Business Spectator and The Australian partner for digital subscriptions
News Corp Australia has announced Business Spectator and The Australian will partner for digital subscriptions.
The announcement:
The CEO of The Australian and general manager and publisher of Business Spectator, Nicholas Gray, today announced that the two brands will combine digital subscriptions from the week commencing 10 February.
Registered users of Business Spectator will be invited to purchase a digital subscription which will give them full access to BusinessSpectator.com.au and all The Australian’s digital products including its website, mobile site and iPad and android apps.A single subscription to Business Spectator and The Australian will cost $4 per week. Registered Business Spectator users will be given exclusive introductory offers.
Mr Gray said: “Together, Business Spectator and The Australian offer the country’s best premium business news, opinion and analysis. I’m pleased that we are now able to enhance The Australian’s digital subscription packages to include full access to Business Spectator, while offering new subscribers to Business Spectator the opportunity to enjoy unlimited access to The Australian’s digital products.”
Business Spectator editor-in-chief Alan Kohler said: “Moving to a subscription service will allow us to not only continue to provide the high quality business news and insights our audience has come to expect, but also to give them access to The Australian and exclusive content from The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones.
“More importantly it will allow us to invest in Business Spectator in a way we’ve never been able to before now. In the coming months we’ll be launching a new home page, compelling new video content, enhanced markets data, improved newsletters and a range of new subscriber features.”
New head of business video
Mr Gray also announced that the editor of Business Spectator, Jackson Hewett, will take on an additional, new role as head of business video for Business Spectator and The Australian.
In this role, Mr Hewett will report to both Mr Kohler and The Australian’s business editor, Geoff Elliott, and be responsible for producing regular high quality video segments for The Australian and Business Spectator. This will include a daily program each morning that wraps the overnight global markets, features key stories of the day in The Australian’s Business section and interviews with senior business leaders on topical issues.
Mr Gray said: “The appointment of Jackson to this new role demonstrates our ongoing commitment to and investment in producing high-quality, thought-provoking business journalism in innovative and engaging ways.”
New combined sales team
Mr Gray also announced details of a new, combined sales team for The Australian, Business Spectator, Eureka Report and WSJ.com in Australia which will be led by general manager sales Rachel Savio.
Katie Flannigan has been appointed head of strategy and partnerships.
In this expanded role, Ms Flannigan will be responsible for developing, selling and executing rich and innovative partnership models including events and conferences for The Australian, Business Spectator, Eureka Report and WSJ.com in Australia.
Ms Flannigan, who joins The Australian from News Corp Australia’s national sales team where she was group account director, will report to Ms Savio.
Ms Flannigan’s appointment follows the appointment of Vaughan Cottier as deputy general manager sales and Craig Manning as key categories manager, who join the team today from Fairfax Media where they worked in senior roles in its Financial Review Group and Commercial Real Estate divisions respectively.
Ms Savio said: “Through our united sales team, advertisers and brands have access to a premium audience of more than 3.5 million Australians across print, digital, tablet and mobile. Our strategy will see us continue to uncover new and innovative revenue opportunities to connect these advertisers with their consumers.
“We will also have a greater vertical focus on our key categories to develop deeper relationships with brands and advertisers across property, finance, travel, recruitment and education.
“Over the last few months, we have built the talent and capabilities within the team and I am confident that we have the right team in place to take The Australian forward as it enters its 50th year. The addition of Business Spectator, Eureka Report and WSJ.com in Australia to the portfolio only strengthens our offering to advertisers increasing integration opportunities between the brands.”
