Archives: Media Releases

LIVE AND FREE ON THE 9NETWORK
TUESDAY, JANUARY 16

Day Session
Starts 11.00am AEDT

	OLIVIA GADECKI (AUS) v SLOANE STEPHENS (USA)
	GRIGOR DIMITROV (BUL) [13] v MARTON FUCSOVICS (HUN)
	THANASI KOKKINAKIS (AUS) v SEBASTIAN OFNER (AUT)
	JAMES McCABE (AUS) v ALEX MICHELSEN (USA)
	MAX PURCELL (AUS) v MATE VALKUSZ (HUN)
	KIMBERLY BIRRELL (AUS) v JELENA OSTAPENKO (LAT) [11]
STREAM FREE	IGA SWIATEK, CASPER RUUD, VICTORIA AZARENKA, TOMMY PAUL

Night Session
Starts 7.00pm AEDT

	AJLA TOMLJANOVIC (AUS) v PETRA MARTIC (CRO)
	CARLOS ALCARAZ (ESP) [2] v RICHARD GASQUET (FRA)
	ALEXANDER ZVEREV (GER) [6] v DOMINIK KOEPFER (GER)
	JESSICA PEGULA (USA) [5] v REBECCA MARINO (CAN)
STREAM FREE	ELENA RYBAKINA, EMMA RADUCANU

STREAM EVERY AO24 MATCH LIVE AND FREE ON 9NOW

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

As the superstars of world tennis prepare to start their Australian Open campaign, this January marks the beginning of a blockbuster year of sport across Nine’s unrivalled assets to serve up a grand slam of marketing opportunities for brands.

Nothing unites millions of Australians like sport, and with the Australian Open extended to a historic 15-day feast of the world’s best tennis, Nine will serve up the biggest marketing platform for brands to ace the start of 2024.  

With Qantas Frequent Flyer and Uber unveiled as the major partners for this year’s Open, a line-up of some of Australia’s most recognised brands have signed on as sponsors, including APT Luxury Travel, Bunnings Warehouse, Bupa, Chemist Warehouse, Domain, Chubb Insurance, Google, Kia, Peters Ice Cream, Stan, McDonald’s and Visit Victoria, who will all leverage the full suite of Nine’s Summer of Tennis premium assets. 

To further support Tennis Australia’s official group of partner brands, Nine will be showcasing the on-ground Melbourne Park activations for Ralph Lauren, Aperol, LifeSpace and Mastercard via its customised Extender level.

With more than 11.7 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. 

January marks the beginning of a massive year of sport that will take in all four Grand Slams, the NRL and NRLW, the men’s and women’s State of Origin series, the Olympics and Paralympics, the Gangwon Youth Winter Games, the UEFA Champions League final, Bledisloe Cup, US Masters and Australian Open Golf, the Doha long course swimming championships and the Brisbane Olympic swimming trials as well as a raft of other sporting events.  

With brands leveraging off Nine’s unrivalled combined assets spanning Total Television, Publishing, Digital and Audio, Australia’s greatest sporting epic staged every January gives brands the advantage to ace the new year with an unparalleled audience.

For the first time, Google has joined the Summer of Tennis this year to launch their Google Pixel 8 Pro. 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, and there is no better way to show the power of tennis than with an integration showing never before captured vision courtside from the Pixel 8 Pro.

There will also be a disruptive TVC that takes the renowned element of silence in tennis to demonstrate the new phone’s audio editing feature. 

Meanwhile, Visit Victoria shows the state is ‘every bit different’ with a series of disruptive TVCs putting iconic Victorian sights on the court. Visit Vic will also present a highly anticipated brand new edition of Andy Lee’s The Hundred at The AO.

This year will see Nine’s on-ground studio, Court 9, relocate to an exciting new location in between Rod Laver and Grand Slam oval. This new location centres Nine in the heart of Melbourne Park central to tens of thousands of fans as they explore the festival of Tennis that is the AO.

From a special edition of Tennis, Brought To You By Good Weekend magazine, and special 9Podcasts to content on WWOS.com.au and seamless brand integration throughout the broadcast, partners have an entire ecosystem to reach Nine’s 20 million signed in users. 

“Nine’s Summer of Tennis engages with millions of Australians, culminating in the pinnacle and world’s best grand slam, the Australian Open. Starting for the first time on a Sunday, the AO continues to provide brands the ultimate launch platform to start their year and environment to engage with fans. We are thrilled to see our returning partners and the addition of new brands capitalising on our exclusive platform as we head into Nine’s biggest year of sport,” 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: “Nine’s 2024 Summer of Tennis will be an intrigue-loaded event for Aussie audiences and brand partners. If history tells us anything, it’s that there’s always another outstanding generation to redefine the game, delivering an even more exciting competition to watch, with a dynamic mix of creative, young players challenging the status quo. That generation is here and they are dominating now. We can’t wait to see records broken this year!”

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2024 IS LIVE & FREE ON CHANNEL 9HD, 9GEMHD & 9NOW 

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

Monday, January 15, 2024

Seven Aussies featured on Channel 9 and 9Gem
De Minaur and Osaka to light up the night
All live and free on the 9Network

Day Session
Starts 11.00am AEDT

	STORM HUNTER (AUS) v SARA ERRANI (ITA)
	ALEXEI POPYRIN (AUS) v MARC POLMANS (AUS)
	DARIA SAVILLE (AUS) v MAGDALENA FRECH (POL)
	RINKY HIJIKATA (AUS) v JAN-LENNARD STRUFF (GER) [24]
	TAYLAH PRESTON (AUS) v ELINA SVITOLINA (UKR)[19]
	COCO GAUFF (USA) [4] v ANNA KAROLINA SCHMIEDLOVA (SVK)
	STEFANOS TSITSIPAS (GRE) [7] v ZIZOU BERGS (BEL)

Night Session
Starts 7.00pm AEDT

	ALEX DE MINAUR (AUS) [10] v MILOS RAONIC (CAN)
	NAOMI OSAKA (JPN) v CAROLINE GARCIA (FRA) [16]
	ONS JABEUR (TUN) [6] v YULIIA STARODUBTSEVA (UKR)
	FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME (CAN) [27] v DOMINIC THIEM (AUT)

STREAM EVERY AO24 MATCH LIVE AND FREE ON 9NOW

Sunday, January 14, 2024

Defending champions Djokovic and Sabalenka feature on Day 1 of Australian Open.

Day Session
Starts 11.00am AEDT

	ADAM WALTON (AUS) v MATTEO ARNALDI (ITA)
	DANE SWEENY (AUS) v FRANCISCO CERUNDOLO (ARG) [22]
	CHRIS O’CONNELL (AUS) v CHRISTIAN GARIN (CHI)
	JASON KUBLER (AUS) v DANIEL ELAHI GALAN (COL)
	LEYLAH FERNANDEZ (CAN) [32] v SARA BEJLEK (CZE)
	JANNIK SINNER (ITA) v BOTIC VAN DE ZANDSCHULP (NED)
	MARIA SAKKARI (GRE) [8] v NAO HIBINO (JPN)

Night Session
Starts 7.00pm AEDT

	NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB) [1] v DINO PRIZMIC (CRO)
	ARYNA SABALENKA [2] v ELLA SEIDEL (GER)
	CARLOLINE WOZNIACKI (DEN) v MAGDA LINETTE (POL) [20]
	FRANCES TIAFOE (USA) [17] v BORNA CORIC (CRO)

STREAM EVERY AO24 MATCH LIVE AND FREE ON 9NOW

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Islanders return for a second chance at love in the first ever Love Island UK: All Stars series, fast-tracked and streaming exclusively on 9Now from January 17, at 6.00pm AEDT with daily episodes available. 

Twelve favourites from previous UK series are ready for another summer in the South African sun that will bring the heat to a whole new level. The sexy singles will be in for a crazy ride, hopefully full of love and more heart-racing challenges, dates and drama.

English radio DJ and TV star, Maya Jama, returns to host this new series, alongside narrator and famed comedian Iain Stirling, who will overlook all the sugar and spice going on in the Villa.

Welcoming back to a Love Island series first, we have: Georgia H from series three (29), Kaz from series seven (29), Georgia S from series four (25), Hannah from series one (33), Demi from series six (25), Liberty from series seven (24), Mitchel from series ten (27), Luis from series one (29), Jake from series seven (26), Anton from series five (29), Chris from series five (33) and Toby from series seven (24).

In an attempt to find love once again, the Islanders must couple up and avoid being dumped from the Villa. Relationships will be put to the test as Bombshells enter and heads will be turned, leaving some lovestruck hopefuls heartbroken in their ultimate quest for love. 

Only one pair can be crowned the winners of Love Island UK: All Stars 2024. Who will melt the hearts of the Love Island nation?

LOVE ISLAND UK: ALL STARS PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17,
AT 6.00PM AEDT ON 9NOW

LIKE 9Now on Facebook
FOLLOW @9Now on Twitter
FOLLOW @9Now on Instagram

Visit 9Now.com.au

For further information, please contact:
Madison Long
9Network Publicity
madison.long@nine.com.au

Thursday, January 11, 2024

As a roll-call of the world’s best tennis players descend on Melbourne Park for the Australian Open, a special magazine celebrating the 2024 Summer of Tennis will be published through The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald this Saturday, January 13, produced by Good Weekend. It will also appear online on these mastheads, as well as the BrisbaneTimes and WAtoday.

Tennis is a must-read for any fan of the furry yellow ball, packed with features that give a unique insight into the lives of some of the most well-known elite athletes in the world. With Australia having more male players in the Top 100 than at any time since 1998, Tennis profiles the leader of the pack, 24-year-old Alex de Minaur, who this week was the first Australian male to make the Top 10 since Lleyton Hewitt. Talking from Paris, the so-called “Demon” is frank about what it takes to get to the top – in short, endless hard work – his never-give-up attitude, and the role his tennis-player girlfriend has in keeping him there.   

Elsewhere in the issue, as global conflicts dominate headlines, Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina reveals how she’s playing for much more than trophies these days, with the 25th ranked female player using the sport to shine a light on her war-torn country.   

Tennis also features stories on the new breed of Grand Slam mums, led by returning star Naomi Osaka; and the two big C’s of tennis – Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff. It also catches up with Ash Barty in Toowoomba, to see if she’s missing the professional circuit after retirement. 

“We’re delighted to bring the journalistic rigour and writing chops that Good Weekend is renowned for to the sport that dominates our psyche in the second half of January,” said Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland. “There’s so many great stories in this issue – not to mention a Tennis Quiz for die-hard fans, and recipes for snacks to make for your tennis TV viewing.”

Tennis illustrates the wide scope of Nine’s assets spanning Total Publishing, Television, Audio and Digital. Nine is uniquely placed to provide brands optimal access to the action, with an enviable media ecosystem that allows marketers to call game, set and match on their campaigns.

“In an Olympic year, there is no better illustration of how Nine can create opportunities to share the stories of athletes than a quality magazine such as Tennis, brought to you by some of Australia’s most highly-regarded journalists on Good Weekend,” said Jo Clasby, Nine’s Director of Sales – Publishing. 

“As the official broadcaster of the Australian Open through to 2029, we are thrilled with the extension of our partnership into a print insert in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, as well as for online readers of those mastheads together with BrisbaneTimes and WAtoday. After receiving such positive feedback about last year’s inaugural edition, we’re looking forward to many years of brand opportunities that the Tennis magazine will provide.”  

Good Weekend’s regular Saturday magazine returns on January 27. For a high res image of the Tennis cover, click HERE

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

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Grand Slam tennis is ready to light up the sporting year when Nine’s Wide World of Sports showcases the 2024 Australian Open, live and free on the 9Network from Sunday, January 14.

Broadcast on Channel 9HD and 9GemHD, the best matches and biggest moments will be available live and free when Nine owns January with the most comprehensive Grand Slam tennis coverage ever on free-to-air television.  

9Now will stream every point of every match, at any time on the device of your choosing, in full HD, with all the best moments available in same-day match highlights. 

Reigning champion and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic is back to defend his men’s singles crown, while Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz (world No.2) is hellbent on winning his first Australian Open. 

The chasing pack features two men looking to go one better in Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas after being runners-up, Italy’s Jannick Sinner and American’s Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev, who is fresh from leading Germany to United Cup victory.

The competition for the women’s singles crown will be led by world No.1 Iga Swiatek of Poland, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka (No.2), 2023 US Open champion American Coco Gauff (No.4) and Jess Pegula (No.5). Plus, two-time Australian Open winner Naomi Osaka is ready to make her way back to the top of the rankings.

Australia’s men’s singles hopes will ride with new world No.10 Alex de Minaur, who is the first Aussie to break into the top 10 since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006 after victories over Djokovic and Zverev in the last fortnight. For the Aussie women, Ajla Tomljanovic is out to ride a wave of home support as she continues her strong return from injury.

Our strong men’s contingent includes Alexei Popyrin (No.43), Max Purcell (No.45), Jordan Thompson (No.47), Aleksandar Vukic (No.63), Thanasi Kokkinakis (No.68), defending AO men’s doubles champion Rinky Hijikata (No.70) and Christopher O’Connell (No.71).

The confirmed Aussie wildcards for the men’s draw are Jason Kubler, James Duckworth, Marc Polmans, James McCabe and Adam Walton.

Kimberly Birrell, Olivia Gadecki, Daria Saville and Taylah Preston will play as wildcards in the women’s singles draw. 

And can an Aussie duo make it a hat-trick of wins in the men’s doubles? World No.1 women’s doubles player Storm Hunter and world No.4 men’s doubles player Matt Ebden will line up across the jam-packed draws for men’s, women’s and mixed. 

To cover all the action, Nine’s Wide World of Sports has assembled an ace team of hosts and expert commentators who will take viewers through every game, set and match. 

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

On Channel 9, the hosts are James Bracey, Roz Kelly and Tony Jones, while on 9Gem Emma Lawrence, Matthew Pavlich and Nick McArdle will host our broadcast.

Additional off-court reporting will come from Clint Stanaway, Danika Mason, Georgie Parker and Marlee Silva.

Every morning on 9Now, The Morning Serve will give fans a comprehensive look ahead at the day’s play, as well as dissecting the biggest talking points out of Melbourne Park. 

The biggest names in world tennis will join The Hundred with Andy Lee for a special Australian Open edition throughout the tournament.

Nine’s Director of Sport, Brent Williams, said: “The Australian Open is without doubt the greatest sporting event on the summer calendar.

“The very best players in the world converge on Melbourne for the most compelling and breathtaking fortnight of sport, where champions continue to write history, underdog stories defy the odds and our next generation of heroes are born.

“Whether you are a casual fan or tennis fanatic, you will not miss a single moment of this magical event across Channel 9HD, 9GemHD or to stream anywhere, anytime for free on 9Now.”

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2024
FROM SUNDAY, JANUARY 14

LIVE AND FREE ON THE 9NETWORK
STREAM EVERY MATCH FREE ON 9NOW

Broadcast Schedule

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

The summer of tennis is set to sizzle when the 2024 Adelaide international serves up the final run down for Australian Open, when it is live and free from January 8 on 9GemHD and 9Now. 

The city of churches will play host to 16 of the top 20 ranked players in the world, with local boy Thanasi Kokkinakis out to ride the wave of home support to victory for Australia.

Standing in his way are three of the top-20 ranked men, Tommy Paul, Nicolas Jarry and Ugo Humbert, plus Aussie young gun Alexei Popyrin, and the always dangerous Sebastian Korda, who challenged Djovokic to the death in last year’s tournament. 

A very strong women’s draw will feature world No.4 Elena Rybakina and world No.5 Jessica Pegula, with Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic playing joker in the pack as a wildcard.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, Madison Keys, Angelique Kerber and Caroline Garcia will line up in the fight for the women’s singles crown. 

Live and free coverage on the 9Network or to stream on 9Now will be hosted by Nick McArdle and Brett Phillips.

Featuring in tournament commentary will be Nine’s Jelena Dokic, Peter Psaltis, Sam Smith and Wally Masur.

Broadcast Schedule

ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL: JANUARY 8 TO 13
 LIVE AND FREE ON THE 9GEMHD
STREAM EVERY MATCH FREE ON 9NOW

Monday, January 8, 2024

Save the date: Australia’s favourite social experiment, Married at First Sight, returns for its most polarising season of next-level drama and a whole lot of love on Monday, January 29 at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now. 

Back bigger than ever to captivate the nation again and spark conversations across Australia, 20 brave singles ready for a chance at love will embark on their journey in the experiment with all of the romance, passion, emotion and drama that ensues. 

Season 11 of Married at First Sight will bring a fresh take on the series with one of the most diverse cast of brides and grooms, a more age diverse mix including our oldest ever participant, and a same sex couple. Together, these loveable, relatable, everyday couples will bare their souls in the name of love. 

In 2024, MAFS will push the limits on everything viewers think they know about the series. There will be even more heart-pounding romance and highly addictive drama with twists, turns and shocks – even beyond Final Vows – and rivalries, betrayals and heartbreak that will divide friendships and rock the experiment from beginning to end. This year’s experiment will test the participants in ways they have never imagined. 

Love will blossom, secrets will be revealed, bombshells will be dropped. And which couples will choose to stay or leave? 

Our trio of experts will return, certified sexologist Alessandra Rampolla alongside relationship experts John Aiken and Mel Schilling, first pairing and matching our singles entering the experiment, before guiding the couples throughout their journey and putting them to the ultimate test of developing genuine and long-lasting relationships. 

There will be more breathtaking weddings, deeply romantic and sizzling honeymoons both interstate and overseas, as well as the infamously dramatic and explosive dinner parties and confronting commitment ceremonies. 

Also returning will be Confessions Week, Alessandra’s Intimacy Week and Home Stays, where couples will travel to meet each other’s loved ones. The popular Couples Retreat will also return, with all couples going away together to a brand new location this year. 

The participants will bare all, showing their honest, relatable and vulnerable sides as they immerse themselves in this fast-tracked experiment: from facing their nerves in meeting each other for the first time at the altar, to living together and working through challenges. They will also be put under the microscope and compare the highs and lows of their relationships with their fellow couples, as well as seeking guidance from the experts, in the hope of making their own marriage a long-term success. 

Since its premiere in 2015 and over the last 10 spectacular seasons, Married at First Sight has grown to become the talk of the nation, capturing millions of viewers and the hearts of Australians, sparking endless conversations and making it television’s undisputed reality TV juggernaut. 

Prepare to fall in love as television’s biggest show turns up the love meter another notch in 2024 for its most spellbinding season yet. 

Married at First Sight is produced by Endemol Shine Australia (a Banijay company) for the 9Network. 

MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT
RETURNS MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2024
AT 7.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW

#MAFS
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To learn more about MAFS click here

For further information, please contact:
Alessandra Muratore
9Network Publicity
alessandra.muratore@nine.com.au

Monday, January 8, 2024