Southern Cross Austereo
| Company type | Public company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting, Media |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Macquarie Bank (as subsidiary) |
| Headquarters | South Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Rhys Holleran (CEO) |
| Products | Radio broadcasting, Television broadcasting, Digital audio service (LISTNR) |
Southern Cross Media Group Limited, operating under the name Southern Cross Austereo, stands as Australia's foremost radio broadcaster, managing 86 stations across all states and territories. Based in South Melbourne, the company was established in 2004 as a subsidiary of Macquarie Bank with the goal of acquiring regional radio outlets. It later broadened its scope into television broadcasting through the 2007 purchase of Southern Cross Broadcasting. Additionally, the company runs the digital audio service LISTNR.
2004–05: Acquisitions of RG Capital and DMG Regional Radio
RG Capital, an Australian radio enterprise founded in 1995 by Reg Grundy, expanded to operate 28 regional stations by 2000 and was publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange. In June 2004, Macquarie Bank acquired RG Capital for $173 million, thereby gaining ownership of 36 stations located in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania. The acquisition received approval from the Federal Court of Australia and was finalized in September 2004, with operations managed through the subsidiary Macquarie Regional RadioWorks.
Soon after, Macquarie Bank secured DMG Radio Australia's regional portfolio for $193.5 million, adding 57 stations and entering markets in South Australia and Western Australia. This expansion positioned Regional Media as Australia's largest commercial radio network, initially overseeing 93 stations. However, regulatory restrictions under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 necessitated the sale of several stations in regional areas such as Albury, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton/Gladstone, and Townsville. These were divested to Ace Radio and Prime Media Group during 2005.
In November 2005, the company underwent restructuring into a triple-stapled structure comprising Australian and Bermuda-based entities alongside a trust. Macquarie Media Group was publicly listed on the ASX but remained predominantly owned by Macquarie Bank. Later that year, Macquarie Bank orchestrated a AU$1.19 billion transaction to acquire a 40% interest in Taiwanese cable operator Taiwan Broadband Communications, partially funded by Macquarie Media Group. This investment was divested in March 2008 for $400 million to the Macquarie Korea Opportunities Fund.
2006–08: Acquisitions of American Consolidated Media and Southern Cross
By 2006, Macquarie Regional RadioWorks had centralized news and programming distribution across its network of 86 stations from hubs located in Bendigo, Bunbury, the Gold Coast, and Townsville. This strategy attracted criticism from politicians including Nationals MPs Paul Neville and Barnaby Joyce.[1] In response, Communications Minister Helen Coonan enacted the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Act 2006, which mandated that from 1 January 2008 stations broadcast at least 4.5 hours of 'locally significant' content daily.[2] This requirement was subsequently reduced to three hours for most broadcasters, with exemptions granted to smaller outlets.[3]
In November 2006, Macquarie Media Group acquired a 13.8% shareholding in Southern Cross Broadcasting through a AU$195 million purchase of 10 million shares.[4] On 25 January 2007, Macquarie entered the US market by acquiring newspaper publisher American Consolidated Media for US$80 million (AU$102 million).[5]
On 3 July 2007, Macquarie Media Group launched a AU$1.35 billion takeover offer for Southern Cross Broadcasting at AU$17.41 per share.[6] The acquisition encompassed Southern Cross's regional television assets—Southern Cross Television (affiliated with Seven Network), Southern Cross Ten (Network Ten affiliate), and Tasmanian Digital Television, a joint venture with WIN Corporation. Non-television assets were sold to Fairfax Media for AU$520 million.[7] Additionally, Macquarie sought to purchase nine regional radio stations from Fairfax located in Queensland and South Australia.[8]
The Australian Communications & Media Authority approved the transaction subject to conditions requiring Macquarie to dispose of twelve radio stations to comply with the Broadcasting Services Act.[9] The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission granted approval on 17 October but raised concerns about diminished competition due to Fairfax's sale of nine radio stations to Macquarie.[10]
Macquarie completed its acquisition of Southern Cross Broadcasting on 5 November and sold non-television assets to Fairfax the following day.[11] Negotiations regarding radio stations in South Australia and Queensland concluded on 12 December.[12] On 14 March 2008, Macquarie sold eighteen radio stations for AU$34.5 million.[13] Notable sales included nine Tasmanian stations transferred to Grant Broadcasters, four Queensland stations sold to Smart Radio, along with others acquired by emerging companies like Resonate Broadcasting, founded by former Austereo executives Guy Dobson and Rex Morris.[14]
Following this acquisition, Macquarie rebranded its regional radio and television operations as Macquarie Southern Cross Media.[15]
2009–10: Corporate Reorganisation
In August 2009, Macquarie Media Group announced a loss of $84.6 million for the 2008-09 financial year, a significant decline from the $273 million profit recorded the previous year. Although overall revenue decreased, its Australian operations still posted a profit of $123.4 million, whereas ACM experienced substantial losses.
By December 2009, shareholders of MMG approved the transition from a triple-stapled security structure to a single company listed on the ASX. The organisation was subsequently rebranded as Southern Cross Media Group, with Rhys Holleran, formerly CEO of RG Capital Radio, appointed as CEO.
Austereo
Established by Paul Thompson, Austereo secured the metropolitan Adelaide FM licence at the commencement of commercial FM broadcasting, launching SAFM in September 1980. The network expanded by acquiring Fox FM Melbourne in 1986, followed by 2Day FM Sydney and B105 FM Brisbane, converting Brisbane’s 4BK to FM in 1990. Austereo also purchased Perth’s AM station 6IX with plans to convert it to FM but sold it after unsuccessful bids for new FM licences went to competitors Mix 94.5 and HIT 92.9, stations that it would later acquire.
In 1995, Village Roadshow acquired Hoyts’ Triple M network, which was then merged with Austereo under a single corporate entity. This consolidation encountered difficulties due to the fierce competition between the two radio networks and the fact that Village Roadshow and Hoyts were rivals within the film industry.
Merger
In March 2011, Southern Cross Media initiated a takeover offer valued at A$714 million for the national radio broadcaster Austereo Group. On 6 April 2011, Austereo shareholders approved the bid, resulting in Southern Cross Media gaining over 90% ownership. The merger was finalised in July 2011, creating Southern Cross Austereo.
2010s
Starting November 2011, Southern Cross Austereo introduced digital channels such as 9Gem, 9Go!, 7two, 7mate, and One in the GTS/BKN regions.
Guy Dobson was appointed Chief Officer of Content in August 2012, overseeing both radio and television divisions.
Southern Cross commenced broadcasting the shopping channel TVSN in December 2012 and launched its proprietary datacast channel Aspire TV in May 2013 across multiple markets.
By December 2013, GDS/BDN switched its feed source to NWS Adelaide.
In October 2014, SAFM Adelaide was rebranded as Hit 107, initiating a phased relaunch across the network under the banner Today's Hit Network starting January 2015 and continuing through 2016, with full brand integration completed by year-end.
Southern Cross began airing Racing.com in August 2015 within Seven-affiliated markets.
In March 2016, Southern Cross Austereo acquired Press Start, a publisher specialising in gaming news, appointing its founder Shannon Grixti as managing director.
On 29 April 2016, Southern Cross secured a five-year affiliation agreement with Nine Entertainment Co. worth nearly $500 million, replacing WIN Television as Nine's primary regional affiliate. Effective from 1 July 2016, Southern Cross switched its main affiliation from Network Ten to Nine Network across Queensland, Southern NSW, and Victoria, adopting Nine’s metropolitan branding. The Northern NSW station NRN was excluded due to Nine’s ownership of NBN Television in that market.
Following this affiliation shift, channel allocations were reorganised: Nine appeared on channel 5/51; 9HD on channel 50; 9Gem on channel 52 (standard definition); 9Go! on channel 53; 9Life on channel 54; and Aspire TV on channel 56. GDS/BDN retained Nine on channel 8. The shopping channel TVSN ceased transmission in Nine-affiliated areas and was replaced by Yesshop from 1 August 2016.
Southern Cross initially postponed launching Nine's digital channels 9HD and 9Life, jeopardising high-definition coverage for major events such as the State of Origin series. However, both channels were launched ahead of schedule by late June and mid-July respectively.
On 25 July 2016, Southern Cross announced plans to broadcast New Zealand-based home shopping network Yesshop as a datacast service across several regions. Unfortunately, Yesshop ceased operations on 29 September 2016 after incurring losses estimated at around $20 million.
In November 2016, Southern Cross Austereo partnered with PodcastOne to introduce PodcastOne Australia early in 2017.
December 2016 saw an application submitted by the company to demolish its CTC studios located in Watson for residential development—a move reflecting broader industry trends where broadcasters are reducing studio footprints amid changing property market conditions.
In March 2017, ahead of the AFL season, Southern Cross Austereo launched a high-definition simulcast named Southern Cross HD for its Seven-affiliated service in Tasmania; full native HD programming commenced in June 2018.
Southern Cross agreed to divest its Ten-affiliated Northern NSW station NRN to WIN Television for $55 million in March 2017; the transaction completed in May with WIN assuming control and rebranding broadcasts by September. This sale marked Southern Cross’s exit from sole Ten affiliation outside Spencer Gulf/Broken Hill markets where it retains exclusive affiliate ownership.
July 2017 saw Southern Cross introduce American religious broadcaster SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN) as a datacast offering across various regional markets except Northern NSW due to WIN’s ownership of NRN.
Starting July 2018, local branding on Seven-affiliated stations was phased out in favour of uniform Seven Network branding. Plans to rename news services as Seven News were postponed owing to editorial control concerns raised by Seven Network.
In September 2018, Southern Cross Austereo outsourced Canberra-based broadcast playout operations to NPC Media—a joint venture between Nine and Seven—relocating remaining CTC personnel to leased office spaces; completion was targeted for mid-2020.
On 30 September 2018, Southern Cross Austereo launched 9Life in Tasmania via TDT (TV station) and Spencer Gulf/Broken Hill via GDS/BDN. Subsequently on 26 November that year, it introduced 7HD in Darwin.
By early 2019, news bulletins at Tasmanian station TNT and GTS/BDN were rebranded as Nightly News, with production for Spencer Gulf transferred from Canberra to Hobart.
On 1 July 2019, Southern Cross Austereo unveiled an updated corporate logo.
2020s
In March 2020, Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) introduced 7HD, 9HD, and 10 HD to the Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill areas through the stations GTS/BKN, GDS/BDN, and SGS/SCN. To make room for these high-definition channels, 7mate, 9Gem, and 10 Bold transitioned to standard definition. Significant adjustments on 19 March 2020 included the launch of 7HD on LCN 60, the relocation of 7mate to LCN 63 in SD format, and the availability of the main Seven channel on both LCNs 6 and 61. Similarly, 10 HD was introduced on LCN 50, prompting a reshuffling of Network 10's channel numbers. Updates to Nine’s lineup in late March saw 9HD debut on LCN 80, with the primary Nine channel moving to LCNs 8 and 81, while 9Go! and 9Gem were repositioned accordingly.
Between March and April 2020, SCA delegated its television playout operations to NPC Media.
On 27 July 2020, SCA unveiled a refreshed Hit Network brand featuring a new logo and a pop-centric format aimed at listeners aged 30 to 54. As part of this rebranding, Hit 105 Brisbane and Hit 107 Adelaide reverted to their original heritage names, B105 and SAFM respectively. By August, SCA announced the rollout of statewide networked breakfast shows across New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria, replacing nineteen local programs to enhance operational efficiency.
August 2020 marked the demolition of SCA’s Watson studio complex alongside CTC’s facilities, concluding a 46-year chapter as Canberra’s television production center.
On 1 December 2020, SCA altered Perth’s Mix 94.5 affiliation from Triple M to the Hit Network; concurrently, Hit92.9 was rebranded as 92.9 Triple M.
SCA launched LiSTNR on 18 February 2021, merging the rebranded PodcastOne Australia with its digital audio portfolio and live radio streaming services. This initiative maintained SCA’s collaboration with American PodcastOne to broaden content availability.
On 12 March 2021, Nine declared its return to WIN Television as its regional affiliate starting July for a minimum seven-year term, ending SCA’s five-year partnership with Nine. Subsequently, on 25 June 2021, SCA secured a two-year regional affiliation agreement with Network 10 covering Queensland, Southern New South Wales, and Victoria. This arrangement brought 10 Shake to regional viewers on Channel 54 and introduced Sky News Regional on Channel 56 from August onwards. To facilitate Sky News Regional’s launch, Aspire TV discontinued broadcasts on SCA’s Ten stations by July 2021.
On 16 August 2022, SCA enhanced broadcast efficiency in Tasmania by upgrading 7two, 7mate, 10 Bold, and 10 Peach from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 encoding.
As of June 2023, SCA extended its affiliation contract with Network Ten through to the end of December that year.
Commencing 1 July 2023, SCA began airing Network Ten’s datacast channel Gecko on LCNs 57 (covering Southern NSW, ACT, Regional Victoria/Queensland, Broken Hill, Spencer Gulf) and LCN 67 in Tasmania.
Proposed acquisition by ARN Media
In October 2023, ARN Media alongside private equity firm Anchorage Capital Partners submitted a non-binding indicative proposal to acquire full ownership of Southern Cross Austereo’s fully diluted share capital. This followed ARN’s earlier purchase of a 14.8% stake in SCA during June. According to the proposed terms, ARN would retain control over the KIIS Network, while the Triple M network would be transferred to ARN ownership. Anchorage was set to acquire the Hit and Pure Gold networks along with SCA’s television stations and LiSTNR platform. However, the transaction fell through after Anchorage withdrew from negotiations.
Withdrawal from television
On 17 December 2024, Southern Cross Austereo revealed its decision to sell regional television licenses located in Regional Queensland, Southern NSW/ACT, and Regional Victoria to Network 10. As part of the agreement, SCA will continue to receive a portion of the profits generated by these stations for five years following the sale. The transaction reached completion on 1 March 2025.
Subsequently, on 27 February 2025, SCA announced the disposal of its remaining regional television licenses to Australian Digital Holdings. Nevertheless, by May 2025, this arrangement was terminated, and Seven West Media stepped in to purchase the remaining stations for $3.75 million. The deal was finalized on 1 July 2025, marking Southern Cross Austereo’s full departure from the television sector.
Radio
Southern Cross Austereo manages two primary radio formats:
- Hit Network – featuring adult hits spanning from the 1980s to current releases, targeting audiences aged 25-54 across both metropolitan and regional areas.
- Triple M Network – focused on talkback and rock music content for adults over 39 years old, predominantly broadcast on AM and heritage FM stations.
Collaborations with DMG Radio and ARN Media permit both Southern Cross Austereo and ARN to continue utilizing established DMG brand names within regional markets.
Radio
Southern Cross Austereo delivers networked programming across its two brands, including:
| Network | Show title | Hosts | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hit | Carrie & Tommy | Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little | Afternoon show |
| Hit | The Hot Hits | Nic Kelly & Loren Barry | Evening program |
Certain stations have incorporated the Continuous Call Team following broadcast rights challenges involving 2GB and the National Rugby League, notably Triple M Newcastle, which also provides coverage of Newcastle Knights matches.
Television news (prior to July 2025)
Before divesting its television assets in July 2025, Southern Cross Austereo produced regional TV news content for its Seven Network and Network 10 affiliates. Comprehensive evening bulletins were broadcast in Tasmania and Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill (until 2023), with brief updates offered in other regional locations.
Between late 2018 and early 2019, the Tasmanian and Spencer Gulf news bulletins were rebranded as Nightly News, with production for Spencer Gulf relocated to TNT's Hobart studio. In 2019, the Spencer Gulf/Broken Hill bulletin transitioned to 7two at the 7:00 pm timeslot.
In May 2021, SCA entered into a content partnership with Sky News Australia to launch free-to-air Sky News Regional starting August 2021, replacing the previous Sky News on WIN service.
Following a return to Network 10 affiliation on 1 July 2021, Southern Cross reinstated local news updates on its 10-branded stations after a five-year hiatus. These updates, titled 10 News First, are produced from studios in Launceston (covering Queensland updates) and Hobart (serving Southern NSW and Victoria). Presenters include Ruby Cairns (Southern NSW/Canberra), Daniel Pizarro (Regional Queensland), and Kasey Wilkins (Regional Victoria). Typically, these updates are produced by a single journalist without incorporating news footage or soundbites.
On 13 April 2023, Southern Cross Austereo unexpectedly terminated the GTS/BKN bulletin, ending more than five decades of local news service for Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill and leaving those areas without local television news coverage.
Queensland
New South Wales
1.Translators for 2BDR operate on 90.1 MHz in Omeo and 96.5 MHz in Corryong; additionally, a translator for 2AAY broadcasts on 95.7 MHz in Corryong.
2.Translators for 2PQQ and 2ROX are available on 100.7 MHz and 102.3 MHz respectively in Port Macquarie.
Australian Capital Territory
| Licence area | Hit Network Stations | ARN's KIIS Network Stations |
|---|---|---|
| Canberra | 1ROC "Hit104.7 Canberra" (104.7 MHz FM) |
Victoria
1. Re-broadcast transmitter operates at 97.9 MHz FM in Traralgon.
Tasmania
| Licence area | Hit Network Stations | Triple M Network Stations |
|---|---|---|
| Hobart | 7TTT "Hit 100.9 Hobart" (100.9 MHz FM) | 7XXX "Triple M Hobart" (107.3 MHz FM) |
South Australia
| Licence area | Hit Network Stations | Triple M Network Stations |
|---|---|---|
| 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"(90.5 MHz FM) |
Western Australia
| Licence area | Hit Network Stations | Triple M Network Stations |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 6KG "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. The 6TZ station also transmits through 1134 kHz AM in Collie, Western Australia (6CI, now incorporated under 6TZ) and via 756 kHz AM covering Busselton and the Margaret River area.
Digital radio
Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) provides a variety of digital-exclusive radio channels, such as the seasonal Santa Radio, Buddha Hits featuring pop and electronic music, Oldskool 80s and 90s Hits, RnB Fridays, Dance Hits, Kids Hits, and SoundCloud Radio which spotlights independent musicians. The Triple M brand also extends its presence digitally with specialized stations including Triple M 90s, Classic Rock, Hard 'N' Heavy, Country, and Soft Rock.
In 2021, SCA made a strategic investment in Sonnant, an AI-powered content discovery firm, aiming to enhance metadata tagging capabilities and elevate the digital audio listening experience.
Internet radio
The LiSTNR platform by SCA, introduced in February 2021 with an initial lineup of 15 music stations, has since broadened its offerings substantially. LiSTNR serves a wide range of genres such as easy chillout with Almost Acoustic, pop and hip-hop through Blender Beats, rock via Rock 'n' Road Trip, jazz with Jazz and Crooners & Swooners, Indigenous music, and programming for children like Kids Hits.
Additional themed stations cover specific decades including 60s Hits, 70s Hits, 80s New Wave, 90s Soft Pop, and the 2010s. Genre-focused channels include Hard N Heavy (hard rock), Buddha (easy listening), alongside newer formats like Chill Pop Hits and Mushroom 50—a collaboration with Mushroom Records highlighting Indigenous and Australian rock/pop from the ’80s to ’90s.
Planned expansions for 2025 feature new stations such as K-Pop, Chill Electronic, Run Club (workout music), Pride (pop hits), Essential Emo (rock/alternative), Fresh Folk Hits (country/indie), RnB Chill, Rap Revolution, Aussie Hip Hop, Punjabi Icons (global hip-hop/RnB), Hot Country, plus various mood- and chart-driven outlets including Billion Streams Club and Yeah The Girls.
| Station Name | Launch date | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| Almost Acoustic | 2021 | Easy chillout, pop, rock, country |
| Blender Beats | 2021 | Pop, Hip-hop, R&B, 2000s, Dance |
| Cover Up | 2021 | Pop hits from the 2000s–80s |
| Fit Hits | 2021 | Pop, Dance, Electronica |
| Good Vibes | 2021 | Easy chillout from the 2000s–90s |
| Heart Breakers | 2021 | Easy chillout love songs from the 80s–90s |
| Homegrown | 2021 | New releases, Rock, Australian music |
| Karaoke Stage | 2021 | Pop tracks spanning the '70s to 2000s |
| Latino | 2021 | Pop |
| Noughties | 2021 | Hits from the 2000s |
| Rock 'n' Road Trip | 2021 | Rock |
| Stress Free | 2021 | Easy chillout |
| Top 30 | 2021 | Chart-topping hits and new releases |
| Trending Now | 2021 | New music and chart hits |
| Yacht Rock | 2021 | Rock classics from the '70s |
| Jazz | 2021 | Jazz |
| Girl Power | 2021 | Pop and chart hits from the '90s–2000s |
| Crooners & Swooners | 2021 | Jazz standards |
| 70s Hits | 2021 | Rock and pop from the '70s |
| Kids Hits | 2021 | Music for children |
| 80s New Wave | 2021 | Chart hits from the '80s |
| Indigenous | 2021 | Indigenous hip-hop, R&B, pop music |
| 90s Soft Pop | 2021 | Soft pop hits from the '90s |
| Guilty Pleasures | 2021 | Chart hits of the '90s |
| Indie & Alt | 2021 | Rock and contemporary music |
| Sound States – Sleep/Focus/Brown Noise Only | 2022 | Ambient sounds |
| 60s Hits | 2022 | Rock and pop from the '60s |
| 2010s | 2022 | Chart hits of the decade |
| Hard N Heavy (formerly Triple M Hard N Heavy on DAB+) |
2022 | Hard rock |
| Buddha (formerly Buddha Hits on DAB+) |
2022 | Easy listening/chillout music |
| Chill Pop Hits | 2023 | Soft pop and easy listening |
| Mushroom 50 (with Mushroom Records) |
2023 | Indigenous/Australian rock/pop from the '80s–'90s |
| Easy Hits (formerly Easy Hits on DAB+) |
2023 | Easy listening spanning the '80s–2000s |
Podcasts
The LiSTNR app by SCA offers a curated selection of US-based PodcastOne shows alongside original local podcasts hosted by notable figures such as Hamish Blake, Dylan Alcott, Christopher Pyne, and Rosie Waterland.
Among its offerings, The Briefing is a news-focused podcast presented by a team including Sacha Barbour Gatt, Chris Spyrou, Natarsha Belling, Helen Smith, and Antoinette Lattouf.
Advertising sales
Besides overseeing advertising sales for its own properties, SCA managed advertising for Nine’s owned-and-operated station NBN from 1 July 2018 until the responsibility shifted to WIN on 1 July 2021, and later to Nine Entertainment as of 1 July 2022.
Radio
After acquiring DMG Radio’s regional stations in 2005, Macquarie Southern Cross Media was obligated to divest certain stations:
- Transferred to ARN Media (most later rebranded as "Zinc"):
- Transferred to Ace Radio:
- 2AY, Albury-Wodonga
Following the acquisition of Southern Cross Broadcasting assets, further divestitures were required to meet diversity regulations, finalized by March 2008:
- Sold to Grant Broadcasters:
- Sold to Resonate Broadcasting:
- Sold to Smart Radio/Pinecam Pty Ltd:
- Sold to Broadcast Operations Group:
- Sold to Coastal Broadcasters Pty Ltd:
- 4AM (Atherton)
Additionally, Southern Cross Austereo was required to divest 91.9 Sea FM and 92.7 Mix FM on the Sunshine Coast due to overlapping licence areas with Brisbane; these were sold to Eon Broadcasting in 2013.
Television
In autumn 2017, Southern Cross Austereo finalized the sale of its Northern NSW station affiliated with Network 10, NRN, to WIN Television for $55 million following extended negotiations. By 2025, Southern Cross Austereo divested its owned-and-operated regional TV stations along with stakes in several joint ventures to the 10 Network and Seven West Media.
New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
- BDN – Nine Network outlet in Broken Hill¹
- BKN – Seven Network station in Broken Hill¹
- SCN – Network 10 service in Broken Hill¹
- CTC – Network 10 station serving Canberra and southern New South Wales
Northern Territory and Remote Areas of Eastern Australia
- Central Digital Television (CDT) – Network 10 Central service jointly owned with Imparja Television Pty Ltd²
- DTD – Network 10 Darwin station co-owned with the Nine Network²
- QQQ – Seven Network Central Australia outlet
- TND – Seven Network Darwin station
Queensland
- IDQ – 10 Mount Isa (co-owned with Imparja Television Pty Ltd)²
- ITQ – Seven Mount Isa
- TNQ – 10 Regional Queensland
South Australia
- GDS – Nine Spencer Gulf¹
- GTS – Seven Spencer Gulf¹
- SGS – 10 Spencer Gulf¹
Tasmania
Victoria
1. At the time of sale, Southern Cross was the sole commercial television provider in these areas; except for GTS and BKN, other channels relayed Adelaide programming alongside local advertisements.
2. These broadcasters were initiated as digital-only outlets, jointly owned by the two established commercial networks.
Ownership and control
On 16 February 2006, the Australian Communications & Media Authority launched an inquiry into Elmie Investments, controlled by Stuart Simpson, regarding its dominance over several radio stations. The investigation revealed that Macquarie Regional RadioWorks had financed $9 million of Simpson’s $10 million purchase of five stations from AMI Radio. These stations operated in Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia, areas where RadioWorks already held two commercial licences. In November 2007, the company was found to have violated sections 54 and 56 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. Prior to the inquiry’s completion, the stations were sold off from Elmie Investments.
Kyle & Jackie O child rape victim incident
In 2009, 2Day FM was mandated to improve child safeguarding protocols after a 14-year-old girl underwent a lie detector test and was coerced on the Kyle and Jackie O Show to discuss her sexual history live on air. Host Kyle Sandilands prompted both the girl and her mother to disclose whether she was sexually active. The girl revealed she had been raped at age 12, which led Sandilands to question if that was her sole experience.
Summer 30 royal hoax call incident
During a prank call targeting King Edward VII's Hospital about Prince William’s wife, 2Day FM presenters Mike Christian and Mel Greig impersonated the Queen and Prince of Wales. Nurse Jacintha Saldanha answered the call and was deceived into sharing confidential patient information. She was discovered deceased the following day in an apparent suicide.
The hospital expressed legal concerns over the event, while Southern Cross Austereo CEO Rhys Holleran asserted confidence that no laws had been breached. Nevertheless, a confidential report by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) later confirmed that 2Day FM unlawfully broadcasted the call without obtaining permission.
See also
- Seven (Southern Cross Austereo)
- 10 (Southern Cross Austereo)
- Hit Network
- Triple M
- RadioWorks
- American RadioWorks