Digital Platforms Research, Forecasts & Analysis

Microsoft’s $25B Australian Investment: Avoiding AI’s Technology Lock-In

: This report analyses the strategic logic of Microsoft’s Australian expansion, the financial necessity of future price hikes, the resulting risks of a global AI oligopoly, and the specific steps Australian firms must take to manage their exposure to this emerging dependency.

US Verdicts Hit Meta and YouTube - Implications for ANZ Social Media Regulation

: This report analyzes the impact of landmark March 2026 US jury verdicts against Meta and YouTube on social media regulation in Australia and New Zealand. It explores how findings of negligent design and executive knowledge of harm provide a legal foundation for Australia's under-16 social media ban…

The Empire Strikes Back - Free TV Industry’s Drive for Young Viewers

: This report examines the 2025 Australian Total TV landscape, focusing on the structural stabilisation of free-to-air viewing. It analyses consistent consumption volumes, the rapid growth of Broadcaster Video on Demand (BVOD) as a share of free TV, and the dominant competitive standing of broadcaste…

Paramount’s US$111bn WBD deal: Seismic Shift for Australian TV Media

: This report examines Paramount’s US$111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and its profound implications for the Australian media landscape. It addresses the strategic consolidation of streaming platforms like Paramount+ and Max, the technological integration of Network 10 into the wider…

Nine/SXL Results Highlight Digital Prospects

: The Australian media sector is undergoing a significant structural shift as legacy broadcasters pivot toward digital-first models to combat the decline of linear advertising. This report analyzes Nine Entertainment's strategy of digital specialization and portfolio optimization, including its acqui…

Restructured Australian Media Aims to Resist Global Digital Dominance

: The Australian media industry underwent a fundamental realignment in early 2026, driven by the need for scale to compete with global digital giants. This report details the merger between Seven West Media and Southern Cross Austereo to form a 'Total TV and Audio' platform, alongside Nine Entertainm…

Radio Listening Grows, as Digital Advertising Scale Expands

: This report analyzes the structural transformation of the Australian radio industry into a 'Total Audio' ecosystem. It details how commercial radio has achieved record audience reach of 15 million weekly listeners by integrating broadcast, streaming, and podcasting. The analysis covers audience con…