Nine salutes Tony Jones’ four-decade run as a constant on Melbourne screens
Nine Network has recognised a major career milestone for veteran broadcaster Tony Jones, who reaches 40 years with the network on Tuesday, 5 May, cementing his status as one of the most enduring figures in Australian television news and sport.
Jones joined GTV Channel 9 in 1986, beginning what would become a long-running career across both newsroom reporting and sports broadcasting. Over time, he has become one of the most familiar faces on 9News Melbourne, with a tenure that spans multiple generations of viewers.
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Starting out in radio journalism, Jones built his early experience in regional Victoria before moving to 3AW, where he developed the reporting instincts that would later underpin his television work. His grounding in radio helped shape a delivery style suited to both breaking news and live sport coverage.
After initially working as a general news reporter, Jones transitioned into the sports department, where his career took a defining turn. By 1988, he was presenting weekend sports bulletins, and just two years later, in 1990, he was appointed weeknight sports anchor — a role he has maintained for more than three decades.
That longevity has seen him cover a wide range of major sporting events both locally and internationally, including the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Grand Slam tennis tournaments, international cricket tours and the AFL. His reporting has regularly placed him on the ground at key moments in Australian and global sport.
Beyond the nightly news desk, Jones has also played an ongoing role across Nine’s broader sports programming. He has contributed to Wide World of Sports and spent years as a host of The Sunday Footy Show, where he has worked within a panel format blending analysis, commentary and entertainment.
His continued presence across multiple formats reflects a career that has adapted alongside shifts in both news delivery and sports broadcasting, while maintaining a consistent on-air role within Melbourne’s media landscape.
Nine’s National News Director Hugh Nailon said Jones’ milestone highlighted a rare level of continuity in the television industry.
“Forty years at the one network is a rare and remarkable achievement in this industry.
TJ is much more than a sports presenter; he is an institution in Melbourne media.
Whether he’s breaking a major AFL story in the field or interviewing the world’s biggest sport stars, TJ consistently delivers for our viewers with his professionalism and deep understanding of the Australian sporting landscape.
TJ is a mentor to generations of reporters and a trusted face for our viewers.
We congratulate him on this incredible milestone and thank him for his unwavering loyalty and excellence.”
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Jones, reflecting on the anniversary, offered a brief response that pointed to his ongoing presence at the network.
“I’m just getting the hang of this so I’ll be sticking around a while longer.”
Across four decades, Jones’ career has spanned newsroom reporting, live event coverage and long-running television programs, positioning him as a consistent figure within Nine’s Melbourne operations and a recognisable voice in Australian sports media.
Tony Jones marks 40 years with Nine Network on Tuesday, 5 May, on 9News Melbourne on the Nine Network.
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