Porter tires of dream of a merger with Foxtel
Thursday, 29 July 2010
AUSTAR boss John Porter jokes that after 15 years he has given up waiting for the regional pay-TV group to merge with Foxtel.
Porter agrees there is still "so much compelling industrial logic" to create a truly national pay-TV operator with more than 2.3 million subscribers, but concedes that in the past six months he has begun thinking "it may never happen".
So why the change of heart?
Porter agrees there is still "so much compelling industrial logic" to create a truly national pay-TV operator with more than 2.3 million subscribers, but concedes that in the past six months he has begun thinking "it may never happen".
So why the change of heart?
Austar profit drops, outlook brightens
Thursday, 29 July 2010
AUSTAR posted a 42 per cent fall in first-half net profit, reflecting higher financing costs and a loss on derivatives.
The regional subscription television group said net profit for the six months ended June 30 fell to $20.7 million from $35.5m a year earlier.
Total financing costs jumped to $33.3 million, compared to $9.3 million a year ago.
The regional subscription television group said net profit for the six months ended June 30 fell to $20.7 million from $35.5m a year earlier.
Total financing costs jumped to $33.3 million, compared to $9.3 million a year ago.
TV licence fee cut fails to stop spending on imports
Thursday, 29 July 2010
A CLAIM by Communications Minister Stephen Conroy that slashing licence fees for Australia's commercial television networks would boost local production has been undermined by new figures.
Five months after Senator Conroy announced a TV licence fee rebate worth about $250 million over two years, it has been revealed that spending on imported programs has been growing at more than three times the rate of spending on local production.
A report from the Australian Communications and Media Authority for 2008-09 found networks' spending on Australian commercial television production rose 2.4 per cent to $950.6 million while spending on overseas programs was up 7.9 per cent to $430.3 million.
Five months after Senator Conroy announced a TV licence fee rebate worth about $250 million over two years, it has been revealed that spending on imported programs has been growing at more than three times the rate of spending on local production.
A report from the Australian Communications and Media Authority for 2008-09 found networks' spending on Australian commercial television production rose 2.4 per cent to $950.6 million while spending on overseas programs was up 7.9 per cent to $430.3 million.
ESPN 3D to Telecast X Games 16 to Australia
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
ESPN 3D, in conjunction with FOXTEL and AUSTAR in Australia, will provide extreme sports fans eight hours of coverage from X Games 16 in Los Angeles, California.
For the first time, ESPN 3D will telecast outside the United States. ESPN 3D, in conjunction with FOXTEL and AUSTAR in Australia, will provide extreme sports fans eight hours of coverage from X Games 16 in Los Angeles, California. Fans in Australia can look forward to seeing the best in action sports compete on Friday, July 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. AEST and Sunday, August 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. AEST on channel 206 on FOXTEL and AUSTAR. (Fans in the United States will see this programming on Thursday, July 29 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET and on Saturday, Aug. 1 from 7 p.m. until Midnight ET.)
During these telecasts ESPN 3D will debut new 3D cameras, including a 3D camera from inside a rally car, providing a driver’s point of view. ESPN 3D’s telecast of X Games 16 in Australia will be available to all FOXTEL iQ2 and AUSTAR MyStar HD subscribers with a 3D ready television.
For the first time, ESPN 3D will telecast outside the United States. ESPN 3D, in conjunction with FOXTEL and AUSTAR in Australia, will provide extreme sports fans eight hours of coverage from X Games 16 in Los Angeles, California. Fans in Australia can look forward to seeing the best in action sports compete on Friday, July 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. AEST and Sunday, August 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. AEST on channel 206 on FOXTEL and AUSTAR. (Fans in the United States will see this programming on Thursday, July 29 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET and on Saturday, Aug. 1 from 7 p.m. until Midnight ET.)
During these telecasts ESPN 3D will debut new 3D cameras, including a 3D camera from inside a rally car, providing a driver’s point of view. ESPN 3D’s telecast of X Games 16 in Australia will be available to all FOXTEL iQ2 and AUSTAR MyStar HD subscribers with a 3D ready television.
Two Way launches chat app for Foxtel
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Interactive product and service developer Two Way Limited (ASX:TTV) has launched an interactive chat application for the Foxtel platform.
Two Way said it was paid an upfront fee for the development of the application, and receives ongoing license and support fees, as well as for the use of its telecom infrastructure.
The company said its operating cash flow for the fourth quarter had increased 44% sequentially to $212,000. Quarterly cash receipts totalled $486,000, better than the record set in the previous quarter.
Two Way said it was paid an upfront fee for the development of the application, and receives ongoing license and support fees, as well as for the use of its telecom infrastructure.
The company said its operating cash flow for the fourth quarter had increased 44% sequentially to $212,000. Quarterly cash receipts totalled $486,000, better than the record set in the previous quarter.
Optus digital-TV deals out of this world as digital switchover gathers pace
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
OPTUS has secured four multi-million-dollar deals to deliver digital free-to-air television services over its fleet of satellites.
As the digital switchover gathers pace, it has made deals with the ABC, SBS, Southern Cross Media Group and Imparja Television.
Each of the broadcasters have signed a 10-year deal with Optus to transmit digital television signals into black-spot-bound households where terrestrial digital TV signals cannot reach.
As the digital switchover gathers pace, it has made deals with the ABC, SBS, Southern Cross Media Group and Imparja Television.
Each of the broadcasters have signed a 10-year deal with Optus to transmit digital television signals into black-spot-bound households where terrestrial digital TV signals cannot reach.
ABC pledges improvements to 24-hour news
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
THE ABC has vowed to improve its new 24-hour news station after it was severely criticised for failing to cover Tony Abbott's press conference live.
On July 23 the Opposition leader unveiled his border protection policy in Perth, the same day ABC News 24 first went to air.
Instead of covering the key election issue, News 24 ran a Lateline segment on cane farming. But when Julia Gillard unveiled Labor's climate change policy, the new channel was there.
On July 23 the Opposition leader unveiled his border protection policy in Perth, the same day ABC News 24 first went to air.
Instead of covering the key election issue, News 24 ran a Lateline segment on cane farming. But when Julia Gillard unveiled Labor's climate change policy, the new channel was there.
Ten drops to third as MasterChef ends
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
In a post-MasterChef Australia world, the Seven and Nine networks battle for top spot in all people and Ten slips to third.
So it was on the Monday after the Sunday night in which MasterChef Australia and the 2010 Election Debate drew massive audiences.
The relatively unexciting Seven News topped Monday night with 1.597 million viewers in the five capital cities ahead of Today Tonight's 1.546 million.
So it was on the Monday after the Sunday night in which MasterChef Australia and the 2010 Election Debate drew massive audiences.
The relatively unexciting Seven News topped Monday night with 1.597 million viewers in the five capital cities ahead of Today Tonight's 1.546 million.
Telstra reorganises for TV and online competition
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
TELSTRA has reorganised its technology and network operations as it prepares to battle competitors FetchTV and Foxtel in the media market.
The reorganisation will centralise the carrier's technical operations relevant to its media business in a new division called architecture, online and media.
To be headed by former network and technology chief Michael Lawrey, the division will oversee the company's media applications, content and online services.
The reorganisation will centralise the carrier's technical operations relevant to its media business in a new division called architecture, online and media.
To be headed by former network and technology chief Michael Lawrey, the division will oversee the company's media applications, content and online services.
MasterChef tops 3.9m but debate not far behind
Monday, 26 July 2010
THE MasterChef finale attracted an average capital city audience of 3.962 million viewers, exceeding last year's figure of 3.7 million.
The second series was not expected to exceed last year’s brilliant debut due to a number of fan favourites being ousted before South Australians Adam Liaw and Callum Hann fought out the finalcook-off.
The winner’s announcement, separated from the longer finale, peaked at 4.348 million viewers. The longer ‘episode’ that preceded it averaged 3.542 million viewers.
The second series was not expected to exceed last year’s brilliant debut due to a number of fan favourites being ousted before South Australians Adam Liaw and Callum Hann fought out the finalcook-off.
The winner’s announcement, separated from the longer finale, peaked at 4.348 million viewers. The longer ‘episode’ that preceded it averaged 3.542 million viewers.