Author: roymorgansocial

Over 2.8 million New Zealanders watch Subscription TV -largest growth for Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 17-Feb-21

New data from Roy Morgan shows that over 2.8 million New Zealanders aged 14+ now watch Subscription TV in an average four weeks – encompassing over two-thirds (68%) of all New Zealanders. Total viewership of Subscription TV in New Zealand has increased 4.9% from a year earlier to 2,823,000, an increase of 131,000. Netflix is by far the most popular service, now watched by 2,141,000 people in an average four weeks, an increase of 92,000 (+4.5%) from a year ago. In clear second place is Sky with 1,248,000 viewers. Sky also includes the Sky Sport Now sports streaming service, which now has over 140,000 viewers. In its first year of operation Disney+ has attracted an audience of 700,000 viewers, equal to one-in-six New Zealanders, and is already the third most popular Subscription TV service. Also growing quickly over the past year is Amazon Prime Video, which now has 323,000 viewers, an increase of 141,000 (+77.5%) on the December quarter 2019. This new pay television data has been obtained from the Roy Morgan Single Source survey, derived from in-depth interviews with over six thousand New Zealanders each year.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, SKY NETWORK TELEVISION LIMITED – ASX SKT, DISNEY+, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

Senior academics warn against IR bill

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 9-Feb-21

Professor Andrew Stewart from the University of Adelaide is among 23 labour law experts who have criticised key elements of the federal government’s omnibus industrial relations bill. Professor Stewart says a particular concern is the proposal to exempt some enterprise agreements from the ‘better-off-overall test’ for two years. The senior academics have also questioned the proposed definition of a casual worker. Professor Stewart stresses that the academics support some parts of the bill, such as increased penalties for wage theft.

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UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

Nine to pay costs in Aston ruling

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Original article by Cameron England
The Australian – Page: 3 : 9-Feb-21

The Federal Court has awarded indemnity costs to Elaine Stead in her defamation case against newspaper columnist Joe Aston. The indemnity costs will be backdated to 22 April, when Nine Entertainment Company rejected Stead’s offer to settle the case for $190,000. Stead was recently awarded ordinary and aggravated damages totalling $280,000 over several articles that were published in the ‘Australian Financial Review’. Nine could potentially face a total bill of more than $2.5m arising from the defamation case.

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NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC,FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Google threat lifts support for new code

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Original article by John Davidson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 9-Feb-21

Consumer research company Pureprofile asked over 1,000 Australians their views on the federal government’s proposed media bargaining code and the operation of online platforms. The code would force Facebook and Google into binding arbitration if they cannot come to an agreement with media companies over payment for the use of their news content. On the question of whether Google’s threat to shut down its search engine in Australia if the code goes ahead made them more or less likely to support the code, 34 per cent of respondents stated it would make them more likely. Pureprofile CEO Martin Filz claims that Google has "underestimated the backlash against Big Tech".

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FACEBOOK INCORPORATED,GOOGLE INCORPORATED,PUREPROFILE LIMITED – ASX PPL

Job seekers gaming system: employer

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Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 9-Feb-21

Khan’s Supermarkets CEO Rashid Khan claims some people who are applying for jobs with his New South Wales company are only doing so to fulfil Centrelink obligations. Like other employers, he would like to see foreign workers be able to roll over their visas, while he claims he had to sell his supermarket in Nowra because he could not find a manager for it, despite being willing to pay $100,000 for one. Employment Minister Michaelia Cash says more job seekers need to be willing to move to areas where there are labour shortages; just 197 people took up JobSeeker assistance to relocate for work in 2020; the lowest figure in six years.

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KHAN’S SUPERMARKETS

Dividends on way back up: Argo

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Original article by Cliona O’Dowd
The Australian – Page: 17 : 9-Feb-21

Argo Investments has posted a 2020-21 interim profit of 67m, which is 43 per cent lower than previously. The listed investment company’s half-year result was impacted by lower dividend income, with many companies scaling back their payouts in response to the COVID-pandemic. Argo MD Jason Beddow expects many companies to announce an increase in their dividend payouts during the February reporting season. However, he doubts that dividends will return to pre-coronavirus levels. He says banks and retailers are among the companies that could significantly boost their dividend payouts for the second half.

CORPORATES
ARGO INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX ARG

Victoria to test hotel quarantine staff daily after worker’s mystery Covid case

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Original article by Elias Visontay
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 9-Feb-21

The Victorian government has introduced changes to its quarantine hotel system after a second worker contracted the virus in less than a week. Amongst other things, quarantine hotel staff will be tested for the coronavirus every day, even if they have not worked a shift, while all staff will be issued with personal protective equipment. The changes were implemented after a Grand Hyatt employee contracted the UK variant and a woman tested positive for COVID-19 after completing a shift at the Holiday Inn on 7 February. Health authorities hope that genomic sequencing will help to determine how the woman contracted the virus.

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Smaller funds hit in super grab

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Original article by Lachlan Moffet Gray
The Australian – Page: 13 & 17 : 9-Feb-21

Data from the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority shows that a total of $36.4bn was withdrawn from superannuation funds via the federal government’s early access scheme. This was well below the Treasury’s initial forecast of more than $42bn. Members of Australian­Super withdrew more than $5bn in total, although this accounts for just 2.5 per cent of the industry giant’s assets. In contrast, some $21.18m was withdrawn from the Grosvenor Pirie Master Superannuation Fund, which equates to 14 per cent of its asset base.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY,AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY,AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD,GROSVENOR PIRIE MASTER SUPERANNUATION FUND

Amazon tops $1bn sales but still in red

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Original article by David Ross
The Australian – Page: 15 : 9-Feb-21

Digital giant Amazon has advised that its Australian arm posted a loss of $3.8m in 2020, following a $2.5m loss previously. However, Amazon Australia boasted total sales of $1.12bn in 2020, compared with just $562.1m in 2019. The company’s online stores recorded sales totalling $511m, while its subscription services’ sales rose from $35.4m to $90m. Amazon entered the local market in late 2017, and it now employs nearly 1,000 people in Australia.

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AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED

Roy Morgan Business Confidence down 2.7pts to 120.5 in January – Majority of businesses expect good times for the next 12 months

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Feb-21

In January 2021, Roy Morgan Business Confidence was down 2.7pts (-2.2%) to 120.5 – the first decline in the index since August 2020, after four straight months of gains. Despite the fall Business Confidence is now 7.1pts above the long-term average of 113.4, and 18.9pts higher than it was a year ago (101.6). A clear majority of 61.7% of businesses expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, and 52.9% of businesses said the next 12 months is a ‘good time to invest in growing the business’. On a State-based level Business Confidence is higher in all States than a year ago and significantly higher in NSW, Victoria, WA and SA – up by at least 15% in all four States compared to January 2020. Business Confidence is now highest in Western Australia at 140.6 in January and has increased by 27.6pts (+24.5%) from a year ago. Victoria is also in a far better position than a year ago according to the State’s businesses, with Business Confidence up 25.1pts (+25.5%) to 123.7. In 2021 Business Confidence in both New South Wales, up 18.8pts (+18.7%) to 118.9 and South Australia, up 26.7pts (+29%) to 118.7 is starting the year in a much stronger position than 2020.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED