MASS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA

No third parties emerge to foil Southern Cross-Seven takeover

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 5-Nov-25

An independent report from risk advisory firm Kroll has concluded that the proposed merger with Seven West Media is in the best interests of Southern Cross Media Group’s shareholders. Kroll found that it is a good deal for the radio station group’s investors, given that the company will contribute 47.3 per cent of the "relative underlying value" and have a 50.1 per cent stake in the merged entity. Southern Cross chairman Heith Mackay-Cruise has defended the proposed merger, noting that the traditional media landscape is facing a number of challenges. He has also confirmed that Southern Cross has not been approached by any other potential suitors.

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, KROLL

Media merger to counter big tech

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Original article by James Madden
The Australian – Page: 13 & 19 : 1-Oct-25

The proposed merger between Seven West Media and Southern Cross Media Group is forecast to generate annual pre-tax cost synergies of up to $30m. The merger will combine Seven’s linear TV and digital broadcast platforms with Southern Cross’s radio stations; Seven also owns print and digital newspapers. Seven West’s shareholders are expected to vote on the deal later this year or in early 2026; if approved, Southern Cross will emerge with a 50.1 per cent stake in the combined entity. Seven’s CEO Jeff Howard will take on the role in the merged group, while Seven chairman Kerry Stokes will step down in favour of Southern Cross counterpart Heith Mackay-Cruise. Southern Cross CEO John Kelly has indicated that he has also held merger talks with Nine Entertainment in recent months.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL

HBO Max scores over 850,000 viewers in first quarter streaming content

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 24-Sep-25

New data from Roy Morgan shows that streaming video service HBO Max, which launched in Australia on 31 March, has captured an impressive audience of 851,000 Australians aged 14+ in its first full quarter online (April-June 2025). A look at the broader market for subscription video on demand shows that 17.6 million Australians (76.9%) watched a streaming video service in an average four weeks in the 12 months to June 2025, up 452,000 (+3%) from a year ago. The leading streaming video service is again Netflix with 14,339,000 viewers (63% of Australians) in an average four weeks – more than double any other streaming video service. The contest for second place is tight between Disney Plus with 6,474,000 viewers (28%), just ahead of Amazon Prime Video with 6,464,000 viewers (28%) and Stan on 5,097,000 (22%). In fifth place is DAZN’s streaming video service Binge with 2,754,000 viewers (12%).

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, HBO MAX, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, DISNEY+, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, DAZN, BINGE

Google inks first commercial AI news deal in Australia

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 20-Aug-25

Newswire service Australian Associated Press has secured a content deal with Google regarding the latter’s generative artificial intelligence platform. AAP’s news articles will be made available to the Gemini AI app. Nic Hopkins from Google says the deal with AAP will deliver a feed of real-time information to enhance responses in the Gemini app and will assist Australians when they look for locally relevant and up-to-date information. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS PTY LTD, GOOGLE INCORPORATED

Magazines matter to clear majority (64%) of Australians: over 14.7 million read magazines in print or online

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 20-Aug-25

The Roy Morgan Australian Readership report for the 12 months to June 2025 shows that 11 million Australians aged 14+ (48.2%) now read print magazines. This market broadens significantly to more than 14.7 million Australians aged 14+ (64.2%) who read magazines in print or online either via the web or an app. Overall, nine of the top 25 most widely read magazines have increased their readership over the last year. The most widely read magazine category is still Food & Entertainment, with a readership of 6,925,000 (well over 2,5 million ahead of any other category, and reaching 30.2% of the population). Meanwhile, Better Homes and Gardens is still Australia’s most widely read paid magazine, with a print readership of 1,696,000; the second-placed The Australian Women’s Weekly has a print readership of 1,206,000. Australia’s two most widely read free magazines are still Coles Magazine (with a print readership of 4,995,000) and Woolworths’ Fresh Ideas (4,477,000). These are the latest findings from the Roy Morgan Single Source survey of 67,653 Australians aged 14+ in the 12 months to June.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Seven’s profit slumps but digital offers hope

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Original article by James Madden
The Australian – Page: 17 : 13-Aug-25

Seven West Media has reported a 2024-25 statutory profit of just $17m, which is 63 per cent lower than previously. Revenue was five per cent lower at $1.4bn and underlyimg earnings were down 15 per cent to $159m, although CEO Jeff Howard notes that underlying earnings rose by six per cent in the second half. Meanwhile, the group’s 7plus digital platform recorded 26 per cent growth in revenue during 2024-25. Howard says 7plus is close to offsetting the revenue decline in Seven’s traditional broadcast TV business; he adds that although viewers will continue to switch to streaming, Seven remains committed to broadcast TV.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM

Nine’s publishing to out-earn TV

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 17 : 6-Aug-25

Jarden analyst Tom Beadle recently said that the value contained within Nine Entertainment’s publishing business could potentially be the most underappreciated part of the media group. The investment bank has valued Nine’s publishing assets at $885m, ahead of streaming video platform Stan ($655m) and the broadcast division ($601m); Jarden estimates that Nine’s radio stations are worth about $25m. Looking forward, Nine’s publishing assets are forecast to generate EBITDA of $156m by 2028; this compares with expectations of $153m for the group’s television network, which is facing higher costs.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE RADIO PTY LTD, JARDEN AND COMPANY

Solstice buys high-profile travel magazine

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 30-Jul-25

Solstice Media has added Australian Traveller magazine to its portfolio of print and online titles. The independent media company will acquire an 80 per cent stake in the publisher of Australian Traveller, and will move to full ownership over the next two years. The deal is part of Solstice Media’s strategy to increase revenue and grow its business. Its other assets include news website The New Daily, which it bought from Industry Super Holdings in late 2024.

CORPORATES
SOLSTICE MEDIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLER MEDIA PTY LTD, THE NEW DAILY, INDUSTRY SUPER HOLDINGS PTY LTD

Nine buys Premier League rights in Australia as Optus Sport shuts down

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Original article by Martin Pegan
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 1-Jul-25

Nine Entertainment has struck a deal to acquire the sports broadcasting rights that are currently held by telco Optus. They include the English Premier League, the FA Cup and the National Women’s Soccer League, which will all shift from Optus Sport to Stan Sport. The deal is said to be worth about $300m in total, and Optus is believed to have agreed to contribute about $40m to the estimated annual cost of $100m per annum for the final three years of its broadcasting rights deal for EPL matches. The Optus Sport platform was launched in 2006, but it will be shut down at the end of July; this will allow Optus to focus on its core business.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, STAN SPORT, OPTUS SPORT, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER LEAGUE

New Australian free-to-air TV rules could allow alcohol ads from 10am, even on weekends and school holidays

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Original article by Amanda Meade
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 21-May-25

Free TV Australia has proposed a revised code of practice for the nation’s commercial broadcasters. Amongst other things, the industry lobby group is pushing for M-rated TV programs to be broadcast for five hours during the daytime, rather than three at present; alcohol advertisements are permitted during M-rated blocks of programming, and Free TV Australia wants there to be no restrictions on such ads during weekends and school holidays, when children are most likely to be watching TV. It also proposes retaining the current loophole that allows alcohol ads to be shown during live sports broadcasts. The Australian Communications & Media Authority is currently reviewing the proposed changes to the code, which has not been updated for about a decade.

CORPORATES
FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY