MASS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA

Fairfax’s Hywood reassures nervous investors on print

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

Fairfax Media CEO Greg Hywood has downplayed concerns that the group could discontinue the print editions of its metropolitan newspapers. He argues that in addition to revenue from advertising and subscribers, newspapers allow Fairfax to boost audiences for digital assets such as Domain and Drive. He adds that any shift to a digital-only model would not have a significant financial impact on Fairfax, due to the cost savings achieved in its print business in recent years.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, DOMAIN.COM.AU, DRIVE.COM.AU, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC

Amazon may use ex-Top Gear presenters’ show to launch SVOD here

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Original article by Dominic White, John McDuling
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 29-Feb-16

US-based Amazon has declined to comment on speculation that it plans to enter Australia’s subscription video-on-demand market. Industry sources have suggested that the group could launch the Amazon Prime Instant Video service in Australia later in 2016, to capitalise on the popularity of former "Top Gear" presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. They will soon host a new show for Amazon, which could opt to sell the local broadcasting rights to a rival SVOD provider.

CORPORATES
AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, AMAZON PRIME, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, THE BOOK DEPOSITORY LIMITED, DAI POST PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN CONSUMERS’ ASSOCIATION

Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine to appear on the ABC’s Q&A

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 29-Feb-16

The panellists on the 29 January 2016 edition of "Q&A" are Roy Morgan Research CEO Michele Levine; Liberal Party of Australia MP Bruce Billson; the former Speaker of the House of Representative, Anna Burke; Australian Christian Lobby MD Lyle Shelton; and the former president of the Australian Medical Association, Kerryn Phelps.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN LOBBY, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Kelly set for early departure from Nine

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 21 : 25-Feb-16

Australian-listed media group Nine Entertainment Company has advised that CFO and COO Simon Kelly will step down at the end of February 2016. He was originally slated to depart at the end of May. Nine will release its 2015-16 interim financial results on 25 February, and may update shareholders on its streaming dispute with regional affiliate WIN Corporation. Nine is also tipped to extend its share buyback.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, TICKETEK, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE

Hywood delivers frank verdict on future of newspapers

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Original article by Dominic White
The Age – Page: 27 : 22-Feb-16

Fairfax Media CEO Greg Hywood says the group is committed to "quality journalism", but concedes that this may not necessarily include print newspapers in the future. However, he has downplayed suggestions that Fairfax may discontinue its print editions in the near-term, noting that a rival media group has been forecasting this for several years. Fairfax recently revealed plans for an editorial restructuring.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Foxtel’s revenue jumps in first half

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 22 : 19-Feb-16

Pay-TV group Foxtel recorded 7.4 per cent growth in broadcast subscriber numbers during the first half of 2015-16, while its total subscriber base rose by 8.1 per cent. Foxtel’s EBIT for the half-year was 7.7 per cent lower at $A434m, although revenue rose by 5.5 per cent to $A1.66bn. The company’s subscriber churn rate fell from 11.4 per cent to 10.2 per cent.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, CBS CORPORATION, SHOWTIME

Roadshow, Foxtel in battle against piracy

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 19-Feb-16

Australian-listed Village Roadshow and a group of Hollywood studios want local ISPs to block access to a file-sharing website called SolarMovie. They will pursue action in the Federal Court under the Copyright Amendment (online infringement) Act. Pay-TV group Foxtel is also relying on the statute in a bid to block access to websites that allow people to download pirated copies of its TV shows.

CORPORATES
VILLAGE ROADSHOW LIMITED – ASX VRL, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, DISNEY STUDIOS, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED, WARNER BROS, PARAMOUNT STUDIOS, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, DODO INTERNET PTY LTD, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, SCREEN PRODUCERS AUSTRALIA, COMMUNICATIONS ALLIANCE LIMITED

The average Foxtel subscriber watches eight channels

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 17-Feb-16

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 24 per cent of Australians aged 14+ who have a Foxtel subscription say there are between six and 10 channels that they especially choose to watch. The survey, which was carried out in the year to December 2015, also shows that 15 per cent of subscribers cite 11-15 channels, nine per cent cite 16-20 channels and six per cent have an extensive must-watch list comprising 21 or more channels. Meanwhile, 21 per cent of subscribers cite two to five channels of particular interest, and five per cent have just one channel that they especially choose to watch.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

Stop the presses: Kennett fears digital Age

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Original article by Chip Le Grand, Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 18-Feb-16

Fairfax Media has rejected suggestions that a restructuring of its newsrooms could result in its Sydney office assuming greater control over the editorial content of Melbourne’s "The Age". Ex-Victorian premier Jeff Kennett and a former editor of "The Age", Bruce Guthrie, have expressed concern that the changes may lead to the print edition being discontinued in favour of a digital-only business model.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, THE BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP PTY LTD, BAIN AND COMPANY

It’s all about a cut in licence fees: Worner

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 19 : 18-Feb-16

Seven West Media has posted a 2015-16 interim net profit of $A135.2m, compared with a loss of $A993.6m previously. Underlying net profit rose by 2.1 per cent to $A140.3m, but revenue eased 4.1 per cent to $A896.7m. The TV division’s EBIT rose by two per cent to $A185.4m and revenue fell by 2.1 per cent to $A662.9m, while the newspaper division’s earnings fell 22 per cent to $A24m. CEO Tim Worner says reducing TV broadcasting licence fees should be the highest priority on the Federal Government’s media reform agenda.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, PACIFIC MAGAZINES PTY LTD, MACQUARIE SECURITIES PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVW, TOTALIZATOR AGENCY BOARD (WESTERN AUSTRALIA), RACING VICTORIA LIMITED