Ann: PRT interim results - media release, page-19

You could probably speculate on the direction PRT will take until the cows come home. They are very good at keeping a tight ship and who knows what their game plan is or if they even have one at all.

I've been following the Media circus for some time now and the following are a few of the points that I have picked up along the way.

I think that it is now quite clear that both PRT CEO Ian Audsley and Chairman John Hartigan are after the top jobs at SWM. (And in my opinion would probably do a much better job than the current management).

Bruce Gordon is probably still in close contact with the Murdochs after missing out on the takeover of the Ten Network.

Foxtel and Fox Sports have been given the green light to merge by the ACCC but the real money for them is having access to the major sporting events that are protected by the Anti Siphoning Bill. The only way they can access these sports is by them being shown on FTA television with commercials and simultaneously showing them on their own pay tv/streaming platforms commercial free.

The simplest way for them to do this is to also own a FTA network. (Thus the long awaited Media Reform Bill that will allow this to happen).

PRT has already made a tilt at a reverse takeover of SWM but with Bruce Gordon, News Corp and Telstra behind them they will have more than enough backing to make this work if this is the path that they choose to take.

Why don't Foxtel and co. just make a takeover bid for SWM? I think that SWM is seen as a 'boys club' with very mediocre management ie Tim Worner and Amber Harrison amongst other things that may come back to bight anyone that takes over SWM. By PRT taking over the assets of SWM you will minimise any further litigation that the management of SWM are liable for as well as having PRT's proven management in place.

Just my two bobs worth but I think that we should start to see things happen in the not too distant future.