Let The M&A Games Begin: Media Reforms Finally Pass The House Of Reps
The wait is over, with the federal government’s media reform package completing its final passage through Parliament by being given the all clear by the House of Representatives.
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield thanked media organisations in a statement yesterday for being united in support of the reforms, which he said will now give them “the fighting chance they need to secure their future”.
Fifield also noted that despite claiming it supported most of the package, the Labor Party voted against its entirety at every stage.
“In a final embarrassment, Shadow Minister Michelle Rowland today capitulated and announced Labor would not oppose the amendments to local programming requirements,” he said.
“The government welcomes Labor’s backflip after they voted against these same amendments in the Senate just a month ago.”
If you’re still none the wiser about the media reforms, have a read of this handy guide courtesy of B&T.
Perhaps the biggest change is the scrapping of the ‘two out of three’ rule, so don’t be surprised if a flurry of mergers, acquisitions and content partnerships involving Aussie media companies take place in the near future.
In the past, a media company could only own a TV station, a newspaper business BUT NOT a radio station in the same territory. For example, Fairfax could own The Sydney Morning Herald and Macquarie Radio stations in Sydney, but the laws meant it was illegal for it to also have ownership in, say, Channel Nine or a third media outlet.
The ‘two out of three rule’ was the one law that billionaire media moguls Lachlan Murdoch and Bruce Gordon really wanted gone so they could make a real play for Ten.
Meanwhile, rumours have been swirling for some time around Nine and Fairfax coming a little closer together – perhaps through a merger – and the scrapping of the ‘two out of three’ rule is only going to add fuel to the fire.
It makes perfect sense that Nine and Fairfax would be keen for each other. One has a strong TV and digital presence, while the other has some decent print, digital and radio assets. The two companies also already have a partnership through streaming service Stan. Watch this space.
However, Nine CEO Hugh Marks told B&T last week that the two companies had not engaged in any talks around a potential merger deal.
As for Kerry Stokes’ beloved Seven West Media (SWM), it’s most likely acquisition target would be its affiliate regional broadcaster, Prime Media, which is part-owned by Seven Group Holdings (the biggest shareholder of SWM).
SWM confirmed in a statement last month there was “a conceptual proposal received from Prime, but that this did not result in any agreement”.
“Seven West Media has discussions with its affiliate when appropriate on various matters of common interest,” the statement said.
In anticipation of the media laws being passed, News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller said the company would “partner with anyone” during his panel appearance at the Radio Alive conference in Melbourne on Friday.
“I don’t think we have any preferred nation in this game in terms of broadcast,” he said.
“Looking forward, this is going to be an industry where you’re sitting next to your partners one day and sitting opposite them the next.”
Let the games begin.
Please login with linkedin to comment
Federal Government House of Representatives Media reforms Mitch FifieldLatest News
Think You Can Do A Better Vaccine Ad Than The Government? Introducing B&T’s Good AZ Gold Ad Industry Challenge
Think you can make a better ad than the current crop of vax ads? Well, you're probably right & now here's your chance.
Acast Adds New Brand Suitability Controls For Advertisers Via Comscore
Acast, the independent power source of podcasting has teamed up with Comscore to provide brand suitability controls for brands advertising through the Acast Marketplace. This new innovation is part of a global partnership with Comscore, and will be available to all advertisers working with Acast Australia and New Zealand. The brand suitability solutions offered by […]
TBWA\Melbourne Banks NAB’s Creative Away From Rival Clems
National Australia Bank (NAB) has shifted its creative to TBWA\Melbourne after a 14-year relationship with Clemenger Melbourne after a competitive pitch. Commenting on the move, NAB’s executive group marketing Suzana Ristevski said: “We are excited to have landed on TBWA as the new lead creative agency to join our existing agency panel. It was a collaborative and […]
Sir Martin Sorrell Bolsters Data Capabilities With Acquisition Of Australian Salesforce Specialist Destined
Sir Martin Sorrell’s S4Capital is continuing to strengthen its data and analytics offering, announcing the acquisition of Salesforce specialist Destined. Destined – which was founded in Australia and boasts a client roster that includes Spotify, Panasonic, Wingate, George Weston Foods, and Opal HealthCare – helps businesses with their Salesforce implementation, integration strategy and execution, managed […]
Monday TV Wrap: Olympics Continues To Score Over A Million (Even On A Weekday Arvo)
Look. How can we talk about the TV numbers – or indeed, anything today – without talking about Ariarne-bloody-superstar-Titmus? While the afternoon session of the Olympics didn’t get the highest numbers overall, it did score over a million viewers, who tuned in to see the 20 year old Tasmanian smash the 400metre freestyle, beating American […]
Innocean Says The Future Wants Its Car Back With The All-New Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai is to launch its new brand organising idea this month, called “Imagine that” with the all-new TUCSON SUV in a campaign that brings Australians closer to tomorrow’s car today by creative agency, Innocean Australia.
V Energy Brings Back The Bugs In Fresh New Campaign, Via Clemenger BBDO Sydney
V Energy Drinks are serving up a big dose of the positive feels the world needs right now, with a new campaign from Clemenger BBDO Sydney. Moving away from the traditional association of energy drinks and extreme sports, the relaunch campaign spreads positive energy instead, with the tagline ‘Can you feel it?’. The campaign sees […]
Hamish Blake And Andy Lee Renew SCA Partnership
SCA has confirmed a new long-term partnership with the most loved and enduring entertainment duo in the country, Hamish Blake and Andy Lee. It will see the pair continue to produce their hugely successful weekly podcast, Hamish & Andy, alongside new seasons of Hamish & Andy’s Remembering Project that will be initially published exclusively on LiSTNR from 2022. Hamish & […]
RMIT Students Discover The Importance Of Teaching To Learn
In this guest post, RMIT advertising student Perri Kapnias (main photo) lays out some innovative plans that can help likeminded ad aspirants land the first killer job… My name is Perri Kapnias, and I am a 20-something advertising student. Like almost everyone else on the planet, I scroll through social media every day. I am […]
HootSuit Appoints Maggie Lower As Chief Marketing Officer
Social media management solutions company Hootsuit, has announced that Maggie Lower has joined the company as chief marketing officer. Lower will own the brand’s overall global strategy, demand generation, communications, and events. Prior to joining Hootsuite, Lower was the global chief marketing officer at Cision, the first chief marketing officer at TrueBlue, and has held […]
MyDeal Appoints Ryvalmedia As Agency Partner
Ryvalmedia has announced its appointment as SEM and performance media agency partner for MyDeal.com.au (MyDeal) after a competitive agency review. With work commencing in July, the remit includes SEM, digital media performance strategy, planning, trading, and implementation, with scope for data, technology, and analytics project work. Launched in 2011 and ASX listed, MyDeal.com.au is an […]
PHD Acquires Gold Mental Health First Aid Skilled Workplace Recognition
Omnicom’s PHD has been successful in acquiring a Gold Standard Skilled Workplace Recognition from Mental Health First Aid Australia. Each year one in five Australians will experience a mental illness. For the media and advertising industry, this stat is much higher. Taking a quote from the Mentally Healthy survey “Despite this improvement, only 23 per […]
Aidan Corrigan Joins Medium Rare As Head Of Video
Content Agency, Medium Rare has announced that Aidan Corrigan has joined its multimedia team as head of video. Aidan is a producer and director with extensive experience delivering award-winning content across advertising, broadcast, digital and the creative arts. A driven storyteller, he’s worked throughout Australia, North America and Europe developing and executing creative projects while […]
Wavemaker Names Susie Si As New Vodafone Lead
Media agency Wavemaker has appointed Susie Si as group business director – to lead the Vodafone account. Si joins from sister agency MediaCom, where she has spent the last 8 years. Most recently she was group client lead on News Corp. Si will report to Wavemaker Sydney managing director Ian Edwards, and replaces Emily Cook […]
Trade Indy Opens Sydney Office With Appointment Of NSW Commercial Director Ben Mulcahy
Headquartered in Melbourne, Trade Indy is expanding off the back of strong client retention and consistent growth through existing and new business. Founded in Melbourne in 2014, the team have since expanded the business through team members in Singapore, Indonesia, Tasmania and Queensland, and are pleased to announce the full-time employment of NSW commercial director […]
Outbrain Goes Public, Making Nasdaq Debut
Outbrain Inc. has announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 8,000,000 shares of common stock at a price to the public of US$20.00 per share. The gross proceeds to Outbrain from the offering, before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, are expected to be approximately $160 million. The shares began […]
HubSpot To Support The GO Foundation As Part Of World Certification Week
HubSpot, the customer relationship management (CRM) platform for scaling companies, has announced that as part of its World Certification Week, it is supporting the GO Foundation with its mission to empower young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through education. As part of the support, HubSpot will donate $5 for every HubSpot Academy certification awarded […]
Foxtel Appoints Conor Woods To Head Of Pay Per View
Foxtel appoints Conor Woods to head its pay per view. Soon to be inundated with free subs requests at dinner parties.
IntelligenceBank Secures $50M Investment From Five Elms Capital
IntelligenceBank has today announced a strategic growth investment from Five Elms Capital. The $US37 million ($50 million) investment comes as brands and enterprises have realised that outdated technologies, disjointed data sources, and manual processes make it challenging to efficiently manage essential marketing workflows and ensure compliance across the organization. IntelligenceBank digitally transforms manual processes and […]
SCA Announces Ten New Dab Music Stations Via LiSTNR
Southern Cross Austero (SCA) announced today 10 all-new DAB+ music stations on LiSTNr. The introduction of the 10 new Dab stations takes the number of music stations to 25 and reinforces its commitment to growing exclusive music programs and content. The 10 new stations have been created to cater to a variety of moods and […]
SBS Launches Live Interpreting Of Daily NSW COVID-19 Conferences In Vietnamese And Arabic
SBS has launched live interpreting of the daily NSW Government COVID-19 press conference in languages other than English, to provide communities with access to the latest information and critical health messages. The national-first initiative provides real-time interpreting of the press conferences in Arabic and Vietnamese, streamed live every day on the SBS Arabic24 and SBS Vietnamese Facebook pages, SBS […]
Linktree Chooses Snowflake To Support Intelligence And Analytics Activities
Snowflake, the Data Cloud company, today announced it has been chosen by market-leading linking platform, Linktree, to support the company’s business intelligence and analytics activities. Linktree enables creators, brands, artists, publishers, agencies, and businesses of all sizes to curate an online ecosystem and monetise their passion, instantly guiding their audience to the destinations they care […]
Bridge Road Brewers Launches Non-Alcoholic Beer Campaign Via By All Means
No-alcohol beer also screams "designated driver". Sure, you're sober, but there'll still be vomit on the back seat.
B&T’s Tokyo Wrap: Your Daily Dose Of All The Game’s Best Gaffes, Blunders & Cultural Insensitivities
Olympic gold's the epitomy of sporting success. Not so B&T's daily Olympic wrap, a celebration of mediocrity & misshaps.
“Tone Deaf!” Optus’ #SignYes Campaign Encouraging Aussies To Learn Auslan Pulled After Roasting From Deafness Advocacy Groups
It's funny how that brilliant sticky note on a creative's wall can fast spiral into a total shitstorm. Much like this.
WPP’s Mindshare Exits Facebook’s Global Media Review
Mindshare exits Facebook's global media review. Which gives Mindshare staff more time for idle chat by the water cooler.
Snapchat Sees 116% Increase In Revenue
The last time B&T saw impressive increases the size of 116% was the swipe left rejections on our Tinder profile.
Lorna Jane Fined $5 Million For False COVID-19 Claims
Lorna Jane once again in the bad books and that's despite becoming the ubiquitous lockdown office attire of choice.
Netflix’s Byron Baes Faces New Challenge As Children’s Store Opposes Trademark
Netflix's Byron Bay "docu-soap" doing very little to dismiss town's repuation of being full of narcissistic dickheads.
Sunday TV Wrap: The Olympics Dominates Sunday As Seven Secures Almost Half The Total TV Viewership
B&T's no expert, but is there any correlation between the attractiveness of a sport's athletes versus its TV numbers?
