PUBLISHING OF – AUSTRALIA

It’s all about a cut in licence fees: Worner

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 19 : 18-Feb-16

Seven West Media has posted a 2015-16 interim net profit of $A135.2m, compared with a loss of $A993.6m previously. Underlying net profit rose by 2.1 per cent to $A140.3m, but revenue eased 4.1 per cent to $A896.7m. The TV division’s EBIT rose by two per cent to $A185.4m and revenue fell by 2.1 per cent to $A662.9m, while the newspaper division’s earnings fell 22 per cent to $A24m. CEO Tim Worner says reducing TV broadcasting licence fees should be the highest priority on the Federal Government’s media reform agenda.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, PACIFIC MAGAZINES PTY LTD, MACQUARIE SECURITIES PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVW, TOTALIZATOR AGENCY BOARD (WESTERN AUSTRALIA), RACING VICTORIA LIMITED

Bauer targets Southern Cross

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Original article by Jake Mitchell, Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 23-Nov-15

Bauer Media is believed to be considering a takeover bid for Southern Cross Media Group in order to diversify its Australian business. Bauer approached rival radio group Nova Entertainment in 2014, but Nova has ruled out a sale. Southern Cross Media’s network of metropolitan and regional radio stations accounts for the bulk of its revenue, and Bauer is said to be keen to reduce its reliance on revenue from magazines. Bauer is the leading player in Europe’s radio sector.

CORPORATES
BAUER MEDIA KG, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SOUTHERN CROSS AUSTEREO PTY LTD, NOVA ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, ACP MAGAZINES LIMITED, HIT NETWORK, TRIPLE M CORPORATION PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, ILLYRIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK PTY LTD, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, KIIS1065, SMOOTHFM, ALLAN GRAY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD

Bauer takes a Nova approach to sector entry

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Original article by Dominic White, Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 12-Oct-15

Germany-based Bauer Media Group is said to still be keen to acquire commercial radio stations in Australia, after being rebuffed by Nova Entertainment in 2014. Bauer is believed to have made an indicative offer of about $A450m to acquire Nova, which is owned by Lachlan Murdoch. Bauer paid $A525m for ACP in 2012, and has since discontinued a number of print magazines.

CORPORATES
BAUER MEDIA KG, NOVA ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, ILLYRIA PTY LTD, ACP MAGAZINES LIMITED, DAILY MAIL AND GENERAL TRUST PLC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY, SBS DISCOVERY RADIO, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC

Fairfax unveils buyback surprise

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Original article by Max Mason, Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 20-Feb-15

Australian-listed Fairfax Media has reported a 2014-15 interim underlying net profit of $A86m, which is 0.6 per cent lower than previously. Revenue from operations fell by 12.9 per cent to $A943.3m, while the media group will undertake an on-market share buyback over the next 12 months. It plans to repurchase up to 121 million shares, which equates to five per cent of the stock on issue

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, DOMAIN.COM.AU, CITIGROUP PTY LTD

Seven West ‘well placed’ to recover despite $1bn write-down

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 & 26 : 19-Feb-15

Seven West Media has posted a 2014-15 interim net loss of $A994m. The result was marred by writedowns totalling $A1bn, including goodwill associated with its TV and print media assets. The group’s underlying net profit fell by 8.4 per cent to $A137.5m, with revenue totalling $A943m. Seven West’s TV business posted revenue of $A677m, which is one per cent lower than previously. Seven West anticipates an upturn in TV advertising revenue in the second half of 2014-15

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, BLOOMBERG LP, SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVW, PACIFIC MAGAZINES PTY LTD, YAHOO!7 COMMUNICATIONS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Stokes’ Seven may face $1 billion writedown

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 16-Feb-15

Analysts expect Seven West Media to post a 2014-15 interim net profit of about $A207m. However, there is speculation that the media group could write down the carrying value of its assets by at least $A1bn when its half-year results are released on 18 February 2015. Seven’s net assets were valued at $A2.9bn in June 2014, but a sharp fall in its share price in the last 12 months has reduced its market capitalisation to $A1.43bn

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA