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Nine confirms NRL Grand Final in HD

Nine follows suit, offering a High Definition grand final for the first time in 5 years.

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Nine has confirmed the NRL Grand Final will be simulcast in High Definition on Sunday on GEM.

The broadcast of the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys on both Nine and GEM, follows Seven confirming the AFL Grand Final in High Definition on 7mate. Last week Nine had no comment on their Grand Final plans.

This marks the first time in 5 years the NRL Grand Final has been available in HD in all cities.

The massive Grand Final day begins at 10.00am when Wide World of Sports, hosted by Ken Sutcliffe, presents a special NRL Grand Final preview show, crossing live to ANZ Stadium as game day hots up.

Fans can then roll straight into the season finale of The Sunday Footy Show at 11.00am with pre-game expert analysis from Rugby League’s Eighth Immortal, Andrew “Joey” Johns, Peter Sterling, Brad Fittler and Darren Lockyer. Plus Erin Molan will be on deck with all the latest news in the countdown to the big game.

At 1.00pm the live rugby league action kicks off with the Holden Cup Grand Final between Penrith Panthers and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. This will be followed at 3.45pm by the 2015 State Championship Grand Final between the Newcastle Knights and Ipswich Jets.

At 6.30pm, following a final wrap-up by the Nine News team, the Grand Final action will officially get underway with a pre-game concert by Aussie rock legends Cold Chisel and a tribute to the players retiring in 2015.

The voice of rugby league, Ray “Rabbits” Warren, will then lead Nine’s NRL commentary team for the 2015 Telstra Premiership Grand Final. Joining him will be seven grand final winners: Peter Sterling, Phil Gould (coach), Brad Fittler, Andrew Johns, Darren Lockyer, Gorden Tallis and Wally Lewis, as well as Nine’s sport reporters Yvonne Sampson and Cameron Williams.

Sunday, October 4: Grand Final Day timetable (times AEDT)
10.00am
Wide World of Sports: NRL Grand Final special

11.00am
The Sunday Footy Show: season finale

1.00pm
2015 Holden Cup Grand Final: Penrith Panthers v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
(** Channel Nine & GEM)

3.45pm
2015 State Championship Grand Final: Newcastle Knights v Ipswich Jets
(** Channel Nine & GEM)

6.30pm
NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final: Brisbane Broncos v Nth Queensland Cowboys live from ANZ Stadium
(**Channel Nine & GEM)

10:00pm
The NRL Footy Show presents “Highway of Happiness”: Encore screening

** Check local guides for times. Times above are AEDT.
** Times/Channels will differ in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne.

20 Responses

  1. Thank god. They finally managed to show this in HD. Ridiculous that the past 4 years has been SD when everyone already has HD TVs, and has had HD for ages. Perhaps there is actually some hope after all that TV bosses are starting to get what viewers actually want.

  2. Its always been a monetary decision not to broadcast the premier sports in HD only. Whether its because of the cost in bandwidth to have 2 HD channels which would mean the other SD would have to be axed or because the perception that not enough people would watch if it was only on HD channels either way money rules these sorts of decisions. Networks have never wanted HD they liked it the way it was. I dont see things changing anytime soon. there is a disconnect with networks and people. We need the accurate info on the amount of HD tv’s and HD set top boxes in the nation.

  3. but it will all go back to sd crap once the gf for both codes are over the cricket in glorious sd same with the big bash fantastic sd. maybe in 2016we may get the main channel as hd or maybe just the same sd crap we are only numbers to them anyway

  4. That’s very generous of Nine. All year in Melbourne we have enjoyed the NRL on GEM but come the prelims when Storm were playing it was switched to the main SD channel. Thanks Nine, you are the best.

    As I’m sure the Grand Final will be live and free!!! I will bow down to you in gratitude.

  5. The Grand Finals are big enough for the networks to not worry about the secondary channel content for a few hours. Common sense has prevailed for once.

    Of course now that they have done it fans will expect everything to be in HD from now on.

  6. A cynic would suggest this as another classic example of Nein following Seven. Finally a victory for viewers of both sports. Now if the networks can continue the momentum for the Bathurst 1000, the upcoming Cricket Series and the Summer of Tennis.

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