SCA, finally getting its due, is open for offers

Southern Cross Austereo is transparently open for offers. It’s surprising, given that CEO and managing director John Kelly spent most of his first year at the company dealing with an overly complicated takeover bid from its main competitor ARN that fell apart after eight months of stalled negotiations.

Now, with reports that Nine and SCA have been in takeover talks, Kelly told Mumbrella he “won’t comment on any particular speculation” from the weekend’s papers, but is clearly open to the concept.

“For some time, myself and the board have commented that we believe that media consolidation is required in Australia,” he said.