IAB Australia has appointed Sarah Kruger director of policy and regulatory affairs.
Kruger joins from Seven West Media, where she was head of government and regulatory affairs.
https://adnews.com.au/news/former-seven-west-executive-takes-policy-lead-at-iab
The Seven Network today announced the appointment of Kate Amphlett as Director of Communications and Marketing and Blake Barillaro as Director of Audience Measurement and Research.
Both are newly created roles and report to Seven’s Chief Content Officer, Brook Hall.
Ms Amphlett has been an integral part of Seven’s content and publicity teams for almost 20 years. She was appointed Director of Communications earlier this year and recently streamlined Seven’s communications function around the core content pillars of entertainment and 7plus, news and current affairs, and sport.
Working closely with Seven’s Marketing, Creative and Social teams, Ms Amphlett has been behind campaigns for some of Australia’s biggest entertainment, drama, reality and lifestyle shows, as well as playing an instrumental role in major corporate events and brand initiatives.
Ms Amphlett said: “Bringing together Communications and Marketing gives us the opportunity to unify our messaging, sharpen our strategy and enhance our experience for Seven’s audiences across multiple platforms. We’re fortunate to have some of the most creative minds in the industry at Seven, and I’m excited to continue collaborating with them as we shape the next chapter of our brand.”
Mr Barillaro joined Seven from Nine in 2021 as Insights Manager, before being promoted to Head of Digital Audience Data in 2024. He has been integral in the rollout of Australia’s audience currency measurements, including VOZ and Ipsos iris, and has effectively built out the reporting of Seven’s cross-platform content ratings.
As Director of Audience Measurement and Research, Mr Barillaro will oversee the reporting capabilities of all ratings and research insights and collaborate with the industry on future data products and technologies to continue to enhance how our audiences are measured nationally.
Mr Barillaro said: “Over the past few years, we have seen a transformation of our ratings reporting, with the need to accurately identify how viewing behaviours continue to evolve and the full scope of our content’s ability to reach Australians. I am excited to continue to enhance the capabilities of this department in providing actionable insights for our teams across Seven West Media.”
Mr Hall said: “Seven’s content team continues to impress with its depth and talent. Kate and Blake have been an integral part of our team for many years, and it’s fantastic to see them stepping into these important roles.
“Television truly is in Kate’s DNA. Over the past 20 years, she’s been a driving force behind some of Seven’s most iconic shows and events. Her passion for the industry, combined with her understanding of Seven’s people and audiences, makes her an exceptional strategic leader within our business.
"Blake has been instrumental in reshaping how we capture and interpret audience data at Seven, delivering more insights into viewer behaviour than we’ve had before. He is always thinking one step ahead and we can’t wait to see what he does next,” he said.
Today’s announcement rounds out several recent senior appointments in Seven’s content team, which also includes:
• Head of Communications, Entertainment and 7plus: Alison Booth
• Head of Communications, Sport: Emma Francis
• Head of Communications, News and Current Affairs, Partnerships and Community: Brittany Stack
• Head of Marketing, Entertainment and 7plus: Kerstin Hennessy
• Head of Marketing, News, Current Affairs and Sport: Chantelle Hugo
• Communications and Marketing Manager, Queensland: Laura Allen-Ducat
• Communications and Marketing Manager, Victoria: Robyn Smith
• Head of Audience Insights: Thomas Fernance
• Head of Research and Effectiveness: Ashley Spinks
Seven West Media FY25 full year financial results announcement date
Seven West Media (ASX: SWM) will be releasing its FY25 half year financial results on Tuesday, 12 August 2025.
SWM Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Howard, and Chief Financial Officer, Craig Haskins, will host a teleconference/webcast to present the results at 9.00am AEST.
The webcast can be accessed on the results date at: https://www.sevenwestmedia.com.au/investors/livestream/
Or pre-register for teleconference (phone) access: Event Registration
H2 earnings growth delivered in line with guidance: EBITDA +6%, TV EBITDA +4% and underlying NPAT +33%
7plus revenue growth of +26 % (H2 +41%) was driven by growth in:
Daily active users +27%
Streaming minutes +41%
H2 total TV advertising decline of -1% moderated from H1 (-6%); FY25 -4%
Operating costs were reduced by -2% to $1,203 million in line with guidance (reported costs of $1,196 million including revenue-related cost savings)
Total TV audiences up +1.1% (total people) and +1.5% in the key 25-54 demo1
Total TV revenue share 40.4%, up 0.2 points, the fifth year of growth
Group revenue of $1,354 million, down -4%
Group EBITDA of $159 million
Net cash flow before temporary and capital items of $47 million
Net debt decreased $16 million to $287 million; leverage of 1.8x
Seven West Media Limited (ASX: SWM) today released its results for the 12 months ended 30 June 2025. The results reflect the execution of the strategy to kickstart growth.
SWM delivered second half EBITDA growth of +6% and second half underlying NPAT growth of
+33% in line with guidance provided in February 2025, which is the first half yearly growth outcome since FY22. Group operating costs of $1,203 million were also in line with guidance.
Group revenue of $1,354 million was down -4% ($61 million) on FY24 with the rate of decline moderating in the second half to -2%.
Seven’s total TV advertising revenue was down only -1% in the second half, driven by a +41% increase in 7plus revenue. This compares favourably to the first half revenue decline of -6%, when 7plus revenue grew +15%. January to April 2025 total TV revenue grew by low single digits, in line with the February outlook, however, the post Federal Election market was weaker than anticipated. Cost actions were undertaken to mitigate this revenue decline.
1 OzTAM : 0600-2400 Fin year excluding FIFA WWC (Seven pcp), and Olympic Games (Nine)
Underlying operating costs of $1,203 million were -2% lower than in FY24 and within guidance. Reported costs of $1,196 million reflect $7 million of cost savings largely attributable to the late second half revenue decline.
Group EBITDA (pre significant items) of $159 million were down $28 million (-15%) on
FY24. Statutory NPAT was $17 million, down $28 million (-62%), and underlying NPAT of $57 million was down $21 million (-27%).
SWM Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Howard, said: “FY25 has seen Seven West Media make solid progress under our new structure to kickstart growth, in line with our strategic plan. It is pleasing to report that we delivered earnings growth in the second half in line with our guidance. This improved performance mainly reflects the step change in 7plus audience and revenue, which is on the verge of offsetting the revenue decline in broadcast TV.
“Our investment in digital content including premium live sport and 7plus First programming has driven strong results for 7plus. We saw +27% growth in daily active users and +41% growth in streaming minutes over the year, which translated to digital revenue growth of +26%.
Revenue growth accelerated in the second half, up +41%.
“The growth in our total TV audiences highlights that our content is resonating with viewers. In addition to strong growth in streaming minutes for our VOD library on 7plus, we continue to see strong engagement across all programming including 7NEWS, Sunrise, The Morning Show, our live and free AFL, Test and Big Bash League cricket coverage, and our entertainment programming including Home and Away, Australian Idol, The Voice, The 1% Club, Farmer Wants A Wife, Dancing With The Stars and My Kitchen Rules.
“The recent launch of Streamscape data by OzTAM reconfirms that total TV remains the dominant video platform for advertisers to connect with both targeted and mass audiences. The independent data covers video consumption for broadcast, BVOD, AVOD and SVOD, and is the foundation for Seven to drive more informed media planning and recapture advertising spend for our platforms.
“SWM successfully executed our expense reduction plan in line with guidance, achieving a -2% reduction in costs over the year. We continue to drive productivity and efficiencies without compromising content or editorial quality. FY26 will see a step up in AFL costs as well as incremental costs from the acquisition of Southern Cross Media’s regional TV assets. These assets deliver immediate earnings accretion.
“The West continues to deliver a consistent performance, balancing volatile advertising markets with innovation and efficiency. The Nightly, our national digital newspaper, grew its monthly page views by +60% during the year based on its strong editorial content.
Every month, Seven Network reaches more than 17 million people nationally across the Seven broadcast signals and 7plus. Seven’s total TV audience was up 1.1%2 and +1.5% in the key 25- 54 demographic. This includes +41% growth on 7plus (live streaming +62% and video on demand +21%), offsetting a modest -2% decline in broadcast.
Seven’s total revenue declined by -5% during the period to $1,184 million. Total TV advertising revenue fell $46 million to $1,081 million, reflecting the -3.2% decline in the advertising market. Broadcast advertising revenue declined by $80 million (-8%) to $915 million, while 7plus advertising revenue increased by $34 million (+26%) to $166 million. The decline in other TV revenue reflects the non-renewal of the Meta agreement from FY24.
The decline in the total TV advertising market of -3.2% was made up of declines in metropolitan markets of -7.0% and -5.8% in regional markets, offset by an increase in the BVOD market, which grew +18.9%.
Seven increased its total TV revenue share by 0.2 points to 40.4%, with FY25 the fifth consecutive year 3 of growth.
TV operating expenses of $1,043 million were $25 million (-2%) lower than FY24. Media content costs were reduced by -2%, notwithstanding higher contracted sports costs (and the prior year benefit of $36 million from the onerous cricket provision relating to the previous contract term). Personnel costs declined -5% reflecting productivity and headcount initiatives under the revised operating model announced in June 2024.
TV EBITDA of $141 million and EBIT of $103 million declined by -18% and -26% respectively.
The West held EBITDA broadly flat compared to FY24 at $27 million, reflecting strong execution on strategy by growing digital audiences and paid subscribers, leaning into print products, reducing costs and delivering new revenue opportunities. The West’s digital platforms achieved
54.5 million monthly page views, an increase of +4.4%. The Nightly, launched only 18 months ago, significantly increased page views by +60%.
Revenue of $169 million declined -3% reflecting an advertising revenue decline of -7% partly offset by a +4% increase in circulation revenue.
Costs of $142 million were down -3%, driven by tight cost control and efficiency improvements across advertising, production and editorial teams.
(Selected slides)
Seven West Media has suffered revenue and profitability drops in grim financial accounts that show the media company continues to rein in costs across TV and publishing. One bright spot was audience and revenue for its digital video product 7Plus, which grew strongly.
Those numbers seem alarming
All the multi million dollar sports deals, wall-to-wall sports coverage, number one news bulletins, number one national ratings, top breakfast and morning shows, seemingly endless reality TV, countless hours of multi channels for a profit of a measly $17 million. That’s walking a knife edge.
Honestly, how long will it be before Stokes either tries to sell the group’s TV arm to someone like Comcast, or starts exploring merger options?
Hopefully asap! Terrible company, terrible owner!
Seems to be on life support, not paying dividends. No real growth opportunities. They keep buying the wrong sports deals that seem to cost them a lot for very little gain. They’re very onerous contracts. Overall a shit investment for anyone looking to buy shares.
I’d feel sorry for them but their arrogance and well-known hostility when dealing with production companies makes it very hard for me to do so
Not holding exclusive streaming rights was always going to kill the network. The decade + of dreadful and overly conservative entertainment commissioning only makes it worse.
Kerry and Ryan know it gives them power, especially in WA where the other part of the company gobbles up mining and gas equipment contracts. But they could easily save a buck and jettison some deadweights like the Nightly tho.
Another streaming service rebranding 7+ to Peacock if SWM becomes Comcast joining Paramount and Stan. Foxtel’s NBCU titles will be affected with all content going to Peacock which is the last streaming service not to launch.
A 7-Comcast tieup is possible in the next few years
Stokes stripped everything of value and moved it to SGH - the only value SWM has to Stokes is the power that having a national news service and the newspaper of record in WA brings with it.
Except they’ve never realistically been in a position to go for, get, and exploit the value of exclusive streaming rights. Seven have either been too early or too late to market (and the latter often because they were burnt by the former!)
But would Comcast want to buy SWM? Would it be worth them buying? And where would you put it? Inside of NBCUniversal or Sky Group?
UPDATE 29/8: According to Calum Jaspan of The Age and SMH, Greene will also serve as the political editor at The Nightly. He was seated at the Seven West Media table at the Midwinter Ball at Canberra’s Parliament House on Wednesday night.
Andrew Greene joins The Nightly and The West Australian
Seven West Media has today announced Andrew Greene is joining The Nightly and The West Australian as National Political Editor.
Mr Greene brings to the team more than two decades of experience covering federal politics, originally joining the Canberra Press Gallery with 2GB in 2004 before joining the Seven Network as a Political Reporter in 2006. During his time at Seven, Mr Greene was a finalist in the Walkley Young Journalist of the Year awards.
Between 2010 and 2025, Mr Greene worked for the ABC, where he held a number of senior roles, including Defence Correspondent for more than a decade. His reporting has taken him across Australia and around the world, including assignments in Afghanistan, Iraq, the United States and across Europe.
In 2023, Mr Greene was appointed an Adjunct Professor at The University of Canberra in the faculty of Business, Government and Law.
Mr Greene said: “I’m thrilled to be joining The West Australian and The Nightly at a time when they’re leading the evolution of digital journalism in Australia. Their commitment to innovative, high-impact reporting makes this an exciting opportunity to contribute to political coverage at a critical moment for the nation.”
The Nightly and The West Australian’s Editor-in-Chief, Christopher Dore, said: “Andrew’s extensive expertise in national security, defence and federal politics makes him one of the most respected journalists in the country. His sharp instincts and experience are a tremendous asset, and we’re delighted to welcome him to the team.”
The Nightly and The West Australian’s Editor, Sarah-Jane-Tasker, said: “Andrew’s reporting consistently cuts through the noise, delivering facts with precision and insight readers can trust. Andrew navigates complex and sensitive political issues, that shape national conversations and even change our political landscape.”
Launched in February 2024, The Nightly has established itself as a key player in the Australian media sector, featuring some of the best journalists and agenda-setting commentators in the country.
The Nightly has expanded its digital offering to include ‘The Nightly On’ series and recently announced the appointment of award-winning journalist Richard Clune to lead its premium travel initiative, which will be launched soon.
Mr Greene joins The Nightly and The West Australian in Canberra from 8 September 2025.
Saw someone today at a train station with a Channel 7 backpack and am curious as to where that may have come from. (Bear in mind I am in the UK!) Nothing particularly special - just a black backpack with embroidered 7 and 7plus logos. I did wonder if it were an item from the erstwhile Channel 7 merch store but it doesn’t seem to be. Curious if anyone here knows where they might be from.
Staff gift/merch handout seems most likely.
