Seven West Media

Television Seven Network
1998

While running through the network’s numbers and ratings, with Seven’s billionaire controlling shareholder Kerry Stokes also present, Kuka prompted staff to support the coming Alinta Energy Christmas Pageant, set to air on Seven in December.

Several women walked out of the address, returning to their respective offices, one staffer at the town hall said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“It’s the contrast. Four men talking about business, then four women come in, dolled up and scantily clad. What is the role of women at this company?”

It is understood the dancers were organised by Seven’s events team. The company had not addressed staff in relation to the event as of Monday afternoon.

3 Likes
1999

The Perth Christmas pageant is a very big deal. And has been on 7 as long as I can remember. So I can maybe understand the attempt and idea behind it. But given the network position generally right now, prob not their best idea.

2 Likes
2000

The issue staff have is that they had four men speak, then they had four women put on a performance.

2001

Christmas Pageant in Perth started way back in 1972

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2002

It’s for the Christmas Pageant which is a community event attracting tens of thousands of people into Perth’s CBD

1 Like
2003

But it’s not Christmas?

2004

Think upfronts. :man_shrugging:

2005

Well done Kerry Stokes :man_facepalming:

1 Like
2006

In the overall scheme of things, probably not a big deal. But, geez. Read the room. In light of recent reporting on seven’s culture and treatment of female staff, it’s astonishing anyone thought this was a good idea.

4 Likes
2007

Jordan King joins Seven

Takes on new role of Digital Sales Strategy Director

Seven West Media today announced the appointment of Jordan King to the new role of Digital Sales Strategy Director, effective 4 November.

Reporting to Group Managing Director, Seven Digital, Gereurd Roberts, Mr King will work with Seven’s sales and digital business leadership to define its future-focused go-to-market strategy, product portfolio, programmatic approach and tech stack.

Mr King joins Seven from Nine Network, where he was Director of Programmatic and Digital Sales for three years. His previous roles at Nine include Director of Audience and Automation and Head of Audience and Automation. He has also held senior roles at Unruly and News Corp Australia, and is a member of IAB Australia’s Executive Technology Council.

Mr Roberts said: “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Jordan to the team. He is widely regarded as one of the best digital sales talents in the country and will play a leading role as we accelerate Seven’s digital growth and ambitions.

“With the onboarding of both cricket and AFL digital rights later this year, alongside our unbeatable slate of premium on-demand content, it is the perfect time to bring Jordan on board. 7plus is primed to deliver high-value audiences at scale, and Jordan will work to ensure that equals efficient and effective results for our partners.”

Mr King said: “I’m tremendously excited to be joining Seven as it continues to transition and evolve into a media business of the future. Seven is bolstering its impressive BVOD footprint and expanding its live streaming credentials with the introduction of the cricket and AFL digital rights. It is uniquely placed to capture audiences at scale in the Australian market. I couldn’t be prouder of my time at Nine and thank the individuals and organisation for seven fulfilling years. I’m energised at the opportunities emerging at Seven and across BVOD with the launch of VOZ Streaming and can’t wait to get started.”

2008

Nichols has joined Mamamia as chief revenue officer.

2009

Seven opens the AI Factory

Advanced data-driven Generative AI factory to boost 7plus audience growth and advertising solutions

Seven West Media today announced it has set up the Seven AI Factory, a dedicated Generative AI and machine learning team, to accelerate the creation innovative data- driven products across the business.

Established in partnership with Databricks, one of the world’s leading cloud, data and AI companies, the AI Factory will boost Seven’s digital engagement, audience understanding and advertising strategies across its 7plus video streaming platform and 7NEWS digital platforms.

A dedicated team from Databricks is now working out of Seven’s Sydney offices, side by side with the company’s data, digital content and programming, digital marketing, product and digital sales teams to create and test AI and GenAI solutions. Together, they are developing AI-driven insights designed to enhance content relevance, optimise advertising strategies and drive audience engagement to new levels.

The Seven AI Factory is home to data science, solution architects, machine learning engineers and data engineers, who will work to rapidly develop AI-based pilots, but also upskill teams from across Seven as the business accelerates the push to put GenAI at its core.

The launch of Seven’s AI Factory follows the success of Seven’s work using AI and machine learning to predict audience outcomes across the 7plus video streaming platform. Seven has achieved a remarkable 94% accuracy in forecasting audience against shows and genre for all video-on-demand content for the next 28 days. Building on this project, Seven and Databricks are doubling down on the insights that audience- based AI has already delivered.

Gereurd Roberts, Managing Director, Seven Digital, said: “As we place data, insights and AI at the heart of our operations, our collaboration with Databricks in the AI Factory marks a significant milestone in the digital transformation of our business.

“By leveraging GenAI and machine learning, we are not only enhancing our ability to predict and understand audience behaviours, we are revolutionising the way we acquire, personalise and deliver content and engaging advertising campaigns to our viewers.

“Through the launch of the AI Factory we will upskill and build out our own teams, ensuring these capabilities and products are in-house and at the forefront of Seven’s future, and also our partners’ future. We’re excited to engage with our clients and agencies to co-create products that drive the most effective outcomes for their businesses and brands,” he said.
Seven’s Director, Data and Growth, Andrew Brain, said: “Our commitment to innovation is further exemplified by the development of a natural language-powered query engine. This groundbreaking tool will empower all business units and non- technical users to query Seven’s extensive data repository, providing real-time insights to drive strategic decision-making and operational excellence. Simply put, we’re democratising data to create new insights across the Seven business.

“The company-wide GenAI solution now in progress is designed to bring back known users to 7plus, to know what VOD show will be the most viewed by time of day, and to have greater guidance on revenue forecasting with direct and programmatic business. The goal is to create the best user ad experience based on the user’s recency, frequency and engagement. Why, for example, should all users receive the same ad experiences when it comes to ad breaks and ad pods; engagement and loyalty should be rewarded.

“These initiatives are a testament to our unwavering commitment to being data-driven and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to stay ahead in the digital landscape and with that, we will be releasing a new predictive version of 7REDiQ audiences mapped against data partners,” he said.

2010

Peter Charles appointed Seven Managing Director, Victoria

The Seven Network today announced the appointment of Peter Charles to the new role of Managing Director, Victoria, effective immediately.

In his new role, Mr Charles will work closely with the Seven Melbourne senior leadership team. He retains his position as Victorian Sales Director and Head of National Independent Agencies and Direct.

One of Melbourne’s most successful and experienced media executives, Mr Charles joined Seven in 1999. He celebrated his 25 years with the network in February this year. In addition to his Seven roles, he is also a Board member of Fight MND, one of the world’s biggest funders of motor neurone disease research.

Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Howard, said: “With more than 30 years’ experience in the media industry, Pete is one of the best in the business and a proven builder and leader of teams.

“His deep passion for Melbourne, Seven and the Team makes him the perfect person to take on this role in one of our most important markets. His drive, enthusiasm, talent and ability to go above and beyond for our partners and our people are unmatched.

Congratulations Pete.”

Mr Charles said: “As a proud Melburnian and a true believer in the power of our content and our brand, I’m honoured to take on this new position and the opportunity to represent Seven Melbourne. I love Seven and the role it plays in communities across Australia and Victoria.

“Seven Melbourne is home to so many talented people, and part of a national Team that is delivering amazing content and outstanding results for our Partners. I’m especially proud to continue my Seven story where I can share my passion for the media industry and help lead the transformation of Seven into the future. We are so lucky to be the home of AFL, Cricket, the Good Friday Appeal, The Big Freeze, 7NEWS and many marque entertainment brands.

“The evolution of our business continues, and I’m pumped to be part of it,” he said.

2011

Willed secures strategic investment from Seven West Media

Willed (www.willed.com.au), the innovative online will-writing and end-of-life planning platform, announces a strategic investment by one of Australia’s leading media companies, Seven West Media (ASX: SWM), to further accelerate growth over the next 12 to 24 months.

Highlights

Strategic investment of $3.0 million by Seven West Media (“Seven”) in Willed with an option of a further $3.0m.

The investment helps Willed to further address the critical need in the market, with over 50% of Australian adults lacking valid Wills and many with no funeral plans.

Pivotal opportunity to increase Willed’s brand awareness & familiarise people to the service through Seven’s extensive network, reaching 19 million Australians each month.

This latest round of investment sees Seven join institutional investors including Founder of PSC Insurance Group, Paul Dwyer, Thorney Investment Group, Ellerston Capital and Morgans’ Hugh Robertson.

Seven has agreed to make a strategic investment of $3.0 million in Willed with an option of a further $3.0m available.

The strategic investment will fuel Willed’s growth plans by utilising Seven’s extensive media network to significantly increase Willed’s market penetration and cement its position as the number one brand in Australia for end-of-life planning & services.

David Kaplan, CEO & Co-founder of Willed commented: “This strategic investment from SWM is a game-changer for Willed because of their unparalleled reach and

media expertise. This investment means we can accelerate our growth faster than ever before.”

“This investment not only validates our company’s mission but also comes at a critical time when the rising cost of living is putting serious strain on all Australian households. Willed is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of all Aussies, who deserve to have end-of-life planning demystified and made more affordable.”

“Longer term, the timing couldn’t be better because the largest generational wealth transfer in Australian history is getting underway – making it more important than ever before for people to have their affairs in order.”

Alex Beer, Head of Ventures at Seven West Media said: “In a relatively short period of time Willed has grown into the leading 'End of Life’ services platform in Australia providing Wills, Funerals and Probate services for today’s online consumer."

“Traditional operators tend to be limited by location and stick to either funerals or legal services alone. Willed are able to better serve customers across a range of related services.”

"We believe the upside for Willed is significant and in partnership with Seven, we aim to turbo-charge awareness of the Willed brand via a national TVC campaign across Australia.”

With over 50% of Australian adults still without a valid Will, and other segments of the end-of-life services ripe for disruption, the partnership between Willed and Seven addresses these significant needs.

By combining Willed’s user-friendly platform with Seven’s extensive reach, the companies aim to educate and empower millions of Australians to take greater control of their futures.

Since starting up in 2020, Willed have helped over 100,000 Australians to write their legally valid Will online with more than $500 million bequeathed to charities (and counting!). The platform has expanded its range of end-of-life services to include power of attorney, probate, prepaid funeral plans and also at-need funerals.

This latest round of investment sees Seven join previous investors including institutional investors Founder of PSC Insurance Group, Paul Dwyer, Thorney Investment Group, Ellerston Capital and Morgans’ Hugh Robertson.

2012

Great company for the ‘rusted on’ viewers of Seven. :crazy_face:

1 Like
2013
2014

Seven strikes partnership with Fred Media/Radar

More than 150 hours of content for international distribution

Newly integrated distribution company Fred Media/Radar today announced a major new partnership with the Seven Network, in which it has acquired over 150 hours of primetime content for international distribution.

The Seven slate, which comprises 12 premium titles from in-demand genres such as reality, home and design, and food, and many with format rights available, will be officially presented to global buyers at MIPCOM next month.

Instant Hotel is a fascinating look inside the highly competitive world of home accommodation rentals and features big characters, outrageous properties and brutal critiques as hosts swap properties for a night to judge their rivals. Australia’s Cheapest Weddings is a charming look at love on a budget, while Extreme Weddings follows couples looking to say “I do” in a variety of big and bold ways.

Entrepreneur Mark Bouris is The Mentor, helping to turn around small businesses on the brink of collapse. Yummy Mummies is an aspirational and funny reality series that follows four stunning young mums with model good looks and an enviable lifestyle throughout their pregnancies and into the chaotic world of newborn babies. Dr Harry’s Animal Encounters tracks Aussie icon Dr Harry Cooper as he travels around the world and across Australia to bring viewers experiences with some truly spectacular animals.

In Australia’s Amazing Homes, home renovator Johanna Griggs and architect Pete Colquhoun take us into some extraordinary properties and provide insights into some incredible design innovations. The Aussie Property Flippers follows 12 couples betting everything on purchasing, renovating and then – hopefully – selling homes for a profit, while Australia’s Big Backyard, hosted by gardening gurus Jason Hodges and Graham Ross, is an accessible, hands-on series, providing simple tips and advice, plus project suggestions, for anyone interested in making the most of their green spaces.

Hosted by two of Australia’s best-loved TV chefs and food writers, Ed “Fast Ed” Halmagyi and Karen Martini, Ed and Karen’s Recipes for Success features inspiring recipes for all occasions. Zumbo’s Just Desserts sees Australia’s most celebrated pâtissier, Adriano Zumbo, together with British chef Rachel Khoo, putting passionate dessert makes to the test, while Plate of Origin, with food superstars Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan, plus Manu Feildel, challenges teams of home cooks, each representing their cultural heritage, to see whose cuisine is the best.

Roger Vanderspikken, Head of Operations and Acquisitions at Fred Media/Radar, said: “I first called Richard Henson at Seven a few years back to start a discussion about content distribution, and I’m delighted that we have now concluded this package that includes more than 150 hours of premium Australian content.

“Our sales team is really excited by this timely addition of so many premium titles to the growing Fred Media/Radar catalogue. Seven Network has a long-standing reputation for producing brilliant, ratings-winning primetime programming with big-name presenters, and we are now honoured to represent these 12 titles, showcasing the very best of Australian content, to international buyers in Cannes. Having format rights for many of these titles is a real bonus too. Strong, simple and compelling formats are much in demand, and we can readily see the huge potential for localised versions of shows such as Instant Hotel and Yummy Mummies.”

Richard Henson, Director, Distribution & Content Partnerships at Seven Network, said: “The Fred Media/Radar team has been licensing great Australian content around the world for a number of years and is particularly successful in many of the genres featured in this package. MIPCOM represents a great opportunity to present these titles to the market and I am excited to see the response. Much of Fred Media/Radar’s activity aligns with our strategic vision and I’m confident this new partnership will encourage a strong relationship into the future.”

This new collaboration follows a growing relationship between Seven Network and WTFN, Fred Media/Radar’s parent company. In the past few years, WTFN has produced several series for Seven, which Fred Media/Radar also distributes. These include true crime series The Hunters and Australia’s Most Dangerous Prisoners, Strike Force, an ob-doc cop show filmed by cops, and two seasons of Code 1: Minute By Minute, which dramatically breaks down the some of the biggest and most tragic news events of recent years.

2 Likes
2015

Majella Hay appointed Director of Content, Unscripted

The Seven Network today announced the appointment of Majella Hay to the new role of Director of Content, Unscripted.

Ms Hay will report to Seven’s Chief Content Officer, Brook Hall, and will work closely with the network’s Director of Production Operations Andrew Backwell; Director of Content, Scripted, Julie McGauran; and Head of Production Mandy Roberts.

In her new role, Ms Hay will head a team that includes Head of Reality Sylvia D’Souza, Supervising Executive Producer Digby Mitchell and Executive Producer Ewa Dobrowolska. She will be responsible for the creative direction and content of Seven’s unscripted entertainment programs, and work closely with the Seven sales team to drive new revenue and integration opportunities.

Ms Hay joined Seven as Head of Entertainment in June 2022. She had previously been Head of Entertainment at ITV Studios Australia for more than four years. Her resume also includes senior roles at Endemol Shine Australia, Nine Network, Network 10 and Southern Star.

Mr Hall said: “As Head of Entertainment, Majella had led some of our biggest and most successful shows, including The Voice, Australian Idol, The 1% Club, Dancing With The Stars and The Chase Australia. Her talent and passion for making great content have made a real difference to our entertainment slate.

“Majella will now also lead the creative direction of key shows such as Farmer Wants A Wife, My Kitchen Rules, Better Homes and Gardens, the TV WEEK Logie Awards and Stranded On Honeymoon Island. I’m looking forward to working with her to take our unscripted content to even greater heights.”

Ms Hay said: “This new role looking after all of Seven’s unscripted content could not have come at a better time. Our production team internally, and the production companies we work with, deliver exceptional shows and results. But we also have a fresh approach, to look at opportunities with our programs to go beyond what we have done before. To think differently. It’s about aligning and being smart about how we use our content to continue to entertain but also to benefit all parts of the Seven business.”

Ms Hay began her television career as a news and current affairs reporter and presenter, and producer working on programs such as Today, A Current Affair, Sunday, RPA and Getaway .

Her credits include The Voice, Operation Live, Beat The Chasers, This Is Your Life, Shark Tank, Love Island, This Time Next Year, Last Chance Surgery, Embarrassing Bodies Down Under, The Cube and The Great Australian Spelling Bee.

2016

Streamer smashes audience records in September

Community sport streaming platform surges 110%

Streamer, Seven West Media’s community sport streaming platform, continues to grow at a rapid pace after a September that blitzed its previous audience records.

More than 4.3 million minutes of local sport were watched on the innovative platform during September as finals fever took hold of Australia, from the elite level right down to the community grounds.

The September tally was up 110% year-on-year, continuing the tremendous growth of the grassroots platform since its launch in early 2022 and smashing through the site’s previous audience records.

Australian Rules football, netball, hockey, skateboarding, school athletics and even curling were some of the sports featuring in 188 matches broadcast in the final month of the winter sporting season, highlighting the diverse nature of Streamer’s content.

Streamer Operations Manager, Nick Rynne, said: “We’d been telling people it was going to be a September to remember, we just didn’t know how right we were.

“Within the first two weeks we’d already broken records across most of our primary monthly metrics, and things just continued to skyrocket from there.

“We knew that if we built the tools to support and elevate community sport the community would respond and would corporate Australia, in particular our partners BHP and HART Sports. September has been a tremendous validation of that,” he said.

“But really, it’s a testament to the dedication of the grassroots associations we work with. They value their sporting programs and are willing to invest in them. We consider ourselves lucky to help promote them and share their games to as wide an audience as possible.”

Streamer was born out Seven West Media’s The West Australian, launching as a standalone platform in February 2022 before expanding nationally at the end of 2023.

It provides the tools for sporting organisations at any level to set up their league, schedule games, clip out highlights and monetise their audience – all at no cost to the leagues, clubs or schools.

More than 101 leagues, schools and sporting organisations and 470 clubs have been added to the platform to the end of September.

Seven West Media WA Sport Sales Director, Chris Pearce, said: “The importance of grassroots sport within the community is becoming more and more valuable for our brands both locally and nationally.

“Our partners see this as a really unique place to be, offering a genuine connection with some of Australia’s most passionate sports fans, and we’ve got big aims to deepen that connection even more going into next year.

“We’ve seen significant growth, we are looking to keep that momentum going.”

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2017

Never heard of Streamer.

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