SCA finally ‘all about audio’, as Seven becomes biggest regional TV provider

BY Nathan Jolly

July 1, 2025 10:15

SCA finally ‘all about audio’, as Seven becomes biggest regional TV provider

SCA has sold its remaining regional TV licences to Seven West Media, completing its exit from television. In turn, Seven becomes the largest regional commercial television broadcaster in Australia.

The sale was announced to the market on Tuesday morning. The $3.75 million sale relates to television assets and licences operating in Tasmania, Darwin, Spencer Gulf, Broken Hill, Mt Isa and Remote, Central and Eastern Australia.

Seven’s CEO Jeff Howard called the deal a “small but strategically important acquisition”.

“Our ongoing commitment is to ensure that our regional communities can access our local and national news bulletins, our compelling sport lineup including AFL, Test and BBL cricket, and our premium entertainment programming.”

Jeff Howard

SCA told the market the $3.75 million from the transaction will go towards reducing the company’s net debt, which currently sits at $68 million, down from $107.5 million at the end of FY24.

The total revenue from the sales of SCA’s regional television assets sits in the range of $19 to $24 million. This includes the $15-$20 profit share proceeds from the sale of three aggregated licences across regional Queensland, southern New South Wales, and Victoria, to Network Ten in December.

SCA also revealed its FY25 revenues were up approximately 5% on the prior year, helped by the Federal Election spend, and muted by an overall slowing of the advertising market in May and June. CEO John Kelly said “early indications for July and August show this trend continuing across both our broadcast and digital audio platforms.”

Non-revenue related costs for FY25 will be around $265 million, in line with previous guidance, and down 2% from the prior year. Non-revenue related costs for FY26 will remain steady at $265m, with capex of less than $10 million.

Due to this “sustained operational momentum and financial discipline across the business”, SCA will resume dividends with a final dividend for FY25.

Kelly said: “With the successful divestment of our regional TV assets, our entire strategic focus is now All About Audio. This clarity is already delivering results. As our share of audio revenue grows, we remain disciplined on costs.”

SWM will release its yearly financial results on August 12.