news articles 30 march 2005

[Inside Australian Idol]

Callea still on top
March 30, 2005


Anthony Callea ... nobody raining on his parade this week.
Photo: Andrew Meares

Australian Idol runner-up Anthony Callea was more like a winner after his double A-sided single Rain/Bridge Over Troubled Water claimed the top spot on the Australian singles chart for a second week.

It topped a busy week for Callea, in which he released his debut album and announced a nationwide tour to begin in Victoria on May 5.

Delta Goodrem and Brian McFadden's love duet remained in second position on the chart, while Jesse McCartney's Beautiful Soul moved up three places to third.

Nelly's Over and Over fell four places to number seven.

The Australian albums chart is dominated by three new entries.

Queens Of The Stone Age's Lullabies to Paralyze couldn't quite knock Jack Johnson's In Between Dreams from the top spot, and debuted at number two.

The special tour release of John Farnham and Tom Jones, Together In Concert - also a new release - slotted in behind at number three.

International vocal quartet Il Divo's self titled album entered the chart at number six, while 50 Cent's The Massacre dropped six places to number nine ahead of the Killers' Hot Fuss, which may be spending its last week in the top 10 after 22 weeks in the chart.

Australian singles chart

1(1) Rain/Bridge Over Troubled Water - Anthony Callea
2(2) Almost Here - Delta Goodrem and Brian McFadden
3(6) Beautiful Soul - Jesse McCartney
4(4) Let Me Love You - Mario
5(5) Candy Shop - 50 Cent
6(7) Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani
7(3) Over And Over - Nelly feat. Tim McGraw
8(8) 1, 2 Step - Ciara
9(9) Get Right - Jennifer Lopez
10(11) Evie Parts 1, 2 & - 3 The Wrights

Australian albums chart

1(1) In Between Dreams - Jack Johnson
2(-) Lullabies To Paralyze - Queens Of The Stone Age
3(-) Together In Concert - John Farnham & Tom Jones - John Farnham & Tom Jones
4(2) It's Time - Michael Buble
5(5) The Sound Of White - Missy Higgins
6(-) Il Divo - Il Divo
7(4) American Idiot - Green Day
8(6) Love, Angel, Music, Baby - Gwen Stefani
9(3) The Massacre - 50 Cent
10(7) Hot Fuss - The Killers

AAP


www.smh.com.au/news/Music/Callea-still-on-top/2005/03/29/1111862379568.html

[Inside Australian Idol]

Ten Network expects record run
March 30, 2005
From: AAP

TEN Network Holdings today said it expected a record performance in the current financial year after posting a solid jump in first half net profit.

The television broadcaster of Big Brother and Australian Idol today reported a net profit of $53.452 for the six months to February 28, 2005, up from its 2003/04 first half net profit of $43.6 million.

The figure was higher than consensus forecasts of an interim net profit of $52 million.

Executive chairman Nick Falloon said the company's television and out of home (OOH) advertising divisions were continuing to experience encouraging revenue growth into the second half of the fiscal year. "Given our financial results to date and the likely continuation of solid advertising demand we are confident Ten Holdings will deliver a record performance in the current financial year," Mr Falloon said.

"From a television viewpoint, despite the intense competition between the networks, we believe the depth of our program schedule across the ratings year will ensure another victory in the key 16-39 demographic.

"In regard to program costs it is essential that Ten continues to invest in content on the basis that it not only appeals to our core demographic but also meets our margin and profit expectations."

He said that would always remain the network's strategy.

Mr Falloon said he hoped the Federal Government would push ahead with changes to cross media and foreign ownership laws as a matter of priority.

"The existing laws are an unnecessary constraint on this company's capacity to grow and also restrict the opportunities for many people to invest in the Australian media sector," Mr Falloon said.

Ten's chief executive of television, John McAlpine, said the broadcaster remained the leading network in its key 16-39 demographic despite the competitive start to 2004, and was set to hang on to the number one spot. "Many of our biggest and best shows are still to come, including Australian Idol and Big Brother, while the AFL has just kicked off," Mr McAlpine said.

Ten had negotiated a positive outcome in renewal discussions with advertising buying groups and key clients and expected to retain its high revenue share, he said.

Mr Falloon said Ten delivered the best financial outcome in the commercial television sector with an earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin of 44.7 per cent.

"As usual we clearly outstripped our commercial rivals in margins, and now, for the first time, we achieved the highest interim television earnings of all the networks," Mr Falloon said.

The result came on the back of an 15 per cent rise on the previous corresponding quarter in television revenue to $433.8 million.

OOH revenue rose 48 per cent to $58.7 million while group revenue rose 18 per cent to $492.5 million.

Mr Falloon said Ten was keeping its costs under control despite the competitive start to the ratings year.

"For the interim period there was, once again, no increase in operating expenses, while total costs (ex selling costs) rose only 5.1 per cent."

Shareholders received their first fully franked payment of 15.5 cents a share for 2004/05 in January, the second dividend will be detailed in June and paid in July.


finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,12700599-462,00.html