MASS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA

CBS tries to find Ten’s inner wild child

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 7 : 1-Nov-18

Ten Network has used its annual "upfronts" to launch a new logo and the rebranding of its secondary channels. ONE will be rebadged as 10 Boss, with a focus on US dramas and sport, and a target audience of men and women over the age of 40. Eleven in turn will be renamed 10 Peach, targeting the 16-to-39 age demographic. Ten will also launch a subscription video-on-demand service in December, offering a large library of content.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, CBS CORPORATION

UK-style digital tax may hit local media

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Original article by Andrew White
The Australian – Page: 21 : 31-Oct-18

Britain’s proposed digital services tax is primarily aimed at US-based technology companies, but experts suggest that traditional Australian media companies and online classifieds groups could be hit if the federal government introduces a similar tax. News Corp Australia, Fairfax Media, Seek, Domain and Carsales.com are among the local companies that could potentially be affected by any move to impose a digital services tax. The government will shortly release a discussion paper on the issue.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, SEEK LIMITED – ASX SEK, DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, CARSALES.COM LIMITED – ASX CAR, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, GREAT BRITAIN. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, ERNST AND YOUNG, KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

Film, TV aim to build on record year

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 30-Oct-18

Australia’s film and TV industry spend a record $718m on local productions in 2017-18, which is seven per cent higher than previously. Spending on feature films rose from $287m to $321m, although spending on TV dramas fell from $321m to $295m. However, Screen Australia’s COO Michael Brealey notes that expenditure on drama remained above its five-year average. Local film and TV production is forecast to remain strong in 2018-19, while Screen Australia expects the federal government’s location incentive program to boost the number of international productions.

CORPORATES
SCREEN AUSTRALIA, VILLAGE ROADSHOW LIMITED – ASX VRL, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED

Media could sue secretive activists

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Original article by Brad Norington
The Australian – Page: 2 : 30-Oct-18

Sky News has been the main target of online activist group Sleeping Giants Oz, which has urged advertisers to boycott the pay-TV channel and other media companies that it has accused of promoting hate speech. However, legal experts have warned that there are a range of potential options for media companies if they elect to sue Sleeping Giants Oz, including for loss of earnings and damage to their trade or business. Matthew Collins QC notes that there is no defence of anonymous free speech in Australia.

CORPORATES
SKY NEWS AUSTRALIA, SLEEPING GIANTS OZ, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, 2GB, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, FUJITSU AUSTRALIA LIMITED, HYUNDAI AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MITSUBISHI CORPORATION, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, KFC

Seven West prepares to face its cricket test

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Original article by Stephen Brook
The Australian – Page: 24 & 26 : 29-Oct-18

Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner expects the Seven Network’s cricket coverage to boost its ratings in December, which is traditionally a challenging month for the network. He is confident that the $450m broadcasting rights deal will quickly prove its worth. Seven’s cricket coverage was a highlight of the network’s annual "upfronts", which it used to showcase new and returning programs, as well as the launch of 7food network. Seven West’s director of sales Natalie Harvey stresses that the new multichannel will target a different audience to SBS’s Food Network.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), YAHOO!7 COMMUNICATIONS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, YAHOO! INCORPORATED, OATH, DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED

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