MEDIABLAB NOVEMBER 29
November 29th 2007 01:52
From MediaBlab compiled by Peter olszewski for Dow Jones' Factiva, via News bites
SEVEN BECOMES THE TOP RATING AUSTRALIAN TV NETWORK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY
History has just been made in Australian television with the Seven Network winning the television ratings for the first time in a non-Olympics year since 1980.
It beat the ailing Nine Network by more than two share points.
The Australian reported that Seven's winning share, ahead of the last day of the official 40-week OzTAM ratings year on Saturday, is 29, Nine's is 26.9, Ten's is 22.3, the ABC's 16.6 and SBS's 5.5.
The Australian resorted to a cute headline to support the story it ran about Seven’s win. The headline read, “Seven dwarfs former broadcast giant.”
MELBOURNE AGE NEWSPAPER DEFENDS POLICY OF NOT BACKING OR SUPPORTING A POLITICAL PARTY DURING ELECTIONS
MediaBlab has always thought the Australian newspaper custom of backing or recommending a political party on the even of the elections was misguided.
MediaBlab’s opinion is that a newspaper should guide readers by presenting as much information as possible to allow them to make an educated choice at the polling booth, not to back a party as though backing a football team.
Andrew Jaspan, editor of the Melbourne Age is obviously of the same opinion, but has been criticised for “fence sitting” by not backing a side, er sorry, a party.
Just before the elections, Jaspan told Age readers, “It is not our role to tell you who to vote for.”
Last week he explained in ABC Radio, “We actually have pretty good relations with both sides and my view is that the job of the paper is to retain good relations with both sides and not so sign up to one or the other.
“I would not like to see the paper seen as being a Labor or a Liberal supporting paper.”
Today, The Australian newspaper’s media columnist Amanda Meade tried to make the case that the Age’s new slogan, ‘Australia’s Independent Newspaper,’ was a “defensive reaction to criticism of its editorial stance on Saturday’s federal election.”
But of course it the slogan could also be viewed as a bold proud declarative statement.
Next thing MediaBlab would like to see is transparency about who actually writes those anonymous but seemingly omnipotent newspaper editorials by publishing the name of the writer.
MITCHELL COMMUNICATIONS: AUSTRALIAN DIGITAL SECTOR HAS DOUBLED IN TWO YEARS
Mitchell Communication Group ceo Stuart Mitchell said at the annual general meeting that the company will continue its recent aggressive acquisition strategy.
Mitchell said, “I believe the company is in a good position to act quickly and decisively when opportunities arise in the market. We have strengthened our balance sheet by increasing the debt facility to $80 million, with $40 million undrawn. Gearing levels remain conservative at approximately 30 percent continuing strong operating cash-flows remain a core focus of the management team.
He said, “The industry outlook for both FY2008 and calendar 2008 continue the positive trend we have seen this year.
“Our forecasts show digital will be the strongest growth area again, with our model showing that the digital sector will easily account for more than $2 billion in calendar 2008. Industry sources are saying that 2007 will show $1.4 billion to digital, a result very close to the 50 percent growth we predicted this time last year.
“These figures mean that the digital sector will have doubled in size in just two years. This is in line with our own growth in digital.”
MITCHELL COMMUNICATIONS: WILL CONTINUE EXPANSION INTO ASIA
Mitchell Communication Group chairman Harold Mitchell told the group’s annual general meeting that the company expects to continue its improvement on full year earnings.
He said that the group's forecast for the 12 months to December 2008 was again 7 percent and that he saw nothing in current conditions to change that.
The company made a pro-forma net profit of $9.47 million in 2006/07, up from $2.57 million in the prior year.
Mitchell said, “The market that we operate in, advertising in Australia, is showing incredible strength. The six months to June 07 has grown at 11 percent on the previous corresponding period. And to give that some perspective, it followed the full year to December 06 of growth of just 2 percent over the corresponding previous period.
“We see the current half year growth of at least our forecast of 7 percent and possibly higher.
“And our forecast for the 12 months to December 08 is again 7 percent and we see nothing in current conditions to change that.
“This growth is, importantly, embracing all media, including the traditional media as well as digital. This is a very solid industry to be involved with and next year – an Olympic year – we expect will to add to the strength of both our industry and of course our company.
“Against this background of growth, our year since July 1 has started well, and ahead of industry growth. Our billings to September are 25 percent higher than the previous corresponding period and in excess of internal budgets.
“Our profits to September are ahead of budget with projections for the December quarter indicating this trend to continue. We expect a strong half year result.”
Mitchell said the company also remained committed to expanding its business into Asia.
"Asia is the fastest growth area in the world and given our proximity to the region, our relationships both within and outside the region, and our ability to manage and grow businesses, we simply must establish a presence.
“To this end we continue to have dialogue with our partner in MPG, Havas, about regional opportunities.”
AUSTRALIA’S MACQUARIE MEDIA GROUP: BUYS TWO MORE US REGIONAL NEWSPAPER GROUPS
Australia’s Macquarie Media Group said yesterday that its wholly owned subsidiary, American Consolidated Media, LLC has agreed to acquire, in separate transactions, 22 publishing assets of Chesapeake Publishing Corp and 11 publications from the Brown Publishing Company.
The acquisitions have a combined enterprise value of A$182 million (US$159.5 million.)
Subject to closing conditions it is expected that the acquisition of the Brown publications will be completed in early December 2007 with Chesapeake to complete by early January 2008.
Chesapeake publishes 22 local publications across two contiguous regions on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay region, principally in Maryland, US.
Brown publishes 11 local publications serving seven isolated rural markets in southern Ohio.
Macquarie Media chief executive, Mark Dorney said, “These businesses publish in markets that are characterised by sustained long-term income growth, which in most markets is above the US national average, and given their respective regional economic factors this is expected to continue.
“Both are the primary source of local news and information in their markets generating stable cash flows from a diverse base of local advertisers. Both businesses have minimal reliance on national advertising and enjoy strong free cash flow due to limited capital expenditure requirements and strong margins. Further growth is expected to come through efficiency improvements from their consolidation into the American Consolidated Media, and underlying population, personal income and retail sales growth in their regions.
On completion of these acquisitions, American Consolidated Media will be positioned in the top five largest specialist owners of small market community newspapers in the US.
The acquisitions will expand American Consolidated Media’s portfolio to 104 publications, covering more than 18 geographic regions, across 10 states in the US.
AUSTRALIA’S MACQUARIE MEDIA GROUP: ACQUISITION OF NINE FAIRFAX RADIO STATION HITS SNAGS
The Australian newspaper’s authoritative media writer Mark Day today reports that the Fairfax Media sale of nine regional radio stations to Macquarie Media Group seems to have hit a snag, with fears that the $40 million deal won’t be wrapped up by the target date of December 9.
Day said the parties won’t reveal details of the hiccup, but it is believed to involve demands made by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, and the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission.
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL COURT APPROVES PBL SCHEME AND DEMERGER
Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd said that the Federal Court of Australia yesterday approved both the PBL scheme and the demerger scheme.
The court orders approving the PBL scheme and the demerger scheme will be lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission tomorrow, when both schemes will, for the purposes of the Corporations Act, take effect.
MYANMAR JUNTA ALLEGEDLY PUBLISHES BOOKLET TO COUNTERACT CALLS FOR MISSILE STRIKE ON NEW CAPITAL
A propaganda booklet circulating in Yangon contains an apparent regime reply to suggestions that the Myanmar junta should be toppled by force, possibly through a missile strike on the new capital Naypyidaw.
According to the Irrawaddy Journal, the 20-page booklet prints color photographs, without captions or text, of monks marching in the September demonstrations and of other clergy officiating at regime-organised religious ceremonies, and poses the question: "Which way would you choose?"
Other photographs contrast Iraq's capital, Baghdad, under US attack, and Naypyidaw and its statues of three Burmese kings Anawrahta, Bayintnaung and Alaungpaya.
The booklet was issued online articles and blogs suggesting that Myanmar people would welcome a missile attack on the Naypyidaw residence of junta leader Senior-General Than Shwe.
US TRIBUNE BROADCAST AND ENTERTAINMENT REVENUE DOWN 13.3 PERCENT
The US Tribune group’s broadcasting and entertainment revenues dropped 13.3 percent to US$96 million in October.
TV ad revenue was 7 percent, publishing revenue slipped 7.9 percent to $287 million, and it newspaper advertising businesses decreased 10.6 percent to $222 million, mostly because of lower real-estate advertising. But lower circulation revenue, down 6.3 percent, also contributed to that decline.
The company's overall revenue in October decreased 9.3 percent to $383 million.
AMEX’S TRAVEL LEISURE FAMILY MAGAZINE SHUT DOWN IN THE US
Ad Age in the US reports that American Express Publishing will fold Travel Leisure Family magazine, a quarterly stand-alone since June 2006, back into the main magazine.
The spring 2008 issue will be its last on its own. In a memo to staff earlier this month, Amex Publishing ceo Ed Kelly says the move means an adjustment to the title's business model and includes plans to strengthen its web site.
Ad Age said the company is trying to find new spots for displaced employees. Travel & Leisure Family is distributed to 500,000 families with the lead title reporting average paid and verified circulation of 969,452 for the first half of this year, down 1.6 percent from the same period in 2006.
WALL STREET JOURNAL EUROPE PARTNERS WITH THE JERUSALEM POST TO BOOST CIRC
DMnews reports that The Wall Street Journal Europe has signed an agreement with The Jerusalem Post, putting the Post in charge of all distribution, printing, sales and marketing for the Journal in Israel.
The partnership is designed to push Journal sales in the area up from the December 31 total circulation of 81,445.
Starting January 2, 2008, the Journal will be printed and distributed via Post facilities, but the two papers will continue to be sold separately. The Mirkaei Tikshoret media group, primary owners of the Post, will also launch an advertising and marketing campaign about the partnership.
The Post, the largest-circulating English-language paper in Israel, has seen its readership increase steadily for the past three years, and executives hope that the Wall Street Journal Europe agreement will accelerate the Post’s growth and give it an edge in financial reporting. As part of the partnership, the Post will have access to some Journal resources.
The Jerusalem Post is the flagship title for the Mirkaei Tikshoret group, which also publishes bi-weekly newsmagazine The Jerusalem Report, the weekly Jerusalem Post International Edition and a monthly Christian Edition. The group also owns a number of radio and television stations.
NASDAQ LAUNCHES INTERNET INDEX
The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc has launched the NASDAQ Internet Index.
It said the Index is a new benchmark designed to track the performance of companies engaged in a broad range of internet-related services including internet access providers, internet search engines, web hosting, website design, and internet retail commerce.
The NASDAQ Internet Index is comprised of securities of companies that are at the forefront of internet technology. They are leading innovators in providing faster internet access, creating more intuitive e-commerce experiences, and developing the second generation web.
"The NASDAQ Internet Index contains some of the most exciting internet companies traded on NASDAQ and other US exchanges," said NASDAQ senior vice president Steven Bloom.
"Given the strength of NASDAQ's brand association with innovation and its market share of internet company listings, it is logical for NASDAQ to extend investment opportunities through a new benchmark for this dynamic, evolving sector."
NASDAQ Financial Products is engaged in the design, development, calculation, licensing, and marketing of NASDAQ indexes.
GOOGLE HANDS OVER ANONYMOUS BLOGGER TO ISRAELI COUNCIL
Globes Online reports that in an unprecedented move, Google has agreed to supply the IP address of an Israeli blogger who used Google Blogger for a blog in which he slandered Shaarei Tikva council members running for reelection..
The slandered Shaarei Tikva council members asked Google for the blogger's name, and reached a settlement with the company on the basis of an Israeli ruling on the subject.
The settlement stipulates that 72 hours before a hearing on the case at the Rishon LeZion Magistrates Court, the council members would leave the blogger a message on his blog summoning him to the hearing, or else his IP address would be handed over.
NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA’S PROGRAM LIST FOR 2008Australia’s Nine Television Network’s David Gyngell has announced a list of programs that will air on the television network in 2008.
The list includes:
New Australian Drama:
Underbelly
Canal Road
Young Doctors
The Strip
Scorched
New Factual:
Search and Rescue
Animal Emergency
The Waiting Room
R.F.D.S - Royal Flying Doctor Service
Weddings - 10 years on Special
Fire 000
Sensing Murder
Extraordinary Animals
Life in Cold Blood with David Attenborough
Monarchy - The Royal Family at Work
Heroes and Villains
Hunted
The Irwin Family’s Australia Zoo
New Reality:
The Chopping Block - from the producers of The Block
Here Come the Newlyweds
Domestic Blitz - new lifestyle format
I Know My Kid’s a Star
The Million Dollar Salon
New Overseas Drama:
Pushing Daisies
Cashmere Mafia
Chuck
Big Shots
Canterbury’s Law
Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Secret Diary of a Call Girl
Rock Rivals
New Sport:
Wide World of Sports Weekend Edition
NRL 100 Years of Rugby League Specials
Swimming - Olympic Trials
New Entertainment
Power of 10 - new hit game show
This is Your Life - with a whole new look
Hole in the Wall
New Gameshow - from the producers of the National IQ Test
Amnesia - from Mark Burnett, creator of Survivor
Jingles - from Mark Burnett
Toasted and Roasted Specials
Plus an exciting new reality sitcom
NEWS CORP PLANS TO LAUNCH ONLINE NETWORK FOR ALL ITS SERVICES
Reuters reported that News Corp's internet division plans to launch an online network to sell advertising across Rupert Murdoch's entire network, and to other media companies as early as the first half of next year.
Fox Interactive Media president Peter Levinsohn told the Reuters Media Summit in New York that the network, internally named FIM Serve, is the subject of discussion across the company after first being built for its MySpace online social network.
Reuters said the launch of a broader ad network follows a buying spree of privately held ad networks by Microsoft Corp, Yahoo Inc, Time Warner Inc's AOL, and Google Inc.
Levinsohn said that as marketers prepares for a likely US recession in 2008, media such as the internet that stress accountability in terms of user responses would perform better.
INDIA’S EROS INTERNATIONAL LEADS THE US$10 BILLION INDIAN ENTERTAINMENT MARKET
Eros International Plc, the London AIM-listed Indian media and entertainment company, in its interim results for the six months ended September 30, 2007, reported a positive trading outlook.
It said it is on track to achieve full year performance in line with expectations.
Since admission to AIM in July 2006, Eros has leveraged its leadership position to be at the forefront of the consolidation of the fragmented but rapidly growing US $10 billion Indian entertainment industry which is forecast to grow to over $25 billion by 2011 according to PwC.
Turnover increased by 58.7 percent to US$34.6 million (2006: US$21.8m)
EBITDA increased by 85.1 percent to US$24.5 million (2006: US$13.2m)
Profit before tax increased by 75.9 percent to US$13.6 million (2006: US$7.7m)
Cash flow generated from operating activities is US$ 15.4 million (2006 US$ 11.1 m)
From an aggregate market share of 32% between 1998-2007, Eros’s market share in the period January-November 2007 increased to 47 percent.
Indian cinema saw strong growth in domestic box office with 5 out of Top 10 box office grossers in 2007 being Eros releases.
In television, its Sony deal concluded in March 2007.
In new media is undertook significant new deals with Sky Anytime, Joost, NME, Vudu, Mauritius telecom and Singnet apart from ongoing revenues from Comcast and Mauj Telecom.
It continued to open new dubbed markets internationally and expand it distribution network with mainstream cinema chains and DVD retailers.
It acquired 51 percent acquisition of the Ayngaran business to enter the Tamil Film market, established Eyeqube Studios in collaboration with Hollywood visual effects talent Charles Darby, and signed deal to co-produce a slate of films with Sony Pictures.
MORE AUSTRALIANS THAN ANYONE ELSE ARE AWARE THAT THE NEXT OLYMPICS ARE IN BEIJING
Synovate said asked over 9,500 people in the US, Asia Pacific and Europe about all-things about the Olympic Games and found “some surprising results.”
Forty five percent of consumers across the world did not know that next year's Olympic Games will be held in Beijing. But a further 45 percent did know, with Australians being the most aware at 94 percent, followed by the French at 71percent and the Singaporeans with 68 percent.
When asked if they noticed sponsors of the Olympic Games, 63 percent said yes, with the awareness factor in post-Olympic countries reaching 42 percent in Australia, 51 percent in the US and 78 percent in Germany
Synovate's Jan Hofmeyr, director of innovation for the Brand & Communications practice, says that, in the circumstances, 45 percent overall awareness is something that Olympic sponsors and marketers should be quite pleased with.
DOW JONES SELLING OTTAWAY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER GROUP
Dow Jones is looking to sell the eight daily and 15 weekly community newspapers located in seven states that make up Ottaway newspapers.
Shortly after getting agreement to buying Dow Jones Rupert Murdoch said he wasn’t really interested in the community newspaper chain.
Followthemedia said, “In favor of a sale is that if there is any market at all these days in the US newspaper business it is at the small daily and community newspaper level. A logical buyer would be a group like GateHouse Media that specialises in small newspapers.”
The Ottaway newspapers contributed US$179 million of Dow Jones' revenue through the first nine months of this year, close to 12 percent of the company's total revenue.
The Ottaway family owns 6.2 percent of Dow Jones super voting Class B shares and were very opposed to the Dow Jones sale to Murdoch.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS PUBLISHER SAYS ONLINE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS MODELS ARE SUBSTITUTING PENNIES FOR DOLLARS
UK Press Gazette reported that New York Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman told a House of Lords committee that new online business models for newspapers are just substituting "pennies for dollars".
The House of Lords Select Committee on Communications travelled to New York in September to interview Zuckerman as part of their inquiry into media ownership. The minutes of that meeting were published this week.
Zuckerman said that live television news and newspaper readership has declined over the last two decades.
He said that the Daily News has always made a profit but this year it may not, due to the large decline in advertising revenue and the effect of online competitors on advertising. He said he is trying to develop new business models for the web but that this is “substituting pennies for dollars”.
Zuckerman said that the new challenges have meant that his magazine US News and World Report has gone from 12 foreign bureaux to none. He said the magazine now focuses on “news you can use” such as rankings for colleges and hospitals.
According to the Lords report: “A great story on Iraq, or politics makes no difference to their circulation figures but their rankings are of key importance to readers and advertisers. All new providers must find added value: analysis, opinion, parody, something not available elsewhere.”
TOP PERFORMING US MAGAZINES OF THE LAST DECADE ACCORDING TO CAPELL
Capell’s Circulation Report has released the audit information for the top-performing magazines of the past decade, honoring those who managed to meet and exceed their rate base time after time over the years.
In Style and Men’s Health were each consistently being a Capell’s Circulation Report top ten performer every year for the past decade, a new record for the newsletter. Each also saw impressive growth in their rate bases, with Men’s Health growing 33 percent and In Style doubling from its 1997 base.
The Economist, picked up nine top performer awards, and increased its circulation base by 90 percent
People magazine’s their average bonus circulation over rate base for the past ten years has been 400,000, and the magazine has been a top performer eight times.
SEVEN BECOMES THE TOP RATING AUSTRALIAN TV NETWORK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY
History has just been made in Australian television with the Seven Network winning the television ratings for the first time in a non-Olympics year since 1980.
It beat the ailing Nine Network by more than two share points.
The Australian reported that Seven's winning share, ahead of the last day of the official 40-week OzTAM ratings year on Saturday, is 29, Nine's is 26.9, Ten's is 22.3, the ABC's 16.6 and SBS's 5.5.
MELBOURNE AGE NEWSPAPER DEFENDS POLICY OF NOT BACKING OR SUPPORTING A POLITICAL PARTY DURING ELECTIONS
MediaBlab has always thought the Australian newspaper custom of backing or recommending a political party on the even of the elections was misguided.
MediaBlab’s opinion is that a newspaper should guide readers by presenting as much information as possible to allow them to make an educated choice at the polling booth, not to back a party as though backing a football team.
Andrew Jaspan, editor of the Melbourne Age is obviously of the same opinion, but has been criticised for “fence sitting” by not backing a side, er sorry, a party.
Just before the elections, Jaspan told Age readers, “It is not our role to tell you who to vote for.”
Last week he explained in ABC Radio, “We actually have pretty good relations with both sides and my view is that the job of the paper is to retain good relations with both sides and not so sign up to one or the other.
Today, The Australian newspaper’s media columnist Amanda Meade tried to make the case that the Age’s new slogan, ‘Australia’s Independent Newspaper,’ was a “defensive reaction to criticism of its editorial stance on Saturday’s federal election.”
But of course it the slogan could also be viewed as a bold proud declarative statement.
Next thing MediaBlab would like to see is transparency about who actually writes those anonymous but seemingly omnipotent newspaper editorials by publishing the name of the writer.
MITCHELL COMMUNICATIONS: AUSTRALIAN DIGITAL SECTOR HAS DOUBLED IN TWO YEARS
Mitchell Communication Group ceo Stuart Mitchell said at the annual general meeting that the company will continue its recent aggressive acquisition strategy.
Mitchell said, “I believe the company is in a good position to act quickly and decisively when opportunities arise in the market. We have strengthened our balance sheet by increasing the debt facility to $80 million, with $40 million undrawn. Gearing levels remain conservative at approximately 30 percent continuing strong operating cash-flows remain a core focus of the management team.
He said, “The industry outlook for both FY2008 and calendar 2008 continue the positive trend we have seen this year.
“Our forecasts show digital will be the strongest growth area again, with our model showing that the digital sector will easily account for more than $2 billion in calendar 2008. Industry sources are saying that 2007 will show $1.4 billion to digital, a result very close to the 50 percent growth we predicted this time last year.
“These figures mean that the digital sector will have doubled in size in just two years. This is in line with our own growth in digital.”
MITCHELL COMMUNICATIONS: WILL CONTINUE EXPANSION INTO ASIA
Mitchell Communication Group chairman Harold Mitchell told the group’s annual general meeting that the company expects to continue its improvement on full year earnings.
He said that the group's forecast for the 12 months to December 2008 was again 7 percent and that he saw nothing in current conditions to change that.
The company made a pro-forma net profit of $9.47 million in 2006/07, up from $2.57 million in the prior year.
Mitchell said, “The market that we operate in, advertising in Australia, is showing incredible strength. The six months to June 07 has grown at 11 percent on the previous corresponding period. And to give that some perspective, it followed the full year to December 06 of growth of just 2 percent over the corresponding previous period.
“We see the current half year growth of at least our forecast of 7 percent and possibly higher.
“And our forecast for the 12 months to December 08 is again 7 percent and we see nothing in current conditions to change that.
“This growth is, importantly, embracing all media, including the traditional media as well as digital. This is a very solid industry to be involved with and next year – an Olympic year – we expect will to add to the strength of both our industry and of course our company.
“Against this background of growth, our year since July 1 has started well, and ahead of industry growth. Our billings to September are 25 percent higher than the previous corresponding period and in excess of internal budgets.
“Our profits to September are ahead of budget with projections for the December quarter indicating this trend to continue. We expect a strong half year result.”
Mitchell said the company also remained committed to expanding its business into Asia.
"Asia is the fastest growth area in the world and given our proximity to the region, our relationships both within and outside the region, and our ability to manage and grow businesses, we simply must establish a presence.
“To this end we continue to have dialogue with our partner in MPG, Havas, about regional opportunities.”
AUSTRALIA’S MACQUARIE MEDIA GROUP: BUYS TWO MORE US REGIONAL NEWSPAPER GROUPS
Australia’s Macquarie Media Group said yesterday that its wholly owned subsidiary, American Consolidated Media, LLC has agreed to acquire, in separate transactions, 22 publishing assets of Chesapeake Publishing Corp and 11 publications from the Brown Publishing Company.
The acquisitions have a combined enterprise value of A$182 million (US$159.5 million.)
Subject to closing conditions it is expected that the acquisition of the Brown publications will be completed in early December 2007 with Chesapeake to complete by early January 2008.
Chesapeake publishes 22 local publications across two contiguous regions on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay region, principally in Maryland, US.
Brown publishes 11 local publications serving seven isolated rural markets in southern Ohio.
Macquarie Media chief executive, Mark Dorney said, “These businesses publish in markets that are characterised by sustained long-term income growth, which in most markets is above the US national average, and given their respective regional economic factors this is expected to continue.
“Both are the primary source of local news and information in their markets generating stable cash flows from a diverse base of local advertisers. Both businesses have minimal reliance on national advertising and enjoy strong free cash flow due to limited capital expenditure requirements and strong margins. Further growth is expected to come through efficiency improvements from their consolidation into the American Consolidated Media, and underlying population, personal income and retail sales growth in their regions.
On completion of these acquisitions, American Consolidated Media will be positioned in the top five largest specialist owners of small market community newspapers in the US.
The acquisitions will expand American Consolidated Media’s portfolio to 104 publications, covering more than 18 geographic regions, across 10 states in the US.
AUSTRALIA’S MACQUARIE MEDIA GROUP: ACQUISITION OF NINE FAIRFAX RADIO STATION HITS SNAGS
The Australian newspaper’s authoritative media writer Mark Day today reports that the Fairfax Media sale of nine regional radio stations to Macquarie Media Group seems to have hit a snag, with fears that the $40 million deal won’t be wrapped up by the target date of December 9.
Day said the parties won’t reveal details of the hiccup, but it is believed to involve demands made by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, and the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission.
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL COURT APPROVES PBL SCHEME AND DEMERGER
Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd said that the Federal Court of Australia yesterday approved both the PBL scheme and the demerger scheme.
The court orders approving the PBL scheme and the demerger scheme will be lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission tomorrow, when both schemes will, for the purposes of the Corporations Act, take effect.
MYANMAR JUNTA ALLEGEDLY PUBLISHES BOOKLET TO COUNTERACT CALLS FOR MISSILE STRIKE ON NEW CAPITAL
A propaganda booklet circulating in Yangon contains an apparent regime reply to suggestions that the Myanmar junta should be toppled by force, possibly through a missile strike on the new capital Naypyidaw.
According to the Irrawaddy Journal, the 20-page booklet prints color photographs, without captions or text, of monks marching in the September demonstrations and of other clergy officiating at regime-organised religious ceremonies, and poses the question: "Which way would you choose?"
Other photographs contrast Iraq's capital, Baghdad, under US attack, and Naypyidaw and its statues of three Burmese kings Anawrahta, Bayintnaung and Alaungpaya.
The booklet was issued online articles and blogs suggesting that Myanmar people would welcome a missile attack on the Naypyidaw residence of junta leader Senior-General Than Shwe.
US TRIBUNE BROADCAST AND ENTERTAINMENT REVENUE DOWN 13.3 PERCENT
The US Tribune group’s broadcasting and entertainment revenues dropped 13.3 percent to US$96 million in October.
TV ad revenue was 7 percent, publishing revenue slipped 7.9 percent to $287 million, and it newspaper advertising businesses decreased 10.6 percent to $222 million, mostly because of lower real-estate advertising. But lower circulation revenue, down 6.3 percent, also contributed to that decline.
The company's overall revenue in October decreased 9.3 percent to $383 million.
AMEX’S TRAVEL LEISURE FAMILY MAGAZINE SHUT DOWN IN THE US
Ad Age in the US reports that American Express Publishing will fold Travel Leisure Family magazine, a quarterly stand-alone since June 2006, back into the main magazine.
The spring 2008 issue will be its last on its own. In a memo to staff earlier this month, Amex Publishing ceo Ed Kelly says the move means an adjustment to the title's business model and includes plans to strengthen its web site.
Ad Age said the company is trying to find new spots for displaced employees. Travel & Leisure Family is distributed to 500,000 families with the lead title reporting average paid and verified circulation of 969,452 for the first half of this year, down 1.6 percent from the same period in 2006.
WALL STREET JOURNAL EUROPE PARTNERS WITH THE JERUSALEM POST TO BOOST CIRC
DMnews reports that The Wall Street Journal Europe has signed an agreement with The Jerusalem Post, putting the Post in charge of all distribution, printing, sales and marketing for the Journal in Israel.
The partnership is designed to push Journal sales in the area up from the December 31 total circulation of 81,445.
Starting January 2, 2008, the Journal will be printed and distributed via Post facilities, but the two papers will continue to be sold separately. The Mirkaei Tikshoret media group, primary owners of the Post, will also launch an advertising and marketing campaign about the partnership.
The Post, the largest-circulating English-language paper in Israel, has seen its readership increase steadily for the past three years, and executives hope that the Wall Street Journal Europe agreement will accelerate the Post’s growth and give it an edge in financial reporting. As part of the partnership, the Post will have access to some Journal resources.
The Jerusalem Post is the flagship title for the Mirkaei Tikshoret group, which also publishes bi-weekly newsmagazine The Jerusalem Report, the weekly Jerusalem Post International Edition and a monthly Christian Edition. The group also owns a number of radio and television stations.
NASDAQ LAUNCHES INTERNET INDEX
The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc has launched the NASDAQ Internet Index.
It said the Index is a new benchmark designed to track the performance of companies engaged in a broad range of internet-related services including internet access providers, internet search engines, web hosting, website design, and internet retail commerce.
The NASDAQ Internet Index is comprised of securities of companies that are at the forefront of internet technology. They are leading innovators in providing faster internet access, creating more intuitive e-commerce experiences, and developing the second generation web.
"The NASDAQ Internet Index contains some of the most exciting internet companies traded on NASDAQ and other US exchanges," said NASDAQ senior vice president Steven Bloom.
"Given the strength of NASDAQ's brand association with innovation and its market share of internet company listings, it is logical for NASDAQ to extend investment opportunities through a new benchmark for this dynamic, evolving sector."
NASDAQ Financial Products is engaged in the design, development, calculation, licensing, and marketing of NASDAQ indexes.
GOOGLE HANDS OVER ANONYMOUS BLOGGER TO ISRAELI COUNCIL
Globes Online reports that in an unprecedented move, Google has agreed to supply the IP address of an Israeli blogger who used Google Blogger for a blog in which he slandered Shaarei Tikva council members running for reelection..
The slandered Shaarei Tikva council members asked Google for the blogger's name, and reached a settlement with the company on the basis of an Israeli ruling on the subject.
The settlement stipulates that 72 hours before a hearing on the case at the Rishon LeZion Magistrates Court, the council members would leave the blogger a message on his blog summoning him to the hearing, or else his IP address would be handed over.
NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA’S PROGRAM LIST FOR 2008Australia’s Nine Television Network’s David Gyngell has announced a list of programs that will air on the television network in 2008.
The list includes:
New Australian Drama:
Underbelly
Canal Road
Young Doctors
The Strip
Scorched
New Factual:
Search and Rescue
Animal Emergency
The Waiting Room
R.F.D.S - Royal Flying Doctor Service
Weddings - 10 years on Special
Fire 000
Sensing Murder
Extraordinary Animals
Life in Cold Blood with David Attenborough
Monarchy - The Royal Family at Work
Heroes and Villains
Hunted
The Irwin Family’s Australia Zoo
New Reality:
The Chopping Block - from the producers of The Block
Here Come the Newlyweds
Domestic Blitz - new lifestyle format
I Know My Kid’s a Star
The Million Dollar Salon
New Overseas Drama:
Pushing Daisies
Cashmere Mafia
Chuck
Big Shots
Canterbury’s Law
Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Secret Diary of a Call Girl
Rock Rivals
New Sport:
Wide World of Sports Weekend Edition
NRL 100 Years of Rugby League Specials
Swimming - Olympic Trials
New Entertainment
Power of 10 - new hit game show
This is Your Life - with a whole new look
Hole in the Wall
New Gameshow - from the producers of the National IQ Test
Amnesia - from Mark Burnett, creator of Survivor
Jingles - from Mark Burnett
Toasted and Roasted Specials
Plus an exciting new reality sitcom
NEWS CORP PLANS TO LAUNCH ONLINE NETWORK FOR ALL ITS SERVICES
Reuters reported that News Corp's internet division plans to launch an online network to sell advertising across Rupert Murdoch's entire network, and to other media companies as early as the first half of next year.
Fox Interactive Media president Peter Levinsohn told the Reuters Media Summit in New York that the network, internally named FIM Serve, is the subject of discussion across the company after first being built for its MySpace online social network.
Reuters said the launch of a broader ad network follows a buying spree of privately held ad networks by Microsoft Corp, Yahoo Inc, Time Warner Inc's AOL, and Google Inc.
Levinsohn said that as marketers prepares for a likely US recession in 2008, media such as the internet that stress accountability in terms of user responses would perform better.
INDIA’S EROS INTERNATIONAL LEADS THE US$10 BILLION INDIAN ENTERTAINMENT MARKET
Eros International Plc, the London AIM-listed Indian media and entertainment company, in its interim results for the six months ended September 30, 2007, reported a positive trading outlook.
It said it is on track to achieve full year performance in line with expectations.
Since admission to AIM in July 2006, Eros has leveraged its leadership position to be at the forefront of the consolidation of the fragmented but rapidly growing US $10 billion Indian entertainment industry which is forecast to grow to over $25 billion by 2011 according to PwC.
Turnover increased by 58.7 percent to US$34.6 million (2006: US$21.8m)
EBITDA increased by 85.1 percent to US$24.5 million (2006: US$13.2m)
Profit before tax increased by 75.9 percent to US$13.6 million (2006: US$7.7m)
Cash flow generated from operating activities is US$ 15.4 million (2006 US$ 11.1 m)
From an aggregate market share of 32% between 1998-2007, Eros’s market share in the period January-November 2007 increased to 47 percent.
Indian cinema saw strong growth in domestic box office with 5 out of Top 10 box office grossers in 2007 being Eros releases.
In television, its Sony deal concluded in March 2007.
In new media is undertook significant new deals with Sky Anytime, Joost, NME, Vudu, Mauritius telecom and Singnet apart from ongoing revenues from Comcast and Mauj Telecom.
It continued to open new dubbed markets internationally and expand it distribution network with mainstream cinema chains and DVD retailers.
It acquired 51 percent acquisition of the Ayngaran business to enter the Tamil Film market, established Eyeqube Studios in collaboration with Hollywood visual effects talent Charles Darby, and signed deal to co-produce a slate of films with Sony Pictures.
MORE AUSTRALIANS THAN ANYONE ELSE ARE AWARE THAT THE NEXT OLYMPICS ARE IN BEIJING
Synovate said asked over 9,500 people in the US, Asia Pacific and Europe about all-things about the Olympic Games and found “some surprising results.”
Forty five percent of consumers across the world did not know that next year's Olympic Games will be held in Beijing. But a further 45 percent did know, with Australians being the most aware at 94 percent, followed by the French at 71percent and the Singaporeans with 68 percent.
When asked if they noticed sponsors of the Olympic Games, 63 percent said yes, with the awareness factor in post-Olympic countries reaching 42 percent in Australia, 51 percent in the US and 78 percent in Germany
Synovate's Jan Hofmeyr, director of innovation for the Brand & Communications practice, says that, in the circumstances, 45 percent overall awareness is something that Olympic sponsors and marketers should be quite pleased with.
DOW JONES SELLING OTTAWAY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER GROUP
Dow Jones is looking to sell the eight daily and 15 weekly community newspapers located in seven states that make up Ottaway newspapers.
Shortly after getting agreement to buying Dow Jones Rupert Murdoch said he wasn’t really interested in the community newspaper chain.
Followthemedia said, “In favor of a sale is that if there is any market at all these days in the US newspaper business it is at the small daily and community newspaper level. A logical buyer would be a group like GateHouse Media that specialises in small newspapers.”
The Ottaway newspapers contributed US$179 million of Dow Jones' revenue through the first nine months of this year, close to 12 percent of the company's total revenue.
The Ottaway family owns 6.2 percent of Dow Jones super voting Class B shares and were very opposed to the Dow Jones sale to Murdoch.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS PUBLISHER SAYS ONLINE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS MODELS ARE SUBSTITUTING PENNIES FOR DOLLARS
UK Press Gazette reported that New York Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman told a House of Lords committee that new online business models for newspapers are just substituting "pennies for dollars".
The House of Lords Select Committee on Communications travelled to New York in September to interview Zuckerman as part of their inquiry into media ownership. The minutes of that meeting were published this week.
Zuckerman said that live television news and newspaper readership has declined over the last two decades.
He said that the Daily News has always made a profit but this year it may not, due to the large decline in advertising revenue and the effect of online competitors on advertising. He said he is trying to develop new business models for the web but that this is “substituting pennies for dollars”.
Zuckerman said that the new challenges have meant that his magazine US News and World Report has gone from 12 foreign bureaux to none. He said the magazine now focuses on “news you can use” such as rankings for colleges and hospitals.
According to the Lords report: “A great story on Iraq, or politics makes no difference to their circulation figures but their rankings are of key importance to readers and advertisers. All new providers must find added value: analysis, opinion, parody, something not available elsewhere.”
TOP PERFORMING US MAGAZINES OF THE LAST DECADE ACCORDING TO CAPELL
Capell’s Circulation Report has released the audit information for the top-performing magazines of the past decade, honoring those who managed to meet and exceed their rate base time after time over the years.
In Style and Men’s Health were each consistently being a Capell’s Circulation Report top ten performer every year for the past decade, a new record for the newsletter. Each also saw impressive growth in their rate bases, with Men’s Health growing 33 percent and In Style doubling from its 1997 base.
The Economist, picked up nine top performer awards, and increased its circulation base by 90 percent
People magazine’s their average bonus circulation over rate base for the past ten years has been 400,000, and the magazine has been a top performer eight times.
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