March 2021
The deal that changed new Nine CEO Mike Sneesby’s career
At 3am on an August morning in 2014, Mike Sneesby helped close a deal that was pivotal to the Stan streaming service, and to his own future ambitions.
- Max Mason
February 2021
Rugby Australia prepares for ‘new dawn’
The 2021 Super Rugby AU season kicks off with a Friday night double header – NSW Waratahs v Queensland Reds, and Western Force v ACT Brumbies.
- Max Mason
November 2020
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
BBC-ITV streaming venture confident in competitive Australian market
BritBox launches in this country on Monday, counting on its mix of classic, cult and new British shows to lure in viewers.
- Max Mason
- Opinion
- Business of sport
Could rugby be Stan Sport's audition for AFL rights?
Nine and Stan Sport are a credible threat to Foxtel through their legitimate interest in pay sport, albeit one in its nascent stages where the new business model needs to be proven.
- Max Mason
- Exclusive
- Broadcast rights
Stan, Nine set to snare French Open and Wimbledon
The media company and its streaming subsidiary hope to become the home of grand slam tennis, after securing Rugby Australia's rights for $100 million.
- Max Mason
Nine, Stan sign $100m broadcast deal with Rugby Australia
Nine is launching Stan Sport with a deal which grabs the rights to Super Rugby and Wallabies Tests.
- Max Mason
August 2020
Meet the kid from Jervis Bay taking on Netflix
Mike Sneesby, the kid from Jervis Bay, is taking on global heavyweights Netflix, Disney and Amazon with Australian streaming service Stan.
- Max Mason
Nine confident of post-pandemic outlook
Nine said the pandemic has created a challenging environment, with a loss for the media company but advertising markets are not as bad as anticipated.
- Updated
- Max Mason
Stan inks major deal for Peacock, Sky, NBCU, DreamWorks content
The Nine-owned streaming platform has locked in its largest output deal ever, days after announcing a significant ramp up in its own original content.
- Max Mason
Stan to grow original production schedule to 30 a year
The ramped-up originals strategy is aimed to work in step with deals for Hollywood studio content, rather than replace them, and gives Stan more control of its own programming pipeline.
- Max Mason
- Exclusive
- Streaming
Coronavirus streaming surge unlikely to be temporary
Netflix has grown to 5.4 million subscriptions, Stan has lifted to 2.1 million, Amazon Prime Video rose to 1.7 million and Disney+ grew to 1.1 million.
- Max Mason
- Analysis
- Streaming
Could Disney's wish upon a Star be coming to Australia?
Australia was one of the first countries the US entertainment giant launched Disney+ in November last year, so the local industry will be taking note of Star.
- Max Mason
ViacomCBS to launch new streaming service in Australia
Network Ten-owner ViacomCBS will launch a new streaming service in early 2021 combining content from across the merged US giant's portfolio, including new Showtime programming.
- Max Mason
July 2020
ViacomCBS talks streaming, licensing power, but mum on Australia
ViacomCBS, which owns Network Ten, has a number of content deals in Australia with a range of providers, including Foxtel and Stan.
- Max Mason
Nine hopes Virtual Oz will change TV narrative
Nine chief executive Hugh Mark said television viewership numbers haven't changed over the past decade when linear broadcast and broadcast video on-demand are combined.
- Max Mason
- Exclusive
- Streaming
Netflix, Stan, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video unite on content review
The streaming players argue there is no market failure to address in terms of investment in Australian content and heavy regulation on an industry in its early stages could have unintended consequences.
- Max Mason
Help screen producers punch above their weight: Baird
Bruce Baird says greater tax incentives for producing TV programs and requiring streaming services to make local content are essential for the long-term viability of Australian production.
- Max Mason
May 2020
Foxtel secures exclusive HBO deal ahead of Binge launch
Foxtel has secured the hotly contested WarnerMedia contract, which includes programming from HBO, producers of Games of Thrones, Succession and Big Little Lies.
- Max Mason
April 2020
Stan gets button on Hisense remotes to help subscriber push
It marks the first local streaming service to secure such a position with a global manufacturer.
- Max Mason