News

TICKER VIEWS – Who Wants to Win an Award?

Published

5 years ago

April 22, 2021

While viewers are fleeing TV Awards shows, advertisers remain.

Remember the old days of getting round the TV with your family, turning on the TV and watching the Academy Awards? You might have organised a fancy dress party where everyone comes as their favourite 1930s Hollywood character from the golden era.

Or perhaps you had a tipping competition for who would win Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Actor?

For decades, awards shows provided a front-row seat to TV viewers’ favourite performers.

But over the past year, awards shows struggled to gain eyeballs even though people were stuck at home watching countless hours of Hollywood content.

Both the CBS telecast of the 63rd Grammy Awards (9.2 million viewers on March 14) and NBC’s presentation of the 93rd Golden Globe Awards (6.9 million viewers on Feb. 28) dropped more than 50% from 2020 levels.

That’s bad news for awards shows and especially for the mother of all awards shows – the Oscars.

If the ratings of TV awards shows don’t bounce back after pandemic restrictions ease, the events will be an expensive problem for the networks carrying them.

In Australia, the TV industry’s Logie awards is essentially propped up by government funds and tourism bodies.

Despite the declining ratings, TV networks thus far persist with the shows.

The reason is simple, if not a bit demoralising for the TV industry: Even with mediocre ratings, these major events are still among the most-watched of any programming on linear TV, outside of sports.

And just like the TV industry, the ad industry is scrambling too.

US broadcaster ABC has sold out of commercial time in the telecast, with sales in part driven by a huge number of first time Oscars advertisers.

Oscars advertisers include: Google, General Motors, Rolex, Verizon, AARP, Adidas International, Apple, Corona, Eli Lilly, Expedia, GSK, Honda, Kellogg, Keurig, Mars, Procter & Gamble, Power to the Patient, and Subway, among others.

For them, the Oscars provide one of the only platforms to connect their brand to luxury and everything Hollywood glamour represents.

But the question is – how much lower can the ratings go before advertisers see no value. Increasingly, advertisers are looking for “return on investment” over “brand awareness”. That’s why cheesy jingles have been replaced by targeted commercials focusing on part of the brand’s target market.

The Oscars, and other awards shows, are big and bold, but are they still relevant? With the public, less so, but with paying advertisers, they are still providing bang for their buck.

Money

AI fears rattle global markets and investors

AI developments cause market volatility, with European software and US tech firms facing significant declines amid rising uncertainty.

Published

5 hours ago

February 16, 2026

Harvey Vargas

AI developments cause market volatility, with European software and US tech firms facing significant declines amid rising uncertainty.

Global stock markets are experiencing heightened volatility as concerns about AI disruption sweep across industries. Investors are closely monitoring which sectors could be most affected as the technology continues to evolve.

Recent announcements from major US AI companies sent waves through international markets, highlighting the interconnected nature of global finance and technology. European software giants such as Dassault Systèmes and RELX saw significant declines, underscoring the global reach of AI developments.

UBS analysts warn that the impact of AI disruption could intensify in 2026 and 2027, with potential ramifications for a wide range of sectors.

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News

One Nation matches coalition as Liberal backing slides

One Nation’s support hits 23%, equaling Coalition; Labor leads at 32% as Liberals reach record low.

Published

6 hours ago

February 16, 2026

Harvey Vargas

One Nation’s support hits 23%, equaling Coalition; Labor leads at 32% as Liberals reach record low.

One Nation has surged to match the Coalition under Angus Taylor, each claiming 23 per cent of primary vote support. This is the first time the party has tied with the Liberals, signalling a major shift in voter sentiment.

The Coalition’s backing has dropped from 28 per cent in January to a record low, while Labor gains ground with 32 per cent of the vote. Analysts say this could reshape the political landscape ahead of the next election.

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News

Iran and U.S. restart nuclear negotiations with diplomacy in focus

Iran-US nuclear talks restart; diplomacy favored amidst economic interests and potential energy deals, mediated by Oman, amid high stakes.

Published

6 hours ago

February 16, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Iran-US nuclear talks restart; diplomacy favored amidst economic interests and potential energy deals, mediated by Oman, amid high stakes.

Iran is pursuing a new nuclear agreement with the United States aimed at delivering economic benefits to both sides, as negotiations restart over its long-running nuclear programme. With tensions simmering for years, both nations are signalling a desire to avoid military confrontation and stabilise the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says President Donald Trump prefers a diplomatic path forward, while Iran has indicated it is open to compromise in exchange for sanctions relief. The renewed talks mark a significant moment in efforts to de-escalate one of the world’s most volatile geopolitical flashpoints.

Oman is mediating the discussions, which are focused exclusively on Iran and the United States, even as Washington increases economic pressure and Tehran promotes potential deals in energy and mining to sweeten the negotiations.

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