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Nine's Wide World of Sports

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For other uses, see Wide World of Sports (disambiguation).

Nine's Wide World of Sports
NetworkNine Network
Launched1956
Country of originAustralia
OwnerNine Entertainment Co.
HeadquartersNorth Sydney, New South Wales
Major broadcasting contractsNRL
NRL Women's
State of Origin
Super Rugby
Super W
Bledisloe Cup
Wallabies Internationals
The Rugby Championship
Wallabies Spring Tour
Summer Olympics
Winter Olympics
US Masters
Australian Open
ATP Cup
French Open
Wimbledon
US Open
Melbourne Cup
Formerly known as
  • Nine Sports (1972–1982)
Sister networkNine Network
9Gem
9Go!
9Now
Official websitewwos.nine.com.au

Nine's Wide World of Sports is a long running sports anthology brand on Australian television that airs on the Nine Network and streaming service Stan. All major sports, events and series covered by the network are broadcast under this brand, the flagship sports being rugby league (National Rugby League), rugby union (Super Rugby and Wallabies international matches) and Grand Slam tennis (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open), the Summer Olympics and Winter Olympics and the Paralympic Games, and spring horse racing (Melbourne Cup). Previous sporting rights include the Australian rules football (Australian Football League), Australian Cricket Team home season, autumn horse racing, swimming until 2008, and golf (US Masters) since 2018.

History

[edit]

1981–1990s – Creation and contract competition

[edit]

Wide World of Sports (WWoS) is a long-used title for Nine's sport programming. All sports broadcasts on Nine air under the WWoS brand. It was also the name of a popular sports magazine program that aired most Saturdays and Sundays. This program filled many of the summer daytime hours. It was first pitched by David Hill who went on to hold a broad portfolio in WWoS. The program premiered at 1:00 pm on Saturday, 23 May 1981, and was initially hosted by Mike Gibson and Ian Chappell, before being hosted in the 1990s by Max Walker and Ken Sutcliffe. Ian Maurice was the regular anchor at the WWOS Update Desk. The show ended in 1999, due in large part to the rise of Fox Sports (which Nine's owner owned half of) and other subscription sport channels,[citation needed] but the show returned in 2008 on Sunday mornings.

It was unrelated to the series "Wide World of Sports" aired by ABC in the United States, which started in 1961.[1] From the early 1970s, the main sport aired nationally under the WWoS brand was cricket. Nine's majority owner Kerry Packer created World Series Cricket in part because he couldn't obtain the rights to Australian test matches at home, even though he offered the Australian Cricket Board a $1.5 million 3-year contract which was rejected by the ACB who signed a 3-year deal with the ABC to broadcast test matches. This led to Packer signing in secret some of the world's best cricket players for a breakaway competition.

In 1978, 35 of the "world's best players" had signed with Packer's World Series Cricket, which was broadcast in competition with ABC's cricket coverage of the ICC. Nine's Wide World of Sports was the "first broadcaster to put a microphone on the players for an international cricket match," which later became common practice in the industry.[2] ABC and Nine then signed a truce after a long dispute in 1979, with Nine securing the exclusive rights to telecast Australian cricket. From that point until 2006, Nine based its summer schedule around broadcasts of cricket internationally and domestic. Its cricket broadcasts in that era revolutionized the way the sport was covered, featuring cameras placed at both ends of the field (after Packer famously complained about seeing "cricketer's bums" every second over), instant replays, and other innovations. World Series Cricket made many other changes to cricket, having a huge impact on the game.

David Hill was among the early executives that developed WWoS.[3] In the early 1980s, well-known hosts and presenters on Wide World of Sports included Mike Gibson[4][5] and Ian Chappell,[5] both the inaugural hosts of the Saturday afternoon program in 1981.[6]

Billy Birmingham in 1984 released a comedy album that satirized cricket "and in particular Channel Nine's iconic commentary team with Richie Benaud the central figure," which became popular in Australia,[7] called The Wired World of Sports. Among the hosts satirized were his friend Mike Gibson.[6] Birmingham went on to release a series of albums ridiculing all aspects of Wide World of Sports, calling the show "Wired World of Sports". From the first to the most recent (2006), all have reached number one on the Australian album chart.

David Hill helped establish Nine's Wide World of Sports early on, and was a "sounding board when the billionaire famously sold the network to Alan Bond and then bought it back three years later for less than a quarter of the price." Writes the Sydney Morning Herald, "Packer's decision to sell Nine to Bond in 1987 for $1.2 billion - before buying back the network in 1990 for $250 million - is legendary in Australian television."[8] Other early broadcasters at WWoS included Ron Casey.[9]

January 1995 saw the beginning of Premier Sports Network, the channel that was to become Fox Sports. It secured the rights to Australia's cricket tour of the West Indies, Nine's first challenge since winning its World Series war. Nine tried to stop the broadcast under Australia's "anti-siphoning" rules, which exist to stop certain popular sporting events being screened exclusively on pay television. But it failed when Premier Sports Network came to an agreement to broadcast the tour free to air on Network 10. [citation needed]

WWoS's other main sport was and is rugby league. This was challenged in 1997 by the establishment of Super League, the repercussions of which led to Nine's parent company owning half of Fox Sports that year, and ultimately Nine's move away from popular live sport.[citation needed] This partial purchase of Fox Sports roughly coincided with the end of Nine's traditional Saturday and Sunday daytime schedule of sports programming. What had once filled it now filled subscription channels, mainly Fox Sports. Old movies and other low rating programs filled much of the space. Between the late 1970s and 1997, when Australians had wanted to watch continuous sport at home on a summer weekend, they had largely done so by tuning to Nine. Those in NSW, Queensland and the ACT did this all year round, due to rugby league's popularity in those areas. Now Fox Sports had that mantle, and gave viewers continuous sport all week long.

In the 1990s, the Wide World of Sports marketed sports paraphernalia such as signed and framed bats, and items from the Australian Rugby League.[10]

Paul Sheahan hosted Nine's Wide World of Sports program until 1999.[11] Max Walker hosted until it ended in 1999.[12][13]

2000–2008 – Changing broadcasting deals

[edit]

In 2001, The Nine Network acquired broadcast rights for Friday night and Sunday afternoon games in the Australian Football League, the elite Australian rules football competition in 2001. Seven had previously held the TV rights for 44 years prior.[14] They shared the rights with Network Ten and Foxtel from 2002 through to 2006, but the deal assigned exclusive rights for the finals series to Ten, a deal which reportedly flabbergasted Nine boss Kerry Packer.

As it also had the rights for all major swimming competitions until 2008, major swimming competitions were shown in primetime. During the early to mid-2000s, Nine for the first time had the FTA rights to the highest competitions of Australia's four biggest spectator sports: rugby league, Australian rules (shared with Ten), cricket and swimming. While Nine no longer had the volume of sport it once had, during the 2000-2006 period it dominated non-Olympic sport broadcasting in Australia.

With existing agreements then set to expire in 2006 and 2007, in 2005, Channel Nine secured a deal to air NRL games until the end of 2012.[15]

Eddie McGuire was named CEO of Nine Network with oversight of the Wide World of Sports brand in 2006.[16]

In January 2006, the Seven Network and Network Ten exercised their "first and last" rights agreement with the AFL to trump the Nine Network's $780 million bid for broadcasting rights for the years 2007 to 2011.[17] If Seven and Ten were unable to match the AFL's "quality of coverage" demands by 5 May 2006 (better coverage into regional areas, northern states and on pay television, as promised in the Nine bid) the AFL would have been allowed to award the broadcasting rights back to Nine.

The Seven/Ten consortium, however, obtained the rights,[18][19] with Nine broadcasting its last AFL match on Sunday 3 September 2006. The match was hosted by Tony Jones with a guest appearance from Nine's then chief executive and former AFL commentator Eddie McGuire.

In 2004, it was making an annual income of around $30 million on broadcasting Australian cricket, with the television rights expiring at the end of the 2006. Around 2004, Cricket Australia began negotiating for a higher price.[20] In 2005, Nine Network bid on cricket for $45 million a year, winning the contract and signing a seven year deal with Cricket Australia.[21]

From the beginning of the 2006-2007 cricket season, Nine no longer broadcast Australian domestic cricket.

In 2012, Nine Network had a $1 billion contract for NRL rights and a $300 million cricket rights deal set to expire the following March.[22]

Instead, it replaced the coverage with delayed National Basketball League matches in October, with weekly one-hour highlight shows and full games.[23] The domestic cricket matches, long a mainstay of Nine's summer programming, moved exclusively to Fox Sports.

2008–2020: return of Wide World of Sports

[edit]

After a ten-year hiatus, it was announced that the Wide World of Sports weekly television program would return to Nine on 16 March 2008,[24] using the same theme song as the old version, as well as accessing old footage for replays. This show was hosted by the previous host Ken Sutcliffe, with footy show star James Brayshaw as well as former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist. Revolving co-hosts included former swimmers Giaan Rooney, Nicole Livingstone and former cricketer Michael Slater.[25] That year, it broadcast the Australian Open with its own team of commentators.[26] The show originally aired for 90 minutes but was recently extended to two hours. It aired on Sunday mornings at 9am till 11am.[citation needed]

In 2008, the Nine Network and Microsoft joint venture ninemsn had a section dedicated to the Wide World of Sports.[27] In 2009, Grant Hackett[28] and Michael Slater joined the team as co-hosts alongside Sutcliffe and Rooney. Livingstone did not return, as she joined Network Ten as a commentator. Rooney resigned from the Nine Network at the end of 2012 to join the Seven Network. It was thought that the Seven Network would continue its tradition of airing the Olympic Games for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. However, Nine in joint partnership with Foxtel, has secured broadcasting rights which the network has described as the most comprehensive coverage of the Olympics. The partnership also won the rights to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.[citation needed]

For more than 40 years, the Nine Network had also broadcast the prestigious Wimbledon tennis tournament before ultimately dropping it after the 2010 tournament, citing declining ratings.[29] The last Wimbledon match televised by Nine was the men's singles final played between Rafael Nadal and Tomáš Berdych, which Nadal won. The Seven Network have gained broadcasting rights to Wimbledon, from 2011 until 2019 except for 2020 due to covid virus.[30] The Australian Rugby League Commission in August 2012 agreed to a five-year broadcast deal in Australia with Nine Entertainment to air on its Wide World of Sports brand, and for $1.025 billion, was the "most lucrative agreement in rugby league history."[31]

In 2013, the Wide World of Sports brand was facing challenges from other television networks its broadcast rights to Cricket Australia. Nine had a contract clause, however, so that if it were to "match the highest offer means it is still expected to retain the rights, despite its exclusive window for negotiations having closed."[32] With Nine Network's cricket coverage winning in 1982, the television show won "Most Popular Sports Program" at the Logie Awards in 1986.[33] It was nominated for the "Most Popular Sports Coverage" award at the 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Logie Awards, being beaten by The NRL Footy Show on all occasions.[citation needed]

Until 2016, Steve Crawley was the rugby league boss at Wide World of Sports, when he was hired by FOX Sports.[34] He was replaced by Tom Malone as Director of Sport.[35] After she was fired in 2014 as a cost-cutting measure, in 2016 Emma Freedman again signed up with Channel Nine's Wide World of Sports as an announcer.[36] The weekly show was no longer airing as of 2017. Sports Sunday replaced the show in the Sunday 10am time slot.

In 2017, the WWoS channel was featuring the Netball World Series, hosted by Erin Molan and with commentators Liz Ellis, Sharelle McMahon, Cath Cox and Anne Sargeant.[37] In 2017, the channel signed Ray Warren for five more years, for as long as they retained their rugby league rights.[38] Also that year, WWoS announced a GPS player tracking system into its rugby broadcasting.[39] WWoS relinquished the rights broadcast cricket in 2018 to Seven West Media, instead picking up the Australian Open tennis broadcast for that summer.[8] In 2019, the WWoS was streaming rugby on its digital platform, with a rugby commentary team led by Ray Warren.[40] In 2018, WWoS announced had secured "free TV and streaming rights" for the Masters Tournament to be played at Augusta National Golf Club.[41]

The Wide World of Sports studio was set up in Melbourne for the 2019 Australian Open for tennis, with a commentary team headed up by John McEnroe[42][43] and Jim Courier.[42] Originally Wide World of Sports had been set to air it for 2020 until 2024, but they were sold the 2019 broadcast rights by Seven Network.[43] Nine's Wide World of Sports in 2019 included the Australian Open, "the Sydney International, Brisbane International and Hopman Cup tennis tournaments, the Holden State of Origin, the Cricket World Cup, the Ashes, The Masters and the NBL."[44]

Macquarie Media in 2020 began airing an hour-long Wide World of Sports radio broadcast hosted by Mark Levy.[45][46] Also in April 2020, WWoS introduced a new show on the Australian Open, hosted by Todd Woodbridge and Sam Groth, titled the Greatest Australian Open Matches.[47] In 2020, the National Rugby League and Nine resolved a contract dispute over scheduling.[48]

2020–present: rugby and tennis expansion, Olympics and Paralympics, Stan Sport, Melbourne Cup

[edit]

In November 2020, Nine Entertainment Co. acquired rights to Rugby Australia, as well as the French Open and The Championships, Wimbledon, with plans for pay-television coverage (ad-free and on-demand) to migrate to a new sport-oriented package on its subscription streaming service Stan, and selected matches/events to be broadcast free on the Nine Network.[49][50][51]

On 8 February 2023, it was announced that Nine had re-gained the rights to the Olympic Games from 2024 through to the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane.[52][53] On 20 February 2024, it was announced Nine had obtained the rights to broadcast the Melbourne Cup from 2024 through to 2029.[54][55][56]

Events

[edit]

Nine's Wide World of Sports holds broadcast rights to the following events:

Current

[edit]
Sport Event Broadcast partner(s) Dates Notes
Summer Paralympics Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028, Brisbane 2032 Stan Sport 2024, 2028, 2032
Winter Paralympics Milan Cortina 2026, French Alps 2030 Stan Sport 2026, 2030
Summer Youth Olympics Dakar, Senegal 2026 Nine Network 2026 Opening & Closing ceremonies Live on 9Go! Every event on Stan.
Winter Youth Olympics Gangwon, South Korea 2024 Nine Network 2024 Opening & Closing ceremonies Live on 9Go! Every event on Stan.
Summer Olympics Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964, Mexico 1968, Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, London 2012, Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028, Brisbane 2032 ABC (1956–1976), 0-10 Network 1968 Seven Network (1956–1976), Foxtel (2012) Stan Sport (2024-) 1956, 1972, 1976, 2012, 2024, 2028, 2032
Winter Olympics Sarajevo 1984, Calgary 1988, Albertville 1992, Lillehammer 1994, Vancouver 2010, Milan Cortina 2026, French-Alps 2030 Foxtel (2010) Stan Sport (2026-) 1984, 1988, 1992, 1994, 2010, 2026, 2030
Basketball Women's National Basketball League ESPN 2022–present All remaining matches LIVE every weekend on 9Now
Golf Australian Open Fox Sports 2022–present Live coverage on Nine & 9Now
Golf Australian PGA Championship Fox Sports 2022–present Live coverage on Nine & 9Now
Golf US Masters Fox Sports 2018–present Live coverage on Nine & 9Now
Horse racing Melbourne Cup Carnival Sky Racing, Racing.com 2024–present Live coverage on Nine & 9Now
Motor racing IndyCar Series Fox Sports, ESPN (1990s), Stan Sport 1990-1995 2022-present Highlights on 9Go! Live coverage On Stan Sport
Motor racing Indianapolis 500 Stan Sport 1980s-2000 2022-present Highlights on 9Go! Live coverage On Stan Sport
Motor racing Formula E World Championship Stan Sport 2022–present Highlights on 9Go! Live coverage On Stan Sport
Motor racing World Endurance Championship Stan Sport 2022–present Highlights on 9Go! Live coverage On Stan Sport
Motor racing 24 Hours of Le Mans Stan Sport 1980s-1990s 2022–present Live coverage the first 2 hours race On 9Go!
Rugby league National Rugby League Seven Network (1971–1972) Network Ten (1983, 1988–1991), ABC (1961–1972) (1983), (1992–1995) Fox Sports (1997–present) 1961–1972, 1983, 1992–present 3 live matches each week. 1 Thursday night match LIVE, 1 Friday night match LIVE, 1 Saturday night match in rounds 23-27 in 2023-, 1 Saturday night match in Magic Round and 1 Sunday afternoon match LIVE. All finals matches live including grand final. All 3 matches shown LIVE on 9Gem in VIC, SA & WA.
Rugby league NRLW Fox Sports 2018–present All Matches LIVE on 9HD or 9Gem
Rugby league Harvey Norman All-Stars Fox Sports 2010–present Every game LIVE
Rugby league State of Origin Fox Sports (Highlights) 1983–1989, 1991–present Live on Nine
Rugby league The Kangaroos Fox Sports 1983–1989 (Home Tests 1983–1988) (NZ Trans Tasman Tests 1983–1989) 1994–present (All Tests) Every match LIVE
Rugby league The Jillaroos Fox Sports 2015–present Every match LIVE
Rugby league Prime Minister's XIII Fox Sports 2022–present Every match LIVE
Rugby league International Rugby League Fox Sports 2018–present Selected Matches LIVE
Rugby league Hostplus Cup Fox Sports 2012–present One match live each round on Sunday on Nine into Queensland only. Finals Matches only from 2021
Rugby league The Knock On Effect NSW Cup Fox Sports 2018– Grand Final Live on 9Now
Rugby union Super Rugby Pacific Stan Sport 2021–present Saturday night match LIVE each round. All finals games live including grand final.
Rugby union Super W Stan Sport 2021–present Saturday double-header match LIVE each round. All finals games live including grand final LIVE.
Rugby union Bledisloe Cup Fox Sports (2011–2012),

Stan Sport (2021–present)

2011–2012, 2021–present Every match LIVE.
Rugby union Wallabies Rugby internationals Fox Sports (2011–2012),

Stan Sport (2021–present)

2011–2012, 2021–present Every match LIVE.
Rugby union The Rugby Championship Fox Sports (2011–2012),

Stan Sport (2021–present)

2011–2012, 2021–present Australian matches LIVE on Nine.
Rugby union Wallabies Spring Tour Fox Sports (2011–2012),

Stan Sport (2021–present)

2011–2012, 2021–present Australian matches LIVE on Nine.
Rugby union Shute Shield Stan Sport 2021–present Four games broadcast LIVE on Nine throughout the season; plus 1 finals match each weekend; into NSW only
Rugby union Hospital Cup Stan Sport 2021–present Four games broadcast LIVE on Nine throughout the season; plus 1 finals match each weekend; into Queensland only
Rugby union British and Irish Lions Stan Sport 2021, 2025 2021 in South Africa Matches on Stan, 2025 in Australia Test Matches LIVE On Nine Other Matches On Stan Sport
Rugby union Women's Rugby World Cup Stan Sport 2021, 2025
Soccer UEFA Champions League Stan Sport 2021–present Live and free coverage of final only. All other matches on Stan Sport.
Soccer UEFA Europa League Stan Sport 2021–present Live and free coverage of final only. All other matches on Stan Sport.
Soccer UEFA Europa Conference League Stan Sport 2021–present Live and free coverage of final only. All other matches on Stan Sport.
Swimming Australian Swimming Championships 1985–2008, 2023–present
Swimming FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) 2022
Tennis Australian Open Stan Sport 2019–present Live coverage on Nine and 9Gem. Every match on 9Now.
Tennis French Open Stan Sport 2003–2009, 2021–present Only 1 match live at a time on Nine/9Gem. All matches on Stan Sport.
Tennis Wimbledon Stan Sport 1970–2010, 2021–present Only 1 match live at a time on Nine/9Gem. All matches on Stan Sport.
Tennis U.S. Open Fox Sports (2000s)
Stan Sport (2022–) 		1980s–2009, 2022–present Only 1 match live at a time on Nine/9Gem. All matches on Stan Sport.
Tennis United Cup Stan Sport 2022–present Live coverage on Nine/9Gem
Tennis Adelaide International Stan Sport 2020–present Live coverage on Nine/9Go!
Tennis Brisbane International Stan Sport 2019–present Live coverage on Nine/9Go!
Tennis Hobart International Stan Sport 2020–present Live coverage on Nine/9Go!
Tennis Billie Jean King Cup beIN Sports 2023–present Australia Matches only
Tennis Davis Cup beIN Sports 2018–present Australian matches only, starting with the World Group play-offs vs Austria. Exclusive coverage for qualifiers in 2020.
Yachting Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2024–present Live coverage on Nine

Past

[edit]
Sport Event Broadcast partner(s) Dates
American football National Football League ESPN 1990s
American football Super Bowl ESPN 1990s
Australian rules football E. J. Whitten Legends Game 1996–2015
Australian rules football Australian Football League Network Ten (2002–2006), Fox Footy Channel (2002–2006) 2002–2006
Australian rules football International Rules Series 2001-2005
Australian rules football South Australian National Football League ABC 1988–1992
Baseball Major League Baseball ESPN (2014) 1980s–1990s, 2014
Basketball Boomers vs. World 2023
Basketball FIBA Oceania Championship 2015
Basketball FIBA Oceania Women's Championship 2015
Basketball National Basketball League Fox Sports (2007, 2015–2016, 2018–2019) 2007, 2015–2016, 2018–2019
Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982, Auckland 1990, Kuala Lumpur 1998, Melbourne 2006 ABC (1982), Foxtel (2006) 1982, 1990, 1998, 2006
Cricket The Ashes in Australia ABC (1974–1978) 1974–1978, 1982–2018
Cricket Australia in England Fox Sports (2011–2023) 1977, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2023
Cricket International Test Matches in Australia 1979–2018
Cricket ICC Cricket World Cup Fox Sports (2011–2023) 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
Cricket JLT Cup 1980s–2005–06, 2013–2016
Cricket One-day International Cricket in Australia 1979–2018
Cricket Twenty20 International Cricket in Australia 2005–2018
Cricket World Series Cricket 1977–1979
Cricket World Twenty20 Fox Sports 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2022
Cycling Tour Down Under 2012–2018
Cycling UCI Road World Championships 2022
Golf Australian Masters Fox Sports 2009–2011
Golf British Open Fox Sports 1980s–2011
Golf U.S. PGA Championship ESPN 1980s–2000s
Golf Presidents Cup Fox Sports 2011, 2019
Horse racing Autumn Racing Carnival Sky Racing 2007–2012
Ice Hockey NHL Global Series 2023
Motor racing A1 Grand Prix Fox Sports (2005–2009) 2009
Motor racing Formula One 1980–2002
Motor racing MotoGP 1988–1996
Motor racing IndyCar World Series Fox Sports, ESPN 1996–2000s
Netball INF Netball World Cup 2019
Netball Suncorp Super Netball 2017–2021
Netball Australian Diamonds Internationals 2017–2021
Netball Constellation Cup 2017–2021
Netball Fast5 World Series 2016–2021
Netball Netball Quad Series 2017–2021
Rugby league Holden Cup Fox Sports 2008–2017
Rugby league ANZAC test 1997–2017
Rugby league Super League 2009–2011
Rugby league Challenge Cup 2009–2011
Rugby league Rugby League World Cup Fox Sports 1992–2008
Rugby league Pre Season Matches Fox Sports 2020
Rugby league Four Nations Fox Sports 1999–2016
Rugby league World Club Challenge Fox Sports 2008–2020
Rugby union Super Rugby AU Stan Sport 2021
Rugby union Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Stan Sport 2021
Rugby union Rugby World Cup Stan Sport 2011, 2015, 2023
Rugby union Women's Rugby World Cup Stan Sport 2021, 2025
Soccer 2002 FIFA World Cup SBS 2002
Soccer International Champions Cup 2015–2016
Soccer Liverpool F.C. Tour of Australia 2015
Soccer Socceroos Internationals Fox Sports 2016–2017
Soccer 2017 Superclásico de las Américas 2017
Soccer UEFA Super Cup 2021–2023
Soccer UEFA Youth League 2021–2023
Swimming FINA World Aquatics Championships 2001–2007, 2022
Swimming Pan Pacific Swimming Championships 1985–2006
Tennis ATP Cup 2020–2022
Tennis Fed Cup beIN SPORTS 2019–2020
Tennis Hopman Cup 2019
Tennis Masters Cup 2001
Tennis Sydney International 2019
Tennis Fast4 Tennis Stan Sport 2015, 2019
Yacht racing 18ft Skiff 1990s

1 The Nine Network televised the 2011 US Open final between Serena Williams and Samantha Stosur in its entirety.[57]

Programs

[edit]

Nine's Wide World of Sports has presented the following recurring programs:

Sport (event) Program Years
All Sports Sunday 2017–present
Australian rules football The AFL Sunday Footy Show 1993–present
Australian rules football Footy Classified (AFL) 2007–present
Rugby league The NRL Sunday Footy Show 1993–present
Rugby league 100% Footy (NRL) 2018–present
Rugby league NRL Wrap 2022–present
Tennis Cross Court 2019–present

Past

Sport (event) Program Years
All Wide World of Sports 1981–1999, 2008–2016
Australian rules football The AFL Footy Show 1994–2019
Australian rules football Any Given Sunday 2005–2006
Cricket The Cricket Show 1997–2018
Cricket Ashes to Ashes 2006
Rugby league Boots N' All 2001–2005
Rugby league The Sunday Roast 2005–2014
Rugby league The NRL Footy Show 1994–2018
Rugby league On the Couch with Sterlo 2016–2020

Local Sports Presenters

[edit]

The following presenters work on Nine's flagship 6pm (5:30pm on the Gold Coast) news bulletins presenting the local sports segments during the second half of the bulletin.

News Bulletin Primary Presenter Secondary Presenter
Nine News Sydney James Bracey (Sun–Thu) Roz Kelly (Fri–Sat)
Nine News Melbourne Tony Jones (Mon–Fri) Alicia Muling (Sat–Sun)
Nine News Brisbane Jonathan Uptin (Mon–Fri) Dominique Loudon (Sat–Sun)
Nine News Adelaide Tom Rehn (Mon–Fri) Corey Norris (Sat–Sun)
Nine News Perth Matthew Pavlich (Mon–Thu) Paddy Sweeney (Fri–Sun)
Nine News Darwin Adam Jackson (Mon–Fri) Isabel Mullins (Sat–Sun)
Nine News Gold Coast Bronte Gildea (Mon–Fri) Matt Tsimpikas (Sat–Sun)
Nine News Central Coast and Hunter Adam Murray (Sun–Wed) Jack Howard (Thu–Sat)

WWOS Radio

[edit]

Since 2020, each weeknight between 6pm and 7pm Nine owned radio stations program Wide World of Sports radio. This hour long program discusses relevant local, national and international sports issues as conducting interviews with current and former players, coaches and sports journalists.

Radio Station WWOS Presenter
2GB Sydney Mark Levy (Mon–Thu)

Adam Hawse (Fri)

3AW Melbourne Sam McClure (Mon–Fri)
4BC Brisbane Peter Psaltis (Mon–Fri)
6PR Perth Adam Papalia (Mon–Fri)

Presenters and commentators

[edit]

Nine's Wide World of Sports has hosts and commentators for a variety of sporting events. The following is a list of past and present personalities featured:

Wide World of Sports

[edit]

Formerly called Sports Sunday until 2024

Wide World of Sports

[edit]

Past

[edit]

Any Given Sunday

[edit]

2024 Paris Olympics

[edit]

All times are listed in AEST

Hosts

[edit]

Commentators

[edit]

Reporters

[edit]

2012 London Olympics

[edit]

Various Nine programs including Today, Mornings, Millionaire Hot Seat, The Footy Show, 60 Minutes and Australia's Funniest Home Videos went on hiatus during Nine's broadcast of the 2012 London Olympics. A daily two-hour highlights package London Gold aired at 9am weekdays following the live overnight coverage.

Rugby league

[edit]

Current

[edit]

Former

[edit]

NSW Cup

[edit]
  • Peter Psaltis (commentator, 2019–present)
  • Jamie Soward (commentator, 2018–present)
  • Danika Mason (host, 2019–present)

QLD Cup

[edit]
  • Mark Braybrook (commentator, 2019–present)
  • Scott Sattler (commentator, 2013–present)
  • Peter Badel (sideline commentator, 2016)
  • Adam Jackson (sideline commentator 2016–present)

The Sunday NRL Footy Show

[edit]

100% Footy

[edit]

The NRL Footy Show

[edit]
Former
[edit]

Tennis

[edit]

Australian Open

[edit]

French Open

[edit]
  • Todd Woodbridge (Host and Commentator, 2021–present)
  • Brett Phillips (Late Night Host, 2021–present)
  • Roz Kelly (Host, 2023–present)
  • Jelena Dokic (Commentator, 2021–present)
  • Brenton Speed (Commentator, 2023–present)
  • Samantha Stosur (Commentator, 2023–present)
  • Sam Groth (Commentator, 2021–2022)

Wimbledon

[edit]

US Open

[edit]
  • Todd Woodbridge (Host and Commentator, 2022–present)
  • Brett Phillips (Early Morning Host, 2022–present)
  • Jelena Dokic (Commentator, 2022–present)

Cricket

[edit]

Current

Cricket World Cup 2019, Women's Ashes 2019, Ashes 2019

[edit]

2018 (most recent) Home Summer of Cricket

[edit]

Past

[edit]

Guest international commentators

[edit]

Netball

[edit]
  • Clint Stanaway (host, 2017–2021)
  • Roz Kelly (host, 2021–2021)
  • Jayne Azzopardi (host, 2018–2021)
  • Aislin Kriukelis (host, 2018–2021)
  • Warren Tredrea (host, 2018–2021)
  • Sue Gaudion (host/commentator, 2016–2021)
  • Anne Sargeant (commentator, 2016–2021)
  • Liz Ellis (commentator, 2016–2021)
  • Sharelle McMahon (commentator, 2016–2021)
  • Catherine Cox (commentator, 2017–2021)
  • Clare McMeniman (commentator, 2018–2021)
  • Julie Snook (courtside reporter, 2017–2021)
  • Jack Berketa (courtside reporter, 2017–2021)
  • Paddy Sweeney (courtside reporter, 2017–2021)
  • Alexis Daish (courtside reporter, 2018–2021)
  • Carrie-Anne Greenbank (courtside reporter, 2018–2021)
  • Michael Atkinson (courtside reporter, 2018–2021)
  • Kim Green (commentator, 2019–2021)
  • Seb Costello (host/commentator, 2017-2021)
  • Erin Molan (host – Fast5 World Series, 2017)
  • Laura Geitz (expert analysis, 2016 Fast5 World Series)
  • Sharni Layton (expert analysis, 2016 Fast5 World Series)
  • Sylvia Jeffreys (host, 2016–2017)
  • Tom Mitchell (courtside reporter, 2017)
  • Christine Ahern (courtside reporter, 2017)

Association Football

[edit]

Tour Down Under Cycling

[edit]

Rugby union

[edit]
  • Ken Sutcliffe (host)
  • Cameron Williams (host)
  • Bill Baxter (host)
  • Brendan Cannon (expert analysis)
  • Benn Robinson (expert analysis)
  • Phil Waugh (live ground reports & expert analysis)
  • Nathan Sharpe (live ground reports & expert analysis)
  • Andrew Swain (Secondary Caller), 2021–present
  • Sean Maloney (Main Caller), 2021–present
  • Nick McArdle (Host), 2021–present
  • Roz Kelly (Host), 2021–present
  • Tim Horan (Expert Analysis), 2021–present
  • Drew Mitchell (Expert Analysis), 2021–present
  • Andrew Mehrtens (Expert Analysis), 2021–present
  • Allana Ferguson (Expert Analysis), 2021–present
  • Morgan Turinui (Expert Analysis), 2021–present
  • Justin Harrison (Expert Analysis), 2021–present
  • David Campese (Expert Analysis), 2021–present
  • Michael Cheika (Expert Analysis), 2021–present
  • Sonny Bill Williams (Expert Analysis), 2021–present
  • Sera Naiqama (Expert Analysis), 2021–present
  • Paddy Sweeney (Sideline), 2021–present
  • Michael Atkinson (Sideline), 2021–present

National Basketball League

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  • Bill Baxter (host, 2015–2016)
  • Brad Rosen (expert analysis, 2015–2016)

Australian Rules Football

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AFL

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  • Eddie McGuire (2002–2005) (Friday Night Football – all games and Sunday Football commentator – Victoria Games – 2002–2004)
  • Garry Lyon (2002–2006) (Friday Night Football – all games and Sunday Football expert commentator – Victoria Games)
  • Dermott Brereton (2002–2006) Friday Night Football – all games and Sunday Football expert commentator – Interstate Games)
  • Dennis Cometti (2002–2006) (Friday Night Football – all games and Sunday Football commentator – Interstate Games)
  • James Brayshaw (2002–2006) (Sunday Football commentator – Victoria Games – 2002, 2005–2006 and Interstate Games – 2003–2004, 2006)
  • Gerard Healy (2002–2003) (Sunday Football expert commentator)
  • Tony Jones (2002–2006) (Friday Night Football boundary rider, Sunday Football studio host)
  • Dr. Peter Larkins (2002–2006) (Friday Night Football boundary rider)
  • Anthony Mithen, boundary rider (2002–2003) (Sunday Football boundary rider – Interstate Games)
  • Michael Roberts (2002–2006) (Sunday Football boundary rider – Victoria Games – 2002–2003 and Interstate Games 2004–2006)
  • Dwayne Russell (2002–2006) (Friday Night Football – 2006 and Sunday Football commentator – Interstate Games)
  • Brian Taylor (2002–2006) (Sunday Football commentator – Victoria Games)

SANFL

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EJ Whitten Legends Game

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The Footy Show panellists

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The Sunday Footy Show panellists

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Current panelists

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Former panelists

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Swimming

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  • Tony Jones (2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) Host)
  • Mathew Thompson (2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) lead Commentator)
  • Ian Thorpe (2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) Expert Commentator)
  • Giaan Rooney (2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) Expert Commentator)
  • Ariarne Titmus (2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) Expert Commentator)
  • Seb Costello (2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) Host/Reporter)
  • James Bracey (2022 FINA Aquatics Championship Host)

Melbourne Cup carnival

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Awards

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Sports coverage and programs made by Nine's Wide World of Sports have been won and been nominated for several awards at the Logie Awards.

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Wide World of Sports - Some Hits, Some Errors", The New York Times, 19 April 1981
  2. ^ "Cricket and the Media", International Cricket Hall, 2010
  3. ^ "David Hill, the Australian who changed the face of sports TV, is doing the same for the Oscars", Perth Now, Andrew Fenton, 26 February 2016
  4. ^ "Mike Gibson, veteran sports presenter and commentator, dies aged 75", The Guardian, Australian Associated Press, 23 September 2015
  5. ^ a b "Mike Gibson's ability to empathise with punters made him a storyteller without peer", Perth Now, Christian Nicolussi, 23 September 2015
  6. ^ a b "Legendary sports commentator and journalist Mike Gibson dies aged 75", The Daily Telegraph, 23 September 2015
  7. ^ "Billy Birmingham to retire 'The 12th Man'", The Roar, Benjamin Conkey, 9 November 2015
  8. ^ a b "'No crying in television': Packer would be pragmatic about switch", The Sydney Morning Herald, Chris Barrett, 13 April 2018
  9. ^ "Ron Casey, sports journalist and talkback radio presenter, dies at 89", The Guardian, 1 October 2018
  10. ^ "The road to riches down memory lane", Financial Review, Charles Wright, 15 May 1999
  11. ^ "‘Tangles’ was all heart", MCC News, November 2016
  12. ^ "Former Australian cricketer Max Walker dies at 68", Stuff.co, Joe Pierek, 28 September 2016
  13. ^ "Max Walker dies aged 68", Sunshine Coast Daily, 28 September 2016
  14. ^ "Nine Network unveils AFL strategy", Sport Business, 19 September 2001
  15. ^ "NRL secures $500m rights deal", ABC, 1 July 2005
  16. ^ "Lock it in, Eddie", The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 February 2006
  17. ^ "Seven and Ten win AFL rights", The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 January 2006
  18. ^ "Seven, Ten win AFL broadcasting rights", The Sydney Morning Herald, 5 January 2006
  19. ^ "Seven, Ten win AFL rights", The Age, 6 January 2006
  20. ^ "Cricket's battle over TV rights", Crikey, 6 December 2004
  21. ^ "Nine still the one for cricket as Packer's killer bid gives game $45 million a year", The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 May 2005
  22. ^ "Nine Network on the brink of collapse", Illawarra Mercury, Michael Idato and Colin Kruger, 16 October 2012
  23. ^ "Hoops back on free-to-air", The Age, 5 October 2006
  24. ^ Wilson, Chris (1 March 2008). "A 'Wide World' opens for Gilly". Daily Telegraph.
  25. ^ "Returning: Wide World of Sports", TVTonight, David Knox, 11 March 2008
  26. ^ "John McEnroe, Todd Woodbridge sign on Nine's Australian Open team.", TV Tonight, David Knox, 9 August 2018
  27. ^ "Nine Network pushes internet video ads for ninemsn", Financial Review, Neil Shoebridge, 31 March 2008
  28. ^ "Profile: Grant Hackett", The Sydney Morning Herald, Lucinda Schmidt, 20 July 2011
  29. ^ Channel Nine to bet its bank on footy | PerthNow, Michael Warner, 16 July 2010
  30. ^ Seven snatches Wimbledon tennis coverage | Herald Sun, Colin Vickery, 4 April 2011
  31. ^ "Smashes $1 Billion Barrier in New Broadcast Deal", AusLeisure, 22 August 2012
  32. ^ "Nine wary of bidding war", The Sydney Morning Herald, Jon Pierik, 27 February 2013
  33. ^ "TV WEEK Logie Award Winners ", Now To Love, 1 January 2010
  34. ^ "Fox Sports hires Nine executive Steve Crawley in new rugby league TV shake-up", News Corp Australia Network, Holly Byrnes, 5 February 2016
  35. ^ "Nine appoints new Head of Sport and exec producer of 60 Minutes", TV Tonight, David Knox, 6 February 2018
  36. ^ a b "Emma Freedman is back at Channel Nine 14 months after being sacked", News.com.au, Andrew Bucklow, 3 March 2016
  37. ^ "Nine's Wide World of Sports launching FAST5 Netball World Series", Mediaweek, 27 October 2017
  38. ^ "One of the greats: Wide World Of Sports signs Ray Warren for five more years", Mediaweek, 5 May 2017
  39. ^ "Nine's WWoS launching GPS player tracking at State Of Origin", Mediaweek, 26 May 2017
  40. ^ "Nine announce exciting plans for NRL and rugby league coverage in 2018", Nine, 28 February 2018
  41. ^ "Nine Secures Broadcast Rights For The US Masters", Bandt, B&T Magazine, 10 January 2018
  42. ^ a b "Nine reveals strategy for Australian Open", Ad News, Josh McDonnell, 9 August 2018
  43. ^ a b "John McEnroe to headline Channel Nine's Australian Open commentary team", Sporting News, 8 September 2018
  44. ^ "Erin Molan's career unharmed after Footy Show disaster", News.com, author, 25 October 2018
  45. ^ "Nine to bring Wide World of Sports to radio", Ad News, Mariam Cheik-Husein, 16 December 2020
  46. ^ "Wide World of Sports coming to 2GB and 4BC in 2020", Mediaweek, 17 December 2019
  47. ^ "Nine Network Launch New Tennis Television Show", Tennis.com, 2 April 2020
  48. ^ "NRL to fulfil obligations to Nine Network", Wide World of Sports, 9 April 2020
  49. ^ Mediaweek (11 November 2020). "Stan Sport confirm tennis deal, reveals first live sport coming next February". Mediaweek. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  50. ^ "Rugby Australia signs deal with Nine to stream games on Stan". www.abc.net.au. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  51. ^ "Nine unveils Stan Sport OTT service after striking AUS$100m Rugby Australia deal". SportsPro. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  52. ^ Brunsdon, Simon (8 February 2023). "Nine announces Olympic broadcast rights for five Games events". Nine.com.au. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  53. ^ "Nine officially awarded Olympic Games broadcast rights up to 2032". Mediaweek. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  54. ^ Brunsdon, Simon (20 February 2024). "Nine announces landmark broadcast rights deal with VRC for Melbourne Cup carnival". Wide World of Sports. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  55. ^ McKnight, Robert (20 February 2024). "Nine nabs the MELBOURNE CUP as part of a complicated deal". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  56. ^ Knox, David (20 February 2024). "Nine announces Melbourne Cup deal to 2029". TV Tonight. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  57. ^ Sam Stosur Wins US Open After Serena Williams Shout Controversy - smh.com.au
  58. ^ "England in denial over Super League's trade deficit", The Guardian, Andy Wilson, 16 November 2008
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