MASS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA

ABC boss vows to probe Foley harassment claim

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Original article by Andrew Clennell
The Australian – Page: 9 : 24-Oct-18

The ABC is under further scrutiny in the wake of the recent management upheaval, after acting MD David Anderson appeared before the Senate estimates committee. He said that he had only recently been made aware of allegations that New South Wales Opposition Leader Luke Foley had sexually harassed a female ABC journalist, and that no formal complaint had been lodged regarding the alleged incident. Anderson said that the public broadcaster will undertaken an investigation into the allegation, which was the subject of media reports in May. Foley has denied the allegation.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Sky’s the limit as News, Nine launch Your Money channel

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Original article by Stephen Brook
The Australian – Page: 21 : 24-Oct-18

Sky News and the Nine Network officially launched the new Your Money joint venture TV channel on 23 October. Your Money replaces Sky News Business on the Foxtel platform, while it has enabled Sky News owner Australian News Channel to broaden its reach beyond pay-TV. The Nine Network broadcasts Your Money on one of its digital channels, as well as its 9Now streaming service. Sky News content is also broadcast in regional areas via a separate alliance with WIN Corporation.

CORPORATES
SKY NEWS, AUSTRALIAN NEWS CHANNEL PTY LTD, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD

Seven and News explore co-pros and marketing

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 28 : 22-Oct-18

Seven West Media and News Corp Australia have a history of co-productions and marketing initiatives, and they are looking at further projects in these areas. A spokesperson for Seven notes that the two companies have been involved in marketing initiatives in the past, while it produced "A Place Called Home" for Foxtel for four seasons. Seven and News also work together in Western Australia, where Seven prints some of News Corp’s papers. Seven CEO Tim Worner said in August that it and News Corp would seek to strengthen their commercial ties following the announcement that Nine Entertainment would merge with Fairfax Media.

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

No, minister: ABC defiant

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Original article by Stephen Brook, Sascha O’Sullivan
The Australian – Page: 24 : 22-Oct-18

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has requested information on the scope and time frame of the ABC’s investigation into issues raised by former MD Michelle Guthrie before she was sacked. However, the ABC’s acting chair Kirstin ­Ferguson has told Fifield that it would be inappropriate for herself or any other board member to comment, as they could potentially be in breach of their fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the public broadcaster. The ABC’s acting MD David Anderson will appear before the Senate estimates committee on 23 October.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIA. SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON ECONOMICS, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

New piracy laws plug illegal download loophole

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 6 : 19-Oct-18

The federal government will seek to expand the list of websites that can be blocked by ISPs for featuring pirated content such as films and TV shows. The proposed legislation will also enable copyright holders to seek a court order requiring companies such as Google to remove sites that feature pirated content from their search results. The move has been welcomed by industry players such as Foxtel, Free TV Australia and Village Roadshow.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, VILLAGE ROADSHOW LIMITED – ASX VRL, CREATIVE CONTENT AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTORS’ ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIAN SCREEN ASSOCIATION LIMITED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Guthrie turns to Fair Work with complaint against ABC

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Original article by Max Mason, David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 19-Oct-18

The Fair Work Commission has received an adverse action claim against the ABC from Michelle Guthrie following her dismissal as MD in late September. Should the case proceed to the Federal Court, Guthrie could potentially seek unlimited compensation for lost remuneration, given that she was sacked only halfway through her five-year contract. Guthrie could also seek compensation for hurt and suffering. Her annual salary of around $900,000 at the ABC is above the threshold for an unfair dismissal claim.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, MAURICE BLACKBURN PTY LTD, JOHNSON WINTER AND SLATTERY

I’m ready to lead ABC full-time, says fill-in boss

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich, Stephen Brook
The Australian – Page: 2 : 18-Oct-18

David Anderson has expressed interest in becoming the ABC’s MD if he is offered the role. Anderson has been acting MD following the dismissal of Michelle Guthrie in late September. He says that maintaining the public broadcaster’s independence would one of his top priorities in the role. Meanwhile, ABC veteran Michael Mason has resigned as director of regional and local content; he has stressed that his departure is unrelated to the ABC’s recent leadership turmoil.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Guthrie, Milne in sights of senators

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 3 : 17-Oct-18

The Senate will hold an inquiry into the recent leadership turmoil at the ABC, which led to the dismissal of MD Michelle Guthrie and the resignation of chairman Justin Milne. The terms of reference for the inquiry include investigating allegations of political interference at the ABC. The Greens will push for Guthrie, Milne and Communications Minister Mitch Fifield to appear before the inquiry, which is slated to report its findings in late March.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Hywood in the frame for ABC chairman role

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 19 : 16-Oct-18

Fairfax Media CEO Greg Hywood has declined to comment on speculation that he could be a contender to succeed former ABC chairman Justin Milne. Hywood will step down in late 2018 if Fairfax’s proposed merger with Nine Entertainment Company proceeds. The field of potential candidates to replace Milne is said to include lawyer Danny Gilbert, former Telstra CEO David Thodey and current governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, GILBERT AND TOBIN LAWYERS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, WPP AUNZ LIMITED – WPP, OGILVY AUSTRALIA, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED

Fairfax’s Falloon keeps faith in Nine deal

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 19 : 16-Oct-18

Shares in Nine Entertainment Company fell 12.4 per cent to $1.84 on 12 October. Citigroup analysts say this has eliminated the merger premium for Fairfax shareholders, and they have questioned whether the deal will proceed under the agreed terms. However, Fairfax chairman Nick Falloon says the merger is still "compelling", while Fraser McLeish of MST Marquee believes that the merger is in the best interests of Fairfax shareholders.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, MST MARQUEE, DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE