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ABC plan to ramp up iView output

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 5 : 2-Nov-16

The ABC’s 2017 TV program line-up will include a number of new drama shows and documentaries, while it has confirmed new seasons of 16 current shows. The public broadcaster will also produce some 200 hours of original content for its iView video-on-demand service. ABC MD Michelle Guthrie recently stressed the need for the broadcaster to adapt in response to changes in the way viewers consume media.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Public service union wins ABC staff pay rise

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 5 : 28-Oct-16

The Community & Public Sector Union’s national secretary, Nadine Flood, has welcomed a new enterprise agreement for ABC employees. She notes that while not all of the union’s demands have been met, the new pay deal is much better than the initial offer from the public broadcaster’s management. The ABC put the pay deal directly to staff after negotiations with the union broke down. Amongst other things, ABC staff will receive an annual two per cent pay rise over three years, domestic violence leave and a two-week increase in paid parental leave.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SECTOR UNION

Content the future for telcos: media bosses

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 & 14 : 25-Oct-16

Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner says A&T’s proposed acquisition of Time Warner has major implications for both telcos and media companies. He believes that more deals of this nature are possible, noting the growing importance of content to telcos. Southern Cross Media Group CEO Grant Blackley says such deals could occur in Australia, and points out that under current media ownership laws his company could be acquired by Telstra but it could not merge with Fairfax Media.

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SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TIME WARNER INCORPORATED, AT&T CORPORATION, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BEIN SPORTS, THE A LEAGUE PTY LTD, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, VODAFONE AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Time Warner is Murdoch’s lost chance

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Original article by Neil Chenoweth
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 25-Oct-16

Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox had the opportunity to acquire Time Warner in 2014 and create a media giant worth $US160bn. Time Warner rejected the $US80bn bid and sought a higher offer, but this would have required 21st Century Fox CEO Chase Carey to remain at the helm at a time when Murdoch was preparing his sons to succeed him. James and Lachlan Murdoch were subsequently appointed CEO and co-executive chairman respectively. The proposed $US85bn ($A112bn) acquisition of Time Warner by AT&T may prompt other mega mergers, but the Murdochs may not be able to pursue such deals without relinquishing control of their media empire.

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21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED, TIME WARNER INCORPORATED, AT&T CORPORATION, FOX NEWS, SKY PLC, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, SKY ITALIA SPA, SKY DEUTSCHLAND AG

Newspaper paywall successes vindicate Murdoch’s strategy

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 25 : 24-Oct-16

The Australian has gained more than 80,000 paid digital subscribers since its website was paywalled five years ago. The News Corp Australia flagship’s CEO Nicholas Gray says the newspaper will seek to lift this to 100,000 paid subscribers in 2017. Meanwhile, editor-in-chief Paul Whittaker says many news websites are now looking to adopt the paywall model. He adds that the company’s digital products complement its traditional print newspapers and allow it to produce editions that are tailored for specific digital devices.

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NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, GUARDIAN MEDIA GROUP PLC, DAILY MAIL AND GENERAL TRUST PLC, LONDON COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION

Media baron warns Leak cartoon probe biggest threat to press freedom

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 1 : 24-Oct-16

Seven Group’s executive chairman Kerry Stokes has criticised the Australian Human Rights Commission’s investigation into a Bill Leak cartoon that was published in August 2016. He has described the investigation as the greatest threat to freedom of the press that he has seen in his long career in the media industry, and he says section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act stifles the media’s ability to fully informing the public about important issues. Stokes has also praised "The Australian" for publishing the controversial cartoon.

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SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVW, AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM

Ten shares take hit on full-year loss

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 21-Oct-16

Ten Network has posted a 2015-16 loss of $A156.8m, compared with a $A312.2m loss previously. The latest result was primarily due to a $A135.2m write-down in the value of its TV licence. Ten’s revenue of $A689.5m was 5.4 per cent higher than previously. CEO Paul Anderson argues that subscription video-on-demand providers should be subject to the same rules as traditional broadcasters, noting that the latter make a significant contribution to the economy.

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TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD

Censorship: editor, cartoonists attack Leak investigation

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Original article by Sharri Markson
The Australian – Page: 5 : 19-Oct-16

Mark Knight, John Spooner and Warren Brown are among the newspaper cartoonists who have defended Bill Leak and his right to free speech. He is being investigated by the Human Rights Commission over a controversial cartoon that was published in "The Australian" in August 2016. Spooner says the Leak case demonstrates the need for changes to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. Brett McCarthy, the editor of "The West Australian", has also expressed support for Leak.

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AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

MP rallies media in support of Leak

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Original article by Andrew Burrell
The Australian – Page: 2 : 18-Oct-16

Federal MP Andrew Hastie has criticised the Human Rights Commission’s decision to launch an investigation into Bill Leak over a controversial cartoon that was published in August 2016. The Liberal MP has stressed the importance of freedom of expression and urged media companies and journalists to support the cartoonist. Hastie also says the Leak case could prompt renewed scrutiny of section 18C of the ­Racial Discrimination Act.

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AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, GUARDIAN AUSTRALIA

Seven West to offload its stake in Sky News

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 19 & 31 : 14-Oct-16

News Corporation is expected to finalise the acquisition of Sky News Australia owner Australian News Channel in coming days. ACN is owned by Seven West Media, Nine Entertainment Company and UK-based Sky. News Corp initially launched a $A25m bid for ACN in February 2015, although Seven rejected the offer and favoured operating Sky News as a joint venture with News Corp. Seven has now agreed to accept the takeover offer for ACN, whose 2015-16 profit fell by 19 per cent to $A6.9m.

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NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, SKY NEWS, AUSTRALIAN NEWS CHANNEL PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SKY PLC, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION