TELEVISION BROADCASTING – AUSTRALIA

Nine and News try to break impasse

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Original article by Darren Davidson, Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 26 : 16-Nov-15

A compromise between Nine Entertainment Company and News Corporation regarding National Rugby League (NRL) coverage is expected to take some time. The two media groups have proposed that Nine and News Corp-owned Fox Sports each broadcast one NRL match on Friday nights, while Nine would relinquish the Saturday night match, which is currently broadcast by Fox Sports. Nine recently secured NRL broadcasting rights from 2018.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Southern Cross, Nine in $2.2bn merger talks

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Original article by Christine Lacy, Damon Kitney, Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 13-Nov-15

Nine Entertainment Company has held merger discussions with regional broadcaster Southern Cross Media Group, and sources have suggested that there is an even chance of a deal proceeding. The "reach rule" would prohibit a full merger at present, but the deal being discussed is said to involve Nine acquiring Southern Cross’ radio stations immediately. Nine would subsequently buy Southern Cross’s TV stations if and when cross-media ownership rules are relaxed.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SOUTHERN CROSS AUSTEREO PTY LTD, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, MI9, NINEMSN PTY LTD, 2DAY FM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TRIPLE M CORPORATION PTY LTD, THE HIT NETWORK, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, CVC ASIA PACIFIC (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT LLC, OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, LUMINIS PARTNERS PTY LTD

Hartigan denies friction with Seven

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 31 : 11-Nov-15

Prime Media Group’s 11.4 per cent stakeholder Seven Group Holdings voted against the regional broadcaster’s remuneration report at its 2015 AGM. The "two strikes" rule will apply at the 2016 AGM after more than 34 per cent of Prime’s shareholders rejected the report. Meanwhile, Prime CEO Ian Audsley said the group could be acquired or seek to buy assets itself if there are changes to cross-media ownership laws. He added that Prime may be interested in buying radio assets but is unlikely to expand into regional print newspapers.

CORPORATES
PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVW, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, V8 SUPERCARS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Nine CEO puts innovation top of must-do list

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 10-Nov-15

David Gyngell will remain on the board of Nine Entertainment Company after stepping down as CEO. Gyngell. His successor, Hugh Marks, has told Nine’s staff that producing "engaging, relevant content" will remain the media group’s priority, but has stressed the need for Nine to continue to innovate. Issues such as the prospect of cross-media ownership reforms and growing competition from digital media groups will be among his initial challenges.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, RGM ARTISTS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY, MEDIA VENTURE PARTNERS PTY LTD, SOUTHERN STAR CORPORATION, NINE FILMS AND TELEVISION PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN

Turnbull moves to dump reach rule

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Original article by Darren Davidson, Michael Bodey
The Australian – Page: 23 : 9-Nov-15

The issue of changes to cross-media ownership laws is expected to be the agenda for federal cabinet ministers in coming weeks, with the "reach rule" likely to be scrapped. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield also favours abolishing the "two-out-of-three" rule, although this may be opposed by the Australian Labor Party. The government is also believed to have agreed to abolish TV broadcasters’ licence fees, as the emergence of subscription video-on-demand services has reduced the value of these licences.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED

Seven, Nine win free TV numbers game

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 9-Nov-15

The Seven Network is poised to claim the title of top-rating free-to-air broadcaster again in 2015, although its prime-time audience share has fallen by 1.2 per cent to 29.3 per cent. The Nine Network’s share of prime-time audiences is 1.3 per cent lower at 27.9 per cent, while the Ten Network’s share is up 1.1 per cent at 18.9 per cent. However, Nine has emerged as the market leader in the 25-54, 18-49 and 16-39 age groups, which are favoured by advertisers.

CORPORATES
SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, OZTAM PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE

Media curbs need review, Sims says

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 5-Nov-15

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims argues that the advent of the internet and live streaming of TV content means the "reach rule" and the "two out of three rule" may no longer be relevant. However, Sims says anti-siphoning regulations for sports broadcasts may still be necessary to preserve competition in the TV industry, noting that companies such as Yahoo! and YouTube have begun live streaming of sports events in the US.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, YAHOO! INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION, INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, RBB ECONOMICS LLP, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ

Lynch in box seat for CFO at Seven

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 21 : 4-Nov-15

Australian-listed Seven West Media is shortly expected to announce a successor to former CFO Dave Boorman, who stepped down in early 2015. Warwick Lynch has been acting CFO, and he is believed to be the leading candidate to take on the role permanently. Lynch was also acting CFO prior to Boorman’s appointment in mid-2013. Boorman recently became the CFO at Ten Network.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, PEOPLE ONE PTY LTD, SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVW

Government prepares to move on reach rule

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Original article by Dominic White, Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 28 : 2-Nov-15

The Australian Government is believed to be planning to legislate to abolish the so-called "reach rule" before the end of 2015. However, it is uncertain whether scrapping the "two-out-of-three" rule is also on the agenda at present. The Government’s proposed changes to cross-media ownership laws have some support within the Australian Labor Party, although there are some concerns within both the Opposition and the Australian Greens about the impact on media diversity if the "two-out-of-three" rule is abolished.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, PALMER UNITED PARTY, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, IMPARJA TELEVISION PTY LTD

Marks set to replace Gyngell at Nine

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 2-Nov-15

Nine Entertainment Company is expected to announce that Media Venture Partners MD Hugh Marks will succeed CEO David Gyngell. Marks is a director of Nine, and his previous roles in the media industry include CEO of Southern Star and director of Nine Films & Television. Nine is also believed to be keen to retain Gyngell’s services in some capacity, which could include becoming a director or a consultant to the media group.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE FILMS AND TELEVISION PTY LTD, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, MEDIA VENTURE PARTNERS PTY LTD, SOUTHERN STAR CORPORATION, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY, RGM ARTISTS PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL