Struggling radio and television network Southern Cross Austereo has persuaded its lenders to ease covenants and appointed corporate turnaround specialist Peter Bush as its new chairman in a bid to reassure investors. The regional TV station operator and owner of Today’s Hit and Triple M radio networks posted a 24.5 per cent slide in half-year profit on Wednesday but dismissed reports it was close to breaching covenants on its $573 million debt, saying its lenders had given more headroom.