Archives: Media Releases

LIVE AND FREE ON THE 9NETWORK, STREAM FOR FREE ON 9NOW
SATURDAY, MARCH 21 – SUNDAY, MARCH 22

Nine’s Wide World of Sports will tee up for the Australian WPGA Championship this weekend on the Gold Coast from Saturday, March 21 on the 9Network and 9Now. 

Coverage of the pivotal final two rounds will be shown on 9Go! and to stream free on 9Now, ensuring audiences nationwide won’t miss a single drive, chip, or putt as the players vie for the Karrie Webb Cup and $600,000 in prize money.

Headlining the field at Sanctuary Cove is women’s Major Champion and world No.7 Hannah Green, hot off winning the Australian Open last week, plus fellow LPGA Tour player Steph Kyriacou amongst an entry list with a total of 37 countries represented.

The Australian WPGA Championship will be a feature of the Festival of Golf – a high-energy, feel-good celebration where golf meets food, fun, fashion, and community spirit.

AUSTRALIAN WPGA CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF
SATURDAY, MARCH 21 – SUNDAY, MARCH 22
LIVE AND FREE ON 9GO! AND 9NOW

Thursday 19 March, 2026

The 2026 Nine Telethon supporting Mater Little Miracles is fast approaching, again helping to give our tiniest Queenslanders the best possible start to life, on Saturday, April 18, on Channel 9 and 9Now.

The broadcast will support Mater, Australia’s leader in neonatal critical care and maternal foetal medicine, by raising funds for essential, life-saving research, care, and equipment for seriously ill and premature babies and their mothers.

Kick-starting the fundraising, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls today announced a commitment of $1,500,000 on behalf of the Queensland Government.

Mr Nicholls said: “The Nine Telethon in support of Mater Little Miracles is a powerful reminder of what Queenslanders can achieve when compassion and community come together to support families facing some of life’s most challenging moments.

“The Queensland Government is proud to be leading the way in this year’s Telethon, providing frontline clinicians and researchers with additional resources to deliver the best possible care for babies.

“Our partnership with Mater has always been grounded in a shared commitment, to give every Queensland baby the strongest possible start to life. 

“This funding will help accelerate vital research and support the development of new treatments and technologies that will continue improving outcomes for the smallest and most vulnerable Queenslanders.”

More than 1,700 babies receive round-the-clock specialist care from the team in the Mater Mothers’ Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU) every year. Amongst the little fighters in Mater’s NCCU are triplet brothers, Gianluca, Danilo and Massimo. At the launch event at Mater Mothers’ Hospital today, the Health Minister met the triplets and their parents Melinda and Gianfranco Lombardo-Vosolo in the NCCU. 

Melinda delivered the triplets in an emergency c-section at the hospital in January, 10 weeks early. Her smallest boy, Gianluca, weighed just 956g at birth, while brother Danilo was only a little larger at 1.09kg, and Massimo weighed in at 1.517kg.

A team of around 20 Mater staff – including obstetricians, midwives and nurses – were involved in the triplets’ delivery. All of the babies received intensive around-the-clock medical care and breathing support in their first weeks of life in the NCCU.

“The first two weeks were gruelling for us, but the care we received from the whole team was sensational,” Melinda said.

“The boys’ health is looking good now and we can’t wait to get them home – but we’re a bit scared about how we are going to manage it all!”

Mater Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Thomas said: “Mater is incredibly grateful to the Queensland Government for its generous contribution to this year’s Nine Telethon supporting Mater Little Miracles.

“Every dollar we receive will make a difference to sick and premature babies and their families through improved care and groundbreaking medical research.

“Lives are saved and changed forever every day at Mater, which is why we’re excited to welcome Nine back into our hospitals for this year’s Telethon.

“It will be an emotional watch for viewers at home, but one which will both amaze and inspire Queenslanders.” 

This year’s broadcast will again include the Nine Telethon Concert, featuring a special performance from Pub Choir. Created and hosted by the talented Astrid Jorgensen, Pub Choir transforms a crowd of strangers into a choir, belting out songs in three-part harmony, perfect for viewers watching at home to join in on the fun.

Managing Director of Nine Queensland Kylie Blucher, said: “The Nine Telethon is a powerful demonstration of the Queensland community coming together for an extraordinary cause. We are incredibly proud to partner with Mater Little Miracles once again, rallying behind our toughest and tiniest.

“The generosity, compassion and willingness to help families doing it tough is truly inspiring and what makes the Nine Telethon so special. Last year Queenslanders helped us to surpass our goal to raise over $10 million and we’re excited to see that same incredible spirit shine through again”.

DONATE: Support Queensland’s littlest lives by making a donation at www.9telethon.com.au.

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#materlittlemiracles
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Tuesday 17 March, 2026

Nine has today announced respected journalist and presenter Georgie Gardner has called time on her near 25-year career at Nine.

Since 2002, Georgie has been a constant presence in the living rooms of millions of Australians turning into Nine across the day. After starting at 9News presenting 6pm weekday weather with Brian Henderson and reading the Morning news, Georgie joined the Today Show in 2007 as newsreader and fill-in host – a role she held until 2014. In 2018 she rejoined the Today Show as host for two years. For the better part of 17 years, Georgie has anchored 9News Sydney’s 6pm weekend bulletin. 

Executive Director, News & Current Affairs, Fiona Dear said: “Georgie’s versatility as a presenter has seen her hold almost every on-air news role at Nine. It’s a remarkable achievement and during that time Georgie has been loved and respected by audiences across Australia. 

“She has had a front row seat to some of the most important moments in history, delivering the biggest news stories to audiences first thing in the morning, in prime time at 6pm and late into the evening with Nightline. Georgie’s professionalism and composure during breaking news events makes her one of the most talented newsreaders in the country. Georgie’s decision to step away from television news has our full support and we thank her and wish her well in her future endeavours.” 

Georgie Gardner said: “I could not be more grateful for the range of opportunities Nine has afforded me over nearly a quarter of a century. Anchoring news bulletins across the day, as well as reporting and hosting roles on virtually every news program at the Network has been incredibly satisfying and an enormous privilege.

“I will be forever thankful for having worked with countless colleagues, who are quite simply the best in the industry and I am humbled by the knowledge that there are viewers who have followed my career.”

Georgie will read her final bulletin on Friday 17 April 2026 and her replacement will be announced in due course.

Friday 13 March, 2026

EVERY MONDAY NIGHT OF THE 2026 NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP SEASON

Penrith Panthers, NSW Origin and Australian Kangaroos superstar Nathan Cleary will join the panel of 100% Footy to kick the season off, when the show returns on Monday, March 9 on Channel 9 and 9Now.

The home of the strongest opinions in the NRL from those who count, 100% Footy will be available from 9.00pm for free on Channel 9 and streaming platform 9Now, following Married At First Sight. 

Host James Bracey returns to the desk where rugby league mastermind Phil “Gus” Gould, Sharks premiership captain Paul Gallen, and the most capped Queenslander of all time Cameron Smith will square off.

Joining the crew will be Allana Ferguson, 9News rugby league journalist Danny Weidler to deliver all the latest breaking news in the popular ‘Scuttlebutt’ segment, while Marlee Silva sits down with the game’s biggest names to reveal their personal NRL journeys, kicking off proceedings with Melbourne Storm’s Cameron Munster. Plus we catch up with the heroes of yesteryear with a retro guest each week. 

The Hello Sport boys, Tom Birmingham and Eddy Simpson, will return with new weekly segment 100% Dribble delivering a wrap of the NRL through their irreverent, authentic and off-script style capturing the big plays, chaos and cultural storylines from the greatest game of all.

100% Footy host, James Bracey, said: “We couldn’t be more pumped for the return of 100% Footy. Having Nathan Cleary on the desk for episode one gives us unparalleled insight into the mind of a champion. And throwing the Hello Sport boys into the mix with Gus, Gal, the G.O.A.T Cam Smith and Allana will be chaotic, insightful, and absolute must-watch television. This is a lineup that is great for all footy fans. Fasten your seatbelts.”

100% FOOTY 
MONDAY, MARCH 9 FROM 9.00PM SYD/BRIS
WATCH FOR FREE ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW

Friday 6 March, 2026

MORE BRANDS THAN EVER BEFORE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ULTIMATE MARKETING PLATFORM AS SEASON KICKS OFF LIVE AND FREE ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW 

Following a massive 2025 season, where the NRL proved its status as a cultural powerhouse, Nine has today announced its comprehensive sponsorship lineup for the 2026 Telstra NRL Premiership. 

As the NRL begins its final season before the Perth Bears join in 2027 to stamp rugby league’s presence nationally, Nine is delivering a strategic runway for the code’s expansion by providing an unrivalled ecosystem for its commercial partners.

With more than 145 games live and free on the 9Network, including the jewels in the NRL crown – the exclusive men’s and women’s State of Origin and the blockbuster men’s Finals series – as well as the entire NRLW Premiership, Nine’s rugby league ecosystem gives brands unparalleled access to a diverse audience at scale. 

For the 2026 season, Nine welcomes back a who’s who of iconic brands while introducing fresh category leaders to the fold. The lineup is headlined by Telstra, Harvey Norman, McDonald’s, Youi Insurance and Sportsbet, all of whom maintain significant category exclusivity across the Men’s and Women’s Premierships, State of Origin, and the Finals Series. 

Joining them are Ford, Kia, and Isuzu UTE, alongside Westpac, Chemist Warehouse, and Lion. Newcomers Carnival Cruise Line and Jim Beam join as a full Sunday Afternoon sponsor, while Universal Pictures takes a strategic position within the State of Origin series.

“Nine’s offering goes from strength to strength and, for brands, our ‘always on’ strategy provides the ultimate marketing platform that spans the majority of the year,” says Andrew Cann, Nine’s National Commercial Director – Sport. “We are privileged to welcome back our returning partners and sponsors, as well as the new brands joining us.” 

With 77% of fans* agreeing that Nine’s broadcast of the NRL offers the best viewing experience across all sporting events, and 79% of fans* viewing the NRL as a strong endorser for brands, the 2026 season is set to be the most effective marketing platform in Australian sport.

Nine’s 2026 strategy, ‘More Tackles & More Wins’, focuses on the 24/7 fan experience. Partners will now benefit from Australia’s first fully virtual 360-degree studio – utilised during the Winter Olympics – and enhanced player storytelling that bridges the gap between the field and the living room. This innovation allows fans to be brought closer to the action than ever before, providing brands with integrated, premium touchpoints that deliver genuine cut-through.

NRL on Nine provides brands with an increasing number of platforms to connect with rugby league fans through Nine’s 24/7 content and conversations, including 100% Footy as well as the iconic Wide World of Sports every Sunday, through to podcasts, 9Now specials and radio’s WWOS Continuous Call Team.

Commercial opportunities have also been refreshed, including a high-impact 15-second Solus spot immediately following conversion attempts on Nine Radio’s Continuous Call Team, ensuring brands are at the forefront of the game’s most intense moments.

“In 2026, we are going beyond the full 80 minutes to ensure brands connect with highly-engaged NRL fans like never before,” says Sarah Stewart, Nine’s Director of Content Partnerships and Client Experience in Powered. “We will be delivering nearly 900 hours of NRL content this year and, with the upcoming entry of the Perth Bears in 2027, we are providing a runway for brands to activate their marketing campaigns on a national scale never before seen in the NRL.” 

From the grassroots support within NRL programming to the analysis from legends like Billy Slater, Phil Gould, and Johnathan Thurston, Nine’s NRL ecosystem remains in a league of its own.

The 9Network’s coverage of Round 1 of the NRL Premiership season continues tonight from 7.30pm with Melbourne Storm versus the Parramatta Eels, followed by Friday Night Footy (Broncos v Panthers) and Sunday Arvo Footy (Dolphins v Rabbitohs).

1 Source: Publicis Sport & Entertainment, Sep25Q25Q5. 
2 Source: Publicis Sport & Entertainment: DEC24Q1. 

Thursday 5 March, 2026

For victim-survivors of domestic abuse and family violence, the focus is, more often than not, on making a plan to leave. But immediate survival is only the first step on a long and difficult road to recovery, as victim-survivors explain in the fourth season of Future Women (FW)’s internationally-awarded podcast, There’s No Place Like Home: Paths to Healing.

“This season, victim-survivors and organisations join us to look beyond the moment of escape, to the kinds of practical supports that are needed in order to rebuild your life: having a job, being fi nancially secure, having a place to call home,” said executive producer Sally Spicer, who is also the series’ new host.

Spicer said, “Over six episodes, women running innovative pilots and programs share their experience and expertise. Each could be part of a national blueprint for healing and recovery that supports survivors to not only survive, but thrive.”

From Strong Women Talking, a survivor-led First Nations grassroots movement creating cultural healing and economic empowerment, to Good Shepherd’s Financial Independence Hub, a national program supporting financial recovery after abuse, this season platforms organisations of all sizes.
There’s No Place Like Home: Paths to Healing was created by FW as part of its ongoing partnership with CommBank Next Chapter, a commitment to help end financial abuse and support people on their road to long-term financial independence.

“We know recovery takes time and that fi nancial security and access to ongoing support can make a real difference as people rebuild their fi nancial independence,” said CommBank Group Customer Advocate, Angela MacMillan, who also features in the series.

“We are an investment. We’re not a handout. If you invest in us, powerful women, and help us to navigate and get back to our lives, we can give so much back,” said Alecia*, who features in the season.

“I hope this season encourages audiences to refl ect on what it means to build a fulfi lling, happy life on your own terms – one with dignity, opportunity and joy. Not just the bare minimum,” added Spicer.

There’s No Place Like Home: Paths to Healing is FW’s first video podcast.

*Not her real name

Weekly podcast episodes will be released from Tuesday March 3, 2026

Listen or watch episode one on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube
Visit the official website
Follow @FutureWomen on Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook
More information on Commbank Next Chapter

Tuesday 3 March, 2026

MELBOURNE’S DEADLIEST CONTRACT KILLERS REVEALED
PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 AT 9.00PM ON 
CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW

From the bottom rungs of the underworld ladder to Australia’s most prolific executioners, NAKED CITY: HITMEN pulls back the curtain on the ruthless contractors who fuelled Melbourne’s infamous gangland war. This series reveals the cold-blooded reality behind the stories that defined a generation of Australian crime.

Premiering Wednesday, March 4, at 9.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now, this gripping three-part documentary series is presented by veteran crime journalist John Silvester, the man who has spent decades documenting Melbourne’s darkest corners and whose reporting served as the blueprint for the original Underbelly series.

NAKED CITY: HITMEN traces the chilling evolution of petty criminals, stick-up men, bag snatchers, and armed robbers who transformed into cold-blooded assassins. The series explores the rise of Carl Williams, a suburban pill-pusher whose thirst for revenge sparked a total underworld evolution and the assembly of a lethal inner circle.

For the first time on the record, viewers will go inside investigations through the eyes of police, prosecutors and judges who stared these hitmen down. 

Featuring never-before-seen video and audio recordings, secret police tapes and confidential documents, the series is an unflinching look at the killers who broke the underworld code.

NAKED CITY: HITMEN profiles the most feared names in Australian criminal history, including:

• Andrew “Benji” Veniamin: The volatile triggerman and Williams’ closest ally.
• Rodney Collins: The methodical and feared killer.
• Stephen Asling: The quiet operator.
• The Phantoms: The shadowy figures known only as “The Runner” and “The Driver”.

This is more than a story about criminals; it is the story of the justice system that fought to reclaim a city. Through high-stakes courtroom deals and the persistence of the Purana Taskforce, the series details how the criminals’ code of silence was finally shattered.

The series also features an unprecedented lineup of law enforcement titans speaking on the record for the first time, including: 

• Former Commander Stuart Bateson, from the Purana Taskforce – the man who got so far under Carl Williams’ skin that he was recorded threatening his and his girlfriend’s life.
• Former Supreme Court Justice Betty King: The “immovable force” who sentenced Williams and presided over the bloodiest trials of the war.
• Former DPP Justice Paul Coghlan: The mastermind who brokered the secret deals that shattered the underworld code of silence.
• Former Deputy Police Commissioner Neil Paterson: Providing first-hand insight into the immense pressure on Victoria Police during the height of the carnage.

Part two of NAKED CITY: HITMEN follows on Wednesday, March 11, followed by part three on Wednesday, March 18, at 9.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

NAKED CITY: HITMEN is directed and executive produced by Michael Venables A.D.G and Graham Watson (“TSUNAMI: 20 YEARS ON”) with JAM TV for the 9Network.    

There are 5 million stories in the Naked City. This, is one of them.

Friday 27 February, 2026

MONDAY MARCH 2 AT 9.00PM ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW 

On Monday, March 2, at 9.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now, The Reckoning: Inside the Epstein Files delivers an explosive investigation into the web of power, silence and betrayal that allowed a monster to operate in plain sight. 

In this premiere documentary, 60 MINUTES correspondent Tara Brown examines the impact of the latest release of the Epstein Files and unravels the mystery of the man at the centre of the scandal. 

For all the wrong reasons the name Jeffrey Epstein is known all over the world. He’s the predator who, under an elaborate cover of business respectability, orchestrated one of the most extensive sexual abuse networks in modern history.

The Epstein Files have triggered an international earthquake not only due to the exposure of Epstein’s evil, but also because the millions of documents reveal the names of his numerous high-profile friends and associates, including royals, world political leaders, titans of industry and serious cultural figures. From the corridors of Buckingham Palace to the offices of Wall Street billionaires and the gates of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, international household names have been caught up in Epstein’s wicked web.

As the scrutiny intensifies, institutions around the world, from governments to financial organisations, are being forced to confront longstanding questions about Epstein and his connections – what was known, when it was known, and why so many opportunities to intervene were missed.

In the most dramatic reckoning since the release of the files, UK police last week arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for alleged misconduct in public office. The disgraced former Prince was questioned over his 2001–2011 role as the UK trade representative, amid reports he shared confidential government documents with Epstein.
From college dropout to Wall Street cowboy, Tara Brown investigates how this sexual abuser bought his way to the top, using his immense power to mask the ongoing abuse of young women and girls.

The Reckoning: Inside the Epstein Files is the culmination of Brown’s six years of reporting on Epstein’s crimes. Exclusively, viewers will hear firsthand from the whistleblowers and survivors who finally broke the silence, including:

• Patricia Schmidt, one of Epstein’s former girlfriends, speaking about their relationship for the first time on television. 
• Epstein’s junior high school buddy, Philip Messing, who explains the businessman’s humble childhood growing up in Sea Gate, Brooklyn.
• Mark Epstein, Jeffrey Epstein’s brother, who is also named in the massive trove of released documents.
• U.S. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, co-author of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
• Scott Spizer, a former student at the elite Dalton School where Epstein taught physics and maths in the 1970s.
• Jena-Lisa Jones, a Florida survivor abused by Epstein when she was 14.
• David Enrich, deputy investigations editor of The New York Times, who has examined Epstein’s rise within elite financial and political circles.

More than six years after Epstein’s death, the consequences of his crimes continue to reverberate through governments, financial institutions and the legal system. This documentary examines what has changed, and perhaps more significantly, what has not.

THE RECKONING: INSIDE THE EPSTEIN FILES 
AIRING MONDAY, MARCH 2, AT 9.00PM ON
CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW

Thursday 26 February, 2026