MASS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA

Ex-councillor may sue over Doyle articles

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Original article by Clay Lucas, Miki Perkins
The Age – Page: 3 : 12-Jan-18

News Corp Australia has rejected claims that articles published in the "Herald Sun" about former Melbourne City councillor Tessa Sullivan were defamatory. Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has stood down pending the outcome of an investigation into Sullivan’s allegations of indecent assault and sexual harassment. Sullivan’s lawyers claim that the tone of the articles was intended to discredit her and sway public opinion in favour of Doyle.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MELBOURNE CITY COUNCIL, NEWGATE COMMUNICATIONS PTY LTD, WISEWOULD MAHONY

More come forward over actor

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Original article by Kate McClymont, Michael Lallo, Rob Moran
The Age – Page: 4 : 9-Jan-18

The Gordon Frost Organisation has advised that actor Craig McLachlan will withdraw from its current production of "The Rocky Horror Show" in the wake of sexual harassment and indecent assault allegations. Victorian police have launched an investigation into the allegations made by three female members of the 2014 production of the musical, while several other people are believed to have lodged complaints with police. Production of McLachlan’s popular TV series, "The Doctor Blake Mysteries", has also been put on hold pending the investigation into the allegations against him.

CORPORATES
GORDON FROST ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, DECEMBER MEDIA, VICTORIA POLICE

Hutchy’s merger with radio network

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Original article by Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: 18 : 9-Jan-18

Australian-listed Pacific Star Networks has revealed plans to merge with TV and radio sports content group Crocmedia, which was co-founded by sports broadcaster Craig Hutchison. Crocmedia currently supplies content to Pacific Star Network’s sports-focused radio station in Melbourne, 1116 SEN. Hutchison will become CEO and MD of Pacific Star Network if the merger is approved by shareholders in March.

CORPORATES
PACIFIC STAR NETWORK LIMITED – ASX PNW, CROCMEDIA PTY LTD, SEN 1116 AM

Big ratings boost for the Big Bash

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Original article by John Stensholt
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 21-Dec-17

Nine Entertainment Company, the Ten Network and Fox Sports are likely to be the main bidders for the next Big Bash League broadcasting rights deal. The strong TV ratings for the first BBL match of the 2017-18 season should strengthen Cricket Australia’s bargaining power in negotiations for a new rights deal. Peak audience numbers for Ten’s coverage were 15 per cent higher than the corresponding match in 2016-17, while the Women’s BBL competition has also attracted strong TV ratings.

CORPORATES
NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, CBS CORPORATION, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BIG BASH LEAGUE, CRICKET AUSTRALIA

Sky News at centre of Foxtel tussle over fees

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Original article by Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: 15 : 20-Dec-17

The proposed merger between Foxtel and Fox Sports is in doubt due to a dispute between Foxtel’s joint owners over carriage fees for Sky News. Foxtel currently pays about $A30m a year to broadcast the news channel, but Sky News owner News Corp is seeking an increase in this fee. Foxtel’s 50 per cent owner Telstra has signalled that it is open to an increase in the carriage fee, but its proposed increase is lower than that sought by News Corp. The merger between Foxtel and Fox Sports recently gained regulatory approval.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SKY NEWS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SKY PLC

Media buyers divided on News Corp’s pull from AMAA audit

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Original article by Zoe Samios
Mumbrella – Page: Online : 13-Dec-17

Nunn Media MD Chris Walton and Tom Rankin of 303MullenLowe are among media agency executives to have criticised News Corp Australia’s decision to withdraw its newspapers from the Audited Media Association of Australia’s circulation audit. Meanwhile, Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says there is a need for an independent research body to measure media. "I’m sure the AMAA will be described as unnecessary expenditure. But it comes at a time when advertisers and their agencies are crying out for truth and accuracy in measurement," Levine said. "The time for media and their industry bodies (OzTAM, EMMA etc) measuring themselves is fast drawing to an end. The confluence of digital media, outdoor, direct, point of sale and traditional media means more than ever advertisers and their agencies want , and need, a single source of truth – not media’s own claims or industry’s own claims."

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUDITED MEDIA ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, ROY MORGAN LIMITED, NUNN MEDIA PTY LTD, 303 MULLENROWE, HAVAS MEDIA PTY LTD, PHD GROUP PTY LTD

Fairfax finds a friend on Google

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 13-Dec-17

Fairfax Media has indicated that a deal for Google to sell and market programmatic advertising across the newspaper publisher’s websites will have limited impact on its sales team. Meanwhile, Fairfax CEO Fairfax chief executive Greg Hywood says the deal may allow the media group to increase its investment in journalism. Google is believed to be holding discussions with other media companies regarding similar partnerships. Fairfax already uses Google’s Ad Exchange program to sell online advertising inventory.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, GROUPM COMMUNICATIONS PTY LTD, WPP PLC

News Corp tipped to cut print circulations 30pc

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Original article by Aaron Patrick
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 12 : 12-Dec-17

There is speculation that News Corp Australia will reduce the print circulation of some newspapers by 25-30 per cent following its decision to cease reporting print sales data. Industry sources have suggested that News Corp may also have decided to stop distributing bulk copies of its newspapers, which Fairfax Media has already done. Fairfax Media also reduced the print circulation of some titles in 2014.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS

Rivals uneasy at merger of Foxtel, Sports

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 11-Dec-17

Scott Lorson, the CEO of pay-TV company Fetch, says the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission should have released a statement of issues before advising that it will not oppose the proposed merger between Foxtel and Fox Sports. Other pay-TV providers and telcos have also expressed concern about approval of the deal, which the ACCC concluded would not result in a substantial lessening of competition.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FETCHTV PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, FOXTEL NOW, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, VODAFONE HUTCHISON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, IINET LIMITED, DODO INTERNET PTY LTD, IPRIMUS, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Game on: Foxtel, Fox Sports merger cleared

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 8-Dec-17

Shares in News Corporation and Telstra rallied on 7 December after the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission signalled that the proposed merger between Foxtel and Fox Sports would not substantially reduce competition. The two companies jointly own Foxtel, while News Corp is the sole owner of Fox Sports. Telstra’s stake in Foxtel will be reduced to 35 per cent if the merger proceeds. ACCC chairman Rod Sims says the regulator took into account the fact that Foxtel’s digital products will be available to Telstra’s rivals.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED