Australia’s Nine & NBCU Ink New Content Deal

As part of a newly inked partnership with NBCUniversal International Distribution, 9Now and Nine will become the new on-demand and broadcast home for all new Bravo U.S. programming from 2020.

Nine signed a multiyear deal with NBCU encompassing both scripted and unscripted, territory premiere and library television content as well as feature films. The deal will see Nine substantially amplify the offering of 9Now in addition to providing premium content for its primary and digital terrestrial linear channels.

With the pact, 9Now expands its unscripted reality library to include E! and Bravo shows, along with hundreds of hours of scripted comedy and drama from the NBCUniversal catalog.

The agreement covers a first-pick volume commitment on NBCUniversal’s U.S. broadcast and cable scripted comedy and drama series from Universal Television and Universal Content Productions, both of which are divisions of NBCUniversal Content Studios.

NBCUniversal’s slate of new and classic feature films from Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation are to remain on Nine.

The new slate of programming will be available to stream or watch on Nine and 9Now from December 1.

Hugh Marks, CEO of Nine, said: “Traditionally, platforms like 9Now have been focused on being largely a reflection of our linear channels. This deal with NBCU sees 9Now firmly beyond being a ‘catch-up service’ and instead become an entertainment destination in its own right.

“Over the past four years, we have established 9Now as the leading commercial broadcast video on demand platform in Australia, but this deal with NBCU helps us not only ensure the consistency of 9Now audience throughout the year, it also helps us better compete with the digital giants with a premium video product, which is unmatched in this market.”

“We have had a longstanding partnership with Nine and are delighted to expand our relationship with them through this monumental deal that highlights the diverse offering across the entire NBCUniversal portfolio,” said Belinda Menendez, president and chief revenue officer of global distribution and international at NBCUniversal.