TELEVISION BROADCASTING – AUSTRALIA

Always independent? Lapping it up with the Libs has Fairfax throwbacks foaming

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 4-Sep-19

Nine Entertainment Company’s newspaper journalists have criticised the media group for hosting a fundraising event for the Liberal Party. They contend that the event has undermined the newspapers’ charters of editorial independence, arguing that ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’, ‘The Age’ and ‘The Australian Financial Review’ had been politically impartial under the ownership of Fairfax Media. Senior federal government ministers and business leaders were amongst those who attended the event, which raised $700,000 for the Liberal Party.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE

ABC seeks to put more content on Foxtel

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Original article by Leo Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 23 : 26-Aug-19

About 14.5 per cent of Australian households in metropolitan areas and nine per cent in regional areas view the ABC via Foxtel at present. The ABC’s board recently agreed to review its retransmission deal with the pay-TV group, which costs $4m a year. Union representatives are amongst those who have expressed concern about the arrangement, although it is expected to be renewed. However, there is speculation that the ABC will shift some of its content from Foxtel to its own platforms.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Rising costs and tough TV ad market eat into Nine’s profit

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 19 : 23-Aug-19

Nine Entertainment Company has posted a 2018-19 statutory net profit from continuing operations of $216.6m, which is three per cent higher than previously. Challenging conditions in the advertising market saw the Nine Network’s revenue fall by six per cent to $1.09bn; its costs rose four per cent to $876.6m, and Nine expects a similar increase in costs during 2019-20. The group’s publishing division posted full-year earnings of $82.7m, compared with $50.2m previously. Shareholders will receive a final dividend of $0.05 per share, and a full-year payout of $0.10.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM

Seven set for tough result as ratings flop

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Original article by Zoe Samios, Leo Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 23 : 19-Aug-19

Tribeca Investment Partners’ Jun Bei Liu expects Seven West Media to announce weak earnings and writedowns when its 2018-19 financial results are released on 20 August. The media group had issued a profit warning in May, and the Seven Network’s audience share is currently 2.4 per cent lower year-on-year. In contrast, the Nine Network’s audience share has risen by 3.4 per cent. New Seven West CEO James Warburton has noted that the Seven Network has some "ageing formats"; data from OzTAM shows that ‘My Kitchen Rules’ and ‘House Rules’ in particular have lost significant audience share in recent years.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, TRIBECA INVESTMENT PARTNERS PTY LTD, OZTAM PTY LTD

Local content move for digital players

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 29-Jul-19

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has signalled that streaming video providers may be required to invest in more local content in the wake of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s landmark inquiry into digital platforms. He says there is a strong case for subjecting digital platforms to the same regulations as traditional broadcasters. The ACCC’s final report noted the inconsistencies that are inherent in the current approach to media regulation.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

MasterChef hosts’ exit to hit revenue, viewers

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 7 : 25-Jul-19

Nunn Media MD Chris Walton says the Ten Network’s ratings and revenue will be affected by the departure of ‘MasterChef’ judges George Calombaris, Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan. Nunn adds that sponsors of the reality-TV show will be "sceptical" about a new team of judges for the next season. Ten is parting ways with the trio after failing to reach agreement on a new pay deal. OzTAM figures show that the 2019 season finale of ‘MasterChef’ attracted 831,000 metropolitan viewers, compared with 1.126 million in 2018.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, NUNN MEDIA PTY LTD, OZTAM PTY LTD, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Alston Determination on the agenda for Fletcher

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 30 : 15-Jul-19

The federal government is reviewing a ruling that online live streaming of TV and radio content is not subject to the Broadcasting Services Act. The ministerial determination was made in 2000 by former Communications Minister Richard Alston, and it is slated to expire on 1 October 2019. Amongst other things, scrapping the distinction between live streaming and broadcasting may impact on the cost of sports rights, given that the online and TV rights to sports such as the AFL and NRL are currently sold separately.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, PHONOGRAPHIC PERFORMANCE COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, COMMERCIAL RADIO AUSTRALIA LIMITED, APPLE MUSIC, SPOTIFY LIMITED, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD

Seven content deal ads to Facebook’s TV reputation

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 22 : 10-Jun-19

‘My Kitchen Rules’ and ‘Better Homes & Gardens’ are among the Seven Network’s shows that will be featured on Facebook Watch. Seven West Media has struck a deal to provide Facebook’s streaming service with digital content based on some of its most popular TV shows. Seven Studios CEO Therese Hegarty says new content will be published on Facebook Watch every day, including some exclusive content. She notes that some of the content will be ad-supported.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN STUDIOS, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK WATCH, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

News Corp not interested in free-to-air TV: Miller

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 : 4-Jun-19

News Corp Australasia chairman Michael Miller says pay-TV operator Foxtel is the media group’s primary broadcasting focus in Australia, and it will not seek to acquire a free-to-air network. The merger between Nine Entertainment and Fairfax Media in 2018 prompted speculation that News Corp could bid for the Seven Network. However, News Corp has since launched streaming video service Kayo Sports, which is part of Foxtel’s strategy to compete with digital rivals.

CORPORATES
NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, KAYO SPORTS, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, CBS CORPORATION

Empire grows as Seven West Media takes control of Community Newspapers

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Original article by Hamish Hastie
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 28-May-19

Seven West Media has struck a deal to buy out News Corp Australia’s 50.1 per cent stake in their Community News joint venture in Perth. Seven West Media’s Maryna Fewster says the portfolio of 12 community newspapers and 17 digital titles will complement the company’s existing media assets in Western Australia. Community News was incorporated in 1985, and its acquisition by Seven West Media will be completed by the start of July.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, COMMUNITY NEWS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC