ThinkTV in free fall as Ten pulls out
Paramount’s Network Ten has pulled out of ThinkTV, in effect sealing the fate of the TV industry body that already appeared doomed with the exit of CEO Kim Portate this week.
As reported by Mi3, Ten informed ThinkTV in June it would be withdrawing its support – with payments ending December – after an eight-year alliance between Australia’s commercial broadcasters. ThinkTV was formed in 2016 to promote the benefits and reach of linear TV as audiences fragmented and the digital platforms continued to gain ground.
In 2020, ThinkTV merged with News Corp-owned News Media Works to form the Premium Content Alliance, which was unwound in 2023. Foxtel also jumped ship at that time.
A Network Ten spokesperson confirmed to Mumbrella the network is “no longer [a] shareholder of ThinkTV, but remain focused on optimising and deepening collaboration with our fellow broadcasters and existing industry groups to effectively champion the power and importance of Total TV to the advertising market and community.”
Ten’s chief sales office Rod Prosser has left the ThinkTV board. It is understood that Ten will continue supporting the VOZ Total TV measurement system.
This news comes in the same week that Mumbrella broke the departure of ThinkTV CEO Kim Portrate, with the body confirming “the structure and direction of ThinkTV has […] shifted”.
Kim Portrate
On Monday, Seven West Media’s managing director and CEO of Seven West Media Jeff Howard told investors during its earnings call this week the network was reviewing its relationship to the industry bodies, saying “we want to make sure we’re getting the best value”.
Howard also touted “improved industry collaboration” between Seven, Ten, and Nine, saying the network chiefs had been “sitting down and talking about where we are doing things duplicate, or triplicate in some cases, and where we might be able to partner more effectively.”
For a detailed analysis of the ThinkTV situation read Tim Burrowes’ editorial.
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