Seven West Media

Seven West Media is an Australian diversified media company whose principal activities have historically combined free-to-air television, news and magazine publishing, digital platforms, regional media and content distribution. Its best-known asset is the Seven Network, one of Australia's principal commercial television networks, supported by multichannel services such as 7two, 7mate, 7flix, 7Bravo and 7HD, as well as the 7plus streaming and catch-up platform. The company has also owned major Western Australian publishing assets, particularly The West Australian and The Sunday Times, together with the Community Newspaper Group and associated digital and directory businesses. The company's corporate history brought together two substantial media legacies. The Seven television operation developed from metropolitan stations that began broadcasting on the VHF7 frequency in the 1950s. HSV-7 Melbourne commenced in November 1956, followed by ATN-7 Sydney in December of that year. Stations in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide joined during the late 1950s. Ownership consolidated through several major transactions, including the Qintex period in the late 1980s, the creation of a reorganised Seven Network following Qintex's collapse, and Kerry Stokes's acquisition of a significant interest during the 1990s. Seven later expanded its regional reach, digital television portfolio and online operations, and was the host broadcaster for the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. The Western Australian publishing side traces its roots to West Australian Newspapers, publisher of The West Australian. After changes involving Herald & Weekly Times, News Limited, the Bell Group and Bond Corporation, the newspaper business was acquired by a newly formed public company after the collapse of Bond Corporation. West Australian Newspapers subsequently expanded beyond newspapers, including a temporary investment in Hoyts and a growing interest in media and digital operations. In 2009, Kerry Stokes increased his influence over the company, which became an important step toward the later combination of the newspaper and television businesses. In 2011, West Australian Newspapers Holdings acquired Seven Media Group, the television, magazine and digital vehicle associated with Seven Group Holdings and KKR. The combined company adopted the name Seven West Media. The merger created a large, vertically integrated Australian media group with national television reach and a particularly strong publishing position in Western Australia. Its portfolio later included Pacific Magazines, a major magazine publisher, and interests in online ventures, broadband-related businesses, TiVo licensing and news distribution. Seven West Media subsequently reshaped its portfolio in response to changing advertising, audience and publishing economics. It sold Pacific Magazines to Bauer Media Group in 2020 and entered agreements with Google and Facebook in 2021 for the provision of news content, following Australia's reforms concerning payments by digital platforms to news organisations. In 2022, its venture arm announced an equity investment in View Media Group. In 2024, the company announced a substantial workforce reduction and a restructuring around Television, Digital and Western Australia. In 2025, Seven West Media agreed to acquire several regional Seven-affiliated television assets from Southern Cross Austereo. It then announced an intended merger with Southern Cross Media Group in September 2025. The transaction was completed on 7 January 2026. Seven West Media consequently became a subsidiary of Southern Cross Media Group, was removed from the Australian Securities Exchange and ceased to operate as an independently listed company. The Seven television and publishing brands remain the central public-facing components of the business, although their ownership and corporate structure changed through the merger.

Seven West Media was formed in 2011 when West Australian Newspapers Holdings acquired Seven Media Group. The transaction united the owner of The West Australian and other Western Australian publishing assets with a national television and digital media business associated with Seven Group Holdings and KKR. The Seven television lineage began with the launch of HSV-7 in Melbourne on 4 November 1956 and ATN-7 in Sydney on 2 December 1956. Additional VHF7 stations launched in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide during the late 1950s. The stations were initially independent but became increasingly connected through successive ownership changes. The network passed through the Herald & Weekly Times, Fairfax, Qintex and the restructured Seven Network created after the collapse of Qintex. Kerry Stokes became a major shareholder in the 1990s and was elected chairman of the listed Seven Network company in 1995. Seven expanded its national and regional footprint through acquisitions and affiliation arrangements. Sunshine Television's Queensland stations were brought into the Seven operation, while the network developed a broader portfolio of digital channels and online products. Seven hosted the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, launched or developed high-definition and multichannel services, and expanded its digital presence through Yahoo!7, broadband ventures, TiVo licensing and other investments. During the 2000s, the network became one of Australia's strongest commercial television operators and was frequently the country's leading network by audience measures. The publishing history incorporated into Seven West Media is centred on The West Australian, whose ownership changed repeatedly between the 1960s and 1980s. West Australian Newspapers ultimately acquired the paper from receivers following the collapse of Bond Corporation and later became a publicly listed media company. Its interests widened to include newspapers, magazines, directories, printing and digital services. The company also held a joint venture interest in Hoyts before selling that investment in 2007. After its formation, Seven West Media operated across television, magazines, newspapers and online content. It sold Pacific Magazines to Bauer Media Group in 2020, while its news publishing operations entered commercial arrangements with Google and Facebook in 2021 amid Australia's digital-platform regulation. The group also pursued venture investments, including an announced equity position in View Media Group in 2022. In 2024, the company announced a restructuring and workforce reduction, dividing its operations into Television, Digital and Western Australia. It later acquired a group of regional television assets from Southern Cross Austereo in July 2025. In September 2025, Seven West Media and Southern Cross Media Group announced a proposed merger. Completion on 7 January 2026 made Seven West Media a subsidiary of Southern Cross Media Group and ended its separate ASX listing.

1. 2026Southern Cross merger completed

   Seven West Media became a subsidiary of Southern Cross Media Group and was delisted from the ASX.

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2. 2024Three-division restructuring announced

   The company announced a restructuring into Television, Digital and Western Australia and planned workforce reductions.

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3. 2020Pacific Magazines divested

   The magazine business was sold to Bauer Media Group.

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4. 2011Seven West Media is formed

   West Australian Newspapers Holdings completed the acquisition of Seven Media Group and adopted the Seven West Media name.

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5. 2000Seven hosts the Sydney Olympic Games

   The Seven Network served as host broadcaster for the Sydney Olympics.

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6. 1959Perth and Brisbane VHF7 stations launch

   TVW-7 Perth and BTQ-7 Brisbane expanded the group of metropolitan stations using the Seven frequency.

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7. 1956Seven television lineage begins

   HSV-7 Melbourne began broadcasting on 4 November, followed by ATN-7 Sydney on 2 December.

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Integrated Australian commercial media group spanning broadcast television, digital video, news publishing and Western Australian media.

• Seven NetworkFree-to-air television network1956

  The Seven Network is the company's principal Australian commercial television service. It developed from metropolitan VHF7 stations and later expanded through regional affiliates and owned stations. Its programming mix has included news, sport, entertainment, drama, reality formats and other locally produced or acquired content. The network has historically competed with Australia's other national commercial broadcasters for audience and advertising share.

• 7plusStreaming and catch-up television

  7plus is Seven's online video platform, providing on-demand and catch-up access to programming from the Seven Network and its multichannel portfolio. It extends the network's distribution beyond linear broadcasting and supports digital viewing, advertising and content discovery.

• Seven multichannelsDigital television channels2007

  Seven's multichannel portfolio has included 7HD, 7two, 7mate, 7flix and 7Bravo. These services provide differentiated programming, including general entertainment, movies, family content, reality programming, true crime and sport-oriented or male-skewing schedules.

• The West AustralianNewspaper and digital news1833

  The West Australian is a major Western Australian newspaper and a core publishing asset associated with Seven West Media. Its coverage includes state politics, business, local affairs, sport and broader national and international news, supported by digital publishing operations.

• The Sunday TimesSunday newspaper

  The Sunday Times is a Western Australian Sunday newspaper within the group's publishing portfolio. It complements The West Australian with weekend news, commentary, features, lifestyle material and local coverage.

• Community Newspaper GroupCommunity publishing

  Community Newspaper Group comprises local publishing and associated digital operations focused on Western Australian communities. Its titles and services provide local news, advertising, events and community information at a more regional level than the company's metropolitan newspaper brands.

• 2000Sydney Olympic Games host broadcasting

  Australia

  The Seven Network acted as host broadcaster for the Sydney Olympic Games, placing the network at the centre of Australia's largest international sporting broadcast at the time.

  Outcome. Expanded the network's national visibility and demonstrated its large-scale live broadcasting capabilities.

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• 2025Acquire regional Seven-affiliated television assetsM&A

  Seven West Media sought greater control over regional distribution of Seven programming.

  What changed. The company agreed to acquire Southern Cross Austereo television assets serving Tasmania, Darwin, Spencer Gulf, Broken Hill, Mount Isa and remote central and eastern Australia; completion occurred in July 2025.

  Aftermath. The acquisition expanded Seven's regional television footprint before the subsequent Southern Cross merger.

  Purchase price. A$3.75 million (2025)

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• 2025Agree merger with Southern Cross Media GroupM&A

  The proposed combination followed Seven West Media's expansion of its regional television assets and aimed to unite complementary Australian broadcast and media operations.

  What changed. Seven West Media and Southern Cross Media Group announced their intention to merge in September 2025.

  Aftermath. Completion on 7 January 2026 made Seven West Media a subsidiary of Southern Cross Media Group and ended its independent ASX listing.

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• 2024Restructure around three operating divisionsStrategy

  The company responded to pressure on media revenues and operating costs by simplifying its organisational structure.

  What changed. Seven West Media announced divisions for Television, Digital and Western Australia and planned cuts of up to 150 positions.

  Aftermath. The restructuring concentrated management attention on the group's principal broadcast, digital and Western Australian assets.

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• 2021Enter digital-platform news agreementsStrategy

  Australia was developing rules intended to require major digital platforms to contribute financially to news organisations whose content they distributed.

  What changed. Seven West Media reached commercial news-content agreements with Google and Facebook.

  Aftermath. The arrangements created direct commercial relationships between the publisher and major digital platforms during a period of regulatory change.

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• 2020Sell Pacific MagazinesM&A

  Seven West Media reduced its exposure to magazine publishing as the media sector shifted toward digital distribution and changing advertising economics.

  What changed. The company sold Pacific Magazines to Bauer Media Group.

  Aftermath. The divestment narrowed the portfolio toward television, news publishing and digital media.

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• 2011Combine Seven Media Group with West Australian Newspapers HoldingsM&A

  The parties sought to bring national television and digital operations together with a major Western Australian newspaper and publishing business.

  What changed. West Australian Newspapers Holdings acquired Seven Media Group and created the Seven West Media structure.

  Aftermath. The transaction formed a diversified media group spanning television, publishing, magazines and digital services.

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• 2026Merger with Southern Cross Media Group completed

  The merger was completed on 7 January 2026. Seven West Media became a Southern Cross subsidiary and was delisted from the ASX.

  M&AOther
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• 2025Seven West Media agrees to acquire regional television assets

  The company announced an agreement to buy several Southern Cross Austereo regional Seven-affiliated stations for A$3.75 million; the transaction was completed in July.

  M&A
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• 2025Seven West Media and Southern Cross Media Group announce merger

  Seven West Media and Southern Cross Media Group announced their intention to merge, leading to a change in ownership and corporate status.

  M&A
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• 2024Seven West Media announces restructuring and job reductions

  Seven West Media announced that it would eliminate up to 150 positions and reorganise around Television, Digital and Western Australia divisions.

  Leadership change
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• 2022Seven West Ventures takes equity in View Media Group

  The company's venture subsidiary announced an equity investment in View Media Group.

  M&A
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• 2021Seven West Media signs news-content agreements with Google and Facebook

  The company reached commercial news arrangements with major digital platforms during Australia's debate over mandatory payments for news content.

  Regulation
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• 2020Pacific Magazines sold to Bauer Media Group

  Seven West Media sold its Pacific Magazines portfolio, including several established Australian lifestyle and consumer titles.

  M&A
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• 2013KKR exits its remaining Seven West Media interest

  KKR sold its remaining stake in Seven West Media, ending its direct equity position in the company.

  M&A
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• 2011Seven Media Group and West Australian Newspapers plan combination

  The television and digital assets of Seven Media Group were combined with West Australian Newspapers Holdings, creating the Seven West Media group.

  M&AOther
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1. Seven West Media
2. Seven West Media official website