E! News Australia hires new exec team, expands digital offering

In a move to expand its Australian content on its digital E!-News space, E! Entertainment Television Australia, has hired a new executive team.

To date, the Australian subsidiary of NBCUniversal has drawn most of its content from the United States.

It claims a reach of 800,000 unique Australian visitors per month.

Managing director of the Australian editorial operations is Ashley Spencer.

Most recently editor of Nine Entertainment’s TheFix. Spencer was previously a senior editor at Us Weekly in New York and has written for The Hollywood Reporter, VICE, Huffington Post and Women’s Health.

The new associate editor is Winsome Walker, former digital content editor at Marie Claire.

The pair and a team of contributors will add to overseas content with local celebrity news, interviews and lifestyle pieces as well as red carpet events, along with video content and social initiatives.

E! is also extending its digital offering over the next few months to include locally produced short-form video series covering beauty, fashion, fitness, home and travel.

Spencer said, “Our aim is to deliver local entertainment news in a fun, informative and positive way, with E! News being the trusted, dedicated entertainment authority in Australia.

“We’re thrilled that our digital audience has welcomed the addition of Australian content on E! News and in just a few weeks we have already seen high engagement for local stories across our social platforms.”

The editorial revamp coincides with an offer to advertisers branded content, native editorial and video space, according to NBCUniversal International networks and television distribution ANZ chief Chris Taylor.