oOh!media
oOh!media is an Australian out-of-home advertising and media company operating across Australia and New Zealand.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
oOh!media is an Australian out-of-home advertising and media company headquartered in Sydney. Its business is built around selling advertising exposure in public and commercial environments, including roadside locations, street furniture, retail and shopping precincts, transport-related settings, and other high-traffic places. The company operates nationally in Australia and also has activities in New Zealand, positioning itself as one of the country's largest operators of out-of-home advertising assets. The business began in 1989 as Outdoor Network Australia, an advertising-site representation company founded by Brendon Cook. Rather than initially operating as a broad media conglomerate, it focused on representing and commercialising outdoor advertising sites for advertisers and agencies. The company later expanded through acquisitions and corporate restructuring. It became Network Limited and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2002. In 2008, after acquiring Melbourne-based Media Puzzle, the business adopted the oOh!media name. That year it also bought regional advertising company Sports & Outdoor Media in a transaction reported at A$40 million, broadening its geographic and inventory coverage. In 2012, oOh!media was taken private by Champ Private Equity and WPP. The privatisation was followed by a significant expansion into digital outdoor media and related assets. The company acquired EYE Corp from Ten Network Holdings, initially for A$145 million, with the reported consideration later reduced to A$113 million. oOh!media returned to the ASX in December 2014, raising A$169 million. Before the relisting, Champ held 75.5 percent, WPP held 20.3 percent, and the remaining interest was held by management and other stakeholders. The company's portfolio continued to develop through both media and content acquisitions. In 2016, oOh!media purchased 85 percent of youth-focused digital publisher Junkee Media for A$11 million and later acquired the remaining 15 percent. In 2017, it proposed a merger with rival APN Outdoor, but the transaction was abandoned after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission raised preliminary competition concerns. In 2018, oOh!media acquired Adshel, a street-furniture advertising business, from Here, There & Everywhere for A$570 million after a competitive bidding process that also involved APN Outdoor. The acquisition strengthened the company's presence in street furniture and urban out-of-home advertising. Leadership changed during the company's next phase. Founder Brendon Cook announced in January 2020 that he would step down as managing director and chief executive officer. Cathy O'Connor was announced as his successor in August 2020. In December 2021, oOh!media sold Junkee Media to RACAT Group while retaining Junkee Studio, the branded-content and production arm; Junkee Media chief executive Neil Ackland remained associated with oOh!media after the sale. By late 2024, the company was responding to several years of revenue pressure with a restructuring intended to reduce costs by up to A$15 million. O'Connor announced her planned resignation in April 2025, with the departure expected later that year. The reference material also reports that Pacific Equity Partners launched a takeover offer valued at A$750 million in April 2026. oOh!media's business therefore combines physical advertising infrastructure, digital out-of-home inventory, audience and location-based media, and selected content-production capabilities, while remaining exposed to advertising-market cycles, infrastructure costs, competition, and regulatory scrutiny.
History
oOh!media traces its origins to Outdoor Network Australia, an advertising-site representation business established in 1989 by Brendon Cook. The early company concentrated on representing outdoor advertising locations and connecting those sites with advertisers and agencies. Over time, it expanded from a representation operation into a broader owner and operator of out-of-home media assets. The business became Network Limited and joined the Australian Securities Exchange in 2002. In 2008, it acquired Melbourne-based Media Puzzle and adopted the oOh!media name. It also acquired Sports & Outdoor Media in the same year for a reported A$40 million, extending its reach into regional advertising markets. These transactions helped establish a more diversified platform spanning metropolitan and regional outdoor inventory. In 2012, Champ Private Equity and WPP took the company private. Soon after the privatisation, oOh!media acquired EYE Corp from Ten Network Holdings. The transaction was initially valued at A$145 million, although the reported consideration was subsequently reduced to A$113 million. The acquisition supported the company's expansion into digital and screen-based out-of-home advertising. The company returned to public ownership in December 2014 through a renewed ASX listing that raised A$169 million. Before the listing, Champ held 75.5 percent of the company and WPP held 20.3 percent, with the balance owned by management and other stakeholders. The relisting gave oOh!media access to public equity markets while preserving its focus on expanding advertising reach and inventory. In 2016, oOh!media entered digital publishing and youth-media content more directly by buying 85 percent of Junkee Media for A$11 million. It later acquired the remaining interest. In 2017, it proposed a merger with APN Outdoor, another major out-of-home advertising operator. The proposal was abandoned after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission raised preliminary concerns about its potential competitive effects. In June 2018, oOh!media acquired Adshel from Here, There & Everywhere for A$570 million. The transaction followed a competitive bidding process involving APN Outdoor and substantially increased oOh!media's presence in street furniture and urban advertising environments. Adshel complemented the company's existing roadside, digital, and place-based assets. Leadership changed in 2020 when founder Brendon Cook announced his departure as managing director and chief executive officer. Cathy O'Connor was announced as the incoming chief executive in August. The company subsequently adjusted its portfolio. In December 2021, it sold Junkee Media to RACAT Group, while retaining Junkee Studio, the branded-content and production unit. Junkee Media chief executive Neil Ackland remained with oOh!media after the disposal. The company later faced pressure from several years of revenue losses. In December 2024, O'Connor announced a restructuring intended to reduce costs by up to A$15 million. In April 2025, she announced that she would resign during the latter half of the year. The supplied reference material also reports a A$750 million takeover offer from Pacific Equity Partners in April 2026. The company's development illustrates the consolidation and digitisation of the out-of-home advertising sector, with growth pursued through acquisitions, public-market transactions, digital inventory, street furniture, and complementary content operations.
- 2026
Pacific Equity Partners takeover offer is reported
[1]The supplied reference material reports a takeover offer valued at A$750 million.
- 2025
Cathy O'Connor announces resignation
[1]The chief executive announces plans to resign later in the year.
- 2024
Restructuring is announced
[1]Management announces a cost-reduction program targeting savings of up to A$15 million.
- 2021
Junkee Media is divested
[1]Junkee Media is sold to RACAT Group, while Junkee Studio remains with oOh!media.
- 2020
Chief executive succession
[1]Founder Brendon Cook announces his departure and Cathy O'Connor is named chief executive.
- 2018
Adshel is acquired
[1]oOh!media buys the Adshel street-furniture business for A$570 million.
- 2017
APN Outdoor merger proposal is withdrawn
[1]The proposed merger is abandoned after preliminary competition concerns from the ACCC.
- 2016
Junkee Media investment
[1]oOh!media buys 85 percent of Junkee Media for A$11 million.
- 2014
oOh!media returns to public markets
[1]The company is floated again on the ASX and raises A$169 million.
- 2012
The company is privatised
[1]Champ Private Equity and WPP take oOh!media private.
Products and positioning
A large-scale Australian out-of-home media operator that combines national physical advertising assets, digital outdoor inventory, street furniture, and place-based media with selected content-production capabilities.
Outdoor advertising
Out-of-home advertising networks
oOh!media sells advertising across public-facing physical environments throughout Australia and New Zealand. Its network is intended to reach audiences while they are travelling, shopping, commuting, or spending time in urban and commercial locations. Inventory can include large-format, roadside, retail, and other place-based formats, giving advertisers the ability to combine broad reach with location-specific campaigns.
Digital advertising
Digital out-of-home media
The company operates and commercialises digital outdoor screens and related screen-based advertising assets. Digital inventory allows campaigns to be scheduled, updated, and adapted more flexibly than static placements. This part of the business developed through the company's expansion and acquisitions, including the purchase of EYE Corp after the 2012 privatisation.
Street-furniture advertising
Adshel
Adshel is the street-furniture advertising business acquired by oOh!media in 2018. Its formats are associated with urban public spaces and street furniture, allowing advertisers to reach pedestrians, commuters, and local audiences in city and metropolitan environments. The acquisition strengthened oOh!media's presence in a high-frequency, location-oriented segment of out-of-home media.
Branded content and production
Junkee Studio
Junkee Studio is the branded-content and production arm retained by oOh!media after Junkee Media was sold to RACAT Group in 2021. It extends the company's offering beyond media placement into content development and production for brands. The unit reflects oOh!media's interest in combining audience, editorial-style storytelling, and commercial content capabilities.
Brand decisions
2026
Reported Pacific Equity Partners takeover offerM&ABackground
The supplied reference material reports that oOh!media was the subject of a takeover approach after a period of financial pressure and restructuring.
Action taken
Pacific Equity Partners launched a takeover offer valued at A$750 million.
Reported takeover offer value. A$750 million (April 2026)
2024
Cost-reduction restructuringStrategyBackground
The company was responding to multiple years of revenue losses and pressure on operating performance.
Action taken
Management announced a restructuring designed to reduce costs by up to A$15 million.
Aftermath
The restructuring was intended to preserve financial flexibility and support the business, although the supplied material does not provide a complete outcome.
Targeted cost savings. Up to A$15 million (Announced December 2024)
2021
Sale of Junkee MediaM&ABackground
oOh!media reviewed its portfolio of digital publishing and content businesses.
Action taken
It sold Junkee Media to RACAT Group while retaining Junkee Studio.
Aftermath
oOh!media retained branded-content and production capabilities without continuing to own the broader Junkee Media publishing business.
2018
Acquisition of AdshelM&ABackground
oOh!media was competing to expand its presence in urban and street-furniture advertising.
Action taken
It purchased Adshel from Here, There & Everywhere after a competitive bidding process.
Aftermath
The acquisition increased oOh!media's street-furniture and metropolitan out-of-home inventory.
Acquisition price. A$570 million (June 2018)
2017
Proposed merger with APN OutdoorM&ABackground
oOh!media sought to combine with a major rival in the Australian outdoor advertising sector.
Action taken
The proposed merger was abandoned after the ACCC raised preliminary competition concerns.
Aftermath
The parties did not complete the merger, leaving the businesses to operate separately.
2012
Acquisition of EYE CorpM&ABackground
After privatisation by Champ Private Equity and WPP, oOh!media pursued expansion in digital and screen-based out-of-home media.
Action taken
The company acquired EYE Corp from Ten Network Holdings.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded oOh!media's digital outdoor media portfolio.
Reported acquisition consideration. A$145 million → A$113 million (2012; consideration was later reduced)
2008
Adoption of the oOh!media brandStrategyBackground
The company had acquired Melbourne-based Media Puzzle and was broadening its position in the outdoor advertising market.
Action taken
It changed its corporate and market-facing name from Network Limited to oOh!media.
Aftermath
The new identity became the principal brand for the expanded Australian out-of-home media business.
Recent events
Ooh Media announces Cathy O’Connor as CEO[2]
Reported:
Ooh Media announced that Cathy O’Connor, currently Nova Entertainment’s CEO, would join the company as CEO from early 2021, replacing outgoing CEO Brendon Cook.
Sources2 sources
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