google's biggest AI search rival reveals ad plansWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: News publishers push back against media agencies’ brand safety default settings; AI search startup Perplexity gets into the advertising business; and X becomes an image disinformation engine.We’ve upgraded Unmade’s membership. Annual members now get a free ticket to all of our events. That includes REmade - Retail Media Unmade on October 1; Unlock on October 31; our Compass series in November; and HumAIn next year.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the per...
2024-08-2619 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Cosmo's return; Rumblings over Nine's Domain ownership, share buyback and move on Foxtel; the week in AIWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: The call is coming from inside the house as Nine’s papers highlight disquiet over the company’s share buyback and Domain’s leadership; we look at the first edition of the reincarnated Cosmopolitan Australia; and the latest in AI.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);
2024-08-1225 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysis'The loophole in democracy': Crikey boss Eric Beecher on the power of (mostly) unregulated media proprietorsWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we talk to author and Crikey proprietor Eric Beecher as he publishes a book condemning the power of media moguls. And further down, the Unmade Index bounces back a little after slumping on Monday and then losing some more on Tuesday.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled arch...
2024-08-0836 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Labor backs off on betting ads; Rex regrets; and digital ad levy firms upWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.In today’s audio-led edition, the theme of the week is government intervention in betting ads; airline failures and the social media landscapeIf you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade.Government set to...
2024-08-0520 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisLive at HumAIn: AI Read The News Today, Oh Boy; and relief rally finally lifts Unmade Index back above 500 pointsWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we recap one of the most talked-about sessions at Unmade’s HumAIn conference. And further down, the Unmade Index surges on new data suggesting inflation may be back under control.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade. How AI...
2024-08-0140 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Infinite Dial 2024; Strike begins to hit Nine's papers; the low nutrition AI content farms spool upWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: Should Nine’s journos have gone on strike?;The AI content snake threatens to eat itself; and a chance to hear the Infinite Dial launch.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Un...
2024-07-2957 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysis'Starting a business is a creative act' - Sir John Hegarty on applying creativityWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we talk to one of the world’s most celebrated advertising creatives, Sir John Hegarty.Further down, the Unmade Index lifts back towards 500 points, but Seven West Media slumps back to its four-year low.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy o...
2024-07-2557 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Is Nine's Olympic balance sheet red or black?; Mediaweek for sale to Vinyl Group? Upfronts partying on holdWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today: Is Nine going to make a profit or loss on the Olympics? It depends who you ask, and how you calculate it; Will Mediaweek’s embattled owner sell to Vinyl Group? And the TV networks dial back their Upfronts plansIf you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;...
2024-07-1519 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: After media's meltdown, what comes next?; AI for PR monitoring; Voiceover artists' existential threatWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: We look back on media’s most brutal week for a decade, and reflect on how things will play out in this new financial year. Plus, we round up the latest on how AI is changing the media and marketing worldStart the financial year by upgrading to an Unmade membership. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event;* Member-only content and our paywal...
2024-07-0129 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Southern Cross Austereo makes up its mind about ACM; New alarm over uninvited AI scrapingWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: Which door will the SCA management choose? And, to very few people’s surprise, the AI companies do not appear to be playing fair when crawling publishing content.Have you considered becoming a paying member of Unmade to get the full picture? Only our paying members receive our members-only Tuesday analysis; get access to our archive where all our content is paywalled after two months; get their own copy of Media Unmade; and receive discounts on all our events. Be...
2024-06-2419 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisThe Unmakers: Chris Wirasinha on how Linkby is helping publishers rework the affiliate marketing gameWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today, we talk to the creator of Australian media’s most enduring youth media brand, Pedestrian TV cofounder Chris Wirasinha, as he begins to scale up his new venture Linkby. And also in this post, the Unmade Index wipeout has stretched into another week, particularly for audio stocks.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Me...
2024-06-1947 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Why women are rejecting news; Research industry trembles at AI onslaught; Seven's comic signingWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. Today: Why are women turning away from news?; The dawn of synthetic data - good news for marketers, bad news for research companies?; and comedian Mark Humphries joins Seven NewsIt’s a great day to become a paying member of Unmade. You get:* Member-only pricing for next week’s HumAIn conference* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media UnmadeUpgrade todayR...
2024-06-1727 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Newest retail media network revealed; First ratings clue on K+J; Paramount sale into the endgame; Platforms targetedWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: A big week in radio; what News Corp’s boss will tell the Press Club meet the newest retail media network; and Paramount’s ownership battle comes clearewrIf you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade...
2024-06-0326 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Epochal days in AI; can ARN's scale logic win the day in the SCA battle?Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. Today: ARN refuses to let its Southern Cross Austereo takeover bid die; and ChatGPT starts talking back - why that matters to the marketing world.It’s a great day to become a paying member of Unmade. You get:* Member-only pricing for next week’s HumAIn conference * A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media UnmadeUpgrade todayThe all-seeing, all-talking AI...
2024-05-2026 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisLou Barrett on News Corp's sales evolution, and is the industry ready to try again for a local premium content exchange?Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade, in which we talk to the industry veteran in charge of delivering News Corp’s advertising revenues, Louise Barrett. Further down, a good day on the Unmade index for Australia’s TV players.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn (May 28) and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unmade.
2024-05-1629 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: ARN races to rescue SCA takeover as Anchorage wimps out; TV sports rights showdown; Is OpenAI going to take on Google?Welcome to Start the Week, our audio-led Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today: ARN Media fights to save its Southern Cross Austereo takeover as Anchorage Capital Partners gets cold feet; a crucial week in Parliament for TV sports rights; and is Open AI about to launch its Google challenger? Producing independent analysis of the media and marketing industry that goes beyond press releases takes time and resources. If you like what we do, you can support us by becoming a paying member. Upgrade todayCan ARN Media save its collapsing Southern Cross...
2024-05-1325 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Cost cutting on Nine agenda as Sneesby spray goes public; and SXSW unveiledWelcome to Start the Week, our audio-led Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today: Nine under pressure from investors as questions are asked about CEO Mike Sneesby’s behaviour to staffer; SXSW lineup unveiledToday:Nine boss Mike Sneesby gets ready to front the Macquarie investor conference, as The Australian reports that he puts pressure on one of his journalists over coverage of Stan. And SXSW revleas its first speakers for October’s Sydney event - it’s AI-a-gogo.Further reading:* Unmade: How news is becoming a collective industry...
2024-05-0620 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisProphet growth: How Jordan Taylor-Bartels is using big math to predict marketing goalsWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we’ve an episode of our series focusing on industry startups, The Unmakers. We talk to the latest entrant into the increasingly competitive marketing mix modelling sector, Jordan Taylor-Bartels, the co-founder of Prophet.In today’s episode of The Unmakers, we talk to Jordan Taylor-Bartels about Prophet, the analytics platform he’s been quietly building for the last three years, before finally publicly launching it in March.There were several industry investors attached to the launch, including Australian Community Media proprietor Antony Catalano, and ex-Dentsu (now Ba...
2024-05-0139 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: K+J Day; Cosmo is back; Google hides local ad revenue as Twitter's take collapsesWelcome to Start the Week, our audio-led Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today: Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson smash onto the Melbourne airwaves, and go full bore from the first talk break; Cosmo magazine is coming back; and the coming war between Australia and the digital giantsHave you considered becoming a paying member of Unmade to get the full picture? Only our paying members receive our members-only Tuesday analysis; get access to our archive where all our content is paywalled after two months; get their own copy of Media Unmade; and...
2024-04-2925 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: TikTok crackdown; Consumers' sauce sacrifices; Free-to-air ads slump 17%; ABC ups its marketing spendWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. Today: TikTok piles the pressure on the television industry as US legislators put the squeeze on the short form video platform; the TV revenue slump still hasn’t hit bottom; how consumers are making brand compromises in the cost of living crunch.Today:* The US House of Representatives voted over the weekend to force the Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok or be banned. That means the law could be on Joe Biden’s desk for signing within days if the Senate votes on i...
2024-04-2222 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisAnthony DeCeglie on the Nightly: 'There's a demand for quality journalism that's free, mainstream middle'Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we talk to Anthony DeCeglie, the editor-in-chief of Seven West Media’s Perth-based news masthead operations including The West Australian, Perth Now and the group’s newest text-led news brand - The Nightly.‘There’s nothing more impactful than a front page’: Anthony DeCeglie on why The Nightly is edition-ledToday’s conversation features two players from Australia’s news landscape.At the end of February, the country got a new national news brand - The Nightly, published from the same stable as The West Australian. Al...
2024-04-1835 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: The Bondi Junction attack - How 2GB led the way as the ABC went missing; Lehrmann verdict; Fast food ads nextWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. Today: How Nine’s radio and TV operations shone in the aftermath of Saturday’s Bondi Junction attack, while the ABC failed to launch and Seven named the wrong man.2GB steps up as other broadcasters failSaturday afternoon saw many broadcasters caught flatfooted as news began to break of the murderous attack at Bondi Junction. With weekend production levels and staff on holiday because of the school break, many were slow to react. The ABC’s TV news channel stuck with its rebroa...
2024-04-1521 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisHow Daniel Kahneman, the grandfather of behavioural economics, changed marketingWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today we discuss how psychologist Daniel Kahneman changed marketing thinking with his work on behavioural economics. And further down in this post, after hitting an all time low on Tuesday the Unmade Index continues to sink.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn (May 28) and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy...
2024-04-1136 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: James Warburton set to leave Seven next week; Bad pitches; How AI is driving copyright dodgingWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. Today: Warburton set to depart Seven West Media next Thursday; a failing grade for the pitch process; and how the AI giants are stealing content.Warburton brings forward exit as Lehrmann headlines swirl; problematic pitches; and AI corner cuttingToday:* James Warburton now set to leave Seven next week;* An new study suggests agencies are unhappy with the state of pitching* AI creators cutting corners on gobbling up training dataFurther reading:Unmade...
2024-04-0818 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysis'It's fear that stops men standing up. They don't want to rock the boat'Today’s conversation offers a depressing picture of how little progress the communications industry has made compared to other industries in making adland a safe environment for women.The discussion, convened by Unmade’s Cat McGinn, features Jasmin Bedir, Darren Woolley and Liam Walsh. A key question: are the industry’s male executives putting career expediency ahead of doing the right thing when they see a problem?Bedir is CEO of creative agency Innocean and founder of campaign group Fck the Cupcakes.Woolley is founder of marketing consultancy Trinity P3. In 2022, he began to inv...
2024-04-0445 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisAs Paramount+ preps its local ad tier, ANZ boss Beverley McGarvey and global chief Marco Nobili talk strategy, speculation and sportWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today’s conversation features the boss of Paramount’s Network Ten, Beverley McGarvey, in one of the first interviews since her promotion, alongside the global head of the Paramount+ Marco Nobili.Of all the media brands in Australia, the future of Paramount and its free to air network Ten, is the hardest to predict, with both global and local forces at play.Globally, the ownership of Paramount is developing into a tug-of-war between private equity house Apollo and content giant Skydance. Apollo appears to be interested in just the...
2024-03-2731 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Google tells agencies AI will eat their jobs; What was Accenture thinking?; Smart TV app verdict imminentWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. Today: New AI developments in agencies, search and film production; an odd job ad from Accenture; and we reach the pointy end of the smart TV apps debateIf you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn (May 28) and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event (November);* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media Unma...
2024-03-2418 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisVoice of the indies: Sam Buchanan on the rise of Independent Media Agencies AustraliaWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today’s edition features Sam Buchanan, boss of Independent Media Agencies Australia, the fastest growing of the new generation of industry associations.Also today, Seven West Media takes a 5% hit on its already challenged share price.Producing independent analysis of the media and marketing industry that goes beyond press releases takes time and resources. If you like what we do, you can support us by becoming a paying member. Upgrade today‘We haven’t been allowed into the nightclub, let alone the dance floor’: How IMAA is speak...
2024-03-2032 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: ACCC takes aim at search; SCA board spill gathers momentumWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. Today: The ACCC sets put how it plans to examine the search ecosystem; and the vote against the chair of Southern Cross Austereo approaches 40%Today: Search in the spotlight; SCA agitators close on 40% for anti-chair voteIn today’s conversation:* The ACCC begins its inquiry into the search market;* Google starts ‘nuking’ AI-created content from search results;* When the main Meta news deals end;* The push against Southern Cross Austereo’s chair intensifiesFurther...
2024-03-1714 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Countdown to Kyle; 'AI will do 95% of agency jobs'; Will Nine buy back Catalano's papers?Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today: OpenAI’s Sam Altman predicts 95% reduction in agency jobs; Melbourne radio gets ready for a huge week; and Nine talks to Antony Catalano about buying back his papers.Producing independent analysis of the media and marketing industry that goes beyond press releases takes time and resources. If you like what we do, you can support us by becoming a paying member. Become a member today!PerthboundUnmade publisher Tim Burrowes will be in Perth next week - from Mo...
2024-03-1022 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Media's coming war with Meta as Facebook turns its back on news; TV Fight Club convenesWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.MetacrisisToday:* Facebook pulls of of the news ecosystem, setting up a confrontation for parent company Meta* Looking ahead to this week’s Future of TV Advertising conference as the industry’s measurement divisions widenFurther reading:* Unmade: The wheels fall off for news* Australian Financial Review: Onerous demands and threats: Inside Facebook’s secret media deals* Australian Financial Review: Michael Miller - The time has come for parliament to fire its ca...
2024-03-0318 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStW: Media's 'extinction level event'; What to expect from SCA's financials; Another Google AI brand blunderWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn (May 28) and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event;* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media UnmadeUpgrade todayFrom Bard to worse during media’s cold snapToday:* Is media’s deep freeze finally hitting bottom?* C...
2024-02-2522 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisCan the radio industry persuade marketers to rethink their media buying strategies?Welcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade. Today’s edition features highlights from last week’s gathering of the audio industry’s commercial players for the Heard conference in Sydney.Marketing mastery and audio nirvanaLast week saw Australia’s audio trade body, Commercial Radio & Audio invite agency executives to its Heard event.Across the day, panels explored the emotional and rational sides of radio advertising, and put the case that radio deserves a reassessment of its place in the media mix.Today’s podcast features two of the panels, both moderated...
2024-02-2157 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisSTW - Hubbl revealed; Earnings season in earnest; Ten boss Jarrod Villani exitsWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:* Member-only pricing for our HumAIn (May 28) and REmade (October 1) conferences;* A complimentary invitation to Unmade’s Compass event;* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;* Your own copy of Media UnmadeUpgrade todayCountdown to HubblToday: * Hubbl reveals app partners ahead of this week’s launch;* Earnin...
2024-02-1817 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: Paramount in play?; ABC's big commercial hire; Amazon Prime Video's Aussie surge; Radio 'smears'Today:* What will it mean for Ten staff if Paramount changes hands?;* Commercial radio heavyweight Mike Fitzpatrick set for ABC switch;* Amazon Prime now reaches one-third of Aussie households;* Radio body’s unseemly “smear” rowFurther reading:* Unmade: Paramount on the block?;* Australian Financial Review: As billionaires vie for Paramount, a Network 10 sale looks more likely;* Capital Brief: Amazon leads the race for new Australian streaming subscribers ahead of ad tier launch;* The Australian: ABC Radio shake-upAustralian Financial Review...
2024-02-0417 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: The year of the ad streamers; Retail media's $1bn grab; ABC podcast data at last; What now for Seven?Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today:* Retailers to snatch $1bn+ away from media* The streaming ad tiers are coming* Will this be the week we finally get ABC podcast data?* How will Seven look after James Warburton?Further reading:* The Australian Financial Review: Major retailers threaten to siphon away $1.1b in advertising spend* Capital Brief: Dentsu tips streaming giants to make 'profound' ad market inroads in 2024* Unmade: A lucky general: How Warburton cleaned the...
2023-12-1021 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: Nine retains The Ashes; Media bosses step up platform lobbying; Consumers cut their streaming spendWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today:* The big media beasts kick anti-platform lobbying into gear;* Nine retains overseas Ashes rights;* New Foxtel costs revealed;* How the public is cutting their streaming spendFurther reading:* Australian Financial Review: Media chiefs demand ‘urgent’ curb of big tech* Australian Financial Review: Rod Sims - Take action to stop AI entrenching big tech’s market power* Australian Financial Review: Nine retains English Ashes contests until 2031 in new deal...
2023-11-0518 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: SCA seeks alternative buyers; SXSW Sydney report card; Performative goodWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today:* We discuss the first outing of SXSW Sydney;* What we learned at the Seven Upfronts;* Radio wars as Southern Cross Austereo courts investors;Further reading:* The Australian Financial Review: Southern Cross courts wider interest as board reviews ARN deal* Unmade: Value adds and valuing ads* Unmade: Seven’s spotlight* Unmade: What good is doing good? Leo Burnett's Catherine King on what the public expects from brandsTo...
2023-10-2328 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysis(Re)defining retail mediaWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade.Today’s edition features a particularly impactful panel from last week’s retail media conference, REmade.‘The path to purchase is not linear’ How the retail media landscape has changed againThe leaders of Australia’s emerging retail media sector returned to the stage last week for Unmade’s second REmade conference.Today we bring you the final session from the conference, the leadership panel, moderated by Unmade’s Tim Burrowes.It featured:* Mike Tyquin, MD of Woolworths’ Casrtology* Teresa April...
2023-10-1930 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: SXSW kicks off; ARN closes in on Kyle & Jackie O deal; end of Upfronts seasonWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Getting set for South by SouthwestToday:* South by Southwest hits Sydney;* Kyle & Jackie O’s $200m deal comes closer;* ACRA awards winners announced;* Upfronts season reaches final weeksFurther reading:* The Australian Financial Review: Kyle and Jackie O to take on Melbourne in new $200m KIIS FM contract* Radioinfo: ACRAs 2023: Full Winners List* Unmade: Telling brand stories to an agreeable audience* Unmade: 'It's like ad...
2023-10-1627 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysis'Know my role, play my role': Russel Howcroft on learning his new craft of radioWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade.Today’s edition features adman and radio host, Russel Howcroft, riding high after another 3AW ratings win.If there was anyone in the Australian marketing world who could be called a household name, it’s Russel Howcroft.Howcroft is the former CEO of what was once the iconic ad agency George Patterson Y&R and is now part of VMLY&R. He became recognisable to the Australian public after his 15 years as a panelist on the ABC’s Gruen, which is still the broadcaster’s top rating s...
2023-10-1243 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: Seven claims the year; News publishers ask for more cake; Market Herald chases rebrandWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today:* Seven lays claim to the ratings crown;* News publishers ask for a bigger slice of the advertising pie;* The Market Herald pivots to ‘The Market’;* Joe Aston to leave the Australian Financial Review;Today’s episode feature Tim Burrowes and Seja Al Zaidi.Further reading:* The Australian: Seven Network claims the rating crown in 2023 despite eight weeks remaining in the ratings year* Australian Financial Review: On the market...
2023-10-0920 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysis'The world's most secretive democracy': Peter Greste on Australia's press freedom problemWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade.Today’s edition features journalist and press freedom advocate Peter Greste, who became a global figure of attention in 2014 when he was held captive by Egyptian authorities for more than a year on baseless terrorism accusations.Why Peter Greste is chasing a media freedom lawPeter Greste wears many hats - former foreign correspondent, journalist, academic, activist, press freedom advocate and author. He was hailed as an icon for press freedom around the world when he and two Al Jazeera colleagues were imprisoned in Eg...
2023-10-0449 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysis'It's not doing what I aspired': How programmatic pioneer Brian O'Kelley is trying to fix his messWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade.Today’s edition of The Unmakers features Brian O’Kelley, founder of Scope3, which attempts to measure the carbon footprint of advertising. Back in the day he helped create the programatic advertising industry, although he’s not entirely proud of the that legacy.Further down, it was a poor day on the Unmade Index for the three TV players.The only way to access Unmade’s full archive, and our weekly Tuesdata analysis, is as a paying member. Unmade members also get discounted tickets to our events...
2023-09-2835 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: Foxtel loses patience with anti-siphoning; Ads come to Amazon's Prime VideoWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today:* News Corp prepares for life under a new boss;* Foxtel rails against media rules;* Amazon Prime Video to turn on ads in AustraliaToday’s episode feature Tim Burrowes and Abe Udy.Further reading:* Unmade: Rupert’s last big strategic move?* Australian Financial Review: ‘Feeding frenzy’ of laws unfairly hit Foxtel, Delany says* About Amazon: Update on Prime VideoTime to leave you to start your week.
2023-09-2522 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: Kyle and Jackie O push for $200m deal, Amazon tries to siphon TV ad revenueWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Only Unmade’s paying members get full access to all of our content and archives. Sign up today.Today:* Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson closing in on a record-breaking radio deal;* The invisible hand of Google;* Why every publisher talks about authenticity;* Nine Radio’s disclosure tangleToday’s episode feature Tim Burrowes, Seja Al Zaidi, and Abe Udy.Further reading:* Unmade: Publishers talk trust but does it matter?...
2023-09-1823 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysis'Brief once, personalise everywhere': How Avid Collective is trying to become a native content engineWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade.In today’s edition of the Unmakers, Unmade’s Tim Burrowes talks to Luke Spano, founder of Avid Collective, about his attempts to take the pain out of briefing native campaigns.Avid Collective, founded in 2017, has evolved from an unremarkable publisher to trying to solve a bigger publishing problem - how brands can brief out native campaigns at scale.Avid is carving out a place within the long tail of native content with the aim of making it easier for media agencies and brands to work with...
2023-09-1332 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: Countdown to Facebook news oblivion; Dissecting Nine's Upfronts: Retail media, AI ads and the price of Olympics sponsorshipWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.STW: How Nine’s pitch ranges from $500 self service ads to $12.5m Olympics sponsorship packagesToday:* Dissecting Nine’s Upfronts promises, RTLX, and their AI offering;* News Corp warns of AI-induced job losses;* Rough seas ahead for publishers as News Media Bargaining Code negotiations restart;* Our program reveal for REMade next month;Today’s episode feature Tim Burrowes, Seja Al Zaidi, Abe Udy and Cat McGinn.Further reading:* Unmade: Upfron...
2023-09-1123 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysis'We were doing AI before it was sexy': Sonnant's Tony Simmons on revolutionising audio contentWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade.Today’s edition of The Unmakers features Tony Simmons, founder of audio technology startup Sonnant. Anyone interested in understanding how spoken audio content will be monetised in the future will find it a fascinating listen.In today’s edition of the Unmakers, Unmade’s Tim Burrowes talks to Tony Simmons, CEO and founder of Sonnant, an Australia-founded AI platform for broadcast and podcast audio that is set to become a major player in the monetisation of digital audio.Sonnant uses AI to automate many of the...
2023-09-0728 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: What to expect from Upfronts season; payday for Clems shareholders; How much is online news worth to Google?Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today:* Upfronts season arrives - what to expect from Nine, Seven, Paramount, Foxtel, Are Media, YouTube and the independents;* Another payday for Clemenger Group shareholders as Omnicom increases its stake again;* Understanding how much online news content is worth;Today’s episode feature Tim Burrowes, Seja Al Zaidi and Abe Udy.Further reading:* Unmade: Hard to find a Voice* Australian Financial Review: Media giants line up to pitch to advertisers at th...
2023-09-0424 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: Harsh words for TMH management; Telstra's second streaming horse; Ita's farewell and Anderson's second termWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. Today: Streaming battles; Dodgy dealings at the TMH; and the verdict on Ita.* Ritson’s call to put the I back into AI* Ousted Market Herald boss Jag Sanger has harsh words about The Market Herald management;* Telstra unveils its move across to Fetch for home streamers* Telsyte reveals that while Netflix still dominates local streaming sits numbers are falling* SBS boss James Taylor joins ABC boss David Anderson in quietly signing new contract* The ve...
2023-08-2822 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: A rubbish start to earnings season, Ooh's profit fall; and a twist in government's anti-siphoning lawsWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today:* A rubbish start to earnings season;* The week in results;* A twist in the government’s sports siphoning laws;Today’s episode feature Tim Burrowes and Abe Udy.Further reading:* Unmade: Seven sets course for an unremarkable decade* Unmade: SCA disappoints the market* Unmade: Enero uncovers another Photon legacy to tidy up* Australian Financial Review: Fewer sports behind TV paywalls under proposed reforms* The Aust...
2023-08-2123 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: Matildas mania; Uplift in Tassie tourism; Is outdoor company QMS in play?Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today:* Matildas mania;* Is the uplift in Tassie tourism because of the ads?;* Could a QMS sale be on the cards?;Today’s episode feature Tim Burrowes, Seja Al Zaidi and Abe Udy.Further reading:* Australian Financial Review: Football Australia chases record TV deal after Matildas success* The Australian: Matildas’ historic success a bargain for Seven with record audiences tuning into the World Cup* The Australian: Tourism Tasmania’s market...
2023-08-1419 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisThinkerbell's Jim Ingram and Adam Ferrier on the measured magic of life after PwCWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade.Today’s episode features an interview with Adam Ferrier and Jim Ingram, co-founders of full service agency Thinkerbell. The agency recently bought back consultancy PwC’s stake in the business, returning it to full independence.It’s been six years since the launch of Thinkerbell, a communications agency with foundations in creativity, media strategy, public relations and until recently a foot in the consulting world too. Back when Russel Howcroft was leading PWC’s marketing consultancy arm, the company took a ten percent in the fledgling Thinkerbell which started...
2023-08-1040 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisPrivate Media's Will Hayward on the chase for growth, information niches and the mental health cost of fighting Lachlan MurdochWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade.In today’s podcast conversation with Unmade’s Tim Burrowes, Will Hayward, CEO of Private Media, discusses innovating within the confines of a challenging media landscape; where the company plans to take Private Media’s business model; the economics of publishing; and the personal toll of the company’s defamation battle with Lachlan Murdoch.Private Media runs four publications in Australia: news and investigations platform Crikey, small business masthead SmartCompany (which Hayward describes as the ‘reverse of Crikey’), Inc. Australia and public sector-focused The Mandarin.While Crikey might...
2023-07-2755 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: Will the market support a Credlin-Abbott podcast?; The intriguing thing about Domain's Review rebootWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Only Unmade’s paying members get full access to all of our content and archives. Sign up today.Today:* Peta Credlin and Tony Abbott’s new podcasting venture;* A reboot for Domain’s Melbourne print operation;* Twitter rival Threads finds its feet after first week;Today’s episode feature Tim Burrowes and Abe Udy.Further reading:* The Australian: Tony Abbott and Peta Credlin join forces for new Sky podcast* Australi...
2023-07-1019 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: Melbourne Cup in play; Business groups launch ad war; Cultural issues at the side hustle hurt Kochie's lap of honorWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today:* Tabcorp set to auction rights for Melbourne Cup;* The Market Herald awaits Takeover Panel outcome;* The launch of Radio 360;* Kochie’s last week at Sunrise, Shirvo announced as successor;* Toxic workplace allegations hit Kochie’s streaming business Ausbiz;* Mutinex continues its march;* Business lobby groups take aim at Labor with anti-IR campaignsToday’s episode feature Tim Burrowes and Abe Udy.Further reading:* Australian Financ...
2023-06-0521 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: A new Twitter clone from Meta; Coalition promises TV networks $46m tax cut; new hires at Scire; No love for subsToday:* Coalition proposes $46m TV tax cuts;* Survey reveals public support for government gambling ads ban;* Children’s commercial programming takes a nosedive;* A new Twitter clone from Meta;* Media startup Scire announces new hires;* Walkleys Foundation slammed for scrapping headline award;* Stan steps down from Q&A - will his replacement save the ratings?;Today’s episode feature Tim Burrowes and Abe Udy.Further reading:* Australian Financial Review: Coalition pitches $46m tax cut to TV networks after gambling ad a...
2023-05-2225 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: Qantas goes to war on the AFR; Jules Lund returns to radio; ABC addresses digital leadership deficitWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today:* Qantas goes to war with the AFR;* Jules Lund comes back to radio;* ABC looks for new management talent;* Scam ads infiltrating the influencer world;* TV networks oppose content requirements for streamers;* Was VOZ worth the wait?;Today’s episode feature Tim Burrowes and Abe Udy.Further reading:* Sydney Morning Herald: TV networks oppose content requirements for streaming services* The Australian: Prodigal son Jules Lu...
2023-05-0824 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: Total TV finally approaches; Eddie for 3AW drivetime?; How streaming quotas will work; Google's speaker blunderWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today:* TV industry finally gets its 3D view - but will it be enough for Foxtel?;* Pedestrian launches a TV channel;* How streaming quotas will work;* Will Eddie McGuire take a bigger 3AW gig?;* Google’s smart speaker switchoffToday’s episode feature Tim Burrowes and Abe Udy.Further reading:* Australian Financial Review: Television ratings overhaul took too long, OzTAM boss concedes* Australian Financial Review: Pedestrian.TV, agai...
2023-04-1723 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisThe Unmakers: Simon Hakim on building an incubator for challenger brands; Plus, a dip on the Unmade IndexCould Rightful incubate the next big brand?Today’s edition of The Unmakers features Simon Hakim, CEO of creative agency Hunter and co-founder of food and beverage innovation business Rightful, in conversation with Unmade’s Tim Burrowes.Hunter, now in its 13th year, launched with what was at the time an unconventional business model, which has since become more common - a decentralised team.The team behind Hunter are now working on their next project: taking on neglected brands, particularly from the consumer packaged goods space, and reinventing them. Rightful aims to work with...
2023-03-2939 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: TV industry's ratings system red faces; 69% think there are too many betting adsWelcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead.Today:* Public opposition to betting ads on the rise* Details emerge on Chris Janz’s Scire project* Was Foxtel overcounting TV audience?Today’s episode feature Tim Burrowes and Abe Udy.Further reading:* The Guardian: Majority of Australians support banning gambling advertising on TV, study finds* Unmade: Time up for betting ads* The Australian: Ex-Nine execs Chris Janz and David Eisman aim to fill news ‘void’ with business website* S...
2023-03-2718 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisNews Corp's Michael Miller on reaching 1m subscriptions, negotiations with Facebook, the economic challenge of AI, and navigating advertiser boycottsWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade.Today’s edition features one of the big beasts of Australian media - a rare, full length interview with News Corp Australasia’s executive chairman Michael Miller.It’s not quite fair to describe Michael Miller as a News Corp lifer. He joined the organisation as a junior marketer in April 1992, but briefly left during the tumultuous reign of Kim Williams. During that short period, he ran APN News & Media (these days known as HT&E) as its shifted its centre of gravity from newspapers to radio. Miller was th...
2023-03-2251 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisWhat the retail media industry needs to do nextWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade in which we share the final session of last week’s RE:Made - Retail Media Unmade conference. Last week’s RE:Made closed with a landmark panel. For the first time, the bosses of the retail media networks for Australia’s biggest two supermarkets shared the same stage.Mike Tyquin, managing director of Woolworths’ Cartology; Paul Brooks, general manager of Coles360; Pippa Leary, MD of client product for News Corp; and Melissa Wyness, chief media and operating officer of Mercato, joined a conversation moderated by Unmade’s...
2023-03-0844 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisNearly time to turn off the transmitters. The viewing shift is happening faster than you thinkWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade.TV’s inflection point is coming. Any time now (or maybe it happened in the last few weeks), the proportion of the Australian population who watch television the traditional way will fall below half for the first time.But as fast as traditional ways of watching are falling, new viewing habits are forming - or that’s what the data in Think TV’s regularly produced Fact Pack suggests.Analysis of OzTam data for the second half of last year by Think TV suggests that commercial audien...
2023-03-0136 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: Why 2GB split with Jim Wilson; Closing in on a cricket deal; Mega Meta cutsWelcome to the Start the Week podcast, looking at the agenda for the week ahead.Today:* Cricket, Olympics and tennis rights play out* Who won the TV ratings week* Why 2GB moved on from Jim Wilson;* Kyle & Jackie O’s unusual ratings jump* Communications minister on the stalled media regulations* Did the news media bargaining code work?* More chaos at TwitterFurther reading:* The Australian: Cricket Australia eyeing off a pre-Christmas broadcast rights deal* Sydney Morning Herald: Ol...
2022-11-1321 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisWhy Ooh Media's Cathy O'Connor has been anything but bored with outdoorWelcome to an audio-led edition of Unmade.Today’s interview features Ooh Media boss Cathy O’Connor reflecting on her first two years with the company, while further down we have the details of a red day on the Unmade Index.In today’s Unmade interview, I chat to Cathy O’Connor as she approaches the two year mark with Ooh Media.We cover a lot of ground, beginning with her reminding me that when she took the job I’d (wrongly) suggested she might find it boring, after the excitement of running Lachlan Mu...
2022-11-0337 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStart the Week: Elon's Twitter bloodbath begins; Mutiny's new start; the Rebel Wilson verdictWelcome to the Start the Week podcastToday:* Elon Musk bursts into Twitter* Mutiny rebrands as Mutinex, and makes a big hire* Verdict on the Seven and Ooh Media upfronts* Press Council verdict on the outing of Rebel WilsonToday’s episode features Tim Burrowes and Abe Udy. As always, we’d love to hear what you think at letters@unmade.mediaAudio production was courtesy of Abe’s Audio, the people to talk to about voiceovers and sound design for corporate videos, digital content, commercia...
2022-10-3024 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisThe Unmakers: Sinorbis founder Nico Chu on helping western marketers crack AsiaWelcome to an audio-led edition of The Unmakers, featuring Nicolas Chu, founder and CEO of Australian marketing technology startup Sinorbis.As well as running Sinorbis, Chu is former MD of Expedia Asia Pacific and Professor of Practice at UNSW Business School.Sinorbis helps marketers, mostly in the higher education and B2B sector, to tailor their messages using the right language and platforms for the countries they are targeting. The company already offers its services to clients in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and US.Yesterday Sinorbis announced it was expanding its offering...
2022-10-1926 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisThe Unmade podcast: Jag Sanger of The Market Herald on buying Gumtree and Carsguide, and launching a newspaperThis has been a significant week for the biggest Australian media company that you probably haven’t heard of. Headquartered in Perth and with more than 100 staff, The Market Herald has completed a $27m fund raising to buy classified sites Gumtree, Carsguide and, Autotrader.The Market Herald is parent company of the Hot Copper trading forum and the new acquisitions will catapult it the front row of the classified media battle. TMH is the seventh largest media company (of seven) listed on the ASX.In the Unmade interview, TMH’s CEO and founder Jag Sanger expl...
2022-09-2932 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisThe Unmakers: Troy Townsend and Jack Byrne of Zitcha - turning retailers into publishersIn today’s episode of The Unmakers, we talk to Troy Townsend and Jack Byrne, co-founders of Zitcha.Zitcha thinks of itself as a demand side platform for retailers, allowing them to use their owned assets to become publishers of brand messages.The duo have a strong media pedigree - Troy is a former boss of digital agency Tiger Pistol and Jack is managing director of independent media agency Hatched.In the week that Woolworths’ Cartology announced the $150m acquisition of Shopper Media, we discussed the fast growing retail media space, and the grow...
2022-07-2145 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisThe Unmakers: Austin Mackell of Stone - using technology to improve journalism transparencyIn today’s episode of The Unmakers, Tim Burrowes talks to Austin Mackell, CEO of Write In Stone.A foreign correspondent for much of his career, Austin now leads a team building the Stone transparency platform.The platform allows journalists to capture every stage of their research so that readers can see how an article was put together.Write In Stone is seeking investment of around half a million dollars, valuing the company at $5m. As you’ll hear, the conversation takes an unexpected turn when Mackell informs me: “F**k the investors.” Later, h...
2022-07-0852 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisThe Unmakers: Mutiny's SaaS bet to reinvent marketing analytics, and how it wants to reshape the industryWelcome to The Unmakers, Unmade’s latest podcast series where we talk to people who are trying to remake the media and marketing world. Each episode will feature people who are doing business differently. We're going to meet the startups, the troublemakers, and the dreamers who've looked at the communications industry and are trying to find a better way. If you're an unmaker with a story to tell about how you're changing the media and marketing world, we’d love to hear from you on letters@unmade.media. In today's first episode, Tim Burrowe...
2022-06-2336 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisHow The Brag Media's 'centre of culture' strategy led to an Australian edition of VarietyThe guest on today’s edition of The Unmade podcast is Luke Girgis, CEO of The Brag Media, which has quickly become the dominant publisher in the Australian music industry.He talks to Unmade’s Tim Burrowes about how The Brag Media came about, why they eventually passed on buying Junkee, and how Variety will be the company’s bridgehead into the screen industry.Transcript:Tim Burrowes:Welcome to unmade. I'm Tim Burrowes. My guest today is Luke Girgis, the CEO of Brag Media. Luke, welcome along. Now the reason for chatting this week i...
2022-04-0630 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisWith a senior exec named as abuser, has adland's belated #MeToo reckoning finally begun?In the latest edition of Unmade’s Start The Week podcast, Tim Burrowes and Damian Francis talk about developments in the world of media and marketing that broke over the weekend and this morning.Today’s episode deals with sexual harassment in the media and marketing industry. If you or someone you care about needs support, please contact 1800 RESPECT at 1800 737 732. In an emergency, call 000.Today’s topics:* The MD of one of Australia’s largest independent creative agencies is publicly named as a sexual predator;* Australia’s independent publishers plan to go dark as...
2022-03-1427 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisMedia Unmade - Chapter 13: Predator and PreyWelcome to the latest edition of the Unmade podcast. Today’s edition features another extract from the audio edition of my book, Media Unmade, which is published by Hardie Grant and available online and in book stores.We have now reached the half way point of the book’s 26 chapters. And we are at a pivotal point for the TV industry.The chapter opens with the day the now notorious “Jacketgate” video was leaked to Mumbrella.The action then switches to the arrival of Hugh Marks, as the newly appointed boss of Nine, and his...
2022-01-201h 14
Unmade: media and marketing analysisStreem's Elgar Welch on selling to Cision: 'The knocks at the door got louder'Australian media monitoring company Streem has been bought by the US-based Cision.Founder and CEO Elgar Welch joined Unmade’s Tim Burrowes to discuss how the deal came about, what it will mean for customers and where the company goes from here.The conversation can be heard via the player in this post, or the Unmade podcast can be found on all the major podcasting apps.TranscriptTim Burrowes:Welcome to a bonus edition of The Unmade Podcast. I'm Tim Burrowes. It's been a meteoric rise for media monitoring service, Streem, of...
2021-12-2226 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisThe Unmade podcast: Andrew Jaspan on his new publishing venture 360InfoWelcome to Unmade.In the latest episode I talk to one of Australia’s most credentialed media executives, Andrew Jaspan, about his newest venture, 360Info.Jaspan’s greatest career achievement to date was founding The Conversation, which has provided an editorial platform for academics globally. However, he departed in 2017 in acrimonious circumstances.During his career, Jaspan has also edited some of the world’s best known news publications including The Age in Australia and The Observer, The Scotsman, and The Big Issue in the UK.Like The Conversation, 360Info will once again...
2021-12-2052 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisUnmade podcast: Ten sales boss Rod Prosser on budgeting for growth in 2022 and launching another streaming serviceWelcome to the Unmade podcast.Today’s guest is Rod Prosser, chief sales officer at ViacomCBS, parent company of Network Ten.In today’s conversation, Prosser reflects upon his turbulent decade at Ten, the difference on-demand viewing is making to the linear TV equation, and his bullish prediction for 2022 revenues.And he also reveals that Pluto TV - the ViacomCBS-owned ad supported video streaming service - is just months away from an Australian launch.You can listen to the Unmade podcast via the player in this post. Unmade is also now avai...
2021-12-0632 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisUnmade podcast: Nine sales boss Michael Stephenson on going national and the demos that matterIn today’s podcast episode of Unmade, I chat to Michael Stephenson, sales boss of Nine.The timing was ahead of this week’s Nine annual general meeting and, coincidentally, just after Stephenson celebrated ten years in charge of what is now the country’s largest media sales operation.The discussion covers the ratings year, the rise of ad-supported streaming, the rival networks’ techstack battles and the move to a national sales operation.During the conversation, Stephenson reveals that from July 1, WIN staff will become Nine employees. I think that’s new info. At the tim...
2021-11-0727 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisMedia Unmade - Chapter Two: The New Adventures of Lachlan MurdochIn this edition of the Unmade podcast, we share Chapter Two of the audio version my book Media Unmade.The text version of the book is published by Hardie Grant and is available from bookshops and online.Today’s chapter opens in February 2010 at a party in Sydney thrown by Nova shortly after the arrival of new boss Lachlan Murdoch.The chapter - The New Adventures of Lachlan Murdoch - shares the story of how Murdoch finally became a media owner in his own right after leaving News Corp, through the purchase of DM...
2021-11-0656 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisUpfronts podcast with Ten bosses Jarrod Villani and Beverley McGarveyWelcome to Unmade’s second podcast edition.Today saw ViacomCBS share its plans for 2022, across Ten, Paramount Plus and the rest of its broadcast channels. There are several new formats, a big new soccer rights acquisition and new advertising formats.The company’s two local executive vice presidents, Bevereley McGarvey, and Jarrod Villani, both joined me for the converation. As well as talking about the slate, I asked Villani asked whether Ten might be open to acquiring either Prime or Southern Cross Austereo’s TV operation to round out its national offering.I’ll be ba...
2021-10-2034 min
Unmade: media and marketing analysisSeven's 2022 upfronts: Sport, data and a LOT of old favouritesThe Unmade podcastWelcome to the first edition of the Unmade podcast.Today saw Seven’s 2022 Upfronts.The company was second into the market this year - Nine went first, last month, and Ten rounds things off next week.If I’ve done the technical things right, you’ll be able to listen this podcast on your favourite apps as well as in the player above. But, like all new things on Unmade, bear with me if I get it wrong the first time.I’ll be following up on the p...
2021-10-1228 min