Austereo was an Australian mass media company based in Melbourne. It was founded in 1980 by Paul Thompson, and operated 16 radio stations in metropolitan and regional Australia under the Today Network and Triple M brands. In 2011, the company's majority shareholder Village Roadshow sold its shareholding to Southern Cross Media Group, which began trading as Southern Cross Austereo from 21 July.[1][2]
History
The company was founded by broadcaster Paul Thompson, who upon the commencement of FM broadcasting in Australia acquired the first commercial radio licence for the metropolitan Adelaide area. SAFM commenced transmission in September 1980, with the Austereo Network established in 1986 following the company's acquisition of Fox FM Melbourne.