MASS MEDIA – UNITED STATES

Netflix with ads tipped to lure 40 million viewers

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Original article by Suzanne Vranica, Sarah Krouse
The Australian – Page: 23 : 16-Sep-22

Streaming giant Netflix currently has about 220 million subscribers worldwide, and it anticipates that a lower-priced advertising-supported version will boost this significantly. Netflix’s preliminary projections suggest that the ad-supported version of its product is likely to boast around 40 million subscribers worldwide by the September 2023 quarter, including 13.3 million in the US. Streaming rivals such as HBO Max and Disney+ also intend to embrace the ad-supported model.

CORPORATES
NETFLIX INCORPORATED, HBO MAX, DISNEY+

Sports would be nuts to risk walking away: Foxtel CEO

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Original article by Max Mason, Mark Di Stefano
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 19 : 10-Aug-22

News Corporation has posted revenue of $US10.4bn for 2021-22, an increase of 11 per cent, while EBITDA rose 31 per cent to $US1.67bn. The Dow Jones financial news division’s EBITDA was up 30 per cent at $US433m, while the real estate services division’s EBITA rose 12 per cent to $US574m. News Corp Australia contributed $US109m to the media giant’s growth in profitability, while Foxtel’s total subscriber base rose to 4.5 million. Foxtel will seek to renew its AFL broadcasting rights deal, and CEO Patrick Delany says factors such as its audience reach and capacity to pay means that sporting bodies should not risk shifting their broadcasting rights to another company.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

News Corp is gaining momentum: Thomson

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Original article by James Madden
The Australian – Page: 15 : 27-Oct-21

News Corporation’s annual report shows that revenue increased by four per cent in 2020-21, including 30 per cent growth in the fourth quarter. The global media group’s profitability increased by 26 per cent in 2020-21; CEO Robert Thomson noted in the annual report that it was the group’s most profitable year since the current incarnation of News Corp was established in 2013. Thomson is upbeat about the growth outlook for News Corp, and has highlighted the strong performance of Foxtel.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

Foxtel’s Kayo, Binge drive growth back to profit

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Original article by Miranda Ward
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 24 : 7-Aug-21

Media giant News Corporation has posted a 2020-21 net profit of $US389m ($525.6m), compared with a loss of $US1.55bn for the previous financial year. Revenue rose four per cent year-on-year to $US9.36bn, while EBITDA was up 26 per cent at $US1.27bn. Meanwhile, News Corp Australia’s revenue was one per cent lower than previously, but the revenue of pay-TV group Foxtel was boosted by strong growth in subscriptions for its Binge and Kayo streaming services.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, BINGE, KAYO SPORTS

News Corp buys oil information service for $1.56b

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Original article by Miranda Ward
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 4-Aug-21

Global media giant News Corporation has struck a deal to buy Oil Price Information Service, which provides referencing pricing and news and analytics for the energy and renewables sectors. News Corp will pay $US1.15bn ($1.56bn) for OPIS, which will become part of its Dow Jones Professional Information Business. OPIS is forecast to post revenue of around $US129m in the year to 30 November. News Corp has made a number of other acquisitions during 2021.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, OIL PRICE INFORMATION SERVICE, DOW JONES AND COMPANY

Amazon to buy MGM for $US6.5 billion, excluding debt

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Original article by Joe Flint, Dave Sebastian
The Wall Street Journal – Page: Online : 27-May-21

Electronic commerce giant Amazon.com has struck a deal to acquire Hollywood film studio MGM. The deal will bolster Amazon’s subscription video-on-demand service as competition in the streaming market intensifies. MGM’s library of more than 4,000 films includes franchises such as James Bond, while the studio also produces television shows such as The Handmaid’s Tale. There is also scope for Amazon to create spin-offs from MGM’s popular franchises, a strategy used by rival streaming services. Amazon will pay $US6.5bn for MGM, or $US8.45bn including debt.

CORPORATES
AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO, METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER INCORPORATED

Netflix growth slows as economies reopen

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Original article by Micah Maidenberg
The Australian – Page: 19 : 22-Apr-21

Subscription video-on-demand giant Netflix has posted a profit of $US1.71bn for the March quarter, compared with $US542.2m for the same period in 2020. Revenue rose from $US6.64bn previously to $US7.16bn, but Netflix added just four million new subscribers globally. This is well below the 15.8 million new subscribers it gained in the March 2020 quarter, amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The easing of lockdown restrictions and growing competition from rival SVODs services are among the challenges facing Netflix.

CORPORATES
NETFLIX INCORPORATED

Are the Murdochs preparing to unleash Fox News on Australia?

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 12-Apr-21

Revelations that Fox Media LLC has sought to register the Fox News International trademark in Australia has prompted speculation that the Murdoch family will add content from US cable channel Fox News to its local streaming services. The Fox News International streaming app is now available in 30 countries, following its launch in Mexico in August. Fox News is currently broadcast on Foxtel, but making it available via streaming would increase its local reach. News Corp is said to be planning to launch a news-focused streaming service called NewsFlash later in 2021.

CORPORATES
FOX CORPORATION, FOX MEDIA LLC, FOX NEWS INTERNATIONAL, FOX NEWS CHANNEL, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

News Corp to raise $1b as it looks at potential buying spree

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Age – Page: Online : 9-Apr-21

Media giant News Corporation has flagged the potential for acquisitions after announcing plans to raise $US750 million ($985 million) via the issuance of senior notes. It has advised the New York stock exchange that the proceeds of the debt raising will be used for ‘general corporate purposes’, which could include acquisitions and working capital. News Corp has struck several deals in recent weeks, including the acquisition of Investor’s Business Daily.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

Media at ‘pivotal moment’: News

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Original article by James Madden
The Weekend Australian – Page: 21 & 22 : 8-Feb-21

News Corporation has posted net income of $US261m ($343.4m) for the December 2020 quarter, compared with $US103m for the same period in 2019. The global media company’s EBITDA rose 40 per cent year-on-year to $US497m. Revenue fell three per cent to $US2.41bn year-on-year, although it rose from $US2.12bn in the September quarter. News Corp’s subscription video services rose by 77 per cent to $US124m. News Corp CEO Robert Thomson says the push for greater regulation of digital platforms in Australia and worldwide represents a pivotal moment for the global media industry.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD