In the lead up to Christmas there is still plenty of activity within Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) as they get ready for 2025.
Today they’ve announced, via an ASX release, that they have signed heads of agreement for the sale of its television licences in the three aggregated markets of Queensland, southern New South Wales and Victoria (3-Agg Markets) to Network 10. SCA already broadcasts Network 10 programs under regional affiliation arrangements in these markets. The proceeds of the sale will go towards reducing net debt, and on the subject of that, in another ASX release a couple of days earlier, that they have successfully negotiated the refinancing of its committed syndicated debt facility for another three years.
Completion of the television licences sale, subject to execution of final transaction documentation by the parties and SCA’s broadcast transmission, distribution and playout service providers, and other customary conditions including receipt of foreign investment approval, should be by the end of February 2025.
SCA also retrenched several people within their internal corporate communications and PR team, including its head, Kelly Stambanis, who Radioinfo had the pleasure of working with on a regular basis and Jana Hocking, after a decade with the network (see above).
Kelly said:
“SCA is an organisation filled with vibrant and creative people and I was honoured to work alongside them. I take immense pride in having established a high-performing Communications and PR team at SCA and embedding the function across the business. This integration enabled a unified, strategic communications approach that effectively supported all SCA brands, stations, and shows.
The purpose-built PR team delivered exceptional results, consistently exceeding expectations with its outstanding output and impact. Every member of the team demonstrated extraordinary talent and expertise and they were a joy to work with.”
SCA’s PR and comms will now largely be driven by the external strategic PR and communications agency, Sound Story and its communications Director Jane Elliott, previously the National Publicity Director for Nova Entertainment.