James Packer is not and has never been a positive influence in TV. He has been sceptical about the future of FTA TV and print, enthusiastic about new media. He never wanted to stay in the old media, rejecting it for gambling.
PBL
Business As Usual: Calling corporate plod … world’s renewable utility falls on tough times
Where is ASIC and the ASX when it comes to Corporate Express share prices? Plus, Solverdi Worldwide Limited, is about to find out if corporate death leads to renewal and other news from the business world.
Stokes-Murdoch “showdown” a damp squib
It’s back to business as usual in the Australian media, with Stokes and Packer dividing up the juiciest bits of the industry, just as Kerry Packer and Rupert Murdoch did a decade or so ago.
James still stuck in Kerry’s shadow
For most of his life, Kerry Packer had a reputation for being a bit of a Midas when it came to investing. Shame his son James Packer didn’t inherit the same touch.
Media magnates split the bill on political donations
Australia’s media proprietors have given the major political parties around $1.6m in donations in the last two years.
Oz goes easy on PBL bosses
The latest easy-over interview with Nine Network Chief Executive David Gyngell was in The Australian this morning, the second gentle interview with a PBL Media boss in the paper in two days.
Rebecca Gibney shaded by shadowy bankers
The banks are the real powers behind Australia’s commercial broadcast media.
ConsMedia mates club gets overdue shake-up
Without an ounce of irony, The Australian reported this morning on the shake-up at Consolidated Media Holdings.
James Packer now half the man his father was
James Packer has 3.3 billion reasons to wish that 2008 would hurry up and finish, writes James Thomson.
Finding $39million a month: the pips squeak at PBL
There is a very easy to understand equation at PBL Media, 75% owned by CVC and 25% by the James Packer-controlled Consolidated Media Holdings, writes Glenn Dyer.
Crown folds on Las Vegas ambitions
James Packer’s highly ambitious plans for a huge casino on the strip in Las Vegas has been abandoned at a cost of $44 million, writes Glenn Dyer.
Crown gambling punts on the margin
James Packer’s Crown gambling operation is now also in the finance business, writes Glenn Dyer.
Media briefs and TV ratings
John and Pete: ratings poison? … Jeff Browne removed from Sky News board … Last night’s TV ratings.
Lachlan Murdoch not buying into PBL Media
No takers for the 25% of PBL Media still held by PBL. Lachlan Murdoch isn’t interested, but in checking around the story, something new emerged, writes Glenn Dyer.
Is Lachlan Murdoch buying into PBL Media?
There’s a story going round top Sydney media circles today suggesting that Lachlan Murdoch has made a major media play by doing a deal on the 25% of PBL Media not owned by the CVC private equity group, reports Glenn Dyer.
PBL casinos don’t always Wynn in Macau
Normally a combination of words like, Wynn resorts, Macau gambling, earnings down, would set the alarm bells running and local investors eyeing PBL shares nervously. There is a strong PBL factor in the news but investors can hold those selling fingers and read on, writes Glenn Dyer.
Gordon raises stake in Ten. What next?
Bruce Gordon has made his choice: It’s Nine in the bush and Ten in the city. Recent corporate moves, culminating in yesterday’s deal to cement a 10% stake in the Ten Network, have established his preference, writes Glenn Dyer.
Media briefs and TV ratings
Seven sweats on NBC output negotiations … A golden “boning” for JA … The Chaser hearts controversy … BBC confirms job cuts … Last night’s TV ratings.
Costello takes his eye off the ball, and leaves big business guessing
While Peter Costello was busy working on his $34 billion tax cut package last week, he allowed a seemingly innocuous change to capital gains tax for business to threaten tens of billions of dollars in takeovers and mergers, writes Glenn Dyer.
Is Macau already beginning to lose its lustre?
A new report from Morgan Stanley on the outlook for Macau offers a striking contrast to the puffery we have been reading from local investment analysts and financial journalists writes Glenn Dyer.
One Alexander equals two Leckies: Media salaries Part 1
Running a major newspaper group like Fairfax will make you wealthy, but it’s nothing like being among the chosen ones at Kerry Stokes’ media empire, or James Packer’s gang of accolytes at PBL.
Making a cool Meakin: Media salaries Part 2
Seven head of news and current affairs Peter Meakin earned $1.1 million for the nine months to April 4 this year, when Seven Media was separated from the Seven Network accounts. Last year he received $744,000 for the entire year to June 30.
Media briefs and TV ratings
PBL Media decides to wait for the auction … Nine’s blokey culture rears its ugly head? … Last night’s TV ratings.
