MASS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA

Netflix ratings fast-tracked in pilot program

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 7-Dec-16

US subscription video-on-demand provider Netflix will trial a self-regulation system for the classification of content that it streams in Australia. The pilot program is aimed at overcoming Australia’s often lengthy process for classifying films and TV programs, to ensure that local Netflix customers can view content at the same time as it is made available overseas. The trial will include the use of an online tool that will apply Australian classification ratings to Netflix content.

CORPORATES
NETFLIX INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF FILM AND LITERATURE CLASSIFICATION. CLASSIFICATION REVIEW BOARD, INTERNATIONAL AGE RATING COALITION, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, MICROSOFT INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY, NINTENDO COMPANY LIMITED

Fairfax, Nine plan to bypass laws

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 6-Dec-16

Fairfax Media and Nine Entertainment Company are said to have held further talks regarding potential asset sales, although they are not believed to be close to finalising a deal. Several options are believed to be under consideration in order to avoid any such deal being blocked due to the "two-out-of-three" rule. The Federal Opposition and the Australian Greens oppose abolishing the rule, while some media groups regard a further reduction in TV broadcasting licence fees as a higher priority than changes to cross-media ownership laws.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, DOMAIN.COM.AU, MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, 2GB, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, MACQUARIE CAPITAL PTY LTD, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, NINE LIVE PTY LTD, AFFINITY EQUITY PARTNERS (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL

Fairfax sat on Forbes sex claim

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 5-Dec-16

A second female journalist had accused Mark Forbes of sexual harassment. He was suspended as editor-in-chief of "The Age" on 2 December 2016, but it has been alleged that Fairfax Media was aware of the initial complaint several weeks before taking action. The Fairfax veteran had been editor-in-chief since April, and he was previously the news director at "The Age".

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Walkley for compelling Bowraville podcast

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 5-Dec-16

The annual Walkley Awards for excellence in journalism were presented on 2 December 2016. News Corp Australia journalists won eight Walkleys in total, including one for the series of podcasts by Dan Box of "The Australian" on the Bowraville murders in New South Wales. The Gold Walkley was awarded to freelance photographer Andrew Quilty, while the achievements of the late sports columnist and broadcaster Rebecca Wilson were recognised with the Walkley Award for journalistic leadership.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, WALKLEY FOUNDATION FOR JOURNALISM, THE GUARDIAN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, PARRAMATTA EELS, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL (NEW SOUTH WALES)

Second wind lifts Netflix over 5.75 million Australians – but not everyone actually watches it

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 2-Dec-16

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 29 per cent of Australians aged 14+ (5,776,000 people) had a Netflix subscription in November 2016, up from 25 per cent in May. A total of 2,223,000 Australian households now have a Netflix subscription. Meanwhile, more than two in five Netflix subscribers stream less than three hours of its content during an average week, including 26 per cent who watched some Netflix but less than three hours in the last seven days, and another 16 per cent who did not watch any at all. Some 35 per cent of people with a household Netflix subscription spend three to seven hours watching, and 14 per cent spend eight to 14 hours. Less than one in 10 Netflix subscribers (nine per cent) had a real "binge-viewing" week, watching 15 or more hours of content. Although the overall take-up of Netflix now rivals that of Foxtel, those with the Pay TV provider spend around twice as much time watching. The majority of Foxtel subscribers spend at least eight hours a week watching, including over a third who watch for 15 hours or more. Only around one in 20 people with Foxtel haven not watched it at all in the last seven days.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

News Corp takes full control of Sky News

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 21 : 2-Dec-16

News Corp Australia is believed to have paid about $A20m for Australian News Channel, which owns Sky News. The media giant has been in talks with ACN owners Seven West Media, Nine Entertainment Company and Sky plc since 2015. News Corp Australia executive chairman Michael Miller says the deal brings together two of the nation’s "strongest and most credentialed" providers of news media. He has flagged increased investment in content and quality journalism at Sky.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, SKY NEWS, AUSTRALIAN NEWS CHANNEL PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SKY PLC, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED

TV bosses unite against online foe

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 1-Dec-16

The ReThink TV forum in Sydney has featured a panel discussion with the CEOs of Australia’s commercial free-to-air networks and Foxtel. Seven West Media’s Tim Worner conceded that in recent years some TV shows have not been very good, but he is confident that upcoming shows will appeal to viewers. Ten Network’s Paul Anderson noted that the networks are co-operating more in terms of marketing and audience measurement, amid growing competition from digital players.

CORPORATES
THINK TV, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED

TV bosses unite against online foe

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 1-Dec-16

The ReThink TV forum in Sydney has featured a panel discussion with the CEOs of Australia’s commercial free-to-air networks and Foxtel. Seven West Media’s Tim Worner conceded that in recent years some TV shows have not been very good, but he is confident that upcoming shows will appeal to viewers. Ten Network’s Paul Anderson noted that the networks are co-operating more in terms of marketing and audience measurement, amid growing competition from digital players.

CORPORATES
THINK TV, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED

ACCC to look at online rivals if magazines join

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 21 : 30-Nov-16

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission could be expected to closely scrutinise any move by Bauer Media to acquire Pacific Magazines. ACCC chairman Rod Sims says that as yet neither group has sought advice from the regulator with regard to competition issues. Sims adds that the ACCC would consider factors such as competition from online magazines in deciding to approve a merger between the nation’s two largest magazine publishers.

CORPORATES
BAUER MEDIA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, PACIFIC MAGAZINES PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, ACP MAGAZINES LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC

Bleak view of Fairfax prospects

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 21 : 29-Nov-16

Citi has a "sell" recommendation on Fairfax Media, and values the company at $A0.70 per share. In contrast, Citi values the Domain property listings business at $A0.80 per share. The firm estimates that Fairfax would incur total costs of about $A330m if it opted to discontinue its print newspapers to focus on its digital operations. However, Citi notes that Fairfax’s digital revenue fell by 4.5 per cent in the first half of 2015-16.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, DOMAIN.COM.AU, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, CARSALES.COM LIMITED – ASX CAR, REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA