• ACCC will not oppose Southern Cross' proposed acquisition of Seven West Media
• ACCC found Southern Cross and Seven West are not close competitors in advertising, content supply, and content acquisition
• ACCC noted the impact of broader industry trends, including the rise of streaming and growth of online advertising

The ACCC has announced that it will not oppose the proposed acquisition of Seven West Media Limited (ASX:SWM) by Southern Cross Media Limited (ASX:SXL). The ACCC's review considered how closely Seven and Southern Cross compete across different markets, including in the supply of advertising opportunities, the supply of media content to consumers and the acquisition of media content from producers in Australia. The ACCC found that Southern Cross and Seven attract different advertisers and are not close competitors for the supply of advertising opportunities, particularly in regional Western Australia. The ACCC also found that Southern Cross and Seven are not close competitors for content, with Southern Cross primarily focused on radio and audio entertainment, while Seven is focused on print news and general TV. The ACCC also noted the impact of broader industry trends, including the rise of streaming services and the significant growth of online advertising, which are transforming Australian media markets. Ultimately, the ACCC concluded that the acquisition would be unlikely to substantially lessen competition in any market.