Seven West Media confirms move to acquire The Sunday Times and PerthNow

Seven West Media has today confirmed its intention to buy The Sunday Times newspaper and PerthNow website from News Corp Australia.

The deal has been discussed within the industry since the beginning of the year but neither side had confirmed that negotiations were happening until now. It is subject to regulatory approval by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which is currently being sought.

In a statement, Seven West Media CEO and Managing Director, Tim Worner, indicated The Sunday Times would be maintained as a separate brand.

“We see the potential for a positive and growing future for The Sunday Times brand, which has been and will continue to be part of the fabric of this great State.”

The Sunday Times occupies an important place in the history of News Corp. It was Rupert Murdoch’s first acquisition, in 1954, on his way to creating the worldwide media giant. He last visited the paper in 2009 and reflected on that start.