Stokes & Consolidated Media Holdings
Someone has been buying up a big chunk of Consolidated Media Holdings, a Packer company. Consolidated Media has stakes in pay TV operator Foxtel, Premier Media Group (Fox Sports) and online jobs portal Seek.
It was revealed recently that Kerry Stokes of the Seven Network was behind the acquisition, accumulating a 19.91% stake in Consolidated Media. This was enough to re-focus the attention of James Packer to up his stake to combat any potential control issues.
So now that Stokes has just about reached the maximum level without having to declare his plans, what will happen? Will he gradually increase his stake bi-annually or will he launch a takeover bid? An interesting one to follow.
Michael Jackson Death Hoax Rumors
There’s been a few articles popping up on blogs that Michael Jackson’s death is fake and that the hoax will be exposed when the concert is due to start in July.
People are saying it will be the biggest most historical event in the music industry. At a recent gathering I was at, this topic was a point of discussion.
Just one thing though… although it would be awesome if true, I don’t believe it.
There is one major flaw in that PR stunt – how do you keep it a secret and how do you get all the fans to show up?
Such a cosmic PR stunt would certainly would fit MJ’s profile – but I don’t think it’ll happen – unfortunately.
National Broadband Network: Gov’t Seeks Competitor Network Information
For those that don’t know – the National Broadband Network is Australia’s largest infrastructure project. The Government has allocated AUD$43 Billion for the roll-out of a Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) to cover at least 90% of the population.
I don’t agree with the government trying to buy existing networks and seeking information about networks from current industry players.
In my view, they need to create a completely new network that is independent in every aspect (including technically) that will provide a more level playing field in Australia and hence create competition, not another monster like Telstra.
Links:
Broadband bill introduced – http://bit.ly/9KaMb
Michael Jackson, RIP
A truely sad day. I’m sure there are enough press releases and news articles to read. All his work is awesome, so I just want to share some of my favorite videos.
A brilliant entertainer -unlikely to be matched by anyone.
A Tribute
Give In To Me
Smooth Criminal
Earth Song
Thriller
Check out the rest on the official YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/michaeljackson
Quantum Computing & Teleportation
Yep, it’s coming. The university I graduated from, the Australian National University is making great achievements in quantum computing – at least piece of it.
They’ve got pretty cool facilities, I’ve toured them during my first year at uni while still deciding if I’d chosen the right degree for me. I ended up with a Commerce degree, that’s another story.
What’s more interesting is the potential application for teleportation, I told you so – all those people that didn’t believe me. I knew they started this research way back.
Further Reading:
Australian scientists may have worked out the mystery of teleportation
Scientists to scale up quantum data breakthrough
Google Wave, More Like Tsunami
Google Wave is a new revolutionary way to communicate and colaborate. This thing is awesome you have to watch the video below from Google I/O 2009.
It’s cool how Google have made this open so that organisations can host their own Google Wave server. This is set to put a ding into Microsoft’s Exchange server – that’s only for starters. You’ll know what I mean when you watch the demo.
2012: Contingency Planning and Risk Management
I just switched to history channel and Nostradamus 2012 is on. It’s pretty distrubing stuff. Many end-of-world predictions have come and gone uneventful, but this particular date (Dec 21, 2012) is surrounded with a worrying amount of scientific backing.
Kind of makes you think through all the issues. Keeping with the theme of my blog – I want to focus on our dependence on technology. We are completely surrounded with technology down to the very ‘insignificant’ toaster most use in the morning. They say we are going to have significant shift in cosmic activity – the Sun’s activity will peak around the 2012 date and we are sure to suffer disruption with all our technical systems.
Given the end isn’t a ‘big bang’ and we continue on this path of gradual climate change, natural disasters, disease and the rest – what can we do to survive and manage the risks associated with technological disruptions? I don’t think we are going to just give up.
How many people in their everyday contingency planning and risk management duties take into consideration such events? Are we still sceptical about such predictions and should we be changing our attitude? What can we really do and is it worth it?
That said, what worries me most is famine, extreme famine to the point where even plant species become extinct so we don’t even have the option of going back to basics. Maybe a topic for another time.
Finally ‘The Apprentice’ Arrives In Australia
About time. I’m currently watching The Celebrity Apprentice from the US, it’s pretty cool.
Mark Bouris is the lead man, founder of Wizard Home Loans, and probably a good choice. I certainly would have liked to see the late Kerry Packer leading the show – but I heard he rejected the offer in the past.
Also, not sure about the prize for the winner – If you were a contestant would you rather work for an organisation like Trump Organisation or Yellow Brick Road.
Would be interesting to see how it goes and whether it would be as successful and the US version. I absolutly hated the UK one – couldn’t keep watching.
If you’re interested, they’re calling for contestants, apply here
Welcome
So this is my new blog. I hope to use it to post my ideas, thoughts and comments on happenings in the Media and Technology world.
I am very passionate about media and technology, I am an entrepreneur that primarily focusses on these areas and currently working on an exciting project for the Asia Pacific region. It involves Internet Protocol TV (IPTV).
IPTV is really interesting – it involves so much and allows me to work on IT, Telecom and Broadcast Media all at once.
I always have opportunities both work wise and investment wise (for any investors reading this) – do contact me if you are interested in exploring them with me.
Foxtel Wants Competition?
The chief of Foxtel, Kim Williams, would like the Government to issue a fourth digital free-to-air license. Kim has been quoted in the AustralianIT saying that new players should have the opportunity to provide new networks over terrestrial and satellite – he says why not if a good business case exists?
Correct me if I’m wrong (seriously), but could this be an attempt to overcome the anti-siphoning laws, for example…
Foxtel’s FTA channel would have first pick for sporting events – like the other FTAs. However, Foxtel a company that’s cash rich (i.e. Newscorp) has a good chance to negotiate great contracts with the possibility of exclusive deals.
So, great (exclusive) content, high advertising revenue = a good business case?
Then, what’s to stop them rebroadcasting on the Foxtel platform with a few extra bells and whistles in terms of extra content and interactive features.
Let’s face it, they need to do something about TEN’s channel ONE, TiVO, FreeView etc etc. Can this be one approach?
Don’t know, just thinking out loud.
Any thoughts?
