Southern Cross Austereo

Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) is an Australian group of companies formed in July 2011 by the merger of Southern Cross Media Group and Austereo Group. The Group's parent company, Southern Cross Media Group Limited, is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX: SXL).

Southern Cross Austereo
Public Subsidiary
Traded asASX: SXL
IndustryBroadcast radio and television network
PredecessorAustereo Radio Network 
FoundedJuly 2011
Headquarters
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Key people
Peter Bush (Chairman)[1]
OwnerMacquarie Bank
Others
ParentSouthern Cross Media Group
Websitesoutherncrossaustereo.com.au

Southern Cross Media was previously known as Macquarie Regional RadioWorks, prior to the absorption of the remaining assets of Southern Cross Broadcasting that were purchased by Macquarie Media Group in 2007.

Previously known as Macquarie Media Group (ASX code MMG), Southern Cross Media began its life after Macquarie Media internalised its management and recapitalised in late 2009. It owns a collection of regional radio and television stations.[2]

SCA's head office is in South Melbourne, where Fox FM and Triple M (Melbourne) are located.

History

Southern Cross Media
Southern Cross Media logo used until July 2011

The company owned several regional radio stations, as a result of takeovers of stations formerly owned by DMG Radio Australia and RG Capital Radio Network.[3] The company also owned the stations forming the Southern Cross Television and Southern Cross Ten networks around regional Australia and Tasmania, which hold varying affiliations with the Seven Network and Network Ten.[4]

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.[5]

Austereo
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 late 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.

The mid-1990s 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. [6][7][8] 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.[9]

Merger

In March 2011, Southern Cross Media launched an A$714 million takeover bid of national radio broadcaster, the Austereo Group.[10] On 6 April 2011 shareholders of the Austereo Group accepted the takeover bid, giving SCM a more than 90% share in the company.[11] Southern Cross Media and Austereo merged in July 2011 to form Southern Cross Austereo.[12]

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.[13]

Brands

Television
  • Southern Cross Seven, sole affiliates of the Seven Network. These stations primarily brand themselves as "Channel Seven", following the Seven Network's generic branding.
  • Southern Cross Nine, sole affiliates of Nine Network. These stations brand themselves only as "Channel Nine", following the Nine Network's generic branding.

Radio

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

  • Hit Network – a hit Singles and Top 40 format targeted at 18- to 39-year-olds, using various Hit Network brands in metropolitan areas [14]
  • Triple M Network – talkback and rock music format targeted at men over 39, mainly on the AM and heritage FM stations, as well as Mix 94.5 in Perth

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:

Network Show Name Announcer/s Description
Hit Those Two Girls Sarah Wills & Lise Carlaw Pre Breakfast program
Hit Carrie & Tommy Carrie Bickmore & Tommy Little Afternoon program
Hit Hughesy & Ed Dave Hughes & Ed Kavalee Drive program
Hit Ash London Live Ash London Night program
Hit Tom & Olly Tom Bainbridge & Oliver Morris Late Night program
Hit Weekend Breakfast Dylan Alcott & Angus O’Loughlin Weekend Breakfast program
Triple M Kennedy/Molloy Jane Kennedy & Mick Molloy Drive program
Triple M The Danny Lakey Show Danny Lakey Night program
Triple M Night Shift with Luke Bona Luke Bona Late Night talkback program
Triple M Moonman Across Australia Lawrence Mooney, Jess Eva & Chris Page Weekend mornings

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. Full evening news programs air in Tasmania and the Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill region with short updates airing in remote Central and Eastern Australia and Darwin.

SCA's Nine-affiliated stations in southern New South Wales & ACT, regional Victoria and regional Queensland air statewide Nine News programs produced by the Nine Network each weeknight with opt-outs for local news in each licence area.

      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
      Albury1 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 "Hit93.5 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)
      Kempsey2 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
      Canberra 2ROC "Hit 104.7 Canberra" (104.7 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 "Hit94.3 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)
      Bunbury 6BUN "Hit Southwest" (95.7 MHz FM) 6TZ "Triple M Southwest" (963 kHz AM)1
      Esperance 6SEA "Hit102.3 Esperance" (102.3 MHz FM) 6SE "Triple M Esperance" (747 kHz AM)
      Kalgoorlie 6KAR "Hit97.9 Goldfields" (97.9 MHz FM) 6KG "Triple M Goldfields" (981 kHz AM)
      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 6PPM "Hit92.9 Perth" (92.9 MHz FM) 6MIX "Mix 94.5" (94.5 MHz FM)2

      1. 6TZ also re-transmitted via 1134 kHz AM in Collie (6CI, now listed by ACMA under 6TZ),[15] and 756 kHz AM in Busselton and the Margaret River region.

      2. 50/50 Partnership with Australian Radio Network.

      Television

      New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
      • BDN – Nine Network affiliate, Broken Hill¹
      • BKN – Southern Cross Television, Broken Hill¹
      • CTC – Southern Cross Nine Southern New South Wales/ACT
      • SCN – Southern Cross Ten Broken Hill¹

      Northern Territory and Remote Areas of Eastern Australia

      Queensland

      South Australia

      Victoria
      • GLV/BCV – Southern Cross Nine Victoria

      Tasmania
      • TDT – Tasmanian Digital Television (jointly owned with WIN Television)²
      • TNT – Southern Cross Television 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:

      • HIT BUDDHA, The very best music that sooths your mind and feeds your soul. Hit Buddha lets listeners chill out with pop, electronica and acoustic vibes with a café music feel.
      • HIT Oldskool, HIT Oldskool is pure pop nostalgia. Focused around the 90s and 00s, it's all about flashback favourites.
      • HIT Easy, An up-tempo, feel good, sing-along format of mainstream faves. HIT Easy is perfect for at-work and at-home listening.
      • HIT Urban , Playing the Hottest Hip-Hop and RnB.
      • HIT Dance , playing only the best in dance tunes.
      • Little FOX , all the best kids music and overnight lullabies for the little ones in Melbourne.
      • Triple M 90s, All the best 90s rock there was.
      • Triple M Classic Rock Digital, From the late 60s and 70s, Triple M Classic Rock Digital delivers the absolute best album tunes from rock's golden age.
      • Triple M Hard ‘N’ Heavy, All the best metal and hard rock.
      • Triple M Country, Country music, Triple M Country is today's best country music from the 90's to now.
      • Triple M Soft Rock, all your soft rock favourites

      Podcasts

      They also own and operate the PodcastOne application and hold the rights to all of its podcasts.

      Advertising Sales

      As well as advertising sales for all their own assets they are also in charge of this for the nine owned and operated NBN tv. [16]

      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,[17] 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 2008-03-14:[18]

      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.[19] In 2013, the two stations were sold to Eon Broadcasting.

      See also

      References
      1. Grant Blackley (CEO)Southern Cross Austereo profit plunges, Peter Bush named as chairman
      2. "Southern Cross Media". Intelligent Investor (Company). Retrieved 5 May 2015.
      3. Catalano, Christian (3 September 2004). "Macquarie pays $194m in radio deal". Fairfax. The Age. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
      4. Westerman, Helen; Stephen McMahon (17 November 2006). "Macquarie Media takes stake in Southern Cross". Fairfax. The Age. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
      5. Macquarie Media Group Announcement - http://www.macquarie.com.au/au/mmg/index.html
      6. BEN POTTER (27 May 1993). "Village grabs FM in late bid". Age, The (Melbourne, Australia) (Late ed.). p. 21. ISSN 0312-6307. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
      7. Bartholomeusz, Stephen (27 September 1994). "Merging of networks faces some stiff tests". Age, The (Melbourne, Australia) (Late ed.). p. 41. ISSN 0312-6307. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
      8. STENBERG, MARYANN; MEGAN JONES (15 October 1994). "TPC approves FM merger". Age, The (Melbourne, Australia) (Late ed.). p. 33. ISSN 0312-6307. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
      9. "CAN ENEMIES BE FRIENDS AFTER THEY'RE MARRIED? - NEWS REVIEW". Sydney Morning Herald, The (Australia) (Late ed.). 1 October 1994. p. 25. ISSN 0312-6315. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
      10. Reuters, ACCC allows Takeover Bid, https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/17/austereo-idUSSDYGEE7W620110317
      11. Southern Cross to raise 471m for Takeover Bid, Fairfax, http://www.smh.com.au/business/southern-cross-to-raise-471m-for-austereo-takeover-20110406-1d3gs.html
      12. "Introducing the new look Southern Cross Austereo". Mumbrella. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
      13. "Guy Dobson appointed Chief Content Officer at SCA". radioinfo. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
      14. "Regional". Southern Cross Austereo. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
      15. Australian Communications and Media Authority. Search for broadcasters by postcode (Broadcaster 6TZ, Bunbury RA1 Licence Area, Postcode 6225). Accessed on 2008-03-21.
      16. "Nine And Southern Cross Austereo Boost Their Partnership". Nine for Brands. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
      17. Australian Communications and Media Authority (2008-03-14). Divestment of commercial radio licences by Macquarie Media Group. Accessed on 2008-03-21.
      18. ABC News Online (2008-03-14). Tas radio stations sold. Accessed on 2008-03-21.
      19. RADIOTODAY.com.au (2012-11-13). SCA to sell Sunshine Coast by March. Accessed on 2014-03-24.
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