Seven West Media’s acquisition of News Corp’s Sunday Times and PerthNow to be completed early next week
Seven West Media’s acquisition of News Corp’s The Sunday Times newspaper and the online site PerthNow is expected to be completed early next week after SWM signed the contracts today.
In a media statement uploaded to the ASX, the company has confirmed “execution of a definitive purchase” to acquire the newspaper and site following the acquisition’s approval by the ACCC in September.
The first edition of The Sunday Times under SWM ownership will be on November 20.
Under the agreement, Seven West Media and News Corp will build on a news content sharing agreement for The West Australian with News’ daily brands and mastheads in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart, the Northern Territory and Online.
News Corp will also represent The Sunday Times and PerthNow advertising in the east coast markets.
The agreement will also see West Australian Newspapers print and distribute The Australian and Community Newspaper titles – of which SWM and News Corp are joint-venture partners in the Community Newspaper Group in WA – in the WA market.
Tim Worner: Our acquisition allows us to compete against the increasing presence of global content
Seven West Media CEO and managing director, Tim Worner, said: “We are proud to have The Sunday Times and PerthNow as part of our company. We have a deep and strong connection with Western Australia through Channel Seven and The West and our regional affiliates Prime.
“We look forward – as the new custodians of one of News Corporation’s first acquisitions – to a positive future for both The Sunday Times and PerthNow as part of the WAN group and are committed to ensuring both continue to resonate with the people of Western Australia.
“Our acquisition allows us to compete against the increasing presence of global content and we are determined to be the company that reflects the lives of all West Australians.”
At the end of October Seven West Media appointed Michael Beach as editor of The Sunday Times with West Australian Newspapers to also take on some editorial staff from The Sunday Times and PerthNow.
Seven West Media has confirmed new roles for senior staff as it completes the acquisition of the Sunday Times, with Damian Hampson becoming revenue director and Michael Beach moving to be editor of The Sunday Times.
Chris Wharton, Seven West Media WA CEO, said: “We are delighted to have both The Sunday Times and PerthNow in our stable.
“Both The Sunday Times and PerthNow deliver audiences complementary to those we are delivering with The West, and we intend to build on The Sunday Times and PerthNow’s already strong and deep connections with the people of Western Australia accessing the extensive resources of the integrated newsroom of The West and Channel Seven Perth.”
PerthNow will join Seven West Media’s existing and planned digital platforms in the Western Australian market.
Miranda Ward worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2017, eventually becoming deputy editor. Miranda joined Mumbrella in September 2013 from Sky News.
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