16 August 2023

Australia's gone wild for the Matildas. Is this the turning point for women's sport in this country? Has it changed the way brands think about sport, and should the companies who backed them from the beginning be getting more praise?

Also today:

Join Michael Thompson, Adam Lang & Damian Francis for a look at everything under Australia’s media and marketing umbrella.

Join Sefiani boss Robyn Sefiani and Clarity Global Group's Sami McCabe on a journey of how and why the agency was acquired at the start of the year. 

"What the fresh hell is this?" is a question many Twitter users may have uttered in the last 48 hours as they log into their accounts only to be hit in the face by a giant X. The team looks at the latest instalment of billionaire Elon Musk's rebrand execution for Twitter and examines what it means for ads on the platform (2:34). Then, News Corp's Dan Krigstein (10:33) and oOh!media's Cathy O'Connor (33:18) join the chat. 

As the first game of FIFA Women's World Cup approaches, drama has emerged elsewhere in the sports world as the 2026 Commonwealth Games is now without a host – following Vic Gov's decision to pull out of its hosting duties. The team looks back on what turned out to be a big week of sports news (2:13). Then, a chat with Fear & Greed's co-founders, Michael Thompson and Sean Aylmer, on the business of business podcast (15:10). 

As global results of media agency billings were released by insight company COMvergance, serious questions about its Australian figures remain unresolved (1:24). The team assesses the situation before reflecting on the first week of Meta's Threads, and if we should care about it (9:51). Then, a chat with Nova's chief growth officer Adam Johnson on its latest ratings (19:41) and Ogilvy PR's head of editorial Brian Corrigan on the agency's new B2B influencer offering (37:13). 

In an extended news chat, the team discusses the recent rumours of Kyle and Jackie O returning to their old network SCA (1:52), before doing a mid-year check on the TV ratings of old guards and new formats so far (9:13). Then, a glimpse into the new Twitter rival, Threads, developed by Meta, about what we know so far and what’s to come (18:57).

The Australian advertising industry is on the verge of another drastic change, as a parliamentary inquiry into the state of online gambling ads has led to 31 sweeping recommendations, which, if adopted, could amount to a blanket ban for the category. The team discusses the news (2:00) before an audio campaign review with Connecting Plots' Tim Collier and CHEP's Amy Weston (12:09). 

The team examines a new push for a junk food advertising ban from independent MP Dr Sophie Scamps and the resulting industry response (3:30), before looking at EssenceMediacom exec Pat Crowley's new in-house gig with long-time client, Commonwealth Bank (14:11). Plus, a chat with Rich Curtis on FutureBrand Australia's new B Corp Certificate and its meaning beyond sustainability (20:06). 

Following Four Corners' investigation into the commercial deals between sports codes and betting brands, the team dissects the impacts of these arrangements on advertising (2:17), before a deep dive into GroupM's latest forecast figures on the global ad industry (10:27). Then, a chat with industry veterans James Greet and Steve Pollack on launching their new gig, The Payback Project, in Australia (17:29). 

The team unpacks Victorian Government's message behind its decision to stop spending on print advertising (2:17), before discussing the launch of a new indie agency, Reunion, by ex-CHEP CEO Justin Hind (8:04). Then, a chat with CRA's Deb Hishon and ARN Media's chief executive, Ciaran Davis, on the revamped Total Radio measurement system, Radio 360 (12:12), and a sit-down with music festival promoter Casey Katz, of Untitled Group (26:12).