Archives: Media Releases

The digital strength of Nine Radio’s talk stations reached new heights in September, achieving more than 11 million stream starts and more than one million podcast downloads.

According to the Triton Webcast figures released by Nine today, the talk radio network recorded 11.07 million streams.

As Sydney and Melbourne emerge from lockdown, listeners are turning to Nine’s trusted talk radio stations for the latest and most reliable news, information and opinion.

In September, the week of the Melbourne earthquake and mass protests saw 3AW hit a streaming record for the station with 1.34 million stream starts in the wake of these events.

The network’s broader push into podcasting has also resonated with podcast listeners, with data showing the talk network’s podcast downloads in September are up 16 per cent year on year, and 11 per cent month on month.

Nine Radio’s Head of Digital Audio, Hayley Bourne, said: “It’s clear our listeners have embraced a new era of talk radio, streaming us anytime, anywhere on any device.

“Events like Melbourne’s earthquake reinforce that we are the only radio network broadcasting live and local content, all day, every day, and when something big happens in Melbourne people turn to 3AW for fast, accurate, reliable and trustworthy information.

“We have a clear and large signed-in digital user base that we are commercialising at scale, improving the content experience and providing targeting for advertisers.”

Sources: Triton Webcast Metrics, September 1-30 2021, Cume, Session Starts, Unless otherwise specified; The Australian Podcast Ranker, Triton Digital, September 2021

For more information:
Nic Christensen
Head of Corporate Affairs
nchristensen@nine.com.au

Friday, October 22, 2021

It has been one long year in which armchair travelling has taken on a whole new meaning. But as we ease out of captivity, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age’s Good Weekend will declare the era of the mini-break has begun, with its annual 52 Weekends Away edition this Saturday, October 23.

After nearly two years of travel plans being in a holding pattern, Australian tourism is soon to be back in business, with regional NSW set to open to greater Sydney in November, and Victoria slowly easing restrictions in the weeks ahead.

Published by Good Weekend in association with its stablemate Traveller and set against the logistical nightmare of reviewing locations amid COVID-19 lockdowns, the 31st annual edition runs at 68 pages and features mini-escape and staycation ideas from every state and territory, with a skew towards NSW and Victoria.

Featuring reviews of accommodation from luxury adults-only to family friendly, 52 Weekends Away is the perfect impetus to plan a summer holiday and 2022 mini-breaks. In a year that’s seen most states cut off from each other, or regional travel restricted, supporting our home-grown tourism sector has never been more important.

“One of the silver linings of this pandemic has been rediscovering our own backyard, and judging by this year’s listings, there are plenty of stunning places whose owner-operators are busting to welcome us all back,” says Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland. “It was fiendishly tricky putting this year’s list together, with more than a few last minute cancellations and changes, but as serendipity would have it the issue is being published just as we’re all preparing to head out on the road again.”

The cover features a painting by celebrated Mudgee artist Guido Maestri. Titled ‘The Road To Nowhere’ and inspired by Brett Whiteley’s paintings of the road to Bathurst, the former Archibald Prize winner says the scene depicts a section of a backroad to Mudgee.

The edition also features a barn door centrespread advertising execution and eight pages of sponsored content from Destination NSW, which highlights some of the hidden getaway gems of the state, a Kia gatefold cover and seven pages of sponsored content by MLC.

Good Weekend 52 Weekends Away edition will be available in this Saturday’s edition of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and online at www.traveller.com.au

High-res pictures of cover and some inspiring escape ideas available HERE.

For more information:
Adrian Motte
Communications Manager
amotte@nine.com.au

Every Australian parent will be comparing and asking whether their parenting ways are right when Channel 9’s groundbreaking new series, Parental Guidance, premieres Monday, November 1, at 7.30pm.

When it comes to modern-day parenting, none of us are nailing it. But we all have an opinion on how it should be done! Is strict parenting better than letting your kids run free? Do tiger parents produce smarter kids than allowing children to develop naturally?

Ally Langdon and Australian parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson put opinionated parents, with diverse parenting methods, to the ultimate test through a series of the toughest challenges imaginable in the search for Australia’s best parenting style.

Every episode the challenges escalate in difficulty, pushing families to their most hilarious and emotional limits to discover their strengths and the areas they can improve. Here they’ll laugh at their fails, share advice and most importantly celebrate their successes, even when the parent in question can’t see it for themselves.

Do you smack your child? Would your child go off with a stranger? How do you deal with discipline? Do you let your child run free? How would your child react without screen time for 24hours? Parental Guidance will change the conversation around these fundamental parenting issues in Australia.

These outspoken parents will take turns judging each other’s style, tackling controversial approaches to parenting that will divide opinion, cause spirited debate and be very uncomfortable for some.

• Strict parenting style: Andrew and Miriam from NSW
• Nature parenting style: Liadhan and Richard from SA
• Attachment parenting style: Lara and Andrew from VIC
• Routine parenting style: Brett and Tony from VIC
• French parenting style: Yann and Donna from NSW
• Tiger parenting style: Kevin and Debbie from NSW
• Home school parenting style: Deb from QLD
• Helicopter parenting style: Rachel and Sam from QLD
• Free range parenting style: Penny and Daniel from NSW
• Disciplined parenting style: Rob and Sioux from SA

Parental Guidance takes us behind the closed family doors of parenthood, and how we ourselves were raised, to find out how to do it right, right now.

For further information:
Amanda Poulos
apoulos@nine.com.au

Monday, October 18, 2021

After a record-breaking return last year, Celebrity Apprentice Australia will be back on Channel 9 in 2022, bringing together more of the country’s biggest names to battle it out in the boardroom.

The celebrities, divided into two teams, will take on a range of epic tasks to avoid billionaire boss Lord Alan Sugar’s firing squad, while using their business savvy and little black book of contacts to raise money for their chosen charities.

After the celebrities raised close to $1 million last year, the charities will again be the real winners. In addition to the $100,000 in prizemoney for the winner’s charity, generous donations from celebrity contacts and guest appearances will also add to the money raised throughout the series.

The personal stakes will be higher too as big egos, high-pressure situations, and exciting new game play ramps up the competition between the celebrities. There are sure to be more explosive moments and twists and turns on the road to the winner being crowned the Celebrity Apprentice.

Stepping up to the plate as Lord Sugar’s new recruits are:

• One of Australia’s most inspirational women, author and motivational speaker, Turia Pitt
• KIIS FM National Drive Hosts, Will and Woody
• Dual Olympic gold medallist and world champion swimmer, Bronte Campbell
• Logie Award-winning actress, model and Australian sweetheart, Jodi Gordon
• Rugby league great and Wests Tigers legend, Benji Marshall
• Real Housewives of Melbourne star, Gamble Breaux
• Married at First Sight’s most controversial bride and socialite, Beck Zemek
• Hollywood actor and Australian Film Institute award winner, Vince Colosimo
• Winner of X-Factor, ARIA Award winner and singer-songwriter, Samantha Jade
• A queen of Australian comedy, trailblazer and author, Jean Kittson
• Renowned television presenter and actor, Darren McMullen
• Face of Givenchy and international supermodel, Jarrod Scott
• Secretary to former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and social media sensation, Carla from Bankstown
• One of The Block’s most successful all-stars and renovation expert, Ronnie Caceres
• Two-time Australian Ninja Warrior semi-finalist and former international NRL star, Eloni Vunakece

Celebrity Apprentice Australia has commenced filming and will go to air in 2022.

Celebrity Apprentice Australia is produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia for the 9Network, based on the format created by Mark Burnett and distributed by MGM.

For further information, please contact:
Oge Ike
Nine Publicity
oike@nine.com.au

Monday, October 19, 2021

Perth’s 6PR 882 yesterday celebrated its 90th anniversary of broadcasting with a special lunch at The National Hotel in Fremantle.

6PR host Steve “Millsy” Mills hosted and broadcast from the event, which was attended by a “who’s who” of Perth media, together with 40 lucky listeners. The gathering included a number of former 6PR presenters including Graham Mabury, who holds the record for the longest stint on the station, broadcasting for 33 of its 90 years.

Also in attendance at the 90-year celebrations was 6PR’s current on-air lineup including Breakfast host Gareth Parker, Mornings host Liam Bartlett, Perth Live presenter Oliver Peterson, and a number of other on-air and off-air members of the 6PR team.

“We are proud to celebrate an incredible 90 years of radio history,” said Emily White, 6PR Content Manager. “6PR has long played an integral part in the life of this city and will continue to well into the future.

“We have come a long way since 6PR was founded by the electrical and music warehouse company Nicholson’s Limited, who were operating the station from a studio above their music showroom at 86 Barrack Street in the heart of the city. A lot has changed in the 90 years since, but what hasn’t changed is radio’s ability to connect with its audience, and for 6PR to tell the story of Perth.”

For further information:
Peter Brennan
Program, Marketing & Communications Manager, Nine
pebrennan@nine.com.au

Can’t get enough of the cheeky antics happening on Love Island Australia? Each Thursday night join host Abbie Chatfield and a bunch of celebrity superfans as they dissect all the lusty and loved-up highs and lows from Love Island Australia on Afterparty – premiering tonight at 9.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Afterparty will feature the latest gossip, behind-the-scenes stories and exclusive interviews and is your surefire way to debrief and stay up to date with what’s happening and about to happen in the Love Island Australia villa.

In tonight’s episode, Abbie chats to everyone’s favourite islander, Taku, about his journey so far, and she will be crossing live to Sophie Monk for the latest news from the villa.

Other special guests joining Abbie for the premiere are former Beauty and The Geek contestant Lachlan Mansell, Sydney Morning Herald and Sun-Herald gossip columnist Lucy Manly, podcaster Rowdi Waldron, and Love Island Australia season one islanders Josh Moss and Amelia Plummer, who found love on the show and tied the knot in 2020.

For further information please contact:
Madeleine Clark, 9Network Publicity
E: mclark@nine.com.au

Thursday, October 14, 2021

Some of Australia’s most prominent entrepreneurs reveal how they built their fortunes from scratch and offer the secrets to their success, in a new podcast series How I Made It, from The Australian Financial Review. 

Financial Review Rich List co-editor Julie-anne Sprague talks to Australia’s top business builders about their backgrounds and how they turned their dreams into realities. The series canvasses stories from a broad range of entrepreneurs, highlighting growth from a range of industries. Among the interviews are fast food king Jack Cowin, women’s fashion retailer Jane Lu, Flight Centre’s Graham “Skroo” Turner, software developer Tony Walls and former NRL player-turned Rich Lister Wes Maas.

While their backgrounds may all differ, they all have one thing in common – starting phenomenally successful businesses that have landed them on the Financial Review Rich Lists.

How I Made It steps out of the boardroom and into the entrepreneur’s minds to find out what it takes to build wealth from the ground up, the lessons learnt and how taking big risks can pay off.   

Episode one features Jack Cowin, who introduced Australians to KFC and Hungry Jacks, and built Dominos into a $12 billion giant. Worth almost $5 billion and ranked 17th on the Rich List, Cowin opens up about his childhood and what it takes to make a business empire. He has 13 lessons for life and one of those is to never give up if you think you are right.

“Sometimes in combat, big companies take advantage of the fact that the little guy will fold,” Cowin tells How I Made It. 

Cowin was raised in Canada, at one point selling trees and shrubs door-to-door while studying psychology at university.

“That was the best education I ever had,” Cowin says. “I was making more money in a summer job than the university professors were – and they hated it! No matter where you end up, being able to create an image of someone that can be successful at whatever the task is important. Do the best you can because people are watching, and if you’re successful that carries forward.”    

The How I Made It series, sponsored by Charter Hall, is now available on all podcast platforms and through afr.com. Host Julie-anne Sprague says the series offers a rare glimpse into how some of the nation’s best business builders think.

“What I love about How I Made It is it offers a fireside chat with some of the nation’s best business builders. You can learn so much by hearing how they interpret events and how they reflect on what they’ve created. “

How I Made It is a weekly podcast available now on APPLE, GOOGLE, SPOTIFY and through afr.com

For media enquiries:
Adrian Motte
Communications Manager, Nine
amotte@nine.com.au

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

The long-awaited reveal of our seriously sexy cast of Love Island Australia season three is finally here. The first 10 Islanders entering the luxurious villa tonight are:

Sophie Monk said: “I am really excited about the show this year. I’m telling you honestly, it’s the best cast I’ve seen. And the Villa blew me away. It is so big. You want to stay in all the Love Island Villas, but this one is the ultimate. It is like paradise.”

The Islanders are hoping to find romance, passion and “the one” where they couple up, stay together, and win over the hearts of the public, all while surviving the temptations of beautiful bombshells entering the villa.

At the end of the series, the winning couple as voted by the public are handed a pot of money to start their new lives together, but there’s a very big catch: one partner gets the whole say in either sharing the money 50/50 – or walking away with the lot, like a love rat. Were they after love or the money all along?

Can’t get enough of Love Island Australia? Each Thursday night join Abbie Chatfield and a bunch of celebrity superfans as they dissect all the highs and lows from the show on Afterparty.

Love Island Australia is produced by ITV Studios Australia for Channel 9 with assistance from Screen NSW’s Made In NSW Fund.

LOVE ISLAND AUSTRALIA CONTINUES MONDAY TO THURSDAY AT 8.45PM
ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW

For further information please contact:
Maddie Clark, 9Network Publicity
E: MClark@nine.com.au

Monday, October 11, 2021

Leading women’s lifestyle network 9Honey has today begun a new era of its editorial offering to parents and soon-to-be parents, with the launch of their 9Honey Parenting vertical.   

In a natural evolution, 9Honey Mums, Essential Kids and Essential Baby will all be re-branded into one vibrant site, 9Honey Parenting, that is a must-read for all things parenting.

To coincide with the re-brand, 9Honey Parenting will feature exclusive columns by actress and mum-of-two Tammin Sursok; dad-of-two and reality TV star Matty Johnson, and motivational speaker, author and mum of two, Turia Pitt.

At a time when many Australian mums and dads are grappling with an array of challenges – from home-schooling to mental health – parenting has never been so complex. 9Honey Parenting is a place for parents to be entertained, informed and to seek affirmation, written by parents and parenting experts.  

The rejuvenated vertical will also feature video content and expand on the editorial offering previously seen on 9Honey Mums, Essential Kids and Essential Baby. 

Nine Digital Editorial Director Kerri Elstub says the new addition to the nine.com.au family will fill a gap in the market.

“9Honey Parenting will cover every age and every stage of the parenting journey,” she said. “Consider us your virtual parenting group! Whether you’re trying to figure out what pram to buy, how to navigate the transition back to school after lockdown or getting your teen to do more than grunt at you.

“In our launch week we’ll have exclusive interviews with Erin Molan, Peter Overton and Sylvia Jeffreys. Plus, expert advice, videos and consumer buying guides.”

As a mum to daughters Phoenix, eight, and Lennon, nearly two, Tammin Sursok knows only too well the challenges of parenthood.

“To be given an opportunity to be part of Nine as a columnist is an honour and a dream come true,” said Tammin. “My hope is that through writing we can all connect as mothers, families and individuals – the role of a parent can sometimes be isolating and by sharing our stories we can all feel seen. Thank you for having me on board.”    

Turia Pitt is looking forward to sharing her life as a mum to two energetic boys with 9Honey Parenting as well.

“I’m no parenting expert, but as a mum of two delightful, wonderful – but, uhhh, also intense and hilarious – boys, I think you can expect a few laughs and maybe some reassurance in the stories I’ll be sharing,” said Turia. “I’m looking forward to taking you behind the scenes of my life as a mum – the fun times, the stressful times, and the times where I order my own Lego sets to work because I like to build things my own way too, thanks very much!” 

9Honey is Australia’s #1 women’s lifestyle network, with audiences spending more time on the network than any other site, according to Nielsen (August 2021; Family + L9Honey is Australia’s #1 women’s lifestyle network for average time spent by users, with audiences spending more time per person on the network than competitors. (Source: Nielsen Digital Media Ratings, August 2021,  P2+, Digital C/M, Family & Lifestyles category, Average time spent)

9Honey Parenting is live now on https://honey.nine.com.au/parenting

For more information:
Adrian Motte
Communications Manager, Nine
amotte@nine.com.au

Monday, October 11, 2021

Nine has named a record five brand partners of cross-platform juggernaut Love Island Australia for its 2021 season.

This season will see Tinder, Snaffle, Showpo, Stan, Veet Men and Pointsbet join the show for its third season Down Under which is being filmed in the Byron Bay hinterland. Powered by Nine will bring to life big ideas for all five brands via unique integrated creative, in-program product placement, viewer interactivity, promotions and more.

“Every season of Love Island Australia has seen us delivering something unique in the Australian television landscape for our commercial partners,” said Liana Dubois, Director of Powered. “Love Island Australia is a demographically pure audience of 16-39-year-olds and the show delivers across both its linear channel and on broadcast-video-on-demand (BVOD) via 9Now, therefore attracting a different group of advertisers.

“This year we couldn’t be happier with the incredible brands that have embraced the show as it gears up for its third season.”

Each season of Love Island Australia has reset industry expectations for how TV shows perform in terms of cross-platform audience, with the show typically pulling a significant portion of its audience from 9Now.

In 2021, Tinder, as the Official Casting Partner, has provided an in-app experience which allowed users to fast-track their application. The show will also feature an in-show Tinder themed date and have its own integrated commercial, produced by Powered Studios, featuring ex-Islander Dom Thomas from Season 1. Click here to see the ad.

Tinder will also use Love Island Australia branding across its app, digital and socials. This will include “Swipe Island” – an in-app experience within Tinder. Fans of Love Island Australia S3 can visit this exclusive location to swipe, match and chat with each other and get the chance to engage with ex-Islanders and new Islanders as they come off this season.

Subscription ecommerce brand Snaffle will be providing a number of products throughout the show that are available to Snaffle on their website. These will include the infamous phones that Islanders receive texts on.

Clothing retailers Showpo are the Official Fashion Partner for this season, with integrations designed to help viewers “get the look” that Islanders are wearing.

Veet Men will have our male Islanders feeling their very best pampered selves, while streaming platform Stan’s in-Villa game will test our Islanders with “One of us is Lying”, themed around their newest release.

Online bookmaker Pointsbet will also have strategic commercials and billboards in and around the show.

LOVE ISLAND AUSTRALIA: MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, AT 8.45PM ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW

For more information:
Nic Christensen
Head of Corporate Affairs
nchristensen@nine.com.au

Monday, October 11, 2021