Southern Cross Austereo

History

2004–05: RG Capital & DMG Regional Radio acquisitions

RG Capital was an Australian radio company, formed in 1995 by Reg Grundy with the acquisition of Sea FM Gold Coast. Between 1996 and 2000, the group grew to 28 stations across regional centres, and was subsequently floated on the Australian Securities Exchange. On 3 June 2004, Macquarie Bank announced it would acquire RG Capital for $173 million, gaining control of 36 radio stations in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania. The Federal Court of Australia approved the acquisition in August 2004, 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. 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, while six stations in the remaining five markets were sold to Prime Television.

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, 60% of which would be financed by Macquarie Media Group. In March 2008, the company divested its stake to the Macquarie Korea Opportunities Fund in a $400 million deal.

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. 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. This was later relaxed to 3 hours for most stations, with exemptions for smaller stations.

In November 2006, Macquarie Media Group purchased a 13.8% stake in Southern Cross Broadcasting, acquiring 10 million shares for AU$195 million. 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).

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. 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. 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. 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. 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".

On 5 November, Macquarie Media Group acquired Southern Cross Broadcasting, selling its non-television assets to Fairfax Media the following day. On 12 December, both parties abandoned negotiations for the South Australian and Queensland radio stations. On 14 March 2008, Macquarie divested 18 radio stations for AU$34.5 million. Nine Tasmanian stations were sold to Grant Broadcasters, with four Queensland stations sold to Smart Radio. 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, a new entity formed by Austereo executives Guy Dobson and Rex Morris. 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.

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. Despite lower revenue, the Group's Australian assets delivered a profit of $123.4 million, but ACM significant losses

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.

Austereo

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. 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.

Merger

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

Post-merger

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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. Grixti launched Press Start in early 2014 and the acquisition was completed on 8 June 2016.

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, 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.

Brands

Radio

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

Hit Network – plays adult hit music from the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and today targeted at those aged between 25 and 54 years old using various brands in metropolitan and regional areas

Triple M Network – talkback and rock music format targeted at adults over 39, mainly on the AM and heritage FM stations

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

Programming

Radio

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

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 (prior July 2025)

Prior to SCA selling its off its television stations in July 2025, the network produced regional television news services for its stations affiliated with the Seven Network and Network 10. Full evening news programs aired in Tasmania and the Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill region (until 2023) 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.

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.

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, 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.

Assets

Radio

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.

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

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

Digital radio

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

Santa Radio (seasonal): first launched for Christmas 2020, billed as a partnership between SCA and North Pole communications playing festive songs picked by Santa and his elves

Blender Beats: pop, dance, RNB, electro hits mash ups by DJs

Buddha: "pop, electronica and acoustic vibes with a café music feel"

Oldskool 80s Hits: up-tempo, sing-along format of mainstream 1980 hits

RnB Fridays: hip-hop and RnB

Dance Hits: dance tunes

Oldskool 90s Hits: pop nostalgia, focused around the 1990s

Kids Hits: kids' music and overnight lullabies

SoundCloud Radio: up and coming and independent artists, in partnership with SoundCloud

Triple M 90s: 1990s rock music

Triple M Classic Rock: late 1960s and 1970s

Triple M Hard 'N' Heavy: metal and hard rock

Triple M Country: country music from the 1990s to now

Triple M Soft Rock: soft rock

Heart

Heart Hits

Heart 60s

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.

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.

The Briefing is a news podcast featuring presenters and journalists such as Sacha Barbour Gatt, Chris Spyrou, Natarsha Belling, Helen Smith and Antoinette Lattouf.

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, until the advertising sales were sold to WIN on 1 July 2021 and then Nine Entertainment on 1 July 2022.

Former assets

Radio

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:

To ARN Media (with most stations being rebranded as "Zinc"):

4CA, Cairns

Sea FM and Mix-FM, Townsville

4MK, Mackay

4RO, Rockhampton

4CC, Rockhampton/Gladstone

To Ace Radio:

2AY, Albury–Wodonga

Further, due to conditions triggered by the purchase of the assets of Southern Cross Broadcasting, 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:

To Grant Broadcasters:

Launceston, Tasmania: 7LA (1098 kHz AM)

Burnie, Tasmania: 7BU "Heart 558" (558 kHz AM), 7SEA "Sea FM" (101.7 MHz FM)

Scottsdale, Tasmania: 7SD "Heart 540" (540 kHz AM), 7RGS "Sea FM" (99.7 MHz FM)

Devonport, Tasmania: 7AD "Heart 900" (900 kHz AM), 7DDD "Sea FM" (107.7 MHz FM)

Queenstown, Tasmania: 7XS "West Coast 7XS" (837 kHz AM), 7AUS "Aus FM" (92.1 MHz FM)

To Resonate Broadcasting:

Television

In autumn 2017, Southern Cross Austereo sold their 10-affiliated Northern NSW station, NRN, to WIN Television for a total of $55 million, following months of negotiations. In 2025, Southern Cross Austereo sold its owned and operated regional television stations to the 10 Network and Seven West Media. The sale also included its share in several jointly owned television stations.

BDN – Nine Broken Hill¹

BKN – Seven Broken Hill¹

SCN – 10 Broken Hill¹

CTC – 10 Canberra and Southern New South Wales

Central Digital Television (CDT) – 10 Central (jointly owned with Imparja Television Pty Ltd)²

DTD – 10 Darwin (jointly owner with the Nine Network)²

QQQ – Seven Central

TND – Seven Darwin

IDQ – 10 Mount Isa (jointly owned with Imparja Television Pty Ltd)²

ITQ – Seven Mount Isa

TNQ – 10 Regional Queensland

GDS – Nine Spencer Gulf¹

GTS – Seven Spencer Gulf¹

SGS – 10 Spencer Gulf¹

TDT – 10 Tasmania (jointly owned with WIN Television)²

TNT – Seven Tasmania

GLV – 10 Gippsland

BCV – 10 Bendigo

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. The investigation revealed that Macquarie Regional RadioWorks had funded $9 million of Simpson's $10 million acquisition of five radio stations from AMI Radio. 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. 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?"

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.

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

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.

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.