MASS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA

Rivals unite on law reform

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Original article by Leo Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 24 : 24-Jun-19

News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller, ABC MD David Anderson and Nine Entertainment Company CEO Hugh Marks will jointly address the National Press Club on 26 June. They will call for legislative reforms to ensure freedom of the press and the public’s right to know. The joint speech follows the recent police raids on the ABC’s Sydney offices and the home of a News Corp journalist. The ABC is set to launch a legal challenge to the Australian Federal Police raids, while News Corp is still considering its legal options.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (AUSTRALIA), AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE

Millar to serve ABC a country breakfast

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 7 : 20-Jun-19

The ABC has advised that Lisa Millar will replace Virginia Trioli as the co-host of the public broadcaster’s ‘News Breakfast’ program in August. The ABC veteran has been a foreign correspondent for the last nine years, and notes that the city-country divide has become more pronounced during her absence from Australia. As a result, Millar wants to cover more stories about regional Australia in her new role.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED

Media chiefs want urgent action on press freedom

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 18-Jun-19

Nine Entertainment Company CEO Hugh Marks, News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller and ABC MD David Anderson will jointly address the National Press Club on 26 June. They will discuss the fallout from the Australian Federal Police’s media raids, and press the case for legislative reforms to provide greater protection for journalists and whistleblowers. The federal government is under pressure to hold a parliamentary inquiry into press freedom, but the media industry believes that changes to national security laws should be the priority.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ALLIANCE FOR JOURNALISTS’ FREEDOM

Federal Court orders fresh batch of pirate sites blocked

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 18-Jun-19

Village Roadshow CEO Graham Burke has described a Federal Court ruling that 76 copyright infringing websites be blocked by telcos as a victory for both Village Roadshow and the broader Australian film community. Site-blocking laws aimed at stamping out copyright piracy were passed in 2015, and Burke notes that almost 1,000 pirate websites and domains have now been blocked. He also notes Australians are now backing the push against piracy, with research indicating that three out of four people view it as theft.

CORPORATES
VILLAGE ROADSHOW LIMITED – ASX VRL, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, VOCUS GROUP LIMITED – ASX VOC

Stan faces uncertain times as its sweetheart deals expire and rivals muscle in

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Original article by Andrew White
The Australian – Page: 24 & 26 : 17-Jun-19

AMPD Research estimates that Stan boasts about 1.4 million subscribers in Australia, compared with around 5.3 million for Netflix. Stan faces a number of headwinds, including a rise in programming costs as its existing content deals expire and the expected loss of its content deal with Disney as the US media giant prepares to launch its own subscription video-on-demand. Stan also faces the prospect of increased competition as other SVOD players enter the local market.

CORPORATES
STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, AMR RESEARCH, WALT DISNEY COMPANY, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, HULU LLC, ESPN+, HBO, CBS CORPORATION, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, CBS ALL ACCESS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, CCZ STATTON EQUITIES PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, KAYO SPORTS, LIGHTBOX, SPARK NEW ZEALAND LIMITED – ASX SPK

Fletcher flags new tax on Netflix

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Original article by Leo Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 24 & 26 : 17-Jun-19

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher says the federal government may be open to accepting all of the recommendations of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s final report on its inquiry into digital platforms. He adds that Australia would be prepared to act alone in regulating large technology companies, although he adds that global regulatory action is needed for a consistent policy approach. Fletcher has also flagged the possibility of imposing a levy on digital video streaming providers such as Netflix to offset traditional TV broadcasters’ loss of revenue.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Rethink press inquiry and act, PM urged

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Original article by Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: 2 : 13-Jun-19

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher says the federal government has made no decision on a parliamentary inquiry into press freedom in the wake of the Australian Federal Police’s recent media raids. However, some Coalition MPS have expressed concern that the issue may become politicised if there is a parliamentary inquiry. Liberal MP Craig Kelly argues that a special inquiry into the actions of the AFP is not necessary as parliament has oversight of the law enforcement agency.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

Facebook signs major Aussie sports

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 23 : 13-Jun-19

Social media giant Facebook has secured content deals with the Australian Football League, the National Rugby League and Cricket Australia. The Facebook Watch streaming platform will feature AFL and NRL match highlights and other content from the two football codes. Facebook has also extended its deal with Cricket Australia to provide live streaming of Women’s Big Bash League matches. Facebook recently signed a content deal with Seven West Media.

CORPORATES
FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, WOMEN’S BIG BASH LEAGUE, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM

Media demands legal shake-up, not an inquiry

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Original article by Rosie Lewis, Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 12-Jun-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison held talks with the ABC’s MD David Anderson and chair Ita Buttrose on 11 June, in the wake of a controversial police raid on the public broadcaster’s Sydney offices. Morrison has signalled that the federal government is open to holding a parliamentary inquiry into press ­freedom. However, News Corp Australia executive Campbell Reid argues that an inquiry is not necessary; instead, he says that legislation governing freedom of the press should be reviewed by a working group comprising politicians, legal experts and media representatives.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, LAW COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE

Streaming consolidation tipped

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 19 : 12-Jun-19

PwC’s latest Australian Entertainment & Media Outlook report has forecast that the expected entry of Disney+ and Apple TV+ will prompt consolidation in Australia’s subscription video-on-demand market. Netflix is the market leader in Australia, and PwC notes that there will be a wide field of contenders for the title of the nation’s second-ranked SVOD provider. Justin Papps of PwC says content and a "great viewing experience" are essential to success in the streaming market.

CORPORATES
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD, DISNEY+, WALT DISNEY COMPANY, APPLE TV+, APPLE INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FOXTEL NOW, KAYO SPORTS, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO, 10 ALL ACCESS, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS