Sports Entertainment Group

Formation| 1994 (1994)[1]
Type| Publicly listed company
Headquarters| Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

CEO

| Craig Hutchison

Chairman

| Craig Coleman

Board of directors

| Colm O'Brien
Andrew Moffat
Ronald Hall
Chris Giannopoulos
Website| sportsentertainmentnetwork.com.au

Formerly called

| Ledge Group Limited (1994)
Media Technology Corporation Limited (1994–2000)
Data and Commerce Limited (2000–2004)
Pacific Star Network Limited (2004–2020)[1]

Sports Entertainment Group (SEG), formerly Pacific Star Network,[2] is an Australian sports media content and entertainment business. SEG is the owner and parent company of Sports Entertainment Network (SEN).

## History

[edit]

After going through a number of name changes in the 1990s and early 2000s, the company was known as Pacific Star Network for 16 years.[1]

In December 2014, Pacific Star Network acquired Morrison Media Services, the publisher of Frankie Magazine and Smith Journal.[3] They sold Morrison Media Services to Nextmedia in September 2018.[4]

In January 2018, Pacific Star Network acquired 100 per cent of equity in Crocmedia.[5] In September 2020, Pacific Star Network rebranded Crocmedia as Sports Entertainment Network (SEN).[6] Two months later, Pacific Star Network changed its name to Sports Entertainment Group (SEG).[2][7]

In September 2023, it was reported that SEG posted a $9.2 million loss in the 2022–23 financial year. The company reportedly asked for covenant relief from the bank in the June quarter.[8][9] In November 2023, it was reported that SEG required a cash injection or new investors in the next nine months to survive.[10] To finish the year, SEG sold 3.75 per cent of their sporting teams business, SEN Teams, and received $1.5 million in investor funds from new individual shareholders.[11][12]

## SEN Teams

[edit]

SEG's sporting teams business, SEN Teams, is the owner of five clubs as of December 2024.[13]

Under Pacific Star Network and Crocmedia, the company owned 25 percent of National Basketball League (NBL) team Melbourne United between 2018 and 2021.[14][15]

In July 2021, SEG purchased rival NBL team the Perth Wildcats[16][17][18] for roughly $8.5 million.[11] In November 2021, SEG's New Zealand subsidiary purchased New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) team the Otago Nuggets.[19] In March 2022, SEN unveiled the Southern Hoiho for the inaugural Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa season.[20] SEN Teams purchased Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) team the Bendigo Spirit in April 2022[21] and acquired a Super Netball team licence in July 2023,[22] which became the Melbourne Mavericks.[11]

In May 2024, Basketball Australia granted SEN Teams permission to run a second WNBL club.[23] On 13 June 2024, the Perth Lynx's WNBL licence was transferred to Perth Lynx Pty Ltd, an organisation owned by SEN Teams investors Christian Hauff and Jodi Millhahn.[24][25][26][27] On 10 December 2024, SEN Teams took over from Hauff and Millhahn as majority owners of the Lynx.[13][28] SEG chief executive Craig Hutchison later revealed the timing of the sale of the Perth Wildcats prevented SEN Teams from completing a deal to own the Perth Lynx earlier in 2024.[29]

In July 2024, SEG agreed to sell 90% of their 95% shareholder ownership of the Perth Wildcats to MT Arena Capital Investment at an estimated value of $40 million.[30] On 14 August 2024, SEG officially sold 52.5 per cent of the club for $21 million to WA businessman Mark Arena. SEG subsequently shifted to the position of minority shareholders of the Wildcats. Arena will provide another payment of $15 million in 2026 to receive an extra 37.5 per cent and can then buy the entire club in 2028.[31][32]

In March 2025, SEG announced its intention to exit its involvement in both the Southern Hoiho and Otago Nuggets basketball teams, effective at the conclusion of the 2025 New Zealand NBL season.[33][34] On 6 June 2025, it was announced that SEG would transfer ownership of the Hoiho and Nuggets to a collective of local Dunedin community supporters on 31 July 2025.[35]

## Assets

[edit]

* BallPark Entertainment[36]
* Bravo Management[37]
* Precision Sports and Entertainment Group[38]
* Sports Entertainment Network
* AFL Record
* 6EL
* 1116 SEN
* 693 SENQ
* SEN SA
* SEN Track
* Sports Entertainment Network New Zealand (SENZ)[19]
* SEN Teams[11]
* Bendigo Spirit (WNBL)
* Melbourne Mavericks (Super Netball)
* Otago Nuggets (NZNBL)
* Perth Lynx (WNBL)[13]
* Perth Wildcats (NBL) (minority shareholders)
* Southern Hoiho (Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa)
* Rainmaker / Rapid TV[39]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "PACIFIC STAR NETWORK LIMITED(PNW)". investogain.com.au. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
2. ^ a b "Sports Entertainment Group". businessnews.com.au. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
3. ^ "Pacific Star Network completes media merger with Crocmedia". proactiveinvestors.com.au. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
4. ^ "Pacific Star Network sells Frankie and Smith Journal for $2.4m". mumbrella.com.au. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
5. ^ Pierik, Jon (8 January 2018). "Craig Hutchison to be biggest shareholder in SEN in Crocmedia deal". The Age. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
6. ^ "PSN rebrands Crocmedia as Sports Entertainment Network". radiotoday.com.au. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
7. ^ "Sports Entertainment Network year of aggressive growth lifted revenue and profit". mediaweek.com.au. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021. "The year saw two rebrands under CEO Craig Hutchison with the names Pacific Star Network and Crocmedia being dropped for Sports Entertainment Group and Sports Entertainment Network."
8. ^ Saeed, Daanyal (15 September 2023). "Craig Hutchison's Sport Entertainment Network reports $9.2m loss amid huge exec bonuses". News.com.au. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
9. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (17 September 2023). "NBL owner Larry Kestelman backs Perth Wildcats owners Sports Entertainment Group and Craig Hutchison". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
10. ^ Jaspan, Calum (14 November 2023). "Craig Hutchison's sports and media empire on the ropes as directors, auditor sound alarm". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
11. ^ a b c d O'Donoghue, Craig (1 February 2024). "Craig Hutchison explains Sports Entertainment Group's sale of part of Teams group including Perth Wildcats". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
12. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (11 March 2024). "New Perth Wildcats owners Bill Bloking, Annie Hill and Christian Hauff explain why they joined Craig Hutchison". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
13. ^ a b c "SEN bolster partnership and investment, acquire majority stake in Perth Lynx". wnbl.basketball/perth. 10 December 2024. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024.
14. ^ "Crocmedia Acquires Stake In Melbourne United Basketball Team". bandt.com.au. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
15. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (15 September 2021). "Sports Entertainment Group's Craig Hutchison spends first day at Perth Wildcats after travelling to WA". The West Australian. Retrieved 8 October 2021. "New Perth Wildcats owners, Sports Entertainment Group are in the final stage of selling their shares in Melbourne United and will have completed the deal before the start of the NBL season. SEG bought the Wildcats from Jack Bendat in July and promised to divest their 25 per cent stake in the NBL champions."
16. ^ "Sports Entertainment Group take over from Jack Bendat as new owners of Perth Wildcats". abc.net.au. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
17. ^ "SEN sign agreement to acquire Perth Wildcats". wildcats.com.au. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
18. ^ "Statement on Perth Wildcats". nbl.com.au. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
19. ^ a b "SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK SECURES OTAGO NUGGETS". nznbl.basketball. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
20. ^ Cheshire, Jeff (30 March 2022). "Southern Hoiho to be unveiled as new women's franchise". odt.co.nz. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
21. ^ "SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK GROW BASKETBALL PRESENCE WITH WNBL BENDIGO SPIRIT ACQUISITION". sen.com.au. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
22. ^ Bennett, Russell (21 July 2023). "Craig Hutchison takes up Super Netball licence for Melbourne side to replace Collingwood". The Age. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
23. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (10 May 2024). "Perth Lynx are closing in on new ownership as WNBL guarantees their place in the league for next season". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
24. ^ Lauren (13 June 2024). "TRANSITION OF PERTH LYNX WNBL LICENCE". wnbl.basketball/perth. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024.
25. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (13 June 2024). "Basketball WA transfer their WNBL licence for Perth Lynx to Christian Hauff and Jodi Millhahn". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024.
26. ^ "SEN ENTERS MANAGEMENT RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITH NEW PERTH LYNX OWNERS". SEN.com.au. 13 June 2024. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024.
27. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (4 December 2024). "Dribble Podcast: Perth Lynx owner Christian Hauff firmly with Red Army despite part Bendigo Spirit stake". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
28. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (10 December 2024). "Craig Hutchison's SEN Teams becomes majority owner of WNBL's Perth Lynx in mid-season deal". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024.
29. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (11 December 2024). "Craig Hutchison always wanted SEN Teams to own Perth Lynx but had to complete Perth Wildcats deal first". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 11 December 2024.
30. ^ "Perth Wildcats sale agreement". Wildcats.com.au. 11 July 2024. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024.
31. ^ "Wildcats welcome Mark Arena as new owner". Wildcats.com.au. 14 August 2024. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024.
32. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (14 August 2024). "Mark Arena is the new majority owner of NBL's Perth Wildcats after he completed his $21 million payment". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024.
33. ^ "Next Steps for Nuggets and Hoiho: BBNZ Exploring Future Options". nznbl.basketball. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
34. ^ "SEN To Exit Otago Nuggets, Southern Hoiho At Season's End | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
35. ^ "New Era for Nuggets, Driven by Local Leadership". nznbl.basketball. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
36. ^ "Pacific Star Network to merge with Crocmedia" (PDF). canterburypartners.com.au. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
37. ^ "Who is Bravo". Bravo Management. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
38. ^ "Bravo Management Acquires Precision Sports and Entertainment Group". ministryofsport.com.au. 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2021. "Bravo has been considering getting back into representing current athletes for some time after merging in with Pacific Star Network and the broader Crocmedia business..."
39. ^ "Pacific Star unit Crocmedia to acquire TV broadcast satellite company Rapid TV". spglobal.com. 19 July 2019. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Sports Entertainment Network

Stations|

| SEN|

* 1116 SEN
* 1170 SEN
* 4KQ
* SEN SA
* SEN Spirit
* SEN Track

|

Other|

* 2CH
* Rythmos

Former|

* Classic Rock Radio
* SEN+
* SEN 1323

Presenters|

* Stephanie Brantz
* Joel Caine
* Bianca Chatfield
* Kane Cornes
* Kym Dillon
* Bryan Fletcher
* Ben Graham
* Ian Healy
* Anthony Hudson
* Craig Hutchison
* Matthew Johns
* David King
* Garry Lyon
* Andrew Maher
* Sam McClure
* Robert Murphy
* Liam Pickering
* Dwayne Russell
* Michelangelo Rucci
* Jimmy Smith
* Andrew Voss
* Terry Wallace
* Tim Watson
* Pat Welsh
* Gerard Whateley
* Matthew White

| Former|

* Mark Aiston
* Kevin Bartlett
* Mark Bickley
* Dermott Brereton
* Billy Brownless
* Danny Frawley
* Daniel Harford
* Francis Leach
* Hamish McLachlan
* Matthew Primus
* David Schwarz

|

Sporting teams|

* Bendigo Spirit
* Melbourne Mavericks
* Otago Nuggets
* Perth Lynx
* Perth Wildcats
* Southern Hoiho

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