The hidden message in Rupert Murdoch’s latest manoeuvre

Original article by John McDuling
The Age – Page: Online : 18-Oct-22

Rupert Murdoch’s proposal to reunify News Corp and Fox Corp is worthy of scrutiny. Both companies have changed significantly since being split in 2013. News Corp now derives the bulk of its revenue from digital real estate advertising rather than newspapers; likewise, Fox Corp’s focus has shifted to live news and sports after selling most of its entertainment assets to Disney. Combining the two companies makes some strategic sense, with the potential for greater cross-promotion across media platforms. Meanwhile, Barclays analysts have speculated that the reunification proposal may be aimed at preparing the companies for even more challenging economic conditions.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOX CORPORATION, BARCLAYS BANK PLC

News Corp is gaining momentum: Thomson

Original article by James Madden
The Australian – Page: 15 : 27-Oct-21

News Corporation’s annual report shows that revenue increased by four per cent in 2020-21, including 30 per cent growth in the fourth quarter. The global media group’s profitability increased by 26 per cent in 2020-21; CEO Robert Thomson noted in the annual report that it was the group’s most profitable year since the current incarnation of News Corp was established in 2013. Thomson is upbeat about the growth outlook for News Corp, and has highlighted the strong performance of Foxtel.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

Foxtel’s Kayo, Binge drive growth back to profit

Original article by Miranda Ward
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 24 : 7-Aug-21

Media giant News Corporation has posted a 2020-21 net profit of $US389m ($525.6m), compared with a loss of $US1.55bn for the previous financial year. Revenue rose four per cent year-on-year to $US9.36bn, while EBITDA was up 26 per cent at $US1.27bn. Meanwhile, News Corp Australia’s revenue was one per cent lower than previously, but the revenue of pay-TV group Foxtel was boosted by strong growth in subscriptions for its Binge and Kayo streaming services.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, BINGE, KAYO SPORTS

‘Fast and vast’ Amazon on its way

Original article by Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 20-Apr-17

US-based e-commerce group Amazon will expand its presence in Australia over the next several years, with a focus on low prices, fast deliver times and a wide range of merchandise. A new report from Morgan Stanley notes that Amazon already boasts annual sales of $A1bn in Australia, while some retail analysts believe that local retailers’ earnings could be slashed by around 50 per cent if Amazon opts to offer a full service in Australia. Amazon has commenced the process of recruiting a local CEO, while it is also scouting potential locations for distribution warehouses.

CORPORATES
AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, JB HI-FI LIMITED – ASX JBH, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TARGET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, FLINDERS INVESTMENT PARTNERS

Amazon all set to flow here

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 10-Oct-16

Amazon has declined to comment on speculation that its Prime Video subscription video-on-demand service could be launched in Australia in November 2016, to coincide with the global debut of "The Grand Tour". The program is hosted by former "Top Gear" presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. Amazon may opt to delay the local launch of its SVOD service until 2017, to enable it to build up a larger range of original and licensed content.

CORPORATES
AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, CBS CORPORATION, SHOWTIME, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, HBO, GOODMAN GROUP – ASX GMG, SANDVINE INCORPORATED

Cancellations, price rises slow subscriber growth at Netflix

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 20-Jul-16

US-based Netflix has posted a profit of $US40.8 million for the June 2016 quarter, which is 54.8 per cent higher than the same period in 2015. However, Netflix increased its global subscriber base by just 1.7 million during the quarter, compared with its own expectations that it would gain 2.5 million customers. An increase in its prices also resulted in a rise in Netflix’s customer churn rate. The company has noted that lower growth in international subscribers was to be expected after it launched in markets such as Australia in 2015.

CORPORATES
NETFLIX INCORPORATED

All TV destined for internet in next 10 or 20 years, says Netflix CEO

Original article by Madhumita Murgia
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 11-Jan-16

It is estimated that Netflix now accounts for 36.5 per cent of prime-time internet traffic, while 3.2 billion people in 60 countries watched Netflix content during 2015. The US-based subscription video-on-demand provider was launched in an additional 130 countries in early January 2016, which will offset slowing growth in subscriber numbers in the US. Netflix Chairman Reed Hastings has forecast that TV content will be viewed solely online within two decades. Originally published in "The Daily Telegraph".

CORPORATES
NETFLIX INCORPORATED, AMAZON STUDIOS