Media Releases Archive - Page 34 of 232

Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story to premiere on Channel 9

The incredible journey of Jelena Dokic will be showcased nationally following the Australian Open, when Unbreakable premieres on Wednesday, January 29 at 9.00pm AEDT, on Channel 9 and 9Now.

With no details spared, Dokic details the mental and physical obstacles she faced behind closed doors as her talent went on display in the very public international tennis arena.

Based on her first book, Unbreakable is a story of survival that transcends the game of Tennis. From surviving as a refugee, twice, to the heights of becoming world No.4 and most importantly, how she survived an unimaginable storm of abuse to ultimately triumph after enduring poverty, bullying and extreme brutality.

Directed by Ivan O’Mahoney and co-author of her books Jessica Halloran, Unbreakable features firsthand testimonies from Jelena herself, Australian and international tennis greats, including Todd Woodbridge, Lindsay Davenport, Pam Shriver, Mark Philippoussis former coaches Tony Roche and Lesley Bowrey, Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley as well as former WTA officials, journalist Chris Clarey of the NY Times and CBS 60 Minutes reporter Jon Wertheim.

Speaking ahead of Channel 9’s national broadcast premiere, Dokic said: “This is an open, honest and raw account of my story but most importantly it’s one of growth and healing.

“I hope Unbreakable helps people learn and understand, so they ultimately feel empowered to act if they see or experience this type of behaviour. No matter who you are, or what adversity you face in life, you can survive and move forward.”

Unbreakable was produced by Roadshow Films for Nine.

UNBREAKABLE
9.00PM AEDT WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29
CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Day 5: Australian Open 2025 on the 9Network

It’s Aussie action aplenty on Australian Open Day 5 when Alex De Minaur is back, while Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis will reunite for the men’s doubles, live and free on the 9Network.

After a straight sets opening round victory De Minaur will be looking to pick up where he left off, when he meets American Tristan Boyer on Rod Laver Arena.

The ‘Special K’s’ will return to their home Slam for the first time since their thrilling AO title-winning run in 2022. Their 2025 campaign kicking off with an all-Australian first round clash against James Duckworth/Aleksandar Vukic.

Leading off the night session is the David and Goliath clash between world no.1 Jannik Sinner and Australian wildcard Tristan Schoolkate.

9Now will allow viewers to keep an eye on Katie Boulter’s second round game while she is on court at the same time as her fiance De Minaur. Plus, world no.4 Taylor Fritz also features in the day session.

Throughout the 2025 Australian Open, fans will have the ability to watch every point of every match, at any time live, free and on any device in HD on 9Now.

Day Session	11.00am AEDT – Thursday January 16
	Hubert Hurkacz (POL) [18] v Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB)
	Iga Swiatek (POL) [2] v Rebecca Sramkova (SVK)
	Alex De Minaur (AUS) [8] v Tristan Boyer (USA)
	James McCabe (AUS) v Alex Michelsen (USA)
	Emma Raducanu (GBR) v Amanda Anisimova (USA)
	Ben Shelton (USA) [21] v Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)
	Frances Tiafoe (USA) [17] v Fabian Marozsan (HUN)
Night Session	Begins 7.00pm AEDT
	Jannik Sinner (ITA) [1] v Tristan Schoolkate (AUS)
	Nick Kyrgios/Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v James Duckworth/Aleksandar Vukic (AUS)
	Daniil Medvedev [5] v Learner Tien (USA)
	Destanee Aiava (AUS) v Danielle Collins (USA) [10]
	Jasmine Paolini (ITA) [4] v Renata Zarazua (MEX)

Stream – 9Now
Every Match, Every Court

Taylor Fritz (USA)[4] v Cristian Garin (CHI)- Day Session

Matteo Berrettini (ITA) v Holger Rune (DEN)[13] – Day Session

Veronika Kudermetova v Katie Boulter [22](GBR) – Day Session

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Nine announces operating model reset

Wednesday 15 January 2025: Nine Entertainment Co. (Nine) is accelerating the Group’s strategic transformation, with an operating model reset and new Executive Team.

Nine’s refreshed operating model will more effectively leverage the Group’s portfolio of premium media assets, simplify business operations, reduce duplication, and provide greater accountability.

As part of Nine’s strategic transformation program, the business will be streamlined into three consumer-focused divisions:

Streaming & Broadcast;
Publishing; and
Marketplaces

The updated operating model will help deliver the Group’s Integrated Audience Platform strategy, while strengthening Nine’s operational and financial performance. It will underpin Nine’s plan to reduce its cost base by a further $50 million in FY25 and enhance profitability through greater utilisation of the business’s premium assets.

The three divisions will be supported by Group functions working across the business, reducing duplication and introducing consistent, company-wide processes, which are critical for Nine’s ongoing cultural transformation.

Nine has appointed experienced industry executive Amanda Laing as Managing Director of the Streaming & Broadcast division, which brings together Stan, 9Now, Broadcast Television, and Radio.

Ms Laing brings with her a strong background in television, streaming, digital, print and video-on-demand as well as expertise in commercial strategies and partnerships, business transformation, sports and entertainment content and rights, and mergers and acquisitions. Most recently, Ms Laing was Chief Commercial and Content Officer at Foxtel Group and Managing Director at Binge.

The current Publishing division, led by Managing Director Tory Maguire, will be expanded to include nine.com.au alongside Nine’s publishing assets, including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Australian Financial Review.

The creation of a Marketplaces division provides more targeted oversight of Domain and Drive and ensures Nine is capitalising on value creation opportunities from Streaming & Broadcast and Publishing and across the Group. Alex Parsons will oversee Marketplaces in addition to his Chief Digital Officer role. There is no change to the current business structure or governance of Domain, an ASX-listed business.

Nine has also appointed James Boyce as Director of Regulatory, Public Affairs and Communications to enhance the Group’s focus on the regulatory environment. Mr Boyce is an experienced regulatory, government and communications leader, with a deep understanding of industry policy, national affairs and the media landscape. He joins Nine from Paramount (Australia and New Zealand), where he was head of government and regulatory affairs.

In line with the new operating model, Nine will transition to a more streamlined eight-member Executive Team reporting to Acting Chief Executive Officer Matt Stanton.

Nine Acting Chief Executive Officer Matt Stanton said: “Our operating model reset will help accelerate the strategic transformation underway at Nine by improving how the different parts of the business work together. Our new approach will better position the business to manage the challenging external environment and ensure the company is future-fit to sustainably deliver for our consumers, partners, shareholders and people.

“Aligned with the greater accountability that flows from resetting the operating model, I’m pleased to unveil a new and focused Executive Team to lead Nine through its next phase of growth. The appointment of Amanda, one of the top media executives in the country, will add extraordinary industry expertise and energy to Nine’s experienced Executive Team in 2025 while James will sharpen the Group’s focus on the evolving regulatory landscape.”

Media contact:
Caitlin Lynch
Senior Communications Manager – Corporate
clynch@nine.com.au

Day 4: Australian Open 2025 on the 9Network

Thanasi Kokkinakis heads up the night session on a stacked Australian Open Day 4, when the superstars of world tennis are on court, live and free on the 9Network.

Kokkinakis is joined by Jordan Thompson, Aleksandar Vukic, Alja Tomljanovic, Talia Gibson and James Duckworth, where they’ll look to embrace the Aussie fighting spirit to progress to the third round.

24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic takes his next step to 25 in 2025, when he appears in the day session on his beloved Rod Laver Arena.

While on 9Now, world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, defending Wimbledon and French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, and two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka will feature across a mammoth Day 4.

Throughout the 2025 Australian Open, fans will have the ability to watch every point of every match, at any time live, free and on any device in HD on 9Now.

Day Session	11.00am AEDT – Wednesday January 15
	Qinwen Zheng (CHN) [5] v Laura Siegemund (GER)
	Jordan Thompson (AUS) [27] v Nuno Borges (POR)
	Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) v Sebastian Korda (USA) [22]
	Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) v Diana Shnaider [12]
	Mirra Andreeva [14] v Moyuka Uchijima (JPN)
	James Duckworth (AUS) v R. Caraballes Baena (ESP)
	Novak Djokovic (SRB) [7] v Jaime Faria (POR)
Night Session	Begins 7.00pm AEDT
	Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v Jack Draper (GBR) [15]
	Talia Gibson (AUS) v Paula Badosa (ESP) [11]
	Coco Gauff (USA) [3] v Jodie Burrage (GBR)
	Alexander Zverev (GER) [2] v Pedro Martinez (ESP)

Stream – 9Now
Every Match, Every Court

Carlos Alcaraz (SPA) [3] v Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) – Day Session

Aryna Sabalenka [1] v Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (SPA) – Day Session

Naomi Osaka (JPN) v Karolina Muchova (CZE) [20] – Day Session

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Key appointments to bolster the Financial Review’s lifestyle coverage

The Australian Financial Review has bolstered its lifestyle coverage with four key appointments. The appointments follow readership growth for both of the Financial Review’s glossy titles, defying the broader downturn in readership for newspaper inserted magazines.

Lauren Sams has been appointed as editor of Fin Magazine, the Financial Review’s seasonal glossy magazine. Sams has been the Financial Review’s fashion editor since joining the masthead in 2019 and will replace Matthew Drummond who will continue as editor of the monthly AFR Magazine.

“Fin Magazine is the Financial Review’s glossy guide to the finer things in life,” said Sams. “If AFR Magazine is about success, then Fin Magazine is about reaping it. We’ll travel the world to bring readers the very best in absolutely everything, guiding them from discovery to obsession”

“In 2025, we’re introducing new formats and features including beauty and wellness. And we will continue to lead the way when it comes to fashion, culture, motoring, watches and jewellery.” Before joining the Financial Review Sams was features director at ELLE Australia and has worked at Cosmopolitan and delicious.com.au.

Anna McCooe has been appointed to the role of senior travel writer at the Financial Review. In this newly-created role, McCooe will oversee travel content across the masthead including afr.com, the daily newspaper, Life & Leisure, AFR Magazine and Fin Magazine. McCooe brings a wealth of experience to the Financial Review and has 12 years experience in travel journalism. She has most recently been deputy editor of Gourmet Traveller. Before that she was the travel and lifestyle editor for Marie Claire. In 2019 she launched Marie Claire Lifestyle.

Jessica Beresford has been appointed as associate editor of Life & Leisure, the Financial Review’s weekly lifestyle insert. Beresford joins the Financial Review from the Financial Times where she has been a contributing editor and also fashion features editor for that title’s luxury glossy, HTSI. She has also been the managing editor of The Rake, based in London. Beresford will be based in the Financial Review’s Sydney newsroom and will work alongside Charis Perkins as editor of Life & Leisure.

Also joining the team is Maria Shollenbarger who’ll write a regular column on travel for AFR Magazine. As well as being a regular contributor to both AFR Magazine and Fin Magazine, Shollenbarger is the travel editor for HTSI at the Financial Times.

“These appointments demonstrate our commitment to ensure the Financial Review’s lifestyle offering has the same authority as the rest of our award-winning journalism,” said AFR Magazine editor Matthew Drummond. “As we gain greater data-led insights into the habits of our subscribers, we can see the need to build upon and broaden our coverage across travel, fashion, jewellery, watches, wellness and other lifestyle categories.”

In the latest Roy Morgan readership figures, for the September quarter, the Financial Review had a combined print and digital readership of 3.5 million. AFR Magazine has a print readership of 502,000, up 1 per cent year-on-year and now over three times larger than its main competitor. Fin Magazine has a readership of 101,000, up 7 per cent year-on-year.*

*Source: Roy Morgan Research; People 14+ for the 12 months ending September 2024

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

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Day 3: Australian Open 2025 on the 9Network

Aussies Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin are all set to take flight at night on Australian Open Day 3, live and free on the 9Network.

Ranked in the men’s top 10, De Minaur is hell bent on making AO25 one to remember. While Popyrin wants to pick up the momentum he gained from defeating Novak Djokovic in his last Grand Slam showing at the US Open.

In the Day session, World No.1 junior girls player Emerson Jones makes her Australian Open main draw debut when the rising Aussie star faces a difficult Round 1 match up against 2023 AO finalist Elena Rybakina (no.6).

Featured Day 3 games to stream on 9Now include American Taylor Fritz (no.4), Daniil Medvedev and Katie Boulter.

Throughout the 2025 Australian Open, fans will have the ability to watch every point of every match, at any time live, free and on any device in full HD on 9Now.

Day Session	11.00am AEDT – Tuesday January 14
	Ekaterina Alexandrova [26] v Emma Raducanu (GBR)
	Zhizhen Zhang (CHN) v Holger Rune (DEN) [13]
	Emerson Jones (AUS) v Elena Rybakina (KAZ) [6]
	Rinky Hijikata (AUS) v Mitchell Krueger (USA)
	Matteo Berrettini (ITA) v Cameron Norrie (GBR)
	Kimberly Birrell (AUS) v Anna Kalinskaya [13]
	Madison Keys (USA) [19] v Ann Li (USA)
Night Session	Begins 7.00pm AEDT
	Alex De Minaur (AUS) [8] v Botic Van De Zandschulp (NED)
	Olivia Gadecki (AUS) v Veronika Kudermetova
	Alexei Popyrin (AUS) [25] v Corentin Moutet (FRA)
	Andrey Rublev [9] v Joao Fonseca (BRA)

Stream – 9Now
Every Match, Every Court

Taylor Fritz (USA) [4] v Jenson Brooksby (USA)

Katie Boulter (GBR) [22] v Rebecca Marino (CAN)

Daniil Medvedev [5] v Kasidit Samrej (THA)

Monday, January 13, 2025

Day 2: Australian Open 2025 on the 9Network

The much anticipated return of Nick Kyrgios to Grand Slam tennis heralds a mega Monday of Australian Open matches, when Day 2 is live and free on the 9Network and 9Now.

A roll call of the biggest names in world tennis that includes Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz and Naomi Osaka will join Kyrgios, who is set to fire on John Cain Arena from 7.00pm AEDT.

While Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis, Jordan Thompson, Alja Tomljanovic, Christopher O’Connell, Talia Gibson, James Duckworth and Maya Joint will ride a wave of home support to get their campaigns underway across Channel 9 and 9Gem.

Throughout the 2025 Australian Open, fans will have the ability to watch every point of every match, at any time live, free and on any device in full HD on 9Now.

Featured Day 2 games on 9Now will include Men’s world No.1 Jannik Sinner, when he begins his title defence. While highly regarded challenger Coco Gauff faces fellow American Sofia Kenin in a tricky Round 1 match up.

Day Session	11.00am AEDT – Monday January 13
	Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [11] v Alex Michelsen (USA)
	Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) v Ashlyn Krueger (USA)
	Jordan Thompson (AUS) [27] v Dominik Koepfer (GER)
	Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v Roman Safiullin
	Christopher O’Connell (AUS) v Tommy Paul (USA) [12]
	Talia Gibson (AUS) v Zeynep Sonmez (TUR)
	James Duckworth (AUS) v Dominic Stricker (SUI)
	Maya Joint (AUS) v Jessica Pegula (USA) [7]
Night Session	Begins 7.00pm AEDT
	Nick Kyrgios (AUS) v Jacob Fearnley (GBR)
	Naomi Osaka (JPN) v Caroline Garcia (FRA)
	Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) [3] v Alexander Shevchenko (KAZ)
	Danielle Collins (USA) [10] v Daria Snigur (UKR)

Stream – 9Now
Every Match, Every Court

Coco Gauff (USA) [3] v Sofia Kenin (USA)

Jannik Sinner (ITA) [1] v Nicolas Jarry (CHI)

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Day 1: Australian Open 2025 on the 9Network

Women’s world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka will begin her march to a hat-trick of Australian Open women’s singles titles, when Day 1 of action on the 9Network and 9Now is live and free tomorrow, from 10.00am AEDT.

In a high class opening night on Rod Laver Arena, Germany’s Alexander Zverev (No.2) is on court straight after Sabalenka, to begin his quest for a breakthrough first Grand Slam title.

Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic and Adam Walton will get their campaigns underway in the day session on Channel 9, while Daria Saville will feature on 9Gem in the night session.

Throughout the 2025 Australian Open, fans will have the ability to watch every point of every match, at any time live and free, on any device in full HD on 9Now.

Expert commentary throughout the tournament will be provided by Jim Courier, Jelena Dokic, John McEnroe, Todd Woodbridge, Lleyton Hewitt, Sam Stosur, Dylan Alcott, John Millman, Casey Dellacqua, Sam Smith and Alicia Molik.

On Channel 9, the hosts are James Bracey, Roz Kelly and Tony Jones, while on 9Gem Sylvia Jeffreys, Nick McArdle and Brett Phillips will host the broadcast.

Ariarne Titmus and Jess Fox, join the team to capture all the colour of the event, alongside Marlee Silva. Additional off-court reporting will come from Clint Stanaway and Danika Mason. Plus match callers Brenton Speed and Peter Psaltis.

Day Session	Starts 11.00am AEDT
	OMAR JASIKA (AUS) v HUGO GASTON (FRA)
	ADAM WALTON (AUS) v QUENTIN HALYS (FRA)
	ALEKSANDAR VUKIC (AUS) v DAMIR DZUMHUR (BIH)
	MARIE BOUZKOVA (CZE) v MIRRA ANDREEVA [14]
	CASPER RUUD (NOR) [6] v JAUME MUNAR (ESP)
	PAULA BADOSA (ESP) [11] v XINYU WANG (CHN)
Night Session	Starts 7.00pm AEDT
	ARYNA SABALENKA [1] v SLOANE STEPHENS (USA)
	ALEXANDER ZVEREV (GER) [2] v LUCAS POUILLE (FRA) [WC]
	LI TU (AUS) v JIRI LEHECKA (CZE) [24]
	DARIA SAVILLE (AUS) v ANNA BLINKOVA

Satuday, January 11, 2025

Brands acing the beginning of 2025 with a grand slam of opportunities

As the superstars of world tennis prepare to start their Australian Open campaign, an incredible line-up of brands shows why Nine’s coverage of the first Grand Slam of the year serves up the biggest platform of marketing opportunities for advertisers.

Nothing unites millions of Australians like sport, and with the Australian Open featuring 15 days of the world’s best tennis, Nine’s coverage shows how the Summer of Tennis is the powerhouse platform for brands at this crucial time of the year.

For the first time, Emirates joins as a major partner of Nine’s Summer of Tennis. As the official airline partner of Tennis Australia, the brand is set to take full advantage of Nine’s cross-platform content ecosystem across Television, Digital, Publishing and Audio.

Also returning as a partner is Uber. This year Uber Eats will deploy an innovative brand campaign leveraging the Australian Open coverage as well as the power of Nine’s suite of hit programming – including Married at First Sight and other tentpole network moments – to bring their AO TVC to life.

A powerful combination of Australia’s most recognised brands have signed on as sponsors, including home appliance brand Haier, tourism company Journey Beyond and beauty brand L’Oreal. These brands are joined by previous returning sponsors ANZ, Bupa, Chemist Warehouse, Chubb, Domain, Google, Kia, Peters Ice Cream and Stan who will all leverage the unique suite of Nine’s Summer of Tennis premium assets.

Viewers will once again be treated to a creative innovation set to engage, elevate and captivate audiences at scale. This will come to life in the form of Augmented Reality, providing Nine’s broadcast partners the ability to own digital brand insertions within Nine’s on-ground live set, Court 9. This will provide Nine’s broadcast partners further brand prominence and contextuality to associate with the Summer of Tennis broadcast coverage, like never seen before.

Global No. 1 appliance brand, Haier, will be utilising the full-service creative enterprise of Powered to create an all-of-home brand TVC and augmented reality executions to bring their brand campaign, ‘Make more time for tennis with Haier,’ to life throughout the tournament..

Chubb will look to build on their brand campaign from last year’s AO broadcast, reinforcing their position as The Official Insurance Partner of the Australian Open. Nine will partner with Chubb to unveil the Chubb Champions Walkout – showcasing the excitement as the best players in the world enter the stadium past the ‘Walk of Champions’ passage. Nine will also feature Chubb’s VIP Seat Upgrade – where during every session of tennis over the two weeks, two lucky fans in Rod Laver Arena will be upgraded to VIP seats and butler service.

With more than 10 million Total TV viewers tuning into last year’s Australian Open, unleashing the marketing power of tennis is the ultimate platform for brands wanting to connect with Australians with the help of globally-renowned Wide World of Sports.

Nine’s sophisticated approach to working with brands in the sporting arena draws on groundbreaking ways to tell a brand’s story in the most effective way possible.

Meanwhile, ANZ will amplify their ANZ Falcon® technology which provides 24/7 fraud protection that is personal to you. This will be promoted via an aerial Falcon® Eye View housed within a start of the art 4D cam operated within the Tennis Park drone.

“Once again, the Summer of Tennis has showcased itself as the ultimate platform across Nine for brands to launch their year. We are thrilled to welcome a number of new brands to our partner program and see the return of so many, as we continue our journey to deliver the most premium and diverse platforms, creative solutions and executions to engage audiences and fans ” said Matt Granger, Nine’s Director of Sales – Sport, Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Nine’s Director of Content Partnerships – Sport, Olympic and Paralympic Games, Anne Gruber, said: “In 2025, Nine will serve up an unforgettable Australian Open for our partner brands. The first Grand Slam of the year will once again deliver the biggest audience and marketing platform of the summer and our partners will have the opportunity to tell their brand story through Nine’s exclusive content and comprehensive coverage utilising cutting-edge technology, immersive viewing and new and innovative ad formats. AO sponsorships deliver unmatched brand impact across brand awareness, consideration and viewer attention and we can’t wait to watch 15 days of nail biting action unfold across Nine’s total media platforms.”

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2025 LIVE & FREE ON CHANNEL 9HD, 9GEMHD & 9NOW FROM SUNDAY, JANUARY 12

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

Monday, January 13, 2025

Love Island UK All Stars is back

It’s time to hide the remote as you watch your favourite UK Islanders return in season two of Love Island UK All Stars, launching exclusively on 9Now on Wednesday, January 15, at 6.00pm AEDT, with new episodes dropping daily.

Hosted by Maya Jama, alongside narrator Iain Stirling, 12 sexy Islanders from the past decade will be taking another leap of faith in search for love in red-hot South Africa.

Expect new Bombshells to shake things up, heartbroken singles to face dramatic eliminations, and ultimately, in the hands of the viewers, one couple to be crowned the winners of Love Island UK All Stars season two.

The familiar faces arriving in style for season two are:

THE GIRLS

Cathernie
Age: 24
Series ten