Nine’s television business has had a successful launch to the year and the momentum will continue with its strong post-Easter slate.

Nine’s Program Director, Hamish Turner, says: “We’ve had a fantastic launch to the 2020 year. The Australian Open coverage was up 15 per cent in terms of raw prime-time numbers and the BVOD audience for the tournament was up 100 per cent. This provided fantastic momentum into the Q1 slate which started with Married at First Sight.”

Married at First Sight continues to deliver exceptional results year after year, with growth across multiple platforms.

“The first episode was up 15 per cent and the BVOD numbers are already at 300,000, a great start to the year,” Turner said.

“The power of MAFS is its cross-platform presence and ability to engage audiences live, through our BVOD platform, as well as by editorial on nine.com.au. It is the number one show of Q1 and is dominating all demos and total people, as well as the BVOD audience.”

Following on from MAFS, Nine will move into its number one family show of 2019, LEGO Masters, with the return of Hamish Blake and The Brickman.

“LEGO Masters is all about creativity and the power of imagination and we’re expecting fantastic numbers for series two as the skill this year goes to a difficult new level,” Turner said.

Another family favourite, The Voice, returns for its ninth season with coaches Kelly Rowland, Delta Goodrem, Guy Sebastian and Boy George all sitting in their red swivel chairs again.

“For the first time we have four returning coaches, along with brand new host Renee Bargh straight from Los Angeles, and co-host Darren McMullen,” Turner said. “This year we’re also featuring the All Stars component again. It was super-successful in 2019 and some big names that you’ve seen in the past are coming back this year. There will also be some surprise tweaks in the format that will continue to engage viewers.”

The explosive drama Informer 3838 also enters the slate in Q2. Turner describes it as a premium two-part drama that is edge-of-your-seat viewing, taking the audience back into the world of Underbelly with returning real characters played by actors like Gyton Grantley and Robert Mammone.

The post-Easter period will see the return of Travel Guides after an incredible third season in 2019 which produced year-on-year growth across all key demographics, as well as BVOD.

“We’ve moved Travel Guides from Q1 to drive better results in Q2 this year,” Turner said. “The team are travelling wide and far once more, from Turkey to the Kimberleys in Western Australia, from South Korea to the Maldives. At its core this program is family viewing with heart and laughs.”

The toughest television challenge on the planet, Ninja Warrior, will add further strength to Nine’s Q2 slate.

“Australian Ninja Warrior is back for its fourth season and the prizemoney this year has jackpotted to $400,000. If our fastest ninja makes it up Mount Midoriyama, he or she will take away a big stash of cash. We’ll see all our returning favourites as well as some fantastic new competitors,” Turner explained.

Nine’s sporting momentum will increase with coverage of the 2020 NRL competition, which promises to deliver an expanded and enhanced cross-platform presence under the new vision of “Your Footy, Your Way”.

“This year we will give you everything you need and everything you want from the NRL – Nine is your one-stop shop,” Turner said. “We are engaging with rugby league where you want it and how you want it, across multiple platforms including TV, publishing, digital and radio.

“Plus, Australia’s number one program of 2019, the State of Origin series, will return in 2020 with three more blockbusters. For the first time we are heading to Adelaide to kick off the series, on June 3, and looking forward to it with great anticipation.”

For more information, contact your Nine sales representative.