Company Updates

AAP's Newscentre Set to Shake up the News Monitoring Market

27 August, 2008

Newscentre, the news monitoring division of Australian Associated Press (AAP), today announced a significant expansion of its monitoring services with the launch of broadcast monitoring - a move that will provide clients with fast access to video and audio news clips at highly competitive prices.

"For far too long there has been no significant competition in the Australian broadcast news monitoring market" said Clive Marshall the CEO of Australian Associated Press. With the launch of Newscentre's radio and television news monitoring service, business and government now have a real choice in broadcast news monitoring - and the opportunity to make significant cost savings."

Two years in the planning and utilising the very latest search technology, the broadcast monitoring service will complement Newscentre's extensive newspaper, magazine and text monitoring service, providing a one-stop solution for organisations who wish to monitor the Australian news media.

To coincide with the launch, Newscentre clients will be able to access their print, text, internet, radio and television clips via a newly-designed online platform, with all their content available at the click of a mouse.

Kylie O'Reilly Managing Director of AAP's commercial divisions said, "Over the past few weeks we have been trialling the service with a number of clients and the feedback has been fantastic. Customers love the ease of use of the new platform, the fact that they can access all of their print and broadcast clips without delay and particularly in the current business environment that they can make real savings on their monitoring services."

"I am delighted that with the launch today, Newscentre can now showcase the service to companies and government departments across Australia.'' Ms O'Reilly concluded.

Media Enquiries: Kylie O'Reilly, Managing Director - Commercial Divisions Phone: (02) 9322 8120

AAP Acquires Capricorn Analysis

11 March, 2008

Australian Associated Press (AAP), Australia's national news agency, today announced that it has acquired the client business of Queensland-based press monitoring service, Capricorn Analysis.

AAP Newscentre will provide the press clipping and analysis services for the newly-acquired business.

AAP Chief Executive Clive Marshall said "this acquisition complements our recent purchase of the Melbourne based Media Research Group (MRG) and gives us a strong base from which to grow our media monitoring business in Queensland. Over the past 12 months through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions our monitoring businesses have enjoyed significant growth. There is clearly a strong demand from both government and commercial clients for media monitoring services that focus on providing a high level of value for money and excellent customer service."

About Australian Associated Press: Australian Associated Press (AAP) is the national news agency of Australia providing news and information 24 hours a day to media, corporations and government in Australia and around the world. Established in 1999, AAP Newscentre provides corporate and government clients with relevant media coverage on any topic from a wide range of Australian publications and sources.

About Capricorn Analysis: Capricorn Analysis provides specialised media analysis services to a number of large corporate and government clients.

Media Enquiries: Kylie O'Reilly, Managing Director - AAP Commercial. Phone: (02) 9322 8120

AAP Acquires The Media Research Group

5 July, 2007

Australian Associated Press, the national newsagency, today announced the acquisition of The Media Research Group (MRG) the Melbourne based media monitoring and analysis company.

Under the terms of the deal, MRG will continue its current operations in Melbourne and its principal, Michael O'Connell, will remain with the company as Managing Director.

AAP Chief Executive Clive Marshall said: "This investment is part of a major commitment by AAP to develop our range of media monitoring, analysis and media distribution services. The acquisition of The Media Research Group will complement AAP's existing media monitoring business, AAP Newscentre. The combined business will enable us to expand our current range of services whilst continuing to provide clients with the highest quality of service."

Michael O'Connell Managing Director of MRG said "Over the last 10 years we have enjoyed considerable success in growing and developing our business. Following the sale of the company to AAP we will be able to invest in our systems, infrastructure and services to ensure that we can continue to capitalise on the enormous growth in demand for media monitoring and analysis services. In addition MRG clients will, for the first time, have the ability to monitor around the clock, in real-time, the editorial newswires of AAP."

About Australian Associated Press: Australian Associated Press (AAP) is the national newsagency of Australia providing Australian focused news and information 24 hours a day to media, corporations and government in Australia and around the world. Established in 1999 AAP Newscentre provides corporate and government clients with relevant media coverage on any topic from a wide range of Australian publications and sources.

About Media Research Group: The Media Research Group (MRG) was established in Melbourne in 1996 with the objective of providing clients with focused high quality cost effective media monitoring and analysis. The company has expanded to become a national operation, undertaking media analysis, monitoring and related services to a diverse group of client roster that include some of Australia's largest and most successful public and privately-listed companies, government departments, not-for-profit organisations and public relations specialists.

Media Enquiries: Clive Marshall, CEO, Australian Associated Press, Tel: +61 (2) 9322 8701