Kerry Packer Biography - Profile |
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::: Kerry Packer - Publishing and Broadcasting Limited
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Kerry Packer Biography (Kerry Francis
Bullmore Packer) : Chairman of Publishing and Broadcasting Limited
PBL
Famous for : Australia's richest man
and Media Magnate (Channel 9, many popular magazines & newspapers, Internet
interests)
Packer details : Born - December
17, 1937 Australia / Died - December 26, 2005
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Biography - Information |
Kerry
Packer was Australia's
richest man through his media company PBL Publishing and Broadcasting Limited.
PBL owns the Channel 9 TV station in Australia, the majority of the magazines
and newspapers published in Australia, gambling interests including the Burswood
and Crown Casino, and various other Internet, media and financial interests.
The Packer family have been involved in publishing and media for several
generations in Australia. It started with Kerry Packer's grandfather Robert Packer
who managed and owned a part of a newspaper in the 1920s. Kerry's father then
went on to produce one of Australia's most successful magazines the "Australian
Women's Weekly". The success of the weekly magazine funded further acquisitions
and established the foundation of what has grown into the Publishing and Broadcasting
media empire that exists today.
After his father's death in 1974 Kerry
Packer took control of the business. Packer continually expanded and grew the
company over the years. The companies were merged and became part of the Publishing
and Broadcasting Limited company in 1994. The core industries that PBL has interests
in is Television broadcasting and production, magazine distribution and publication,
and gaming.
Television Interests
PBL owns the Nine network
television station in Australia. It is the highest ranking free to air television
station in the country and produces more Australian television content than any
other company. PBL also has large investments in various pay TV and digital TV
networks, including Foxtel and Sky News Australia.
Magazine Interests
Australian Consolidated Press (ACP) was founded in 1933 and now publishes many
of Australia's leading magazines. ACP produces more than 60 magazines within Australia
and more than 30 throughout New Zealand and Asia. Some of the leading titles include
Australian Women's Weekly, Cleo, Harper's BAZAAR, Australian House and Garden,
Street Machine, Australian Personal Computer, The Picture and many more leading
magazines of their category.
Gaming and Entertainment Interests
Crown Casino is a complex of bars, restaurants, gaming, cinemas, night clubs and
function venues. PBL also owns the Burswood Casino and has financial interests
in online gaming.
Other Interests of PBL
Publishing and Broadcasting
Limited also has interests in finance, technology and online media.
Kerry Packer led his media empire in old age even after several major health problems.
In 1990 Packer had a heart attack whilst playing his much loved game of polo.
Packer also had to have a kidney transplant, donated by his helicopter pilot and
friend of more than 20 years Nicholas Ross.
Packer's son James has been
taking more responsibility within the PBL company and looks set to eventually
take control from his father. James Packer's first major learning experience was
the failed One Tel telecom company that he and Lachlan Murdoch had invested in.
Forbes Rich List - Estimated Net Worth in American Dollars
2004 - $4.2 billion - ranked 111 of the World's richest people
2003 - $2.5
billion - ranked 147 of the World's richest people
2002 - $2.5 billion - ranked
157 of the World's richest people
2001 - $2.5 billion - ranked 182 of the
World's richest people
Update December 27, 2005
Australia's
richest man and most influential businessman and media magnate passed away peacefully
in his Bellevue Hill home lastnight at the age of 68, surrounded by his family
(including his wife Roslyn, daughter Gretel, and son
James Packer).
Prime minister John Howard said Packer "was
a great Australian, he was a larger than life character and in so many ways he
left his mark on the Australian community over a very long career in business.
It's fair to
say that he was one of the dominant figures, if not the dominant Australian figure,
of the media scene in this country for more than a generation".
Expatriate Australian media magnate Rupert
Murdoch stated that Kerry was "a man who you could truly say was larger
than life, a fierce competitor who had friends in areas of great influence and
was often surrounded in controversy but at the same time, capable of great generosity."
His son James
Packer has been taking more of a leadership role in the PBL company for the
past several years, and will now fill his father's position.
This Kerry Packer biography may not be reproduced online.
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