MASS MEDIA – AUSTRALIA

Ten loses hits as Fox rips up deal

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 4 : 31-Oct-17

US media giant 21st Century Fox has formally terminated its program supply deal with the Ten Network, which will no longer be able to broadcast popular shows such as "The Simpsons" and "Modern Family". Ten had suspended broadcasts of Fox shows earlier in October after negotiations for a new content deal stalled. Court approval is the final hurdle for the acquisition of Ten by Fox rival CBS Corporation. Ten will present its 2018 "upfronts" in early November.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED, CBS CORPORATION, MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Exposing sources a ‘slippery slope’

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Original article by Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: 26 : 30-Oct-17

The right of journalists to protect confidential sources of information is under scrutiny in the wake of revelations that a police raid on Australian Workers’ Union offices had been leaked to the media. The Nine Network’s chief political editor Chris Uhlmann says he would never reveal his sources, while the Seven Network’s chief political reporter Mark Riley stresses that there can be no exceptions to the Media Entertainment & Arts ­Alliance’s Journalist Code of Ethics.

CORPORATES
NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, AUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNION-FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING EMPLOYEES, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, BUZZFEED PTY LTD, SKY NEWS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, GETUP LIMITED

Seven tries to gag reporter’s critical tweet

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Original article by Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: 11 : 26-Oct-17

The Seven Network has declined to comment on claims that it has asked ex-employee Amy Taeuber to delete a tweet which directs Twitter users to an article she wrote for the MamaMia website. Lawyers have written to Taeuber on Seven’s behalf requesting the tweet’s removal. The article had been highly critical of Seven, and blamed unnamed female employees of the network for her dismissal after she made a sexual harassment complaint.

CORPORATES
SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, MAMAMIA.COM.AU PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Metro radio drags on Southern Cross

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 25-Oct-17

Southern Cross Austereo has advised that revenue fell by two per cent year-on-year in the September 2017 quarter, due to the sale of a TV station in northern New South Wales. The group’s revenue was seven per cent lower on a reported basis, and its metropolitan radio stations posted a revenue decline of six per cent. However, its regional radio stations reported revenue growth of two per cent, and regional TV revenue was 3.5 per cent higher.

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SOUTHERN CROSS AUSTEREO PTY LTD, PODCASTONE, HIT NETWORK, TRIPLE M CORPORATION PTY LTD, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Telstra TV reboots streaming push

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Original article by Supratim Adhikari, Chris Griffith
The Australian – Page: 20 : 24-Oct-17

The new version of Telstra’s streaming video device provides access to free-to-air networks and their "catch-up" services, as well as subscription video-on-demand providers such as Netflix and Foxtel Now. Jo Pollard, Telstra’s head of media, says the Telstra TV2 device uses high efficiency video coding, so broadband speed limitations should not be an issue for users. Pollard adds that the proposal to merge Foxtel with Fox Sports will be a "net positive" for the telco, which will hold a 35 per cent stake in the merged entity.

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

FIRB tick for Ten takeover

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Original article by Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: 19 : 24-Oct-17

CBS Corporation’s acquisition of the Ten Network has cleared a key hurdle, with the Foreign Investment Review Board advising that it will not oppose the deal. The Supreme Court of New South Wales is scheduled to commence a hearing on the deal in late October, and small shareholders David Gubbay and Yunfeng Du are expected to challenge the transfer of Ten’s shares to CBS.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, CBS CORPORATION, SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES, KORDA MENTHA AND COLLEAGUES PTY LTD, KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED

League Cup leads Seven’s switch to tailor livestream viewer ads

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 23-Oct-17

Seven West Media is expected to announce at least eight new TV shows at its annual "upfronts" on 27 October. The media group will also reveal plans to offer targeted advertising on the live streaming versions of its TV channels, which will allow viewers to see ads based on their preferences. The "addressable television" product will be launched with Seven’s coverage of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. Meanwhile, Twitter will expand its live coverage of the Melbourne Cup Carnival in a deal with Seven and the Victoria Racing Club.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, TWITTER INCORPORATED, VICTORIA RACING CLUB LIMITED

TPG-News mulled sale of AFR

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian – Page: 29 : 16-Oct-17

Fairfax Media’s former suitor TPG Capital approached News Corp about on-selling "The Australian Financial Review" if its takeover bid succeeded. The approach is believed to have been made before TPG submitted its first indicative bid for Fairfax, although the private equity firm eventually decided to retain all of Fairfax’s assets. Although TPG was primarily interested in the Domain property listings business, it ultimately submitted a $A2.7bn bid for the whole of Fairfax.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, TPG CAPITAL LP, DOMAIN.COM.AU, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, HELLMAN AND FRIEDMAN, MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NOVA ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD

CBS to take Ten as rivals submit

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Original article by Stephen Brook, Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: 26 : 16-Oct-17

Lachlan Murdoch failed to lodge a legal challenge to the transfer of Ten Network’s shares to CBS Corporation by the deadline of 13 October, and Bruce Gordon is also believed to have not done so. News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller says Ten’s acquisition by the US media group now seems to be inevitable, and he has told the Radio Alive conference that News Corp would be willing to produce local content in partnership with CBS.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, CBS CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, COMMERCIAL RADIO AUSTRALIA LIMITED, VIACOM INCORPORATED, CHANNEL 5 BROADCASTING LIMITED

Network Ten equity has no value, according to KPMG report

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 11-Oct-17

An independent expert’s report from KPMG has concluded that the Ten Network has an equity value of between negative $A529.2m and negative $A543.7m, or negative $1.055bn when the debt claims of CBS and 21st Century are taken into account. The negative valuation could make it harder for Lachlan Murdoch and Bruce Gordon to challenge the transfer of Ten’s shares to CBS Corporation. They will have a deadline of 13 October to decide whether to launch a legal challenge.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, CBS CORPORATION, KORDA MENTHA AND COLLEAGUES PTY LTD, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED