VIDEO-ON-DEMAND – AUSTRALIA

Marks ushers Nine into new viewing era

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 30 : 16-Nov-15

Nine Entertainment Company is a "content business" rather than a traditional TV broadcaster, according to new CEO Hugh Marks. He has succeeded David Gyngell at a time when TV networks face growing competition from video-on-demand providers and a shift to multi-platform viewing. Nine has flagged a greater focus on local content in the next three years, after terminating a content deal with US-based Warner Bros, while it will begin live streaming of its TV channels in 2016.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, WARNER BROS, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, GROUPM COMMUNICATIONS PTY LTD, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, SOUTHERN STAR CORPORATION, ENDEMOL ENTERTAINMENT HOLDING NV, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, MEDIA VENTURE PARTNERS PTY LTD, RGM ARTISTS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

Optus sets bar high for Premier League games

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Original article by David Ramli
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 13-Nov-15

Singtel Optus has posted a 2015-16 interim net profit of $A426m net profit, which is eight per cent higher than previously. EBITDA and revenue were up 7.8 per cent and 9.3 per cent respectively. Meanwhile, Optus is yet to finalise the packages and prices for its coverage of English Premier League (EPL) matches, for which it recently gained the exclusive Australian rights. CEO Allen Lew has stressed that Optus’s live streams of EPL matches will be in high definition.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, VODAFONE HUTCHISON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FETCHTV PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

2.677 million Australians have Netflix as subscriptions surpass one million homes

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 12-Nov-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that the number of Australian homes with a Netflix subscription rose by 11.4 per cent in October 2015 to 1,039,000. Some 2.677 million Australians aged 14+ now live in a home with a Netflix subscription. The survey also shows that 19.3 per cent of Australians bought a DVD in an average three-month period during the six months to September 2015, compared with 20.6 per cent in an average three months in the six months to September 2014. Likewise, the rate of downloading TV shows or movies has fallen from 10.8 per cent a year ago to 9.1 per cent in the six months following the launch of Netflix in Australia.`

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

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

Fairytale Cup viewing figures open era of streaming success

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Original article by Michael Bodey
The Australian – Page: 5 : 5-Nov-15

The 2015 Melbourne Cup attracted an average TV audience of 2.931 million nationally. An average of 2.068 million people watched the race in Australia’s capital cities, compared with 2.178 million in 2014. However, the Seven Network’s live stream attracted an additional 342,000 views. The post-race presentation boasted an average metropolitan audience of 1.788 million.

CORPORATES
THE EMIRATES MELBOURNE CUP, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SKY RACING, OZTAM PTY LTD

EPL rights loss to Optus a blow to Foxtel, Macquarie says

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Original article by Vesna Poljak
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 4-Nov-15

Andrew Levy of Macquarie Group says Singtel Optus’s deal to acquire the English Premier League rights is a "clear negative" for incumbent broadcaster Foxtel. Levy notes that English soccer is popular with Foxtel subscribers, and the pay-TV group has benefited from the Premier League’s exclusion from the anti-siphoning list. Fox Sports also recently lost the right to broadcast the popular Saturday and Monday night National Rugby League matches.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FETCHTV PTY LTD

Nine to launch new lifestyle channel and stream all channels online 24/7

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 29-Oct-15

Nine Entertainment Company has used its annual "upfronts" to reveal plans to invest in Australian productions in 2016 after ending its content deal with US-based Warner Bros. Nine will also launch its fourth free-to-air channel on 26 November 2015, with 9Life to focus on lifestyle content. Meanwhile, the 9Jumpin catchup service will be replaced with a live streaming service called 9Now, which will include online streaming of Nine’s TV channels.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, WARNER BROS, SCRIPPS NETWORKS INCORPORATED, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS)

Optus pads up with Cricket Australia

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Original article by David Ramli
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 23-Oct-15

Singtel Optus has secured a three-year digital broadcasting rights deal with Cricket Australia, which will allow the telco’s customers to access the Cricket Australia Live Pass from late October 2015. Optus CEO Allen Lew says that in addition to live streaming of cricket matches, the telco plans to offer a range of interactive content. He has also signalled that Optus will pursue digital rights deals for other sports.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, THE A LEAGUE PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Seven to follow viewers into the digital future with streaming

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Original article by Max Mason, Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 22-Oct-15

Seven West Media has revealed its program line-up for 2016 at its annual "upfronts" event. Meanwhile, the media group will begin live streaming of its TV channels online from 3 November 2015, which will be supported by targeted pre-roll video advertisements. Seven West Media will also launch a programmatic advertising service called 7 Screen, as well as an online shopping service that will allow viewers to purchase grocery products that are featured on its TV shows.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, PACIFIC MAGAZINES PTY LTD, YAHOO!7 COMMUNICATIONS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, OZTAM PTY LTD, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED

Netflix makes us watch more, says study

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 19-Oct-15

A survey by Edison Research has found that traditional broadcast TV still accounts for 85 per cent of the four hours of video content that Australians aged 14+ watch on average each day. The "Share of Eye" report shows that subscription video on-demand services account for four per cent of viewing time, while free video-on-demand services account for 11 per cent. The research was commissioned by Seven West Media.

CORPORATES
EDISON RESEARCH, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, YAHOO!7 COMMUNICATIONS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ