OPRAH TO BRING HER AUDIENCE, JOHN TRAVOLTA ETC TO AUSTRALIA
Sep 13th, 2010, 05:16 PM
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And we cannot wait till she does come to Australia ...........
OPRAH Winfrey says she's ready to shop 'til she drops in "trendy Melbourne" when she takes her talk show on an Australian tour later this year.
Winfrey sent the 300 audience members sitting in her Chicago studio into a frenzy overnight when the TV talk show queen announced she was flying them to Australia for an eight-day adventure.
The fans, who Winfrey described as her most loyal and dedicated viewers, screamed at the news.
They hugged. They cried. They jumped up and down in ecstasy.
"We're going to Australia, we're going to Australia!'' Winfrey told the audience.
"You and you and you are going to Australia. We're going to Australia. Yay!''
Winfrey uses the premiere episode of each new season to shower gifts, including cars, on a handpicked audience of ultimate fans, but in this season's premiere, her 25th and last, she tricked them into believing they were going to either New York, Philadelphia or Los Angeles, before revealing they were flying Down Under.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
Related CoverageOprah's coming to Australia
Oprah gives audience trip to Oz
Adelaide Now, 27 minutes ago
Oprah includes Brisbane in Oz tour
Courier Mail, 54 minutes ago
Oprah brings hit show to the Opera House
NEWS.com.au, 11 hours ago
Oprah says it's not over
Daily Telegraph, 9 Apr 2010
Oprah Winfrey calls it quits
Perth Now, 20 Nov 2009.End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
"I wanted to kick off my 25th season in a big way and I've heard Australia is the ultimate adventure,'' Winfrey said.
To help break the news, Winfrey recruited longtime Qantas ambassador, Hollywood star and pilot John Travolta.
"John Travolta is actually a real Qantas Airlines pilot who's flown there many times, and we have been secretly plotting, planning this trip of a lifetime for almost a year with everyone at Tourism Australia, and they are ready to roll out the red carpet for all 300 of us,'' Winfrey said.
The eight-day, seven-night trip, called Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure, will take place in December as 300 fans travel via Qantas to Sydney.
During her Australian visit, Winfrey will film several episodes of her talkshow, including at the Sydney Opera House on December 14, when the iconic building will be transformed into the Sydney "Oprah'' House.
Thousands of Winfrey's Australian fans will be invited to sit in the audience.
"We'll sail Sydney Harbour, some will sample shiraz in Aussie wine country and others will shop 'til they drop in trendy Melbourne,'' Winfrey told the delirious audience.
"We'll get up close with kangaroos and koalas, kick back on some of the world's most beautiful beaches, and experience one of the seven wonders of the world - the Great Barrier Reef.
"Then we'll all meet at the spectacular Sydney Opera House, where thousands of our Aussie ultimate viewers will join us for an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime Oprah Show experience.''
The Sydney show - the first to be filmed outside the US - will feature an audience brought over from the US and a possible swag of Aussie guests including Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Cate Blanchett, Cathy Freeman and Baz Luhrmann.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has even been touted as a guest, as has sailor Jessica Watson, astronaut Andy Thomas and writers Thomas Keneally, Peter Carey and Tim Winton.
Among other ideas presented to Oprah for the show include a visit to Bondi Beach with Mr Jackman and a tour of the Sydney Theatre Company with Cate Blanchett, as well as visits to Byron Bay, Tamworth and the Blue Mountains for stories.
Back in Chicago, the 300 audience members were also presented with another gift, a Motorola smartphone that Winfrey said was "water resistant, so if you drop it at the Great Barrier Reef, no worries''.
The visit will be a huge boost for Australian tourism, with Winfrey's show syndicated to 215 TV stations across the US and 145 countries around the world.
"For many people around the world, Australia is a dream destination,'' Andrew McEvoy, managing director of Tourism Australia, said.
"Today we turned that dream into a reality for some of Oprah's ultimate viewers. We are excited to show them and Oprah's global audience why there really is nothing like Australia.''
Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson said the program's weekly following of 40 million American viewers meant the trip would put Australia's beauty on the world stage.
"Oprah is a global household name and her star power has the potential to lift Australia's profile as a premier tourist destination,'' he said in a statement.
Tourism Australia chairman Geoff Dixon said Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure theme was perfect for selling the country's tourism experiences to the rest of the world.
"We know Australia is a dream destination for millions of people,'' he said.
"The partnership with The Oprah Winfrey Show is a real opportunity to show how they can make their dream a reality.''
Episodes of the show will air in the US in early 2011 and then roll out to other countries.
OPRAH Winfrey says she's ready to shop 'til she drops in "trendy Melbourne" when she takes her talk show on an Australian tour later this year.
Winfrey sent the 300 audience members sitting in her Chicago studio into a frenzy overnight when the TV talk show queen announced she was flying them to Australia for an eight-day adventure.
The fans, who Winfrey described as her most loyal and dedicated viewers, screamed at the news.
They hugged. They cried. They jumped up and down in ecstasy.
"We're going to Australia, we're going to Australia!'' Winfrey told the audience.
"You and you and you are going to Australia. We're going to Australia. Yay!''
Winfrey uses the premiere episode of each new season to shower gifts, including cars, on a handpicked audience of ultimate fans, but in this season's premiere, her 25th and last, she tricked them into believing they were going to either New York, Philadelphia or Los Angeles, before revealing they were flying Down Under.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
Related CoverageOprah's coming to Australia
Oprah gives audience trip to Oz
Adelaide Now, 27 minutes ago
Oprah includes Brisbane in Oz tour
Courier Mail, 54 minutes ago
Oprah brings hit show to the Opera House
NEWS.com.au, 11 hours ago
Oprah says it's not over
Daily Telegraph, 9 Apr 2010
Oprah Winfrey calls it quits
Perth Now, 20 Nov 2009.End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
"I wanted to kick off my 25th season in a big way and I've heard Australia is the ultimate adventure,'' Winfrey said.
To help break the news, Winfrey recruited longtime Qantas ambassador, Hollywood star and pilot John Travolta.
"John Travolta is actually a real Qantas Airlines pilot who's flown there many times, and we have been secretly plotting, planning this trip of a lifetime for almost a year with everyone at Tourism Australia, and they are ready to roll out the red carpet for all 300 of us,'' Winfrey said.
The eight-day, seven-night trip, called Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure, will take place in December as 300 fans travel via Qantas to Sydney.
During her Australian visit, Winfrey will film several episodes of her talkshow, including at the Sydney Opera House on December 14, when the iconic building will be transformed into the Sydney "Oprah'' House.
Thousands of Winfrey's Australian fans will be invited to sit in the audience.
"We'll sail Sydney Harbour, some will sample shiraz in Aussie wine country and others will shop 'til they drop in trendy Melbourne,'' Winfrey told the delirious audience.
"We'll get up close with kangaroos and koalas, kick back on some of the world's most beautiful beaches, and experience one of the seven wonders of the world - the Great Barrier Reef.
"Then we'll all meet at the spectacular Sydney Opera House, where thousands of our Aussie ultimate viewers will join us for an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime Oprah Show experience.''
The Sydney show - the first to be filmed outside the US - will feature an audience brought over from the US and a possible swag of Aussie guests including Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Cate Blanchett, Cathy Freeman and Baz Luhrmann.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has even been touted as a guest, as has sailor Jessica Watson, astronaut Andy Thomas and writers Thomas Keneally, Peter Carey and Tim Winton.
Among other ideas presented to Oprah for the show include a visit to Bondi Beach with Mr Jackman and a tour of the Sydney Theatre Company with Cate Blanchett, as well as visits to Byron Bay, Tamworth and the Blue Mountains for stories.
Back in Chicago, the 300 audience members were also presented with another gift, a Motorola smartphone that Winfrey said was "water resistant, so if you drop it at the Great Barrier Reef, no worries''.
The visit will be a huge boost for Australian tourism, with Winfrey's show syndicated to 215 TV stations across the US and 145 countries around the world.
"For many people around the world, Australia is a dream destination,'' Andrew McEvoy, managing director of Tourism Australia, said.
"Today we turned that dream into a reality for some of Oprah's ultimate viewers. We are excited to show them and Oprah's global audience why there really is nothing like Australia.''
Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson said the program's weekly following of 40 million American viewers meant the trip would put Australia's beauty on the world stage.
"Oprah is a global household name and her star power has the potential to lift Australia's profile as a premier tourist destination,'' he said in a statement.
Tourism Australia chairman Geoff Dixon said Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure theme was perfect for selling the country's tourism experiences to the rest of the world.
"We know Australia is a dream destination for millions of people,'' he said.
"The partnership with The Oprah Winfrey Show is a real opportunity to show how they can make their dream a reality.''
Episodes of the show will air in the US in early 2011 and then roll out to other countries.
Sep 13th, 2010, 10:13 PM
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Well, whether you like her or not it'll hopefully provide a much needed boost to Australian tourism, suffering from results of GFC and a high Aussie $, not only discouraging international tourists but also resulting in losses in domestic tourism. Imagine Australia Tourism, Qantas, etc will be kicking in for costs, but still cheap advertising for the massive international coverage involved.
Sep 13th, 2010, 11:07 PM
#6
I think it's a great coup to get her down here. It's not about whether we watch or like her show; it's a great opportunity to market Australia to those gazillions of people around the world who are avid fans of Oprah.
Just imagine if even 10% of those women who hang on her every word convinced their families they just had to come to Australia!
Heck, I might even zip my lip at "Koala Bears"!
In terms of value for our $, I think this type of advocate/endorsement advertising is dramatically more effective than anything we do ourselves. I think it would be good if it were just Oprah; but very much better that she is bringing all those other people; with whom a much broader range of people (and potential tourists) would identify.
Just imagine if even 10% of those women who hang on her every word convinced their families they just had to come to Australia!
Heck, I might even zip my lip at "Koala Bears"!
In terms of value for our $, I think this type of advocate/endorsement advertising is dramatically more effective than anything we do ourselves. I think it would be good if it were just Oprah; but very much better that she is bringing all those other people; with whom a much broader range of people (and potential tourists) would identify.
Sep 13th, 2010, 11:50 PM
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What big expense? I heard the amount of 3 Million which is not much in the scheme of things. I would imagine that Qantas, the three States, and many of the hotels and associated places that are being seen will be pitching in with freebies. Besides why would Oprah's viewers not be the sort of people who would do that trip on their own - that is some broad statement especially if you include the 145 countries that Oprah's show views in. By the way its not the Tourism Board that will get any payoff either.
Sep 14th, 2010, 12:28 PM
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I'm going to start out by saying this: I can't stand Oprah!!!!
But, with that being said, there are millions and millions of Oprah followers in the US (and all over the world really) that will follow her like lemmings. There is an actual term for it..."the Oprah Effect". Simply put, if she endorses a book, product or political candidate people will follow her lead. An example of this is the election of President Obama.
It will be good for tourism. I have no doubts about that. Perhaps my family or friends in the US will even come visit me here, now that Oprah has made visiting Australia the thing to do. I just don't want to hear about it 24/7...because...(did I mention this previously??
) I CAN'T STAND Oprah!!!!
But, with that being said, there are millions and millions of Oprah followers in the US (and all over the world really) that will follow her like lemmings. There is an actual term for it..."the Oprah Effect". Simply put, if she endorses a book, product or political candidate people will follow her lead. An example of this is the election of President Obama.
It will be good for tourism. I have no doubts about that. Perhaps my family or friends in the US will even come visit me here, now that Oprah has made visiting Australia the thing to do. I just don't want to hear about it 24/7...because...(did I mention this previously??
) I CAN'T STAND Oprah!!!!
Sep 14th, 2010, 01:46 PM
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Promise dkl that we will not talk to you about it 24/7 and by the way I have NEVER seen one of her shows either and probably will never see one because they are not my type of thing BUT I agree with you about the Oprah Effect
Sep 14th, 2010, 07:06 PM
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Talking of underwhelming TV ads from Tourism Australia, anyone seen the latest offering? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82n1PX1hVEY
Local paper in Cairns is ecstatic about this visit as is Tropical Tourism chief, Rob Giason, who's described it as "manna from heaven".
Three states to be visited, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland and according to Cairns Post, Queensland State Government is contributing $400,000, just peanuts for this sort of coverage.
Local paper in Cairns is ecstatic about this visit as is Tropical Tourism chief, Rob Giason, who's described it as "manna from heaven".
Three states to be visited, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland and according to Cairns Post, Queensland State Government is contributing $400,000, just peanuts for this sort of coverage.
Sep 14th, 2010, 07:18 PM
#13
$400k? The pollies would spill that much on the bar floor on a Friday night!
And which idiot thought it would be a good idea to perpetuate the misnaming of Koalas with that cutesey "Bear" line and the sotto voce whatever-it-was the ranger said, in the video?
Anyway, I think the spin-offs from a successful Oprah & caravan tour will trickle down to a lot of locals.
And which idiot thought it would be a good idea to perpetuate the misnaming of Koalas with that cutesey "Bear" line and the sotto voce whatever-it-was the ranger said, in the video?
Anyway, I think the spin-offs from a successful Oprah & caravan tour will trickle down to a lot of locals.
Sep 15th, 2010, 12:21 AM
#15
I can't seem to get away from Oprah today... I'm boggled at the coverage her visit is getting in the Australian press and at the water cooler. Frankly, it makes me want to barf. I have nothing against Oprah, but it's such a spectacle.
World leaders have gotten less attention, it's all kind of sick.
World leaders have gotten less attention, it's all kind of sick.
Sep 15th, 2010, 03:17 AM
#17
Ah yes, Melnq8 - but world leaders aren't nearly as likely to have the same tourist pulling impact as Oprah.
Quite the reverse in some cases. The hooplah surrounding the last world leader's visit was considerably more expensive, invasive and inconvenient for the residents of Sydney than Oprah & her entourage could possibly be.
Despite all the carry on from the State & Federal Govt's at the time, I doubt we've had any tourists as a result of his visit.
Probably the major benefit of that exercise was the mirth generated by the Chaser boys' demonstration of how feeble the security was.
Quite the reverse in some cases. The hooplah surrounding the last world leader's visit was considerably more expensive, invasive and inconvenient for the residents of Sydney than Oprah & her entourage could possibly be.
Despite all the carry on from the State & Federal Govt's at the time, I doubt we've had any tourists as a result of his visit.
Probably the major benefit of that exercise was the mirth generated by the Chaser boys' demonstration of how feeble the security was.
Sep 15th, 2010, 03:33 AM
#18
