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Prime Media

August 2022

Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes and chief executive James Warburton.

Seven West Media chief says ad concerns are ‘overblown’

The Kerry Stokes-owned media company says it will buy back up to 10 per cent of shares on issue as its full-year net profit dropped by a third to $211 million.

  • Updated
  • Mark Di Stefano

March 2022

Southern Cross Austereo CEO Grant Blackley.

How Southern Cross’ plan to sell TV assets could play out

Network 10 is the obvious buyer for Southern Cross’s regional TV assets, but there could be options for Bruce Gordon’s WIN Corp to expand or Seven to nab more regional TV assets.

  • Miranda Ward

January 2022

Antony Catalano supported Seven West Media’s bid for Prime Media. Now he’s trying to get his hands on Prime’s shell company.

Catalano plots ASX comeback via Prime Media shell PRT

Media proprietor Antony Catalano and backer Alex Waislitz are considering taking their regional newspapers and real estate classifieds businesses to the ASX boards in an ambitious plan involving what was Prime Media Group.

  • Anthony Macdonald, Sarah Thompson and Kanika Sood

December 2021

Seven chief executive James Warburton says the acquisition of Prime Media will make Seven a very strong advertiser proposition in 2022.

Competition watchdog green lights Seven-Prime deal

The ACCC has given the go-ahead for the merger of Seven West Media and Prime.

  • Miranda Ward

November 2021

Prime Media’s Ian Audsley says the proposed acquisition is in the best interest of shareholders and stakeholders.

Prime CEO says lack of regional media reform left it facing failure

Ian Audsley says the proposed acquisition by Seven West Media gives Prime Media certainty after ‘serious public policy failings’ by the National Party.

  • Miranda Ward
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PHD chief executive Mark Jarrett says advertisers are not looking to boycott Facebook despite the issues plaguing the platform.

Marketers not concerned about Facebook troubles, says ad boss

The CEO of one of Australia’s largest media buying companies says marketers are not asking too many questions about damning reports on the social media giant.

  • Miranda Ward

September 2021

Antony ‘The Cat’ Catalano’s ACM now owns 22.9 per cent of Prime Media.

Catalano, Waislitz’s ACM creeps on Prime Media

Regional publishing group Australian Community Media has upped its stake in television group Prime Media.

  • Anthony Macdonald and Yolanda Redrup

June 2021

Seven West Media led by CEO James Warburton with chairman Kerry Stokes, isn’t prepared to dust off the M&A files until Prime sorts out its share register.

Prime Media cosies up to Seven West Media as affiliation draws nearer

There’s nothing like affiliate deals to re-spark corporate activity at Prime Media.

  • Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd

March 2021

Antony Catalano.

Catalano stalks Prime Media

Australian Community Media CEO Antony Catalano has swooped on regional broadcaster Prime, casting doubt on a future merger between the regional broadcaster and Seven.

  • Updated
  • Miranda Ward

November 2020

Regional media bosses have accused Paul Fletcher of ignoring their attempts to work through a plan for the sector.

Regional media bosses take aim at Paul Fletcher

Australian regional media bosses have lashed the government regulatory package, accusing the communications minister of failing to secure their industry.

  • Max Mason
Foxtel has bucked years of declining subscriber numbers to record a bump in viewership of almost 14 per cent.

Global streaming giants to be forced to spend on local content

Streaming providers will be required to invest a percentage of local revenue in Australian content, while TV networks can opt into a new licence regime under a suite of federal government proposals.

  • Max Mason
Facebook and Google are being forced into a code of conduct with Australian media companies.

Media bosses urge government to act on code amid intense lobbying

Google and Facebook have devoted immense resources to lobbying parliamentarians since the draft media code was announced on July 31.

  • Max Mason

October 2020

Seven chief executive James Warburton is against further media ownership changes.

Seven locks horns with regional media over media laws

Seven boss James Warburton, who sought to merge his company with Prime in December last year, has taken aim at the freshly launched Save Our Voices campaign.

  • Max Mason
Former Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood will work with the free-to-air sector.

Former Fairfax CEO Greg Hywood named Free TV chairman

Greg Hywood says Google and Facebook have a social responsibility to contribute meaningfully to journalism by paying media companies for the value of their content.

  • Max Mason

August 2020

ASX up 0.2pc; NEXTDC meets guidance; Fortescue hits record

The S&P/ASX200 Index gained 9.8 points, or 0.2 per cent, t o 6126 points as iron ore miners offset weaker banks. Appen slumped as earnings, sales fall short. Woolworths gained 2.8 per cent on strong sales in July and August.

  • Robert Guy, Vesna Poljak, Sarah Turner, William McInnes and Tom Richardson
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July 2020

Free-to-air broadcasters want to be freed from local content quotas for specific categories of programming.

Free-to-air broadcasters want local content quotas eased

Free-to-air broadcasters want easier local content requirements with which they argue streaming services do not have to comply.

  • Max Mason

June 2020

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher.

Regional media to get $50 million lifeline

Prime, WIN, Southern Cross, ACM, McPherson Media and Star News are all expected to receive funds.

  • Max Mason
Regional media has been brought to its knees by COVID-19.

Communications department commissions $220,000 media analysis

The latest report will no doubt increase the frustration of many, particularly regional, media companies that have been urging legislative reform for years.

  • Max Mason
The Morrison government commissioned two reports on the regional broadcasting sector in six months.

Regional TV on the verge of market failure

Regional television stations risk continually breaching multi-channel Australian content obligations due to not broadcasting new channels created by metropolitan affiliates.

  • Max Mason

May 2020

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher: “The government is aware of the many structural challenges facing the entire sector."

Government urged to act before more regional journalism jobs go

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher is under pressure to allow mergers between regional media companies as fears grow of more job losses.

  • Max Mason

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/company/prt-18b