J57 Internet Publishing and Broadcasting

Seven West’s video-on-demand puzzle

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 31 : 28-Jul-14

Nine Entertainment Company plans to launch a subscription video-on-demand service, potentially before the end of 2014. At one stage it appeared that Nine and arch-rival Seven West Media could have jointly developed the StreamCo product, and this may still be a possibility. StreamCo’s main competitor is likely to be US-based Netflix, which is expected to debut in Australia in 2015. Nine has also bought redeemable preference shares in Quickflix

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, QUICKFLIX LIMITED – ASX QFX, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, HOYTS GROUP PTY LTD, HBO, HULU LLC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN

US giant wants a piece of Quickflix

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Original article by Mitchell Bingemann|Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 & 27 : 24-Jul-14

Following news that free-to-air TV group Nine Entertainment had acquired a stake of 8% in listed DVD rentals and video streaming provider Quickflix, the latter has become a target for other media sector groups as well. It is believed that US-based Netflix, which operates a business similar to that of Quickflix but far larger, has approached the Australian company with an offer. Netflix is set to enter the local market soon. Stephen Langsford, CEO of Quickflix, has also sought to attract News Corp Australia and Seven West Media as investors

CORPORATES
QUICKFLIX LIMITED – ASX QFX|NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC|SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM|NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS|NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD|NETFLIX INCORPORATED|FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD|TIME WARNER INCORPORATED|HOME BOX OFFICE|TOURNAMENT FIELD

Rinehart eyes Fairfax takeover

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Original article by Sharri Markson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 21-Jul-14

Australian mining heiress Gina Rinehart is a major stockholder in the struggling Fairfax Media newspaper publishing group. She owns 14.99% via her Hancock Prospecting business, but has been rebuffed in efforts to also gain a board position. Insiders claim that she may be contemplating a move to above 20% and possibly a complete takeover, in order to secure control over how the company is run. Newly installed directors would then remove current chair Roger Corbett and CEO Greg Hywood. Ex-Victorian premier Jeff Kennett says he has been asked by Rinehart whether he would serve on the board, but declined

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD, DOMAIN.COM.AU, ALLAN GRAY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BEYOND BLUE LIMITED

Generational shift may end print: Murdoch

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 31 : 14-Jul-14

The co-chair of News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch, has commented on the future of print media in Australia. He was interviewed by Paul Kelly, editor at large at newspaper "The Australian". Murdoch, who had set up the new publication in 1964, said he was not certain that it would still exist in a format other than the digital version when it turns 70. He noted that younger readers prefer online newspapers, and that these also offer the opportunity to embed video content. Murdoch added that "The Australian" had often struggled to make a profit

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Hywood defends strategy amid online disruption

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Original article by Stefanie Balogh
The Australian – Page: 23 : 2-Jul-14

The audience at an event staged at the Australian National University by Fairfax Media’s "The Australian Financial Review" on 1 July 2014 heard from Greg Hywood. The Fairfax CEO argued that the recent closing of newspaper printing plants in Melbourne and Sydney was an example of positive digital disruption, as more readers can now be reached via smartphone apps and web pages with the same content at a fraction of the capital cost. Hywood says the move had effectively saved Fairfax $A599.2m. The outlook for its long-term debt rating of "BB+" has also been lifted by credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s, from "negative" to "stable"

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, STANDARD AND POOR’S (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

‘Credible strategy’ lifts Fairfax credit rating outlook

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Original article by Madeleine Heffernan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 1-Jul-14

Standard & Poor’s has revised the credit rating outlook for Fairfax Media’s "BB+" long-term rating from "negative" to "stable". The ratings agency stated on 30 June 2014 that the media company had developed a "credible" strategy for its earnings over the medium term. The stock closed at $A0.9275 on 30 June 2014. Since the beginning of 2014, it has risen 44.5 per cent

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, STANDARD AND POOR’S CORPORATION, CREDIT SUISSE AG, 3AW SOUTHERN CROSS RADIO PTY LTD, RSVP.COM.AU PTY LTD, GANNETT COMPANY INCORPORATED

Fairfax defence: Leighton consultancy deal ‘corrupt’

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Original article by Leo Shanahan, Damon Kitney
The Australian – Page: 25 : 23-Jun-14

Fairfax Media is resorting to the defence of truth in the defamation law suit brought against it by ex-Leighton Holdings CEO Wal King. He objects to a series of articles published in 2013 that claimed he had knowledge of bribes paid to gain oil sector contracts in Iraq. The defence now mounted by Fairfax also alleges that corrupt and unethical conduct occurred when King sought to obtain a consultancy role worth $A5m from Leighton after he stepped down. The company maintains that no such agreement was in fact struck

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, LEIGHTON HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX LEI, UNAOIL GROUP, SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES