Homegrown mini-series driving a ratings resurgence at Foxtel

Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 23 & 25 : 12-Dec-16

Pay-TV company Foxtel has invested heavily in the production of local dramas in 2016. This commitment has paid off, with Foxtel recording ratings growth and a number of Australian Academy of Cinema & Television Arts awards. Brian Walsh, Foxtel’s executive director of television, is upbeat about the outlook for 2017, but he concedes that competition for viewers will intensify. In addition to a slate of local productions, Foxtel will also have exclusive content from HBO in the US.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF CINEMA AND TELEVISION ARTS, HBO, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO, BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

Hold the remote: ratings show box has plenty of life left in it

Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 26 : 28-Nov-16

The Seven Network has increased its total audience share by 0.9 per cent in 2016, winning the free-to-air TV ratings for a 10th consecutive year. Seven was the highest-rating network among the 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54 age demographics. OzTAM data also shows that the audience share of the Nine Network and Ten Network fell by 1.4 per cent and 0.1 respectively. The ABC’s audience share was steady, while SBS increased its audience share by 0.6 per cent.

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, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), OZTAM PTY LTD, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED

Finals football shows television is far from dead

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 : 4-Oct-16

Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner says the high ratings for the AFL and NRL grand finals demonstrates the continued strength of traditional broadcast television. The Seven Network’s coverage of the AFL grand final attracted an average national audience of almost 4.1 million, while the Nine Network’s NRL broadcast was viewed by a national average audience of about 3.7 million.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, WESTERN BULLDOGS FOOTBALL CLUB, CRONULLA SHARKS, MELBOURNE STORM RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED

Grand finals fever delivers TV networks ad bonanza

Original article by Darren Davidson, Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 23 & 25 : 26-Sep-16

New figures show that the Seven Network’s coverage of the 2016 Australian Football League finals has attracted an average audience of 1.14 million per match, with some 443,000 tuning in to Fox Sports’ coverage. The Nine Network also enjoyed strong ratings for its coverage of the National Rugby League preliminary finals. The grand finals of the two codes are expected to boast bumper ratings and advertising revenue for the host broadcasters, with a 30-second ad tipped to cost up to $A100,000.

CORPORATES
SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, WESTERN BULLDOGS FOOTBALL CLUB, SYDNEY SWANS FOOTBALL CLUB, MELBOURNE STORM RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB LIMITED, CRONULLA SHARKS, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION AUSTRALIA LIMITED, VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX VAH, AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED MOTOR INSURERS LIMITED, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, McDONALD’S AUSTRALIA LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY FOOTBALL CLUB, GEELONG FOOTBALL CLUB, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, SPORTSBET AUSTRALIA, JIM BEAM BRANDS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, KFC, NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS, CANBERRA RAIDERS

Supercars are now the third highest rating sport on Fox Sports

Original article by John Stensholt
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 27 : 12-Sep-16

Ratings for Fox Sports’ coverage of the 2016 Supercars series are 36 per cent higher than at the same time in 2015. The Supercars now rank behind the National Rugby League and the Australian Football League as the most popular sport on the pay-TV channel. Supercars CEO James Warburton also notes that there has been an 80 per cent increase in the number of videos that are viewed on the Supercars website. The Ten Network broadcasts six Supercars races each year.

CORPORATES
V8 SUPERCARS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, THE A LEAGUE PTY LTD, SUPER RUGBY, VOLVO CAR AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, VOLVO DEALERS COUNCIL

Digital disruption isn’t a death knell

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

Digital helps Seven attract Olympics audience

Original article by John Stensholt
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 9-Aug-16

The Seven Network’s TV broadcast of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games opening ceremony was watched by 1.61 million viewers in Australia’s five main capital cities. Meanwhile, Seven’s streaming coverage attracted 4.1 million viewers during the first two days of the Games, including a record 2.8 million streams on the second day. Seven has conceded that there have been problems with its streaming up, which it attributes to global demand for streaming services.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, OLYMPIC BROADCASTING SERVICES, AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Network Ten’s recovery by design

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

The Project ‘really firing’ for WIN

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

Ten tie-up delivers good news for WIN

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

RegionalTAM data shows that WIN Corporation’s ratings in the 6pm to 7:30pm timeslot have risen since it became a Ten Network affiliate on 1 July 2016. WIN CEO Andrew Lancaster has praised the level of assistance and co-operation provided by Ten during WIN’s switch from its long-running affiliation deal with the Nine Network. The data also show that Southern Cross Media Group’s ratings under its new program supply deal with Nine are lower than WIN’s ratings when it was affiliated with Nine.

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, REGIONAL TAM PTY LTD, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, CRICKET AUSTRALIA