Nine signs new broadcasting deal for IronMan series
Nine will become the new home of IronMan events, after TEN's deal concluded.
- Published by David Knox
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Nine will become the new home of IronMan events from January 18, 2014.
The deal follows TEN’s partnership with SEL ending with Surf Life Saving Australia last week.
Nine will now screen the IronMan and IronWoman Series, sponsored by Kellogg’s Australia, with over $400,000 in prize money.
The 2014 series will be shorter and faster than previous events, with races conducted at three new locations starting in Margaret River in Western Australia.
Seven-time champion Shannon Eckstein said, “For an athlete there’s nothing better than a new set of physical challenges. We are constantly pushing ourselves to achieve better results and I believe this new IronMan Series format will allow us to do that.”
Graham Ford, Surf Life Saving Australia President, added, “Ironman and Ironwoman racing is an inspirational part of the Surf Life Saving movement. It’s the best of the best and we’re looking forward to showing off the amazing capabilities of the men and women of our sport on Channel Nine.”
Steve Crawley, Head of Sport for the Nine Network, said: “Australians love this sport, and the fans really admire the skill needed to compete in such a series. The fact that the race locations are targeting the challenging waves the athletes thrive on will ensure we deliver great television.”
Additional race information will be announced shortly.
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- Tagged with Ironman, Ironman Series, IronWoman series
3 Responses
Nice. Have big respect for them.
Who will commentate through. Darrell Eastlake did the Surf Live Saving 15/20 years ago.
Nine had a disastrous attempt at broadcasting iron man in the early 1990s. They couldn’t get the official SLSA series so they started their own, similar to World Series Cricket. Despite iron man being ruggedly individualistic they grouped competitors into state-based teams with names like The Thunder. It was a disaster. Let’s hope Nine sticks to tradition this time and presents it without flim flam and hype.
Just like the early days of WWOS – an entire afternoon of sports invented for television.
Big respect to clubbies and life savers however.