Optus confident it has sidelined World Cup streaming glitches

Original article by Yolanda Redrup
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 20-Jun-18

Optus will provide an update on 20 June regarding the actions it has taken to address problems with its live streaming of the FIFA World Cup. However, the telco believes that it has resolved the technical issues that forced it to allow broadcast partner SBS to televise matches that were to have been exclusive to the Optus Sport service. Marketing expert Michelle Gamble says Optus’s advertising partners for its World Cup coverage may seek compensation from the telco. Meanwhile, Russia has defeated Egypt 3-1 in the latest World Cup match.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), MARKETING ANGELS CONSULTANCY, HISENSE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, REBEL SPORT LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

World Cup fail: Optus gives SBS games

Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 19-Jun-18

The problems Optus has experienced with its live streaming coverage of the soccer World Cup has prompted it to allow SBS to simulcast extra matches. Optus CEO Allen Lew says the telco has resolved the technical issues, although some customers are expected to continue to experience problems for several days. As a result, SBS will broadcast six matches that were to have been exclusive to the Optus Sport streaming video service. The technical problems were caused by a surge in demand for the Optus service. Meanwhile, England has defeated Tunisia 2-1 in the latest World Cup match.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Optus takes aim at more Euro football

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 30 : 18-Jun-18

Optus aims to expand its soccer coverage by seeking to gain the Australian broadcasting rights to a number of domestic competitions in Europe. Optus will broadcast every match of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, while it has held the English Premier League rights since 2015. There is also speculation that it is set to gain the EUFA Champions League broadcasting rights, which are currently held by Al Jazeera-owned BeIN Sports Australia.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, WORLD CUP, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, BEIN SPORTS AUSTRALIA, AL JAZEERA, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, THE A LEAGUE PTY LTD, THE W LEAGUE, SOCCEROOS, MATILDAS, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE

Stan cuts Hollywood deals on prime content

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 6-Jun-18

Streaming video provider Stan has secured an exclusive content deal with the Starz pay-TV network, which is owned by Hollywood film studio Lionsgate. The deal gives Stan access to Lionsgate’s library of films and TV shows. Stan has also struck an output deal with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, while it will produce two new drama series in partnership with Sony Pictures Television and Disney-owned ABC.

CORPORATES
STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, STARZ ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC, LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER INCORPORATED, SONY PICTURES TELEVISION INCORPORATED, AMERICAN BROADCASTING COMPANY, WALT DISNEY COMPANY, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, PLAYMAKER MEDIA PTY LTD

Ruling puts Australian courts on the front line of global online TV piracy war

Original article by Andrew Colley
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 29-May-18

Australian telcos have been ordered to block access to 16 internet addresses that allow consumers to access pirated versions of subscription TV channels. The Federal Court issued an injunction in late April requiring the telcos to block access to the servers, which are primarily based in the Netherlands. The injunction had been sought by Village Roadshow and six Hollywood studios, and followed a prior decision of the Federal Court to block access to a range of websites that feature pirated video content.

CORPORATES
FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, VILLAGE ROADSHOW LIMITED – ASX VRL, AUSTRALIAN SCREEN ASSOCIATION LIMITED, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, FETCHTV PTY LTD, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, TELEVISION BROADCASTS LIMITED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, CREATIVE CONTENT AUSTRALIA, BEIN SPORTS

Optus moves to secure Champions League

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 34 : 21-May-18

Optus is keen to acquire the Australian broadcasting rights to more overseas soccer competitions, after recently renewing its English Premier League deal. Optus CEO Allen Lew says Optus aims to be the local broadcaster of elite football, and he has signalled its interest in gaining the local rights to UEFA’s Champions League. Optus and Telstra are increasing their focus on content as a means of attracting and retaining customers, amid growing competition in the mobile telephone market.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, UNION EUROPEENNE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, WORLD CUP, BEIN SPORTS AUSTRALIA, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

Telstra kicks another goal with FFA rights

Original article by Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: 21 : 11-May-18

Telstra will have exclusive mobile streaming rights to local soccer matches under a five-year deal with Football Federation Australia. Telstra’s mobile customers will be able to watch FFA matches without incurring any data usage fees via the My Football Live app. The app will feature targeted advertising, but Telstra’s head of marketing Joe Pollard says sponsorships will be the primary source of revenue from the app.

CORPORATES
TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, FOOTBALL FEDERATION AUSTRALIA LIMITED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TWITTER INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE

Twitter, SBS sign World Cup deal

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 8-May-18

Public broadcaster SBS has secured a deal for social media giant Twitter to stream its coverage of soccer’s 2018 World Cup. In addition to a highlights package, Twitter Australia will stream a daily show to be called #WorldGameLive during the World Cup in Russia. The deal includes a revenue-sharing arrangement, and Twitter Australia MD Suzy Nicoletti notes that video streaming now accounts for more than 50 per cent of Twitter’s global advertising revenue.

CORPORATES
SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), TWITTER AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD, TWITTER INCORPORATED, WORLD CUP, FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, BUZZFEED PTY LTD

Netflix under pressure over local content

Original article by Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: 24 : 7-May-18

Video streaming service Netflix is resisting attempts to subject it to local content quotas in Australia. Research conducted by RMIT indicates that just 2.5 per cent of Netflix’s Australian library is locally made. Screen Producers Australia CEO Matt Deaner says it is odd that Netflix’s US catalogue contains more Australian content than its Australian catalogue. He says that local content accounts for around nine per cent of what is shown on Stan, while also noting that Europe has local content quotas for streaming services.

CORPORATES
NETFLIX INCORPORATED, RMIT UNIVERSITY, SCREEN PRODUCERS AUSTRALIA, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED

Foxtel weighs Fox Sports streaming service

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 26-Mar-18

Foxtel is working on an "over-the-top" streaming video service for Fox Sports, which could allow consumers to view a limited selection of sports channels without taking out a pay-TV subscription. Should the new video-on-demand services be launched, it is expected to have unique branding to distinguish it from Foxtel and its existing product range. Foxtel is keen to attract consumers who have previously not been interested in taking up a pay-TV subscription.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FOXTEL NOW, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD