Southern Cross Media: Chief executive Rohan Lund chasing growth in digital markets

Southern Cross Media chief executive Rohan Lund will step up the company’s growth in digital markets after bedding down a merger and restructure in the opening months of 2026.

It follows a $400 million merger with Seven West Media in late 2025.

Seven West included the Seven television network, The West Australian, The Sunday Times, a suite of regional papers, and digital platforms thewest.com.au, Perth Now, The Nightly, 7plus, and The Game; which were brought under the same roof as Southern Cross’s Listnr, Hit Network and Triple M radio and audio brands.

Mr Lund on Tuesday said the combined company aimed to “accelerate digital” earnings after posting results for the 12 months to June that he said were better than previous guidance.

Digital revenue was $320m, up 11 per cent for the financial year.

“We’re seeing much stronger audiences coming through our platforms,” he told analysts on Tuesday morning.

“It’s a pretty big digital prize out there. It’s a $25 billion market and at the moment we’re (barely) scratching that.”

“The opportunity is very real.”

He said growth in online audio had “outpaced” the decline in broadcast television while online platform 7plus reported a 17 per cent rise in daily active users.

Southern Cross posted a statutory loss of $3.8m — a figure that factors in nearly $30m of special costs for the merger, restructuring and an updated payroll system.

That was on revenue of $1.9b, down 4 per cent.

The business embarked on a major restructure after the merger to lower costs by about $30m, and is targeting another $145m of savings through an ongoing program to cut expenses.