The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is one of Australia's major free-to-air television networks and media platforms. Based in Sydney, NSW, the network broadcasts a range of local Australian and foreign English-language programming across Australia, including factual television (e.g. Seven News), sports, reality television and scripted television programming.
From the 1970s to 2025, Seven was operated by media mogul Kerry Stokes as its Chairman and major stockholder, who retains a sizeable interest as of 2026.
History
Origins
The present Seven Network began in the 1950s as a group of independent stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
HSV-7 Melbourne, licensed to The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd (owners of two local papers at the time, The Herald and The Sun), was launched on 4 November 1956, as Melbourne's first television station to use the VHF7 frequency.
ATN-7 Sydney, licensed to Amalgamated Television Services, a subsidiary of Fairfax, was launched on 2 December 1956, as Sydney's third television station.
HSV-7 and ATN-7 did not immediately share resources, but instead formed content-sharing partnerships with their VHF9 counterparts. By 1957 ATN-7 partnered with Melbourne's GTV-9, while HSV-7 paired up with Sydney's TCN-9.
TVW-7 Perth, licensed to TVW Limited, a subsidiary of West Australian Newspapers, began broadcasting almost two years later, on 16 October 1959, becoming Perth's first television station.
BTQ-7 Brisbane followed on 1 November 1959, as Brisbane's second television station.
ADS-7 Adelaide was launched on 24 October 1959 as the final capital city VHF7 station. The station later swapped frequencies with SAS-10 on 27 December 1987 as ADS-10 and SAS-7.
HSV-7 began its relationship with the Victorian Football League (now the Australian Football League) in April 1957, when the station broadcast the first live Australian rules football match. At the time, the stations operated independently of each other, with schedules made up of various simple programs that were inexpensive to produce, such as Pick a Box and spin-offs of popular radio shows. In the early 1960s, coaxial cable links were formed initially between Sydney and Melbourne, which allowed the sharing of programs and simultaneous broadcasts of live TV shows.
In 1960, Frank Packer, the owner of Sydney's TCN-9, bought a controlling share of Melbourne's GTV-9. This created the country's first television network (unofficially called "the National Nine Network") and dissolved the ATN-7/GTV-9 and the HSV-7/TCN-9 partnerships. Left without their original partners, ATN-7 and HSV-7 joined to form the Australian Television Network (ATN) in 1963. The new grouping was soon joined by other capital-city channel 7 stations, ADS-7 Adelaide and BTQ-7 Brisbane.
ATN began to produce and screen higher-budget programs to attract viewers, notably the Australian show Homicide (1964–1977), a series that would continue for another 12 years to become the nation's longest running drama series of the period. After the network adopted the Network 7 name in 1970, a national network logo was adopted. Stations remained independently owned and operated with local adveristing campaigns.
Color television was introduced across the network in 1975, when a new colour logo was adopted.
In 1979, Rupert Murdoch made an unsuccessful bid for the Herald and Weekly Times, owners of HSV-7, later going on to gain control of rival ATV-10. Fairfax successfully bought a 14.9% share of Network 7 later that same year. A decade of media magnates jostling for control of Australian's media landscape was to follow.
1980s
The 1980s saw the introduction of stereophonic sound, as well as several successful shows, most notably A Country Practice in 1981, and Sons and Daughters in 1982. The 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow were shown live on the network in 1980. Neighbours began on Seven in 1985, but low ratings in Sydney led to the cancellation of the new series at the end of the year, which later moved to Network 10 and went on to achieve international success.
Perth-based businessman Robert Holmes à Court, through his business the Bell Group, bought TVW-7 from its original owners, West Australian Newspapers in 1982. It was in 1984 that the network proceeded to drop the "Network 7" branding. The Herald and Weekly Times, owner of HSV-7 and ADS-7, was sold to Rupert Murdoch in December 1986 for an estimated $1.8 billion. Murdoch's company, News Limited, sold off HSV-7 to Fairfax soon afterwards for $320 million. Fairfax went on to remove a number of locally produced shows in favour of networked content from its Sydney counterpart, ATN-7 (also owned by Fairfax at the time).
Cross-media ownership laws introduced in 1987 forced Fairfax to choose between its print and television operations. Fairfax chose print and sold its television stations to Qintex Ltd., owned by businessman Christopher Skase. Qintex had previously bought, and subsequently sold off, stations in Brisbane and regional Queensland before taking control of the network. It was also in 1987 that the network returned to the "Australian Television Network" branding. The next year, another new logo was introduced along with the evening soap Home and Away and a relaunched Seven National News, now known as Seven News. The network became truly national in 1988 when Skase bought TVW-7 for $130 million. In 1991, the network changed its name once again to Seven Network, though it had been unofficially using that name for some time before then.
Despite the network's successes, a failed $1.5 billion bid for MGM Studios in the same year sent Qintex into receivership. Christopher Skase fled Australia in 1990 to escape extradition. The business' assets were bundled together by receivers and made into a new company, Seven Network Limited, in 1991.
1990s
The network was listed on the stock exchange in 1993, soon after the entry of subscription television provider Australis. One of Seven's popular series, A Country Practice, ended in 1993 after 1058 episodes. Blue Heelers was also introduced in 1993, and, after a number of time-slot changes, was moved to Wednesdays in 1998. This was to make room for a new series, the medical drama All Saints. Both dramas rated quite highly and along with new lifestyle shows Better Homes and Gardens and The Great Outdoors, resulted in a stronger ratings position for the network.
In 1995, Sunshine Television, a Seven Network affiliate in regional Queensland, was purchased by the network's parent company, Seven Network Limited. Sunshine Television's regional stations effectively became a part of Seven Network, identical in appearance and programming to the rest of the business' stations. Australian Gladiators proved popular; Series 1 and 2 were filmed in Brisbane in 1995–1996, and Series 3 was filmed in Sydney. Seven Queensland won the annual audience ratings for the first time in 1998.
Between 1995 and April 2001, Alan Jackson of Nylex was the non-executive director of Seven, after being asked by Stokes to lead the company.
A successful $1.3 billion bid for United Artists was made in conjunction with Kirk Kerkorian in 1996, but the network sold its stake two years later for US$389 million. Seven took control of Australia Television, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Asian satellite channel, in 1997. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation still maintained a share in the network and continued to produce news and current affairs programming for it.
2000s
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, a high-definition national broadcast facility was constructed in Docklands, Melbourne, replacing the previous facility in Epping, Sydney. This new facility would also house HSV-7's Melbourne offices and studios.
The year 2000 saw former Nine executive David Leckie appointed as head of television operations, re-launching the network with an updated logo and a new advertising campaign timed for the network's coverage of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. The opening ceremony, with 6.5 million viewers, was one of Australia's highest-ever rating television programs, contributing to the network winning the ratings year for the first time in twenty-two years.
Digital television was introduced to most of the network's coverage area on 1 January 2001. This was soon followed by the gradual introduction of wide screen and high definition programming.
In January 2006, Seven Network, Pacific Magazines and online portal Yahoo! Australia and New Zealand combined in a joint venture to form Yahoo!7, representing all three companies' online assets.
On 15 September 2007, 7HD was officially announced with the Seven Media Group announcing their intention to start a high definition multichannel that was initially expected to launch in December 2007. 7HD became the first free-to-air commercial television channel introduced to metropolitan areas since 1988, when it launched prior on 15 October 2007, with 25th Hour being the first program broadcast at 10:30 pm.
On 14 February 2008, the Seven Media Group and Foxtel officially signed an agreement allowing Seven's digital signal to be transmitted via Foxtel's cable and satellite services. Seven became available on Foxtel in early 2009.
On 25 September 2009, Seven announced its new digital channel, 7two, which officially launched on 1 November 2009.
2010s
On 18 January 2010, Seven launched the online catch-up TV website called PLUS7.
On 25 September 2010, in conjunction with the 2010 AFL Grand Final, Seven launched its second multi-digital channel 7mate. 7mate is targeted towards a male audience, particularly those aged between 16 and 49.
In January 2011, the big red 7 logos were expanded to GWN7 and Prime7's rebranding respectively. The news bulletins were renamed as GWN7 News and Prime7 News. GWN and Prime relaunched on 16 January 2011 at 6:00 pm, and its digital channels were branded as 7two and 7mate.
In December 2011, Seven announced its intention to expand into digital datacasting known as 4ME, a digital channel owned by the Prime Media Group on channel 64 in Prime7 and regional areas and Channel 74 in other areas.
In October 2012, Seven began cost-cutting by shedding a number of behind-the-scenes technical positions. Seven also reduced their SNG transponder link capacity on Optus D1 from three (at 12.661,12.671 & 12.681 GHz) to two (at 12.644 & 12.653 GHz), which are used by ATN Sydney for Sunrise and national news location up-links, as well as for other local station location up-links.
In November 2012, Seven changed its on-air theme. This included a new look for program advisory ratings, program listings, program advertisements, and promotions.
As of 10 December 2013, Seven no longer broadcasts on analogue TV and is now only available through digital TV or digital set-top box.
On 26 June 2015, Racing.com began broadcasting on channel 78 as a joint venture between Seven West Media and Racing Victoria following a blackout of Victorian horse racing by Sky Racing. Initially broadcasting an interim live feed from the Racing.com website, the channel was officially launched on 29 August 2015.
In January 2016, Seven changed its on-air theme. This included a new look for program listings, program advertisements and promotions.
On 7 February 2016, during the ad-break of Molly, after months of speculation, Seven officially announced their new channel, 7flix, on channel 76. 7flix was launched at 6 am on 28 February 2016.
On 10 May 2016, 7HD returned as a high definition simulcast on channel 70. Initially, the Melbourne and Adelaide markets received 7HD as a HD simulcast of Seven's primary channel, while the Sydney, Brisbane and Perth markets received 7HD as an HD simulcast of 7mate; this was to allow Australian Football League (AFL) matches to be broadcast in HD in those markets. Sydney, Brisbane and Perth temporarily received 7HD as a simulcast of the primary channel for the duration of the 2016 Summer Olympics before the change was made permanent during and after the 2017 Australian Open. Up until 16 January 2020, breakaway programming was used to show further AFL matches and Australian cricket matches in HD.
In June 2017, following the acquisition of Yahoo! by Verizon Communications, Seven announced plans to launch a wholly owned standalone service to replace PLUS7. In September 2017, Seven announced the new service would be known as 7plus and would launch in November 2017. As of September 2017, Seven's live streaming service, now named 7Live, is no longer accessible from within the PLUS7 and the Yahoo7 portal.
On 1 December 2018, Seven announced 7food Network, a new digital channel, which launched on channel 74. The announcement with Discovery Network followed SBS Food network losing its deal with Discovery-owned Scripps Network. The channel ceased broadcast on 28 December 2019, just over a year after it launched, though Seven continued to utilise the Food Network branding elsewhere.
2020s
In June 2020, Big Brother Australia made a return on the Seven Network with a reboot. On the night of the premiere, Seven also changed their on-air theme.
On 19 June 2020, it was announced that The Daily Edition had been cancelled by Seven Network after 7 years, and hosts Sally Obermeder and Ryan Phelan would be leaving the network. The final episode aired on 26 June 2020.
In July 2020, Seven Network unveiled new logos for its multi-channels, beginning with 7mate, followed by 7two and 7flix. The re-branding also extended to its on-demand platform, 7plus, which was stylised as "7+" as part of a broader branding overhaul of its multichannel services.
In March 2021, it was announced that Seven Network would move out of Martin Place to Eveleigh in 2022, after almost two decades.
On 1 November 2021, Seven West Media announced that it would acquire all the shares and subsidiaries of Prime Media Group. This was Seven West Media's second attempt at purchasing Prime, after its previous attempt in 2019 was thwarted by Australian Community Media boss Antony Catalano and rival WIN Corporation owner Bruce Gordon, who cited Seven's debt problems at the time and its poor ratings performance as their reason for their refusal. This development would mark an end to the Prime branding after 33 years in favour of Seven Network's branding and would see all news bulletins carry the Seven News brand. Prior to this, Prime7 (and sister GWN7 in regional and remote Western Australia) was the only network not to fully use its metro affiliate branding despite carrying Seven branded promos, since WIN Television (except for WIN News) and Southern Cross Austereo use full Nine and Ten network branding on their stations. It was also announced that Seven would look to expand its investment in local news following the merger. A majority of Prime's shareholders voted in favour of the deal on 23 December, with the sale completed on 31 December.
Commencing June 2022, Seven moved to a national brand across all of its regions, in time for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Introduced to regional audiences on 6 June 2022, viewers in those markets began to see the Prime7 and GWN7 logos transition into the national Seven branding.
Seven announced in October 2022 it would launch a new free-to-air channel, 7Bravo on 15 January 2023, on LCN 75 in metropolitan areas and LCN 65 in regional areas. As a result, ishop TV moved from LCN 65 to LCN 67 in the former Prime7 areas. 7Bravo shows reality shows and true crime. The launch is a partnership between Seven Network and NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer.
On 30 November 2022, various channel changes on Seven Network happened to accommodate for the new 7Bravo channel, including a 7mate SD (Channel 73) switch-off. On the same day, 7Bravo on channel 75 appeared on the Seven multiplex, and ishop TV moving to channel 67 placeholder in seven regional areas.
In June 2023, 7NEWS moved their operations from Martin Place to new purpose-built studios in Eveleigh, offering five times the space and permanent sets for all programs. For the first time in more than 40 years, the whole Seven Sydney operation, including all staff, were under one roof. In July 2023, Sunrise hosted its first broadcast at its new studios. The first edition went to air live at 5:30am on 24 July 2023, with hosts Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington, news presenter Edwina Bartholomew and sports presenter Mark Beretta, followed by The Morning Show's Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies.
On 22 January 2024, TVSN and Seven West Media signed a new broadcast deal, which means the channel will be on Seven from 1 July 2024, shifting from 10 and WIN Television. TVSN will be on channel 77 in metropolitan areas and regional Queensland, channel 67 in other regional areas and on 7plus nationally.
In May 2025, Seven West Media announced its intention to purchase Southern Cross Austereo's regional Seven Network affiliate stations in Tasmania, Darwin, Spencer Gulf, Broken Hill, Mount Isa and Remote Central and Eastern Australia for $3.75 Million. The sale was completed in July 2025.