October
- Analysis
- Media & marketing
Nine mulls adding advertising to Stan in search for new revenue
Streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video were once entirely commercial-free. Now almost all services have a cheaper ad-backed plan.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
September
Shogun wins best drama Emmy, Hacks shocks in comedy category
A tale of political machinations, Shogun also won acting awards for Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai, the first Japanese actors to win their categories.
- Lisa Richwine and Danielle Broadway
May
- Exclusive
- Media & marketing
Stan executive left Nine’s streaming business after workplace claims
The departure followed complaints from multiple staff, and was months before another executive left the media group amid separate sexual harassment allegations.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
January
- Exclusive
- Media & marketing
Nine’s bankers asked private equity if they were interested in Domain
Nine executives have privately discussed options for Domain, which has not grown at the same pace as rival REA Group. KKR and TPG were sounded out last year.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones and Emma Rapaport
October 2023
Warner Bros streaming boss flags local Max rollout in blow for Foxtel
A launch in Australia would likely see some of the most popular shows – including The Last of Us, Succession and The White Lotus – pulled from other platforms.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
January 2023
Netflix founder steps aside as CEO after banner quarter
The leadership change came as the streaming company reported a surge in subscribers and forecast improving profit margin and free cash flow for this year.
- Lucas Shaw
November 2022
Streamers spend up on Australian content to entice subscribers
The five main streaming services Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Stan and Paramount+ spent around $670 million on Australian and Australian-related programming in fiscal 2022, ahead of the government introducing content quotas for the streamers.
- Edmund Tadros
Streaming services come to the rescue of local TV drama
While Neighbours may have ended its run on Ten after almost 37 years, the country’s pay TV and streaming services have stepped in to become the dominant force producing scripted Australian dramas.
- Edmund Tadros
October 2022
How Seven is betting the house on an American content studio
The network’s deal with NBCUniversal will run for seven years, and it expects to be able to launch yet another subscription video on-demand partnership after two years.
- Edmund Tadros and Mark Di Stefano
Stan not for sale but open to partnerships, as ‘peak subscriber’ nears
Nine management has shot down rumours Stan is for sale, but acknowledged the company remains open to a strategic partnership with international content companies.
- Edmund Tadros
Binge TV streaming service to introduce ads in 2023
A group of existing subscribers will find they have to watch ads while using the service.
- Edmund Tadros
Fight begins over access to major sporting events
Potential changes to sports broadcasting rules could lead to big events disappearing from free-to-air broadcasters and moving to subscription streaming services such as Foxtel, Amazon Prime and Stan.
- Updated
- Edmund Tadros
August 2022
Stan signs new multi-year Sony content deal
The new agreement comes as competition for content is tight and securing a funnel of premium content is incredibly valuable.
- Max Mason
Cost of living starts to bite subscription streaming
Viewers also tend to be more selective, picking and choosing a service based on its content at any given time.
- Miranda Ward
July 2022
Subscription streaming to grow to $6.51b sector by end of 2026
Consumers are spending $510 more per household on media and entertainment than before the pandemic, driven by subscription streaming to alleviate lockdown boredom.
- Miranda Ward
June 2022
- Exclusive
- Streaming
Nine, Foxtel explored combined streaming service before Binge launch
Nine and News Corp’s Foxtel discussed how they could work together in the subscription streaming service to better compete against international giants like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon.
- Miranda Ward and Max Mason
May 2022
Users want discounts if Netflix introduces ads
Australians would want streaming services discounted by at least 20 per cent if ads were introduced on the platforms rather than pay more for an ad-free experience.
- Miranda Ward
- Opinion
- Streaming
Telstra’s acquisition of Fetch heats up bundling war with Optus
The aggregation phase of the streaming wars is escalating, as Telstra sides with hardware and Optus goes all in on value.
- Nick Cherrier
April 2022
Proposed local rules for Netflix, Disney ‘weak’, say screen producers
Australian screen producers want streaming giants to be required to invest 20 per cent of local revenue back into Australian productions, saying the government’s proposed 5 per cent isn’t enough.
- Miranda Ward
- Analysis
- Streaming
Subscribers play musical chairs with streamers as costs rise
Rising content costs have typically been handed onto subscription streaming users but Netflix’s slide suggests that is no longer an option.
- Miranda Ward