MASS MEDIA POLICY – AUSTRALIA

Turnbull moves to dump reach rule

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Original article by Darren Davidson, Michael Bodey
The Australian – Page: 23 : 9-Nov-15

The issue of changes to cross-media ownership laws is expected to be the agenda for federal cabinet ministers in coming weeks, with the "reach rule" likely to be scrapped. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield also favours abolishing the "two-out-of-three" rule, although this may be opposed by the Australian Labor Party. The government is also believed to have agreed to abolish TV broadcasters’ licence fees, as the emergence of subscription video-on-demand services has reduced the value of these licences.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED

New Fairfax chairman Falloon calls for media modernisation

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 6-Nov-15

Shareholders at the AGM of Fairfax Media have been told that its revenue from continuing businesses has risen by 2-3 per cent so far in 2015-16. Meanwhile, chairman Nick Falloon said changes to cross-media ownership laws are necessary as the "reach rule" and the " two-out-of-three rule" have become irrelevant and provide the Australian media industry’s offshore rivals with an advantage in the domestic market. Australian Competition & Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims also favours scrapping the reach rule.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, METRO MEDIA PUBLISHING PTY LTD, RBB ECONOMICS LLP

Government prepares to move on reach rule

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Original article by Dominic White, Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 28 : 2-Nov-15

The Australian Government is believed to be planning to legislate to abolish the so-called "reach rule" before the end of 2015. However, it is uncertain whether scrapping the "two-out-of-three" rule is also on the agenda at present. The Government’s proposed changes to cross-media ownership laws have some support within the Australian Labor Party, although there are some concerns within both the Opposition and the Australian Greens about the impact on media diversity if the "two-out-of-three" rule is abolished.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, PALMER UNITED PARTY, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, IMPARJA TELEVISION PTY LTD

Media reach rule set to be axed

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Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 2 : 30-Oct-15

The Australian Labor Party supports the Federal Government’s plan to abolish the so-called "reach rule" as part of its proposed cross-media ownership reforms. However, there is less support within Labor’s ranks for scrapping the "two-out-of-three rule". Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has signalled that he is keen to proceed with media reforms, but concedes that it will depend on support in the Senate.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD

Nine to stream all channels in law challenge

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Original article by Dominic White, Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 28 : 26-Oct-15

Nine Entertainment Company is expected to use its "upfronts" event to reveal that it will introduce live streaming of its three TV channels. WIN Corporation CEO Andrew Lancaster and Prime Media chairman John Hartigan say the move by metropolitan networks to offer live streaming across Australia demonstrates the need to abolish the "reach rule". Seven West Media will commence live streaming of its channels in early November 2015.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ

News Corp takes ‘tread lightly’ approach

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 28 : 19-Oct-15

Media industry sources have suggested that cross-media ownership reforms are on the Australian Government’s agenda again, after being shelved by ex-prime minister Tony Abbott. News Corp Australia CEO Julian Clarke and Foxtel CEO Richard Freudenstein recently held talks with Communications Minister Mitch Fifield. Both media groups are believed to be more open to reforms, although their stance on the exact nature of the changes that should be implemented is said to be unchanged.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN

Media reform unlikely to be a pot of gold

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 6-Oct-15

Citigroup analyst Justin Diddams does not expect changes to cross-media ownership laws to result in industry mergers that will deliver increased value for investors. He argues that any such mergers would be primarily aimed at reducing costs and ensuring the survival of media companies. The Commonwealth Bank’s Alice Bennett says Nine Entertainment Company is the most likely metropolitan network to pursue a merger deal with a regional broadcaster.

CORPORATES
CITIGROUP PTY LTD, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, MACQUARIE RADIO NETWORK LIMITED – ASX MRN, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

Reform back on the agenda

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Original article by Sharri Markson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 5-Oct-15

The Australian Government is believed to be open to reviewing the list of sporting events for which free-to-air networks must be given first right of refusal. The Government may agree to relax the anti-siphoning list in return for industry support for changes to cross-media ownership rules. Seven West Media opposes changes to both cross-media laws and the anti-siphoning list, while News Corp favours reviewing the latter as part of a broader overhaul of media laws.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED

Regionals push for local news services

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 31 : 5-Oct-15

Australia’s regional TV broadcasters will propose a number of safeguards to ensure that local content levels are maintained if cross-media ownership laws are scrapped. Among other things, they have suggested that a "change of control" clause be added to their broadcasting licence, to prevent further reductions in local news services. Local news accounts for about 15 per cent of regional networks’ costs, and they argue that this is one of the few areas in which they can make further cost savings.

CORPORATES
PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SOUTHERN CROSS AUSTEREO PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, IMPARJA TELEVISION PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NBN TELEVISION

Nine a potential winner

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 37 : 1-Oct-15

Credit Suisse believes that reforms to cross-media ownership laws are inevitable under new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Fraser McLeish of Credit Suisse says Nine Entertainment Company would be well-placed to acquire a regional broadcaster if the "reach rule" is abolished. Credit Suisse has a share price target of $A1.80 and an "outperform" rating on the stock.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, CITIGROUP PTY LTD