In 2013 Channel Nine was first in all key demographics, with more weekly wins and more growth than any other network – and today we announce an impressive line-up of shows for 2014 that will deliver new Australian content across all genres.
NEW DRAMA ON NINE IN 2014
LOVE CHILD
A powerful and uplifting new drama series, Love Child tells the stories of young women and men fighting an unjust system in a world on the brink of change.It’s 1969 in Kings Cross and Joan Millar (Jessica Marais), a smart and sophisticated midwife, returns home from London to take a job at the Kings Cross Hospital. Joan finds a new life for herself, at a time when Australia is coming of age and the new generation believes anything is possible in this time of ‘free love and peace’.
Jonathan LaPaglia plays the charismatic Dr Patrick McNaughton, head of obstetrics at Kings Cross Hospital, and Mandy McElhinney plays Frances Bolton, the tough matron who also controls the running of Stanton House, an adjacent home for unwed pregnant young women. Their lives intersect between the Hospital, Stanton House and the wild streets of Kings Cross beyond the hospital walls.
The cast also features Ryan Corr, Ella Scott Lynch, Sophie Hensser, Miranda Tapsell, Gracie Gilbert and Harriet Dyer.
Produced by Playmaker Media for the Nine Network.
FAT TONY & CO.
The brand new series Fat Tony & Co. is based on the compelling true story of one of Australia’s most notorious criminals, Tony Mokbel.Mokbel survived the gangland wars to become arguably Australia’s richest criminal. In March 2006, while on trial for drugs charges, Mokbel went on the run and became Australia’s most wanted man. What followed was an intense manhunt that lasted 18 months and dismantled a drug empire.
A miraculous tip-off to the Australian police revealed that Mokbel was living in Athens, Greece under a false name and documents. But how do you find one man in a population of four million?
Robert Mammone stars as Tony Mokbel with Vince Colosimo as Alphonse Gangitano, Gyton Grantley as Carl Williams, Les Hill as Jason Moran, Madeleine West as Danielle McGuire, Simon Westaway as Mick Gatto, Gerard Kennedy as Graham Kinniburgh and Kevin Harrington as Lewis Moran.
Fat Tony & Co. will also feature Shane Jacobson, Stephen Curry, Debra Byrne, Steve Bastoni, Richard Cawthorne, Simone Kessell, Nicholas Bishop and Hollie Andrew.
Produced by Screentime, a Banijay Group company, for the Nine Network.
SCHAPELLE
A telemovie based on the arrest, trial and conviction of Schapelle Corby in 2004-2005.A 27-year-old beauty school dropout from the Gold Coast, Schapelle, played by actress Krew Boylan, was arrested at Bali airport with 4.2kg of marijuana in a boogie board bag. At first, Schapelle’s arrest was barely noticed by the Australian media, but once photographs were published it sparked a media frenzy and attracted a cast of colourful characters who came to her aid, including sister Mercedes (Jacinta Stapleton), mother Ros (Denise Roberts), father Mick (Colin Friels), and her ‘white knights’ mobile phone mogul ‘Mad Ron’ Bakir (Les Chantery) and Gold Coast lawyer Robin Tampoe (Vince Colosimo).
Also prominent in her story are Foreign Minister Alexander Downer (Francis Greenslade) and Australian Federal Police boss Mick Keelty (Michael Croaker). Schapelle avoided the death penalty but was sentenced to 20 years in Bali’s notorious Kerobokan Prison. To this day she proclaims her innocence. She is currently applying for parole. From her prison cell in Bali, Schapelle Corby became Australia’s first multi-media celebrity of the internet era. Her case became front page news that captivated a nation and continues to polarise opinion.
Schapelle will also feature Russell Kiefel, Waseem Khan, Ngoc Phan, Liana Cornell, Charlotte Chimes and Orpheus Pledger.Produced by FremantleMedia for the Nine Network.
GINA
In a two part mini-series, Gina tells the epic and often bizarre tale of the world’s richest woman Gina Rinehart and the Hancock/Rinehart dynasty.In November 1952, Gina’s father Lang Hancock discovered the world’s largest iron ore deposit in WA’s Pilbara Ranges. It was a moment that forged a dynasty, changed the fortunes of an entire nation, and sowed the seeds of tragedy for Gina and her own family.
Gina tells the dramatic true story of the rise of the Hancock empire from Lang’s discovery through to the present day. Born into incredible wealth and privilege, young Gina was groomed by her father as his ‘cadet magnate’ and heir. Gina covers the incredible public feud between Gina and Lang’s second wife Rose Lacson; Gina’s struggle to rebuild the company following her father’s death; and Gina’s recent battles with her own children over their multi-billion dollar inheritance.
With exclusive inside knowledge of the workings of the Hancock/Rinehart families, this sprawling saga reveals a much-maligned billionaire whose life and wealth fascinates a nation.
Produced by Michael Cordell, Claudia Karvan and Paul Bennett from Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder for the Nine Network.
MAYDAY MAYDAY – THE STORY OF FLIGHT QF32
On 4 November 2010, what began as a routine long-haul flight from Singapore to Sydney came within a knife edge of being one of the world’s worst air disasters.Mayday Mayday – The Story of QF32 follows the gripping stories of the pilots, passengers, cabin crew and ground crew as they battled against overwhelming odds to save the crippled airliner with 469 people on board.
Produced by Screentime, a Banijay Group company, for the Nine Network.
GALLIPOLI
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing in 2015, the Nine Network will commence production in 2014 on the most ambitious television drama in Australian history: Gallipoli.Three years in the making and screening over eight hours, Gallipoli will be the definitive dramatisation of the battle that shaped the ANZAC legend.
Gallipoli tells the true story of the military campaign through the men and women who found themselves in the most extreme situations imaginable. It is a saga of bravery and cowardice; triumph and disaster; power and impotence.
Gallipoli follows Aussie diggers as they live and die in the trenches; Turkish soldiers defending their homeland; political and military intrigue in London and Australia; intrepid journalists who reported on and changed the outcome of the war. Most of all, it’s a story of the resilience of the human spirit.
Produced by John Edwards (Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War, Beaconsfield, Paper Giants), Imogen Banks (Puberty Blues, Offspring) and Robert Connolly (produced Balibo and The Boys, directed Underground: The Julian Assange Story and The Slap), directed by Glendyn Ivin (Beaconsfield, Puberty Blues), with scripts by Christopher Lee (Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War; Rush, Police Rescue), Gallipoli will be the must-see television event of 2015.
NEW ON NINE IN 2014
THE VOICE KIDS
Delta Goodrem and Joel Madden are the first two Coaches announced to join the exciting The Voice spin-off program The Voice Kids. The new series will showcase the extraordinary vocal talent of kids aged 8 to 14 from around Australia, all competing to impress superstar coaches. Expect the same level of talent and heart-stopping moments that took Australia’s breath away on the adult version of The Voice Australia.Already a global ratings smash hit in more than 15 countries, The Voice Kids will feature the same spectacular set with electrifying blind auditions and thrilling battle rounds. The series will culminate in a grand finale where only the best of the best young singers will get their chance to perform for the title of The Kids Voice of Australia.
Produced by Shine Australia for the Nine Network.THE BLOCK (TWO SERIES)
THE BLOCK: FANS v FAVOURITES and THE BLOCK: 2014
Scott Cam returns as host of Australia’s favourite renovation reality program in 2014 with not one, but two blockbuster series, starting with The Block – Fans v Favourites. Expect to see some familiar faces battling it out with novice Blockheads in their quest to win a potentially life-changing sum of money.INSIDE STORY
Emotional, powerful and unforgettable, Inside Story, is a new premium current affairs brand in 2014.Each week we investigate major stories and events in Australia – and beyond. Real life crimes, human dramas, adventures, mysteries, medical miracles – stories that shocked, entertained, intrigued and touched us all will be examined and scrutinised like never before. We’ll also have a few surprises – exposes and investigations that will create headlines and unveil hidden truths.
WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN
Hosted by Natalie Gruzlewski, this romantic new series, features 12 single city girls who have been unlucky in love travelling to the furthest corners of Australia in order to find ‘the one’.Along the way they will meet the two most eligible bachelors in several of the most picturesque and remote towns around the country. While dating these guys, the girls will learn about their lives, passions and the unique connection they have with their local community. The girls will then meet the bachelors’ friends and families, and spend time in what could be their new home.
Ultimately, they must decide whether to stay in town and pursue a relationship, or try to find love in the next town.
When Love Comes To Town is produced by Southern Star Entertainment.
THE EMBASSY: BANGKOK
Nine’s ground-breaking new series, where Australian diplomats break their code of silence for the first time, and take us into their world; saving Aussies in crisis abroad.We’ll join them where cultures collide in Thailand and tell the stories of their desperate family and friends at home. This is a glimpse into the never-before-seen world of international drama that cuts very close to home.
Produced by Fredbird Entertainment and Southern Pictures for the Nine Network.
MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT
Married at First Sight is a Danish observational documentary series which puts relationships under the microscope.The most talked about format to come out of MIPCOM 2013 Married at First Sight works with leading relationship experts to carefully match-make eight Australian singles into four married couples, who each meet each other – for the very first time – at their wedding.
We’ll follow them as they marry, honeymoon, meet the in-laws and set up home, all the while getting to know one another more and more deeply, to see if the matchmakers have got it right and they will have a future together.
By making the ultimate commitment to one another, and living as a married couple for three months, will love bloom and triumph for our four couples? Who will stick together and who will decide to divorce? In the age of internet romance and speed dating, this is a timely social experiment like no other.
Already a massive hit in Denmark the format has been sold to Germany, Holland, the United States, France, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Belgium. Married at First Sight will be produced in early 2014.
NEW OVERSEAS PROGRAMS
MOM
The new comedy from Chuck Lorre starring Anna Faris and Allison Janney, Mom is an irreverent and outrageous take on true family love and dysfunction. Newly sober single mom Christy (Faris) struggles to raise two children in a world full of temptations and pitfalls. Testing her sobriety is her formerly estranged mother (Janney), now back in Christy’s life and eager to share passive-aggressive insights into her daughter’s many mistakes.ALMOST HUMAN
In this action-packed cop show from executive producers J.J. Abrams and J.H. Wyman set in 2048, a worse-for-wear cop teams up with a second-hand synthetic android to fight a strain of urban crime that’s evolved in ever more frightening ways.THE TOMORROW PEOPLE
They are the next evolutionary shift of mankind — a generation of humans born with paranormal abilities. They are the Tomorrow People. Starring Australian actor Luke Mitchell, the series centres around a group of genetically advances humans with the ability to teleport and communicate telepathically.TROY
Prepare to be enthralled and amazed by Troy. Not your average magician, Troy focuses less on white rabbits and sawing women in half, turning his attention to a more street style of magic. Likely to be found wowing crowds in everyday locations, Troy blends his own brand of close-up magic and cheeky tricks to put on a truly spectacular show.DAVID BLAINE REAL OR MAGIC
In a 90 minute special that was six years in the making, David Blaine makes a stunning return to TV. Featuring a long list of celebrities including Ricky Gervais, Woody Allen, Robert De Niro, Katy Perry, Stephen Hawking and Kanye West, Blaine puts on a purely magic show that will leave the audience in total shock.PINK LIVE IN CONCERT
In an exclusive concert event, Pink brings her jaw-dropping live show to Nine. Featuring all her biggest hits in a spectacular stage show extravaganza.RETURNING TO NINE IN 2014
The ratings smash-hit of 2013, The Voice, is back. Superstar coaches Joel Madden and Ricky Martin will be joined by Grammy award winning and current The Voice UK Coaches will.i.am and Kylie Minogue in their quest to discover Australia’s next Voice.The Big Brother juggernaut stormed home on Nine this year, recapturing a whole new generation of Australian viewers. In 2014, Big Brother will be back, hosted by Sonia Kruger, with new housemates, new tricks and new twists, brighter and more entertaining than ever.
In 2014 Hamish & Andy’s Gap Year South America will see the boys span the breath and length of the continent as they learn the art of blow darting from a tribe in the Amazon jungle, indulge in a ‘spit cleansing’ ceremony in Costa Rica, visit a seduction school for Latin lovers in Argentina, and even track down ‘Tarzan of Columbia’ (yes it seems he exists). This time the boys are taking on their most extreme Gap Year expedition so far, with no survival training to speak of, and just their ill-informed sense of adventure packed in their ruck-sacks.
Continuing Nine’s commitment to Australian drama, a third series of the Logie Award-winning program, House Husbands, will go to air in 2014. Our favourite house husbands Lewis (Gary Sweet), Mark (Rhys Muldoon), Justin (Firass Dirani) and Kane (Gyton Grantley) along with their families will all return for the next series.
Australia’s highest rating comedy of 2013, The Big Bang Theory, will also be back in 2014 along with new episodes of Two and a Half Men, 2 Broke Girls, Anger Management and Mike and Molly.
Popular US dramas The Mentalist, Person of Interest, Arrow, The Following, CSI and Unforgettable will all be returning along with new Sherlock and Top Gear from the UK. And Nine will once again be home to The Academy Awards.
Eddie McGuire returns for another year at the helm of Australia’s favourite quiz show. This year, Hot Seat continued to dominate the 5.30pm timeslot, and in 2014, will add to the $21 million prize-money it has already given away to over 900 lucky contestants. Will this be the year someone walks away with $1,000,000?
Nine is once again home to Australian TV’s night of nights. Broadcasting live from Crown in Melbourne, Nine will bring viewers all the glamour from the red carpet and the action from the star-studded ceremony of the 56th TV Week Logie Awards.
Sonia Kruger and David Campbell return for another year of brightening up the morning as they discuss the latest trends, celebrity gossip and new ways to spice up your day on Mornings.
NINE’S WIDE WORLD OF SPORT
It has been a spectacular year of sport on Nine in 2013, and in 2014 the network will continue its first-class coverage of Australia’s biggest sporting events including the NRL, State of Origin, Four Nations, The Ashes, the One Day Internationals, the T20 International Series as well as the world-renowned Santos Tour Down Under, the IronMan and IronWoman series and the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast and The Inter Dominion.Channel Nine’s ever popular AFL Footy Show and NRL Footy Show will also return along with the home of all things sport – Wide World of Sports.
NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS
This year, Nine News, A Current Affair and 60 Minutes reclaimed the mantle as Australia’s No. 1 news and current affairs programs, with Today also becoming the most watched breakfast program along the East Coast of Australia.In 2014, we promise to work even harder to deliver the most credible, up-to-date and relevant news 24 hours a day, wherever it is happening.
Financial Review Sunday, hosted by Deborah Knight will return to Nine in 2014 and will continue breaking business, investment, finance and political news from around the nation.
NINE’S PERFORMANCE IN 2013
With less than one week remaining in the 2013 official television ratings survey period, the Nine Network will claim the title of Australia’s most watched network across all key demographics for the second year running.The Nine Network will end 2013 as Australia’s most watched network for the highly coveted advertiser demographics of People 25-54, 18-49 and 16-39 and the only network to post year-on-year audience share growth across all key demographics and Total People.
Furthermore, the Nine Network will wrap up the year as the most watched network with Total People along the combined East Coast capitals of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and the most watched network across the 5 City Metro with People under 65.
- With a 32.0% share, Nine is Australia’s No. 1 network with People 25–54 – UP 1.3 SHARE POINTS YEAR-ON-YEAR
- With a 32.6% share, Nine is Australia’s No. 1 network with People 18-49 – UP 1.4 SHARE POINTS YEAR-ON-YEAR
- With a 33.6% share, Nine is Australia’s No. 1 network with People 16-39 – UP 1.9 SHARE POINTS YEAR-ON-YEAR
- The Nine Network enjoys a 28.8% share with Total People – UP 1.2 SHARE POINTS YEAR-ON-YEAR
- With a 30.4% share, Nine is the No.1 network along the East Coast of Australia with Total People – UP 1.4 SHARE POINTS YEAR-ON-YEAR
- Nine is the most watched network for People under 65
- Nine will claim 12 of the Top 20 programs of 2013 and 51 of the Top 100 – more top-rating programs than any other network
@Channel9 in 2014
