Fifield testing media reform waters
New Communications Minister, Mitch Fifield, is set to put media reform, mainly the reach and 'two out of three' rule, back on the table, The Australian is reporting. Fifield is said to be canvassing media operators over the removal of the reach rule specifically, which stops metropolitan networks merging with regional broadcasters. According to The Australian, Fifield has shown less willingness to consider changes to the anti-siphoning list, which ring-fences sports broadcasting rights for the free-to-air networks.
...rural and regional media back him
Prime Media, Southern Cross Austereo, WIN Corp and Imparja, in partnership with JWS Research, have released a survey highlighting that rural and regional Australians overwhelmingly support abolition of cross-media ownership laws. The Australian Financial Review is reporting that the survey will be circulated around Canberra this week and will see the CEOs of the involved businesses go with their survey to the nation’s capital in the hope they can spark the scrapping of the media ownership restrictions.
Is Bauer making a play for Nova?
The AFR is reporting that Bauer Media Group is eyeing an entry into Australia's $1 billion radio market after making repeated efforts to buy Lachlan Murdoch's Nova Entertainment. The AFR says it understands that the German media giant made several approaches to Murdoch's Illyria in 2014, and made an indicative offer of about $450 million, which was rejected. However, the publisher isn't perturbed, with the AFR saying Bauer continues to examine options for expansion into radio in Australia.
Blackley may cut ties with Ten
CEO of Southern Cross Austero, Grant Blackley, backs radio over television, telling The Australian that the media company might not need to renew its deal with television affiliate Network Ten when it expires next year, particularly if media ownership reforms proceed. Blackley told The Australian: “We’ve got a far greater exposure to radio than we do to television. We’re a company that’s desirable, we sit on broadcast spectrum. We have an obligation with Ten, so we have to go through a process with Ten. If we get the right economic outcome with Ten, we’ll pursue that.”
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