• ACCC will not oppose Southern Cross Media's proposed acquisition of Seven West Media
• ACCC found the companies do not closely compete in advertising, content supply, or content acquisition
• Broader industry trends, including rise of streaming and online advertising, also factored into ACCC's decision

The ACCC has announced it will not oppose the proposed acquisition of Seven West Media Limited (ASX:SWM) by Southern Cross Media Limited (ASX:SXL). In its review, the ACCC considered how closely Seven and Southern Cross compete across different markets, including 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 Australian markets where they are the main traditional media outlets. The ACCC also determined 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 noted the impact of broader industry trends, including the rise of streaming services and significant growth of online advertising, which are transforming Australian media markets and leading advertisers to invest more heavily in digital channels. Ultimately, the ACCC concluded the acquisition would be unlikely to substantially lessen competition in any market.