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APN
annual report
2011
When i joined APN
one year ago, it was
with a mandate and
determination to
substantially reposition
the Company for
growth: to tackle head
on the opportunities
and challenges of the
competitive and rapidly
changing world of media,
to bring a strong digital
focus, new capability
and vigour to transform
APN and to set it on
a new course with a
successful future. That
mandate and resolve
to succeed remain and
i am pleased to say we
have made great strides
along this path.
However, the last 12 months have
also provided extraordinary
challenges: the devastating
earthquakes in Christchurch,
the floods in Queensland and the
toughest economic conditions
Australia and new Zealand have
seen in years. the conditions
were particularly arduous for our
publishing businesses and our
results reflect that. enormous
work has been done to remediate
the impact and this has helped
recovery in the second half
of the year.
I wish to acknowledge the
tremendous efforts of the teams
across APn and thank them
for these achievements. their
commitment in often demanding
circumstances has been first class.
Key ACHieVeMeNTs
We have restructured the
leadership teams and brought
in motivated and talented
people across the business.
Appointments to my team
include Warren Bright,
CeO of Australian regional
media and matt Crockett,
Chief Development Officer.
Similarly, there are new high
calibre appointments in the
management teams in our radio,
publishing and digital businesses.
the appointment of new CeOs
for Adshel and for the radio
network will further rejuvenate
our teams.
Our Outdoor businesses have
delivered an impressive result,
outperforming the market in all
major categories in Australia and
new Zealand as well as strong
performances in Hong Kong
and Indonesia.
We have been successful
in winning important new
contracts and renewing others.
We acquired OggI Billboards
in new Zealand and continued
to deliver innovative products,
from digital billboards, to free
wireless internet on buses, to
street furniture and posters that
interact with smart phones.
radio is gaining traction.
the refreshed approach to
programming, content, yield
management and digital is
all starting to pay off. ratings
are steadily increasing. Our
Australian radio network
finished the year with mix 102.1
as number one in Adelaide and
97.3 as number one in Brisbane.
In new Zealand, the radio
network operates the number
one national network, newstalk
ZB and has three of the top five
national networks with newstalk
ZB, Classic Hits and Coast.
As part of our remediation efforts,
we conducted a comprehensive
cost reduction program in our
publishing businesses, delivering
$25 million in annualised savings.
this included consolidating our
printing operations, reducing 11
printing plants to eight.
We also made significant
progress in rejuvenating our
publishing business models.
In Australian regional media,
we have increased productivity
in our commercial teams
and improved efficiency in
our editorial teams. We have
introduced a digital first
approach in two markets and
we are redesigning all our
print products.
In new Zealand, we have
restructured the senior
management team to pursue
a multi-media approach and
have established an integrated
newsroom. the new Zealand
Herald once again defied trends
and delivered increases in
circulation and readership, as
well as growing overall audience
across print, online and mobile.
nzherald.co.nz was awarded
Best new Zealand Website and
has around 60% of the nation’s
total online audience.
APn has more than doubled
its digital revenue over the last
12 months. Our new digital team
has worked closely with the
divisions to deliver a range of
important digital achievements
across the Company. We expect
the lift in revenue and earnings
momentum to continue.
chief executive officer’s
report
CEO’s thanks
“I wish to acknowledge the
tremendous efforts of the
teams across APN and thank
them for these achievements.
Their commitment in often
demanding circumstances
has been first class.”