Tapt’s digital push amid Roberts-Smith interview
By Calum Jaspan
Tom Malone, chief executive of Tapt Media, which owns 2GB and 3AW, said the interview will showcase the company’s digital transformation in its new era owned by pokies and publican billionaire family, the Laundys.
The network is using the long-form interview format as part of a new strategy to find audiences on digital platforms outside traditional radio.
While selected excerpts of the interview will first air on 2GB, it will premiere in full on YouTube at 9am. The radio stations were formerly owned by Nine, the owner of this masthead, until the Laundys’ purchase at the start of the year.
Inside the Roberts-Smith interview
By Calum Jaspan
Ben Roberts-Smith is expected to put his side of the story to the public, in his first interview since he was charged with five counts of war crime – murder.
The interview marks the start of a public relations offensive as he prepares to fight the war crimes charges, after he launched a clothing line and Instagram page last week.
While he has not been paid for the interview, promotional pictures released by 2GB show him wearing his new clothing line Epic 1 Two in the video recording, which will be premiered in full on YouTube in video format at 9am.
Tapt Media, owners of 2GB, are using the long-form interview format as part of a new strategy to find audiences on digital platforms outside traditional radio. Host Ben Fordham was allowed to ask Roberts-Smith what he wanted, under the agreement between 2GB and Roberts-Smith.
Roberts-Smith to give first interview since being charged
By Daniel Lo Surdo
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Ben Roberts-Smith’s interview with 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
The interview featuring the disgraced war hero, who is on bail while he prepares to fight five counts of war crime – murder, is expected to roll out from 7.10am (AEDT) via a selection of hand-picked excerpts on the radio, before it is released in full in a YouTube premiere at 9am. Further excerpts from the interview will be played on 2GB on Friday morning.
The publishing of the interview, expected to last 150 minutes in its entirety, will mark the start of a coordinated PR blitz following the launch of his personal clothing line, Epic 1 Two, last week. It is the first interview he has given since he was charged with war crimes.