. 9 % ▁through ▁Seven ▁Network ▁and ▁he ▁became ▁chairman ▁of ▁West ▁Australian ▁New sp apers ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 9 . ▁Ker ry ▁Sto kes ▁appointed ▁Chris ▁Wh art on ▁as ▁CE O ▁of ▁West ▁Australian ▁New sp apers ▁and ▁Bre tt ▁Mc Car thy ▁as ▁Editor . ▁ ▁Seven ▁Media ▁Group ▁Seven ▁Network ▁( comm only ▁known ▁as ▁Channel ▁ 7 ▁or ▁simply ▁Seven ) ▁dates ▁back ▁to ▁ 4 ▁November ▁ 1 9 5 6 , ▁when ▁the ▁first ▁stations ▁on ▁the ▁V H F 7 ▁frequency ▁were ▁established ▁in ▁Melbourne ▁and ▁Sydney . ▁The ▁Seven ▁Network ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁five ▁main ▁free - to - air ▁networks ▁in ▁Australia . ▁ ▁Origin ▁The ▁Seven ▁Network ▁began ▁as ▁a ▁group ▁of ▁independent ▁stations ▁in ▁Sydney , ▁Melbourne , ▁Br is b ane , ▁Ad ela ide ▁and ▁Per th . ▁H SV - 7 ▁Melbourne , ▁lic ensed ▁to ▁The ▁Her ald ▁and ▁Week ly ▁Times ▁Ltd ▁( own ers ▁of ▁two ▁local ▁papers ▁at ▁the ▁time , ▁The ▁Her ald ▁and ▁The ▁Sun ), ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁station ▁in ▁the ▁country ▁to ▁use ▁the ▁V H F 7 ▁frequency . ▁It ▁launched ▁on ▁ 4 ▁November ▁ 1 9 5 6 , ▁soon ▁joined ▁on ▁ 2 ▁December ▁by ▁Am alg am ated ▁Television ▁Services ▁AT N - 7 ▁in ▁Sydney . ▁ ▁TV W - 7 ▁Per th ▁began ▁broadcast ing ▁almost ▁two ▁years ▁later , ▁on ▁ 1 6 ▁October ▁ 1 9 5 9 ,