Southern Cross Austereo

Last updated

Southern Cross Austereo
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Broadcast radio and television network
FoundedJuly 2011
Headquarters
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Parent Southern Cross Media Group
Website southerncrossaustereo.com.au

Southern Cross Media Group Limited, doing business as Southern Cross Austereo, is an Australian media company which operates broadcast radio and television stations. It is the largest radio broadcaster in Australia, operating 86 radio stations, and has a reach into every state and territory.

Contents

The company is headquartered in South Melbourne. It was founded in 2004 as a subsidiary of Macquarie Bank for the purpose of acquiring regional radio stations, before expanding into television broadcasting in 2007 with the acquisition of Southern Cross Broadcasting. It also operates the LISTNR platform in Australia.

History

2004–05: RG Capital & DMG Regional Radio acquisitions

On 3 June 2004, Macquarie Bank announced it would acquire RG Capital Radio for $173 million, gaining control of 36 radio stations in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania. [1] [2] The Federal Court of Australia approved the acquisition in August 2004, [3] with the stations to be operated through the company's Regional Media Limited subsidiary, trading as Macquarie Regional RadioWorks. The acquisition was finalised on 1 September 2004.

On 3 September 2004, Macquarie Bank announced its acquisition of DMG Radio Australia's regional radio assets. [4] The $193.5 million deal included 57 regional stations, with DMG retaining Hot 91.1 Sunshine Coast and Star 104.5 Gosford alongside its metropolitan assets. This increased Regional Media's reach into South Australia and Western Australia, initially controlling 93 radio stations and becoming the largest commercial radio network in Australia. However, as the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 prevents companies from controlling more than two commercial radio stations in a regional market, Regional Media was required to divest radio stations in Albury, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton/Gladstone and Townsville. On 1 September 2005, 2AY Albury was acquired by Ace Radio, [5] while six stations in the remaining five markets were sold to Prime Television. [6]

On 17 November 2005 the company was restructured into a triple-stapled structure consisting of an Australian-based private company and trust, and an additional private company based in Bermuda. Macquarie Media Group was in turn publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, but with majority control retained by Macquarie Bank. In December, Macquarie Bank announced an AU$1.19 billion deal to acquire a 40% stake in Taiwanese cable television provider Taiwan Broadband Communications from equity firm The Carlyle Group, [7] 60% of which would be financed by Macquarie Media Group. [8] In March 2008, the company divested its stake to the Macquarie Korea Opportunities Fund in a $400 million deal. [9]

2006–08: American Consolidated Media & Southern Cross acquisitions

By 2006, Macquarie Regional RadioWorks was increasingly networking news and programming on its 86 radio stations from a series of hubs in Bendigo, Bunbury, the Gold Coast and Townsville. This was criticised by a number of politicians, including Nationals MPs Paul Neville and Barnaby Joyce. [10] In response, the Minister for Communications Helen Coonan introduced the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Act 2006, including requiring each commercial radio licence to produce 4.5 hours of 'locally significant' content each business day commencing from 1 January 2008. [11] [12] This was later relaxed to 3 hours for most stations, with exemptions for smaller stations. [13]

In November 2006, Macquarie Media Group purchased a 13.8% stake in Southern Cross Broadcasting, acquiring 10 million shares for AU$195 million. [14] On 25 January 2007, the company's interests expanded into the United States, with the acquisition of newspaper publisher American Consolidated Media for US$80 million (AU$102 million). [15]

On 3 July 2007, Macquarie Media Group announced a takeover bid of Southern Cross Broadcasting, offering AU$17.41 per share for a total value of $1.35 billion. [16] [17] Under the deal, Macquarie would assume Southern Cross Broadcasting's regional television assets – Southern Cross Television, affiliated with the Seven Network; Southern Cross Ten, affiliated with Network Ten; and Tasmanian Digital Television, a joint-venture with WIN Corporation. Its remaining assets, including metropolitan radio stations, Satellite Music Australia and Southern Star Group, were to be onsold to Fairfax Media for AU$520 million. [16] [17] In return, Macquarie would acquire nine regional radio stations from Fairfax – three in Queensland: 4BU and Hitz FM Bundaberg and River 94.9 Ipswich; and six in South Australia: 5AU and Magic 105.9 Port Augusta, 5CC and Magic 89.9 Port Lincoln, and 5RM and Magic 93.1 Renmark. [18] The Australian Communications & Media Authority gave prior approval to the deal, with the caveat that 12 radio stations currently controlled by Macquarie would be sold pursuant to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. [19] On 17 October, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission approved the deal, but ruled that the deal for Fairfax to sell nine radio stations to Macquarie would result in a "substantial lessening of competition". [20]

On 5 November, Macquarie Media Group acquired Southern Cross Broadcasting, selling its non-television assets to Fairfax Media the following day. [21] On 12 December, both parties abandoned negotiations for the South Australian and Queensland radio stations. [22] On 14 March 2008, Macquarie divested 18 radio stations for AU$34.5 million. [23] Nine Tasmanian stations were sold to Grant Broadcasters, [19] [24] with four Queensland stations sold to Smart Radio. [19] 4AM Atherton was bought by Coastal Broadcasters Pty Ltd, owners of 4KZ and Kool FM Innisfail, while 3GG Gippsland and 4GC and Hot FM Charters Towers were sold to Resonate Broadcasting, [19] a new entity formed by Austereo executives Guy Dobson and Rex Morris. [25] While only one of Macquarie's two stations in Young, New South Wales were required to be sold, both 2LF and Star FM were sold to Broadcast Operations Group. [19]

Following the Southern Cross Broadcasting acquisition, Macquarie's regional radio and television business commenced trading as Macquarie Southern Cross Media. [26]

2009–10: Restructure

In August 2009, Macquarie Media Group posted a loss of $84.6 million in 2008-09, compared with a $273 million profit in the previous financial year. [27] Despite lower revenue, the Group's Australian assets delivered a profit of $123.4 million, but ACM significant losses [28]

In December 2009, MMG security holders voted in favour of a conversion from a triple-stapled structure to a single ASX-listed company. MMG was renamed Southern Cross Media Group with former RG Capital Radio CEO Rhys Holleran as the Chief Executive Officer. [29]

Austereo

Austereo Group logo used until July 2011 Austereo-radio-network-brand.svg
Austereo Group logo used until July 2011

The company was founded by Paul Thompson, and when commercial FM broadcasting was introduced into Australia it acquired the licence for metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia; SAFM commenced transmission in September 1980. The next station to join the network was FOX FM in Melbourne, Victoria in 1986, eventually to be followed by 2Day FM in Sydney, New South Wales and 4BK in Brisbane, Queensland for which the company was successful in converting to the FM band in 1990. Austereo also purchased AM radio station 6IX in Perth, Western Australia with the intention of converting the station to FM. 6IX, which had been re-launched by Austereo as The Eagle 1080 AM, was consequently sold off after being outbid for either of the two new FM licences by rivals 6KY and 6PM, which Austereo now own.

1995 saw a monopolistic arrangement take place whereby Village Roadshow purchased the Hoyts owned Triple M network, and Triple M in turn merged with Austereo to form a single umbrella company. [30] [31] [32] The merger was part of a single deal that was unpopular due to the fierce rivalry between the two radio networks, and the fact that Village Roadshow and Hoyts were also direct competitors in the film industry. [33]

Merger

In March 2011, Southern Cross Media launched an A$714 million takeover bid of national radio broadcaster, the Austereo Group. [34] On 6 April 2011 shareholders of the Austereo Group accepted the takeover bid, giving SCM a more than 90% share in the company. [35] Southern Cross Media and Austereo merged in July 2011 to form Southern Cross Austereo. [36]

Post-merger

2010s

Starting from 7 November 2011, Southern Cross Austereo slowly rolled out 9Gem, 9Go!, 7two, 7mate and One as digital channels across the GTS/BKN areas. [37]

On 23 August 2012, Guy Dobson (director of metro radio) was announced as Chief Officer of Content for the Southern Cross Austereo network, working across radio and television. [38]

Southern Cross began broadcasting the shopping channel TVSN, already carried by Network 10, in December 2012 on LCN 54 in Southern Cross Ten markets, on LCN 64 in Tasmania and on LCN 74 in Darwin.

Southern Cross began broadcasting its own datacast channel, Aspire TV on 21 May 2013 on LCN 56 in Southern Cross Ten markets, on LCN 66 in Tasmania and on LCN 76 in Darwin.

On 7 December 2013, the company switched GDS/BDN to a feed of NWS Adelaide. [39] [ non-primary source needed ]

In October 2014, the company announced it would relaunch SAFM in Adelaide as Hit 107, [40] with a staggered Hit Network-wide relaunch announced in December. [41] On 14 January 2015, the network was relaunched as Today's Hit Network, with the relaunch extending to Canberra in January 2016. [42] Sea FM Hobart was relaunched as Hit100.9 in February, [43] with the remaining network stations adopting the Hit Network branding as part of a national brand consolidation in December. [44]

Southern Cross began broadcasting Racing.com on 29 August 2015, the same day the channel was officially launched, in Seven-affiliated markets on LCN 68 in Tasmania, Broken Hill and the Spencer Gulf and on LCN 78 in Darwin. [45]

In March 2016, gaming news publisher Press Start was acquired by Southern Cross Austereo, which resulted in its founder and owner Shannon Grixti being appointed as managing director of Press Start starting on 27 March 2016. [46] Grixti launched Press Start in early 2014 and the acquisition was completed on 8 June 2016. [47]

On 29 April 2016, Southern Cross Austereo announced that it had signed a five-year affiliation deal with Nine Entertainment Co., owner of the Nine Network, for almost $500 million, taking the place of WIN Television as the primary regional Nine affiliate. On 1 July 2016, Southern Cross switched its primary affiliation from Network Ten to the Nine Network and Nine's metropolitan branding was introduced across Southern Cross' television assets in Queensland, Southern NSW and Victoria, [48] joining its existing Nine affiliate station in Spencer Gulf, SA and Broken Hill, NSW. Southern Cross' Northern NSW station, NRN, was not part of the deal as the Nine-owned NBN Television already operated in the region. [49] [48]

Upon the affiliation change, the channel listing for Southern Cross' Nine-affiliated stations was reshuffled with Nine on channel 5 and 51, 9HD on channels 50, 9Gem on channel 52 in standard definition, 9Go! on channel 53, 9Life on channel 54 and Aspire TV on channel 56. [50] GDS/BDN Spencer Gulf/Broken Hill remained unchanged with Nine on channel 8, 9Gem on channel 80 and 9Go! on channel 88. As a result TVSN stopped broadcasting in the Nine-affiliated markets and was replaced with a To Be Advised slide until being replaced with Yesshop on 1 August 2016.

Due to the need to import and install the required equipment, Southern Cross originally stated that it would not immediately offer Nine's digital services 9HD and 9Life upon the transition; the broadcaster stated that they planned to begin transmitting them by mid-August—a delay which would have caused the third match of the 2016 State of Origin series on 13 July to not be transmitted in high definition in the affected regions—which includes parts of the New South Wales and Queensland regions who play the series. [51] However, on 24 June 2016, Southern Cross Austereo announced that it had been "working tirelessly to get HD to air as quickly as possible", and 9HD became available from launch day on channel 50. [52] The same approach also prompted 9Life to return early on 17 July 2016. [53] [54]

Southern Cross announced on 25 July 2016 that it would broadcast the New Zealand-based home shopping channel Yesshop as a datacast service, on the company's stations. The channel became available on 1 August 2016 in Queensland, Southern NSW, ACT and Victoria on LCN 55; Northern NSW, Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill on LCN 54; Tasmania on LCN 64 and Darwin on LCN 74. [55] However, Yesshop's owner (Yes Retail) made the decision to cease trading on 29 September 2016 citing lack of funds to pay wages and the company's current losses of approximately 20 million dollars. [56] Employees were terminated the same day, and the channels were removed on Freeview later that day. [57]

In November 2016, Southern Cross Austereo signed a long-term contract with PodcastOne to launch a localised version of the online podcast service, rebranded as PodcastOne Australia. The service launched sometime in early 2017. [58]

In December 2016, the company lodged a planning application with the ACT Government to demolish the CTC studios, administration and playout facility at Watson to make way for a residential development. [59] The proposed studio campus demolition comes just over a year after WIN Television closed its Canberra studios at Kingston, moving its offices to the industrial suburb of Fyshwick. [60] The trend of vast television estates making way for residential developments has been seen in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. In 2009 however, a planned redevelopment of the original ATV studios at Nunawading in Melbourne was cancelled due to a slump in property prices.

In March 2017, Southern Cross Austereo announced that it would be launching a high definition simulcast of its main Seven-affiliated channel, Southern Cross HD in Tasmania on digital channel 60, in time for the first match of the 2017 AFL season later that month. [61] Although SCHD launched in Tasmania on 22 March 2017 (whilst downgrading 7mate to standard definition on digital channel 63), it only began broadcasting Channel 7 programming in native high definition from 19 June 2018. [62]

Following months of negotiations, Southern Cross Austereo finalised an agreement on 28 March 2017 to sell their Ten-affiliated Northern NSW station, NRN, to WIN Television for a total of $55 million, [63] [64] [65] with the sale taking effect on 31 May 2017. [66] [67] Due to operational logistics, WIN did not commence broadcasting their identity to the NRN market until 1 September 2017. This sale relieved Southern Cross of their only sole Ten-affiliated station, with their remaining Ten affiliate, SGS/SCN operating in the Spencer Gulf/Broken Hill region where Southern Cross holds monopoly ownership of all three network affiliates.

On 17 July 2017, Southern Cross Austereo launched American religious channel SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN), owned by evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, as a datacast service. The channel is broadcast in regional Queensland, Southern NSW & ACT, and regional Victoria on channel 55 as well as Spencer Gulf in South Australia, and Broken Hill in New South Wales on channel 54. Despite this, SBN never launched in Northern NSW, because NRN was already owned by WIN at the time. The above list is via Southern Cross' 10-affiliated and then Nine-affiliated stations, and in Tasmania on channel 64 and Darwin on channel 74 via Southern Cross' Seven affiliate stations. [68] [69]

From 1 July 2018, all local branding was phased out on all of Southern Cross Austereo's Seven-affiliated stations in favour of a generic Seven Network branding. Though news services offered by Southern Cross were also scheduled to be rebranded as Seven News on this date, [70] [71] the rebrand was delayed until further notice, citing concerns from Seven about using their news brand but not under their editorial control. [72]

In September 2018, Southern Cross Austereo announced it would transfer its Canberra-based broadcast playout to NPC Media, a joint venture between the Nine and Seven Networks. CTC, via Southern Cross Austereo, would move remaining employees to a leased office facility in Canberra. [73] The changes were expected to be completed by 30 June 2020.

On 30 September 2018, Southern Cross Austereo launched 9Life, in Tasmania, via TDT, [74] and in the Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill regions, via GDS/BDN.

Southern Cross Austereo launched 7HD in Darwin on 26 November 2018. [75]

On 3 December 2018, the Tasmanian station's news bulletin changed its title to Nightly News, followed on 14 January 2019 by GTS/BKN's bulletin. Around the same time, studio production for the Spencer Gulf edition of Nightly News was relocated from Southern Cross' Canberra headquarters to TNT's Hobart studio. [76]

Southern Cross Austereo launched a refreshed logo on 1 July 2019. [77]

2020s

In March 2020, Southern Cross Austereo launched 7HD, 9HD and 10 HD, in the Spencer Gulf/Broken Hill areas, via the stations GTS/BKN, GDS/BDN, and SGS/SCN, as well as making 7mate, 9Gem, and 10 Bold all SD channels, to accommodate the aforementioned HD channels. This is the list of the changes that happened on 19 March 2020: 7HD launched on LCN 60, 7mate moved to LCN 63 from LCN 60 and became a SD channel, the main Seven channel became available on both LCN 6 and 61, 10 HD became available on LCN 50, 10 Peach moved to LCN 53 from LCN 55, 10 Bold moved to LCN 52 from LCN 50 and became a SD channel, and the main 10 channel became available on both LCN 5 and 51. Southern Cross Austereo's Nine channel changes occurred sometime in late March 2020, here is the list of changes that happened to GDS/BDN in March 2020: 9HD became available on LCN 80, the main Nine channel became available on both LCNs 8 and 81, 9Go! moved to LCN 83 from LCN 88, and 9Gem moved to LCN 82 from LCN 80 and it became a SD channel. [78]

In March and April 2020, Southern Cross Austereo outsourced their television play out to NPC Media.

On 27 July 2020, Southern Cross Austereo relaunched the Hit Network, adopting a new logo and "pop-based" music format in an attempt to target a 30–54 year old audience. [79] In addition, Hit 105 Brisbane and Hit 107 Adelaide reverted to their heritage brands B105 and SAFM respectively. On 20 August 2020, Southern Cross Austereo announced the network would introduce statewide networked breakfast programs in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, replacing 19 local shows. [80] [81]

In August 2020, demolition of the entire CTC and Southern Cross Austereo studio site at Watson was completed to make way for a housing development. The demolition marked the end of 46 years as Canberra's home of television and Australia's first colour television station.[ citation needed ]

On 1 December 2020, Southern Cross Austereo switched the affiliation of Mix 94.5 in Perth from the Triple M network to the Hit Network, with Hit92.9 relaunching as 92.9 Triple M. [82]

On 18 February 2021, SCA launched LiSTNR, which would incorporate the rebranded PodcastOne Australia, as well as their existing digital audio content in live streaming radio. SCA continued its partnership with the American PodcastOne with both companies sharing their content. [83]

On 12 March 2021, Nine announced that it would return to WIN Television as its regional affiliate in most markets beginning on 1 July 2021, in a deal that would last at least seven years. [84] [85] This has ended SCA's five-year agreement with the Nine Network. On 25 June 2021, SCA and Network 10 announced a two-year affiliation deal in regional Queensland, Southern NSW and regional Victoria, which introduced 10 Shake into regional areas for the very first time and it broadcasts on Channel 54, [86] as well as Sky News Regional which launched on 1 August 2021 and it broadcasts on Channel 56. [87] On SCA's 10 stations, Aspire TV ceased to broadcast on 31 July 2021, to accommodate Sky News Regional.

On 16 August 2022, SCA converted 7two, 7mate, 10 Bold, and 10 Peach, from the MPEG-2 format to the MPEG-4 format in the Tasmania market. [88]

SCA extended the affiliation deal with 10 to 31 December 2023, on 27 June 2023. [89]

SCA began broadcasting 10's datacast channel, Gecko, on 1 July 2023, on LCN 57, in Southern NSW, the ACT, Regional Victoria, Regional Queensland, Broken Hill, and Spencer Gulf, and on LCN 67 in Tasmania.

Proposed acquisition by ARN Media

In October 2023, ARN Media alongside private equity firm Anchorage Capital Partners made a non-binding indicative offer to acquire 100% of the fully diluted share capital of the company. [90] This comes after ARN acquired a 14.8% stake in SCA in June. [91] Under the proposed sale, the KIIS Network would have remained with ARN, while the Triple M network would have joined ARN. The Hit and Pure Gold networks, SCA's TV stations and LiSTNR would have been purchased by Anchorage. [92] The deal collapsed after Anchorage withdrew. [93]

Brands

Television

Radio

The format of each station is defined by one of two common formats:

Agreements were reached between Southern Cross Austereo, DMG and Prime Television to ensure that existing brand names owned by DMG Radio in regional markets could continue to be used by both Southern Cross Austereo and Prime.

Programming

Radio

Southern Cross Austereo produces its own networked programming across both brands, which include:

NetworkShow nameAnnouncer/sDescription
Hit Carrie & Tommy Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little Afternoon program
HitJimmy & NathJimmy Smith and Nath RoyeNight program
HitThe Pulse with Seany B & Emma GSean Brown and Emma GeorgiadisLate night program
Triple MThe Marty Sheargold Show Marty Sheargold Afternoon program
Triple MNight Shift with Luke BonaLuke BonaLate night talkback program

Some of its stations picked up the Continuous Call Team when Broadcast Operations Group could not resolve broadcast rights issues with 2GB and the National Rugby League. The most notable was Triple M Newcastle, who also picked up rights to cover games of the Newcastle Knights.

Television news

SCA produces regional television news services for its stations affiliated with the Seven Network and Network 10. Full evening news programs air in Tasmania and previously the Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill region with short updates airing in remote Central and Eastern Australia, Darwin, Southern NSW & ACT, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania.

On 3 December 2018, the Tasmanian station's news bulletin changed its title to Nightly News, followed on 14 January 2019 by GTS/BKN's bulletin. Around the same time, studio production for the Spencer Gulf edition of Nightly News was relocated from Southern Cross' Canberra headquarters to TNT's Hobart studio. [76]

In 2019, Southern Cross Austereo shifted the Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill bulletin to 7two at 7:00 pm rather than airing on the main channel.

In May 2021, SCA reached a content agreement with Sky News Australia, under which it would distribute the new free-to-air Sky News Regional beginning 1 August 2021. The service is a de facto replacement for the Sky News on WIN service that it previously distributed. [95] [96] [87]

Following the switch back to Network 10 affiliation on 1 July 2021, Southern Cross returned to producing local news updates on their 10 stations after a five-year absence. The updates carry the 10 News First branding and are produced out of the networks Launceston (QLD updates) and Hobart (Southern NSW and VIC updates) studios. The Southern NSW and Canberra updates are presented by Ruby Cairns, the Regional Queensland updates are presented by Daniel Pizarro, [97] and the Regional Victoria updates are presented by Kasey Wilkins. The updates, which typically don't include any corresponding news footage or soundbites, are researched, produced and presented by a single journalist. Fill-in presenters include Will Boddy, Rebecca Gaitaneris, Philippa Christian and Madeline Kerr.

On 13 April 2023, Southern Cross Austereo cancelled the GTS/BKN bulletin, effective immediately. It is believed that some staff were not informed that the program would be aired for the last time that night until after it went to air. It ends over 50 years of news operations for the Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill regions, and leaves viewers with no local television news service. [98]

Longtime Tasmania updates presenter Alex Sykes left Southern Cross Austereo on 2 May 2023. [99] Madeline Kerr currently presents the updates for Tasmania.

Assets

Radio

Queensland

Licence areaStations that are part of
the Hit Network
Stations that are part of
the Triple M Network
Atherton 4AMM "Hit 97.9 Tablelands" (97.9 MHz FM)
Brisbane 4BBB "B105 Brisbane" (105.3 MHz FM) 4MMM "Triple M Brisbane" (104.5  MHz FM)
Bundaberg 4RGB "Triple M Bundy" (93.1 MHz FM)
Cairns 4HOT "Hit103.5 Cairns" (103.5 MHz FM) 4RGC "Triple M Cairns" (99.5 MHz FM)
Emerald 4HIT "Hit94.7 Emerald" (94.7 MHz FM)
Gold Coast 4SEA "Hit 90.9 Gold Coast" (90.9 MHz FM) 4GLD "Triple M Gold Coast" (92.5 MHz FM)
Kingaroy 4KRY "Hit89.1 South Burnett" (89.1 MHz FM)
Mackay 4MKY "Hit100.3 Mackay and the Whitsundays" (100.3 MHz FM) 4RGM "Triple M Mackay and the Whitsundays" (98.7 MHz FM)
Maryborough 4CEE "Hit101.9 Fraser Coast" (101.9 MHz FM) 4MBB "Triple M Fraser Coast" (103.5 MHz FM)
Mount Isa 4MIC "Hit102.5 Mount Isa" (102.5 MHz FM)
Rockhampton 4ROK "Hit Central Queensland" (107.9 MHz FM) 4RGK "Triple M Central Queensland" (101.5 MHz FM)
Roma 4ROM "Hit95.1 Maranoa" (95.1 MHz FM)
Toowoomba/Warwick (Darling Downs) 4RGD "Hit100.7 Darling Downs" (100.7 MHz FM) 4GR "Triple M Darling Downs" (864 kHz AM)
Townsville 4TSV "Hit103.1 Townsville" (103.1 MHz FM) 4TOO "Triple M Townsville" (102.3 MHz FM)

New South Wales

Licence areaStations that are part of
the Hit Network
Stations that are part of
the Triple M Network
Albury 1 2AAY "Hit104.9 The Border" (104.9 MHz FM) 2BDR "Triple M The Border" (105.7 MHz FM)
Coffs Harbour 2CSF "Hit105.5 Coffs Coast" (105.5 MHz FM) 2CFS "Triple M Coffs Coast" (106.3 MHz FM)
Dubbo 2DBO "Hit91.1 Dubbo" (91.1 MHz FM) 2DUB "Triple M 93.5 Dubbo" (93.5 MHz FM)
Gosford (Central Coast) 2CFM "Hit 101.3 Central Coast" (101.3 MHz FM) 2GGO "Triple M Central Coast" (107.7 MHz FM)
Griffith 2RGF "Hit99.7 Riverina MIA" (99.7 MHz FM) 2RG ""Triple M Riverina MIA" (963 kHz AM)
Kempsey 2 (Mid-North Coast) 2ROX "Hit105.1 Mid North Coast" (105.1 MHz FM) 2PQQ "Triple M Mid North Coast" (106.7 MHz FM)
Newcastle 2XXX "Hit106.9 Newcastle" (106.9 MHz FM) 2KKO "Triple M Newcastle" (102.9 MHz FM)
Orange 2GZF "Hit105.9 Central West" (105.9 MHz FM) 2OAG "Triple M Central West" (105.1 MHz FM)
Sydney 2DAY "2Day FM Sydney" (104.1 MHz FM) 2MMM "Triple M Sydney" (104.9 MHz FM)
Wagga Wagga 2WZD "Hit93.1 Riverina" (93.1 MHz FM) 2WG "Triple M Riverina" (1152 kHz AM)

1. Translators for 2BDR on 90.1 MHz in Omeo and 96.5 MHz in Corryong. There is also a translator for 2AAY in Corryong on 95.7 MHz.
2. Translators on 100.7 MHz (2PQQ) and 102.3 MHz (2ROX) in Port Macquarie.

Australian Capital Territory

Licence areaStations that are part of
the Hit Network
Stations that are part of
ARN's KIIS Network
Canberra 1ROC "Hit104.7 Canberra" (104.7 MHz FM)

1CBR "Mix 106.3 Canberra" (106.3 MHz FM)

Victoria

Licence areaStations that are part of
the Hit Network
Stations that are part of
the Triple M Network
Bendigo 3BDG "Hit91.9 Bendigo" (91.9 MHz FM) 3BBO "Triple M Bendigo" (93.5 MHz FM)
Melbourne 3FOX "Fox FM Melbourne" (101.9 MHz FM) 3MMM "Triple M Melbourne" (105.1 MHz FM)
Mildura 3MDA "Hit99.5 Sunraysia" (99.5 MHz FM) 3RMR "Triple M Sunraysia" (97.9 MHz FM)
Shepparton 3SUN "Hit96.9 Goulburn Valley" (96.9 MHz FM) 3SRR "Triple M Goulburn Valley" (95.3 MHz FM)
Warragul (Gippsland) 3SEA "Triple M Gippsland " (94.3 MHz FM1)

1. Re-transmitter at 97.9 MHz FM in Traralgon.

Tasmania

Licence areaStations that are part of
the Hit Network
Stations that are part of
the Triple M Network
Hobart 7TTT "Hit 100.9 Hobart" (100.9 MHz FM) 7XXX "Triple M Hobart" (107.3 MHz FM)

South Australia

Licence areaStations that are part of
the Hit Network
Stations that are part of
the Triple M Network
Adelaide 5SSA "SAFM Adelaide" (107.1 MHz FM) 5MMM "Triple M Adelaide" (104.7 MHz FM)
Mount Gambier 5SEF "SAFM Limestone Coast" (96.1 MHz FM) 5SE "Triple M Limestone Coast"(963 kHz AM)

Western Australia

Licence areaStations that are part of
the Hit Network
Stations that are part of
the Triple M Network
Albany 6AAY "Hit106.5 Karratha" (106.5 MHz FM)6VA "Triple M Karratha" (783 kHz AM)
Bridgetown 6BET "Hit Southwest" (100.5 MHz FM) 6BY "Triple M Southwest" (900 kHz AM)
Broome 6HED "Hit101.3 Broome" (106.5 MHz FM)6NWR "Triple M Broome" (102.9 MHz FM)
Bunbury 6BUN "Hit" (101.3 MHz FM) 6TZ "Triple M Southwest" (963 kHz AM)1
Carnarvon 6CAR "Hit99.7 Carnarvon" (99.7 MHz FM)6LN "Triple M Carnarvon" (666 kHz AM)
Esperance 6SEA "Hit102.3 Esperance" (102.3 MHz FM)6SE "Triple M Esperance" (747 kHz AM)
Geraldton 6GGG "Hit96.5 Geraldton" (96.5 MHz FM)6BAY "Triple M Geraldton" (98.1 MHz FM)
Kalgoorlie 6KAR "Hit97.9 Goldfields" (97.9 MHz FM)6 kg "Triple M Goldfields" (981 kHz AM)
Karratha 6RED "Hit106.5 Karratha" (106.5 MHz FM)6KA "Triple M Karratha" (102.5 MHz FM)
Katanning 6KAN "Hit94.9 Great Southern" (94.9 MHz FM)6WB "Triple M Great Southern" (1071 kHz AM)
Merredin 6MER "Hit105.1 Central Wheatbelt" (105.1 MHz FM)6MD "Triple M Central Wheatbelt" (1098 kHz AM)
Narrogin 6NAN "Hit100.5 Great Southern" (100.5 MHz FM)6NA "Triple M Great Southern" (918 kHz AM)
Northam 6NAM "Hit96.5 Avon Valley" (96.5 MHz FM)6AM "Triple M Avon Valley" (864 kHz AM)
Perth 6MIX "Mix 94.5" (94.5 MHz FM)6PPM "Triple M Perth' (92.9 MHz FM)
Port Hedland 6HED "Hit91.7 Port Hedland" (91.7 MHz FM)6NW "Triple M Port Hedland" (94.1 MHz FM)
Remote Western Australia 6FMS "Hit WA"6SAT "Triple M WA"

1. 6TZ also re-transmitted via 1134 kHz AM in Collie (6CI, now listed by the Australian Communications & Media Authority under 6TZ), [100] and 756 kHz AM in Busselton and the Margaret River region.

Television

New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory

Northern Territory and Remote Areas of Eastern Australia

Queensland

South Australia

Victoria

Tasmania

1. Southern Cross has a monopoly on commercial television in this market. The services other than GTS and BKN are retransmissions from Adelaide with local advertising.
2. This station was launched as a digital-only service, co-owned by the two existing commercial broadcasters in the market.

Digital radio

Southern Cross Austereo broadcasts a number of digital only radio stations, including:

In 2021 Southern Cross Austereo announced it has invested in content discovery company Sonnant, [102] to add metadata to their digital content [103]

Internet radio

Southern Cross Austereo broadcasts a number of internet radio stations on the LiSTNR platform. The launch of LiSTNR in February 2021 consisted of 15 music stations initially, with plans to add more stations and shows in the future. [104] [105]

Station NameLaunch dateGenre
Almost AcousticFebruary 2021;3 years agoEasy chillout, pop, rock, country
Blender BeatsFebruary 2021;3 years agoPop, Hip-hop, R&B, 2000s, Dance, Electronica
Cover UpFebruary 2021;3 years agoPop, 2000s, 90s, 80s
Fit HitsFebruary 2021;3 years agoPop, Dance, Electronica
Good VibesFebruary 2021;3 years agoEasy chillout, 2000s, 90s
Heart BreakersFebruary 2021;3 years agoEasy chillout, 80s, 90s, Love songs
HomegrownFebruary 2021;3 years agoNew music, Rock, Pop, Australian music
Karaoke StageFebruary 2021;3 years agoPop, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s
LatinoFebruary 2021;3 years agoPop
NoughtiesFebruary 2021;3 years ago2000s
Rock 'n' Road TripFebruary 2021;3 years agoRock
Stress FreeFebruary 2021;3 years agoEasy chillout
Top 30February 2021;3 years agoChart hits, New music
Trending NowFebruary 2021;3 years agoNew music, Chart hits
Yacht RockFebruary 2021;3 years agoRock, 70s
JazzJuly 2021;3 years agoJazz
Girl PowerJuly 2021;3 years agoPop, 2000s, 90s, Chart hits
Crooners & SwoonersJuly 2021;3 years agoJazz
70s HitsJuly 2021;3 years ago70s, Rock, Pop, Chart hits
Kids HitsJuly 2021;3 years agoKids
80s New WaveJuly 2021;3 years ago80s, Chart hits
IndigenousJuly 2021;3 years agoIndigenous, Hip-hop, R&B, Pop
90s Soft PopJuly 2021;3 years ago90s, Pop, Chart hits
Guilty PleasuresJuly 2021;3 years agoChart hits, 90s
Indie & AltJuly 2021;3 years agoRock, New music, Pop
Sound States - SleepMay 2022;2 years agoAmbient
Sound States - FocusMay 2022;2 years agoAmbient
Sound States - Focus (Brown Noise Only)May 2022;2 years agoAmbient
60s HitsJune 2022;2 years ago60s, Rock, Pop
2010sJuly 2022;2 years agoChart hits, 2010s
Hard N Heavy
(previously Triple M Hard N Heavy on DAB+ digital radio from 2019 to 2022)
November 2022;1 year agoHard rock
Buddha
(previously Buddha Hits on DAB+ digital radio from 2012 to 2022)
December 2022;1 year agoEasy listening, Chillout
Chill Pop HitsMarch 2023;1 year agoSoft pop, Easy listening
Mushroom 50 (in collaboration with Mushroom Records)2023;1 year agoIndigenous, 80s, 90s, Rock, Australian music
Easy Hits
(previously Easy Hits on DAB+ digital radio from 2016 to 2023)
2023;1 year agoEasy listening, 2000s, 90s, 80s

Podcasts

SCA's LiSTNR app hosts selected PodcastOne podcasts from the US as well as many locally-produced podcasts, including content from Hamish Blake, Dylan Alcott, Christopher Pyne, Rosie Waterland, and others. [83]

The Briefing is a news podcast featuring presenters and journalists such as Tom Tilley, Jan Fran, Katrina Blowers, Antoinette Lattouf, Jamila Rizvi, [106] Sacha Barbour-Gatt, and Bension Siebert. [107]

Advertising sales

As well as advertising sales for all their own assets, SCA were also in charge of advertising for the Nine owned and operated station NBN from 1 July 2018, [108] until the advertising sales were sold to WIN on 1 July 2021 and then Nine Entertainment on 1 July 2022. [109]

Former owned and operated stations

Due to conditions placed upon the takeover of DMG Radio's regional stations in 2005, Macquarie Southern Cross Media had to sell these stations to other parties:

Further, due to conditions triggered by the purchase of the assets of Southern Cross Broadcasting, [110] Macquarie Media Group was required to sell further stations to meet further diversity requirements at the time; the transactions to satisfy this being completed on 14 March 2008: [24]

Southern Cross Austereo was made to sell 91.9 Sea FM and 92.7 Mix FM on the Sunshine Coast, due to the larger than allowed overlap between the stations' licence area and that of Brisbane. [111] In 2013, the two stations were sold to Eon Broadcasting.

Controversies

Ownership and control

On 16 February 2006, the Australian Communications & Media Authority commenced an investigation into the ownership of radio stations by Elmie Investments, owned by Stuart Simpson. [112] [113] The investigation revealed that Macquarie Regional RadioWorks had funded $9 million of Simpson's $10 million acquisition of five radio stations from AMI Radio. [112] The radio stations in question – EasyMix Ten-71 Bendigo and EasyMix 1467 Mildura in Victoria, 4EL Cairns and 4AA Mackay in Queensland and, in Western Australia, Easy Mix 621 Bunbury – were located in markets where RadioWorks already controlled two commercial radio licences, and in November 2007 the company was found to be in breach of sections 54 and 56 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. [114] [115] The stations had been divested from Elmie Investments before the conclusion of the investigation.

Kyle & Jackie O child rape victim incident

In 2009, 2Day FM were ordered to provide increased protection for children after a 14-year-old girl was attached to a lie detector on the Kyle and Jackie O Show and pressured into discussing her sex life live on air. The radio show host, Kyle Sandilands, encouraged both the girl and her mother to discuss whether she was sexually active, to which the girl responded: "I've already told you the story of this and don't look at me and smile because it's not funny. Oh, okay. I got raped when I was 12 years old." To which Kyle replied: "Right. And is that, is that the only experience you've had?" [116] [117]

Summer 30 royal hoax call incident

As part of a hoax call to the King Edward VII's Hospital Sister Agnes treating the wife of Prince William for acute morning sickness in the critical first trimester of pregnancy, 2Day DJs – Mike Christian and Mel Greig – purported to be the Queen and the Prince of Wales. An experienced 46-year-old nurse, Jacintha Saldanha, took the call. During the call, she and colleagues were conned into revealing sensitive details regarding the patient's condition. [118]

The nurse was found dead the following morning in a suspected suicide at the hospital where she worked. [119]

There is some disagreement over the legality of the incident, with the hospital expressing concern that the incident may have broken the law and Rhys Holleran, the chief executive of 2Day FM's parent company Southern Cross Austereo, stating he was confident that was not the case. [120]

At a Federal Court hearing, it became known that Australian media watchdog Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) had prepared a confidential, preliminary report saying that the Radio Royal hoax 'broke law'. 2Day FM acted illegally by airing the phone call without consent. [121]

See also

Related Research Articles

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WIN Television is an Australian television network owned by WIN Corporation that is based in Wollongong, New South Wales. WIN commenced transmissions on 18 March 1962 as a single television station covering the Wollongong region. The WIN Network has since grown to cover much of regional Australia. The network's name, WIN, originates from its first station, Wollongong's WIN-4. WIN has a programme supply agreement with metropolitan broadcaster Nine Network, covering its stations in Regional Queensland, Southern and Western New South Wales, Griffith, Regional Victoria, Mildura, Tasmania, Eastern South Australia, and Regional Western Australia. WIN also has a programme supply agreement with third-placed metropolitan broadcaster Network 10 for its Northern New South Wales station. WIN also produces and broadcasts weeknight half-hour local news bulletins across its Queensland, southern New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania markets as WIN News.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TNT (Australian TV station)</span> Australian television station

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10 is an Australian television network distributed by Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) in regional Queensland, southern New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, regional Victoria, the Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill. SCA's network is the primary affiliate of Network 10 in most regional areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GTS/BKN</span> Regional TV stations in Australia

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In Australia, regional television is the local television services outside of the five main Australian cities.

NRN is a television station originating in Coffs Harbour, Australia. The station is owned by WIN Corporation as part of the WIN Network. As a Network 10 program affiliate, it relays 10 content into the northern New South Wales broadcast market. The station was formally a partnership between NRN-11 Coffs Harbour and RTN-8 Lismore.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea FM</span> Former Australian radio network

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hit 100.9</span> Radio station in Hobart, Tasmania

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVSN</span> Australian and New Zealand home shopping television network owned by Direct Group

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Triple M Central Queensland is a commercial radio station broadcasting from Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. It is owned by Southern Cross Austereo and broadcasts an Adult Contemporary (AC) format. It features both locally produced content and nationally syndicated content. It has two repeaters, one at Gladstone (95.1FM) and Mount Murchison (101.1FM). It was previously known as '101.5/95.1 Sea FM' until it was rebranded as Triple M in December 2016, alongside many other Southern Cross Austereo stations.

West Digital Television is an Australian digital television network jointly owned by Seven West Media and WIN Corporation. It broadcasts free-to-air on a number of digital terrestrial transmitters in regional and remote areas of Western Australia, as well as free-to-view on the Viewer Access Satellite Television service. The network began as an affiliate of Network 10, remaining so until 1 July 2016, when it switched to the Nine Network. On 1 July 2021, it returned to Network 10, broadcasting a direct feed of NEW-10 Perth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aspire TV (Australian TV channel)</span> Australian television channel

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hit South Queensland</span> Commercial radio station in Queensland, Australia

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hit is an Australian commercial radio station broadcasting to regional areas of Western Australia. Owned and operated by Southern Cross Austereo, the station broadcasts a contemporary hit radio music format with a breakfast show based from studios in Perth, Western Australia.

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