Channel Nine

James Packer has announced he is stepping down from the board of PBL Media to end the era of Packer involvement in Channel Nine.

The announcement comes at a time when the company has high debt and is seeking cash injections which Packer's Consolidated Media Holdings refused to provide.

Channel Nine, which has been cutting costs in production and staffing, was the pride of James' father Kerry Packer but it appears that new media and gambling are interests of the third generation media man.

Last night the Nine Network scored massive ratings for coverage of the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final in which the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles avenged their 2007 loss by defeating the Melbourne Storm 40–0, the biggest grand final win ever, in this, rugby league’s centenary year.

The grand final was watched by a peak national audience of 2.465 million, with Nine’s coverage averaging 2.074 million across the five mainland capital cities. Nine screened the match live in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, with 60.6 per cent of the audience tuning in to watch the Eagles win their first premiership in 12 years.

A peak audience in excess of 2.4 million watched the NSW Wizard Blues win game one of the Harvey Norman State of Origin Series last night, beating the Queensland XXXX Maroons 18-10.

An average 2.092 million viewers (Total People) watched Channel Nine’s exclusive coverage across the 5 City Metro – the highest result for a State Of Origin game since the introduction of OzTam ratings.

In Sydney, the game attracted a peak audience of 983,000 for Total People and was the night’s number one program with an average of 897,000 viewers – 57.4 per cent of the audience. In the advertiser-preferred 25-54 demographic the match peaked at 503,000, with an average of 440,000 viewers, also the night’s number one.

In Brisbane, Nine’s coverage drew a peak audience of 802,000 for Total People, with the game averaging 710,000 – a staggering 63.6 per cent of the audience. In the 25-54s, the game attracted a peak of 399,000 and averaged 342,000.

Channel Nine announced today a swag of exciting new program acquisitions for the network in 2008.

The highlight is Life in Cold Blood, the BBC’s final David Attenborough series in his anthology Life on Earth. This outstanding wildlife documentary series tells the story of the oldest creatures on the planet.

Also new for Nine is Extraordinary Animals, an eye-opening and fascinating series that investigates incredible animals which are set apart from the rest because of their remarkable and unique abilities.

Heroes and Villains is a lavish, all-action drama series based on the real lives of six men who shaped the world around them, either by sheer force of will, genius, courage or greed.

And get ready for more monsters, more action and more thrills when Professor Nick Cutter and his team return to do battle with savage dinosaurs and other deadly foes from the past, present and future in Primeval Series 2.

NINE SIGNS NEW SONY DEAL

Today the Nine Network Australia announced it had signed a new five-year international output deal with Sony Pictures Television.

Successful negotiations concluded yesterday with the new deal seeing the Network receive content from Sony through until 2012.

Jeff Browne, Executive Director, Nine Network Australia said: "This deal is most significant in terms of securing top quality overseas content for the Nine Network. It complements the fact that Nine is producing more quality Australian content than any other Network and this week sees the launch of Sea Patrol starring Lisa McCune, the biggest budget new Australian drama.

"The combined strength of our local and overseas programming commitments will ensure the long term success and future of Nine.

"We thank Sony for their confidence in Nine and look forward to continuing what has already proven to be an outstanding relationship,” Browne added.

Managing Director and Senior Vice President of Sony Pictures Television (SPT), Jack Ford, said, “The Nine Network is a valued partner and we’re thrilled to enter into a new output deal with them. SPT has an outstanding and diverse array of new series and hit feature films, together with an extensive library. We believe that our product, combined with Nine’s programming and marketing expertise, will prove very successful.”

MIA FREEDMAN TO LEAVE
THE NINE NETWORK AND ACP MAGAZINES

PBL Media today announced that Mia Freedman will leave the business this week after twelve
months in the position of Creative Services Director for the Nine Network Australia and Editorial
Consultant for ACP Magazines.
Ms Freedman said: "I've enjoyed having the chance to work in television and I've learnt an
enormous amount this past year. I am grateful to PBL Media for giving me this opportunity and I
wish both Nine Network and ACP Magazines every success in the future."
Jeffrey Browne, Executive Director, Nine Network Australia said: "Mia's stint at Nine has been a
creative and productive one for the Network. We thank her and wish her well for the future."
Mia’s role will now be absorbed by Nine’s Head of Programming, Michael Healy.
Pat Ingram, Group Publisher, ACP Magazines said: "Mia has had a number of roles during her
many years with ACP Magazines, most notably as Editor-In-Chief of Cosmopolitan, Cleo and

NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA WINS WITH STRONG US SHOWS

The Nine Network Australia has secured some outstanding programmes through its output deals with major international entities Warner Bros, SONY and New Regency. Michael Healy, Director of Programming, Nine Network Australia said: “Nine is really pleased with the product offering from its output deals in the US. We are confident that shows such as Cashmere Mafia, Viva Laughlin, Damages, Chuck and Pushing Daisies, among others will hold strong appeal to the Australian market. The new shows are young and sexy, character-driven dramas that will no doubt attract additional younger demographics for the Network.

“Audiences and advertisers alike will benefit from an improved international line-up of shows on Nine. There are quite a few Australian actors in these programmes as well as international performers and it’s simply fantastic that on a world scale, Australia is so well represented.