TELEVISION BROADCASTING – AUSTRALIA

Murdochs on notice over Foxtel grab for Ten Network

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 29 : 27-Jul-15

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) will consider Foxtel’s equity alliance with the Ten Network in the context of the Murdoch family’s broader media holding, according to chairman Rod Sims. Foxtel proposes to acquire a 15 per cent stake in Ten, but the ACCC will take into account the fact that News Corp has a 50 per cent stake in Foxtel and News Corp executive Lachlan Murdoch has an 8.5 per cent stake in Ten. The effect on competition in bidding for sports broadcasting rights is likely to be a key consideration for the ACCC.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, ILLYRIA PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD, NOVA ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVW, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, CONSOLIDATED MEDIA HOLDINGS LIMITED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

Turnbull calls for TV licence trade-offs

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 24-Jul-15

The CEOs of Australia’s commercial TV networks pressed their case for a reduction in broadcast licence fees when they met with Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull on 23 July 2015. Turnbull has acknowledged that the networks are facing growing competition from companies such as streaming video providers, but he told the networks that they will need to suggest ways to offset the fall in government revenue if licence fees are reduced.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Turnbull set to grill TV executives

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 23-Jul-15

The CEOs of most of Australia’s metropolitan and regional commercial TV networks will meet with Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull on 23 July 2015. They will press their case for a reduction in annual broadcasting licence fees, an issue on which there is rare consensus in the industry. However, Turnbull is tipped to take a tough stance after the networks thwarted the Federal Government’s bid to allow public broadcaster SBS to show more advertisements each hour.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

Nine’s the one again when it comes to news

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Original article by Michael Bodey
The Australian – Page: 23 & 25 : 20-Jul-15

The Seven Network boasts a 30 per cent audience share so far in the 2015 ratings year, compared with 31.2 per cent at the same time in 2014. Nine Network’s audience share has fallen to 27.6 per cent, while Ten Network has increased its share. However, Nine has won every week of the prime-time news ratings battle in both Sydney and Melbourne. Nine’s evening news bulletin has benefited from a strong lead from "Millionaire Hot Seat", while "A Current Affair" is dominating the 7pm timeslot.

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, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, TWITTER INCORPORATED

Turnbull to talk up fee cuts

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 31 : 20-Jul-15

The CEOs of free-to-air TV networks will be able to press their case for a reduction in licence fees when they meet with Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull on 23 July 2015. The annual licence fee is currently set at 4.5 per cent of each network’s revenue, but they believe that the fee should be reduced or scrapped due to competition from new media players such as streaming video providers. Free TV Australia also argue that Australia’s licence fees are higher than in countries such as the UK.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION AND RADIO ASSOCIATION (ASTRA) INCORPORATED, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED

Regions running scare campaign, says Seven

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 36 : 6-Jul-15

Southern Cross Media Group CEO Grant Blackley says the Australian Government should review cross-media ownership laws to ensure a "level playing field" for regional TV broadcasters. However, Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner argues that regional networks’ primary motivation for scrapping the "reach rule" is to make them more appealing to potential suitors. He argues that they should instead lobby for a reduction in licence fees, which could be redirected to local content such as news.

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS

PM rejects rural MP concerns over media law reform

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 3-Jul-15

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says changes to cross-media ownership laws will only be on the agenda if all media groups support reform. MPs in regional electorates have called for the current laws to be scrapped, amid concerns that regional TV broadcasters will be forced to cut jobs and local news services. Meanwhile, Fairfax Media CEO Greg Hywood says the competition regulator should closely examine Ten’s proposed equity deal with Foxtel, due to News Corp’s 50 per cent stake in the latter.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, DOMAIN.COM.AU, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL

Abbott bowed to mates: Hartigan

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 2-Jul-15

Regional TV broadcasters will use a media campaign to push for the Australian Government to reconsider its decision to shelve cross-media ownership reforms. Prime Media Group chairman John Hartigan has warned that jobs at regional broadcasters and local news services will be at risk if the proposed reforms to do not proceed. He has suggested that Prime Minister Tony Abbott was "kowtowing" to media barons Rupert Murdoch and Kerry Stokes in abandoning the reforms.

CORPORATES
PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NOVA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF AGRICULTURE

Seven West boosts board

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Original article by Max Mason, David Ramli
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 25-Jun-15

Australian-listed Seven West Media has made four new appointments to its board of directors. CEO Tim Worner will join the board, as will iiNet founder Michael Malone, Gilbert + Tobin partner Sheila McGregor and former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett. The new directors offer expertise in a range of sectors beyond the media industry, and Kennett notes the need for boards to have a wide range of skills.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, IINET LIMITED – ASX IIN, GILBERT AND TOBIN LAWYERS, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, DOMAIN.COM.AU, HAWTHORN FOOTBALL CLUB, BEYOND BLUE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Google a scary competitor, says Ten boss

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Original article by Paul McIntyre
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 22-Jun-15

Foxtel’s MCN advertising business will assume responsibility for selling ads on the Ten Network in September 2015. Ten CEO Hamish McLennan says global internet companies such as Google present a major threat to Australian TV broadcasters, and warns that they could soon be competing with traditional media companies for sports broadcasting rights. MCN CEO Anthony Fitzgerald adds that there is a need to redefine TV as consumers are now watching broadcast-quality video on a range of devices.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, MULTI CHANNEL NETWORK PTY LTD, SOUND ALLIANCE PTY LTD, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, OPTIMUM MEDIA DIRECTION PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, McDONALD’S AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, THE HOOPLA