Austar United Communications (AUN)

Shares / Stock Code

AUN

Stock Exchange / Sharemarket

ax

Austar United Communications Limited (AUN) is an Australia-based company engaged in providing subscription television services to over 600,000 customers in the rural and regional area of Australia. AUN was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange on the 20th of July 1999. Its average annual revenue reaches approximately AUD$502 million. Its headquarters is located in Sydney, Australia and to date; around 755 people are employed in the company. Austar United Communications Limited operates mainly in two business segments: Subscription services and Mobile Telephony Services.

The Subscription services segment of Austar is engaged in the operations of the subscription television distribution, mobile telephony and interactive television, internet and license fee income.

The Mobile Telephony services segment of AUN is in charged of providing broadband network based on interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) to its customers worldwide. It also offers mobile services to its customers through reseller agreements with the Optus Global System for the Telstra Code division multiple access networks as well as the Mobile Communications (GSM).

Austar United Communications Limited also provides programming services in its television market in Australia through the XYZNetworks whose 50% equity is owned by AUN. XYZNetworks is the owner and distributor of Discovery Channel, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, MAX, Club [V], Channel [V], Arena, Lifestyle Food, The Lifestyle Channel, The Weather Channel and the CountryMusic.

Austar United Communications (AUN) Company History

AUSTAR began its services in 1995 and was named CETV. The company installed AUSTAR TV, a television business in that same year. In July 1999, AUSTAR joined the Australian Stock Exchange. It developed its mobile telephony business and services in 2000. In the same year, AUSTAR combined its Saturn Communications to Telstra New Zealand and established TelstraSaturn and finally changed to TelstraClear.

In 2002, an agreement was participated by AUSTAR, Foxtel and Optus. CHAMP teamed UGC and become major share holder in AUSTAR in April 2003. Sports Active, Box Office and AUSTAR Digital were opened in 2004. AUSTAR with Soul and Unwired proclaimed the development of Fox sports 3 in May 2006. A proposal for funding under the Broadband Connect Infrastructure Program was tendered by AUSTAR and Unwired and Soul in December 2006.