Southern Cross Media announces up to 200 job cuts at Seven Network and West Australian Newspapers
Consensus Summary
Southern Cross Media, owner of the Seven Network and West Australian Newspapers, is set to make up to 200 redundancies across its operations, with most cuts targeting Seven West Media. The decision, expected to be finalized at a board meeting on June 11, follows a short consultation period for voluntary redundancies at the newspaper division, which closed on June 9 with insufficient applicants. CEO Rohan Lund, in his first month on the job, has framed the cuts as necessary to address worsening advertising conditions, with television ad revenue down 25% in April 2026 compared to 2025. The company’s market capitalization has also fallen from $420 million at the time of its January 2026 merger to $287 million. While both sources agree on the scale and timing of the cuts, The Age notes additional context, including the role of major shareholders like Gina Rinehart and the shifting power dynamics between Southern Cross and Seven West Media leadership since the merger.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Up to 200 staff redundancies are expected across Southern Cross Media this week, with most cuts coming from Seven West Media
- CEO Rohan Lund took on the role one month ago (May 2026) and has signaled cost-cutting to reset the company’s cost base
- Southern Cross Media’s board meeting on June 11 (Wednesday) will rubber-stamp the redundancy decision
- A short consultation period for voluntary redundancies at West Australian Newspapers (including *The West Australian* and *The Nightly*) closed on June 9 (Monday), with forced redundancies likely due to insufficient applicants
- Southern Cross Media owns radio networks Triple M, the Hit Network, and digital audio platform LiSTNR
- Advertising in the television sector was down 25% in April 2026 compared to 2025, per SMI Guideline data
- Heith Mackay-Cruise, Southern Cross’ chair, will step down from the board at the end of June and be replaced by Teresa Dyson, a former Seven West Media director
- The merger of Southern Cross Media and Seven West Media occurred in January 2026, creating a $420 million media business, though its market capitalization has since fallen to $287 million
- Seven’s newsroom has made significant redundancies over the past 18 months, including cuts in December 2025
- Lund stated in a *Mumbrella* interview that cost-cutting is 'the nature of the business' and that radio has undergone more cuts than other media sectors
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Gina Rinehart, Australia’s richest person, was revealed last month as the money behind a stake held by former Seven commercial director and Stokes ally
- Tension has built between Southern Cross Media and Seven West Media since the merger, with three different chairs and CEOs in the time since
- Power shifted back toward Kerry Stokes and the former Seven side of the business after Lund’s appointment as an external CEO choice
- Senior company sources say the redundancy plans under Lund have been scaled back from earlier proposals indicating a far greater reduction in headcount
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- No contradictions found between the two sources
Source Articles
Up to 200 staff to go as Seven’s owner swings the axe
Seven Network staff are bracing for mass job cuts, which are expected to amount to as many as 200 redundancies across the company.
Up to 200 staff to go as Seven’s owner swings the axe
Seven Network staff are bracing for mass job cuts, which are expected to amount to as many as 200 redundancies across the company.