Advertising rules and blackouts are looking outdated

Original article by Natasha Gillezeau
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 16-May-19

Political marketing expert Andrew Hughes has questioned why the pre-election advertising blackout has not been extended to social media. The ban on political advertising on broadcast TV and radio took effect at 12am on 16 May, but it does not apply to online media. Political science and lobbying expert George Rennie expects the blackout to benefit Labor more than the Coalition, noting that the latter is more reliant on traditional broadcast media to reach older voters. Catch-up TV services are also exempt from the blackout.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ALLENS

Multi-million cash splash on poll eve

Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 23 : 13-May-19

DDB Australia MD Leif Stromnes says Clive Palmer’s total expenditure on political advertising could potentially top $60m by 18 May. Data from Nielsen shows that United Australia Party had already spent some $39.1m on traditional media advertising up to 5 May. Stromnes notes that Palmer has bought reach very effectively, adding that his spending across TV, radio and newspapers is a "massive vote of confidence" for traditional media. The TV and radio advertising blackout on election advertising commences on 16 May, but print and online advertising will still be permitted.

CORPORATES
DDB HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, 2GB, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED

Palmer’s political ad spend tops $30m

Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 20 & 22 : 22-Apr-19

New data from Nielsen shows that Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party has spent some $31.7m on newspaper, TV and radio advertising since September. The UAP significantly outspent the major political parties in the weeks immediately prior to the federal election being called. VMLY&R CEO Peter Bosilkovski notes that UAP has already spend more than the four major political parties during the 2016 election campaign. UAP’s advertising expenditure is expected to top $50m by election day.

CORPORATES
UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY, VMLY&R, THE NIELSEN COMPANY (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Facebook bans foreign-funded political ads during May election

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 5-Apr-19

Facebook is the latest social media company to advise that it will not accept foreign payments for political advertisements on its platform during the upcoming federal election. Twitter has previously announced such a ban, while Facebook has also banned foreign-funded political advertising in Indonesia during that nation’s presidential election. Meanwhile, Facebook has responded by the issue of fake news by establishing a fact-checking unit in partnership with Agence France-Presse.

CORPORATES
FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, TWITTER INCORPORATED, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Free TV targets tech ad imbalance

Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 24 & 26 : 11-Feb-19

Free TV Australia CEO Bridget Fair has called for a level playing field with regard to the media’s political advertising rules. She says the ban on broadcasting political advertising on traditional media creates a big disincentive for advertising on commercial TV, given that the ban does not apply to digital media. Fair has welcomed the recommendations of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s review of digital platforms, but she says urgent action is needed to address competition issues in the media sector.

CORPORATES
FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED

REA boss Wilson pins growth hopes on Asia

Original article by John Durie
The Australian – Page: 15 : 19-Dec-18

REA Group’s incoming CEO Owen Wilson says that continuing to provide value to customers and consumers will be his priority. Wilson also wants to expand the property listings group’s Asian operations, which currently account for about eight per cent of group revenue. Wilson will succeed Tracey Fellows, who will remain on REA’s board after becoming president of News Corporation’s Global Digital Real Estate business. News Corp has a controlling stake in REA.

CORPORATES
REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, REALESTATE.COM.AU, DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Domain eyes summer of sport boost

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 21-Nov-18

Property listings group Domain Holdings will have a significant marketing presence on Australian TV during the 2018-19 summer. Domain will be the naming rights sponsor of cricket, which will be broadcast by the Seven Network for the first time. Domain is also expected to be marketed heavily on the Nine Network following the merger between Nine Entertainment Company and Fairfax Media, which is Domain’s largest shareholder. CEO Jason Pellegrino is confident that Domain can increase its reach outside its core markets of Sydney and Melbourne.

CORPORATES
DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS

Fellows moves house to global News Corp role

Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 21 : 16-Nov-18

REA Group is seeking a new CEO after Tracey Fellows resigned to become president of News Corporation’s digital real estate business. Fellows, who will be based in New York in her new role, has been CEO of REA since August 2014. Shares in REA have gained around 62 per cent during her tenure, and the real estate listings group recently posted strong growth in earnings and revenue for the first quarter of 2018-19. Fellows will remain on the board of REA, in which News Corp has a controlling stake.

CORPORATES
REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, REALESTATE.COM.AU, IPROPERTY GROUP LIMITED, HOMETRACK, SMARTLINE HOME LOANS PTY LTD, MOVE INCORPORATED, DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, AUSTRALIA POST, MICROSOFT CORPORATION, DELL TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED, IBM CORPORATION

Warburton looks for next challenge

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 19-Oct-18

APN Outdoor Group will be delisted after the Federal Court approved the scheme of arrangement for its $1.2bn acquisition by JCDecaux. James Warburton has resigned as CEO APN Outdoor after 10 months in the role, and he will leave the outdoor advertising group on 31 October. He intends to seek another executive role, and says he has already received several approaches. APN Outdoor shareholders will receive $6.70 per share, including a special dividend of $0.30 per share.

CORPORATES
APN OUTDOOR GROUP LIMITED – ASX APO, JC DECAUX SA, OOH!MEDIA LIMITED – ASX OML, ADSHEL PTY LTD, HT&E LIMITED – ASX HT1, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, SYDNEY TRAINS, NEW SOUTH WALES. ROADS AND MARITIME SERVICES, TRANSPORT FOR BRISBANE, SYDNEY AIRPORT – ASX SYD

APN Outdoor finishes up with a profit jump

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 24-Aug-18

APN Outdoor Group has posted a 2018 interim net profit of $17.8m, which is 13 per cent higher than previously. The outdoor advertising group has advised that it still expects underlying EBITDA of $92m to $96m for the full year, which is likely to be its last as a listed company after its acquisition by JC Decaux was cleared by the competition regulator. APN Outdoor CEO James Warburton has declined to comment on his future, but sources have indicated that he is likely to leave the company when the deal is completed.

CORPORATES
APN OUTDOOR GROUP LIMITED – ASX APO, JC DECAUX SA, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, OOH!MEDIA LIMITED – ASX OML, ADSHEL PTY LTD, HT&E LIMITED – ASX HT1, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, SYDNEY TRAINS, NEW SOUTH WALES. ROADS AND MARITIME SERVICES, TRANSPORT FOR BRISBANE, SYDNEY AIRPORT – ASX SYD