TELEVISION BROADCASTING – AUSTRALIA

Nine banks on local shows to boost ratings

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 26-Aug-16

Nine Entertainment Company has posted a 2015-16 profit of $A324.8m. This compares with a loss of $A592.2m in 2014-15, although the prior result had been marred by write-downs totalling $A732.2 million. The media group’s 2015-16 underlying profit was down 7.1 per cent at $A120.3m and revenue fell by 6.5 per cent to $A1.3bn. CEO Hugh Marks says an increase in premium local content will be a priority for the Nine Network in 2017, after a disappointing ratings performance in 2016. Shareholders will receive a final dividend of $A0.04 per share.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NIKKO ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP, WARNER BROS, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, PROCTER AND GAMBLE COMPANY, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, NINE LIVE PTY LTD

Digital disruption isn’t a death knell

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 18 & 20 : 15-Aug-16

New figures show that the number of people watching free-to-air TV fell by 100,752 between the start of the 2016 ratings year and the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. The disappointing ratings performance of the Nine Network is believed to have accounted for the bulk of the lost viewers. However, the Seven Network’s director of ­programming, Angus Ross, says FTA is very resilient and having successful shows is the key to lifting audience numbers. Ross is confident that Seven’s post-Olympics line-up will be popular with viewers.

CORPORATES
NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

Foxtel chief on mission to win over subscribers

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 24 : 12-Aug-16

Australian pay-TV provider Foxtel has reported that its subscriber base grew by 4.7 per cent in 2015-16 to 2.9 million, while its customer churn rate rose by 1.3 per cent to 12.2 per cent. Foxtel’s EBITDA was 2.2 per cent lower at $A880m, but revenue rose by 4.6 per cent to $A3.3bn. CEO Peter Tonagh says Foxtel’s marketing will emphasise that the company streams video on demand to any device rather than merely providing a linear TV service. He adds that it boasts more of the biggest box-office hits from 2015 than Netflix.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE

Network Ten’s recovery by design

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 30 : 8-Aug-16

The Ten Network’s shares of free-to-air TV advertising revenue rose to 25.2 per cent in the first six months of 2016, compared with just 20.1 per cent in early 2014. Maxus CEO Mark McCraith says the consistency of Ten’s programming has been a major contributor to the network’s increased ratings. Meanwhile, Ten’s chief programming officer Beverley McGarvey stresses the importance of selecting the right host for popular shows like "Family Feud".

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, MAXUS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, PHD CREATIVE PTY LTD, THINK TV, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED

Frustrated WIN targets Marks

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Original article by Jake Mitchell, Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 18 & 20 : 8-Aug-16

Nine Entertainment Company’s share price has shed 36.2 per cent since Hugh Marks succeeded David Gyngell as CEO in November 2015. Meanwhile, its share of free-to-air advertising revenue fell from 38.6 per cent to 35.6 per cent during the first half of 2016. WIN Corporation is said to have lobbied fellow large Nine shareholder Perpetual to support a push to oust Marks and Nine’s board of directors.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, PERPETUAL LIMITED – ASX PPT, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, MAPLE-BROWN ABBOTT LIMITED, BT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX BTT, APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT LLC, KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE

The Project ‘really firing’ for WIN

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 31 : 8-Aug-16

There has been strong growth in regional audiences for the Ten Network’s TV programs since WIN Corporation switched affiliation partners in July 2016. WIN CEO Andrew Lancaster notes that shows such as "The Project" and "Have You Been Paying Attention?" in particular have been popular with WIN viewers. Meawhile, Southern Cross Media Group says its ratings and revenue were better than expected in July, when its affiliation deal with the Nine Network commenced.

CORPORATES
WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, REGIONAL TAM PTY LTD, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT

Seven earnings plunge but Worner bets on old media comeback

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 3-Aug-16

Shares in Seven West Media and Nine Entertainment Company fell sharply on 2 August 2016, after the former issued a profit warning. Seven has advised that its underlying EBIT for 2016-17 will be 15-20 per cent lower than previously, citing factors such as a slowdown in the advertising market and the rising cost of sports broadcasting rights. Meanwhile, Seven has booked a net profit of $184.3m for the year to 25 June 2016, following a loss of $A1.89bn in 2014-15.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, 7PRODUCTIONS, 7WONDER, 7BEYOND, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Ten advertising share at highest point since 2012

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Original article by Lucy Battersby, Michael Lallo
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 29-Jul-16

New data shows that the Ten Network’s share of free-to-air TV advertising revenue has risen to 25.2 per cent in 2016, compared with just 20.1 per cent in early 2014. The Nine Network’s share of ad revenue has fallen from 39.2 per cent in mid-2014 to 35.6 per cent, while the Seven Network’s share has eased from 40.4 per cent to 39.2 per cent over the last two years. Ten’s Rod Prosser notes that the network’s share of ad revenue has increased for 16 consecutive months.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, FUSION STRATEGY

Fresh blood for Ten board

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Original article by Darren Davidson, Daniel Palmer
The Australian – Page: 21 : 26-Jul-16

WIN Corporation CEO Andrew Lancaster has succeeded Brian Long as a director of Australian-listed Ten Network. WIN has a 14.9 per cent stake in Ten, and the two TV broadcasters commenced an affiliation agreement in mid-2016. Meanwhile, John Klepec has stepped down as Gina Rinehart’s nominee on the Ten board. He has been replaced by Australia’s former trade minister, Andrew Robb.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, BIRKETU PTY LTD, HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL FARMERS’ FEDERATION LIMITED

WPP eyes TV as YouTube falls short

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 25-Jul-16

GroupM is expected to allocate more of its advertising spending commitment to Australia’s free-to-air TV networks, after favouring YouTube in 2015. The Nine Network’s share of the media buying group’s TV budget has been reduced, while the Ten Network has secured a guaranteed share of 25 per cent, compared with between 23 and 25 per cent in 2015. Industry executives note that that digital platforms such as YouTube are under scrutiny over issues such as viewability and audience measurement.

CORPORATES
GROUPM COMMUNICATIONS PTY LTD, WPP GROUP PLC, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, THINK TV, IPG MEDIABRANDS