CommSec Desk brings share-market updates to Channel 7, SCA radio and News Australia – The CommSec Desk brings market specialists into Australians’ daily news routine. CommSec has joined with Southern Cross Media Group and News Australia on the cross-media initiative.
WPP Motion Entertainment helped develop the project. It places CommSec commentary across Channel 7 television and digital news, SCA radio and audio, and News Australia’s digital publishing outlets. According to the 7 October announcement, the rollout began last week.
For TV Central readers, the partnership shows how Southern Cross can use its newly combined television and radio reach. Viewers may encounter CommSec in 7NEWS. Meanwhile, radio listeners may hear market context on SCA networks. Southern Cross acquired Seven West Media in January. Its proposed corporate name change to Seven Media Group remains a separate matter, pending a November shareholder vote.
How The CommSec Desk will work
The partners envisage market information appearing throughout the day. For example, morning updates and commute-time radio would start the sequence. Trading-day news and afternoon analysis would follow. Live television crosses and an evening market wrap would complete the day.
The release also names digital audio, podcasts, video and social media as distribution channels. However, it does not announce a specific new television programme or provide a public trailer.
Channel 7 will supply the broadcast and digital news settings for CommSec experts. SCA will carry market commentary across its national radio networks. Meanwhile, News Australia will add context through its news and publishing ecosystem, including news.com.au. The announcement does not provide a regular television timeslot or a precise schedule for individual segments.
The collaboration reaches beyond those three media groups. CommBank Connect will also carry relevant CommSec Desk content within CommBank’s own customer-facing ecosystem.
The specialists behind the coverage
CommSec has named five specialists for the initiative. Gillian Bowen is Head of Media and Markets. James Gruber is Equity Market Strategist. Steven Daghlian, Laura Besarati and James Tao are Equity Market Commentators. Together, they will explain developments in Australian and global markets across the participating outlets.
CommSec Chief Operating Officer Stephen Norton said fast-moving markets can be difficult to follow. He said the partnership would make the company’s insights available in news and media people already use. That applies to experienced investors and to people still learning about the market.
Natalie Harvey, Southern Cross West Media’s Chief Revenue Officer, described the 7NEWS component. CommSec specialists will join its daily news cycle, she said. Harvey also pointed to audio’s different role. SCA’s networks can provide context during listeners’ routines, not only during a television bulletin.
News Australia Chief Revenue Officer Lou Barrett said news.com.au readers would receive market news, trends and economic context. Lisa Squillace, General Manager of WPP Motion Entertainment, described the project as a way to explain share-market headlines through Australia’s newsrooms.
Why the cross-media structure matters
This is broader than a single sponsored segment. The announcement describes a connected media partnership. It adapts CommSec expertise to television news, radio, digital publishing and CommBank’s channels. As a result, audiences may encounter the same specialists at different points in the day. The format will depend on the outlet.
Southern Cross Media Group now combines Channel 7 and 7plus with the Hit and Triple M radio networks. It also owns LiSTNR and several publishing titles. Therefore, The CommSec Desk illustrates how the merged company can offer advertisers and partners reach across television, audio and digital media.
Some practical details remain open. The release does not identify recurring radio shows, podcasts or 7NEWS bulletins. Nor does it give the frequency of live television crosses. Viewers and listeners should look to the participating outlets for those schedules as the rollout continues.
For more on the television and audio group behind the rollout, read TV Central’s report on Southern Cross Media’s proposed Seven Media Group name. CommSec’s official Australian website provides its public market updates and services.