Southern Cross Media Group Appoints Chris Jones as Director of Sport

Southern Cross Media Group has officially announced the appointment of Chris Jones to the newly created role of Director of Sport – TV, Audio and Streaming.

Effective immediately, this appointment marks a significant move to unify the sports portfolios of Seven and Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), with Jones tasked with leading the group’s overarching sports strategy across broadcast, digital, publishing, and social platforms.

In his new capacity, Jones will spearhead sports rights negotiations for the combined entity, with the objective of securing cross-platform deals that maximise commercial value. By integrating the assets of 7SPORT with the audio powerhouses of Triple M and LiSTNR, the organisation aims to establish a dominant competitive advantage within the Australian media landscape.

Expressing his commitment to this integrated approach, Chris Jones, said: “It’s a privilege to lead this merged team of some of the country’s most talented on and off-air broadcasters.”

“Working closely with Ewan Giles and the SCA sport team, we now have an incredible opportunity to capitalise on our strengths, allowing us to share talent, resources, and ideas seamlessly while protecting what makes each brand distinctive.

“Bringing our sports offering together marks a major evolution in content consumption. By elevating digital and social media alongside traditional TV and audio broadcasts, we will capture fans who engage with content far beyond our traditional assets. 

“Sport audiences want great coverage whenever and however they consume it.

“By bringing together 7SPORT, Triple M and LiSTNR sport, we are building Australia’s most complete sports media operation, delivering engaging content wherever you are, throughout the whole day,” he noted.

Praising Jones’ deep industry experience and his ability to bridge the gap between television and audio platforms, Managing Director – TV and Streaming, Angus Ross, added: “Seven and SCA’s dominance in sport is unmatched, and bringing both businesses together has provided a massive opportunity to maximise our footprint across broadcast and audio.”

“Chris has an incredible track record with Seven and the broader sporting industry. He has live sport in his DNA and has spent over 20 years delivering every major sporting code across the country,” Ross said.

The appointment is part of a broader strategy to leverage the company’s diverse media slate—including 7NEWS, Sunrise, and various entertainment products—to engage audiences across every market in Australia.

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