MASS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA

Pay TV seeks early rounds of World Cup soccer in sport rights shake-up

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 32 : 15-Feb-16

The Australian Subscription Television & Radio Association will lobby Communications Minister Mitch Fifield to remove some sports events from the anti-siphoning list. These include all non-Socceroos matches in the group stages of the soccer World Cup. ASTRA CEO Andrew Maiden notes that many sporting events are not of "national importance and cultural significance" and attract low ratings on free-to-air TV, and therefore should be removed from the list.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION AND RADIO ASSOCIATION (ASTRA) INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, WORLD CUP, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED

WIN sues Nine over regional streaming

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 11-Feb-16

Nine Entertainment Company (NEC) recently began offering live streaming of its primary channel, which allows the media group to reach regional audiences. However, regional affiliate WIN Corporation is expected to ask the Supreme Court of New South Wales to grant an interim injunction to prevent NEC from streaming 9Now in regional areas. WIN is owned by Bruce Gordon, who also has a 14.95 per cent stake in NEC.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT

Scott drops a farewell bombshell on SBS

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

ABC MD Mark Scott has told a Senate estimates hearing that the focus of SBS has shifted from its original role of a multicultural broadcaster to one offering more general interest content. He argued that there is now less distinction between the ABC and SBS, and said the Federal Government could eventually consider merging them. Meanwhile, Scott has indicated that the ABC will seek an extra $A25m to $A30m per year in its triennial funding package to increase its investment in regional and rural content.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS)

2DayFM rejects Kyle and Jackie talk

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 9-Feb-16

The contracts of KIIS 106.5 FM breakfast show hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson expire at the end of 2016. However, Southern Cross Media Group CEO Grant Blackley says his company has not held talks with the popular duo about returning to 2DayFM. There has been a sharp fall in the radio station’s ratings and revenue since they left in 2014. Meanwhile, Blackley says Southern Cross could potentially end its affiliation agreement with Ten Network if cross-media ownership reforms proceed.

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SOUTHERN CROSS AUSTEREO PTY LTD, KIIS1065, 2DAY FM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK PTY LTD

A-League takes shot at TV windfall

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 8-Feb-16

Fox Sports Australia and SBS paid $A160m for their current four-year broadcasting rights deal with Football Federation Australia. However, FFA is said to be potentially seeking up to $A80m extra from the next broadcasting rights deal, which is also expected to attract interest from the three commercial free-to-air networks.

CORPORATES
FOOTBALL FEDERATION AUSTRALIA LIMITED, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, OLIVER AND OHLBAUM, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA GMBH, THE A LEAGUE PTY LTD, SOCCEROOS, REAL MADRID FOOTBALL CLUB, MANCHESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB, ASSOCIAZIONE SPORTIVA ROMA SPA, AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

Nine mulls a punt on fantasy betting market

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 25 : 8-Feb-16

Australian media companies are hoping to capitalise on the growing popularity of fantasy betting. Nine Entertainment Company is believed to be keen to enter the market, while News Corp Australia has had discussions with Moneyball. Meanwhile, Australian-listed TopBetta recently held talks with both News Corp and Seven West Media. Fantasy betting is also attracting interest from gambling companies such as CrownBet.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, MONEYBALL, TOPBETTA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TBH, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, CROWNBET PTY LTD, TABCORP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TAH, TATTS GROUP LIMITED – ASX TTS, LADBROKES, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, DRAFTKINGS, FANDUEL

Optus prepares for Premier League debut

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

Australian telco Optus has yet to provide much detail of its packages for access to English Premier League matches, with its exclusive broadcasting contract to begin in August 2016. However, the telco is said to be planning to introduce a direct-to-consumer subscription-based streaming service for mobile devices and PCs. It is expected to be available to customers of rival telcos, although they will pay a higher price than Optus customers.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB, LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB PLC, ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB PLC, AL JAZEERA, BEIN SPORTS, UNION EUROPEENNE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA GMBH, FETCHTV PTY LTD, APPLE INCORPORATED, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC

Roy Morgan Newspaper Print Readership and Cross-Platform Audience Results for December 2015

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 4-Feb-16

Roy Morgan Research has released its Print Readership and seven-day Cross-Platform Audience results for Australian newspapers for the year to December 2015. Readership of the weekday edition of "The Age" has fallen by 16.1 per cent, while readership of the Saturday and Sunday editions fell by 15.4 per cent and 19 per cent respectively. However, readership of the weekend edition of "The Australian Financial Review" increased by 25.2 per cent. "Smart Investor" had the highest growth in readership of newspaper inserted magazines. Meanwhile, 10 of the 14 major mastheads expanded their digital reach in 2015, as more Australians accessed newspaper content via website or app. Roy Morgan Research CEO Michele Levine says Ro Morgan Audiences is a game-changing new tool that can measure and evaluate unique digital audiences across devices, and provide owners and advertisers with twice-daily updates on who has been reached, how many times, via which of their devices.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Roy Morgan Magazine Readership and Cross-Platform Audiences for December 2015

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 4-Feb-16

Roy Morgan Research’s latest Australian Magazine Readership survey shows that 12,219,000 Australians 14+ read the latest issue of at least one print magazine on average in the year to December 2015. This is 1.9 per cent lower than the previous year. "Coles Magazine" remained the most widely-read print magazine during the period, with an average readership of 2,994,000 per issue (an increase of 8.1 per cent). Meanwhile, a number of titles recorded an increase in total cross-platform audiences, including "The Monthly" (up 13.4 per cent to 263,000), "Women’s Health" (up 7.7 per cent to 435,000), and "Open Road" (up 1.5 per cent to 1,033,000).

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

ABC boss warns of cheap imports

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Original article by Sid Maher
The Australian – Page: 6 : 4-Feb-16

The ABC’s outgoing MD Mark Scott has questioned whether profit-driven Australian media companies will continue to produce local content. Speaking at the ABC’s annual parliamentary showcase in Canberra, he argued that the public broadcaster is best-placed to deliver such content, and urged all political parties to support it. Scott also noted that low-cost international content presents a threat to local content.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, APPLE INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, RADIO NATIONAL