Mediaboss Marketing

By Amy Thomson and Jonathan Browning - 2012-06-26T16:58:09Z

News Corp. (NWSA)s potential breakup into two divisions may lessen concerns by U.K. regulator Ofcom about the companys control of the British media market, according to a person familiar with the matter.

News Corp., whose Sun, Times and Sunday Times newspapers account for a third of the U.K. market by circulation, said today its considering splitting into two publicly held units. The New York-based company has been under investor pressure to carve out its media business from entertainment holdings.

A separation, depending on how its structured, could be a way to address concerns over media plurality, said the person, asking not to be identified as no decision has been made. News Corp. last year dropped a 7.8 billion-pound ($12 billion) bid to buy the outstanding 61 percent of British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc (BSY) after legislators objected to the deal following phone- hacking and bribery scandals at News Corp.s tabloids.

At the time of the BSkyB bid, Ofcom was asked to advise lawmakers on plurality issues. A current investigation by the watchdog into whether News Corp. should keep its 39 percent stake in BSkyB, the largest U.K. pay-TV operator, probably wouldnt be affected by a News Corp. split, the person said.

Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive officer of News Corp., is overseeing internal discussions on whether to break up the company, said two people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because a decision isnt final. In a statement today, News Corp. didnt specify how the company would be divided.

A U.K. committee, after probing whether News Corp. misled Parliament in the scandal, where journalists hacked into the phones of politicians and celebrities for exclusive stories, concluded last month that Murdoch, 81, is not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company. The vote among lawmakers wasnt unanimous and the report split lawmakers along party lines.

Ofcom has the power to force News Corp. to sell or cut its stake in BSkyB, with a market value of 4.4 billion pounds. The regulator, which has said News Corp. has material influence over BSkyB, is probing whether News Corp. and its directors are fit to hold a broadcasting license. Ofcom, which monitors control over broadcasters, would still take News Corp.s holding into account in any separate company, the person said.

Ofcom last week said the U.K. government shouldnt prevent news organizations from gaining high levels of market share, saying that a review of media plurality every four to five years would be sufficient. An official at the regulator declined to comment today.

In the long term, a split may still help News Corp. distance itself from the hacking scandal and could even lead to a new bid for all of BSkyB, depending on the structure of a separation, said Claudio Aspesi, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. in London.

Go here to read the rest:
News Corp. Split Said to Lessen Media Plurality Concerns

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

(mt) Media Temple is pleased to announce the release of Parallels Plesk Panel 11 for its (dv) Dedicated-Virtual Servers. Parallels Plesk Panel 11, the newest version of the industrys leading hosting control panel, includes accelerated web site performance, enhanced web site performance and a new tool for optimizing existing web sites on mobile devices. With the addition of Parallels Plesk Panel 11, Media Temples (dv) product line continues to make a strong case as the best choice for businesses seeking a reliable hosting solution using the latest server and web site management innovations.

We are thrilled to offer Parallels Plesk Panel 11 to our (dv) customers, said Sara Hicks, VP of Product at (mt) Media Temple. Our (dv) product is the most trusted managed VPS hosting product in the industry. Its a powerful business hosting tool, and were proud to continue its evolution as a launch partner for the release of Parallels Plesk Panel 11.

As long-term partners, Parallels and Media Temple have grown together, and were thrilled that they are offering Parallels Plesk Panel 11 to their Dedicated-Virtual hosting customers on launch day, said John Zanni, Vice President of Service Provider Alliances and Marketing, Parallels. Parallels Plesk Panel 11s powerful new site performance, web and mobile presence features will enable Media Temples reseller customers to profit even more from their shared hosting services.

Launched in 2003, the (dv) product line is home to approximately 25,000 customers hosting almost 200,000 web sites. Ten years ago we made the decision to use Parallels technology exclusively for our Virtualized service offerings. Today, we're one of the largest virtual server deployments in the world using Parallels," continued Hicks.

To celebrate this launch, Media Temple is offering 20% off the monthly price of its (dv) line for a limited time. To learn more and to take advantage of this offer, please visit: http://www.mediatemple.net/dv2012.

About (mt) Media Temple

From its inception in 1998, (mt) Media Temple has been on a mission to help people and businesses succeed online.

Over 125,000 customers in 100 countries now rely on Media Temple's simple tools for domain registration, web hosting, business applications, virtual servers, and other cloud services to power more than 1.5 million web sites. We take pride in offering a premium service at a competitive price, along with exemplary 24/7 customer support. Our customers range from everyday people to top bloggers, creative professionals, and small businesses, as well as large enterprises like Starbucks, Adidas, Samsung, and Toyota.

With 200 dedicated, U.S.-based employees, Media Temple has been repeatedly recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in North Americaand one of the best places to work. Find us anytime on the web athttp://mediatemple.com or on Twitter @MediaTemple.

Read more:
Media Temple's (dv) Dedicated-Virtual Servers Updated to Parallels® Plesk Panel 11

24-06-2012 03:38 - Round the World Travel Video Adventure I reacquainted myself with the fantastic 1976 Film 'Network' recently, and when I heard this iconic speech again, it hit me how, even though it is 36 years old, it is still relevant today! A Mashup of the feature film, Network (1976) featuring Peter Finch and the song, Subaquatic Utopia by Re-Drum from their It's better to Burn Out Than To Fade Away. Peter Finch playing newsman, Howard Beale performing the iconic "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" speech. The last three images are related to issues of the current media; pedlars of lies, propaganda that bastardises certain words - 'hope' and truth speakers who become enemies of the State. AROUND THE WORLD TRAVEL VIDEO ADVENTURE website: Facebook: twitter: google+:

Read the rest here:
The Anger of Hope, Past and Present Mass Media Mashup - Video

The Australian Greens will introduce draft laws for a public interest test governing media ownership to keep editorial control out of the hands of people like mining magnate Gina Rinehart.

Party leader Christine Milne said she wanted Australians to benefit from a flourishing, independent, diverse media landscape.

The consolidation of media power in the hands of individuals was a clear threat to free speech and democracy, she said.

The Greens will introduce a private member's bill to the Senate later in the week that aims to implement a public interest test for changes in control of major media companies.

Greens communications spokesman Scott Ludlam said the bill would contain a combination of proposals from the Convergence Review and earlier work by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on applying a public interest test.

'Gina has triggered this debate,' he told reporters on in Canberra on Monday, adding the billionaire's bid for seats on the Fairfax media board had demonstrated to the whole country the urgency of 'these sorts of reforms'.

'She's intending to use a media platform as a political weapon to advance her other commercial interests.'

The bill will apply to broadcasters and newspapers with an Australian audience of at least 500,000 per month and with a revenue of at least $50 million per year.

The matters to be taken into account in applying the public interest test include the impact on editorial independence and free expression of opinion along with the likely impact on the fair and accurate presentation of news.

Original post:
Greens for public interest test on media

KERRY Stokes' Seven Group has upped the stakes in the battle for control of Consolidated Media, reportedly warning the competition regulator it wants to buy more shares in the company.

The Seven Group chairman signalled his intention to thwart Rupert Murdoch's $2 billion offer for ConsMedia when his company lodged a request with the competition regulator late on Friday for an informal review.

Seven already holds 24 per cent in the pay-TV takeover target, while James Packer owns just over 50 per cent and is friendly to offers from Murdoch's News Ltd.

Questions surround Mr Stokes' motivations and whether he actually wants full control of ConsMedia or is pressing News Ltd for a higher price.

Analysts also say the issue might bring Mr Stokes' conflicting media and mining services investments to a head.

Seven already carries as much as $1.8 billion of debt - a high level, even before he gets into a bidding war with Mr Murdoch, Fat Prophets media analyst Greg Fraser said.

Mr Stokes bought his way into pay TV through the ConsMedia stake after losing a $200 million legal battle against other media players in 2007 for control in the industry.

That case ended badly with him having to pay costs and might well be driving a possible bid for the rest of ConsMedia, Mr Fraser said.

ConsMedia's pay TV investments, including 25 per cent of Foxtel and 50 per cent of Fox Sports, are not as affected by the weak advertising market hitting other media because they rely on subscriptions.

Seven could sell some of its investments to finance the bid, including its diverse range of construction and mining equipment businesses and its shares in Telstra.

More:
Stokes eyes more of ConsMedia