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Thursday 8th February 1996

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International:

Pay television operators Australis Media and Foxtel (owned by News Limited) are fighting to save their planned merger after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission indicated that it would rule against the deal. Australis and Foxtel plan to submit a revised proposal next week. Australis Media link subscribers to pay TV by satellite and microwave, while Foxtel/Telstra are running fibre optic cable under ground for delivery. Competiitors Optus Vision/Kerry Packer have their backs to the proverbial wall because they only have fibre optics - which they tried to string on poles above the ground. The local authorities have now prevented the above ground delivery - which is cheaper to install - because of visual pollution.

Political - Federal Election 2nd March 1996:

I can't believe it! Famed motor-mouth and Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating has done a runner. He has baulked on going through with the televised public debates with John Howard on the 11th and 25th February in the lead up to the Federal Election. Paul Keating, has in fact, been surprisingly subdued during the lead up - unlike his aggressive style in 1993 when he trounced his opposition. The reason given for pulling the plug on the debates was that Keating and Howard could not agree on an interviewer.. Yeah Paul, serve me another one.

Business:

Coca Cola Amatil Ltd has succeeded in making solid gains overseas with its expansion program. Net earnings rose 25% in the year to December. Sales rose to Au$2,968 million with a pre-tax profit of Au$217.8 million. In the past year the company has spent about Au$1 billion acquiring bottling operations in Poland, Croatia, Switzerland and Romania. With the heat that we have experienced in Australia over the last few weeks, profits have got to be looking good!

Sport:

Australian Rugby Union supporters will receive very little free-to-air television coverage of this year's Super 12 Series including the Queensland Reds' eleven matches. The series will be featured on Rupert Murdoch's pay television channel Foxtel which bought the television rights last year for the next 10 years.

Social:

Personal computers could tear families apart if parents did not become computer literate alongside their children, psychologist John Irvine said yesterday. Research released by Apple Computers said Australian families risked fragmentation and child exploitation with the increasing use of the home computer.

Personal trivia:

Well another warm one yesterday. Actually had a rare double myself - eating out for both lunch and dinner. Telstra for lunch and with the staff in the evening. A very pleasant day. In fact another perfect day in paradise!!

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