SingTel

SingTel: updates on its wholly owned Optus in Australia. i) Copyright lawyer experts said that free-to-air broadcasters and TV pdtn companies whose entertainment was recorded using Optus’ TV Now recording service, could soon line up behind sports rights owners seeking compensation. The service had let Optus subscribers record and watch free-to-air content after a short delay. Last week a federal appeal court found that the service was in breach of copyright law, reversing an earlier ruling that found that it qualified for provisions that protect the recording of TV for private use. Optus gave a strong hint it was preparing to appeal the matter to the High Court, saying it would not comment "given aspects of the case are yet to be determined and (it is) still subject to legal proceedings". ii) Separately, Optus said it plans to cut ~750 jobs in a restructure of the business. It expects a one-time charge of ~AA$37m relating to the job cuts. It said the restructure aimed to drive greater efficiencies and would see the removal of a number of areas of duplication. Most of the job cuts are expected to come from senior and middle mgt as well as operations, back office and support functions.