GRANT BLACKLEY
CEO TELEVISION

During the year, Network Ten delivered a number of strategic milestones that will underpin our growth and efficiency for many years to come as we move into an exciting period for the industry.

These milestones included rolling out the operational infrastructure that now supports our multi-channel and cross-platform offerings, strengthening our content offer for TEN, leading the commercial free-to-air networks in launching a unique digital multi-channel, ONE, and developing and extending our online offerings.

At the same time, and in light of a bottoming advertising market, Network Ten remained highly disciplined in our management of costs. We actively reviewed our already efficient cost base, achieving a reduction of more than 2 per cent in the underlying TV cost base for the year. This was delivered alongside our investment in growing the 'front-of-house' business, which included providing for our strongest and most diverse program line-up for TEN in years and the launch of, and ongoing investment in, our new digital sports channel, ONE.

Following a three-year targeted investment program, Network Ten has fully deployed a new digital broadcast architecture that sets us up well in the digital era and has also made us more efficient both now and for the future.

Our second standard definition digital transmission stream is now in place, allowing our new multi-channel ONE to be broadcast via both high definition and standard definition - providing greater audience reach while also giving us the flexibility to introduce a third multi-channel at a time of our choice in the future.

The other key element of our infrastructure upgrade has been the completion of our new media asset management system (MAM), bringing file server technology to life and allowing us to store, manipulate and utilise data seamlessly and efficiently across our multiple channel and cross-media platforms.