Nine Upfronts 2016: Nine goes HD, new lifestyle channel -and Daryl Somers returns

Nine’s primary channel will switch to High Definition on Thursday November 26th in a major win for viewers.

The news spearheads major announcements in Nine’s 2016 Upfronts to advertisers today.

They also include:
– new lifestyle channel, LIFE to join GEM and GO! from Nov 26
– live streaming of all channels from early 2016 on 9Now (rebranding of 9jumpin)
– new drama thriller series Hide & Seek
– new sitcom Here Come the Habibs!
– new telemovie House of Bond on Alan Bond
– hypnotism series You’re Back In The Room hosted by Daryl Somers
– transformation series This Time Next Year
– factual series Prison: First & Last 24 Hours
– Australia’s Got Talent judges: Kelly Osbourne, Dicko, Eddie Perfect, Sophie Monk, hosted by Dave Hughes.
– Nine renews The Verdict (and Karl confirmed for Today).
– refreshes logos and branding.

David Gyngell, CEO Nine Entertainment Co, said: “This is all about using the available technology to give viewers what they want. We’ve been listening to feedback from our audience and consistently they tell us they want their programs in HD. Until now, there have been some barriers preventing us from rolling out HD on Nine, but it gives me great pleasure today to announce that from November 26, Channel Nine will be screened in crystal-clear high definition. All your favourite programs have never looked so good.”

Viewers without a HD television will still be able to watch Channel Nine through a simulcast standard definition (SD) broadcast. GEM will revert to SD.

Underpinning Nine’s 2016 slate is its biggest investment on local content, by reallocating the spend it is no longer obliged to fork out for its former Warner Bros. output deal.

Michael Healy, Director of Television said: “Our 2016 slate is brimming with a raft of new Australian productions and a swag of returning homegrown favourites. Never before has local content been as important as it is right now.

“We have diverted funds normally spent on international programming to investing in stories shot right here in our own backyard. Our viewers tell us that local production is what they want to see and next year they will see that in spades on Nine.”

Nine’s Managing Director Programming and Production Andrew Backwell also told TV Tonight, he was committed to keeping eyeballs on Free to Air television and viewed Pay TV and SVOD as competition, more than Seven and TEN.

“We’ve been fighting over the years but that really has to stop. As a Free to Air industry we really have to keep the viewers on our platform and stop them drifting to SVOD, online and Pay TV. By offering them more choice and HD it incentivises them to stay,” he said.

With titles such as You’re Back in the Room, hosted by Daryl Somers, Nine is also moving towards more Entertainment in 2016.

“Part of our strategy is to not just rely on stripped Reality content that plays 5 nights a week for 12 weeks. We’re doing more shorter-run stuff and we want to get a lot more Entertainment and Variety onto our schedule. In the past you’ve seen Reality all year stripped at 7:30.

“We will still have some of it on our schedule but we think it is too big a commitment (for viewers) so we want more Entertainment on. And there is no-one who shouts Entertainment bigger than Daryl Somers. He is the master of Entertainment.”

New:

Hide & Seek
Nine’s new contemporary crime thriller, Hide & Seek, is set in a world where everybody has something to hide, and nobody is what they seem. While investigating a murder, police and immigration officials uncover a network of potential terrorists who have entered Australia under false passports. The enemies of national security are now hiding in plain sight and the race is on to hunt them down before the next atrocity. Hide & Seek is produced by Matchbox Pictures and distributed by NBCUniversal, with executive producers Andy Ryan, Jo Rooney and Debbie Lee, and series producer Stephen Corvini (Schapelle, Devil’s Dust, Better Man). Created and written by Rachel Lang (Outrageous Fortune, Go Girls) and Gavin Strawhan (This Is Not My Life, When We Go To War), production will commence early in 2016 with funding from Screen NSW.

Here Come The Habibs!
When a Lebanese migrant family, the Habibs, strike it rich and move to Australia’s poshest postcode, their neighbours know this can only mean one thing – trouble! Mega-rich suburb, old-money mansion, working- class Lebanese migrant family … there’s no prize for guessing the odd one out. The real mystery is, how on earth did the Habibs fund their prized position in Australia’s wealthiest suburb? Pig-headed dad Fou Fou (Michael Denkha) is a dodgy builder, mum Mariam (Camilla Ah Kin) is a housewife, daughter Layla (Kat Hoyos) is an Instagram-a-holic, middle child Elias (Tyler De Nawi) is a uni student, and Toufic (Sam Alhaje) is a wheeler-dealer entrepreneur. Neighbour Olivia O’Neill (Helen Dallimore) is determined to drive the Habibs from her world and enlists her husband Jack (Darren Gilshenan) to help in the quest. Daughter Madison (Georgia Flood) doesn’t think the Habibs are all that bad, especially the youngest son. It’s a case of be careful what you wish for in this conflict- charged, fish-out-of-water story, which brings a fresh comic perspective to multicultural Australia. Here Come The Habibs! is the boldest Australian comedy in decades. It is currently in production by Jungleboys, with executive producers Andy Ryan, Jo Rooney, Ben Davies and Jason Burrows. The series created by Rob Shehadie, Tahir Bilgic and Matt Ryan-Garnsey is directed by Darren Ashton and produced by Chloe Rickard. Here Come The Habibs! is proceeding with the assistance of Screen Australia and Screen NSW.

House Of Bond
House Of Bond tells the rags-to-riches-to-rags tale of controversial business tycoon Alan Bond from the 1960s-90s. It is the outrageous story of how a cheeky, knockabout Ten-Pound-Pom fought his way from the back alleys of Fremantle to become the richest man in Australia and one of our greatest sporting heroes. “Bondy” was a man with an insatiable appetite for the excesses of life: women, fame, money, crime and everything between. But Bond’s ego, greed and ambition saw him overreach beyond all measure until his empire collapsed, leaving him as the country’s greatest villain with the biggest ever bankruptcy. House Of Bond is the extraordinary story of the man who defined the 1980s by dreaming big and rewriting the rulebook. Was he a hero? A villain? Or a little bit of both? House of Bond is produced by Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder with executive producers Andy Ryan, Jo Rooney and Michael Cordell; producer Paul Bennett (House of Hancock, Great Mint Swindle); and writer Sarah Smith (Winter, Rescue Special Ops, Dripping in Chocolate).

You’re Back In The Room
It’s mind over matter in You’re Back in the Room, the hilarious new game show that gives contestants the opportunity to win cash prizes while being under the power of hypnotism. Standing between them and the money will be hypnotist Keith Barry, who puts each one under hypnosis to thwart their efforts. Over five rounds, the contestants take part in a series of outrageous games where tasks need to be completed in order to win. Their cash pot accumulates throughout the show before they attempt to win as much as possible in a fast-paced final round where they’ll have to work harder than ever to overcome the hindrances of hypnosis. Television legend Daryl Somers returns to Nine as host.

This Time Next Year
This Time Next Year is an exciting prime-time series showcasing an array of incredible real-life transformations. The show will feature ordinary people on a mission to transform their lives in extraordinary ways over the course of 12 months. They pledge to change their life by “this time next year”. This could be anything from losing half their body weight, finding the love of their life or even becoming a parent. This Time Next Year will deliver these transformations in an instantaneous “time travel” style format. Once each pledge is made the participant will leave the studio, ready to begin their challenge – and reappear just moments later, completely transformed one year on, revealing their new persona. Only then will the viewers at home learn how they’ve achieved it.

Prison: First & Last 24 Hours
In this emotion-charged new observational series, viewers will get an unprecedented insight into life behind bars in Australia in the 21st Century. Following offenders starting the first day of their jail sentence and those experiencing their final 24 hours locked up, Prison: First & Last 24 Hours offers a no-holds-barred look at the impact on their family, friends and corrections officers. Filmed in men’s and women’s prisons around the country, the series is produced by the Nine Network.

The Hunt
Sir David Attenborough is back on Nine in 2016 to narrate a landmark natural history series about the relationship between predators and their prey. The Hunt will showcase rarely seen animal behaviour – hunting failures – revealing the difficulties predators face in catching their prey. Survival depends on many skills – speed, stealth, stamina, strength, ingenuity and teamwork – but it’s how these are applied that makes the difference between success and failure, life and death.

Soundbreaking
Featuring more than 150 original interviews with some of the most celebrated recording artists, producers and music industry pioneers of all time, Soundbreaking charts a century’s worth of innovation and experimentation. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at the birth of brand new sounds.

Returning:

Love Child
Love Child, Australia’s much-loved drama, returns to Nine in 2016 for a third series, with a stellar cast including Jessica Marais, Jonathan LaPaglia, Matt LeNevez, Mandy McElhinney, Miranda Tapsell, Ella Scott Lynch, Gracie Gilbert, Harriet Dyer, Sophie Hensser, Lincoln Younes and Andy Ryan. Set amid the social upheavals of 1970s Kings Cross, the men and women of Love Child will face their greatest challenges and most shocking secrets, as well as war and a surprise wedding.

House Husbands
The smash-hit Aussie drama finished its fourth series with an average of more than 1.3 million viewers, across all devices, in 2015. Your favourite House Husbands will be back with more laughs and plenty of drama in an all-new series in 2016.

The Voice
The Voice, Logie winner and Australia’s most watched Light Entertainment Program, will return in 2016 for Season 5. Which superstar coaches will take to the spinning red chairs to discover Australia’s next big Voice?

Australia’s Got Talent
Australia’s Got Talent is returning to Channel Nine to celebrate the unique and brilliant from all walks of life and unearth some of the country’s most outstanding performers. International television host and fashion designer Kelly Osbourne, Australia’s premier talent show judge Ian “Dicko” Dickson, the multi-talented Eddie Perfect, and one of our most popular personalities, Sophie Monk, will judge the wacky and wonderful acts. They will be joined by the host of the show, one of Australia’s most successful comedians, Dave “Hughesy” Hughes. This diverse lineup, who have excelled across so many different fields, will be sure to discover outstanding local talent.

The Block
The original and still the best, The Block, Nine’s Logie Award-winning ratings blockbuster, returns in 2016 for its 12th series. A back-to-basics approach in 2015 saw ratings soar, with the program consistently ranking as the No 1 program with the key demographics. More than $12 million has been given away since the first series aired in 2003, including a record-breaking $3.165 million in this year’s Triple Threat series.

Reno Rumble
The supercharged format in which teams transform two houses in just one week is back for a new season with new couples. In the biggest showdown TV has ever seen, couples hit the road to renovate the homes of everyday deserving Aussies and turn their dreams into reality.

Married At First Sight
The smash-hit new program of 2015, Married at First Sight, which saw four Australian couples meet for the very first time on their wedding day, will return for a second series in 2016. In this extreme social experiment, three top relationship experts pair eight brave singles, using a mix of neuroscience and psychology to try to create four perfect matches. Those who make it through the wedding will move in together and live as man and wife for one month. But what happens when the honeymoon is over and real married life sets in?

The Farmer Wants A Wife
Australia’s most heartwarming and successful television dating program, The Farmer Wants a Wife, returns in 2016 with a new batch of lonely farmers: Farmer Lachie from NSW, Farmer Adam from Victoria, Farmers Jedd and Julz from South Australia, Farmer Matt from Western Australia and Farmer Lance from Queensland, all on a quest to find everlasting love on the land. With a new host, country music star Sam McClymont, will this year’s farmers join our past roll call of successful matchups, which boasts eight marriages, ten babies and three long-term relationships?

The Big Bang Theory
The only place you will see all-new episodes of the world’s most watched comedy program is on Channel Nine. We start the year with first-run episodes of The Big Bang Theory Season 9. Then, later in the year, we’ll bring you all-new, fast-tracked episodes of Season 10.

The Embassy
Another award winner, The Embassy, returns to Nine in 2016. The Embassy will feature more exclusive access to the diplomats coming to the aid of Australians in crisis abroad. Season 2 takes us to the frontline as our embassy staff serve to keep us safe and out of trouble in stunning holiday locations across Asia. In Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, we join them as they respond to major catastrophes, hilarious escapades, devastating accidents, love gone wrong and everything in between. Sometimes it’s as simple as being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And sometimes miracles do happen.

Kings Cross ER
Kings Cross ER returns in 2016 with an unflinching look inside the hospital emergency room that covers Australia’s most notorious nightclub strip. Season 4 of the fast-paced observational documentary follows an extraordinary team of doctors, nurses and specialist consultants at St Vincent’s Hospital, led by long-serving Emergency Department director Gordian Fulde, as they pull together to deal with the frenetic pace of Australia’s most unique emergency ward.

58th TV Week Logie Awards
As we celebrate 60 years of television in Australia, TV’s night of nights, The TV Week Logie Awards, will once again be broadcast Live on Channel Nine.

Carols By Candlelight
It wouldn’t be Christmas without Carols by Candlelight. And the only place you’ll catch Australia’s favourite Christmas singalong, from the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, is on Nine.

Nine News
More Australians turn to Nine News than any other news service. We have the most experienced presenters, bringing viewers the most relevant and credible news in the country.

A Current Affair
Tracy Grimshaw returns as host for the show that has become an Australian institution. A Current Affair listens to its viewers and tells the stories that matter most to the people of Australia. A Current Affair goes into battle for the underdog and gets results for people that make a meaningful difference to their lives. It aims to provide news and information that is useful in the day-to-day lives of ordinary Aussies.

60 Minutes
Australia’s No 1 weekly public affairs program has been informing and entertaining viewers on Sunday nights since 1979. In 2016, 60 Minutes returns for its 38th series.

The Verdict
Channel Nine’s provocative new panel show, The Verdict, hosted by Karl Stefanovic, will return in 2016 featuring more lively and entertaining discussion on topics fuelling debate around the country.

Inside Story
Inside Story profiles the courageous, the inspiring, the controversial – remarkable Australians with extraordinary stories. These are the people at the centre of issues and events that touch us all. From the heartwarming to the heartbreaking – human dramas, adventures, mysteries, medical miracles and real-life crime – these are the stories that shock, entertain, intrigue and challenge. Leila McKinnon returns to host a new series in 2016.

Today
Australia’s longest running breakfast show, Today, hosted by Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson, will be back with a fresh new look for 2016. More people are choosing to wake up with Today for their morning fix of breaking news, world-exclusive interviews, chart-topping acts and stories of everyday Aussies doing amazing things.

Mornings
Mornings will be back in 2016 with David Campbell and Sonia Kruger at the helm. Mornings brings viewers all the latest entertainment news and news about the royal family, plus food, fashion and lots of fun along the way.

Wide World Of Sports

NRL
Having signed an historic new deal this year, Nine is now the exclusive free-to-air broadcaster of the National Rugby League competition right through until 2022. More than 3.6 million people tuned in to this year’s grand final, making it the most watched grand final of any sporting code in the country. Get set for another electrifying season in 2016.

State Of Origin
This year’s second State of Origin match will officially go down as Australia’s No 1 program of 2015, with an average audience of 3.9 million viewers. The New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons will go head-to-head in 2016 in another do-or-die, best-of-three series.

Cricket
Nine’s cricket coverage has been the soundtrack to summer for almost 40 years. Our unrivalled commentary team includes some of the greatest names ever to don the baggy green. Nine is the only free-to-air channel where you will see Australia compete in Test matches, One Day Internationals and international Twenty20 games.

We’ll also bring you the International Champions’ Cup Football, Four Nations Rugby League, NBL Basketball, Tour Down Under and the Australian Open of Surfing.

Getaway
Getaway provides viewers with the best in travel, entertainment and information, with sizzling holiday destinations and hot spot suggestions for the most intrepid traveller. Getaway is Australia’s longest-running and most popular holiday and travel program. Grab your passport, pack your suitcase and get ready to take off with a new series in 2016.

9GO!

The Rookie
The Rookie is an exciting new reality series that will give one lucky amateur player the chance to turn pro with one of the big NRL clubs. Top rugby league greats Brad “Freddie” Fittler, Mark “MG” Geyer and Adrian “Lammy” Lam will be putting 25 hopeful rookies through their paces in a series of weekly captains’ challenges, followed by matches against a tough array of opposition. This will culminate in a special live broadcast of the show next year where all 16 NRL clubs have the opportunity to “draft” the eventual winner. The Rookie will air on 9GO! in 2016.

First Run Animation On 9GO!
Catch your favourite animation programs, including brand new series of Adventure Time, Regular Show, Ben 10 and Teen Titans Go! – all on 9GO! in 2016.

Britain’s Got Talent
Series 10 of the hugely successful show created by Simon Cowell will air on 9GO! in 2016. Britain’s Got Talent gave Susan Boyle to the world. Which next international superstar will they unearth in 2016?

New On GO! In 2016
All new programs to screen on 9GO! in 2016 include Baggage Battles, Dog and Beth on The Hunt, Top Gear: Best of British, For The Love of Cars, Cold Water Cowboys and Bad Robots.

Returning To 9GO!
The Middle, Mike & Molly and Anger Management will return to 9GO! with brand new episodes, along with Auction Hunters, UK and US versions of Storage Hunters and The Tattoo Shop Series 2.

9GEM

In 2016, 9Gem will feature first-run episodes of much-loved dramas Murder in the First, Proof, Lucan, The Widower, Shetland, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Major Crimes and Rizzoli & Isles.

Factual Programming On 9GEM
9GEM will also screen some of the world’s finest documentaries and factual programming, including Death Row Stories Series 2, Sparks of Invention, See No Evil, Who Do You Think You Are USA, Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away, Southern Justice, Emergency on Our Streets, Secret Dealers, Air Ambulance ER, Catching History’s Criminals, Nature’s Weirdest Events and the best of David Attenborough – Frozen Planet, Life in Cold Blood and Blue Planet.

9LIFE

Australia’s first free-to-air lifestyle channel, 9Life will launch on Thursday, November 26. It will broadcast the very best in lifestyle and reality television content, featuring some of the most popular franchises in the world, including The Bachelor, Million Dollar Listing and The Real Housewives. The new channel will also feature programs that have not been seen on Australian television before, such as Flip or Flop, House Hunters International and Tiny House, Big Living.

9Now

Live streaming, catch up and on demand content for all of the Nine Network’s linear channels will launch in early 2016.

David Gyngell, Nine Entertainment Co.’s CEO, said: “9Now gives audiences the choices they want and takes the Nine brand, with all its heritage and great content, into the future. It delivers Nine’s premium programs, from sport and news to drama and big event shows, to audiences when they want it and where they want it.

“This is a transformational time for Nine. Our investment and plans for 9Now will enable viewers to see the best of the network live, on demand and free – anywhere and on any device. It’s a full-service experience. I congratulate the teams for the hard work they have done to create this game-changing product.”

All of Nine’s catch up content will be available via 9Now. Users will sign in – allowing them to access a range of user benefits, but most importantly all of the Nine Network content both live-streamed and on demand.

9Now will launch on desktop and mobile, with apps for both android and Apple, with a Windows app to follow. 9Now will also be available on leading connected devices such as HBBTV, Telstra TV, Apple TV, Sony, Samsung, LG, Playstation, and after launch on xbox and fetch tv.