Aussie ad-blocking soars
The number of Australians using ad blocking software is approaching 4 million but there are fears the release of Apple's iOS9 Safari web browser update in September, which includes ad blcoking options, will escalate the issue, according to the Australian Financial Review.
Apple's new release, called by British Vogue's digital creative solutions manager Emma Geary as its “most disruptive update yet,” gives users the ability to block online pre-roll video ads.
Dublin-based PageFair is also releasing figures this week that will suggest that in less than two years the number of users with ad-blocking code has nearly doubled, with penetration now at 18% of the Australian online population.
The Netflix threat to Foxtel
The AFR is also reporting that1.6 million Australians have signed up to Netflix within six of months of its launch, with Citi predicting that more homes will have a subscription video on demand (SVOD) services than the 2.6 million that currently have Foxtel within three years.
That would make the take up of SVOD one of the fastest takes-up of new consumer technology in Australian history.
Foxtel is not the only provider feeling the heat, with free to air linear TV viewing falling below 90 hours a month for the first time ever, one month after Netflix's launch. While views exist on both sides of the fence, Nikko Asset Management portfolio manager Michael Maughan said the true impact on the sector is yet to be played out.
ARU to sign Fox Sports and Ten deal
The Australian Ruby Union (ARU) is set to sign a long-term broadcast deal with Fox Sports and Network Ten in order for the sport to boost its free to air presence.
In a report from The Australian, the deal is likely to be made public in a few weeks and will see Fox retain live coverage of Super Rugby matches with replay and Wallabies rights to be simulcast on Ten. If the deal goes ahead the ARU will see roughly $40 million in annual income from 2016.
WIN U-turn on media reform
Also in The Australian; WIN Corporation has changed its tune on media reform in a new multi million dollar ad campaign.
The TV spot, called 'Save the voices of regional Australia,” is supported by Australia’s four independent regional TV and radio stations. The support is at odds with previous statements by WIN Corp chief Andrew Lancaster in 2013 saying that the removal of the reach rule would threaten the future of local news services.
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