Bermuda-based billionaire Bruce Gordon has again increased his stake in Australia's Ten Network ? a move that continues to bolster speculation that the Australian movie mogul will play a crucial role in any media shake-up that occurs Down Under. Mr. Gordon ? who owns Australia's WIN Corporation ? lodged a substantial shareholder notice yesterday showing that his private investment company, Birketu Pty Ltd., bought ten million Ten shares on Tuesday at $4. That pushes his total stake in Ten Network from five percent to 7.6 percent since May when he first declared a substantial interest in the company via his holdings through Birketu and WIN.

The country's Communications Minister Helen Coonan is currently pushing for changes to allow mergers between TV, radio and newspaper publishing companies as early as the end of this year. Mr. Gordon's company has been linked to endless combinations of media companies and he is seen as among several owners who could play an important role in any media consolidation.