Regions running scare campaign, says Seven

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 36 : 6-Jul-15

Southern Cross Media Group CEO Grant Blackley says the Australian Government should review cross-media ownership laws to ensure a "level playing field" for regional TV broadcasters. However, Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner argues that regional networks’ primary motivation for scrapping the "reach rule" is to make them more appealing to potential suitors. He argues that they should instead lobby for a reduction in licence fees, which could be redirected to local content such as news.

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS

Reach rule ‘putting local news at risk’

Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 30 : 25-May-15

Prime Media Group CEO Ian Audsley expects WIN Corporation to scrap more of its regional news bulletins following the closure of its newsrooms in Mackay and Mildura. WIN has attributed the move to factors such as the regulatory regime and the economic viability of local newsrooms. Audsley says the Australian Government’s lack of action on abolishing the so-called "reach rule" is contributing to the demise of regional broadcasters’ news services.

CORPORATES
WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Turnbull risks wrath of moguls

Original article by Dominic White, Jared Lynch
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 16-Mar-15

Southern Cross Media Group CEO Rhys Holleran and Fairfax Media CEO Greg Hywood are among the industry executives who support cross-media ownership reforms proposed by Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull. These including abolishing the reach rule and the two-out-of-three rule. However, Turnbull’s proposal to retain the anti-siphoning list for sports broadcasts has attracted criticism from Foxtel CEO Richard Freudenstein and News Corp Australia CEO Julian Clarke

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Junk food classified healthy and then advertised on TV

Original article by Harriet Alexander
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 3 : 7-Aug-14

Australian Communications & Media Authority rules ban companies from advertising unhealthy food during children’s TV programs in certain time slots. However new Cancer Council New South Wales data show that under the self-classification of food products by signatories to the voluntary Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative, many snack items are simply treated as if they were healthy. If applying the Food Standards Australia New Zealand nutrient profiling, close to two thirds of all advertisements are in fact for unhealthy foods

CORPORATES
FOOD STANDARDS AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND BOARD, CANCER COUNCIL OF NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

Editing of TV interview was ‘unethical’, says new senator

Original article by Heath Aston
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 6 : 14-Jul-14

A complaint letter to Seven West Media and the Australian Communications & Media Authority was prepared by defamation lawyer Peter Breen, the adviser to new federal senator Ricky Muir. The Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party politician however asked Breen not to lodge the complaint, over the treatment of Muir by journalist Mike Willesee. The "Sunday Night" current affairs program in June 2014 had shown an interview with Muir during which he struggled to give answers, and it also included footage of Muir being coached by party founder Keith Littler. Muir claims he was told this part would be edited out, and that Seven acted in a "unethical" manner

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, AUSTRALIAN MOTORING ENTHUSIAST PARTY, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY