Respected broadcaster and senior journalist Jim Wilson has announced he’s stepping down as host of 2GB Drive to pursue other opportunities with Nine television.
Jim made the announcement on his Drive program this afternoon thanking his listeners for their support over the last couple of years.
“I’ve been so lucky to have been given this opportunity and my listeners have been incredible, I’m going to miss them. They’ve taken me into their lounge rooms, into their cars and to have been the #1 talk show, in a super competitive slot, three out of the last four ratings surveys is something I’m very proud of achieving.”
“In my 35 years in broadcasting, my mantra has been all about being fair and reasonable and true to myself. We’ve managed to help people and given them a voice on my program and that’s been the most satisfying part of the job – getting people a fair go. I love what I do and I’ve still got the passion to do more in the future, there’s nothing like live broadcasting and I say bring on the next chapter.”
Jim took over the Drive shift in July 2020, and has been a source of trusted information and great comfort for his listeners through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nine Radio’s Managing Director, Tom Malone said: “I want to thank Jim for his hard work, professionalism and passion over the past two and a half years. He is a person of the highest integrity and he’s championed so many great causes for our listeners during his tenure. I look forward to seeing Jim back on our TV screens, and he leaves radio with our good will and best wishes.”
Jim will host his final Drive program tomorrow afternoon. An announcement about a new permanent host will be made in due course.
For further information, please contact: Caitlin Lynch Senior Communications Manager clynch@nine.com.au
LEGO® Masters Australia returns for a magical two-part LEGO Bricksmas Special as we celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.
Over two Sunday nights this month (November 20 and 27) four celebrity guests will team up with four LEGO Masters® favourites to form super teams, battling it out over a brace of Christmas-themed episodes to win the ultimate prize: being crowned the LEGO® Masters Bricksmas Specials champions.
Stepping into the LEGO® Masters world for the first time are LEGO® super fans: interior designer and judge on The Block, Darren Palmer, children’s entertainer Emma Watkins, actor Lincoln Lewis, and chef and Snackmasters host Poh Ling Yeow. They will be joined by returning contestants Fleur (Season 3), Gerhard “G” (Season 1), Alex (Season 2) and Sarah (Season 3)
LEGO® Masters Australia host Hamish Blake and judge Ryan “Brickman” McNaught will guide the teams to create two extraordinary Christmas-themed builds. Hamish, Australia’s most popular TV host, will provide the Christmas cheer and laughs, while Brickman helps the celebrity teams’ builds as well as doing the judging.
For the second time in LEGO® Masters Australia history, Brickman will be putting his world-renowned skills on show as he spends an hour with each team to assist with their Yuletide builds.
With Christmas just around the corner, these two special LEGO® Masters episodes are certain to get the whole family into the festive spirit.
LEGO® Masters comes from producers Endemol Shine Australia, a Banjay Company. The series is adapted from an original UK format from Tuesday’s Child Productions and The LEGO® Group.
LEGO® MASTERS BRICKSMAS SPECIALS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 AND SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27 AT 7.00PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
For further information, please contact: Clare Gibbons Senior Publicist
Production commenced this week on Warnie, the 9Network’s must see drama event of 2023.
Over two big nights, Warnie will pay tribute to one of the greatest Australians of all time, the Aussie larrikin who lived life to the full.
There has never been and never will be another like him.
Shane Warne was an Aussie legend, a cultural icon, a cricketing genius, a charmer and a loveable rogue.
Warnie, as he was affectionately known to all, transcended cricket.
Like all great characters, he inspired extreme reactions from people from all walks of life, in Australia and around the world.
During pre-production, the 9Network and Screentime have met with the Warne family who have offered their support for the series. The 9Network looks forward to collaborating with the family as filming continues.
Warnie stars Alex Williams(Underground: The Julian Assange Story, The Heights) as Shane Warne, Anthony Hayes(Gold, Light Between Oceans) and Marny Kennedy (Between Two Worlds, Janet King), supported by a stellar cast including Jacquie Brennan(Wentworth, Informer 3838), Jeremy Stanford(Winners & Losers, Wentworth), Ben Hall(Neighbours, Devil’s Playground), Tom Stokes(The Railway Man, Equals), Darcy Kent(New Gold Mountain, Spreadsheet), and newcomer Shanti Kali.
Warnie is produced for the 9Network by Screentime, a Banijay company.
For further information, please contact: Terry Stuart Senior Communications Manager tstuart@nine.com.au
Country Home Rescue with Shaynna Blaze – Premieres Wednesday, November 16 at 7:30pm on Channel 9 & 9Now.
EPISODES ONE & TWO NOW AVAILABLE TO PREVIEW AT NINE MEDIA ROOM
For 14 seasons we’ve seen Shaynna Blaze as a judge on The Block, as well as helping homeowners spruce up their spaces on Selling Houses Australia.
Now, for the first time, Shaynna is doing it for herself and her family in the heartwarming new series, Country Home Rescue with Shaynna Blaze, set to premiere Wednesday November 16 at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now..
In Country Home Rescue, Shaynna, together with her children, embarks on the restoration of a dilapidated historical home in regional Victoria.
Watch as they navigate through a never-ending maze of problems when their grand plans are sideswiped by building restrictions, frustrating delays and a huge budget blowout.
It will take every ounce of passion and persistence to turn this renovation nightmare into the forever home of their dreams.
But you’ll be amazed as room by room is revealed.
EPISODE ONE SYNOPSIS Shaynna Blaze dreams of turning a 130-year-old country house into her family’s forever home. The run-down property was originally purchased as a film set for the family’s first filmmaking project. Now Shaynna wants daughter Carly and son Jess to chip in and build the dream together. She just has to convince them first! As Shaynna plots out the renovation strategy, christening rooms with their very own ‘titles,’ we get a sneak peek into the complex (and sometimes off-the-wall) machinations of her design imagination. The plan sounds simple: renovate the existing house and features to create the perfect country home retreat, but the house, and its 1890’s DNA, has other plans for Shaynna’s workload and the budget.
EPISODE TWO SYNOPSIS Tackling the Kyneton renovation in sections, Shaynna transforms a disused downstairs room into a laundry and powder room, creating the transition space to the upper level of the home. Meanwhile she brings the upstairs spaces alive with a child’s room for her granddaughter, a main bathroom, a bedroom for ‘princess’ Carly, and a very special secret space for her son Jess to reveal. Having dealt with more asbestos and demolition than expected, Shaynna already is feeling the pressure to omit some of the design features she’s set her heart on. This is a family project, and siblings Carly and Jess are all hands-on for making the dream come true, but is Shaynna being completely up-front with them about the home’s escalating budget?
COUNTRY HOME RESCUE WITH SHAYNNA BLAZE STARTS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW
For further information, please contact: Terry Stuart Senior Communications Manager tstuart@nine.com.au
Nine’s radio stations have again led the way in the latest radio ratings, posting wins in Sydney and Melbourne, and big audience increases in Brisbane and Perth.
GfK Survey 7 of 2022 shows Sydney’s 2GB is the city’s No. 1 station with a share of 11.6, while Melbourne’s 3AW recorded a winning share of 13.7 (up 0.3).
Brisbane’s 4BC keeps growing share to an 8.2, while Perth’s 6PR recorded the biggest share increase of any station in that market (up 1.3) with an 8.5.
In the breakfast slot, 3AW’s ACRA award-winning duo, Ross & Russ soared 1.2 share points to 21.4.
2GB’s Ben Fordham recorded a 14.8, while 4BC’s Laurel, Gary and Mark achieved a 10.8 share, and 6PR’s Gareth Parker posted a share of 11.2 (up 1.5).
In the morning time slot, 2GB’s Ray Hadley achieved his 145th consecutive survey win with a share of 13.3 in Sydney and 9.4 in Brisbane. 3AW’s Neil Mitchell was also a dominant No. 1 with a share of 16.6 (up 0.4).
Nine Radio’s Head of Content Greg Byrnes said: “We’re so grateful to our listeners for their loyalty. The trend to live and local radio is clear, with our stations leading in share and maintaining record cumulative audience. 2GB and 3AW are number one in Sydney and Melbourne and we’re recording unprecedented numbers on 4BC and 6PR.”
One team are millionaires and others have been left empty-handed in one of the most inexplicable Block auctions in history.
Taking the show to dizzying new heights, freshly minted millionaires Oz and Omar were crowned winners of The Block: Tree Change 2022, taking home a record-breaking $1,686,666.66 in prizemoney after selling their four-bedroom, 10-acre property for $5,666,666.66, which was $1,586,666.66 above their reserve price.
The pair made the largest sum any Blockheads have ever made over a reserve price in 18 series of The Block, netting them an additional $100,000 in prizemoney as the 2022 winners.
From Oz and Omar’s incredible result, there was also heartache, with two couples, Ankur and Sharon, and Dylan and Jenny, failing to sell their homes at auction. Both properties were passed in when they failed to attract a bidder over their $4.08 million reserve price, also both attracting a highest bid of $4,075,000.
Both couples continued to negotiate with their highest bidders after filming, but as of 9.00pm Sunday, November 6, Ankur and Sharon, and Dylan and Jenny, are still open to other offers to buy their homes.
It’s the first time that a Block property has failed to sell at auction since Series 4 in 2011, when the houses created by Josh and Jenna, and Rod and Tania, in Cameron Street, Richmond (Vic) were passed in.
Fan favourites Tom and Sarah-Jane chose to go second in the auction order, but their home only sold for only $4,100,000.99, which was just $20,000.99 above their $4.08 million reserve price.
It’s the lowest profit a Block house has made since Series 9 Glasshouse in 2014.
Faring a bit better, Block latecomers Rachel and Ryan’s home went for $4,249,999.85 in a post-auction negotiation, getting them $169,000.85 over their $4.08 million reserve price.
Speaking about their stunning victory, Oz said: “We’re absolutely stoked that we took out the win this year – we had a plan and stuck to it. It is a competition, but seeing each team come in after us and not getting the results that they wanted really hurt.”
Omar said: “It took a while to sink in, but it felt amazing to get a win after the hard work we put in. But it’s very hard seeing others obviously not doing so well.”
Host Scott Cam said: “It was a bittersweet day. We had one incredible high and some crushing lows for our Blockheads, who all worked the hardest I’ve ever seen to deliver these houses.
“As we’ve seen many times before, we’ll continue to negotiate with interested buyers to sell these homes, which are still on the market. I’m gunning for a positive result.”
Speaking about the shock results, The Block co-creator and Executive Producer, Julian Cress, said: “We’re in a very volatile real estate market and we’ve seen large and unexpected interest rate increases, including one just this week.
“While we had many registered bidders, clearly something has spooked the market. But we believe the properties are of incredible value and we think they will find new owners very soon, to deliver a well-deserved reward for our contestants’ hard work.”
It was Melbourne philanthropist Danny Wallis who saved the day by purchasing the only three houses that sold on auction day.
Danny said: “I probably spent too much at the first auction, but was surprised to pick up two more homes at what I feel was a bargain price, so I guess it all evened out in the end for me at least.”
This season of The Block was the biggest ever undertaken, with the couples each spending 12 weeks building 500-square metre homesteads complete with tennis courts, pools and wineries on 10 acres of land in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges.
Since premiering on Channel 9 in 2003, Australia’s richest reality program has awarded a total of $30,547,139.15 in prizemoney.
PREVIOUS BLOCK WINNERS 2003 – BONDI – Adam & Fiona, $256,000 2004 – MANLY – Jamie & Andrew, $178,000 2010 – VAUCLUSE – John & Neisha, $305,000 2011 – RICHMOND – Polly & Waz, $115,000 2012 – SOUTH MELBOURNE – Brad & Lara, $606,000 2013 – ALL STARS (BONDI) – Phil & Amity, $395,000 2013 – SKY HIGH (SOUTH MELBOURNE) – Alisa & Lysandra, $395,000 2014 – FANS v FAVES (ALBERT PARK) – Steve & Chantelle, $736,000 2014 – GLASSHOUSE (PRAHRAN) – Shannon & Simon, $435,000 2015 – TRIPLE THREAT (SOUTH YARRA) – Darren & Deanne, $935,000 2015 – THE BLOCKTAGON (SOUTH YARRA) – Dean & Shay, $755,000 2016 – PORT MELBOURNE – Will & Karlie, $815,000 2017 – ELSTERNWICK – Josh & Elyse, $547,000 2018 – GATWICK (ST KILDA) – Hayden & Sara, $645,000 2019 – OSLO (ST KILDA) – Tess & Luke, $730,000 2020 – BRIGHTON – Jimmy & Tam, $1,066,000 2021 – FANS v FAVES (HAMPTON) – Mitch & Mark , $744,444
An innovative partnership between Nine and Oporto, the home of flame grilled Portuguese chicken, launching with the power of Love Island Australia, has created the perfect recipe for a campaign that is proving to be the perfect love match.
While love starts to sizzle between Australia’s sexiest singles in Love Island Australia – screening on 9Now and 9Go! – the partnership sees a collaboration between Oporto, Brand+Story, and Nine’s in-house creative Powered, with a campaign shot on location in Southern Europe this summer.
Australia met Antonio Cerqueira on Monday night’s first episode of Love Island. In the launch 30’ commercial he’s back home in Portugal looking for recipe ideas but has also decided to make his own ads. The campaign will feature a sequential story of 30 and 15 second spots that will unfold throughout the series as we follow Antonio on his journey.
Samantha Bragg, CEO of Oporto said: “It’s been a really refreshing way to work, coming together as a cross discipline creative team, with great stewardship from Nine throughout the journey.”
Brand + Story partners Paul Chappell and Josh Whiteman agreed that Oporto’s rebellious streak was a brilliant platform and Oporto’s founder Antonio, the perfect rebel to lead the campaign. Josh who co-wrote and directed the campaign, relished the opportunity to go deliberately lo-fi with the production. “Antonio is all about making great chicken. We hope the audience Nine captures with Love Island connects to the off-beat authenticity of the work. Antonio’s for real!” said Josh.
Michele O’Neill, Director Powered Enterprise said: “Oporto jumped on board with this idea from the beginning. When Sam Bragg told us Antonio was genuinely working with Oporto on recipe ideas, we couldn’t help but seize the opportunity to tell an authentic founder story. It’s a testament to Oporto and their trust in Nine and Brand+Story, to create something this fresh in the category.”
Social and PR from Poem will amplify the story, as Australia is reintroduced to Oporto, the brand that began in 1987 with one chicken shop in Bondi.
Australia’s most loveable larrikin and MAFS favourite Al Perkins is back and ready to shake up the villa when he joins the cast of Love Island Australia.
Making his way over to Mallorca, Spain, Al will enter the show as a tempting hot new bomb.
We first met Al earlier this year on Married At First Sight where he quickly became one of the 2022 season fan favourites.
From his infamous shoeys, adorable smile and infectious laugh, Al will undoubtedly turn all the girls’ heads in the villa and once again capture the hearts of viewers.
Al said: “Going on MAFS was one of the best experiences of my life, and everyone knows I was pretty unlucky in finding love. So when this opportunity came up I thought why not have not have another crack and hopefully find love the second time around.
It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to go over to Spain – the sun, meeting beautiful people and just having a great time – I can’t wait.
Love Island Australia is produced by ITV Studios Australia for the 9Network.
The Australian Financial Review’s editor Paul Bailey has decided to step down after 11 years to pursue other opportunities outside the business.
“It’s been a privilege to lead the Financial Review through one of its most challenging periods,” Bailey said. “It’s now in a commanding position, both editorially and commercially.”
“It’s also been a privilege to lead the nation’s top business, finance and political journalists.”
“After 18 years in senior roles at the Financial Review, it’s time for me to have a break and look at other opportunities.”
Editor-in-chief Michael Stutchbury said Bailey’s editorship of the Financial Review had been critical in guiding Australia’s premium business, finance, economics and political publication through the intense disruption of the media industry and the shock of the pandemic.
During Bailey’s time as editor, the Financial Review has been transformed from a newspaper-dominated publication to a growing and market-leading premium digital subscription masthead that retains a high-quality newspaper.
“Paul is an absolute media professional,” Stutchbury said. “After more than a decade of our close professional relationship, it will be wrenching to see him go. But the entire Financial Review newsroom will wish him the best in his next pursuits.”
Nine Entertainment’s managing director for publishing, James Chessell, said: “I’ll miss Paul’s constancy, expertise and dry sense of humour. Few people have done more to make the Financial Review the influential and successful masthead it is today. His track record speaks for itself.”
Bailey joined the Financial Review in 2004 as deputy editor, overseeing the masthead’s foreign bureaux and its Canberra coverage, and held the post of managing editor from 2009.
After being appointed to the editorship in 2011, he departs as the Financial Review’s longest-serving editor.
Bailey previously was news editor of 9News Sydney, editor-in-chief and editor of The Bulletin, deputy editor, news editor and chief of staff at The Sydney Morning Herald. Before that he was a reporter on the Herald. As environment writer, he won two Walkley awards, including the Gold Walkley.
The position of Financial Review editor will now be advertised internally and externally, and an announcement will be made in due course. Bailey will finish in December.
For more information: Adrian Motte Senior Communications Manager – Trade & Publishing amotte@nine.com.au
Begins Friday November 4. Stream games exclusively live and free on 9Now.
Australian women’s basketball will step onto the court with 9Now when the Cygnett WNBL 2022/23 season is available Live, Free and On Demand to stream from Friday, November 4.
Hoops fans will receive 68 games in total exclusively on 9Now, the most free-to-air coverage in the competition’s history, as Australian basketball legend Lauren Jackson makes her return alongside seven other Australian Opals.
Across the 16-round season, 9Now will broadcast four games per week, beginning Friday night when the competition’s most successful club – Canberra’s UC Capitals, go up against the Bendigo Spirit with tip-off at 6.30pm AEDT.
9Now will make it easier than ever before to catch up on the latest with full match replays and highlights available On Demand only a few hours after each game.
Nine’s Director of Sport, Brent Williams, said: “Nine and the Wide World of Sports are thrilled to be partnering with one of the strongest, elite female basketball competitions in the world. 9Now will provide the perfect destination for new and emerging fans of the WNBL to engage with the sport they love, at any time and on any device they choose.”
