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What got you clicking? Here are Mumbrella’s 50 most-read content pieces of 2024

Our readers clicked and we had a look. Here are the top 50 overall most-read stories of the year on Mumbrella. 

Media updates, creative campaigns, a Weekend Mumbo and opinion pieces – our readers were definitely hungry this year.

Here’s the 50 biggest content pieces of 2024.

50. Additional charges made against Alan Jones

NSW Police and notable media figures spoke publicly following the arrest of Australian broadcaster, Alan Jones.

49. Telstra ad hit with complaint alleging sex and nudity breach

An animated Telstra commercial featuring two kangaroos and a snowman received an Ad Standards complaint alleging it breached sex and nudity rules.

Telstra commercial

48. Agencies considering pulling out despite Campaign Brief apology; Questions arise around ‘pay to play’ model

In October, the industry erupted after trade forum Campaign Brief released its latest edition of The Work, with the spread showcasing a clear lack of diverse representation across the board.

As the industry reflected, questions emerged around the publication’s ‘pay to play’ policy. And while the forum’s publisher, Michael Lynch, and industry body, the Advertising Council of Australia, did speak out, some agencies asked if it was too late, as they considered cutting their relationships with Campaign Brief.

47. Essential strategies for marketers adapting to a potential US TikTok ban – Kaveh Vahdat

As a potential TikTok ban looms, mastering how to effectively maintain engagement and reach younger demographics is crucial for marketers targeting the US market. Kaveh Vahdat, founder and president of RiseOpp, explored this in June.

46. ‘It’s good to be wanted’: Mark Geyer in demand after Triple M dumping

In early December, Mark Geyer spoke publicly for the first time since he was abruptly dumped from Triple M after 17 years, confirming that other media outlets had already approached the rugby league legend.

45. Triple M Sydney announces new breakfast show, confirms Mark Geyer’s departure

Triple M Sydney confirmed the departure of Mark Geyer after 17 years while announcing its new breakfast team that week.

44. ‘No payment, settlement or concession’: Seven Network confirms it didn’t settle after Robert Ovadia drops lawsuit

The Seven Network confirmed to Mumbrella that it did not financially settle with Robert Ovadia after the sacked crime reporter dropped a wrongful dismissal case against the media company.

43. TV network owner suing TVSN after Seven deal

Billionaire Bruce Gordon, owner of WIN and the biggest single shareholder in Nine, sued shopping channel TVSN after it signed a deal with the Seven Network this year.

42. Network 10 presenter and Wallabies legend reportedly sacked

Popular Network 10 presenter and Wallabies legend Matt Burke was reportedly sacked after more a decade with the broadcaster.

Matt Burke

41. ABC dumps Mornings presenter Sarah Macdonald

ABC Sydney’s Mornings presenter, Sarah Macdonald, announced that her contract had not been renewed for 2025.

40. Long-standing 7News reporter leaves for rival network

7News Brisbane faced another major blow in August with the departure of reporter Steve Hart, who left to join Wollongong’s WIN News.

39. Nine AFL panel show to go ahead tonight despite ‘crisis meeting’ reports as hosts rumoured to depart

In late September, Mumbrella understood that Nine’s popular footy panel show would go ahead on Tuesday night, following reports of a “crisis meeting” at the media giant.

38. Nine Radio responds to ‘heavily onerous’ breach hit to 2GB’s Ben Fordham

Nine Radio responded to a breach it was issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in August, involving 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

37. ‘Let’s bloody well try something’: Seven news boss explains newsroom changes as new 7NEWS presenters revealed

The newly-announced Sydney 7NEWS line-up was the latest in a string of movements in Seven Network’s newsroom, and according to Anthony De Ceglie, those changes were all about taking the company in a new direction.

(L-R): Mark Ferguson, Angela Cox (credit: Jeremy Piper)

36. Potential Foxtel buyer revealed

In November, a London-based sports streamer was reportedly in talks with News Corp to buy its 65% stake in Foxtel.

35. Kim Williams was correct: Shift from lifestyle sees ABC News become Australia’s most-read site

New chair Kim Williams’ public criticism of the ABC’s online news focus clearly hit home, as the broadcaster’s renewed focus on hard news saw it overtake news.com.au as the country’s most-read news site.

34. Former Nine News director reportedly engages lawyer after leaving network

The former Nine News Queensland director was reportedly pursuing legal action against the media giant after departing the week before.

33. Sharyn Ghidella announces next move after Seven Network departure

Only weeks after announcing her shock departure from the Seven Network, beloved TV news presenter Sharyn Ghidella announced her next move.

32. HBO Max to launch streaming service in Australia

Warner Bros Discovery’s local president confirmed that the Max streaming service will be launching in Australia during the first half of 2025.

31. Live Nation hits back at ‘inaccurate and unbalanced’ Four Corners investigation

With Four Corners set to target one of Australia’s biggest media companies, Live Nation, on an upcoming episode in October, the live events giant hit back at the ABC.

30. While Coles and Woolies are under the pump, ALDI is going on holiday

In what was being dubbed an Australian first for supermarkets, ALDI launched a new travel range.

29. ABC takes aim at The Australian for ‘baseless’ report over Four Corners’ Seven investigation

The ABC blasted a report published by The Australian regarding the national broadcaster’s then-recent Four Corners investigation into the Seven Network.

28. Who’s going to buy Foxtel? – Nathan Jolly

In this instalment of the Weekend Mumbo, Mumbrella’s Nathan Jolly looked at who Foxtel’s potential buyer could be.

27. Amber Harrison turns to Nine and News Corp after Four Corners snub

After being omitted from Four Corners’ evisceration of Seven’s workplace culture, despite featuring in the trailer, Amber Harrison turned to both News Corp and Nine papers in order to be heard.

26. The rise and fall of Tupperware and Avon – Dr. Arry Tanusondjaja

Dr. Arry Tanusondjaja, senior marketing scientist at the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, marked the rise and fall of the once-popular Tupperware and Avon brands, which relied on local entrepreneurs, neighbourhood parties, and door-to-door sales.

25. ‘We should never have known’: PR experts react to disastrous It Ends With Us press tour

The press tour for Sony Pictures’ romantic drama, It Ends With Us, set the internet on fire with speculation of clashing castmates (particularly between its leading stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni) and tone-deaf promotional conduct.

It was PR chaos – so we asked the experts what went wrong and what needed to be done to fix it.

Credit: Sony Pictures

24. Here’s the real reason why Ten’s The Masked Singer has been benched

Fans of shiny-floor singing show The Masked Singer were disappointed earlier this year when Channel 10 announced that neither The Masked Singer nor The Bachelor would be returning to screens in 2024, despite being announced at Ten’s upfront.

Daniel Monaghan, Paramount ANZ’s senior vice president of content and programming, spoke to Mumbrella on the matter.

23. ‘Few have impacted our industry and its people more than Lisa’: Vale Lisa Ronson

Tributes begun flowing in for one of Australia’s leading marketers, Lisa Ronson, who passed away in a tragic all-terrain vehicle accident in November.

22. Sydney radio wars rocked as 2GB and Fordham fall from grace

Sydney’s radio market had a mammoth shake-up. 2GB had been dethroned as the overall leader, dropping to fourth place in market share.

While Kyle and Jackie O’s struggle in Melbourne continued, the pair maintained the top Breakfast slot in Sydney, according to the  GfK Radio Ratings at the beginning of October.

21. Class action launched against Coles and Woolies: ‘The average Australian consumer could be eligible for a refund’

In mid-November, a class action suit had been filed against Coles and Woolworths, with the law firm involved predicting a range of payouts to Australians from $200 to over $1,300.

20. ‘The Four Corners program backfired’: Seven’s Kerry Stokes slams ABC for ‘hypocrisy and entrenched cultural problems’

Kerry Stokes launched an attack on the ABC during Seven West Media’s annual general meeting, accusing the national broadcaster of hypocrisy and unfair reporting.

19. Seven Network reportedly issues legal letter after Big Brother jumps back to Ten

The Seven Network reportedly issued a legal letter to TV production company, Endemol Shine Australia, over a ‘hold back’ on Big Brother.

18. ‘WTAF?’: Confusion surrounds sacking of popular radio presenters

A number of high-profile and popular radio presenters across Australia had been axed in November, which had been met with confusion and anger by listeners.

17. ‘We’re bloody proud to be here’: Jase and Lauren dethrone O’Connell; Kyle and Jackie O not on podium

Nova’s Jase and Lauren took the top spot in Melbourne’s fiercely contested Breakfast FM radio wars, with Kyle and Jackie O’s new show on their former broadcaster KIIS 101.1, nowhere to be seen.

16. SCA boss reveals reason behind shock axing of Hughesy, Ed and Erin 2DayFM breakfast show

In August, Hughesy, Ed and Erin abruptly ended their 2DayFM breakfast show mid-week, after four years in the slot.

There was no on-air farewell, and although “some of our families living in different cities” was given as the official reason the trio was “unable to commit to 2025”, the truth was far less cosy.

15. Spotify AUNZ unmasks users’ ‘music generation’ in new campaign

The Australian and New Zealand division of music streaming mega giant, Spotify, launched an innovative campaign that unpacked their customers’ music tastes based on age generations.

14. ‘Eight years in the cult is enough’: Mona marketing director Robbie Brammall calls it quits

Mona’s director of marketing and communications and ex-adland creative director, Robbie Brammall, called it quits.

Brammall worked for a number of brands on behalf of Mona owner David Walsh, including the Museum of Old and New Art, Mofo Festival, and Moo Brew Brewery.

13. XXXX paint eastern Australia gold, via Thinkerbell

From early September, areas of Australia’s east coast hosted XXXX’s GOLD campaign, via Thinkerbell.

12. Seven Network weather presenter to take on 7NEWS anchor role

7NEWS weather presenter, Angie Asimus, landed a new hosting gig that put her on the weekend anchor seat beside long-time anchor, Michael Usher.

11. ‘We are aware of many more situations’: We talk to ABC’s Louise Milligan after Four Corners’ Seven investigation

ABC’s Four Corners launched its 2024 season with an investigation into Channel Seven’s workplace culture, in which complaints of workplace bullying, sexual harassment, and whistleblowers not being listened to, were laid bare.

Reporter Louise Milligan spoke to Mumbrella about the investigation, the reaction, and what happens next.

Louise Milligan

10. ‘One of the most soul-crushing places you can work’: ABC Four Corners investigates Seven’s workplace

In August, ABC was officially gearing up to take aim at Seven’s workplace culture in a new Four Corners episode titled ‘Don’t Speak’.

Louise Milligan and the Four Corners team spoke to more than 200 people for the story, including current staff who “believe[d] there is a desperate need for change at both Seven and the broader commercial television industry”.

9. ‘This came as a shock’: Another presenter dumped by ABC

ABC Radio Sydney weekend host Simon Marnie was the latest presenter to be dropped by the national broadcaster at the end of November, following the shock axing of Sarah Macdonald.

“After a week or so of speculation I can confirm that the ABC has looked at its Weekend Structure in 2025 and informed me they do not have a role for me in that structure. This came as a shock and I am still processing what it means for me,” Marnie wrote on Instagram.

8. Eddie McGuire meets with Seven weeks after slamming the network on live TV

Eddie McGuire reportedly took a meeting with Seven’s news boss Anthony De Ceglie, as rumours flew that McGuire will defect to the network in order to host a late night talk show.

7. ‘What was the point of speaking out if perpetrators are not called out?’: Karl Stefanovic reacts to Nine’s cultural report

Karl Stefanovic spoke out about the shocking Intersection report handed down regarding Nine’s workplace culture.

Speaking on Today, Stefanovic expressed his sympathies towards the victims, as well as his anger that not enough has been done.

6. ‘It remains heartbreaking’: Tim Minchin had to learn to ‘love the process’ after his DreamWorks film was axed

Tim Minchin opened up about the “heartbreaking” axing of a DreamWorks film he was nearly halfway through completing.

The beloved Australian revered actor, writer and musician was helming the $90 million animation, Larrikins, for the studio behind blockbusters like Shrek and Madagascar when it was shut down in 2017, reportedly following the sale of DreamWorks to the parent company of Universal Pictures, Comcast.

The all-Australian story was to feature heavyweight names like Hugh Jackman, Margot Robbie and Naomi Watts – who had all completed their voice work – while Minchin was also scoring the movie with legendary film composer, Hans Zimmer.

5. ‘We just had no idea’: Jim’s Group founder responds to reports of misconduct and breaches

The founder of the famous Jim’s Group hit back at reports that one of its businesses was embroiled in misconduct and regulation breaches in an interview with Mumbrella.

4. Female staff members reportedly walk out of Seven town hall during Mariah Carey Christmas dance

Female staff members at Seven Network reportedly walked out of a town hall meeting as “Sexy Santa” dancers performed a routine in front of the team.

Originally reported by the Australian Financial Review, four dancers came out in front of the town hall being led by Seven Perth news director, Ray Kuka, to perform a routine to Mariah Carey’s holiday hit, All I Want for Christmas Is You, in anticipation of the upcoming Alinta Energy Christmas Pageant.

3. ‘It’s an industry-wide issue’: Top lawyer says ‘more people coming forward’ after Four Corners’ Seven investigation

For a number of years now, Joshua Bornstein has been representing “a number of women in the commercial TV news industry” pursuing claims of sexual harassment and unlawful discrimination.

The principal lawyer at Maurice Blackburn appeared on Four Corners’ investigation of Seven’s workplace culture, where he said the “brutal workplace culture” at the network was the worst he’s seen in 25 years.

In August, Bornstein spoke to Mumbrella about the investigation.

2. ‘It’s great that Channel Copycat is just taking something we’ve done for 18 years’: Eddie McGuire slams Nine presenters moving to Seven

Eddie McGuire slammed the hosts of long-standing Channel Nine show, Footy Classified, for defecting to Seven, calling the rival network “Channel Copycat” in a live spray on the Today show in September.

McGuire’s comments were targeted at three of the Footy Classified hosts – Kane Cornes, Caroline Wilson and Craig Hutchison – who will be defecting to Seven next year.

1. ‘Households could claim between $2,000 and $5,000’: Coles and Woolies face class action

Coles and Woolworths were facing two costly class action suits as law firms circled the supermarket giants.

Carter Capner Law and GMP Law were both investigating potential class action suits against Coles and Woolworths for breaking Australian consumer law, following news that the ACCC launched legal action against the supermarket giants.

“Early estimates suggest that households could claim between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the amount spent and the impact of the deceptive pricing,” Carter Capner law director Peter Carter said, telling Yahoo! his firm was hit with an “avalanche of calls from outraged customers” after he spoke to the media about the issue.

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