What the media industry in Australia is talking about today

Agencies & HoldCos

• HOUSTON GROUP: Amanda Szylo Duncan appointed chief strategy officer at Houston Group (AdNews)
• HOUSTON GROUP: Houston Group adds Amanda Szylo Duncan as Chief Strategy Officer (mediaweek)
• HOUSTON GROUP: Houston Group appoints Amanda Szylo Duncan as chief strategy officer (Mi3)
• IPG MEDIABRANDS: ARN adds Foxtel and IPG Mediabrands talent to leadership team (mediaweek)
• IPG MEDIABRANDS: ARN Hires Former Foxtel & IPG Mediabrands Execs (B&T)
• IT’S FRIDAY: It’s Friday secures Zeekr Australia creative account with ‘Settle No More’ platform (Mi3)
• PUBLICIS: Publicis’ $3.9B LiveRamp Deal Sparks Industry Questions Over Data Neutrality & AI Power Play (B&T)
• PURPOSE DISRUPTORS: James Greet Brings Purpose Disruptors To Australia (B&T)
• TONIC: ‘The Standout Choice’: Tonic Boosts Aussie Growth With Morgans Financial Appointment (B&T)
• TONIC: Tonic appointed to lead Big Dry Friday PR campaign (mediaweek)
• TONIC: Tonic Communications to lead PR for Big Dry Friday for Morgans Financial (Mi3)
• TOWN SQUARE: City Of Melbourne Embraces The Cold With ‘Melbourne At Its Most Melbourne’ Campaign Via Town Square & Zenith Australia (B&T)
• TWO PALMS: Two Palms lands Ferrari and Turo social accounts (mediaweek)
• ZENITH: City Of Melbourne Embraces The Cold With ‘Melbourne At Its Most Melbourne’ Campaign Via Town Square & Zenith Australia (B&T)

Companies & Advertisers

• ATLASSIAN: Ex-Block APAC comms lead joins Atlassian (Mumbrella)
• CITY OF MELBOURNE: City Of Melbourne Embraces The Cold With ‘Melbourne At Its Most Melbourne’ Campaign Via Town Square & Zenith Australia (B&T)
• CITY OF MELBOURNE: City of Melbourne embraces winter with ‘Melbourne at its most Melbourne’ (mediaweek)
• CITY OF MELBOURNE: City of Melbourne unveils winter campaign to boost visitation (Mi3)
• COLES: Gami Chicken teams up with Coles on Korean fried chicken range (Mi3)
• CULTURE KINGS: Culture Kings’ blueprint for kicking the retail sugar high (mediaweek)
• FERRARI: Two Palms lands Ferrari and Turo social accounts (mediaweek)
• GAMI CHICKEN: Gami Chicken teams up with Coles on Korean fried chicken range (Mi3)
• JACOB’S CREEK: Special Pops Cork On Global Jacob’s Creek Creative Brief (B&T)
• KALÓ YOGHURT: Kaló Yoghurt campaign features Poseidon to highlight authenticity (Mi3)
• KLAVIYO: Discount addiction is killing retail growth, finds Hurman, Klaviyo study: 7 in 10 events lead to negative profit; top-line revenue decline and train loyal customers to seek sales (Mi3)
• LG: LG returns to MasterChef Australia as viewers eye appliance upgrades (mediaweek)
• MCCAIN: McCain pitches creative (AdNews)
• MENULOG: Ex-Menulog CMO Simon Cheng resurfaces (Mumbrella)
• MORGANS FINANCIAL: ‘The Standout Choice’: Tonic Boosts Aussie Growth With Morgans Financial Appointment (B&T)
• MORGANS FINANCIAL: Tonic Communications to lead PR for Big Dry Friday for Morgans Financial (Mi3)
• PASSENDO: ACM partners with email ad server Passendo (AdNews)
• PLUS FITNESS: Sundance Fitness Continues Exclusive Media Partnership With Plus Fitness Parent Viva Leisure (B&T)
• RED BULL: Val Morgan Cinema launches glasses-free 3D ads with Red Bull (mediaweek)
• SUNDANCE FITNESS: Sundance Fitness Continues Exclusive Media Partnership With Plus Fitness Parent Viva Leisure (B&T)
• SUNDANCE FITNESS: Sundance Fitness Media signs exclusive partnership with Viva Leisure (AdNews)
• TICKETEK: Banducci leaves Ticketek Entertainment Group, new CEO announced (Mi3)
• TIPPING POINT: TV Ratings (20/5/2026): Tipping Point Claims Game Show Crown (B&T)
• TURO: Two Palms lands Ferrari and Turo social accounts (mediaweek)
• VIVA LEISURE: Sundance Fitness Continues Exclusive Media Partnership With Plus Fitness Parent Viva Leisure (B&T)
• VIVA LEISURE: Sundance Fitness Media signs exclusive partnership with Viva Leisure (AdNews)
• WARNER BROS.: ‘I Could Hear People Screaming’: WBD’s Sasha Mackie Recalls ‘Overwhelming’ Women In Media Awards Win (B&T)
• X: Elon Musk’s X fined for failing child protection in Australia (AdNews)
• ZEEKR: It’s Friday secures Zeekr Australia creative account with ‘Settle No More’ platform (Mi3)

Industry & General Topics

• ADVERTISING: Google says AI-generated answers, not keywords, will define the future of advertising as search undergoes a huge overhaul; agentic commerce incoming (Mi3)
• AI: Fun and fucking scary’: Industry reacts as Google reveals suite of AI ad tools (Mumbrella)
• AI: Google says AI-generated answers, not keywords, will define the future of advertising as search undergoes a huge overhaul; agentic commerce incoming (Mi3)
• AI: Google turbo charges the search box with AI power (AdNews)
• AI: Nobel Prize-winning author admits using AI in writing process (mediaweek)
• AI: Publicis’ $3.9B LiveRamp Deal Sparks Industry Questions Over Data Neutrality & AI Power Play (B&T)
• ALGORITHM: Who do you call when the algorithm scares your kids? (Mumbrella)
• AUDIENCE PRECISION: Audience Precision drops media arm (AdNews)
• AUDIENCE PRECISION: Audience Precision shifts focus to audience intelligence, exits media planning and buying (Mi3)
• CAVALCADE OF CRAP: Cavalcade of crap: Warning from the London Podcast Show (Mumbrella)
• DISCOUNT ADDICTION: Discount addiction is killing retail growth, finds Hurman, Klaviyo study: 7 in 10 events lead to negative profit; top-line revenue decline and train loyal customers to seek sales (Mi3)
• LONDON PODCAST SHOW: Cavalcade of crap: Warning from the London Podcast Show (Mumbrella)
• SPONSOR ACTIVATION: Divergent Approaches Show There’s More Than One Way To Skin The Sponsor Activation Cat (B&T)
• TV RATINGS: TV Ratings (20/5/2026): Tipping Point Claims Game Show Crown (B&T)
• WOMEN IN MEDIA AWARDS: ‘I Could Hear People Screaming’: WBD’s Sasha Mackie Recalls ‘Overwhelming’ Women In Media Awards Win (B&T)

Media Owners & Content

• ACM: ACM partners with email ad server Passendo (AdNews)
• ACM: Australian Community Media partners with Passendo for enhanced email advertising (Mi3)
• ARN: ARN adds Foxtel and IPG Mediabrands talent to leadership team (mediaweek)
• ARN: ARN appoints director of strategy and head of commercial finance (AdNews)
• ARN: ARN beefs up leadership in strategy and finance (Mi3)
• ARN: ARN Hires Former Foxtel & IPG Mediabrands Execs (B&T)
• FORBES: Forbes Australia expands editorial team (AdNews)
• FOXTEL: ARN adds Foxtel and IPG Mediabrands talent to leadership team (mediaweek)
• FOXTEL: ARN Hires Former Foxtel & IPG Mediabrands Execs (B&T)
• GOOGLE: Fun and fucking scary’: Industry reacts as Google reveals suite of AI ad tools (Mumbrella)
• GOOGLE: Google says AI-generated answers, not keywords, will define the future of advertising as search undergoes a huge overhaul; agentic commerce incoming (Mi3)
• GOOGLE: Google To Bring Meridian Into Google Analytics 360 (B&T)
• GOOGLE: Google turbo charges the search box with AI power (AdNews)
• LISTNR: LiSTNR and The West Australian launch cocaine investigation podcast (mediaweek)
• MAFS: ‘You’re silenced’: ‘MAFS’ Au wife claims she saw abuse of other wives (mediaweek)
• MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA: LG returns to MasterChef Australia as viewers eye appliance upgrades (mediaweek)
• NEW YORK MAGAZINE: James Murdoch acquires New York Magazine and Vox (AdNews)
• NEW YORK MAGAZINE: James Murdoch buys New York magazine and Vox Media podcast division (Mumbrella)
• NINE: Nine shareholders approve sale of regional TV stations (AdNews)
• NINE: Nine today asks shareholders to approve sale of regional TV stations (AdNews)
• RADIO CAROLINE: ‘The King has died’: UK radio accidentally announces Charles’ death (mediaweek)
• REDDIT: Reddit launches dual attribution for app advertisers (mediaweek)
• REDDIT: Reddit launches dual attribution for app advertisers (mediaweek)
• SBS: SBS selects David Fernandez as national manager, digital & TV sales (Mi3)
• SNAP: Snapchat introduces Unified Attribution for app advertisers (mediaweek)
• SUNDANCE FITNESS MEDIA: Sundance Fitness Media signs exclusive partnership with Viva Leisure (AdNews)
• THE WEST AUSTRALIAN: LiSTNR and The West Australian launch cocaine investigation podcast (mediaweek)
• VAL MORGAN: Val Morgan Brings Glasses Free 3D Ads To Cinemas (B&T)
• VAL MORGAN: Val Morgan Cinema launches glasses-free 3D ads with Red Bull (mediaweek)
• VAL MORGAN: Val Morgan Cinema launches glasses-free 3D advertising (AdNews)
• VISTAR MEDIA: Vistar Media shows 3D motion lifts DOOH brand awareness by 67% (mediaweek)
• VOX MEDIA: James Murdoch acquires New York Magazine and Vox (AdNews)
• VOX MEDIA: James Murdoch buys New York magazine and Vox Media podcast division (Mumbrella)

People

• AMANDA SZYLO DUNCAN: Amanda Szylo Duncan appointed chief strategy officer at Houston Group (AdNews)
• AMANDA SZYLO DUNCAN: Houston Group adds Amanda Szylo Duncan as Chief Strategy Officer (mediaweek)
• AMANDA SZYLO DUNCAN: Houston Group appoints Amanda Szylo Duncan as chief strategy officer (Mi3)
• BRAD BANDUCCI: Banducci leaves Ticketek Entertainment Group, new CEO announced (Mi3)
• CAROLYN STEBBING: Melbourne Confidential: Carolyn Stebbing (B&T)
• CHARLES: ‘The King has died’: UK radio accidentally announces Charles’ death (mediaweek)
• DAVID FERNANDEZ: SBS selects David Fernandez as national manager, digital & TV sales (Mi3)
• ELON MUSK: Elon Musk’s X fined for failing child protection in Australia (AdNews)
• JAMES GREET: James Greet Brings Purpose Disruptors To Australia (B&T)
• JAMES HURMAN: Discount addiction is killing retail growth, finds Hurman, Klaviyo study: 7 in 10 events lead to negative profit; top-line revenue decline and train loyal customers to seek sales (Mi3)
• JAMES MURDOCH: James Murdoch acquires New York Magazine and Vox (AdNews)
• JAMES MURDOCH: James Murdoch buys New York magazine and Vox Media podcast division (Mumbrella)
• SASHA MACKIE: ‘I Could Hear People Screaming’: WBD’s Sasha Mackie Recalls ‘Overwhelming’ Women In Media Awards Win (B&T)
• SIMON CHENG: Ex-Menulog CMO Simon Cheng resurfaces (Mumbrella)

Updated: Thu 21 May 2026, 2:56 pm