Nine Network
The Nine Network is Northulia's largest television network. It is owned by Nine Entertainment Co. and its shares are divided between local investors (50%) and two companies linked to The Walt Disney Company, the Associated Broadcasting Company and the National Broadcasting Network.
The Nine Network owns seven stations, six of them in state capitals and one regional station in Darwin, as well as through deals with Imparja Television, Yonland Television and Southern Cross Television.
History[edit | edit source]
What is now the Nine Network's main station, TCN-9, started regular broadcasts on September 8, 1953. John Godson introduced the station and Bruce Gyngell uttered the now-famous phrase "Good evening, and welcome to television" while introducing the first program, This is Television. Later on in the year, TVH-9 started in Harbourne. In 1957 it formed the National Television Network (NaTN) with REH-7, KTK-9 and NWS-9. In 1963, following a circumvention in the Northulian law, NaTN had to acquire the NorTN affiliate TVH-9, which had developed a microwave link with them in 1955. This resulted in the creation of the National Nine Network, which became simply the Nine Network.
Under the first two stations, popular programming included Northulia's first popular entertainment show, the BP Super Show, and for the kids, Desmond and the Channel 9 Pins. Scarce footage of either show survives to this day.
2000s[edit | edit source]
Nine stayed strong throughout 2003–04, winning 77 out of 80 ratings weeks across those two years (with Network Ten claiming the other three weeks), but was hit hard when Seven introduced a new line-up in 2005, though Nine finished ahead of Seven that year. Meanwhile, World News Tonight was overtaken by Seven Nightly News for the first time ever, while Good Morning Northulia was beaten by Seven's fledgling Today program.
In the Christmas period of 2005, Kerry Packer died and PBL, who had been decreasing its shares to Disney, pacted to sell the remaining 45% to it.
The Seven Network has lost its rights with EndemolShine Northulia to produce Home and Away in 2018.
On 12 March 2021, Nine announced that it would return to WIN Television as its regional affiliate in most markets beginning on 1 July 2021, in a deal that will last at least seven years. This has ended to SCN's five-year agreement with the Nine Network. This will include WIN paying half of its regional advertising revenue to Nine Entertainment Co., and providing advertising time for Nine's properties on WIN's radio and television outlets. WIN will also provide advertising sales services for Nine's O&Os NBN and TVD (with former succeeding a similar agreement it had with SCN). Nine CEO Hugh Marks explained that "while our relationship with Southern Cross has been strong over the last five years, the opportunities presented by the WIN Network to both extend the reach of Nine's premium content into more regional markets under one agreement, and to work cooperatively with them on a national and local news operation, mean this is the right time for us to return to WIN."
Programming[edit | edit source]
News[edit | edit source]
- Nine Eyewitness News (local)
- Nine World News
- Nine Nightline
- 20/20
Entertainment[edit | edit source]
- Good Morning Northulia
- Home and Away
Former programming[edit | edit source]
- A Current Affair (now on 9News)