Gruen to return for 16th season on ABC

Gruen is set to return for its 16th season on 15 May on ABC and ABC iview. 

Host Wil Anderson will be joined by a panel of advertising experts including Todd Sampson, Russel Howcroft, and Dee Madigan to unpack the world of advertising, and how the world is "walking the streets under the influence of influencers, slowly transforming into brands ourselves."

Host of Gruen Anderson spoke to Mediaweek in November about his other ABC program, Question Everything, revealing a few behind-the-scenes secrets that he's picked up during his more than two decades on-screen.

“Like many things over the years, you pick things up as being your little quirks,” he said. “I went and saw David Letterman do his show in New York and it was freezing cold in the studio and when I read about it later, he said he always liked the studio audience to be cold because, he joked, it ‘keeps the jokes fresh’. But what he really meant was that hopefully once they start applauding and cheering and the show starts going and the lights [go on] and all that sort of stuff, it all warms up.”

See also: Ever wanted to be in the studio audience of Question Everything? Wil Anderson tells us what to expect

Madigan runs agency Campaign Edge, Sampson is a TV presenter and the former CEO of Leo Burnett, and Howcroft has had a career spanning agencies, TV companies, and now, radio and podcasting.

Speaking to Mediaweek in March, Howcroft said he wasn't sure if there was a more competitive industry than the advertising industry, but the Melbourne radio market is probably the closest thing. 

With Kyle and Jackie O hitting the Melbourne airwaves from 29 April, the duo are no doubt eyeing up the market’s current breakfast heavyweight: Howcroft and Ross Stevenson‘s 3AW show. 

Howcroft isn’t scared. “Competition brings out the best. It brings out the best in the best,” he said.

“It’s a significant market, the Melbourne market. biggest radio market in the country. Significant revenue on the commercial side. And the 3AW breakfast listener, as I say, they are a huge part of our show.” 

See also: Russel Howcroft on K&J hitting Melbourne, adland’s ‘pure economy’, and Nine’s podcast push