Aussie TV icon Don Burke accused of Weinstein-like abuses
A major Fairfax Media/ABC investigation has pointed the finger at former gardening TV host Don Burke, publishing accusations that he “indecently assaulted, sexually harassed and bullied a string of female employees” over the course of two decades. According to The Australian, Burke has already called in defamation lawyers following the allegations calling them “false and defamatory” in a statement. The SMH says more than 50 people were interviewed and have made serious allegations against Burke. AdNews is not making any statement about the allegations, only that they have been reported. The Sydney Morning Herald story calls him “a ‘psychotic bully’, a ‘misogynist’ and a ‘sexual predator’ who indecently assaulted, sexually harassed and bullied a string of female employees.” The paper even reports former CEO of Nine David Leckie on the record saying: "I've been trying to think of Harvey Weinstein-type people [in Australia] and the only one I can ever come up with is Burke. He was a horrible, horrible man." Channel Nine has issued a statement saying its current leadership is "not in a position to comment on these specific allegations or on how these sorts of matters may have been dealt with in the past". “The allegations are extremely serious; the behaviour described is completely unacceptable and would not be tolerated at Nine today."
Hughesy & Kate dumped early
Kiis FM’s Hughesy & Kate show has been taken off the air two weeks early. It was announced in early October that Hughesy & Kate would leave Australian Radio Network to join rival radio group Southern Cross Austereo’s Hit network. Dave Hughes took to Twitter to confirm it was their last day on Kiis with the network not allowing the duo to say farewell to their fans on air. In other radio moves, ARN announced Laurie and Tilley’s Melbourne breakfast show would be axed and replaced by New Zealand drivetime hosts Polly ‘PJ’ Harding and Jase Hawkins. Laurie described her time at the netwrok as a “deeply weird two years”. AdNews has approached ARN for comment. ARN commented that it's not "uncommon" for talent to finish up early. They will be replaced by Brendan Danger with a focus on more music for Melbourne listeners and local announcers in each market will host drive until the KIIS National Network’s new drive show Will & Woody starts in 2018.
Just found out today was @HughesyAndKate’s last Drive Shift at @ausradionetwork. We’ve had a blast with so many good people there and are pumped to be on @HitNetworkAUS in 2018! #lucky
— Dave Hughes (@DHughesy) November 24, 2017
OMA to deliver audience numbers monthly
Outdoor’s audience continues to grow, according to the latest figures from the industry body Outdoor Media Association (OMA). The data from its MOVE measurement tool (Measurement of Outdoor Visibility and Exposure) shows overall audiences have grown 2.2% throughout 2017, ahead of population growth which sits at 1.7%. Thanks to advances in technology, from 2018, OMA will deliver monthly audience numbers. Move updated its data sets in 2017 and now includes data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics; population and employment levels across more than 17,800 separate travel zones; changes to transport infrastructure; changes to public transport routes; new signs and updates to trip attractors in each travel zone, including shopping centres and school enrolments. It believes outdoor advertising across the 81,980 ad sites it measures now reaches 12.6 million people daily - year on year growth of 200,000 people each day.
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