Archives: Media Releases

9Network announced its summer hosting lineup for Today, with a fresh mix of familiar faces set to wake up Australia while Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo take their break.

Kicking off the holiday season are Today Extra favourites David Campbell and Sylvia Jeffreys, before Samantha Armytage teams up with media personality Michael “Wippa” Wipfli from mid-December.

As the calendar ticks over to 2026, the show will be led by a trusted lineup of network journalists and reporters, including Alison Piotrowski, Dr Nick Coatsworth, Joel Dry and Jayne Azzopardi.

Weekends will feature a rotating roster of hosts throughout summer, including Lara Vella, Michael Atkinson, Dan Anstey and Lizzie Pearl.

Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo return to the desk on Monday, January 19, 2026, just in time to serve up all the news and excitement of the 2026 Australian Open. During the tournament, Today will broadcast an extended edition from 5:30am to 10:00am daily, live from Melbourne Park.

Joining Karl and Sarah in 2026 will be Jayne Azzopardi on News, Danika Mason on sport, Richard Wilkins and Renee Bargh with entertainment and Tim Davies on weather.

Today Extra, hosted by Sylvia Jeffreys and David Campbell, will air its final episode for 2025 at the end of November and will return in late January during the closing stages of the Australian Open.

For further information, please contact:
Alex Dyer
9Network Publicity
alex.dyer@nine.com.au

Wednesday, 5 November, 2025

Nine’s live and free coverage of the 2025 Melbourne Cup was a massive ratings success, with Australians tuning in across the 9Network in huge numbers to witness history being made at Flemington.

‘The race that stops a nation’ captivated the country, with the MELBOURNE CUP – RACE segment drawing a National Total TV Reach of 2.316 million. The Total TV National Audience for the race itself was 2.079 million, a significant 8.8% increase year-on-year.

Viewing on 9Now saw explosive growth, with the race attracting a BVOD Audience of 463,000, a massive 24.8% surge compared to the previous year, as viewers streamed the event live and free.

Audiences tuned in to watch jockey Jamie Melham’s historic victory aboard the Australian-bred horse, Half Yours, in front of an energetic crowd of 84,374 at Flemington. Melham’s triumph makes her the first female jockey in history to complete the coveted Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double, and only the second woman ever to win the Melbourne Cup, 10 years on from Michelle Payne’s famous victory.

The strong results continued across the entire day’s broadcast. The MELBOURNE CUP – PRESENTATION saw its Total TV National Audience jump 13.1% year-on-year to 1.793 million, with a 9Now audience of 325,000 (up 34.9% YoY).

The MELBOURNE CUP – LATE program grew 15.4% YoY (945,000 Total TV Audience) and saw a huge 52.8% jump on 9Now. The MELBOURNE CUP – PREVIEW was also up 5.8% YoY (892,000 Total TV Audience) with its 9Now audience growing by 39%.

The comprehensive day-long coverage also posted impressive numbers for the MELBOURNE CUP – MOUNTING YARD (1.996m Reach / 1.494m Total TV Audience) and MELBOURNE CUP – EARLY (1.644m Reach / 546,000 Total TV Audience) segments.

Brent Williams, Nine’s Director of Sport, said: “Yesterday’s results are a testament to the enduring power of the Melbourne Cup as one of Australia’s premier sporting and cultural moments. We are thrilled to see such significant audience growth, particularly the huge numbers on 9Now, which proves our Total TV strategy is delivering for viewers.

“Our world-class broadcast team captured the magic of the day perfectly and we are proud to have brought Jamie Melham’s historic, race-winning ride to all of Australia, live and free. It was an unforgettable day and these numbers confirm that Australians agree.”

Source: OzTAM © 2023, VOZ Data 5.0 Total TV, Broadcast TV, BVOD (Live+VOD), Audience = Overnight (What Watched), Reach (When Watched), FTA & Commercial Shares (When Watched) Content and Share reporting = National (incl. Spill), Metro and Regional market levels (excl. Spill)

For further information, please contact:
Terry Stuart
Senior Communications Manager
tstuart@nine.com.au

Wednesday, 5 November, 2025

9Network‘s talent had smiles mixed with styles at 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington racecourse, today – Tuesday, November 4. 

Trackside at the Nine marquee is Karl Stefanovic, Sarah Abo,Danika Mason and Jayne Azzopardi (Today), Ally Langdon (A Current Affair), Sam Armytage (The Golden Bachelor), Jelena Dokic (Grand Slam Tennis), Steven Bradbury (Winter Olympics on Nine), Tom Steinfort and Alicia Loxley (9News Melbourne), Evelyn and Duncan (MAFS) Dan Reilly (The Block), Sylvia Jeffreys (Today Extra), Emma Verran (NRLW/State of Origin & Olympic Rugby Sevens Gold medallist), Ruan Sims and Allana Ferguson (NRL on Nine), Bear (The Golden Bachelor), Clint Stanaway (Weekend Today), amongst a stellar cast of 9Network talent. 

Lexus Melbourne Cup Day is the second of four huge days of live and free coverage of the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival available on Channel 9 and 9Now. 

DOWNLOAD 9NETWORK MELBOURNE CUP DAY IMAGES HERE

For further information, please contact:
Ryley McKay
Nine National PR Manager – Sport

Tuesday, 4 November, 2025

Get your sunnies out…it’s going to be a hot Spanish summer! As viewers fall in love with season seven of Love Island Australia, sponsors are experiencing why it’s one of the hottest shows in the world for brands connecting with hard-to-reach younger audiences.

With Love Island Australia premiering on 9Now last Monday at 6pm before screening on Channel 9 later that night, the series continues to carve out an enviable 16-39 demographic viewership to deliver a full funnel solution for brands.

This year’s launch episode of Love Island Australia (which screened last Monday, October 27) has recorded a whopping Total TV Audience audience of 658,000, up 18% Year on Year, and is the highest rating launch episode on 9Now in franchise history. The first four episodes on 9Now have reached over 1M Australians, with nearly 60% of the audience under 40. So far, season 7 on 9Now is up a massive 65% Year on Year.

As the sexy singles flirt up a storm and try to resist temptation and wicked sins in the Mallorcan villa, Love Island Australia continues to attract new brands that can leverage a globally-renowned format while maximising opportunities for their products to reach audiences in a safe, contextual environment. 

Joining season seven for the first time will be Subway and Specsavers. 

Subway’s first sponsorship of Love Island Australia will feature integration including a Subway Pool Party, where the Islanders will play Spin the Sub. Subway is also sponsoring the annual Love Island Men’s Pageant – Mr Sublime! – while Sophie Monk is lending her voice to their TVCs running through TX timing.   

Specsavers’ Contact Lenses will be seen throughout the Villa and the brand is also sponsoring a “I Can See Clearly Now” optometry-themed challenge. 

Also signing on as sponsors are Besa & NEFT, with Besa mi vino the wine seltzer and NEFT Vodka cocktails available to the Islanders as they enjoy their steamy party nights by the villa pool.   

To keep the singles looking their hottest, Rimmel and LYNX return for their second seasons. Rimmel products will be displayed in the Girls’ Glam Room, while throughout the series, they will have Get Ready Cam moments where the girls show how they use Rimmel products. 

This year, LYNX has taken its in-show presence to the next level. In addition to its signature spot on the boys’ bedroom dresser, the brand now plays a more dynamic role—featuring in-show before a date and a challenge to ensure the boys are at the top of their fragrance game.

Nine’s Director of Content Partnerships and Client Experience, Sarah Stewart, said: “Love Island Australia continues to offer brands a unique BVOD first opportunity that consistently delivers a hard-to-reach audience via a cast of strong influencers who seamlessly integrate brands within the series and extend the show’s impact across social media.”

Love Island Australia 2025, again narrated by Eoghan McDermott, is produced by ITV Studios Australia for the 9Network.

Love Island Australia is available for streaming on 9Now, dropping at 6pm AEDT every Monday to Thursday.

Source: TVMAP VOZ Program Analyser, OzTAM VOZ Data 5.9, National, Nine Only, 27/10/2025 – 2/11/2025 v 28/10/2024 – 3/11/2024,Total People & People 0-39,Total TV, When Watched. 

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

Tuesday, 4 November, 2025

It’s a case of being dressed to the nines at Howden Victoria Derby for the 9Network‘s talent, with the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival officially underway at Flemington racecourse, today – Saturday, November 1. 

Trackside at the Nine marquee is Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo (Today Show), Rodger Corser (The Floor), Sam Armytage (The Golden Bachelor), Ariarne Titmus (Swimming), Sylvia Jeffreys (Today Extra), Ryan Papenhuyzen (NRL), Jaime Chapman (NRLW/State of Origin), Richard Wilkins, Clint Stanaway and Alison Piotrowski (Weekend Today), plus Tom Steinfort and Alicia Loxley (9News Melbourne) amongst a stellar line up of 9Network talent. 

Howden Victoria Derby Day is the first of four huge days of live and free coverage of the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival available on Channel 9 and 9Now. 

For further information, please contact:
Ryley McKay
Nine National PR Manager – Sport

Saturday, 1 November, 2025

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age’s Good Weekend magazine will celebrate the best short break locations Australia has to offer in its annual 52 Weekends Away special issue, out this Saturday, November 1. 

The 35^th annual edition, which runs at 56 pages, features inspirational short break ideas with reviews of accommodation from luxury adults-only to family friendly.  

With many Australians now reaching the end of a long year, 52 Weekends Away is the perfect guide to plan a summer holiday and 2026 mini-breaks. 

This year’s carefully curated selection, compiled in collaboration with the team at stablemate Traveller, features new or revamped properties around Australia.

The short break has changed markedly over the three decades since Good Weekend published its  first 52 Weekends Away issue on November 17, 1990. With an expanding list of chic city hotels that have an emphasis on resort style living, and an ever-growing list of sophisticated getaways a short drive from metropolitan centres, Australians have never had so much choice to enjoy a domestic break. 

Good Weekend editor Melissa Stevens said:  “A weekend away is an Aussie institution – and Good Weekend’s 52 Weekends Away aims to give options for mini-breaks to suit all budgets and itineraries. Whether you are after a city-based stay to catch up on a show or check out some new restaurants or want to get off-the-beaten track to decompress and disconnect, you will be sure to find something that fits the bill.

“This year’s issue features a collection of short break ideas designed to provide plenty of inspiration for those looking for a circuit breaker from the hectic pace of life.”

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

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

Friday, 31 October, 2025

Nine is set to shine at the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival with the unveiling of their majestic marquee at Flemington Racecourse’s renowned birdcage today, ahead of four huge days of live and free coverage.

Nine’s post-race interviewer Billy Slater was front and centre on horseback for the reveal, ahead of his second year in the saddle aboard his trusted horse Sam. Alongside him, the 9Network host team of Eddie McGuire, James Bracey, and Francesca Cumani provided guests with the first look inside, detailing the design of the marquee which stands as a living expression of Nine; a space where Nine’s stories and spirit take physical form.

Bringing the comforts of home to life that feel distinctly Nine, Nicole Slater’s two striking pieces titled Alyssa and Light, from her Stables Collection, depict a celebration of the beauty and spirit of horses, while both levels display several sculptural elements that are a subtle nod to the brand’s iconic logo.

Led by Ed&EdStudio, the design celebrates collaboration and creativity. Partnering with international florist Chloe Szukilojc of CSStudio, the team crafted a series of elegant floral vignettes that embody both sophistication and a sense of lived-in luxury, a reflection of Nine’s unique balance between authenticity and aspiration.

Nine’s marquee boasts a premium viewing lounge, where guests can take in the spectacular views of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. 

Nine will host guests across the carnival from its vast programming slate that includes The Block, The Golden Bachelor, The Olympics, NRL/NRLW and State of Origin, Today, The Floor, 9News, Australian Open Tennis and Footy Classified (AFL) amongst many others within the 9Network.

As the official broadcast partner, the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival gets underway with Howden Victoria Derby Day on Saturday, November 1 at 11:30am AEDT, ahead of Lexus Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday, November 4, live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Host Eddie McGuire will bring all the latest updates from Nine’s expert studio, while in the mounting yard James Bracey will chat to all the biggest names, while international horse racing expert Francesca Cumani, delivers her last-minute observations.

Expert tips on the field will come from David Gately and Ally Mosley, while Tony Jones will get up close with all the action, speaking to trainers, owners, jockeys and special guests.

All the glitz, glamour and exclusive celebrity access from within the Birdcage will come to life with Clint Stanaway, Sylvia Jeffreys and Jelena Dokic. While in the commentary box Matthew Hill will call the 165th running of the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

Today, Weekend Today and 9News Melbourne, will broadcast live from Melbourne’s Southbank Promenade and Flemington when Karl Stefanovic, Sarah Abo, Danika Mason, Alicia Loxley, Tom Steinfort, Clint Stanaway, Alison Piotrowski and Lizzie Pearl, will bring their personal insights to Cup week and tell the stories happening behind the scenes.

DOWNLOAD IMAGES FROM NINE’S 2025 MARQUEE LAUNCH HERE

For further information, please contact:
Ryley McKay
Nine National PR Manager – Sport 
ryley.mckay@nine.com.au

Thursday, 30 October, 2025

Canva’s Melanie Perkins & Cliff Obrecht’s wealth surges by $4.5 billion in one year, while Oscar Piastri debuts on the Financial Review Young Rich List.

• Canva co-founders Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht rank #1 on the Young Rich List for the sixth year worth a combined $18.5 billion, up from $14 billion.
• Margot Robbie is Australia’s richest entertainer under 40, worth $193 million. 
• F1 driver Oscar Piastri debuts on the List with an estimated wealth of $122 million, while Daniel Ricciardo has increased his wealth despite no longer racing by $7 million to $194 million. But, basketball is still the biggest creation of sport wealth, with six basketballers on the Young Rich List.
• There are 21 Young Rich Listers who have made their wealth through retail, contributing $4.5 billion to the total wealth of the top 100 in 2025.

Canva co-founders Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht have topped the Financial Review 2025 Young Rich List for the sixth year in a row, growing their estimated net worth by $4.5 billion in just one year to $18.5 billion. 

The couple, aged 38 and 39 respectively, have a $13.9 billion lead on the next Young Rich Lister, Ed Craven, the co-founder of online cryptocurrency casino site stake.com who has an estimated wealth of $4.6 billion.

The full Financial Review Young Rich List will be available tomorrow, Friday, October 31 on afr.com and in a special edition of The Australian Financial Review Magazine.  

In third spot are Immutable brothers Robbie and James Ferguson with $1.7 billion combined, while controversial Melbourne billionaire Adrian Portelli has increased his wealth to land fourth with $1.4 billion. Airwallex co-founder Jack Zhang rounds out the top five, with an estimated wealth of $1.3 billion. 

Combined, the fortunes of the top 10 hit $31.7 billion, up 9.7 per cent from $28.9 billion in 2024.

Oliver Curtis – who as Roxy Jacenko’s husband is a regular fixture in tabloid stories – debuts at #12 on the List with an estimated net worth of $444 million thanks to his AI infrastructure company Firmus.   

Margot Robbie maintains her role as Australia’s richest entertainer under 40, with a wealth pile of $193 million, to come in at #36. 

Australia’s wealthiest Young Rich sport star is once again basketball star Ben Simmons, worth $260 million (#20) followed by F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, who despite retiring from the sport, managed to increase his wealth by $7 million to $194 million (#35). Golfers Cameron Smith and Jason Day (#41 and #42) are worth $176 million and $167 million respectively. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri debuts on the List at #56 worth $122 million.

There are 22 people making their Young Rich debut in 2025 –  the most since 2022 – and they are collectively worth $4 billion. Among them are AI entrepreneurs, a former Macquarie banker, The Block judge Marty Fox and a couple behind a collagen beauty brand. 

Ukrainian immigrant Anna Podolsky, 34, the founder of pet food company Lyka comes in at #30 on the list, worth $220 million. 

To qualify for the Young Rich List in 2025, you need a fortune of at least $44 million, up from $38 million in 2024. The tech sector’s dominance continues, contributing more than $28 billion, or 62 per cent, of the total net worth of the list in 2025. 

“It’s been another record-breaking year for the wealthiest Australians aged 40 and under, whose collective fortunes have risen 1700 per cent in the 22 years since the first Young Rich List was published by BRW. When the list launched in 2003, the total net worth of the 62 people featured was only $2.5 billion,” Rich List editor Yolanda Redrup said.

“The list has charted the spectacular rise, and fall, of some of the country’s most notable business identities. Through its history it’s detailed the journeys of the founders behind Atlassian, SEEK and MYOB, but also the collapse of the empires of entrepreneurs including Eddy Groves, Craig Gore and Zhenya Tsvetnenko.

“Their stories highlight the dedication and sacrifice needed to build your own business, and the sometimes fleeting nature of wealth when it is still primarily tied to equity.”

The Financial Review Young Rich List 2025 Highlights
TOP 10 (worth a collective $31.7 billion, using exact wealth figures)

1 Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht, 38 & 39, $18.5 billion  – Canva
2 Ed Craven, 30, $4.6 billion – Stake.com
3 Robbie and James Ferguson, 33 & 28, $1.7 billion – Immutable
4 Adrian Portelli, 36, $1.4 billion – LMCT+
5 Jack Zhang, 40, $1.3 billion – Airwallex 
6 Nick Molnar, 35, $1.1 billion – Block 
7 Andrew Tulloch, 35, $953 million – Thinking Machine Labs, Meta
8 Paul Stovell, 39, $637 million – Octopus Deploy
9 Jessica Sepel and Dean Steingold, 36 & 40, $486 million – JSHealth
10 Nik Mirkovic and Alex Tomic, 30 & 32, $470 million each – Hismile

The Financial Review Young Rich List is available on www.afr.com and in a special edition of AFR Magazine this Friday, October 31.

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

Thursday, 30 October, 2025

Australia’s most trusted and successful mastheads – The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age – are offering traineeships in partnership with Canon Australia to give the next generation of visual journalists a chance to develop their skills in award-winning, digitally-focused newsrooms. 

The two 12-month Visual Journalist traineeships, aimed at talented, emerging photographers and videographers, will commence in January 2026. The traineeship program will be funded as part of a three-year partnership with Canon Australia that also includes providing industry-leading imaging equipment to Nine Publishing staff photographers.   

With recruitment conducted by the Herald and The Age’s photo editors and senior editors, the traineeships are a unique opportunity for those with a strong passion for photography and video storytelling to contribute to the mastheads’ high-quality visual journalism. 

The traineeship program is an opportunity to learn the craft of visual journalism alongside – and be mentored by – the country’s top photojournalists, video producers and editors, focusing on developing visual reporting skills as the trainees work across different parts of the newsroom.  

The Herald and The Age have a combined total readership of 12 million, and a rich heritage of quality, independent photo journalism.

“The Herald and The Age have an extraordinary history of photographic excellence and this is an incredible opportunity for us to unearth the next generation of visual journalists. Words are important, but a good news picture is everything,” Executive Editor Luke McIlveen said. 

“In partnership with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Canon Australia is proud to champion authentic visual journalism by equipping Nine’s journalists with our latest imaging gear and empowering the next generation of image-makers,” said Aaron Berthelot, Senior General Manager – Consumer Sales & Marketing, Canon Oceania. “Through professional Canon kits and dedicated investment in their development, we’re giving two aspiring visual journalists the tools and confidence to tell compelling stories and help shape the future of trusted news.”

For more information please visit the Nine Careers website or apply directly to the mastheads below:

The Sydney Morning Herald:  HERE

The Age: HERE

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

Canon

Canon is a world-leading imaging brand that actively inspires and enables people to achieve more than they ever thought they could through products, services and solutions for business and consumers. 

With global revenues of more than $US28.5 billion in 2024, Canon has ranked among the world’s top 10 in the U.S. patent rankings for 41 consecutive years.

Also part of the Canon Oceania Group companies and brands in the region are Canon Finance Australia, SUNSTUDIOS, Canon Business Services ANZ, Satalyst, Canon New Zealand Limited and Canon Business Service Centre in the Philippines.  

Wednesday, 29 October, 2025

9Podcasts has launched In The Good Books with Luke Bateman, a compelling new podcast hosted by the former NRL athlete, reality TV personality, and viral BookTok star, Luke Bateman. This series is not merely a book club; it’s an intimate journey of reinvention exploring how literature has transformed a life – from the high-pressure world of professional sport to finding purpose and community in fantasy worlds.

Luke Bateman brings his surprising and candid perspective to the mic, reflecting on a personal evolution that saw him move from hiding his reading habit to becoming a leading voice in the online literary sphere. The podcast examines how books across all genres – from gripping fantasy to insightful self-improvement guides – provide courage, connection, and a blueprint for a new chapter.

Each week, Bateman shares the classics and bestsellers that shaped his world and sits down with bestselling authors and fellow passionate bookworms to explore their own literary journeys, creating a welcoming and honest space for anyone who loves getting lost in a good story.

Luke Bateman said: “I’m overjoyed to share my new podcast, ‘In The Good Books’ with the world. It’s such a fulfilling and meaningful project for me, and to finally share it with everyone is scary but incredibly exciting! Hearing how books, stories and magic have touched people’s lives is so invigorating and I can’t wait to bring that to a wider audience.” 

Nine’s Head of Podcasts, Richard Stansbury said: “We are very excited to welcome Luke Bateman to our growing slate of original podcasts with ‘In The Good Books’. Luke has built a huge and highly engaged community who share his passion for reading and quality books. We look forward to evolving that passion into a weekly podcast, packing listeners into Luke’s tractor and going on a ride from romance and fantasy to self improvement and thriller.” 

IN THE GOOD BOOKS LAUNCHES TODAY WITH NEW EPISODES DROPPING EVERY WEDNESDAY ON APPLE PODCASTS & SPOTIFY

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

Wednesday, 29 October, 2025