RADIO STATIONS – AUSTRALIA

ARN to pay $15m to sacked shock jock

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Original article by Steve Jackson
The Australian – Page: 2 : 17-Jun-26

ARN Media has struck a deal with Kyle Sandilands to settle legal action over the termination of his contract to co-host the breakfast show on KIIS FM. The listed company has agreed to pay him $5m per annum over three years; he had been seeking $85m in compensation from ARN for ending his 10-year contract to jointly host the ‘Kyle and Jackie O’ show after not much more than a year. Sandilands had been sacked earlier in 2026 over an on-air falling-out with long-running co-host Jackie Henderson, who is in turn seeking $82m in compensation for the loss of her own contract.

CORPORATES
ARN MEDIA LIMITED – ASX A1N, KIIS1065

Southern Cross Media to cut at least 200 jobs

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Original article by Angelica Snowden, John Stensholt
The Australian – Page: 2 : 11-Jun-26

Sources have indicated that proposd job cuts at Southern Cross Media Group could generate cost savings of about $25m. The media company is believed to have commenced a consultation process with its staff, and the Seven West Media division – which includes the Seven Network and The West Australian – is expected to bear the brunt of the job losses. Cassie Derrick from the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance says the mooted loss of about 200 jobs highlights the growing instability facing workers in Australia’s media sector. Southern Cross CEO Rohan Lund recently identified investment in news and sport as a priority for the group.

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, WEST AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPERS HOLDINGS LIMITED, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE

Kyle and Jackie O chase ARN for twice its value

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 : 1-Apr-26

The market capitalisation of listed radio stations group ARN Media has fallen by more than 75 per cent over the last three years, to just $73.5m. In contrast, former KIIS FM breakfast show hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson are suing ARN for a combined $167m. The latter contends that she had been unfairly sacked after advising ARN that she could no longer work with Sandilands on the long-running Kyle & Jackie O Show. ARN has indicated that it will defend the claim, and says it is too soon to estimate the potential financial impact of the legal proceedings. ARN’s shares closed 19 per cent lower to $0.235 on Tuesday.

CORPORATES
ARN MEDIA LIMITED – ASX A1N, KIIS1065

No third parties emerge to foil Southern Cross-Seven takeover

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 5-Nov-25

An independent report from risk advisory firm Kroll has concluded that the proposed merger with Seven West Media is in the best interests of Southern Cross Media Group’s shareholders. Kroll found that it is a good deal for the radio station group’s investors, given that the company will contribute 47.3 per cent of the "relative underlying value" and have a 50.1 per cent stake in the merged entity. Southern Cross chairman Heith Mackay-Cruise has defended the proposed merger, noting that the traditional media landscape is facing a number of challenges. He has also confirmed that Southern Cross has not been approached by any other potential suitors.

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, KROLL

Media merger to counter big tech

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Original article by James Madden
The Australian – Page: 13 & 19 : 1-Oct-25

The proposed merger between Seven West Media and Southern Cross Media Group is forecast to generate annual pre-tax cost synergies of up to $30m. The merger will combine Seven’s linear TV and digital broadcast platforms with Southern Cross’s radio stations; Seven also owns print and digital newspapers. Seven West’s shareholders are expected to vote on the deal later this year or in early 2026; if approved, Southern Cross will emerge with a 50.1 per cent stake in the combined entity. Seven’s CEO Jeff Howard will take on the role in the merged group, while Seven chairman Kerry Stokes will step down in favour of Southern Cross counterpart Heith Mackay-Cruise. Southern Cross CEO John Kelly has indicated that he has also held merger talks with Nine Entertainment in recent months.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL

Nine’s publishing to out-earn TV

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 17 : 6-Aug-25

Jarden analyst Tom Beadle recently said that the value contained within Nine Entertainment’s publishing business could potentially be the most underappreciated part of the media group. The investment bank has valued Nine’s publishing assets at $885m, ahead of streaming video platform Stan ($655m) and the broadcast division ($601m); Jarden estimates that Nine’s radio stations are worth about $25m. Looking forward, Nine’s publishing assets are forecast to generate EBITDA of $156m by 2028; this compares with expectations of $153m for the group’s television network, which is facing higher costs.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE RADIO PTY LTD, JARDEN AND COMPANY

Nine flags cuts amid advertising downturn

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Original article by James Madden
The Australian – Page: 15 & 23 : 26-Feb-25

Nine Entertainment Company has posted a 2024-25 interim net profit of $95.1m, which is 29 per cent lower than previously. EBITDA fell by 15 per cent to $268m, and revenue was steady at $1.39bn. The media group has advised that it will seek to generate cost savings of $100m across its operations over the next two years, and interim CEO Matt Stanton has indicated that the restructuring will involve some job cuts. Stanton also stated that the Domain property listings business is a key part of Nine’s growth strategy, in the wake of a $2.6bn bid for Domain from US-based CoStar Group.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, COSTAR GROUP INCORPORATED

Worst in 30 years: What Hottest 100 says about the state of Aussie music

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Original article by Thomas Mitchell
The Age – Page: Online : 29-Jan-25

The ABC’s youth-focused radio station Triple J is under scrutiny after its annual Hottest 100 countdown featured just 29 Australian artists; this compares with 52 last year. The head of Triple J, Lachlan Macara, says Australian music discoverability is an issue, which has been exacerbated by the growing use of streaming music platforms. Local artists account for just 9.2 per cent of songs that are streamed in Australia, and Tim Kelly from the University of Technology Sydney notes that streaming platforms’ playlists are determined by algorithms rather than radio station programmers.

CORPORATES
TRIPLE J PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY

Former Foxtel chief executive Tonagh to join Nine board

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Original article by Kylar Loussikian
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 : 15-Jan-25

Nine Entertainment’s chair Catherine West says media industry veteran Peter Tonagh will be a valuable addition to the group’s board. Tonagh was previously the deputy chairman of the ABC; he is also a former CEO of both News Corp Australia and pay-TV company Foxtel. Nine is also believed to have recruited another former Foxtel executive, Amanda Laing; she is said to be set to be given oversight of Nine’s broadcast operations. Nine’s shares fell by nearly 40 per cent in 2024, although the stock has gained about four per cent so far in 2025.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

Nine shoots higher as investors talk break-up

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Original article by Valerina Changarathil
The Australian – Page: 18 : 8-Jan-25

Nine Entertainment Company’s shares fell by 39 per cent in calendar 2024; however, the stock rose 5.6 per cent t to $1.32 on Tuesday, amid speculation that the diversified media group could be broken up. The recent emergence of Tanarra Capital on Nine’s share register has boosted such speculation; Tanarra is headed by John Wylie, who has successfully advocated for changes at companies such as Lendlease.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TANARRA CAPITAL PTY LTD