Foxtel, Telstra and Apple launch TV-streaming devices to beat the Christmas non-ratings period

Original article by Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson
The Weekly Times – Page: Online : 19-Nov-17

Foxtel, Telstra and Apple all intend to launch new set-top boxes prior to the commencement of the Christmas non-television ratings period. All three devices will provide access to a range of video streaming services, and media analyst Peter Cox notes that Australian consumers have been very quick to adopt video streaming for both films and television. Roy Morgan Research has found that over seven million Australians had used Netflix as of June 2017, while Telstra research shows that more than 60 per cent of Australians are streaming their entertainment.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, APPLE INCORPORATED, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED

Foxtel pulls new service out of box

Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 20 : 9-Nov-17

Pay-TV group Foxtel has officially launched its new streaming "puck" device. The Foxtel Now puck will be available to purchase from 10 November and provides streaming access to Foxtel’s pay-TV service as well as free-to-air channels. Users can also install apps to access rival streaming services such as Stan. Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh says the Foxtel Now puck is aimed at younger customers than its traditional cable and satellite TV service.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOXTEL NOW, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

Telstra TV reboots streaming push

Original article by Supratim Adhikari, Chris Griffith
The Australian – Page: 20 : 24-Oct-17

The new version of Telstra’s streaming video device provides access to free-to-air networks and their "catch-up" services, as well as subscription video-on-demand providers such as Netflix and Foxtel Now. Jo Pollard, Telstra’s head of media, says the Telstra TV2 device uses high efficiency video coding, so broadband speed limitations should not be an issue for users. Pollard adds that the proposal to merge Foxtel with Fox Sports will be a "net positive" for the telco, which will hold a 35 per cent stake in the merged entity.

CORPORATES
TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, FOXTEL NOW, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, HAYU, BIGPOND MOVIES, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

Netflix hits new high in Australia – 7.6 million

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 28-Sep-17

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey shows that an estimated 7,558,000 Australians aged 14+ (37.7%) had subscription video-on-demand provider Netflix in the three months to June 2017, up from 4,453,000 (22.6%) in the March 2016 quarter. The growth in Netflix’s potential audience is the result of strong growth of household subscriptions to the SVOD in 2017, with 2,981,000 Australian homes (31.8%) now subscribed, up from 1,713,000 homes (18.6%) in the March 2016 quarter. In comparison, viewership in an average seven days of market-leading Network 7 fell 2.3% to 64.4%. Network 9 was down 4.1% to 60.1% and Network 10 dropped 1.7% to 50.4%. The results for the Government broadcasters were mixed, with viewership of the ABC down 3.3% to 56.3% while viewership of SBS rose 0.7% to 43.2%. Roy Morgan Research CEO Michele Levine says Roy Morgan has been measuring Netflix in Australia since its beginning just over two years ago and its exceptional growth over that period shows no signs of slowing down.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS)

Rivals brace for battle on the streaming front

Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 6 : 29-Aug-17

The local launch of the CBS All Access subscription video-on-demand service is likely to be a key part of the strategy of Ten Network’s new owner. The fee-based service is expected to complement Ten’s existing "catch-up" streaming service, and CBS intends to make its TV shows available online a week after they are broadcast on Ten’s linear channels. CBS may also seek Australian sports broadcasting rights for its streaming service.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, CBS CORPORATION, CBS ALL ACCESS, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, SHOWTIME, VIACOM INCORPORATED, NATIONAL AMUSEMENTS INCORPORATED, CBS STUDIOS INTERNATIONAL

Netflix leads as streamers take down pay TV

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 8-Aug-17

Telsyte estimates that the number of paid streaming video subscriptions in Australia totalled 3.7 million in June 2017, and it is expected to top 3.8 million by mid-2018. This includes the Foxtel Now streaming service, while the total number of traditional pay-TV subscriptions is 3.3 million. The Telsyte analysis shows that Netflix boasts a 55 per cent share of the streaming video market, ahead of Stan with 24 per cent. Telsyte MD Foad Fadaghi says a number of factors are contributing to the uptake of streaming services.

CORPORATES
TELSYTE PTY LTD, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FOXTEL NOW, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP, NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

Netflix risks backlash by passing on GST

Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 12-Jul-17

US-based streaming video giant Netflix will increase its subscription fees for new and existing Australian customers by between $A1 and $A3 per month. Netflix has attributed the price increase to the Federal Government’s decision to apply the goods and services tax to offshore providers of digital services. Rival subscription video-on-demand company Stan also recently increased its prices.

CORPORATES
NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

Over 1 in 3 Australians now have Netflix as subscriptions jump 20 percent in first quarter of 2017

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Jun-17

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey shows that an estimated 7,091,000 million Australians aged 14+ (36 per cent) had Netflix in the three months to March 2017, up sharply from 5,862,000 (29 per cent) in the previous quarter. The latest surge in Netflix’s potential audience is the result of a 20 per cent jump in the number of household subscriptions since the end of 2016. An estimated 2,714,000 Australian homes (29 per cent) are now subscribed. Roy Morgan has been measuring Netflix in Australia since its beginning in early 2015. Roy Morgan Research CEO Michele Levine says what we have seen is a classic case of rapid technological adoption, with early adopters signing up first, professional technology mainstream following close behind, and a continuation of high growth as younger digital natives, older tech explorers, traditionalists and even technophobes begin to discover Subscription Video On Demand services.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED

Foxtel’s rebranding to help boost subscribers

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 7-Jun-17

Foxtel has confirmed that its Foxtel Play subscription video on-demand service will be relaunched as Foxtel Now, as part of a major overhaul of the pay-TV group’s branding. Foxtel will also launch a "puck" streaming device in the second half of 2017, which may provide access to rival services such as Netflix and Stan. Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh says Foxtel Now is unlikely to gain customers at the expense of its traditional pay-TV service, as they target different segments of the market. Foxtel’s rebranding includes a new logo.

CORPORATES
FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOXTEL NOW, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS

More husbands than wives call the shots on Pay TV, and only 1 in 2 Aussie couples decide together

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 15-May-17

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that half of Australia’s married or de facto couples have at least one subscription or pay TV service in their home. In 50 per cent of these homes, the decisions about whether, when and which provider were made together. The survey, which was carried out in the year to December 2016, also shows that in 30 per cent of cases, the man decided, while the woman did so in 20 per cent. Meanwhile, films are the number one content of interest to both husbands and wives with subscription or pay TV in the home. Overall 60 per cent say they are "very" or "quite" interested in watching new release or older films, ahead of News & Current Affairs and Documentaries, which are each of interest to 52 per cent of couples.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED