Our History
Sometimes it's good to look back to move forwards
While our brand has a long history, we also continue to make history as Australia’s largest locally owned media company, following our merger with Fairfax Media in December 2018, and our merger with Macquarie Media in November 2019. Both mergers brought operational diversity, but more importantly, placed us in a unique and competitive position in Australia. To understand who we are today, we must take a look at our history to see how we came about.
History In Television
1950s
Nine’s proud history dates back to the 1950s when it was originally called TCN-9. The station launched in September 1956, broadcasting Australia’s first ever program: This Is Television.
1960s
TCN-9 was owned by Australian Consolidated Press and established by Frank Packer. In 1960, ACP purchased GTV-9 Melbourne to form the first TV network in Australia – the National Television Network, which later became the National Nine Network.
1980s
In 1987, Kerry Packer sold the Nine Network to Alan Bond, who expanded the network to include QTQ-9 Brisbane and STW-9 Perth.
1990s
Publishing and Broadcasting Limited was formed in 1994 when Nine Network Australia merged with Australian Consolidated Press.
2006 - 2010
James Packer announced the sell-off of 50 per cent of PBL’s media interests – including the Nine Network and its 50 per cent interest in NineMSN. In the following year, 2008, Packer and Consolidated Media Holdings quit the board of PBL Media, effectively ending financial backing of the company.
2013 - 2014
In 2013, Microsoft sold its stake in the Ninemsn venture to Nine Entertainment, with the Ninemsn website rebranding to Nine.com.au. In 2014, a joint venture between Nine and Fairfax launched Stan.
PBL Media rebranded as Nine Entertainment Company, and in December 2013 the company listed on the ASX as NEC.
2018
In December 2018, Nine Entertainment and Fairfax Media merged, forming Australia’s largest media company, spanning brands across television, video on demand, print, digital and radio.
History In Publishing
1800s
The first edition of the four-page weekly Sydney Herald was published in April 1831.
In 1841, John Fairfax purchased The Sydney Herald from Frederick Stokes. In August 1842 it was renamed The Sydney Morning Herald.
In 1854, the first edition of The Age was published, and the newspaper was sold in 1856 to Ebenezer Syme and James McEwan. Ebenezer’s brother David Syme ran The Age both editorially and commercially and became sole proprietor in 1891 until his death in 1908.
In 1856, John Fairfax & Sons was established when John Fairfax took his son, James Reading Fairfax, into partnership with himself and eldest son Charles.
In 1948, Syme’s last surviving son, Oswald, floated David Syme & Co. as a public company.
1950s - 1960s
In 1951, John Fairfax & Sons launched The Australian Financial Review as a weekly newspaper. In 1961 it became bi-weekly and by 1963 it was daily.
1980s
In 1983, John Fairfax & Sons acquired David Syme & Co. and The Age.
1990s
The Fairfax family controlled the company until 1990 when it went into receivership. Warwick Geoffrey Oswald Fairfax, “Young Warwick”, bought out his family’s holdings in the company in 1987. His method of financing and subsequent issues within the company saw it collapse in late 1990 and receivers appointed.
In 1991, Conrad Black and Kerry Packer joined with others in the Tourang consortium to take control of Fairfax. Packer later dropped out and Black acquired 15 per cent.
In 1992, Fairfax floated on the stock exchange. In subsequent years, Black, Packer and News Limited lifted their stakes in, and exited, the company.
2000s
In 2003, Fairfax acquired the New Zealand publishing business now known as Stuff.
In 2007, Fairfax merged with Rural Press and acquired the radio and video assets of Southern Cross Broadcasting.
2015
Stan launched as a 50:50 joint venture between Nine and Fairfax.
2018
Nine and Fairfax merged.
