Southern Cross Austereo

own and operate 3 networks
 * 1) Today's Hit Network :   A national top 40 network with over 40 stations
 * 2) Triple M :  A rock music network in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide
 * 3) LocalWorks :  An adult contemporary network with Mix 94.5 in Perth and 31 stations across non-metropolitan regions

is a merger of three media groups : Austereo, Southern Cross Broadcasting, Macquarie Media Group

Austereo
 * Austereo started with the launch of FM radio in 1980. They launched the first FM station in Adelaide with SAFM (Hit 107). Gradually they bought the capital city top 40 stations to created Today's Austereo Network. In 1986, they bought Fox FM, bought 4BK (Hit 105) in 1987 and 2Day FM in 1989. Perth was added in 1997 when Austereo bought PMFM (Hit 92.9) and KYFM (Mix 94.5).


 * Meanwhile in 1994, Austereo bought Triple M. With the "2 station rule", after buying PMFM and KYFM in 1997, Triple M Perth was sold to Southern Cross Broadcasting and is now 96fm. By the end of the decade, Austereo had a pair of stations in all 5 mainland capitals.

Southern Cross Broadcasting
 * Southern Cross Broadcasting main business interests is the Seven Network and Network Ten affiliate television networks. But they also owned a small portfolio of radio stations. As well as 96fm which they bought from Austereo, SCB also owned 6 AM stations - 2UE, 3AW, 3EE (Magic 1278), 4BC, 4BH (Magic 882) and 6PR. In 2007, Southern Cross Broadcasting merged with Macquarie Media Group and their 7 radio stations were sold to Fairfax Media.

Macquarie Media Group
 * Macquarie Media Group history started in 2004, when Macquarie Regional RadioWorks bought DMG Radio (Hot FM, Star FM) and RG Capital (Sea FM) regional stations. This created a monopolistic position in some regions in Queenland and NSW so a number of stations were sold to Prime Media Group, Broadcast Operations Group and ACE Radio Broadcasters.


 * In 2007, Southern Cross Broadcasting merged with Macquarie Media Group. Macquarie Media Group gained no radio stations as they were sold on to Fairfax Media. But with Southern Cross owning the regional television networks in the four eastern states required selling a number of stations. In 2009, the merged media group is renamed Southern Cross Media.


 * In 2011, the three media groups are brought together when Austereo is merged with Southern Cross Media. Austereo's metropolitan stations - Today's Austereo Network and Triple M - joined with Southern Cross Media regional stations - Sea FM, Hot FM and Star FM. The merged group is renamed.