MASS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA

Stokes after gold on all mediums

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 & 18 : 6-Aug-14

Seven West Media has finalised a $A190m deal to be the Australian broadcaster of the summer and winter Olympic Games until 2020. The rights cover TV, radio, digital and mobile broadcasts, and includes an option for the Games in 2022 and 2024. Meanwhile, Seven West chairman Kerry Stokes has not ruled out buying a radio network by 2020, although under current media ownership laws it would not be allowed to buy a radio station in Perth

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ

Crackdown on net piracy

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 36 : 4-Aug-14

The Australian Government plans to hold a forum with the CEOs of media groups and ISPs on the issue of illegal downloading of copyrighted material. It follows the release of a discussion paper by Attorney-General George Brandis and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, which examines options for combating the problem of internet piracy. The forum is likely to be held later in August 2014

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, IINET LIMITED – ASX IIN, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, RADIO NATIONAL AUSTRALIA, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Ten loses share of free TV as Seven and Nine surge

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 29-Jul-14

Seven West Media boasted a 41.3 per cent share of metropolitan TV revenue in the first half of 2014, which is 0.8 per cent higher than previously. Nine’s revenue share rose by 0.9 per cent to 38.6, but the Ten Network’s share was 1.8 per cent lower at 20.1 per cent. Ten’s Louise Barrett notes that the network’s ratings have risen markedly in recent months after a poor performance earlier in the year

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Seven West’s video-on-demand puzzle

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 31 : 28-Jul-14

Nine Entertainment Company plans to launch a subscription video-on-demand service, potentially before the end of 2014. At one stage it appeared that Nine and arch-rival Seven West Media could have jointly developed the StreamCo product, and this may still be a possibility. StreamCo’s main competitor is likely to be US-based Netflix, which is expected to debut in Australia in 2015. Nine has also bought redeemable preference shares in Quickflix

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, QUICKFLIX LIMITED – ASX QFX, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, HOYTS GROUP PTY LTD, HBO, HULU LLC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN

US giant wants a piece of Quickflix

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Original article by Mitchell Bingemann|Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 & 27 : 24-Jul-14

Following news that free-to-air TV group Nine Entertainment had acquired a stake of 8% in listed DVD rentals and video streaming provider Quickflix, the latter has become a target for other media sector groups as well. It is believed that US-based Netflix, which operates a business similar to that of Quickflix but far larger, has approached the Australian company with an offer. Netflix is set to enter the local market soon. Stephen Langsford, CEO of Quickflix, has also sought to attract News Corp Australia and Seven West Media as investors

CORPORATES
QUICKFLIX LIMITED – ASX QFX|NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC|SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM|NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS|NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD|NETFLIX INCORPORATED|FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD|TIME WARNER INCORPORATED|HOME BOX OFFICE|TOURNAMENT FIELD

Rinehart eyes Fairfax takeover

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Original article by Sharri Markson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 21-Jul-14

Australian mining heiress Gina Rinehart is a major stockholder in the struggling Fairfax Media newspaper publishing group. She owns 14.99% via her Hancock Prospecting business, but has been rebuffed in efforts to also gain a board position. Insiders claim that she may be contemplating a move to above 20% and possibly a complete takeover, in order to secure control over how the company is run. Newly installed directors would then remove current chair Roger Corbett and CEO Greg Hywood. Ex-Victorian premier Jeff Kennett says he has been asked by Rinehart whether he would serve on the board, but declined

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD, DOMAIN.COM.AU, ALLAN GRAY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BEYOND BLUE LIMITED

Ten in play as US giants move in

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 21-Jul-14

US-based media groups such as Liberty, Viacom and Discovery have been acquiring businesses in the broadcasting sector in Europe. The interest is forecast to extend to Australia, where an obvious target is third-ranked free-to-air TV provider Ten Network. CEO Hamish McLennan acknowledges the foreign investment trend. However he is not revealing anything about recent rumours that UK-based ITV, itself a target of Liberty, has held talks with Ten. Meanwhile McLennan notes that the move by Ten to reduce its news coverage has lifted its audience ratings

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, ITV PLC, ITV NETWORK LIMITED, LIBERTY GLOBAL INCORPORATED, DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED, VIACOM INCORPORATED, CHANNEL 5 BROADCASTING LIMITED, EUROSTAT, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC, SKY DEUTSCHLAND AG, SKY ITALIA SPA

CFO Lewis ‘not right fit’ for Southern Cross

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 18-Jul-14

Peter Lewis has stepped down as CFO of Australian-listed Southern Cross Media. He only joined the company in mid-June 2014, and CEO Rhys Holleran says Lewis had indicated that he did think he was the "right fit" for the media group. Holleran notes that Southern Cross is very different to the companies for which Lewis has worked in the past, which include Seven West Media

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, ALLAN GRAY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Southern Cross in trouble as new CFO quits

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 17-Jul-14

Analysts are concerned Australian-listed Southern Cross Media (SXL) may soon breach its banking covenants. Peter Lewis, who was appointed CFO in mid-June, has resigned just one month later, and the company is believed to be considering a share issue. Its stock on 16 July closed $A0.01 higher at $A1.16, but has lost 31% so far in calendar 2014. There is speculation that if Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull changes media competition laws, SXL will cut its affiliate ties with Ten Network and merge with the latter’s Nine Entertainment rival. SXL has been affected by declining audience ratings for its and radio and regional TV stations

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, 2DAY FM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTEREO GROUP LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, FACEBOOK AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MACQUARIE WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Generational shift may end print: Murdoch

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 31 : 14-Jul-14

The co-chair of News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch, has commented on the future of print media in Australia. He was interviewed by Paul Kelly, editor at large at newspaper "The Australian". Murdoch, who had set up the new publication in 1964, said he was not certain that it would still exist in a format other than the digital version when it turns 70. He noted that younger readers prefer online newspapers, and that these also offer the opportunity to embed video content. Murdoch added that "The Australian" had often struggled to make a profit

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA