J57 Internet Publishing and Broadcasting

Stranger Things: Netflix and the challenge of tax in a digital world

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 1-Jul-19

The federal government has introduced laws in recent years that aim to ‘claw back’ revenue that international businesses such as Google and Netflix earn from Australian consumers and businesses. However, the laws’ effectiveness could be called in question in the case of Netflix; it is generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue in Australia, but that revenue is being booked by a company based in the Netherlands. A Netflix spokesperson notes that its financial practices comply with Australian and international tax laws. Roy Morgan has estimated that 11.3 million Australians were using Netflix in the three months to February.

CORPORATES
GOOGLE INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INTERNATIONAL BV, NETFLIX AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ROY MORGAN LIMITED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Follow the UK on press freedom, PM urged

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 4 : 27-Jun-19

A court ruling that media companies can be regarded as the publisher of comments posted on Facebook has prompted industry leaders to call for legislative action. News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller says the federal government should adopt similar laws to those in the UK, whereby publishers are not legally responsible for comments that their readers post on their social media pages. ABC MD David Anderson also expressed concern about the ruling, while Nine Entertainment CEO Hugh Marks said Facebook should be subject to the same regulations as traditional media.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (AUSTRALIA), SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES

Facebook ruling sparks call for defamation law overhaul

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 25-Jun-19

The Supreme Court of New South Wales has ruled that media companies can be deemed to be the publisher of comments that are posted on their Facebook pages, rendering them liable for comments that are defamatory. The court ruled that News Corp Australia and Nine Entertainment Company are responsible for users’ comments posted on Facebook, arguing that they are able to monitor such comments and prevent defamatory ones from being published. News Corp Australia says the ruling demonstrates the need for changes to the nation’s defamation laws.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, SKY NEWS

Federal Court orders fresh batch of pirate sites blocked

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 18-Jun-19

Village Roadshow CEO Graham Burke has described a Federal Court ruling that 76 copyright infringing websites be blocked by telcos as a victory for both Village Roadshow and the broader Australian film community. Site-blocking laws aimed at stamping out copyright piracy were passed in 2015, and Burke notes that almost 1,000 pirate websites and domains have now been blocked. He also notes Australians are now backing the push against piracy, with research indicating that three out of four people view it as theft.

CORPORATES
VILLAGE ROADSHOW LIMITED – ASX VRL, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, VOCUS GROUP LIMITED – ASX VOC

Stan faces uncertain times as its sweetheart deals expire and rivals muscle in

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Original article by Andrew White
The Australian – Page: 24 & 26 : 17-Jun-19

AMPD Research estimates that Stan boasts about 1.4 million subscribers in Australia, compared with around 5.3 million for Netflix. Stan faces a number of headwinds, including a rise in programming costs as its existing content deals expire and the expected loss of its content deal with Disney as the US media giant prepares to launch its own subscription video-on-demand. Stan also faces the prospect of increased competition as other SVOD players enter the local market.

CORPORATES
STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, AMR RESEARCH, WALT DISNEY COMPANY, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, HULU LLC, ESPN+, HBO, CBS CORPORATION, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, CBS ALL ACCESS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, CCZ STATTON EQUITIES PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, KAYO SPORTS, LIGHTBOX, SPARK NEW ZEALAND LIMITED – ASX SPK

Fletcher flags new tax on Netflix

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Original article by Leo Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 24 & 26 : 17-Jun-19

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher says the federal government may be open to accepting all of the recommendations of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s final report on its inquiry into digital platforms. He adds that Australia would be prepared to act alone in regulating large technology companies, although he adds that global regulatory action is needed for a consistent policy approach. Fletcher has also flagged the possibility of imposing a levy on digital video streaming providers such as Netflix to offset traditional TV broadcasters’ loss of revenue.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Facebook signs major Aussie sports

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 23 : 13-Jun-19

Social media giant Facebook has secured content deals with the Australian Football League, the National Rugby League and Cricket Australia. The Facebook Watch streaming platform will feature AFL and NRL match highlights and other content from the two football codes. Facebook has also extended its deal with Cricket Australia to provide live streaming of Women’s Big Bash League matches. Facebook recently signed a content deal with Seven West Media.

CORPORATES
FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, WOMEN’S BIG BASH LEAGUE, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM

Streaming consolidation tipped

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 19 : 12-Jun-19

PwC’s latest Australian Entertainment & Media Outlook report has forecast that the expected entry of Disney+ and Apple TV+ will prompt consolidation in Australia’s subscription video-on-demand market. Netflix is the market leader in Australia, and PwC notes that there will be a wide field of contenders for the title of the nation’s second-ranked SVOD provider. Justin Papps of PwC says content and a "great viewing experience" are essential to success in the streaming market.

CORPORATES
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD, DISNEY+, WALT DISNEY COMPANY, APPLE TV+, APPLE INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FOXTEL NOW, KAYO SPORTS, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO, 10 ALL ACCESS, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

Twitter wants to partner with TV on sports rights

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 7-Jun-19

Twitter executive Kay Madati says the social media platform does not want to compete with TV networks for the right to broadcast sports. Instead, Madati says Twitter wants to act as a partner with them to help increase their audience and generate more revenue. SBS has partnered with Twitter to help promote the public broadcaster’s telecast of the 2019 Women’s World Cup. SBS will have a live daily show on Twitter during the event, along with interviews and highlights.

CORPORATES
TWITTER INCORPORATED, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED

Disney in Comcast deal to take control of hot property Hulu

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Original article by Joe Flint
The Australian – Page: 21 : 16-May-19

US media group Comcast has struck a deal to sell its one-third stake in streaming video service Hulu to Walt Disney Company. The deal could allow Disney to assume full ownership of Hulu in 2024. Hulu boasted more than 25 million subscribers in 2018, compared with just six million in 2014, and Disney has forecast that Hulu’s domestic operations will become profitable in fiscal 2023 or 2024. Disney plans to launch its own streaming service, which expected to target a different audience to Hulu.

CORPORATES
HULU LLC, WALT DISNEY COMPANY, COMCAST CORPORATION, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED