MASS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA – REGULATION

Crossbench not sold on case for reform

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 7-Mar-16

The Senate Standing Committee on Environment & Communications will review the Federal Government’s bill to abolish the "reach rule" and the "two-out-of-three rule". Passage of the bill may require the support of a majority of the eight crossbench Senators, although six have yet to decide their position on the proposed reforms. Independent senator Nick Xenophon argues that TV broadcasting licence fees should also be reduced, and local content requirements should be introduced for regional broadcasters.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Murdoch and Stokes rebuffed on media reform

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Original article by Dominic White, Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 2-Mar-16

The Australian Government has confirmed that its cross-media ownership reforms will abolish the "reach rule" and the "two-of-three rule". However, Seven West Media has criticised the Government for not reducing TV broadcasting licence fees, while Foxtel CEO Richard Freudenstein argues that changes to the anti-siphoning list for sporting events should have been part of the reform package. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has indicated that the latter may be subject to change in the future.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ

MPs fall in line on media reforms

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Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 4 : 1-Mar-16

The Australian Government’s bill to change cross-media ownership laws is expected to be submitted to Parliament on 1 March 2016, if the reforms are endorsed by the Coalition’s party room. The reforms have already been approved by the Coalition’s backbench communications committee. The Opposition supports abolition of the "reach rule", although it may seek to block scrapping the "two-out-three rule" in the Senate. The reforms are likely to prompt consolidation among Australian TV broadcasters.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PALMER UNITED PARTY, FAMILY FIRST PARTY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

Fifield allays fears over media diversity

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 30 : 29-Feb-16

The Coalition’s party room will be asked to endorse proposed changes to cross-media ownership laws on 1 March 2016, after the reforms were approved by Cabinet. Meanwhile, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has downplayed the Opposition’s concerns that the reforms could increase News Corp Australia’s market power in the local media sector. He has also ruled out merging the ABC and SBS, and says TV broadcasting licence fees are being reviewed as part of the Budget process.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Media reform an all-or-nothing proposition, as Fifield resists carve-out

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Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 2 : 25-Feb-16

Federal Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has ruled out separate media reform bills to abolish the "reach rule" and the "two-out-of-three rule". He insists that both reforms must be presented to Parliament in a single bill. The Australian Labor Party supports scrapping the reach rule, while regional TV broadcasters want it to be abolished quickly so they can consider mergers with metropolitan networks. However, Labor wants a Senate inquiry into scrapping the two-out-of-three rule.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, FAMILY FIRST PARTY AUSTRALIA LIMITED

New media reform brawl brews

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Original article by Darren Davidson, Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 2 : 24-Feb-16

Regional TV broadcasters have welcomed the Federal Government’s proposed changes to cross-media ownership laws, particular new local content requirements. Both the "reach rule" and the "two-out-of-three rule" will be abolished if the reforms proceed. However, News Corp Australia’s executive chairman Michael Miller says the reforms should be more extensive, and should include the anti-siphoning list for sports broadcasts. Seven Group CEO Ryan Stokes agrees that the reforms are too limited.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVW, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, KIIS1065, PURE GOLD

Ownership laws set to face cabinet test

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Original article by Jake Mitchell, Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 22-Feb-16

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield is expected to present proposed cross-media ownership reforms to Cabinet on 22 February 2016, with legislation likely to be tabled in Parliament in mid-March. The reforms are likely to include the abolition of the "reach rule" and the "two-out-of-three" rule, although there may be no changes to the anti-siphoning list for sports broadcasts. The reforms are also likely to include measures to ensure that regional broadcasters continue to provide local content in the event of mergers in the sector.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Liberals warn Nats could derail media changes

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 17-Feb-16

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield hopes to introduce legislation to abolish the "reach rule" and the "two-out-of-three rule" by mid-2016. However, there are concerns that the cross-media ownership reform agenda may be threatened by the National Party’s stance on local content requirements for regional TV broadcasters. Liberal Senator Dean Smith says regional broadcasters are already struggling financially and any media reforms should not subject them to increased regulation.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC

Media shakeup: extra points for local TV news

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Original article by Laura Tingle
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 16-Feb-16

Proposed changes to Australia’s cross-media ownership laws will be presented to Cabinet ministers shortly. The National Party is believed to be close to accepting a deal to ensure that regional TV broadcasters continue to provide local content if the "reach rule" and the "two-out-of-three rule" are abolished. The Federal Government has proposed the introduction of a points system which would require regional broadcasters to provide around 30 minutes of local content each day.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

Fifield building support for reform

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 8-Feb-16

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield is said to be hoping to introduce cross-media ownership reforms to Parliament in March 2016, ahead of the Budget in May. Fifield has held meetings with the crossbench senators and is optimistic that they will support his push to scrap the "reach rule" and the " two-out-of-three rule". However, any reduction in TV broadcasting licence fees and changes to the anti-siphoning list for sports events are likely to be included in the Budget.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA