Archives: Media Releases

PEDESTRIAN TELEVISION on 9Now has reported 43 million total streaming minutes and 51% audience between 18-39 (versus an AVOD industry average of 29%) since launching in late October. 

A fresh programming slate, mixed with experimental marketing and programming choices, has delivered on the channel’s mission to “stream chaos 24/7” and achieve speedy notoriety.

Official festival partnerships with Spilt Milk and Lost Paradise and a NYE street poster stunt got the brand in-front of 130,000+ young punters over summer. 

Complimenting their ongoing partnership with Australian Independent Record labels (AIR), original series’ Shooting Stars and Kick Ons TV have featured artists like PNAU, Rudimental and The XX’s Romy to forge fan groundswell on social media and a weekend party entry point for the channel.

Local comedy Rostered On, via web comedy collective Robot Army, was the channel’s consistently highest performing series among the target demo, and the addition of web series Internment, My First Time and Tales From 88 aim to emulate. 

For Gen Z females, TV-nostalgia is defined by what they watched in highschool, proven by April’s The OC and Pretty Little Liars audience surge. The live channel spike for 1992’s Single White Female shows discovery of older titles via Pedestrian Group’s brand network, including VICE, PEDESTRIAN.TV and Refinery29 for this same demo.

Weekend marathons have been a hit with the second-screen audience. To mimic the success of titles like Snoop Dogg: The Joker’s Wild, Murder House Flip and Champagne Ill, coming to PEDESTRIAN TELEVISION from June are non-scripted formats to scripted prestige comedy, plus cult feature films available now on-demand, via Sony Pictures, Filmrise and more. 

Upcoming shows on PEDESTRIAN TELEVISION include: Hot Ones, Woke, Gary Busey Pet Judge, Cheaters, Good Girls Revolt, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Above Average Presents, Iron Chef and more.

And upcoming features include: Party Girl, Burlesque, Center Stage, Marie Antoinette, Gigli, Glitter, Moon, I Know What I Did Last Summer and more.

In the spirit of streaming chaos, the inaugural PEDESTRIAN TELEVISION AWARDS will be held June 26th to celebrate the momentous happenings that have tickled the zeitgeist in the past 12 months. Presented by Uber Pool, LYNX and Cupio Wines, the awards show will air on PEDESTRIAN TELEVISION in early July, live and on demand. 

Audience metrics via OzTAM 
Images: FilmRise, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Slap Bang

About Pedestrian Group
Pedestrian Group is Australia’s leading youth-centered publisher and creator of TV Channel PEDESTRIAN TELEVISION, streaming chaos 24/7 on 9Now. It is home to PEDESTRIAN.TV, The Chainsaw, VICE Australia, Refinery29 Australia, Lifehacker Australia, Gizmodo Australia, and Kotaku Australia, as well as the Openair Cinemas. It is wholly owned by Nine, Australia’s largest locally-owned media company.

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

Thursday, May 23, 2024

Nine today announces that Nikki Rooke has been promoted to Director of Sales – Total Television, one of Australia’s most senior commercial roles.

Currently Director of Sales – Sydney, with commercial responsibility for Nine’s TV, streaming, audio and publishing assets, Rooke will lead Nine’s national total television sales team overseeing Metro TV, Regional TV and BVOD. She replaces Richard Hunwick who announced his resignation last week. 

Working alongside Jo Clasby (Director of Sales – Total Publishing), Ashley Earnshaw (Director of Sales – Total Audio), Nick Young (Commercial Director – Digital) and Lisa Day (Director – Powered), she will report to Nine’s Chief Sales Officer Michael Stephenson.

Having joined Nine two years ago from SCA, Rooke’s extensive media experience, exceptional leadership skills and proven track record leading large teams will ensure that Nine continues to lead the way by creating cross platform solutions for our clients.

Michael Stephenson said: “Nikki is the ultimate professional. She is one of our industry’s most senior commercial leaders and her track record speaks for itself. She is passionate about our people and she has an in-depth understanding of what marketers need. There simply isn’t a more perfect or more qualified person to lead our Total TV team than Nikki Rooke”. 

“Nikki joins Jo Clasby, Ash Earnshaw, Nick Young, Lisa Day and Warwick Sharp alongside Andrea Salmon, Bec Lawrie, Sean O’Brien, Clive Bingwa, Tim Rose and Matt Granger in our leadership team. The perfect team to help our clients leverage the power of Nine in our Olympic and Paralympic year.”     

Nikki Rooke said: “I’m thrilled to be leading Nine’s Total TV team and fill the very big shoes left behind by Richard Hunwick. I can’t wait to work with all our advertisers who understand and embrace the power of television and the sustainable, profitable returns it delivers to their businesses both in the short and long term. 

“I am also very excited to be working with such a talented sales team both market facing and those behind the scenes who work tirelessly every day to ensure our clients have the best experience possible.  

“It is such a great time to be stepping into this role as we countdown to Paris 2024, which will deliver to advertisers of all sizes a viewing experience never seen before across FTA television and BVOD with unprecedented scale and addressability.  This is only the beginning, with so much more content, more new product innovation and more new data opportunities to come. I can’t wait to get started.” 

She will begin her new role on July 1. Her replacement as Director of Sales – Sydney will be announced in the coming days. 

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

Monday, May 20, 2024

The Age has once again maintained its lead as Victoria’s most read masthead, with a cross platform readership of 4.7 million, according to Total News readership figures released by Roy Morgan today.

The Age has cemented its place as the nation’s second most read news brand after The Sydney Morning Herald and is ahead of its main competitor The Herald Sun by more than 720,000 people.   

The Monday to Friday print edition recorded a readership of 251,000, while the Saturday edition has 403,000 print readers. In the last four weeks 1.050 million people on average have read a print edition of The Age.  

Across The Age and the Herald, the country’s most prestigious food news brand, Good Food, recorded a Total News readership of 1.4 million, up 5.7% quarterly, while Traveller recorded quarterly growth of 3.9% with 1.15 million readers. 

Good Weekend recorded an average issue print readership of 708,000, while Sunday Life recorded an average issue print readership of 362,000 and Domain recorded readership of 489,000. 

“The news cycle has been relentless in the first quarter of 2024, and the millions of readers who turn to our mastheads for quality and accuracy have shown their willingness to invest in premium journalism,” said Executive Editor Luke McIlveen.

“We’re delighted with the subscription growth across The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald and we will continue to deliver the thoughtful, independent journalism our readers expect.

The Age editor Patrick Elligett said: “Our focus on quality, high impact journalism that matters to Victorians is making a real difference to the lives of people in this state. Reader endorsement of our approach is evident in the subscription and engagement growth we are seeing each week.”  

Nine’s Total Publishing assets reach a de-duplicated audience of 16 million* Australians across print and digital.

The Total News readership figures are produced by Roy Morgan for ThinkNewsBrands.  

Source: Roy Morgan Research, All People 14+ for the 12 months ending March 2024. All audience data is based on the last 4 weeks averaged over the 12 months to March 2024. *This figure includes: nine.com.au, SMH Print & Digital, The Age Print & Digital, AFR Print & Digital, Brisbane Times, WA Today, Domain Digital, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine, Fin! Print Platforms include: SMH Print, The Age Print, AFR Print, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine, Fin!

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

Monday, May 20, 2024

The Sydney Morning Herald has once again cemented its position as Australia’s most read news brand, with a cross-platform readership of 7.27 million readers, according to the Total News readership figures released by Roy Morgan today. 

With one in three Australian readers choosing the Herald to stay informed, the masthead nearly doubles The Daily Telegraph readership (7.27 million versus The Telegraph’s 3.94 million) in Total News, in the latest figures in the 12-month period ending March 2024. 

The Monday to Friday print edition recorded an average issue readership of 383,000, while Saturday’s print edition recorded 485,000 readers. In the last four weeks, 1.56 million people on average have read a print edition of the Herald.  

The Sun Herald print edition increased its annual readership, up by 1% year-on-year and is read by 426,000 people every Sunday.

Across the Herald and The Age, the country’s most prestigious food news brand, Good Food, recorded a Total News readership of 1.4 million, up 5.7% quarterly, while Traveller recorded quarterly growth of 3.9% with 1.15 million readers. 

Good Weekend recorded an average issue print readership of 708,000, while Sunday Life recorded an average issue print readership of 362,000 and Domain recorded readership of 489,000. 

“The news cycle has been relentless in the first quarter of 2024, and the millions of readers who turn to our mastheads for quality and accuracy have shown their willingness to invest in premium journalism,” said Executive Editor Luke McIlveen.

“We’re delighted with the subscription growth across The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age and we will continue to deliver the thoughtful, independent journalism our readers expect.”

Nine’s Total Publishing assets reach a de-duplicated audience of 16 million* Australians across print and digital.

The Total News readership figures are produced by Roy Morgan for ThinkNewsBrands.  

Source: Roy Morgan Research, All People 14+ for the 12 months ending March 2024. All audience data is based on the last 4 weeks averaged over the 12 months to March 2024. *This figure includes: nine.com.au, SMH Print & Digital, The Age Print & Digital, AFR Print & Digital, Brisbane Times, WA Today, Domain Digital, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine, Fin! Print Platforms include: SMH Print, The Age Print, AFR Print, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine, Fin!

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

Monday, May 20, 2024

The Australian Financial Review is the country’s most read premium business masthead recording a cross platform readership of 3.5 million people, according to Total News readership figures released by Roy Morgan today.

With the masthead’s print & digital annual growth of 2% outpacing The Australian, which recorded falling readership over the year, 1.02 million people have read a print edition of the Financial Review in the past four weeks. 

Highlighting the strength of the Financial Review’s digital offering, 77% of AFR readers engage with the masthead’s online publication, which has grown since last quarter. 

The Monday to Friday print edition continued to record annual growth of 18% year-on-year, for an average issue readership of 262,000, while the AFR Weekend Saturday print edition has a readership of 179,000. 

The Australian Financial Review Magazine continues to dominate Australia’s monthly magazine insert figures, with a print readership of 503,000 and annual growth of 5% – compared to its direct competitor Wish that has had a readership drop of -25% year on year.    

Nine’s Total Publishing assets reach a de-duplicated audience of 16 million* Australians across print and digital.

The Financial Review’s Editor in Chief, Michael Stutchbury, said: “The Financial Review’s newsroom is particularly pleased with the success of our digital strategy, shown by four consecutive quarters of growth in our digital-only audience. With our digital-only audience growing by 2.4 per cent a year, the Financial Review has the biggest digital audience of any national newspaper brand.”

The Total News readership figures are produced by Roy Morgan for ThinkNewsBrands. 

Source: Roy Morgan Research, All People 14+ for the 12 months ending March 2024. All audience data is based on the last 4 weeks averaged over the 12 months to March 2024. *This figure includes: nine.com.au, SMH Print & Digital, The Age Print & Digital, AFR Print & Digital, Brisbane Times, WA Today, Domain Digital, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine, Fin! Print Platforms include: SMH Print, The Age Print, AFR Print, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine, Fin!

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

Monday, May 20, 2024

Richard Hunwick, Nine’s Director of Sales – Total Television, has announced he is stepping down from Nine as one of the industry’s most senior sales leaders.

Joining Nine in December 2010 as Director of Sales in Brisbane, Hunwick has forged an enviable reputation which saw him rise through the ranks to become national Director of Sales for Television and Radio through to his current role. He led his team to five consecutive years of being named the Media I National Sales Team of the Year. 

“It’s been an amazing journey at Nine, and it’s been a privilege to lead the best sales team in the country to some incredible success, as we navigated a period of unheralded transformation from a stand alone TV business, to a digital first, multi-platform, content company,” said Hunwick.

“Over the last six months I’ve been thinking about all we’ve achieved, my own future and what opportunities lie ahead. Whilst it was a tough decision to walk away from a business that’s primed for growth in an Olympic year, it’s also the most exciting time I can remember in the media industry. 

“Data and technology are driving unprecedented change right across the media landscape and with change comes opportunity. I’m looking forward to exercising my skills and experience in some new arenas where I can add value.”

“The great thing I’ve learned over the years in this business is the role may change, but the friendships endure, and I wish Stepho [Nine’s Chief Sales Officer Michael Stephenson] and my amazing group of colleagues all the best moving forward.”

Michael Stephenson said: “Over the past 25 years I’ve had the pleasure of working with one of my best friends. Not many people get to do that. Rich has a passion that is infectious, he is an incredible leader of people and he cares more than anyone I know.”

“There has never been a more exciting time to be in television. The pace of change is accelerating and I have no doubt that Rich will continue to have a significant impact on our industry in his next challenge.”

Hunwick will finish up at Nine at the end of September to ensure a seamless transition occurs with his successor. 

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

Friday, May 17, 2024

As small to medium businesses continue to evolve in an ever-changing environment, Nine’s SMB ad platform, Nine Ad Manager, has today announced it will be Principal Sponsor of the CommBank SmallBiz Week 2024.

To be held on May 29-30 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event will see Nine hosting workshops throughout both days of the expo. The sponsorship highlights the growing role Nine Ad Manager will play in SMBs marketing and advertising campaigns. 

Now in its third year, CommBank SmallBiz Week brings together B2B suppliers from a diverse range of industries with small business owners and leaders. This year’s event will highlight emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and automation.

The expo features over 120 exhibitors, multiple SMB workshop programs along with 100 speakers on the CommBank Sessions mainstage. Becoming a Principal Sponsor of the CommBank SmallBiz Week event is a natural fit for Nine Ad Manager, as well as being sponsor of the ‘Excellence in Marketing’ and ‘Rising Star’ categories at the CommBank Young Hero Awards dinner on May 28.

“Nine Ad Manager’s objective is to support and champion SMBs and their business growth,” said Ben Campbell, Nine’s Director of Data and Advertising products, who will be a keynote speaker at the event. 

“Utilising the power of one of Australia’s most recognisable Free To Air Broadcast Video On Demand platforms in 9Now, and Artificial Intelligence, Nine Ad Manager allows small businesses to reach highly targeted, local premium audiences at easily accessible rates. We are thrilled to be associated with the CommBank SmallBiz Week 2024.”  

Entry is free. To find out more visit www.smallbizweek.com.au 

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

Friday, May 17, 2024

Nine’s live and local talk stations posted a significant double digit increase in streaming nationally in April 2024, galvanising Nine Radio as the destination for live audio listeners.  

Year on year data, verified by Triton, shows Nine’s talk stations volume of listening is up 20% nationally, with Sydney’s 2GB up even further with 27% growth, and Melbourne’s 3AW up 18%.

SESSION STARTS	TOTAL LISTENING HOURS
10.1M (up 7% YoY)	10.7M (up 20% YoY)

Nine’s catch up podcasts also reign supreme with on-demand audiences with Ben Fordham Live and the Ray Hadley Morning Show each posting listener growth of 44% YoY, while footy fans are continuing to flock to 3AW for the very best in AFL commentary, with 3AW Football catch up podcasts listeners up 17% YoY.

Nine Radio Head of Content, Greg Byrnes, said “These numbers highlight talk radio’s unequivocal dominance in live streaming and catch up and show our audience is only getting bigger.

“We know Australians turn to talk in times of crisis, and that’s been reinforced with recent breaking news events, but they also rely on us for entertainment, excitement and analysis. And with the footy in full swing and the Paris Olympic Games now just 72 days away, our streaming audience will be unprecedented.”

Nine’s Director of Sales, Total Audio, Ashley Earnshaw, said: “The future is bright for Nine Audio, with even greater audiences seeking out our content through our apps via connected devices and across our podcast content.

“Our dominance in digital audiences continues to create full funnel opportunities for brands to blend the reach of radio with data-led targeting capabilities, creating unparalleled impact and effectiveness for brands.”

Source: Triton Webcast Metrics Streaming, April 1-30 2024, TLH – Total Listening Hours, Nine Radio, Unless otherwise specified

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

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

The only place to see all four days of Magic Round is the 9Network, when Women’s State of Origin and Manly v Broncos lead off rugby league’s greatest carnival, live and free from Suncorp Stadium on Channel 9HD and streaming on 9Now.

Women’s State of Origin gets the party started on Thursday Night with Nine’s exclusive broadcast available live and free from 7.30pm.

On Friday Night Footy, the biggest ticket in town, the Brisbane Broncos with stars like Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan and Kotoni Staggs, will be out to put on one hell of a show against the Manly Sea Eagles.   

Manly and Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans, back on familiar ground at The Cauldron, will need to draw on all his experience to get the Sea Eagles without Tom Trbojevic flying again after two narrow yet unexpected losses.

Nine’s Wide World of Sports will have exclusive access to the winning dressing rooms after the game.

On Saturday Night Footy from 7.00pm, all eyes will be on Latrell Mitchell to see if he can pull the Rabbitohs out of a hat, in a magic trick to get his club back in the winners circle, and give Jack Wighton some joy in his 250th NRL game. However the Cowboys, will put their gunslinging attacking style on display to heap more misery on the Rabbitohs.

The NRL Sunday Footy Show comes live this week from Suncorp Stadium from 11.00am before Sunday Arvo Footy at 3.00pm pits the Storm against the Eels.

Proud Queenslanders Cameron Munster and Harry Grant will be relied upon to get the job done for the Storm and they’ll take no mercy on the Eels, who go in as underdogs while they sweat on the return of NSW Origin playmaker Mitch Moses.

BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 16

WOMEN’S STATE OF ORIGIN – QUEENSLAND v NEW SOUTH WALES

Friday May 17

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTY – SEA EAGLES v BRONCOS

Saturday May 18

SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTY – RABBITOHS v COWBOYS

Sunday, May 19

THE SUNDAY FOOTY SHOW – from 11.00am with Billy Slater, Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and Danika Mason live from Suncorp Stadium.

SUNDAY ARVO FOOTY – MELBOURNE STORM v PARRAMATTA EELS

Monday, May 20

7.30PM LIVE ON 9NOW – 100% FOOTY 
10.00pm on Channel 9HD in Sydney/Brisbane.

Phil Gould and Paul Gallen go head to head after the latest NRL round with host James Bracey. All the latest scoops come from 9News reporter Danny Weidler.

PODCAST AVAILABLE NOW – STORIES OF ORIGIN SEASON 3 ‘ALFIE’

This season, Stories of Origin shines the spotlight on the career of the little number seven who became a giant footballing figure, Alan “Alfie” Langer. Stories of Origin Alfie is available on 9Now and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted by Nine NRL commentator Mathew Thompson.

9NOW | APPLE | SPOTIFY

NRL MAGIC ROUND ON THE 9NETWORK 
LIVE AND FREE MAY 16-19
WATCH ON CHANNEL 9HD, STREAM ON 9NOW

Wednesday, May 15, 2024