Seven takes battle to tech giants

Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 24 & 26 : 23-Apr-18

Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes says digital giants Google and Facebook should be subject to the same regulatory regime as Australian media companies, to ensure a level playing field in the advertising market. Seven’s submission to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s inquiry into the impact of digital platforms on the media and advertising markets has recommended that Facebook and Google should pay a fee for distributing content from traditional media companies. Seven also argues that audience measurement data for ads on Google and Facebook should be subject to independent audits.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA LLC, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

Shorten CFMEU links hurt ALP

Original article by Brad Norington
The Australian – Page: 4 : 23-Apr-18

There are concerns that Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s efforts to boost his number within the Labor party through deals with the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union have the potential to harm its prospects at the next federal election. His leadership is said to be safe at the moment, but there are a number of potential candidates in the wings should dissatisfaction with his ties to the CFMEU grow, including Chris Bowen, Tony Burke and Tanya Plibersek.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA

Tasplan, CARE Super and IOOF lead monthly super satisfaction

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 23-Apr-18

The Roy Morgan Superannuation Satisfaction Report shows that average customer satisfaction with Australian superannuation funds was 61.1% in the six months to March 2018. This is on par with the average satisfaction level for Industry funds. Retail funds sit below the average at 60.1%, and satisfaction with major retail funds (consisting of ANZ, CBA, NAB and Westpac) is 58.7%. Average satisfaction with Public Sector funds and Self-Managed Superannuation funds is 72.6% and 73% respectively. Meanwhile, Tasplan has the highest satisfaction level of all superannuation funds, at 74.6%, ahead of CARE Super (71%) and retail fund IOOF (69.9%).

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, TASPLAN LIMITED, CARE SUPER PTY LTD, IOOF HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX IFL, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB

Massive fines for corporate misconduct

Original article by Richard Gluyas
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 23-Apr-18

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims says the banking royal commission’s revelations of misconduct in the financial services sector highlights the need for harsher penalties for corporate wrongdoing. He argues that such penalties should act as a real deterrent rather than merely being regarded by management and directors as the cost of doing business. A recent report by the OECD found that penalties for corporate misconduct in Australia are generally much lower than those of comparable countries. Treasurer Scott Morrison has also flagged tougher penalties for companies in response to scandals exposed by the royal commission.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, VISY INDUSTRIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB

Cricket Australia tunes into radio rights in wake of $1.2b TV deal

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 23-Apr-18

Cricket Australia will issue tender documents for its radio broadcasting rights in coming weeks, with a view to finalising a new deal quickly. CA officials are expected to hold talks with the ABC in coming days, while discussions have commenced with fellow cricket broadcasters Southern Cross Austereo and Macquarie Media. Sports Entertainment Network owner Crocmedia is also believed to be interested in broadcasting rights. All four broadcasters could potentially secure some rights.

CORPORATES
CRICKET AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SOUTHERN CROSS AUSTEREO PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, CROCMEDIA PTY LTD, SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK PTY LTD, TRIPLE M CORPORATION PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, MACQUARIE SPORTS RADIO, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, BIG BASH LEAGUE, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM

RACT leads general insurance satisfaction

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 23-Apr-18

The Roy Morgan General Insurance Satisfaction report shows that 79.2% of Australians were satisfied with their general insurer in February 2018, down 0.4% from the same time in 2017. RACT has the highest level of customer satisfaction within the general insurance industry, at 93.5%; it is followed by Defence Service Homes Insurance (91.1%) and AMP (90.8%).

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, RACT INSURANCE PTY LTD, DEFENCE SERVICE HOMES INSURANCE SCHEME, AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP

Australian betting market dominated by racing

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 23-Apr-18

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey shows that racing commands nearly 75% of the Australian betting market. Horse racing is the dominant form of betting, comprising 50.9% of the betting market, while a further 12.5% of Australians aged 18+ bet on greyhound racing and 11.4% bet on harness racing. Sports betting itself equals 25% of the money Australians bet in 2017 and this is dominated by the two major football codes, which comprise more than half of Australian sports betting; 7.6% of money bet in Australia is on NRL/State of Origin markets, just ahead of the 6.8% bet on AFL-related events. The balance of 10.7% is spread around all other sports including tennis, cricket, basketball, swimming, football, netball and cycling. Analysis by age shows that Australians aged 35-49 and 50-64 are most likely to bet, as are people from Victoria and New South Wales (including the ACT).

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

$40b+ fresh food market dominated by fruit & veg & meat

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 23-Apr-18

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that Australia’s $40 billion+ fresh food market is dominated by the two staples of fresh fruit/vegetables (45.6% of the market) and fresh meat (33.7% of the market). The survey, which was carried out in the year to December 2017, also shows that fresh bread has a 7.5% share of the fresh food market, ahead of fresh deli (6.8%) and fresh seafood (6.4%). Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says competition in Australia’s fresh food market is heating up as ‘Big 2’ supermarkets Woolworths and Coles aggressively grow their fresh food market share at the expense of niche competitors. Recent research by Roy Morgan shows that they now account for over 50% of Australia’s fresh food market.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS SUPERMARKETS

My Chemist wins pharmacy customer satisfaction again

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 23-Apr-18

My Chemist is again the industry leader for Australian pharmacies early in 2018, with a customer satisfaction rating of 90.4% in February. It has won the Roy Morgan pharmacy customer satisfaction award for both January and February. My Chemist also won the Annual Roy Morgan Pharmacy/Chemist Customer Satisfaction Award for the first time in 2017. Close behind My Chemist in February were December 2017 monthly winner Discount Drug Stores with a customer satisfaction rating of 89.8%, rivals Priceline on 89.3% and newly-merged TerryWhite Chemmart on 89.0%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MY CHEMIST PTY LTD, DISCOUNT DRUGSTORES PTY LTD, PRICELINE PHARMACY, TERRYWHITE CHEMMART

Jobs market hits wall after record surge

Original article by David Uren
The Australian – Page: 4 : 20-Apr-18

Official data shows that the number of full-time jobs in Australia fell by 7,500 in the March quarter, although 43,000 part-time jobs were created. The economy added 4,900 jobs in March, compared with market expectations of 20,000. Despite the economy’s failure to sustain the momentum that saw more than 430,000 jobs created in the year to January, Employment Minister Michaelia Cash argues that growth in both full and part-time employment is higher than a year ago. She adds that 996,800 jobs have been created since the Coalition won the 2013 federal election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF JOBS AND SMALL BUSINESS, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB