Credit: Conny Schneider via Unsplash
The Seven Network has claimed the title of Australia’s largest regional commercial television network with the acquisition of SCA’s television licences in Tasmania, Darwin, Spencer Gulf, Broken Hill, Mount Isa, and remote, central and eastern Australia.
SCA's completion of the sale marks the audio broadcaster's full divestment of all television assets, aligning with the company’s All About Audio strategy. SCA has applied the upfront cash of $3.75 million to reducing debt.
Seven reaches about 17.5 million people across Australia each month, including 5.7 million in regional areas. Seven says it is the most-watched free-to-air broadcaster in regional Australia, with a 44.5% commercial audience share.
“We’re excited to expand into these new markets and further harness the strength of our news, sport and entertainment content – across both Seven and 7plus,” said CEO Jeff Howard.
“Following the acquisition of Southern Cross Media’s television assets, 7NEWS has unparalleled breadth and depth across regional Australia, and we will be upscaling our investment in news across these markets to reflect the importance of these communities.
“Ownership of these licences will allow us to connect directly with these regions moving forward.”
However, Seven says it has been unable to reach a mutually acceptable commercial agreement with the WIN Network to provide access to Seven via aerial transmission in Riverland, Griffith, and Mount Gambier.
“Seven has not turned off our signal,” Howard said. “We continue to provide our content to WIN for broadcast into these markets and WIN has made the decision to switch off the Seven signal to these communities.
“While we are disappointed WIN has made this decision, these communities are important to us and they can access Seven’s news, sport and entertainment content live, free and on demand on 7plus.
“In the meantime, Seven is seeking the assistance of the federal government and the Australian Communications and Media Authority to help resolve this matter as quickly as possible.”
In regional Australia, 7NEWS has one of the highest rated 6.00pm bulletins with an average total TV audience of almost 440,000.
“7NEWS is an intrinsic part of the communities we operate in, with the only local 6.00pm bulletins in all our major regional markets,” said Seven’s director of regional news, Paul Patrick.
“From our journalists to our camera operators, and production teams across the country, we are passionate about telling local stories that resonate with our local audiences. We are their voice.”
Seven’s half-hour local 7NEWS bulletins are broadcast in Queensland (Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba), New South Wales (North/Mid North Coast, Tamworth, Central West, Riverina and Border), and regional Western Australia.
Seven will be continuing Tasmania’s one-hour, locally produced bulletin seven nights a week after the SXL acquisition.
Seven will soon provide news updates in Spencer Gulf (Whyalla and Port Pirie, South Australia), Darwin and Broken Hill, alongside our updates in Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Mildura.
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