Southern Cross Media Announces Major Job Cuts Amidst Market Pressures and Strategic Restructuring

June 11, 2026
Southern Cross Media Announces Major Job Cuts Amidst Market Pressures and Strategic Restructuring
  • The restructuring aims to remove duplication, streamline processes, automate where possible, and leverage scale across management and procurement.

  • The board emphasised the need to drive scale and performance going forward as leadership and strategic changes continue amid the restructuring.

  • Overall, the plan contemplates cutting hundreds of full-time roles—up to about 250–300—and is aimed at saving hundreds of millions of dollars by June 30, to avert a profit warning.

  • West Australian Newspapers is seeking voluntary redundancies from select staff as part of the broader restructuring.

  • Following the January merger that formed Seven West Media and Southern Cross Austereo into Southern Cross Media, new CEO Rohan Lund has pressed a plan to reset the cost base and consolidate the business, with cuts expected primarily on the Seven West side and in radio.

  • Formal confirmation of the job reductions is anticipated in the coming days as the board reviews and rubber-stamps the plan.

  • The driver behind the cuts is deteriorating market conditions and advertising revenue that came in roughly 2.5% below expectations.

  • A company town hall was held to outline the path forward, with Lund pledging to treat departing employees with respect and compassion.

  • Tensions linked to the merger and input from major shareholders, including Kerry Stokes and Gina Rinehart, have shaped the strategic direction of the group.

  • The redundancies target mid- and back-office and corporate roles, with support provided to affected employees during the transition.

  • The job cuts reflect a wider industry trend, with Nine also pursuing reductions under its Future News strategy as market pressures mount.

  • Lund acknowledged the ongoing pain in the radio division but framed redundancies as a natural response to cyclical conditions, comparing the scale to major corporate layoffs.

Summary based on 4 sources


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Sources

Hundreds of jobs to be axed at Seven

news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site for latest headlines • Jun 10, 2026

Hundreds of jobs to be axed at Seven

Brutal job axings at major media group

news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site for latest headlines • Jun 11, 2026

Brutal job axings at major media group

Up to 200 staff to go as Seven’s owner swings the axe

The Sydney Morning Herald • Jun 10, 2026

Up to 200 staff to go as Seven’s owner swings the axe

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