Archives: Media Releases

Ian Thorpe, Ariarne Titmus and Giaan Rooney join the Wide World of Sports. Fina World Swimming Championships in Melbourne: Exclusive, live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Nine’s Wide World of Sports will make a big splash at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Melbourne when Ian Thorpe, Ariarne Titmus and Giaan Rooney form an all-star commentary lineup.

Taking place from December 13-18 exclusive, live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now in prime time, the trio of world champions will be poolside to provide expert insight when Australia’s best short-course swimmers take on the world in their own backyard.

Making the announcement on Sports Sunday this morning, Australia’s greatest ever swimmer, Ian Thorpe, spoke of his enthusiasm at joining Nine’s Wide World of Sports stable.

“Channel 9 has an absolutely outstanding history in broadcasting swimming, and considering their audience probably watched me winning World Championships, or breaking world records, it’s going to be great to share my knowledge now with viewers,” said Thorpe.

“I’m particularly excited to be working alongside Giaan, who I grew up with, and it’s also fantastic to see Ariarne, another Olympic champion, come on board to give her understanding of the sport.

“I love discussing the intricacies of swimming and sharing those insights, which hopefully educates more people about our sport.”

Nine Director of Sport, Brent Williams, said: “Nine has a rich history of broadcasting swimming and we are proud to be partnering with FINA on their upcoming events.

“We are equally excited to have Olympic gold medallists, world champions and Australian swimming superstars Ian Thorpe, Giaan Rooney and Ariarne Titmus forming our team of experts.

“Their insight and knowledge will be invaluable in bringing viewers closer to the action and enhancing our poolside coverage in Melbourne.”  

Current Olympic champion for the 200m and 400m freestyle, Ariarne Titmus, said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Nine’s Wide World of Sports for the short-course World Championships in Melbourne. I’m excited to experience racing from a new perspective and challenge myself in a new role on pool deck.

“Thorpey has always been a hero of mine and Giaan is one of the best swimming broadcasters anywhere in the world, so to be alongside them is something I’m really looking forward to, and it’s a fresh challenge for me.”

Rounding out the star trio and making a network homecoming in her distinguished media career, Giaan Rooney said: “After swimming my last race on Channel 9 and starting my broadcasting career as part of the legendary Wide World of Sports swimming commentary team, it feels very familiar and natural to be showcasing swimming for Nine once again.

“This time, not only do we have many of our current Olympic superstars such as Emma McKeon, Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan, Mack Horton and Kyle Chalmers going for gold in the pool, I’m also honoured to be on the mic with the Olympic legend, Ian Thorpe, and our current Olympic champion, Ariarne Titmus.”

Wide World of Sports commentator Mat Thompson will call the races live and experienced sports broadcaster Tony Jones will host the network’s coverage from his hometown throughout the six-day event.

Swimming achievements
Ian Thorpe

• 5 x Olympic Games gold medals
• 9 x Commonwealth Games gold medals
• 11 x World Championship wins
• Set 22 world records in his career
• Most successful athlete at the Sydney 2000 Olympics 

Ariarne Titmus

• 2 x Olympic gold medals (Tokyo 2021)
• 4 x World Championship gold medals
• 2 x Commonwealth Games gold medals

Giaan Rooney

• Olympic gold medallist
• 3 x World Championship gold medals
• 2 x Commonwealth Games gold medals

IMAGES AVAILABLE HERE
Groups and singles included

16^TH FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS (25M) MELBOURNE
DECEMBER 13-18, ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW

#9WWOS
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Monday, November 21, 2022

The Australian Financial Review has yet again recorded yearly growth, and now has a cross platform readership of 3.7 million people, according to Total News readership figures released by Roy Morgan today. 

The country’s most read premium business masthead increased its year-on-year readership across Total News in the 12 months to September 2022, up from 3.6 million, making it one of the country’s fastest growing news brands. Its nearest competitor, The Australian, dropped its Total News readership by 14% in the same period. 

As trusted business news and analysis becomes more important than ever during turbulent economic times, the Financial Review total print readership Monday-Friday increased 22%. Meanwhile, The Australian has seen a drop of 22% year-on-year.

With the AFR Weekend Saturday print edition readership increasing by 23% in the last quarter, the weekend and weekday print editions are outpacing the market with their growth.      

AFR Magazine continues to dominate Australia’s monthly magazine insert figures, with a print readership of 409,000. 

Nine’s Total Publishing assets reach a de-duplicated audience of 16.5 million* Australians across print and digital.

“Many news titles and subscription businesses have started to feel the cost-of-living squeeze from higher inflation,” said the masthead’s editor-in-chief Michael Stutchbury. 

“But the Financial Review’s readership and subscription performance is proving more resilient than most because of the strength of our journalism and its focus on our core audience.” 

The Total News readership figures are produced by Roy Morgan for ThinkNewsBrands. 

Source: Roy Morgan Research, All People 14+. All audience data is based on the last 4 weeks averaged over the 12 months to September 2022.

*This figure includes: Nine.com.au, SMH Print & Digital, The Age Print & Digital, AFR Print & Digital, Brisbane Times, WA Today, Domain Digital, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine

For further information, please contact: 
Adrian Motte
Senior Communications Manager – Trade & Publishing 
amotte@nine.com.au

Monday, November 21, 2022

The Age has maintained its lead as Victoria’s most read masthead with a cross platform readership of 5.8 million, according to Total News readership figures released by Roy Morgan today.

With The Age having 1.5 million more readers than its direct competitor The Herald Sun (5.8 million v 4.3 million), more than one quarter of Australians engage with the masthead to inform their day. 

The Age continues to be the nation’s second most read news brand after The Sydney Morning Herald in its Total News readership across print and digital to September 2022. The Monday to Friday print edition of The Age has a readership of 261,000 – up 1% quarter-on-quarter – while The Sunday Age print edition is read by 392,000 people every Sunday, up 3% on last quarter. 

In the last four weeks 1.4 million people on average have read a print edition of The Age. The masthead also attracts a large number of  readers outside of Victoria, with The Age within the top 5 most read mastheads in every state and territory. 

Across The Age and the Herald, Saturday’s prestigious Good Weekend continues to serve readers with Walkley Award winning features, attracting an average issue print readership of 734,000 and continues as Saturday’s most read magazine insert. Similarly, the Good Food and Traveller titles deliver total cross platform audiences of 1.57million and 1.634 million, respectively, each month.

Sunday Life recorded an average issue print readership of 434,000, while Domain has year-on-year growth, with a print readership of 499,000. 

Nine’s Total Publishing assets reach a de-duplicated audience of 16.5 million* Australians across print and digital.

“It’s again clear from these figures that readers are coming to us for credible, well-told news stories, culture and lifestyle content and award-winning investigations,” said The Age’s acting editor, Michael Bachelard. “This makes The Age the most influential news organisation in Victoria, and one of the most in Australia.” 

The Total News readership figures are produced by Roy Morgan for ThinkNewsBrands.  

Source: Roy Morgan Research, All People 14+. All audience data is based on the last 4 weeks averaged over the 12 months to September 2022.

*This figure includes: Nine.com.au, SMH Print & Digital, The Age Print & Digital, AFR Print & Digital, Brisbane Times, WA Today, Domain Digital, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine

For further information, please contact: 
Adrian Motte
Senior Communications Manager – Trade & Publishing 
amotte@nine.com.au

Monday, November 21, 2022

The Sydney Morning Herald remains Australia’s most read news brand with a cross-platform readership of 8.4 million readers, according to the Total News readership figures released by Roy Morgan today. 

Cementing its place as the country’s most read masthead, the Herald continues to more than double The Daily Telegraph readership (8.399 million versus The Telegraph’s 3.981 million) in Total News, in the latest figures in the 12-month period ending September 2022. 

With the Herald having a standout year in producing numerous high-valued, quality investigations, the figures reveal that two in five Australians get their news from the masthead. The Herald also attracts a large number of readers outside of NSW, with the masthead within the top 5 most read mastheads in every state and territory. 

The Monday to Friday print edition has also seen an impressive annual growth of 11% year-on-year, with an increase of 53% across readers aged 25-39. The weekday print edition  also increased its readership 7% quarter-on-quarter to 388,000, while The Sun Herald print edition is read by 420,000 people every Sunday. In the last four weeks 1.9 million people on average have read a print edition of the Herald.  

Across the Herald and Age, Saturday’s prestigious Good Weekend continues to serve readers with Walkley Award winning features, attracting an average issue print readership of 734,000 and continues as Saturday’s most read magazine insert. Similarly, the Good Food and Traveller titles deliver total cross platform audiences of 1.57million and 1.634 million, respectively, each month.

Sunday Life recorded an average issue print readership of 434,000, while Domain has year-on-year growth, with a print readership of 499,000. 

Nine’s Total Publishing assets reach a de-duplicated audience of 16.5 million* Australians across print and digital.

“I want to thank our subscribers and readers because without their support, we couldn’t do what we do,” said the Herald’s editor, Bevan Shields. 

“A result like this doesn’t just magically happen. It is the result of our many wonderful staff, so I would like to thank them, too.

“Growing our weekday print readership is a particularly pleasing achievement. This has been a huge year for Sydney, New South Wales, our country and the globe, and the Herald’s work has set the standard for high-quality journalism in Australia.”

The Total News readership figures are produced by Roy Morgan for ThinkNewsBrands.  

Source: Roy Morgan Research, All People 14+. All audience data is based on the last 4 weeks averaged over the 12 months to September 2022.

*This figure includes: Nine.com.au, SMH Print & Digital, The Age Print & Digital, AFR Print & Digital, Brisbane Times, WA Today, Domain Digital, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine

For further information, please contact: 
Adrian Motte
Senior Communications Manager – Trade & Publishing 
amotte@nine.com.au

Monday, November 21, 2022

The quality, integrity and diversity of Nine’s journalism across The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and 60 Minutes was recognised at the 67th Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism on Thursday night.

Nick McKenzie and Joel Tozer took home two awards; the first in the Print/Text News Report category with Aisha Dow for their report in The Age, ‘Triple-zero crisis’, and again in the Business Journalism category for their explosive and wide-reaching Nine and 60 Minutes investigation, ‘Star and the gambling industry’s reckoning’. 

Adele Ferguson, Klaus Toft and Lauren Day won in the Television/Video Current Affairs Long (more than 20 minutes) category for their outstanding investigation into the unregulated world of cosmetic surgery, which ran across The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Four Corners, while Mark Stehle, Mags King and The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald team took home the gong for their incredible coverage of the journey through Ukraine. 

Finally, fellow Herald photographer Kate Geraghty was awarded the prize for Feature/Photographic Essay for her gripping coverage of the ‘Invasion of Ukraine – Civilian Impact’. 

National Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, David King, said: “Congratulations to all our Walkley Award winners and also to all those who were finalists. Our success at these awards demonstrates the deep commitment in our newsrooms to deliver high-quality public-interest journalism. It’s the kind of journalism that really makes a difference, and matters to our readers.”

For further information, please contact: 
Caitlin Lynch
Senior Communications Manager
clynch@nine.com.au 

Friday, November 18, 2022

The Age’s Good Food Guide to Victoria’s best restaurants launches Tuesday after Melbourne’s Aru was named as the Vittoria Coffee Restaurant of the Year at the Good Food Guide 2023 Awards tonight in Melbourne.   

Returning after a three-year hiatus with hats and scores to recognise the best restaurants and chefs in Victoria, the glamorous awards ceremony – supported by long-term co-presenting partner Vittoria Coffee and new co-presenting partner Oceania Cruises – was held at W Melbourne.

Owners and chefs from Victoria’s leading restaurants gathered as 12 awards, along with the coveted hats – from one to the pinnacle of three hats – were handed out. The glossy 128-page Good Food Guide 2023 Victorian magazine is on sale from tomorrow (Tuesday, November 15) and is the definitive guide to the state’s restaurants, cafes and bars. The announcement of the New South Wales’ award winners, and the launch of The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide, will be held on November 21, with the NSW edition going on sale on November 22.

The Age Good Food Guide includes more than 300 independent city and regional reviews as well as the top 20 cafes and bars, and top 10 lists for each Australian state and territory. Highlighting more suburban venues, there’s also a new rating – a heart – for places that the Good Food Guide critics love or would cross town for, as well as awards including the most coveted awards in Australian dining: Chef of the Year, Restaurant of the Year and New Restaurant of the Year.

Edited by Roslyn Grundy, The Age Good Food Guide reviews have been undertaken by a team of esteemed critics including Besha Rodell, Dani Valent and Gemima Cody, all of whom review independently and anonymously. 

Moonah in Connewarre was named Regional Restaurant of the Year; Nicholas Deligiannis from Audrey’s in Sorrento took home the Young Chef of the Year Award while Julian Hills from Navi in Yarraville was named Oceania Cruises Chef of the Year. 

“People call the Good Food Guide the restaurant bible. I think it really has been missed these past three years,” says Grundy. “It is nothing short of miraculous that after several years of floods, fires and pandemic, we have emerged with a dining scene this strong. We’re sure this edition will provide plenty of inspiration for readers’ ever-growing ‘must-visit’ list.”

The awards were attended by more than 300 chefs, restaurateurs and industry professionals who were treated to a menu curated by W Melbourne, including dishes from its two-hatted Warabi restaurant. Cocktails were supplied by Four Pillars Gin and Santa Vittoria, wine by Unico Zelo and beer by Hawkers. Event sponsors included Visit Victoria, SMEG and Marriott International. 

The Age Good Food Guide 2023 magazine is available from newsagents, supermarkets and thestore.com.au for $9.95.

The Age Good Food Guide 2023 award winners: 

Vittoria Coffee Restaurant of the Year: Aru, Melbourne
New Restaurant of the Year: Serai, Melbourne
Regional Restaurant of the Year: Moonah, Connewarre
Oceania Cruises Chef of the Year: Julian Hills, Navi, Yarraville
Vittoria Coffee Legend Award: Abla Amad, Abla’s, Carlton
Service Excellence: Brownyn Kabboord, Du Fermier, Trentham
Sommelier of the Year: Chayse Bertoncello, O My, Beaconsfield
Oceania Cruises Wine List of the Year: Ten Minutes by Tractor, Main Ridge, Mornington Peninsula
Young Chef of the Year: Nicholas Deligiannis, Audrey’s, Sorrento
Food for Good: FareShare, Abbotsford
Bar of the Year: Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne
Cafe of the Year: Lorna, Ferntree Gully

For a High Res image of the Good Food Guide cover click HERE

For further information, please contact: 
Adrian Motte
Senior Communications Manager – Trade & Publishing
amotte@nine.com.au

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have released their annual Impact Reports, detailing the mastheads’ incredible contribution to the fabric of Australian society through ground-breaking investigations, fearlessly holding the powerful to account and celebrating our cities.

Now in its third year, the Impact Report is developed to illustrate the breadth, quality and balance of journalism featured across the two mastheads. They highlight the deep significance journalism has played in keeping Australia a vibrant democracy, told in the words of award-winning reporters who give readers a behind-the-scenes insight into the impact their stories gained.

The reports are an immersive dive into the year’s biggest stories covered by each masthead and show the true impact of subscribers’ support. These include highlighting the results of the Herald’s investigation into the NSW Government’s mismanagement of the Lismore floods response; The Age’s revealing expose into human trafficking; Nick McKenzie’s investigation into Star Entertainment; a year-long investigation into corrupt Chinese state-linked mining in Africa; Victoria’s triple zero system crisis and cowboy-esque practices plaguing the cosmetic surgery industry.

The mastheads’ investigations have held power to account, resulting in real-world change and numerous Walkley Award nominations. The past year has been yet another massive news year, with journalists from the Herald and The Age covering everything from the war in Ukraine, political bloodshed and economic turmoil, to the deaths of Queen Elizabeth II and Shane Warne, climate change and natural disasters.

The Impact Reports also shine a light on the positive lifestyle and culture reporting. As our cities re-awaken after Covid restrictions, the teams from Good Food and Traveller fuelled our desire for travel and food while Good Weekend continued to hold the gold standard in long form journalism. 

With a growing portfolio of newsletters and podcast investigations – including the groundbreaking Liar, Liar Melissa Caddick and the Missing Millions by Kate McClymont and 60 Minutes’ Tom Steinfort – 2022 has once again seen the Herald and The Age expand the way they tell stories.

The 2022 Impact Reports are available here: https://impact-report.smh.com.au/2022 https://impact-report.theage.com.au/2022

For further information, please contact: 
Adrian Motte
Senior Communications Manager – Trade & Publishing
amotte@nine.com.au

Monday, November 14, 2022

9News political reporter Chris O’Keefe has been named as the new host of 2GB’s Drive program, commencing on 9 January 2023. 

O’Keefe is a multi award-winning journalist, with more than a decade of experience in television news, reporting on some of our country’s biggest stories, including his work on exposing a deadly gas mix-up at the maternity ward at Bankstown Hospital which earned him a Walkley Award in 2016.

Already familiar to listeners on 2GB radio, and Nine’s radio stations around Australia, O’Keefe has most recently served as fill-in presenter in 2GB Drive for the past year and is now looking forward to taking on the role full-time.

O’Keefe said: “It’s very rare to be given the chance to be a part of a radio station that has been broadcasting to our city for almost a century. The history is rich at 2GB, and I’m aware of the responsibility that legacy brings and delighted to be given the opportunity.”

“My past experience behind the mic has shown me that radio is deeply personal, and it has to be. We have a one on one conversation with hundreds of thousands Sydneysiders at the same time they are juggling kids, battling traffic, or in their kitchens cooking dinner – that’s a serious privilege.

“Growing up in the suburbs in the St George area of Sydney and now with a young family, a big mortgage and a passionate Dragons supporter, I understand what’s important in this town. I know what we care about, what we can have a laugh about, and what’s worth fighting for. And more than anything, I’ve tried to build a reputation that when I tell you something is happening, you can take it to the bank.”

2GB Content Manager, Luke Davis said: “If it’s happening in Sydney, you’ll hear it first on 2GB, and nobody has their finger on the pulse of our city more than Chris O’Keefe.”

“Chris has proven to be a popular contributor and trusted news-breaker across our network and we can’t wait to have him join 2GB in a full-time capacity. Get set Sydney, with Chris O’Keefe, it’s going to be a fresh, informative and entertaining drive home in 2023!”

O’Keefe started his career at Network Ten as a TV news producer, before moving to Channel 9 on the Gold Coast and Brisbane. He returned home to Sydney where he has reported on state and federal politics, covering four elections.

He is a Walkley Award winner and three time nominee. He was also named NSW Journalist of the year in 2017 and has been awarded five Kennedy Awards for excellence in journalism.

O’Keefe is married to Fox League broadcaster Yvonne Sampson and is a father to their baby boy Henry.

For further information, please contact: 
Caitlin Lynch
Senior Communications Manager
clynch@nine.com.au 

Monday, November 14, 2022

Tennis Australia has announced a momentous five-year extension of its broadcast partnership with the 9Network, ensuring Nine is the home of tennis until 2029.

RIGHTS FREE IMAGES OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT HERE

The new five-year deal (from 2025 to 2029) includes a $425 million cash component plus considerable additional value in contra, retained rights and promotion, making it the biggest in the history of Tennis Australia.

The agreement will continue to fuel the growth of the sport across the country, the Australian Open and other major events.

“Nine has shown a serious year-round commitment to continue to grow tennis,” Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said today.

“Together we have regularly set and exceeded targets for ourselves in what has been a highly productive partnership thus far. This new deal further strengthens that relationship in which our organisations work as a true co-operative on the broadcast, production, innovation and promotion of our events and sport. It will ensure we are reaching audiences of all ages and backgrounds across multiple platforms with high quality product.

“We want to show our sport at its best to continually excite tennis fans, while also appealing to a new generation of fans and players across Australia. This new deal will certainly help us do that.”

“We are pleased to announce the extension of the partnership between Nine and Tennis Australia,” Nine CEO Mike Sneesby said.

“Tennis attracts both a broad and very passionate following, and is a perfect fit with Nine’s schedule, audiences and advertisers. The Australian Open has delivered some of Australia’s most iconic sporting moments and largest television audiences and together, we are committed to bringing these great moments to all Australians live and free.”

The five-year deal gives the Nine Network the domestic broadcast rights for the Australian Open and summer of tennis lead-in events, including the brand-new global teams competition, the United Cup and other special events.

This year’s Australian Open women’s final was the highest rating of all time, watched by an Australian television audience of 3.835 million.*

The men’s final was the highest rating in four years, with a domestic TV audience of 2.333 million* viewers.

The all-Aussie men’s doubles final was the highest rating Australian Open men’s doubles match of all time, with 2.482 million* tuning in across the country. And on 9Now, more than 657 million minutes of Australian Open coverage was streamed, representing a year-on-year increase of 171%.

The new agreement follows extensive negotiations and some spirited competition, with a big focus on having content in the right places for ease of consumer access as well as promotion of the sport.

*According to OzTam

For further information, please contact: 
Prue Ryan
Tennis Australia
pryan@tennis.com.au

Friday, November 11, 2022

Sunday Life is marking 25 years of publication this weekend with a special anniversary issue featuring an exceptional cast of female change-makers.

Twenty-five Australians are being recognised for their influence and positive contribution to society in a first-of-its-kind cross platform execution which sees each “Trailblazer” receive her own digital Sunday Life magazine cover.

Dual athlete Ellyse Perry, First Nations woman and AFL executive Tanya Hosch along with ovarian cancer campaigner Camilla Freeman-Topper appear on the cover of the print edition published with The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age newspapers this weekend.

“At the core of Sunday Life’s philosophy is a celebration of women, so it makes sense to recognise the women who have inspired us in the past 25 years, and those leading the charge in the future,” says Sunday Life editor Pat Ingram.

Penny Wong, Magda Szubanski, Zoë Foster Blake and Ash Barty are also among those commemorated in the anniversary issue. 

Sunday Life columnist Jamila Rizvi says: “In a fast paced world and 24 hour news cycle, we rarely take a moment to pause and reflect. But these diverse and distinguished 25 women and their many achievements are so very well worth your time to discover, to consider and to celebrate.”

Rizvi and fellow Sunday Life columnist Brooke Boney, along with senior editors Monique Farmer, Damien Woolnough and Ingram served as judges during the nomination process.

“We drew on the vast experience of journalists across the newsroom for their nominations and these were narrowed down and hotly debated until our judging panel reached its final conclusion,” says Ingram.

Rizvi adds: “A list such as this is never complete. Its purpose is to begin the work of wondering, to spark debate and discussion, to start a conversation that continues well into the night, over a shared bottle of wine, reflecting on the many and vast achievements of Australian women these past 25 years.”

Sunday Life’s The Trailblazers issue will be available in this Sunday’s edition of The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age. You can see the full list of 25 women, as well as their digital magazine covers, from Sunday 6am at smh.com.au/sunday-life and theage.com.au/sunday-life, as well as brisbanetimes.com.au/sunday-life and watoday.com.au/sunday-life. Readers can also step behind the scenes of the anniversary cover shoot via Sunday Life’s Instagram and hear from some of the trailblazing women themselves.

For a high res image of the Sunday Life cover, click HERE

For further information, please contact: 
Adrian Motte
Senior Communications Manager – Trade & Publishing
amotte@nine.com.au

Friday, November 11, 2022