Optus to power National Geographic app

Original article by Supratim Adhikari
The Australian – Page: 27 : 6-Jul-17

Optus has secured a deal to provide its postpaid mobile phone customers with exclusive content from National Geographic. The app will allow Optus customers to watch two live National Geographic TV channels and access the digital editions of its magazines. Ben White, the head of marketing and product at Optus, says the telco will also produce content in partnership with National Geographic. Customers will be able to view National Geographic content without any impact on their monthly data allowance. Optus has previously secured English Premier League rights.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED, FOX NETWORK

Over 1 in 3 Australians now have Netflix as subscriptions jump 20 percent in first quarter of 2017

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Jun-17

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey shows that an estimated 7,091,000 million Australians aged 14+ (36 per cent) had Netflix in the three months to March 2017, up sharply from 5,862,000 (29 per cent) in the previous quarter. The latest surge in Netflix’s potential audience is the result of a 20 per cent jump in the number of household subscriptions since the end of 2016. An estimated 2,714,000 Australian homes (29 per cent) are now subscribed. Roy Morgan has been measuring Netflix in Australia since its beginning in early 2015. Roy Morgan Research CEO Michele Levine says what we have seen is a classic case of rapid technological adoption, with early adopters signing up first, professional technology mainstream following close behind, and a continuation of high growth as younger digital natives, older tech explorers, traditionalists and even technophobes begin to discover Subscription Video On Demand services.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED

Foxtel’s rebranding to help boost subscribers

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

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

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

New app enlists ride-share drivers to cover breaking news stories

Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 12-Apr-17

The NewsCar app, which will be launched in Sydney in late April 2017, allows motorists to be paid for supplying free-to-air TV networks with live video from the scene of breaking news events. The app enables TV networks to identify motorists who are close to the scene and direct them to record "first response" video on their mobile phone in return for instant payment. Members of the Ride Share Drivers Association of Australia will be given priority in allocating first response assignments.

CORPORATES
NEWSCAR, RIDER SHARE DRIVERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, UBER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BELL PARTNERS PTY LTD

Will Netflix, Spotify and Foxtel take off on Qantas?

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 6-Mar-17

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that of the 22% of Australians aged 14+ who take at least one domestic flight with Qantas during the year, 87% own a smartphone and 76% own a tablet computer – both above the national ownership rates of 80% and 65% respectively. However, while these millions of passengers will likely be carrying a compatible device on board, only 60% currently use any of Qantas’s three new in-flight entertainment providers: Foxtel, Netflix and Spotify. Some 33% of Qantas domestic flyers watched Foxtel in the last four weeks, including its streaming options Go and Play, while 32% watched Netflix and 22% listened to Spotify.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, SPOTIFY LIMITED

Networks put gloves on against illegal streaming

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

Pay-TV defies on-demand boost

Original article by Mitchell Bingemann
The Australian – Page: 25 : 23-Jan-17

Data from Roy Morgan Research shows that around 2.27 million Australian households had a Netflix subscription in December 2016. Some 428,000 homes have a Stan subscription, while about 151,000 homes use Presto. The figures also show that 2.42 million homes have a Foxtel subscription and 200,000 homes use FetchTV. Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine notes that despite the growing use of subscription video-on-demand services, traditional free-to-air TV remains the main source of video content for Australian consumers.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FETCHTV PTY LTD, AMAZON PRIME

Fault call on Seven charge for tennis

Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 21 : 13-Dec-16

Australian Subscription Television & Radio Association CEO Andrew Maiden has expressed concern about Seven West Media’s plan to offer paid access to exclusive online content as part of its coverage of the 2017 Australian Open. Maiden has told Communications Minister Mitch Fifield that Seven’s plans are contrary to the anti-siphoning list for sports broadcasts. A Seven spokesman has stressed that all matches broadcast by the network during the 2016-17 summer can be viewed for free.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION AND RADIO ASSOCIATION (ASTRA) INCORPORATED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, DISCOVERY NETWORKS ASIA PACIFIC, BBC WORLDWIDE AUSTRALIA, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED