Seven West Media revenue dropped by 2.1 per cent year on year revenue in the first half of FY26 due to “challenging advertising market”. Earnings (EBITDA) dropped by 27 per cent to $67 million. Its financial results are the last before its merger with SCA.
Seven said it achieved a 44.1 per cent revenue share in a challenging and volatile total TV advertising market, which declined 10.1 per cent versus the first half of FY25.
The broadcaster attributed the performance to a weaker than expected advertising market in November and December, and the impact of a shortened Perth and Melbourne Ashes Test match broadcasts.
Operating costs of $645 million were up 1.6 per cent on H1 FY25 and were favourable to AGM guidance of a 3 per cent increase. Cost growth includes the first year step up of the new AFL agreement and operating costs of the acquired Southern Cross regional TV assets.
Excluding the Southern Cross regional TV market costs, operating expenses were flat, which Seven said reflects the benefits of the expanded cost out program and lower revenue related expenses.
“Seven West Media’s result as a stand-alone business reflects continued total television audience and revenue share growth in a challenging advertising market. The ongoing commitment to addressing cost inflation continued in the half, with initiatives in place to offset contracted and acquired cost growth,” Seven’s managing director and chief executive officer Jeff Howard said.
“Our premium content continued to drive solid total television audience growth of 3.4 per cent across Seven and 7plus during the period. We maintained our leading position in national news, growing Sunrise by five per cent and 7NEWS by four per cent. Home and Away audiences grew by five per cent and My Kitchen Rules’ 16 per cent growth was driven by exceptional streaming results.
“Seven’s Summer of Cricket also delivered exceptional growth, with The Ashes up 12 per cent and Big Bash League growing nine per cent.
“The West continues to execute its strategy of driving audiences across its digital platforms. December 2025 Ipsos iris data shows The West’s digital platforms generated a collective audience of
5.7 million, a year-on-year increase of 26.7 per cent. The Nightly strongly contributed to this growth, with a 25 per cent year-on-year increase in audience numbers.”
