Archives: Media Releases

It’s the last hurrah for a Grand Slam tennis title in 2023 when the US Open begins LIVE and FREE on 9GemHD and 9Now on Tuesday, August 29.

Nine’s exclusive broadcast will run for 14 days straight with coverage across 9GemHD and 9Now from the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, New York.

In the men’s singles, Aussie Alex de Minaur (world No.13) is up against the current top five of Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud and Holger Rune plus Greek hero Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The women’s singles title is wide open in a field featuring world No.1 Iga Świątek, Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova and top 10-ranked American big names Coco Gauff and Jess Pegula. Australia’s Alja Tomljanovic will join the mix to boost herself up the rankings after injury. 

A strong Australian contingent will join de Minaur and Tomljanovic in the main draw when Thanasi Kokkinakis, Jordan Thompson, Jason Kubler, Daria Saville, Max Purcell, Alexei Popyrin, Chris O’Connell and Aleksander Vukic line up along with wildcards Storm Hunter and Rinky Hijikata.

Todd Woodbridge, Jelena Dokic, Brenton Speed and Brett Phillips will provide expert commentary for Nine’s Wide World of Sports on 9GemHD and 9Now for each day of play.

Every match will be available to stream live and ad-free only on Stan Sport with Centre court in 4K UHD. Stan Sport is also the only place you can catch all the action with replays, mini-matches and highlights available on demand. Plus Grand Slam Daily with Chris Stubbs and Wally Masur.

US OPEN BROADCAST SCHEDULE

#9WWOS
 LIKE Wide World of Sports on Facebook
 Follow @WWOS on Twitter and Instagram

US OPEN TENNIS
TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 29, 
ON 9GEMHD AND 9NOW

STREAMING LIVE AND AD-BREAK FREE ON STAN SPORT

Friday, August 25, 2023

Nine Radio and 9Podcasts have received a record 37 finalists across 18 categories at the 34th annual Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs), which were announced today – surpassing the previous record of 29 nominations for the network in 2019. 

The nominations are a resounding endorsement of Nine’s live and local strategy, building trust and loyalty with listeners as the unrivalled destination of news, sport and opinion.

The full list of nominees is here, with highlights including Melbourne’s No.1 station 3AW nominated for Station of the Year, and fresh of his 150th consecutive survey win, Ray Hadley nominated for Individual Talent of the Year. 

Ben Fordham (2GB), John Stanley (2GB), Neil Mitchell (3AW), Ray Hadley (2GB), Sofie Formica (4BC) and Tom Elliott (3AW) are all up for the coveted Best Talk Presenter award, and Nine’s talk radio newsreaders Amie Meehan (2GB), David Armstrong (3AW), Erin Maher (2GB) and Natalie Peters (2GB) guaranteeing the network a win with their complete domination of the Best News Presenter AM category.  

In the sports categories, Darryl “The Big Marn” Brohman (2GB) and Paul “Fatty” Vautin (4BC) are nominated for Best Sports Presenter, and The Continuous Call Team has been nominated in the Best Sports Event Coverage for the 2022 State of Origin Decider. 

9Podcasts has also been recognised, with Stories of Origin nominated for Podcast of the Year, Phil “Gus” Gould (Six Tackles with Gus) for Podcast Host of the Year, Billy Slater (The Billy Slater Podcast) for Best New Talent – Podcast, and Matt White (Stories of Origin) and Sam Stove (Anatomy of a Scam) nominated in the Best Podcast Producer categories for both Show and Audio. 

Head of Content at Nine Radio, Greg Byrnes, said: “A record number of nominations across 18 categories is wonderful recognition for the tireless effort that goes into creating Australia’s best live and local content. Across the network, our teams work to make a difference to the lives of our listeners, so to be awarded a record haul of nominations is really humbling.”

The ACRA winners will be announced at the ceremony in Sydney on October 14, with 2GB’s Ray Hadley and 4BC’s Sofie Formica forming part of the hosting lineup. 

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

Thursday, August 24, 2023

NRL on Nine begins with the battle of the west tonight, and ends with the match of the round when Prince Ponga and his proud Knights defend their kingdom on Sunday, on Channel 9HD and 9Now.

PANTHERS V EELS: BATTLE OF THE WEST TONIGHT
GAME OF THE ROUND: KNIGHTS V SHARKS MEN’S AND WOMEN’S FROM 1.45PM

Kalyn Ponga has taken the Knights to new heights as he dances his side into the finals in a Knights Old Boys day joust for the ages. But Nicho Hynes will be out to dethrone him when he parks the Sharks in Steel City for a sensational serving of Sunday Arvo Footy. 

The girls will start the Sunday battle royale in Knights v Sharks NRLW from 1.45pm live and free, leading into the NRL coverage from 3.30pm. 

Tonight, on Thursday Night Footy, the Panthers’ premiership march rolls into a bitter local derby against the Eels. 

The Eels, who are out of finals contention, have won three of their last five games against the Panthers. With the bye next week, they want to go out all guns blazing in their final game of the season, while a win will take the Panthers closer to securing the 2023 minor premiership. 

The Cowboys take on the supercoach Sheriff when Wayne Bennett and his Dolphins feature in an all-Queensland clash on Friday Night Footy. 

Then an NRLW triple-header begins a big day of Saturday games on Nine from 11.00am, before “Reece Lightning” Walsh and the bucking Brisbane Broncos descend on Canberra for Saturday Night Footy at 7.00pm against Ricky Stuart’s Raiders. 

BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Thursday, August 24

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTY – PANTHERS v EELS
Sydney/Brisbane        7.30pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Melbourne                  7.30pm LIVE on 9GemHD and 9Now
Adelaide                     7.00pm LIVE on 9GemHD and 9Now
Perth                          5.30pm LIVE on 9GemHD and 9Now

Friday, August 25

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTY – DOLPHINS v COWBOYS 
Sydney/Brisbane       7.30pm LIVE on Channel 9HD and 9Now
Melbourne                  7.30pm LIVE on 9GemHD and 9Now
Adelaide                     7.00pm LIVE on 9GemHD and 9Now
Perth                          5.30pm LIVE on 9GemHD and 9Now

Saturday, August 26

11.00am – NRLW EELS v COWBOYS 
12.30pm – NRLW DRAGONS v TITANS 
2.30pm – NRLW WRAP
3.00pm – NRLW ROOSTERS v TIGERS

7.00pm – NRL SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTY: RAIDERS v BRONCOS 
Watch: Channel 9HD Syd/Bris, 9GemHD Melb/Adl/Perth – Stream on 9Now

Sunday, August 27
THE SUNDAY FOOTY SHOW – from 11.00am with Billy Slater, Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and Danika Mason.

NRLW – BRONCOS v RAIDERS from 12.00pm 
NRLW – KNIGHTS v SHARKS from 1.45pm
CHEMIST WAREHOUSE SUNDAY ARVO FOOTY – KNIGHTS v SHARKS from 3.30pm
Watch: Channel 9HD Syd/Bris, 9GemHD Melb/Adl/Perth – Stream on 9Now

Monday, August 28 – 100% FOOTY on Channel 9HD Syd/Bris

THIS WEEK ON 9NOW AND WWOS DIGITAL
Click on images to watch

SIX TACKLES WITH GUS

FREDDY AND THE EIGHTH on 9NOW

THE BILLY SLATER PODCAST

NRLW WEEKLY

QLDER on 9NOW

STREAM NRL FOR FREE ON 9NOW
FROM THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 7.30PM

Thursday, August 24, 2023

The Nine Telethon will return in 2024, in support of Mater Little Miracles, helping to give our littlest Queenslanders the best possible start to life.

The Nine Telethon will spotlight how Mater, Australia’s busiest maternity care provider, improves the health outcomes for mothers and babies by being a leader in neonatal critical care and maternal foetal medicine, while showcasing how Queenslanders can help.

Each year, over 2,000 seriously ill and premature babies have to call Mater’s Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU) home, relying on cutting-edge specialist care, life-saving equipment and world-leading research. For many of them, just breathing is a struggle, with as many as six babies on mechanical breathing support at one time.

With the generosity and support of Queenslanders, the Nine Telethon will ensure Mater Little Miracles can continue to help the most vulnerable little lives and support their loved ones, now and into the future. 

They include little lives like Lameck Rugato, who was born premature at just 23 weeks in a critical condition, weighing a tiny 610 grams and diagnosed with a chronic lung disease. 

Lameck’s mother, Night Rugato, who has spent over 100 days with her newborn son in Mater’s NCCU, said: “You never imagine this situation until it happens, and you pull on every bit of strength, like a superpower, to get through it.

“We had to move little Lameck to Mater for the NCCU’s specialist equipment and care and their support has been incredible. We are grateful that Lameck is in the safest hands possible and we’re taking each day as it comes.”

Managing Director of Nine Queensland and Nine Northern NSW, Kylie Blucher, said: “It’s wonderful to have the Nine Telethon marked in the 2024 calendar, ready to rally behind our tiniest yet toughest little Queenslanders.

“Compassion, generosity and unwavering connection is deeply woven into Nine Telethon’s DNA, and we look forward to having Mater Little Miracles at the heart of it all. How special that the spirit and support of the Sunshine State can help save the lives of those facing the unimaginable.”

Mater Foundation CEO, Andrew Thomas, said: “The Nine Telethon is a miracle in the making for Queensland’s sickest and smallest babies, and their families. We’re looking forward to sharing these real stories and celebrating the work of our talented and dedicated clinical teams who continue to deliver life-saving and life-changing care.

“With Nine Queensland’s incredible support, we achieved a record-breaking $1.9 million for Mater’s recent Giving Day to deliver life-saving medical equipment, research, education and healthcare throughout Queensland. 

“Now, coming together for the Nine Telethon means our mission in delivering compassionate critical care to at-risk newborns, discovering ground-breaking maternal foetal medicine treatments and developing innovations through research and technology will enable us to reach new heights.

“Creating hope for the babies and their families is a special opportunity. The sky’s the limit and the countdown is on.”

The date for the 2024 Nine Telethon, in support of the Mater Little Miracles, will be announced early next year.

#9telethon
#materlittlemiracles
Follow @9NewsQueensland on Instagram and Facebook
Follow and @MaterQld on Instagram and Facebook 

For further information, please contact:
Claudine Blondeau
Communications Manager, Nine Queensland
cblondeau@nine.com.au

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

9News Queensland presenter Melissa Downes and producer Jess Lodge won the Award for Outstanding Podcast at Friday night’s Kennedy Awards, dedicated to excellence in Australian journalism, in a gala ceremony at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse.

Their entry, Hannah’s Story, which topped Australian podcasting charts and is nearing one million downloads, was recognised for excellence in podcasting as a compelling account of one of the worst acts of domestic violence Australia has ever seen – the day Hannah Clarke and her three children were set on fire and killed in their car in a quiet Brisbane street by their father, Hannah’s estranged husband, Rowan Baxter.

Over six episodes, Hannah’s Story gives a powerful voice to Hannah’s loved ones, the first responders on the scene, witnesses, domestic violence experts and political leaders, as it delved into the shocking murders to ignite a community conversation about coercive control and spotlight the need to identify red flags in friendships and relationships to prevent more domestic atrocities.

Melissa Downes said: “What an incredible night! With three decades in journalism including fifteen years at the 9News Queensland news desk, the experience of podcasting was an exciting shift. Hannah’s Story allowed us to shed light on the answers we were all grappling for since 19 February 2020, a devastating day etched in Australia’s history that has stuck with me ever since.

“Making the podcast with Jess was an honour, and a perfect avenue to magnify the incredible work of Hannah’s parents, Sue and Lloyd, through Small Steps 4 Hannah.”

Jess Lodge said: “I’m incredibly grateful that Hannah’s Story has received this recognition from our peers. Most of all, I’m proud knowing that its growing audience now has a deeper understanding of coercive control and the signs to look out for. I cannot thank Sue and Lloyd Clarke, and everyone who was involved, enough for allowing us to tell their stories.”

9News Queensland News Director, Amanda Paterson, said: “Proud is an understatement. Melissa and Jess, alongside podcast editor Adam Buncher, told Hannah’s Story with the grace, dignity and empathy that Hannah and her three children, Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey, deserve.

“I saw first hand how much Melissa and Jess poured their heart and soul into this podcast, all while delivering 9News Queensland’s leading news bulletins. Their resounding success and last night’s Kennedy Award win not only validates their hard work but also sets the stage for an exciting era of future 9News podcasts.”

Listen to Hannah’s Story everywhere you get your podcasts.
Spotify | Apple Podcasts

For further information, please contact:
Claudine Blondeau
Communications Manager, Nine Queensland
cblondeau@nine.com.au

Monday, August 21, 2023

The Australian Financial Review is the country’s most read premium business masthead recording a cross platform readership of 3.4 million people, according to Total News readership figures released by Roy Morgan today.

More than 1.1 million people have read a print edition of the Financial Review in the last four weeks, with the masthead experiencing its fourth consecutive quarter of growth, and a year-on-year increase of 9%. Meanwhile, The Australian has seen an annual drop of 13% for the same period.

The Monday to Friday print edition recorded massive annual growth of 50% year-on-year, and quarterly growth of 10% for an average issue readership of 245,000. 

With the AFR Weekend Saturday print edition readership of 192,000 once again posting huge annual growth of 67%, and 7% in the last quarter, the weekend and weekday print editions have recorded their fifth consecutive quarters of growth and their highest quarterly result since December 2018. 

The Australian Financial Review Magazine continues to dominate Australia’s monthly magazine insert figures, with a print readership of 495,000, which has seen quarterly growth of 3% – its third consecutive quarter of growth – and annual growth of 16%. It’s the AFR Magazine’s highest quarterly growth since 2018.    

Nine’s Total Publishing assets reach a de-duplicated audience of 16.4 million* Australians across print and digital.

The Financial Review’s Editor in Chief, Michael Stutchbury, said he was encouraged by the solid recovery in print readership, particularly for AFR Weekend. 

“While the big growth in digital readership during the pandemic has eased back amid the cost-of-living crunch, the Financial Review’s digital-only readership still lags that of only The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age among newspaper brands.

“All this was consistent with another 8 per cent growth in premium subscriber numbers for the Financial Review over the financial year,” Stutchbury said.   

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

Source: Roy Morgan Research, All People 14+. All audience data is based on the last 4 weeks averaged over the 12 months to June 2023. *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

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

Monday, August 21, 2023

The Age has once again maintained its lead as Victoria’s most read masthead, with a cross platform readership of 5.1 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 800,000 people.   

The Monday to Friday print edition recorded annual growth of 17% year-on-year, and quarterly growth of 7%, recording a readership of 301,000. The Saturday edition of The Age saw quarterly and annual growth, marking four consecutive quarters of growth.

The Sunday Age print edition also saw annual growth of 5% and is read by 403,000 people every Sunday. In the last four weeks 1.3 million people on average have read a print edition of The Age.  

Across The Age and the Herald, the prestigious Good Weekend continues to be Saturday’s most read magazine insert, attracting an average issue print readership of 770,000, which is up 2% quarterly. Similarly, the Lifestyle/Content delivers a cross platform readership of 2.62 million, while cross platform Sport content grew 3% year on year, with an audience of 2.29 million. 

Sunday Life recorded an average issue print readership of 411,000, while Domain once again defied a softening real estate market, seeing annual growth of 12% and quarterly growth of 5%, to record an average issue print readership of 564,000. 

Nine’s Total Publishing assets reach a de-duplicated audience of 16.4 million* Australians across print and digital.

“These results make it clear that Victorians want in-depth and rigorous journalism, which they can only find in The Age,” said the publication’s editor, Patrick Elligett. 

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

Source: Roy Morgan Research, All People 14+. All audience data is based on the last 4 weeks averaged over the 12 months to June  2023.

*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

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

Monday, August 21, 2023

The Sydney Morning Herald remains Australia’s most read news brand with a cross-platform readership of 7.5 million readers, according to the Total News readership figures released by Roy Morgan today. 

Cementing its place as the country’s most read masthead, more than one in three Australian readers choose the Herald to stay informed. The Herald nearly doubles The Daily Telegraph readership (7.54 million versus The Telegraph’s 4.01 million) in Total News, in the latest figures in the 12-month period ending June 2023. 

The Monday to Friday print edition recorded an average issue readership of 417,000, displaying impressive annual growth of 15% year-on-year, while quarterly growth remained steady. Saturday’s print edition recorded quarterly growth of 2% and annual growth of 9%.  

The Sun Herald print edition increased its quarterly readership, up by 4% and is read by 440,000 people every Sunday. In the last four weeks, 1.8 million people on average have read a print edition of the Herald.  

Across the Herald and The Age, the prestigious Good Weekend continues to be Saturday’s most read magazine insert, attracting an average issue print readership of 770,000, which is up 2% quarterly. Similarly, the Lifestyle/Content delivers a cross platform readership of 2.62 million, while cross platform Sport content grew 3% year on year, with an audience of 2.29 million. 

Sunday Life recorded an average issue print readership of 411,000, while Domain once again defied a softening real estate market, seeing annual growth of 12% and quarterly growth of 5%, to record an average issue print readership of 564,000. 

Nine’s Total Publishing assets reach a de-duplicated audience of 16.4 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+. All audience data is based on the last 4 weeks averaged over the 12 months to June  2023.

*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

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

Monday, August 21, 2023

Australia’s most engaged women’s lifestyle network 9Honey has announced today the launch of a new consumer vertical to add to their ever expanding lifestyle offering.

The new vertical, 9Honey Money will offer expert consumer tips, budgeting advice, cost of living answers and show you how to save money on everything from groceries to insurance.

More than three million Australians (IPSOS June) read 9Honey every month and after almost seven years, 9Honey continues to dominate in engagement, with the average reader spending six minutes more time on 9Honey than any other lifestyle site.

Managing Editor of nine.com.au Shauna Anderson, said: “Our newest site cements 9Honey as the most extensive lifestyle site in Australia. We understand the challenges facing Australian families across the nation as the cost of living crisis bites and we want to offer real solutions.”

9Honey Money columnist Jo Abi said: “I’m so excited to help Australian families learn more about how to save money and stretch their dollars further during this trying time. I’ve been writing about the consumer issues that matter to Aussie families for a long time now and it’s great to bring all our tips, advice and information to one place.”

9Honey Money is LIVE NOW

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

Friday, August 18, 2023

The Australian Financial Review is building on the success of its luxury magazine portfolio  with two new supplements and insertion on a new day of the week. 

Fin Magazine, the Financial Review’s quarterly lifestyle glossy, will move from Friday’s newspaper to the Saturday edition in 2024. The Financial Review’s editor of magazines, Matthew Drummond, said the shift reflected the increased readership of AFR Weekend in print, up 67 per cent year-on-year in the June quarter according to Roy Morgan.

“Saturdays are the perfect day to reach readers when they’re looking for sumptuous and inspirational lifestyle content,” Mr Drummond said. “This move will enable Fin Magazine to stand out even more from the pack; it will be Australia’s only glossy newspaper-inserted magazine that’s purely focused on luxury and travel that’s published on a Saturday.”

Amanda Upton, Nine Publishing’s head of luxury, said: “The decision to move Fin Magazine to AFR Weekend is an exciting one and makes sense on so many levels. Our research indicates that the AFR Weekend audience is increasingly affluent, and it’s an audience that loves the indulgence of print with 70% of readers choosing to purchase it from news stands. Fin Magazine has been a great commercial success, and will absolutely thrive in this environment, giving our partners an opportunity to reach a highly engaged audience who spend 3.5 times longer with our content on the weekend.” 

Also new for the Financial Review’s magazines in 2024: 

• A new travel guide comparing first, business and premium economy classes as well as lounges and loyalty schemes, to be called AFR High Flyer, will appear as a supplement in the March issue of The Australian Financial Review Magazine
• The May issue of Fin Magazine will include a new supplement and restaurant guide, Fin Dining + Wine.

While Fin Magazine will shift to Saturdays in 2024, Mr Drummond said there would be no change to the publishing schedule of AFR Magazine. “Since its first issue in 1995, AFR Magazine has been published on the last Friday of the month,” he said. “While readers are in the habit of looking out for AFR Magazine on a Friday, we think Fin Magazine, with its seasonal publishing schedule, is better suited to the weekend.”

AFR High Flyer

The March issue of AFR Magazine will include a new travel supplement that will be an indispensable guide to choosing which airline to fly first class, business class, or premium economy. AFR High Flyer will be an annual guide in print and will be regularly updated on afr.com. It will be helmed by the Financial Review’s travel editor, Fiona Carruthers. 

“AFR High Flyer will be a comparative one-stop shop of information tailored to the Australian market,” Ms Carruthers said. “Readers can use it to better assess which airlines, routes, transit lounge offerings, frequent flyer programs and hotel loyalty programs suit them best, whether they are travelling for business, leisure, bleisure or to pick up a cruise.”

“We know from readership data on afr.com how much our readers value this type of comparative, practical information about travel,” Carruthers said. “This new title will be unlike anything available in the market.”  

Ms Upton said: “With our audience’s unquenchable thirst for insider intel on airlines, particularly the pointy end, this supplement will be very popular among our avid travel audience and luxury and travel clients alike with strong interest already being expressed to partner with us by our key clients for this issue” 

AFR High Flyer will appear as a 36-page bound supplement in the March/Innovation issue of AFR Magazine. On stands Friday, March 29, 2024

Fin Dining + Wine

Fin Dining + Wine will showcase the best restaurants across Australia, with a focus on the occasions when a typical Financial Review reader might want to impress family, colleagues or business associates. It will be overseen by Jill Dupleix, Fin Magazine’s culinary editor.

“This new supplement will be a collectable guide to Australia’s top restaurants and how to use them,” Ms Dupleix said. “From finding a restaurant to impress a prospective client from overseas, or somewhere suitable for a business lunch to make a deal, or simply somewhere special for a special occasion, this is a restaurant guide made specifically for Financial Review readers. Fin Dining + Wine will also include Max Allen’s guide to blitzing the wine list: what to look for, what to avoid, and winemakers to commit to memory.”

Fin Dining + Wine will appear as a 36-page bound supplement in the May/Winter issue of Fin Magazine. On stands Saturday, May 11, 2024

High res cover of Fin Magazine HERE

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

Friday, August 18, 2023