Southern Cross Media Group
Southern Cross Media Group is an Australian media conglomerate with interests in commercial television, radio, newspapers, digital publishing and related media services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Southern Cross Media Group is an Australian media conglomerate headquartered in South Melbourne. The group developed from Macquarie Media Group and has operated across several major segments of the Australian media industry, including commercial television, radio broadcasting, newspapers, online publishing, business directories and commercial printing. Its portfolio has included Southern Cross Austereo, the Seven Network, Western Australian newspapers and a range of digital and regional media assets. The company's modern corporate identity dates from 17 December 2009, when shareholders approved a restructuring and Macquarie Media Group was renamed Southern Cross Media Group. The change followed the 2007 acquisition of Southern Cross Broadcasting, a transaction that substantially expanded Macquarie Media Group's exposure to Australian broadcasting and media. Southern Cross Broadcasting had recommended Macquarie Media Group's A$1.35 billion takeover offer in July 2007, and the acquisition of its assets was completed on 5 November 2007. As part of the transaction structure, metropolitan radio stations were subsequently sold to Fairfax Media. Southern Cross Media Group's broadcasting interests have covered both radio and television. Through Southern Cross Austereo, the group has been associated with the Hit Network, Triple M and the LiSTNR audio platform. These operations provide metropolitan and regional radio services, music and talk programming, live audio, podcasts and other on-demand content. The group has also held television interests involving the Seven Network and a range of digital multichannels and video-on-demand services, including 7two, 7mate, 7Bravo, 7flix and 7plus. Other television interests have included Racing.com and several regional or joint-venture services carrying Network 10 or Nine programming. Its publishing and information businesses have included The West Australian, The Sunday Times, The Nightly, Community Newspaper Group, regional newspapers and magazines, business directories, online advertising initiatives and employment-related services such as Wjobs. The broader portfolio has also included commercial printing plants, street and travel directories, lifestyle publications and a minority non-voting investment in American Consolidated Media. This combination has made the group more diversified than a single-format broadcaster, although the composition of the portfolio has changed over time through disposals, restructurings and strategic transactions. Macquarie Group reduced its direct involvement in the company in March 2016 by selling a 15.7% interest valued at A$130 million. Nine Entertainment acquired 9.9% of that interest, but sold its stake six months later. The company's television position changed substantially in 2025 after Seven West Media acquired Southern Cross Austereo's remaining television assets in July. Southern Cross Austereo consequently exited television, leaving the group's media profile more concentrated around audio and related operations while Seven West Media controlled the transferred television assets. In September 2025, Southern Cross Media Group and Seven West Media announced plans to combine. The merger was completed on 7 January 2026, according to the supplied reference material. Following completion, Seven West Media chief executive Jeff Howard led the merged companies as chief executive and managing director until late February 2026. Southern Cross chairman Heith Mackay-Cruise was identified as succeeding Kerry Stokes as group chairman. Because the post-merger corporate structure and the group's continuing legal and brand arrangements may evolve, the current status of Southern Cross Media Group as a distinct corporate entity requires verification.
History
Southern Cross Media Group traces its corporate development to Macquarie Media Group and the acquisition of Southern Cross Broadcasting. On 3 July 2007, Southern Cross Broadcasting recommended Macquarie Media Group's A$1.35 billion offer. The proposed structure included the later sale of metropolitan radio stations to Fairfax Media. Macquarie Media Group completed its acquisition of Southern Cross Broadcasting's assets on 5 November 2007, expanding its presence in Australian broadcast media. The group underwent a major corporate restructuring in 2009. Shareholders approved the restructuring on 17 December, and Macquarie Media Group was renamed Southern Cross Media Group. The new identity reflected the company's broader media portfolio and its association with the Southern Cross assets. Over subsequent years, the group operated across radio, television, newspapers, online publishing, directories and commercial printing rather than focusing on a single media format. Its radio holdings became associated with Southern Cross Austereo, including the Hit Network and Triple M. These networks served metropolitan and regional Australian markets with music, entertainment, talk and sports-oriented programming. The group later added or supported LiSTNR, an audio application providing live and on-demand access to radio stations and podcasts. The audio portfolio became one of the company's most identifiable continuing businesses. The television portfolio included interests in the Seven Network and a number of multichannel, regional and digital services. These included 7two, 7mate, 7Bravo, 7flix and 7plus, together with Racing.com and several joint-venture or affiliated regional services. The group also maintained interests connected with Network 10 and Nine programming in particular markets. The exact composition of these holdings changed over time as broadcasting licences, assets and partnerships were transferred or reorganised. Southern Cross Media Group also had substantial publishing and information assets. These included The West Australian, The Sunday Times, The Nightly, Community Newspaper Group, regional newspapers and magazines, business directories, online advertising projects, employment-related services, street directories and lifestyle publications. The group additionally operated two commercial printing plants and held a 10% non-voting interest in American Consolidated Media. Its historical portfolio therefore combined mass-media distribution with local publishing and business-information products. In March 2016, Macquarie Group sold a 15.7% interest in Southern Cross Media Group for A$130 million. Nine Entertainment purchased 9.9% of the business from that sale, although Nine disposed of the stake six months later. This transaction marked a further reduction in Macquarie's involvement and illustrated the changing ownership pattern around the group. A decisive change came in 2025. Seven West Media acquired Southern Cross Austereo's remaining television assets in July, and Southern Cross Austereo exited television. In September, the two companies announced their intention to merge by early 2026. The supplied reference material states that the merger was completed on 7 January 2026. It also states that Jeff Howard led the merged companies as chief executive and managing director until late February 2026, while Heith Mackay-Cruise succeeded Kerry Stokes as group chairman. The post-merger legal status, asset allocation and future use of the Southern Cross corporate identity should be checked against current corporate filings and official announcements.
- 2026
Merger completed
[1]The merger with Seven West Media was completed on 7 January 2026, according to the supplied reference material.
- 2025
Television asset transfer to Seven West Media
[1]Seven West Media acquired Southern Cross Austereo's remaining television assets in July, followed by Southern Cross Austereo's exit from television.
- 2025
Merger plan announced
[1]Southern Cross Media Group and Seven West Media announced plans to merge by early 2026.
- 2016
Macquarie Group stake sale
[1]Macquarie Group sold a 15.7% interest valued at A$130 million; Nine Entertainment acquired 9.9% of the holding before later selling it.
- 2009
Corporate restructuring and name change
[1]Shareholders approved a restructuring on 17 December, and Macquarie Media Group adopted the Southern Cross Media Group name.
- 2007
Southern Cross Broadcasting takeover recommended
[1]Southern Cross Broadcasting recommended Macquarie Media Group's A$1.35 billion takeover offer on 3 July.
- 2007
Southern Cross Broadcasting assets acquired
[1]Macquarie Media Group completed the acquisition of Southern Cross Broadcasting's assets on 5 November.
Products and positioning
A diversified Australian commercial media group spanning broadcast television, radio, digital audio, newspapers, online publishing and related information services, with a significant emphasis on national and regional distribution.
Radio and audio media group
Southern Cross Austereo
Southern Cross Austereo is the group's principal radio and audio operation. Its portfolio has included metropolitan and regional radio services, the Hit Network, Triple M and the LiSTNR digital audio platform. The business combines live broadcasting with podcasts and on-demand programming. Following the 2025 transfer of its remaining television assets to Seven West Media, Southern Cross Austereo exited television and became more focused on audio.
Commercial radio network
Hit Network
The Hit Network is a metropolitan and regional Australian radio network associated with Southern Cross Austereo. It is positioned around hot adult contemporary programming, entertainment and personality-led radio. The network provides a broad commercial format designed to reach mainstream adult listeners across multiple Australian markets.
Commercial radio network
Triple M
Triple M is a metropolitan and regional commercial radio network associated with Southern Cross Austereo. Its programming has been described as combining mainstream rock and modern adult contemporary formats with talk, sport and entertainment content. The network extends across multiple Australian markets and is one of the group's established broadcast brands.
Digital audio platform
LiSTNR
LiSTNR is an audio application providing live and on-demand access to radio stations and podcasts. It represents the group's digital extension beyond scheduled terrestrial broadcasting, bringing together streamed radio and spoken-word audio in a single platform.
Commercial television network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network that formed part of Southern Cross Media Group's television interests before the 2025 transfer of the group's remaining television assets to Seven West Media. It is accompanied by digital multichannels and digital distribution services in the broader Seven television portfolio.
Video-on-demand service
7plus
7plus is a video-on-demand and catch-up television service carrying programming from the Seven Network and its associated multichannels. It provides an online distribution layer for live and previously broadcast content and formed part of the Seven-related television assets.
Newspaper
The West Australian
The West Australian is a major Western Australian newspaper included among the group's publishing assets. It represents Southern Cross Media Group's exposure to state-level news, commentary, advertising and print publishing in addition to its broadcast businesses.
Sunday newspaper
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a Western Australian Sunday newspaper associated with the group's publishing portfolio. It complements weekday newspaper operations with weekend news, features, advertising and general-interest content.
Digital news publication
The Nightly
The Nightly is an online news publication listed among the group's news and publishing assets. It extends the portfolio into digital news distribution and complements the group's print newspaper interests.
Brand decisions
2026
Merger with Seven West MediaM&ABackground
The planned combination followed the transfer of Southern Cross Austereo's remaining television assets to Seven West Media.
Action taken
Southern Cross Media Group and Seven West Media announced their intention to merge in September 2025, and the merger was completed on 7 January 2026.
Aftermath
Jeff Howard led the merged companies as chief executive and managing director until late February 2026, while Heith Mackay-Cruise succeeded Kerry Stokes as group chairman, according to the supplied reference material.
2025
Transfer of remaining television assets to Seven West MediaM&ABackground
Southern Cross Media Group and Seven West Media reorganised their television interests ahead of a proposed corporate combination.
Action taken
Seven West Media acquired Southern Cross Austereo's remaining television assets in July 2025.
Aftermath
Southern Cross Austereo exited television, leaving the group more concentrated on radio and audio operations before the subsequent merger.
2016
Macquarie Group stake reductionM&ABackground
Macquarie Group reduced its ownership exposure to Southern Cross Media Group.
Action taken
Macquarie Group sold a 15.7% stake valued at A$130 million. Nine Entertainment acquired 9.9% of the interest and sold it six months later.
Aftermath
The transaction changed the company's shareholder composition and further reduced Macquarie's direct involvement.
Stake sale value. A$130 million (March 2016)
2009
Restructuring and rebranding as Southern Cross Media GroupStrategyBackground
The company undertook a shareholder-approved restructuring after the Southern Cross Broadcasting acquisition.
Action taken
On 17 December, shareholders approved the restructuring and the company changed its name from Macquarie Media Group to Southern Cross Media Group.
Aftermath
The new name established the Southern Cross identity for a diversified portfolio spanning broadcasting, publishing and related media services.
2007
Acquisition of Southern Cross BroadcastingM&ABackground
Macquarie Media Group sought to expand its Australian media holdings through the acquisition of Southern Cross Broadcasting.
Action taken
Southern Cross Broadcasting recommended a A$1.35 billion offer in July, and the acquisition of its assets was completed on 5 November. Metropolitan radio stations were subsequently onsold to Fairfax Media under the transaction structure.
Aftermath
The transaction significantly broadened Macquarie Media Group's broadcasting and media portfolio and preceded the company's 2009 renaming as Southern Cross Media Group.
Recent events
Nine completes acquisition of Macquarie Media[2]
Reported:
Nine completed its takeover of Macquarie Media on Friday, becoming the owner of the company.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
Sources2 sources
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