When Pigz Fly

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.

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

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.

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?