Australia’s media industry has suffered through its worst year in living memory, with the COVID-19 pandemic inflicting a further blow to a market already weakened by a series of natural disasters to pull the market back 14.7% in the 2019/20 financial year.

But according to the Standard Media Index, the only good news is that the worst is over, with the decline in June ad spend the lowest since March and stronger forward booking data clearly showing the market has begun to rebuild.

Media advertising markets in the Australian, US, NZ, UK and Canadian are averaging a 28.2% decline in advertising expenditure in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Standard Media Index.
 
SMI, which collects and publishes media Agency payment ad spend data, based the analysis on its collection of advertising payment data from its multinational and independent media Agency partners in the US, UK, Australian, NZ and Canadian markets from the start of the pandemic in March to the end of May.
 

Benztown and the P1 Media Group have partnered with Radiodays Europe, Radiodays Asia and RDE Podcast Day to present “The Coronavirus Radio

The Australian Radio and Podcast Industry Sector Consultation Group has issued a set of COVID-19 Safe Studio Principles to support the broadcast industry to safely produce live and pre-recorded content.
 
The Guidelines have been developed by AFTRS, in consultation with industry, to provide a resource that can assist with safety while COVID-19 restrictions and containment measures are in place.
 

With the first half of this year unlike any other, AirCheck Australia has tallied the Top 50 Most Advertised Brands.

As a whole, the number of ads on radio was down 10% compared with the same time frame last year. Between January and June in 2019 there were 4.3 million spots placed, while during this year that dropped to 3.9 million instances.

Harvey Norman was yet again out in front, with 101,324 ads placed on 51 stations, followed by National Tiles and Domayne.

The NEMBC Multilingual News Service about COVID 19 will continue as a report available twice a week.

The ABC has committed more than $3 million to date from its Fresh Start Fund to help kickstart Australian productions and content ideas during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the launch of the $5 million development fund on 23 April, the ABC has earmarked some $3.2 million of the total to more than 80 productions and ideas for new Australian dramas, documentaries, comedies, music, arts and children’s content.

The Standard Media Index is reporting that Australia’s media industry has felt the full consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the economy in April,.