Television network makes moves in both Melbourne's CBD and regional TV

The Seven Network has moved its Melbourne operations from the suburb of Docklands—where town planners forgot to hire paid actors to fill the streets—to Collins Street’s Melbourne Quarter Tower.

TV Blackbox has reported the network’s sport and live production teams will broadcast from there, as well as Seven’s local news bulletins that have aired from Collins Street since Sunday.

The network says its new digs on two levels of the Quarter Tower are modelled off its Eveleigh, Sydney base that was opened by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in 2023.

While there’s no such fanfare this time around, Seven’s Melbourne facility is the next Australian broadcast operation to transition to digital IP-based technology after the ABC’s move to Paramatta in Western Sydney.

Further south, Seven will soon run its own broadcast in Tasmania.

Mumbrella has reported the network will pay Southern Cross Austereo $3.75 million for regional broadcast licences there, as well as parts of South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and other regional areas.

That’s after a deal fell through between Southern Cross and Australian Digital Holdings, the operator of an online-only broadcast featuring right-wing commentators including Family First party leader Lyle Shelton.

Australian Digital’s failed attempt to expand its internet offering to regional television is the Seven Network’s gain.

Metro broadcasters have been steadily consolidating with the regional operations they had been banned from owning after Malcolm Turnbull scrapped rules limiting their reach and platform presences in 2017.

This deal extends Seven’s lead as Australia’s most vertically-integrated television broadcaster, with licences across the country.

Southern Cross Austereo says the deal will also help to pay off its debts, bolstering its finances as the broadcaster fights off an attempted board coup.