MASS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA

Digital titans’ success comes at our expense

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Original article by Michael Miller
The Australian – Page: 23 & 25 : 30-Sep-19

The federal government’s response to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s digital platforms inquiry must include legislative action to address the market power of technology platforms. The massive profits generated by these platforms are based on their unfair commercial exploitation of content from companies such as news publishers, and failure to address this issue will result in the loss of more jobs and valuable sources of information for many communities.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

Giant loss nets Seven worst grand final rating in 18 years

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 23 & 25 : 30-Sep-19

Data from OzTAM shows that the Seven Network’s broadcast of the 2019 AFL Grand Final boasted a metropolitan audience of 2.197 million viewers, compared with 2.601 million in 2018. The nationwide audience fell from 3.378 million in 2018 to just 2.939 million. Richmond’s 89-point victory over the Greater Western Sydney Giants was the third-biggest winning margin in AFL/VFL history.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, RICHMOND FOOTBALL CLUB, GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY FOOTBALL CLUB, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, OZTAM PTY LTD, STREEM PTY LTD, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

News in call for curbs on big tech

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Original article by Andrew White
The Australian – Page: 1 : 30-Sep-19

News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller has called for legislative action to reign in the market power of digital platforms such as Google and Facebook. Amongst other things, he says such platforms should sign a mandatory code of conduct and be prohibited from using any publisher’s content unless they do so. Miller contends that technology platforms have been the biggest cause of damage to Australia’s media industry and Australians’ access to trusted and reliable content.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Nine: Tech giants must share revenue

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 26-Sep-19

Google and Facebook account for the bulk of digital advertising revenue in Australia, and other players collectively receive just $0.29 of every dollar spent. Nine Entertainment Company has called for a "fair" revenue sharing arrangement between the digital giants and content producers, and it argues that a proposed new division within the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission should be responsible for ensuring that commercial contracts are fair to both parties.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Job losses loom as Warburton remakes Seven West Media

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 17 & 24 : 25-Sep-19

Seven West Media has declined to comment on speculation that it is poised to shed staff across its operations as part of a restructuring. CEO James Warburton flagged measures to reduce costs shortly after taking the helm in August, as well the potential for mergers and acquisitions in both the traditional and non-traditional media sectors. Seven West Media posted a $444.5m net loss in 2018-19.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, V8 SUPERCARS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, APN OUTDOOR GROUP LIMITED, JC DECAUX SA

Local is lucrative for media companies

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 19 : 25-Sep-19

News Corp Australia executive Damian Eales addressed the NewsMediaWorks INFORM Summit on 24 September. He emphasised the importance of local journalism and news content in regional and rural areas, and noted that regional mastheads are the media group’s fastest-growing digital products. Eales added that with digital platforms gaining an increasing share of advertising revenue, traditional media companies have become much more reliant on paid subscriptions in order to keep providing quality journalism.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEWSMEDIAWORKS, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY MEDIA

Radio deal not over till the fat lady sings

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 19 : 24-Sep-19

Wilson Asset Management holds a stake of about 2.91 per cent in Macquarie Media. WAM chairman Geoff Wilson believes that Nine Entertainment’s offer of $1.46 per share undervalues the takeover target, and that Macquarie’s independent board committee should seek a better deal. He contends that the committee must act in the best interests of minority shareholders rather than merely large investors. Wilson believes that a higher offer for Macquarie may yet emerge before Nine’s bid closes on 14 October.

CORPORATES
MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, WILSON ASSET MANAGEMENT

Broadcasters, big tech at odds on revenue sharing

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 23-Sep-19

Free TV Australia states that a code of conduct is needed to govern commercial relationships between free-to-air broadcasters and digital platforms such as Google and Facebook. Free TV notes that when a free-to-air broadcasters’ content is uploaded to a platform, it is the owner of the digital platform that sets the terms of how that content is monetised. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has recommended a code of conduct be set up that would require digital platforms to negotiate arrangements with media companies regarding data sharing and revenue, and that the Australian Communications and Media Authority oversee the code. However, Free TV would prefer the ACCC to monitor it.

CORPORATES
FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, GOOGLE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FACEBOOK AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

$80m deal: Singleton sells out of radio after 60-year career

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 1 : 23-Sep-19

Nine Entertainment Company’s hopes of gaining full ownership of Macquarie Media have been boosted after John Singleton advised that he will accept the offer of $1.46 per share unless a higher bid emerges. The advertising industry veteran has a 32.2 per cent stake in the owner of radio stations such as 2GB and 3AW, and he will gain about $80m from the transaction. Singleton says he may invest in the media sector in the future, but he adds that breeding horses and canaries are now his top priority.

CORPORATES
MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, 2GB, 3AW SOUTHERN CROSS RADIO PTY LTD

PM rejects fears on press freedom

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Original article by Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: 2 : 6-Sep-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stressed that the Coalition is "absolutely" committed to press freedom. He has also expressed his view that there are sufficient protections for whistleblowers, while he has defended the Australian Federal Police over the recent raid on the Canberra home of Australian Signals Directorate officer Cameron Gill. News Corp Australia executive Campbell Reid has claimed that the AFP raid was aimed at intimidating potential whistleblowers into not approaching the media.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIAN SIGNALS DIRECTORATE, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, LAW COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA