Founded in 1956 by a media syndicate led by newspaper publishers John Fairfax and Sons, 7NEWS (and its digital platform 7news.com.au) came into being to offer a fresh approach to the conventional news scene in Australia. The idea sparked when the Australian government began issuing the country's very first commercial television licenses, prompting these traditional print and radio businessmen to create a platform that would deliver visual news and programming directly into people's living rooms—a medium they knew was the future of information. Today, 7news.com.au continues to operate as a media powerhouse under the ownership of Seven West Media. Today, 7NEWS is run by a massive national team of journalists and broadcasters and is focused on a wide variety of daily news. They cover everything from local and international political issues and breaking events, to entertainment, lifestyle, and a heavy dose of sports (especially Australian rules football and cricket). They're based in Sydney, Australia, with newsrooms across the nation, and have made a name for themselves among college students and everyday citizens looking for comprehensive, up-to-the-minute coverage of happenings in the country and around the world. One interesting fact: A unique fact about 7NEWS is its historic and high-stakes connection to the Olympic Games. When the television network was first founded in 1956, the creators frantically rushed to get their broadcasting stations built and on the air specifically so they could televise the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, marking the very first time the massive sporting event was ever shown on television in Australia!