Brands will experience the full power of Nine’s unrivalled Total TV, Total Audio and Total Publishing ecosystem, when Australia’s greatest sporting contest, the State of Origin, kicks off exclusively, live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now 7pm tonight (Wednesday). 

Featuring market-leading and innovative live-in-play Total TV opportunities for brands that only Nine can deliver, the State of Origin provides a powerful platform for brands to connect with one of the largest audiences of the year in a premium and engaging environment. 

As the NSW Blues and Qld Maroons finalise preparations before going into battle at Adelaide Oval tonight, sponsors and partners of Nine’s broadcast of rugby league’s ultimate showcase can be revealed, with McDonalds, Sportsbet, Telstra, Harvey Norman, Isuzu UTE Australia, Stan, and new sponsor Westpac, leveraging the Wide World of Sports mega marketing platform.

There is no other sporting series in Australia that so dramatically illustrates the power of ‘event streaming’, with last year’s three State of Origin games setting a record for attracting the highest Total TV audience since 2019 and becoming the most-watched live streaming event on 9Now in Australian history.   

Creative and captivating brand integration will enhance the broadcast, with Universal Pictures supporting the launch of their new title The Flash via an immersive augmented reality execution created by Nine’s creative solutions division Powered. Westpac will help launch their new sponsorship of Origin and the NSW Blues by bringing their Red Zone integration to Nine’s coverage, helping unpack all of the action from the attacking 20 metres for fans at home.

Macca’s and Westpac will also use the power and scale of State of Origin to launch new brand TVCs, celebrating the power of NRL with Rugby League themed creative.

Viewers will also enjoy more insightful data during play than ever before, with a new broadcast innovation, a live-in-play fatigue alert which captures how players are physically faring in what is a gruelling kick return game.

The Telstra Tracker will return in 2023, with live, in-game statistics drawing on Catapult data to help fans understand insightful individual player data related to speed and intensity.

“The State of Origin series on Channel 9 and 9Now represents the ultimate in exclusive event television. It provides partner brands the preeminent high engagement platform to connect with audiences, supported by Nine’s mega sport marketing assets, spanning TV, Audio and Publishing.” said Matthew Granger, Nine’s Director of Sales – Sport. 

Nine’s Head of Content Partnerships – Sport, Anne Gruber, said the State of Origin provides an opportunity for brands to experience the power of sports marketing utilising the prestige of Wide World of Sports. 

“The battle for rugby league supremacy goes up another level when the 2023 Men’s and Women’s State of Origin series kick off this week across Nine’s Wide World of Sports cross-media offering. Our partner brands will be right at the heart of it, capitalising on the unrivalled Origin platform to tell their story. Big ideas make brands famous, as does the power of premium sporting content and this year our team of Powered By Nine strategic thinkers have partnered closer than ever before with our sponsors to create world class fan connections and ultimately accelerate business growth.” Gruber said.

Proving Nine is the home of premium sporting fixtures, rugby league fans will get to experience back-to-back nights of NSW and Qld rivalry, with the NRLW State of Origin played from Commbank Stadium screening on Thursday night on Channel 9 and 9Now. Meanwhile, tennis fans can watch the French Open from Roland Garros live and free on 9Gem. 

State of Origin I will be broadcast tonight exclusively on Channel 9 and 9Now from 7.00pm AEST. 

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

Wednesday, May 31, 2023