It appears that Australia’s television networks are making a range of announcements regarding their 2016 line-up at the moment, Channel 7 made their announcements last week, advising they would be simulcasting their live TV on their mobile offerings; today the Nine Network has announce their intention to follow suit.
The Nine Network has announced their Jump-In service, currently available on Android and iOS, will be rebranded as 9Now, with new apps being launched for desktop as well as on Android and iOS, with a Windows App to follow. The rebrand will start in early 2016, and see streams of all programming available in HD. Further apps will arrive on SmartTV platforms and games consoles with apps for HBBTV, Telstra TV, Apple TV, Sony, Samsung, LG, Playstation, forthcoming with apps xbox and fetch tv to arrive soon after launch.
The announcements today include a new channel called 9Life due to start this year on the 26th of November, which will feature Reality style content from the US such as The Bachelor/Bachelorette, House Hunters, Million Dollar Listing LA/NY, Top Chef.
David Gyngell, Nine Entertainment Co.’s CEO, said of the rebrand:
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.
One of the biggest parts of this new announcement for many people will be the inclusion of sports streaming. Channel 9 is currently the exclusive free-to-air broadcaster of the National Rugby League through until 2022. How this deal will affect the deal for streaming games that Telstra currently has in place isn’t clear.
The trend towards treating digital streaming as a first class service by two of the major networks is a welcome change. Network 10 has not as yet made any announcements but we’re hoping to see something similar from them with regards to live streaming through apps.
JumpIn was always a crap name. I have always wondered how long until it got rebranded.
9Life looks to be a complete waste of broadcasting space…
Shows how much effort google Australia is making. Look how fast even Telstra is getting everyone onboard their streaming box and its just launching.
Still no Fu***ing Chromecast or Android TV support!! Why!!
Maybe we’ll see another exclusive to Sony AndroidTV devices deal.
Summer of cricket on this???