Nine has secured the Australian athletics broadcast rights from Seven, with a new seven-year deal taking the sport to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.
The agreement will bring Australian Athletics’ domestic events to Nine and 9Now from 2027, adding to a growing sports portfolio that includes netball, basketball and swimming, while the network also plans to expand its athletics coverage through documentaries, preview shows and athlete-focused content.
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Australia’s superstar athletes and rising stars of the sport are coming to the 9Network, with Australian Athletics and Nine today announcing a landmark seven-year broadcast partnership.
The agreement will make Nine the home of Australian athletics from 2027 to at least the end 2033, taking the sport beyond the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and into one of the most significant periods in Australian sporting history.
The exciting new broadcast partnership was announced during the exclusive coverage of the NRL Grand Final on Channel 9 tonight.
From the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne, to the Australian Athletics Championships and the Olympic and Paralympic selection events on the road to Brisbane 2032, every live hour of Australian Athletics’ licensed events will be shown live and free across Nine, with the sport’s biggest meets broadcast on Channel 9 and free streaming platform 9Now.
Australian athletes have had a golden year on the world stage, and that hype and excitement will only grow in coming years.
Athletes such as Olympic silver medalist Jessica Hull; rising superstar of the sport Cameron Myers; established star pole vaulters and Olympic champion Nina Kennedy and Kurtis Marschall; high jump rivals and world leaders Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson; sprinters Gout Gout, Torrie Lewis and Lachlan Kennedy; 800m favourite Peter Bol; Paralympians Vanessa Lowe, Jaydon Page and Rhiannon Clarke; and discus thrower Matthew Denny are already much loved by the Australian sport-loving public and are set to shine on Nine.
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Throw in rising stars like middle distance runner Claudia Hollingsworth; recent World Athletics U20 Champion high jumper Izobelle Louison-Roe, and charismatic race walker Isaac Beacroft, who won both the U20 Championships and Commonwealth Games gold medal and it’s a very promising time in Australian athletics.
The partnership extends well beyond event coverage.
Nine will use its unparalleled reach and ‘Sofa to Street’ proposition to deepen fandom and tell the stories of Australian athletics and its athletes across Nine’s streaming, publishing and digital assets.
The partnership will also include a dedicated preview show ahead of each Australian Athletics Championships and a feature-length documentary in the 2028 and 2032Olympic years.
The agreement follows a competitive market process undertaken by Australian Athletics, with a clear ambition to secure more than a broadcaster.
Australian Athletics CEO Simon Hollingsworth said the partnership represented a significant moment for the sport.
“This is a landmark day for athletics in Australia,” he said.
“Our athletes are among the best in the world, and this partnership gives more Australians the opportunity to see them compete, get to know them and follow their journeys.”
“With the Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics 2032 on the horizon, we wanted a partner that shared our ambition for the sport and was prepared to invest in building athletics over the long term.”
“Nine is not simply broadcasting our events, they are backing our athletes, telling their stories and helping us build a bigger audience for athletics across Australia.”
“There has never been a more exciting time for our sport, and we believe this partnership can play an important role in turning the momentum we have today into something enduring.”
Nine Director of Sport, Brent Williams, said:
“Australian Athletics is entering a golden era and we are thrilled to be on board such an epic ride through to Brisbane 2032 and beyond.”
“Australia already boasts some of the most exciting athletes on the planet, with a great promise of more to come.”
“We look forward to the journey, telling their stories and sharing their magical moments with all of Australia across the screens of Nine.”
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Australian Athletics President Jane Flemming said the partnership would create opportunities across every level of the sport.
“We know our sport is something everyone relates to, running, jumping, walking and rolling, and now the entire community will get to connect to it in an ongoing and live nature,” she said.
“From our athletes competing on the world stage to the kids discovering athletics for the first time on a Saturday morning, visibility matters.
“Seeing our athletes competing in Australian stadiums, live on national television, gives young Australians heroes to follow and something to aspire to.”
Australian Athletics events announced so far for the 2027 Chemist Warehouse Summer Series and Australian Athletics domestic season, will be shown live and free across the the 9Network and 9Now.
February 13: Adelaide International, SA Athletics Stadium
February 27: Maurie Plant Meet, Lakeside Stadium
March 6: Sydney Track Classic, Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Stadium
March 20: Hobart Track Classic, Domain Athletics Centre
April 1-4: Australian Athletics Championships, Sydney Olympic Stadium
More details about the broadcast including hosts and commentary teams will be announced in coming months.
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