MASS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA

Publishers unite to spread the good word

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 11-May-16

A new report shows that the print and digital advertising revenue of Australia’s major news publishers fell by a lower-than-expected 6.7 per cent in 2015, to $A2.4bn. The News Media Index report outlines the advertising revenue of News Corp Australia, Fairfax Media, West Australian News­papers and APN News & Media, which account for around 90 per cent of the sector. Traditional media groups have been able to offset a decline in ad revenue with growth in digital subscriptions.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, WEST AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER HOLDINGS LIMITED, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, SMI MEDIA INCORPORATED, THE NEWSPAPER WORKS LIMITED, NEWSMEDIAWORKS, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD

‘Fairfax news business can survive’

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 11-May-16

Fairfax Media CEO Greg Hywood has stressed that the group is still primarily a media company rather than a digital real estate business. He is also confident that Fairfax’s news operations would be able to survive without the revenue contribution of the Domain property division. Fairfax’s revenue from its publishing operations has fallen by six per cent so far in the second half of 2015-16, while Domain’s revenue has grown by nine per cent.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, DOMAIN.COM.AU, THE NEWSPAPER WORKS LIMITED, NEWSMEDIAWORKS, SMI MEDIA INCORPORATED, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD

How local visionary Grundy conquered the world of TV

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Original article by Michael Bodey
The Australian – Page: 3 : 10-May-16

Australia media industry identities have paid tribute to pioneering TV producer Reg Grundy, who has died at his home in Bermuda at the age of 92. Grundy produced many of Australia’s best-known game shows and dramas, including "Wheel of Fortune", "The Price Is Right", "Prisoner" and "Neighbours". He started his media career as the host of radio and TV shows before opting to become a TV producer.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, RG CAPITAL HOLDINGS (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD

Aly collects big in Logies’ night of voter power

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Original article by Michael Bodey
The Australian – Page: 11 : 9-May-16

The Ten Network’s current affairs show "The Project" was among the big winners at the annual Logie awards. It took out the award for the best news, panel or current affairs program, while co-presenter Waleed Aly won both a Silver Logie and the covered Gold Logie. Noni Hazlehurst became just the second woman to be inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, RADIO NATIONAL

Foxtel chief waves off Ten takeover talk

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 9-May-16

Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh has downplayed speculation that the pay-TV group could seek to acquire free-to-air broadcaster Ten Network if cross-media ownership rules are relaxed. He argues that the competition regulator could be expected to closely scrutinise such a deal, and notes that a merger with Ten would make it more difficult for Foxtel to enter commercial arrangements with other free-to-air networks. Foxtel bought a 13.8 per cent stake in Ten in 2015.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, 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, MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NOVA ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Fairfax journalists face investigation over strike

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Original article by Nick Toscano
The Age – Page: 24 : 5-May-16

The Fair Work Ombudsman has ordered Fairfax Media to provide it with the personal details of about 600 journalists who staged unprotected industrial action in mid-March 2016. The strike was prompted by Fairfax’s latest proposed round of redundancies. The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance is also subject to the compulsory order, and could a fine of up to $A54,000. Journalists could each be liable for fines of up to $A10,800 for unlawful industrial action.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

Licence fee cut short of adequate: networks

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 28 : 5-May-16

Macquarie Securities estimates that Nine Entertainment Company’s EBITDA will increase by $A10.9m due to the reduction in broadcasting licence fees in the Australian Government’s May 2016 Budget. The EBITDA of Seven West Media and Ten Network will rise by $A12.1m and $A7m respectively. Seven West CEO Tim Worner says the 25 per cent reduction in the annual licence fee is insufficient for commercial TV networks to remain competitive.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, MACQUARIE SECURITIES PTY LTD, NIKKO ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL

Optus hits own goal with EPL pricing

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Original article by Michael Bodey
The Australian – Page: 26 : 5-May-16

The majority of Optus customers will pay $A15 per month to access the telco’s coverage of English Premier League matches. Optus had been widely tipped to charge just $A10 per month. However, customers on Optus’s most expensive mobile and broadband plans will not be charged extra for access to EPL matches. Optus also intends to launch a mini set-top box that will allow customers to stream EPL matches to a TV rather than viewing them on a PC or mobile device.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, FETCHTV PTY LTD, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

TV licence fees cut while ABC, SBS get extra funds

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Original article by Fleur Anderson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: B15 : 4-May-16

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield says a further reduction in free-to-air TV networks’ licence fees will be considered later in 2016. The annual licence fee was reduced by 25 per cent in the Australian Government’s May 2016 Budget. This will make the networks more competitive against streaming rivals such as Netflix, which are not subject to licence fees. The Budget also includes additional funding for the ABC and SBS.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), APPLE INCORPORATED, NBN CO LIMITED

Diversity key for ABC, says Guthrie

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Original article by Michael Bodey
The Australian – Page: 3 : 3-May-16

Former Google executive Michelle Guthrie officially succeeded Mark Scott as MD of the ABC on 2 May 2016. She has called for greater diversity in the ABC’s staff and its content, to ensure that the public broadcaster is relevant to all Australians. Meanwhile, Guthrie will appear before a Senate estimates committee on 5 May, while the ABC’s funding is likely to be retained at about its current level in the Australian Government’s Budget.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, SKY PLC, STAR TV, PROVIDENCE EQUITY PARTNERS INCORPORATED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC