207 replies to this topic

[duke]

http://www.afr.com/P...06-1625f19eaef8

[M'bozo]

duke, on Dec 23 2011, 01:20 PM, said:

http://www.afr.com/P...06-1625f19eaef8

That's behind a paywall.

Austar media release

Australian federal treasurer approves takeover

[duke]

M'bozo, on Dec 23 2011, 06:42 PM, said:

That's behind a paywall.

Austar media release

Australian federal treasurer approves takeover

I have a subscription to the AFR.

[duke]

http://beta.afr.com/...MtHKwnbVUkBskUJ

This doesn't make for good reading

[digitalj]

can you copy and paste the relevant parts? Not everyone has a subscription!

[duke]

Quote

o the chagrin of both Austar and Foxtel, Mr Samuel’s successor, Rod Sims, is continuing to examine the takeover deal for its potential to adversely affect the supply of content, especially to consumers using bundled communications services in a post-national broadband network world.
With Austar shares currently trading at more than 20 per cent below the offer price, the market is clearly unsure whether the $1.9 billion deal will be blocked or approved in a form that is unacceptable to both parties.
Indeed, it is understood that Foxtel has discussed potential undertakings on content and programming issues with the regulator, suggesting any ACCC imprimatur will be conditional.
A key approval risk, therefore, is that the ACCC will seek to force Foxtel and its shareholders, including Telstra, to accept conditions that require a high level of content regulation and, hence, make merging with Austar commercially unpalatable.

that's all ill post

[Andyt32]

davmel, on 17 July 2011 - 06:37 PM, said:

QUOTE (boogie @ Jul 17 2011, 05:45 PM)
Didn't know you couldn't plug your aerial into the iQ,I love the fact that all my FTA channels run through my Austar box.

You'll love a box even more that doesn't reset itself randomly, doesn't go offline for 20+ minutes every morning to do stupid updates, gives you access to on demand content and just works as it should!
But trying to explain how an IQ box performs to Austar customers is like trying to explain the visual world to people that are blind. Austar has kept you in the dark for far too long.

I'd say  they will use the austar boxes until the roll outs complete.      i saw the Iq boxes on the foxtel website   can't wait    austar rebooting all the time gives ya the shits  especially when your on foxsports channel and press red and it reboots lol   cant wait to see the back of it  the sooner we get the new IQ the better

[duke]

Foxtel-Austar deal may face further delays

[Andyt32]

come on accc  this is getting beyond  a joke  pull ya heads out of the sand  approve it NOW!!!!!  and no more excuses of delaying your decision it  will be not acceptable  we demand u approve the Merger .   I hope Foxtel takes u to Court

Edited by Andyt32, 16 January 2012 - 03:53 PM.

[duke]

http://afr.com/Blogs...1c-93cfde00b0aa

Quote

However, media analyst at JPMorgan, Laurent Horrut, has told clients the broker now believes there is a high likelihood, or a 75 per cent chance, that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will oppose the merger of the two companies.

[pc9]

duke, on 11 February 2012 - 11:16 AM, said:

http://afr.com/Blogs...1c-93cfde00b0aa

The ACCC don't seem to be capable of asking the question...........what if the merger is not approved, ie what are the consequences for shareholders and customers of both companies under this scenario.  For example, cost pressures on Austar are enormous with a result that there is quite a differentiation in no of services/packages being provided in comparison to Foxtel.

Where is the fairness in Austar customers being ripped off with fewer services than Foxtel for the same subscription cost. A no decision on the merger provides absolutely no protection for Austar customers going forward in addition to sounding the eventual death knell for this company with all of the related trauma for employees, shareholders etc.

[aeon]

A further update on this:

http://www.channelne...t/IPTV/G6K7N4F6

Hopefully a decision isn't too far away now!

[sleeptalker]

There maybe an announcement today.

http://www.tvtonight...e-approved.html

[pgdownload]

And another update. Seems the final decision is due within three weeks (assuming the ACCC doesn't run out of black pens and decide a six month moratorium is required to give all parties sufficient time to restock)

In one of those funny stock market things the shares lifted to within 4c of the bid price on the news that further scrutiny will be undertaken. Only reason I can see is that the market has decided the takeover will be allowed and that the March 29 date puts a cap on interest losses (for those borrowing to invest).

My own (uninformed) reading is that the ACCC is trying to squeeze as many concessions on the merger out of Foxtel (which seems to be making some  - including sharing its exclusive content with other players). I don't think the ACCC want to roll the dice and see how this decision would pan out in the courts if it ultimately said no. Recent rulings suggest it would be unsuccessful.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[pgdownload]

sleeptalker, on 07 March 2012 - 09:42 AM, said:

There maybe an announcement today.

Ahh, now that suddenly makes sense of things. The Australian publishes the result causing a major run on the stock which is then tempered buy the fuller announcement by the ACCC that the decision is still three weeks away.

Makes you wonder if any of the Australian staff happened to buy shares in Austar this morning? Presumably its not insider training but aren't there laws about manipulating the market?

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Edited by pgdownload, 07 March 2012 - 09:57 AM.

[duke]

http://www.itnews.co...tar-merger.aspx

[pgdownload]

Quote

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is set to hand down a tentative final decision

[viewer]

pgdownload, on 23 March 2012 - 06:48 PM, said:

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is set to hand down a tentative final decision.................................
Yes Minister ! would have been proud of that statement....

Edited by viewer, 27 March 2012 - 03:59 PM.

[johnjet]

From the tvtonight.com.au website -

Competition regulator the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has delayed a decision on Foxtel’s $1.9b proposal to takeover regional Pay TV provider Austar, following protests by Telstra’s competitors.

Optus and iiNet are believed to have complained that it left too much power in the hands of Foxtel shareholder Telstra, which was not bound by recent Foxtel undertakings to the ACCC.

The regulator said the timeline had been suspended to allow for more negotiations of those undertakings.  
Some describe the setback as merely a “drafting issue.”

[pgdownload]

viewer, on 27 March 2012 - 03:57 PM, said:

ACCC timeline suspended to allow FOXTEL and the ACCC to continue negotiations on the draft s.87B undertaking. Former proposed decision date of 29 March 2012 delayed. A new decision date will be published as soon as possible

I really should have cashed in my shares when they reached $1.49 (out of a possible $1.51). Some one really needs to tell the ACCC that "decision dates" should really be just that. Otherwise they may as well just say "We'll keep you posted..."

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[viewer]

http://www.smh.com.a...0330-1w2td.html

[duke]

ACCC to make decision on April 10 http://news.ninemsn....aspx?id=8447187

[pgdownload]

The actual ACCC wording is:

April 10th - Proposed date for announcement of ACCC's findings.

Must admit I'm interested what happens if it passes. Foxtel have said they'll pay $1.51 for each share (currently sitting at $1.48) . The transaction will be finalised (assuming approval) on April 16. Will the shares be suspended from trade?

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[vallatv]

http://www.zdnet.com...y-339335603.htm

[duke]

The CEO of Foxtel was on Sky News business earlier saying it will all be known as Foxtel now. Expects the takeover to be complete by late May.