HT&E Chairman Says Outdoor, Radio & Digital Has “Strongest Balance Sheet” In Australia Media

HT&E chairman Hamish McLennan (pictured) says outdoor, radio and digital media is in the strongest position across all Australian media as the coronavirus crisis continues to impact the industry.
Speaking at the HT&E digital general meeting on Thursday, McLennan said the company has “one of the strongest balance sheets in Australian media”.
He said: “While some businesses are struggling with their capital structures, your company had $111 million net cash at the end of 2019, no undrawn debt and a radio business generating strong cash conversion.”
This is despite recording a profit slump in 2019, with net profit after tax before exceptional items and discontinued operations was $38.5 million, down from $39.1 million the previous year.
In 2018 HT&E sold off its OOH business Adshel to oOh!media for $570 million, while in 2019 the company ended its short-lived esports venture Gfinity Esports Australia and sold publishing business The Roar.
Last month it took a 4.2 per cent stake in oOh!media after the out-of-home company asked the market for an emergency capital raising.
McLennan said: “We recently maintained our optionality in what we believe will be a consolidating sector by purchasing a stake in oOh! Media.
“Having sold Adshel to oOh! for $570m, it is a business we know well, we believe in the emerging strengths of a combined radio and out of home offering we look forward to being constructive long term shareholder in the business.”
HT&E’s Australian Radio Network is the home of hosts such as Kyle & Jackie O on KIIS network and Jonsey & Amanda on the Pure Gold network.
Latest News

WE Communications Australia Announce New Leadership Roles
WE Communications, an independent global integrated communications firm, has announced Gemma Hudson (pictured) as executive vice president of Health Innovation and Growth, a newly created role. Dan Woods has been appointed to her former role of managing director. Hudson will accelerate sector growth opportunities and cement the agency’s health sector proposition both in Australia and […]

Nimble Moves Away From The Bunny Suit In New Work Via Monster & Bear
Payday lenders are the modern equivalent of hocking a car stereo at Cash Converters.

Val Morgan Digital And TheFork Launch Thrillist Serves
Here's some foodie news for the gourmands out there. But that's not to suggest anyone can't sink their teeth into it.

JOY Appoints Phil Watson And Katie Chandler To Leadership Team
JOY appoints Phil Watson & Katie Chandler to leadership team, as headless interloper interrupts accompanying press pic.

Anathea Ruys Named CEO Of UM Australia
B&T has corrected this article and would like to confirm that André Rieu has NOT been named UM's new CEO.

Influencer Platform Social Soup Launches New Division, Soup Pro
Influencer platform Social Soup launches a new division called Soup Pro that's sadly not being led by Sharon Croutons.

BWM Dentsu Launches Charles Sturt Uni’s Zero-Tolerance Campaign Against Sexual Misconduct
New campaign tackles the very serious issue of sexual misconduct on uni campuses. Toga parties & pingas escape mention.

Women Leading Tech: IntelligenceBank’s Tessa Court On Why Building A Business Is The Ultimate Form Of Creativity
Here are wise words from IntelligenceBank's Tessa Court. You could say they're both intelligent and bankable.

Apparent Grows Media Division With Three New Hires
Full service agency Apparent has expanded its dedicated media division with the appointment of Phoebe Chan as head of media and advertising operations and Jaclyn Ely as client partner, media. Headed by former Naked Communications and Ikon executive John Halpin, Apparent’s media division has seen 88 per cent growth over the past 12 months across […]

Northern Territory Launches ‘Seek Different’ Campaign To Attract Interstate Travellers, Via KWP!
Crocs once again front & centre of new NT campaign, making it the ideal vacation for anyone wanting a hook for a hand.

GroupM New Zealand Launches AI-Powered Influencer Marketing Platform
GroupM NZ launches AI-powered influencer platform. But not before joyfully popping the box's accompanying bubblewrap.

“Embrace Your Niche Desire”: Facebook Celebrates Personalised Ads In New Work Via Droga5
Facebook unveils new work from Droga5. B&T has not sought comment on it from Josh Frydenberg.

“Makes Me Sick!” Woman Filmed In Supermarket Removing G-String To Use As Impromptu Mask
B&T warns this involves a woman with a pair of knickers on her head. We advise you scroll for more highbrow journalism.

Sunday TV Wrap: Numbers Down Across The Board In A Slow Sunday
TV numbers are down but are expected to climb as MAFS contestants get stuck into the vino and start their rooting.

Emma Montgomery Returns To Australia As CEO Of Leo Burnett Sydney
Emma Montgomery takes the reins at Leos Sydney. The Clydesdale providing excellent manure for the agency's roses bed.

30U30: Dentsu ANZ CEO Angela Tangas – “We’re In A Good Position For Growth In 2021”
There's always plenty to learn from an Angela Tangas interview. Admittedly, the Hadron Collider is not discussed here.

Ladbrokes Unveils Its Mark Wahlberg Work Via Thinkerbell
These Mark Wahlberg ads are a little lowbrow. Yet, still superior to Daddy's Home and Mark's entire music career.

WPP AUNZ Announces More Consolidation With The The Ogilvy Network
Jens continues to run the red pen and ruler over WPP's operations. With a splattering of sauerkraut from his sandwiches.

The Shannon Company Launches ‘Speak Up And Save LGBTIQ+ Lives’ Campaign To Help Prevent LGBTIQ+ Youth Suicide
‘Speak Up And Save LGBTIQ+ Lives’ is the focus of the newest Behaviour Change campaign, developed by The Shannon Company. The campaign aims to prevent suicide among LGBTIQ+ people aged between sixteen and twenty-seven years, who are five times more likely to attempt suicide than non-LGBTIQ+ people. Transgender people in Australia aged over eighteen are […]

Novatti Empowers iGoDirect Launch Of True Rewards Visa Digital Gift Cards In Australia
iGoDirect is powering an innovative digital gift card solution for businesses and consumers

Why Everyone Is Talking About Identity Graphs
Identity Graphs have emerged as a way to bring customer data together in a centralised place. But when it comes to marketing and discovering new audiences, this technology is about so much more than collating data, explains smrtr’s co-founder and CTO Boris Guennewig. Identity on the internet is a multi-faceted phenomenon. It might exist in […]

Finland’s Coldest Town Launches Summer Olympic Games Bid To Raise Awareness About Climate Change, Via Agencia Africa
https://vimeo.com/515870840. www.savesalla.com In short, we created and launched the “bid” campaign for Salla, a small town from the Finnish Lapland – and the coldest in the region - to host the 2032 Summer Games. The announcement was made on the municipality’s official social media and - as expected - caused weirdness and people started talking about it. After all, how could a super cold small town be able to host the Summer Games? Then at a press conference with the mayor of the city and specialists he revealed that the bid was indeed a climate wake-up call, aimed at drawing the world’s attention to the consequences of global warming and the need for urgent action. Since its launching the initiative has been generating a lot of buzz and gaining support from environmental organizations, activists and the general public. People from more than 60 countries have been talking about the subject, especially in a moment of industries recovery, when the sustainable growth will be essential.

Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Releases New Summer Campaign, Via Carat
Bundaberg releases new summer campaign, somewhat ironically on the first day of autumn.

Riding The CTV Wave: How Advertisers Can Cash In On The Video Revolution
Here are top tips on cashing in on the video revolution. Or, you could simply go to the casino and put it all on black.

Creating Efficiencies in the Age of Consumer Privacy
In this opinion piece, Jess Miles, Country Manager ANZ of Integral Ad Science, reflects on the questions surrounding consumer data. The ability to collect consumer data online has revolutionised digital advertising by enabling customised targeting strategies and data collection. This reliance on data has been the cornerstone of many audience targeted strategies enabling marketers to […]

Jye Smith Named President Of Vibewire Board
After ten years of board leadership of the young entrepreneurial collective Vibewire, Founder & Co-CEO of Disruptors Co. Gavin Heaton is passing the torch to fellow strategy and creative leader Jye Smith, Founder and Director of branding and design studio DOUBLESTAR CO, who will now take over as Board President.

The Peers Project And Alibaba Group Launch Entrepreneur Podcast Series, ‘The Build Up’
There are now so many podcasts in the world that it would take the average person 98.9 years to find an interesting one.

AnalogFolk Promotes Two Senior Staff
AnalogFolk has promoted two senior staff, but not promoted enough to secure a spot in the downstairs carpark.

“Destroying The World!”: Confusion Reigns As Mr Potato Head Goes Gender Neutral
Mr Potato Head goes gender neutral. Barbie apparently happy she's no longer the most marginalised one in the toy aisle.

New Mercedes G-Class Campaign From Akkurat Studios Makes A “Pointe”
B&T arrived to work this morning in a chauffeured Mercedes-Benz. Well "chauffeur/government bus driver", same thing.