MASS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA

ABC raid sparks battle between government and media

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: Online : 6-Jun-19

There are further concerns about freedom of the press following an Australian Federal Police raid on the Sydney offices of the ABC on 5 June. AFP officers were seeking document relating to the public broadcaster’s 2017 report on allegations of misconduct by Australian special forces in Afghanistan. The report was based on secret Defence documents that were leaked to the ABC. The AFP has indicated that the raid was not linked to a separate raid on the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst on 4 June. The Greens have called for a Senate inquiry into the decline of press freedom in the wake of the police raids.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Rationale for Foxtel IPO remains: Telstra’s Penn

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 5-Jun-19

Telstra CEO Andy Penn has indicated that a sharemarket float of pay-TV company Foxtel is still likely at some point. He says the reasons for a Foxtel IPO are as compelling as when the proposal was first mooted several years ago. Telstra reduced its stake in Foxtel from 50 per cent to 35 per cent as part of a restructuring that resulted in the merger of Foxtel and News Corp-owned Fox Sports. Penn adds that Foxtel is still an important asset for Telstra, and the telco will retain a stake in Foxtel if it is floated.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, KAYO SPORTS, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NETFLIX INCORPORATED

Police raid an attack on press freedom

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Original article by Richard Ferguson, Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 5-Jun-19

The Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance has described an Australian Federal Police raid on the home of journalist Annika Smethurst as an "outrageous attack" on press freedom. The raid was in response to an April 2018 article which revealed that the Australian Signals Directorate may be given powers to gain access to the emails, bank records and text messages of Australian citizens. Smethurst is a senior press gallery reporter and the political editor of News Corp Australia’s Sunday newspapers.

CORPORATES
MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN SIGNALS DIRECTORATE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, 2GB, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, LAW COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT

News Corp not interested in free-to-air TV: Miller

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 : 4-Jun-19

News Corp Australasia chairman Michael Miller says pay-TV operator Foxtel is the media group’s primary broadcasting focus in Australia, and it will not seek to acquire a free-to-air network. The merger between Nine Entertainment and Fairfax Media in 2018 prompted speculation that News Corp could bid for the Seven Network. However, News Corp has since launched streaming video service Kayo Sports, which is part of Foxtel’s strategy to compete with digital rivals.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, KAYO SPORTS, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, CBS CORPORATION

News Corp eyes growth but flags job cuts as skills change

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 3-Jun-19

News Corp Australasia’s executive chairman Michael Miller says its Australian newspapers will achieve a third successive year of profitable growth in 2019-20. Miller notes that News Corp will be looking to bring in people with new skills to the company, while roles that are no longer needed will be abolished. Miller says that increases in digital subscriptions are reducing the company’s reliance on advertising, while he supports the turnaround strategy being adopted by pay-TV unit Foxtel.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA

Jones in $4m deal to stay on radio

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Original article by Nick Tabakoff
The Australian – Page: 3 : 29-May-19

Macquarie Media has signed up Alan Jones for another two years as the host of 2GB’s breakfast program, following protracted negotiations. Jones has stressed that both himself and Macquarie chairman Russell Tate are happy with the new deal, and that it does not feature any onerous conditions. Jones has not ruled out remaining at 2GB beyond his new two-year contract, but says it is too soon to make such a commitment.

CORPORATES
MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, 2GB, RADIO 4BC BRISBANE PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC

Empire grows as Seven West Media takes control of Community Newspapers

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Original article by Hamish Hastie
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 28-May-19

Seven West Media has struck a deal to buy out News Corp Australia’s 50.1 per cent stake in their Community News joint venture in Perth. Seven West Media’s Maryna Fewster says the portfolio of 12 community newspapers and 17 digital titles will complement the company’s existing media assets in Western Australia. Community News was incorporated in 1985, and its acquisition by Seven West Media will be completed by the start of July.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, COMMUNITY NEWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC

ABC gives edge to progressive voices

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Original article by Zoe Samios, Alice Workman, Jessica Cortis
The Australian – Page: 24 : 27-May-19

Analysis shows that Labor politicians were interviewed 12 times by the ABC’s flagship news and current affairs programs during the federal election campaign. A total of 10 politicians from the Liberal Party were interviewed on ‘7.30’, ‘Insiders’ and ‘AM’, while three Greens and one Centre Alliance politician were interviewed. ‘7.30’ featured three live interviews with Coalition politicians, four with Labor and one Greens. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and former Opposition leader Bill Shorten were both interviewed on ‘7:30’ twice during the election campaign.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE

New minister ready for big to-do list

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 27-May-19

Paul Fletcher has replaced Mitch Fifield as Minister for Communications and the Arts in a cabinet reshuffle following the federal election. The former Optus executive will face a number of challenges in the portfolio, including lobbying by telcos for a reduction in the national broadband network’s wholesale pricing and a push by TV networks for drama and children’s content quotas to be relaxed. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s final report on its inquiry into digital platforms will also be released shortly.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, NBN CO LIMITED, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED

Geoffrey Rush awarded almost $2.9 million after defamation win

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Original article by Jamie McKinnell
abc.net au – Page: Online : 24-May-19

Nationwide News has been ordered to pay nearly $2.9 million in damages to Hollywood actor Geoffrey Rush. He was found to have been defamed by ‘The Daily Telegraph’ over allegations that he had behaved inappropriately towards actress Eryn Jean Norvill during a Sydney Theatre Company production of ‘King Lear’. Rush’s payment includes $850,000 for general and aggravated damages, $919,678 for future economic loss and $42,000 in interest. Rush’s barrister Sue Chrystanthou noted there had been an offer to settle for $50,000, but Nationwide News had instead chosen to mount a truth defence.

CORPORATES
SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY, NATIONWIDE NEWS PTY LTD