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You’re at dangerous crossroads, warns legendary news anchor

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Original article by Steve Jackson
The Australian – Page: 1 : 29-Oct-19

US broadcaster Larry King believes that Australia needs to adopt similar laws to the first amendment to the US Constitution, which protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press. King says he was shocked to learn of Australian Federal Police raids on a journalist’s home and on the ABC’s Sydney headquarters in June, saying he would have reacted with violence if his home had been raided in such a fashion.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Foxtel, NBCU close to TV, streaming deal

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 31 : 28-Oct-19

Foxtel is believed to be aiming to launch its new drama and entertainment streaming video service in March or April 2020. Foxtel is said to be close to finalising a new content agreement with US media giant NBCUniversal for both its broadcast and streaming video-on-demand services, after recently striking a new content deal with the BBC. The new subscription video-on-demand service will target consumers who want access to Foxtel content but do not want a pay-TV subscription.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NBC UNIVERSAL INCORPORATED, BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION, KAYO SPORTS, FETCHTV PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, APPLE INCORPORATED, WALT DISNEY COMPANY, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

Seven keen to tackle NRL rights

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Original article by Leo Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 23 : 28-Oct-19

Seven West Media has expressed interest in bidding for the National Rugby League’s broadcasting rights when the Nine Network’s current deal expires in 2022. CEO James Warburton adds that Seven may look at gaining the State of Origin broadcasting rights if it cannot secure the full NRL rights. The proposed move on NRL rights is believed to be aimed at boosting Seven’s audience share in Sydney and Brisbane, where its average audience for Australian Football League matches is much lower than Nine’s NRL coverage.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, OZTAM PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

JB Hi-Fi says low interest rates a double-edged sword for retailers

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 25-Oct-19

JB Hi-Fi has advised that its Australian stores recorded same-store sales growth of 3.7 per cent in the September quarter, while its New Zealand arm’s same-store sales were up 3.8 per cent. JB Hi-Fi CEO Richard Murray says group sales are still expected to increase by about 2.2 per cent to $7.65bn in 2019-20. He notes that while consumer confidence has improved since the 18 May federal election, the cash rate’s fall to a record low has also prompted some fears about the state of the economy.

CORPORATES
JB HI-FI LIMITED – ASX JBH, THE GOOD GUYS, NICK SCALI LIMITED – ASX NCK, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL

Attorney-General hits out at press campaign

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 2 : 25-Oct-19

Attorney-General Christian Porter has rejected suggestions that journalists should receive a blanket exemption from national security and criminal laws. Responding to the Right to Know campaign, Porter argued that allowing the media industry to contest the issuance of a warrant against a journalist could potentially stop the police from preventing a serious crime. He conceded that there is scope for changes in some areas, such as Freedom of Information laws.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, WIKILEAKS

Seven set to bring back Big Brother

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 24-Oct-19

The Seven Network will seek to boost its prime-time ratings in 2020 by reviving reality-TV shows ‘Big Brother’ and ‘Farmer Wants a Wife’, which previously aired on rival networks. Other new shows that were unveiled at Seven West Media’s annual upfronts include dramas ‘RFDS’ and ‘Between Two Worlds’, and a new cooking show that will be co-hosted by former ‘MasterChef’ judges Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan. CEO James Warburton says ‘Big Brother’ will immediately change the network’s audience demographic.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, PACIFIC MAGAZINES PTY LTD, BAUER MEDIA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL

Rio eyes US lithium market with pilot plant

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 19 : 23-Oct-19

Rio Tinto has approved the development of a $US10m ($14.6m) pilot plant that will produce lithium from waste rock at its borate operations in the US. Rio Tinto executive Bold Baatar says the company could potentially become the largest producer of battery-grade lithium in the US. Rio Tinto may invest $US50m in a full-scale processing plant if the trials are successful, producing about 5,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent each year.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, ALBERMARLE CORPORATION, KIDMAN RESOURCES LIMITED, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, IONEER LIMITED – ASX INR

Content on ice as ABC still frozen

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 2 : 23-Oct-19

The ABC’s MD David Anderson has told a Senate estimates committee hearing that the public broadcaster will have to find annual cost savings of about $40m from fiscal 2022 due to its funding freeze. He added that the cost of producing quality Australian content is rising, while the ABC is facing growing competition for audiences from international streaming video providers. Anderson also said a controversial documentary about One Nation was reviewed by editorial managers and lawyers before it was broadcast by the ABC in March.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, ONE NATION PARTY, AL JAZEERA, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, WALT DISNEY COMPANY

Seven West deal tests media diversity

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 22 : 23-Oct-19

Seven West Media’s proposed acquisition of regional affiliate Prime Media Group will attract scrutiny by the Australian Communications & Media Authority. ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin says the deal will be assessed in terms of whether it will reduce the number of media ‘voices’ in the Western Australian market and the application of the ‘two-to-a-market rule’. Seven West Media also publishes newspapers in Perth and regional areas.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, REDWAVE MEDIA LIMITED, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL

Chilling effect on the news

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 36 & 37 : 22-Oct-19

The Right to Know coalition is seeking to combat what it contends is the increased suppression of press freedom in Australia. Members of the group include Seven West Media, News Corp Australia, Nine Entertainment, the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance and the ABC. The group believes that there are six key areas where reform is needed, including protections for whistleblowers, changes to the definition of what information should be regarded as secret and changes to defamation laws.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION