PAY TELEVISION – AUSTRALIA

Optus hails EPL growth, sweats on Socceroos

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Original article by Paul Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 31 : 13-Nov-17

Optus CEO Allen Lew has downplayed suggestions that it may allow customers of rival telcos to subscribe to its exclusive coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Lew says Optus is not yet ready to announce details of its World Cup packages. Optus will be hoping that the Socceroos win their upcoming qualifying match against Honduras, although Lew notes that the World Cup will be popular with many dual nationals in Australia. Soccer is a key element of the Optus Sport service.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED, FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, SOCCEROOS, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Foxtel pulls new service out of box

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 20 : 9-Nov-17

Pay-TV group Foxtel has officially launched its new streaming "puck" device. The Foxtel Now puck will be available to purchase from 10 November and provides streaming access to Foxtel’s pay-TV service as well as free-to-air channels. Users can also install apps to access rival streaming services such as Stan. Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh says the Foxtel Now puck is aimed at younger customers than its traditional cable and satellite TV service.

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

Ten investors weigh class action

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 17 & 28 : 31-Aug-17

Australian Shareholders’ Association director Allan Goldin says it is too soon to know whether Ten Network investors will pursue a class action against the failed network. The ASA has held preliminary talks with law firms after it was revealed that Ten’s shareholders will receive no payout if CBS acquires the network. Meanwhile, Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh says CBS has indicated that it intends to be a long-term owner of Ten. He also says Foxtel achieved its best monthly sales on record in July, with growth driven by the new Foxtel Now streaming service.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, CBS CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN SHAREHOLDERS’ ASSOCIATION, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOXTEL NOW, AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN AUSTRALIA, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, TWITTER INCORPORATED, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

News Corp picks merger deal over Ten

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 21-Aug-17

News Corp will increase its stake in Foxtel from 50 per cent to 65 per cent if a proposed merger between the pay-TV group and Fox Sports proceeds. This would make it harder for the joint venture between Lachlan Murdoch and Bruce Gordon to acquire the Ten Network, given that Murdoch is co-chairman of News Corp and the owner of Nova Entertainment. Murdoch and Gordon are said to have submitted a conditional bid for Ten, but they may be thwarted by the Federal Government’s failure to pass its media reform bill in the Senate. Offers to acquire Ten had to be submitted by 18 August.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NOVA ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, ANCHORAGE CAPITAL GROUP LLC, SKY NEWS, REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA, HT&E LIMITED – ASX HT1, MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD, BIRKETU PTY LTD, ILLYRIA NOMINEES TELEVISION PTY LTD, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD

Telstra, News in Foxtel deal ahead of float

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 17 & 21 : 18-Aug-17

Telstra and News Corp aim to secure regulatory approval for a proposed merger of Foxtel and Fox Sports by April 2018. They each own 50 per cent of Foxtel at present, but Telstra would reduce its stake in the combined Foxtel-Fox Sports to 35 per cent if the deal proceeds. News Corp CEO Robert Thomson says the merger would unlock value for the media group, which would have a 65 per cent stake in Foxtel-Fox Sports. The deal would enhance Foxtel’s ability to bid for sports broadcasting rights amid growing competition.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, ESPN INCORPORATED, BEIN SPORTS, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, TWITTER INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED

Telstra to maintain Foxtel content

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Original article by Damon Kitney
The Australian – Page: 23 & 25 : 19-Jun-17

Some 748,000 Telstra customers now subscribe to Foxtel via the telco, and 75 per cent of its media revenue is generated by reselling the pay-TV service. Telstra chairman John Mullen says the telco is "very committed" to Foxtel, in which it has a 50 per cent stake, and he has stressed the importance of having access to Foxtel content. Meanwhile, Foxtel is set to directly compete with Telstra TV with the looming launch of a rival "puck" video streaming device.

CORPORATES
TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, ROKU INCORPORATED

Foxtel’s rebranding to help boost subscribers

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 7-Jun-17

Foxtel has confirmed that its Foxtel Play subscription video on-demand service will be relaunched as Foxtel Now, as part of a major overhaul of the pay-TV group’s branding. Foxtel will also launch a "puck" streaming device in the second half of 2017, which may provide access to rival services such as Netflix and Stan. Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh says Foxtel Now is unlikely to gain customers at the expense of its traditional pay-TV service, as they target different segments of the market. Foxtel’s rebranding includes a new logo.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOXTEL NOW, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

More husbands than wives call the shots on Pay TV, and only 1 in 2 Aussie couples decide together

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 15-May-17

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that half of Australia’s married or de facto couples have at least one subscription or pay TV service in their home. In 50 per cent of these homes, the decisions about whether, when and which provider were made together. The survey, which was carried out in the year to December 2016, also shows that in 30 per cent of cases, the man decided, while the woman did so in 20 per cent. Meanwhile, films are the number one content of interest to both husbands and wives with subscription or pay TV in the home. Overall 60 per cent say they are "very" or "quite" interested in watching new release or older films, ahead of News & Current Affairs and Documentaries, which are each of interest to 52 per cent of couples.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Foxtel’s new streaming service is Now ready

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 24-Apr-17

The Foxtel Play subscription video-on-demand service is tipped to be relaunched as Foxtel Now. Pay-TV company Foxtel is expected to relaunch the service in coming weeks, backed by a marketing campaign. Foxtel is also still on track to launch its "puck" device by the end of 2017. Arris, which makes Foxtel’s iQ3 set-top box, is believed to have secured the contract to supply the puck, which allows consumers to view streaming video via a TV.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOXTEL PLAY, ARRIS GROUP INCORPORATED, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SKY PLC, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION, DISCOVER, VIACOM INCORPORATED, ROKU INCORPORATED, TECHNICOLOR INCORPORATED, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, IPRIMUS, DODO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, THE A LEAGUE PTY LTD

Networks put gloves on against illegal streaming

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Original article by Mitchell Bingemann
The Australian – Page: 23 : 13-Feb-17

Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh says the pay-TV group is collaborating with Facebook on the development of software that can detect unauthorised live streams on the social media platform. The tool is being created in the wake of the boxing match between Anthony Mundine and Danny Green. Foxtel had broadcast the match on a pay-per-view basis, but it was illegally streamed via several Facebook accounts. Foxtel has agreed to accept a public apology from those responsible rather than pursue legal action.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED