Sports Entertainment Network

Sports Entertainment Network, formerly Crocmedia, is an Australian-American radio and television distribution company established in 2006 by journalists James Swanwick and Craig Hutchison.[1][2]

Sports Entertainment Network
Formation2009 (2009)
Type
  • Broadcast
  • Digital
HeadquartersMelbourne, Australia
chief executive officer
Craig Hutchison
Subsidiaries
Websitesportsentertainmentnetwork.com.au
Formerly called
Crocmedia

History

Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) was formed in 2006 as Crocmedia in the United States as a public relations company selling entertainment and news content. Now focusing on sports, the company produces content relating to AFL, soccer, rugby league, golf and racing which is broadcast on hundreds of radio stations across Australia.

Crocmedia entered the mainstream in late 2009 when it was announced that it would operate a live AFL radio service that would be syndicated throughout regional areas. Many regional broadcasters, including Ace Radio stations, 3BA, 3NE and Edge FM, replaced their existing feed – typically 3AW or Triple M – with the new Crocmedia feed. Crocmedia achieved further publicity by signing veteran broadcasters Sandy Roberts and Rex Hunt to provide commentary.

Sports Entertainment Networkoperates a daily sports news service, called Sportsday, which is carried on several regional broadcasters. It generated controversy in Albury-Wodonga when 2AY announced that it would replace the popular 3AW program Sports Today with Sportsday.[3] Crocmedia came to an agreement with 3AW in 2017 to have its Sportsday program broadcast in Melbourne on 3AW, with Sports Today hosts Gerard Healy and Dwayne Russell joining the program.

SEN owns broadcast rights to AFL, A-League and W-League matches and Socceroos and Matildas home games.[4] In 2016, it signed a $10 million six-year deal with the AFL for the national radio broadcasting rights for all AFL games.[1]

Details of a proposed merger between Crocmedia and 1116 SEN owner Pacific Star Network were confirmed in January 2018. Under the plan existing Crocmedia CEO Craig Hutchison became the largest shareholder and CEO of the merged company.[2][4]

Crocmedia received attention in January 2015, after the Federal Circuit Court fined the company $24,000 for breaching the minimum wage conditions of two employees. Judge Riethmuller branded Crocmedia’s actions as ‘exploitative’.[5]

In July 2019, Crocmedia purchased 23 narrowband radio licences across Australia including Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, Darwin and Alice Springs. In October 2020, Crocmedia was rebranded Sports Entertainment Network.[6][7]

Programmes

Radio

Television

References
  1. Murfett, Andrew (9 March 2017). "Despite many setbacks, Craig Hutchison has become a major player in TV sport". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  2. Pierik, Jon (8 January 2018). "Craig Hutchison to be biggest shareholder in SEN in Crocmedia deal". The Age. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  3. Bunn, Anthony (22 March 2010). "2AY dumps Sports Today for Craig Hutchison show". The Border Mail. Fairfax Regional Media. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  4. "Crocmedia and Pacific Star Network confirm merger details". Mumbrella. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  5. Ma, Wenlei (3 February 2015). "Unpaid internships could be a thing of the past". News.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  6. Crocmedia re-brands to Sports Entertainment Network Sports Entertainment Network 30 September 2020
  7. PSN rebrands Crocmedia as Sports Entertainment Network Radio Today 30 September 2020
  8. AFL Live Markets http://www.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Tenant/AFL/Files/AFLLive2013CoverageMap.pdf
  9. "AFL Live expands". Radio Today. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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