Newspaper deal option for Telstra
March 10, 2002
REUTERS in Sydney
Telecommunications giant Telstra would not rule out acquiring stakes in a newspaper chain or television network if Australia's cross-media regulations were changed, according to chief executive Ziggy Switkowski.
''I wouldn't want to incite speculation ... but a lot of the thinking that some time ago caused us to talk to a lot of media companies about how we might form relationships, remains relevant,'' Mr Switkowski said.
''Maybe arguably more relevant today than it might have been a couple of years ago, particularly as we roll out the broadband network and as we think about [pay TV arm] Foxtel moving into a more expansionary phase,'' he said.
Australian media laws prevent media groups from owning television stations and newspapers in the same market. The Government is trying to relax the rules which it says have been outdated by the emergence of the Internet.
He also said Telstra was ready to meet the challenge of rival Optus, which has become more competitive following a shake-up of Australia's pay-television industry last week.
''It is good for Telstra and yes, it is good for Optus. And, frankly, if Optus emerges from this more competitive ... from a Telstra point of view, we are more than ready to meet them in the marketplace in the competition for customers,'' Mr Switkowski said.
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