Sam Smith makes me miss the great John Barrett, no idea why he never came back, used to be one of the main callers and for Seven’s own coverage too, around late 90s and throughout the 2000s. Usually for ‘lesser matches’ where Sandy, Bruce and JA would do the bigger or prime time ones.
Wasn’t that a government 4k trial? channel Nine just provided the loop I think?
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who?
JA is doing the Stan Sport feed and world feed coverage
John Alexander
Yep, been good to have him back (since the 2010 Final), since leaving for politics and getting back into the tennis media game.
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Some trivia: Watched a classic match some time ago from 16 years ago at the '07 Open and I actually can remember it, the Federer v Roddick prime time Semi on RLA, where him and Jim Courier were clearly not getting along, disagreeing in almost every call during the first set and you could cut the tension with a knife… JA was swapped for Todd Woodbridge after the ad break! Awks. Lots of YouTube comments underneath on it. Although Alexander did actually return later in the last set. 
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From what I can gather he retired from the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage in 2006 aged 75 and did one more AO with them and Seven. So sounds like his choice to hang up the microphone.
If you don’t know who JA is you probably don’t have a great desire to talk about Australian tennis. He’s earnt the right to be known by his nickname in Australian sport’s Pantheon along with AB, Cathy, The Don, EJ, Newk, The Shark, Yvonne, and the Lithgow Flash.
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I thought he did a few more years, but could be wrong, definitely a legend by then. Think he’s still alive too! I remember also from the 2007 Aus Open when Barrett called out on-air someone in Serena Williams’ player-box for intentionally deflecting the sunlight off his wrist watch into her opponents eyes when serving. It was brought up in the post press conference and she laughed it off.
When did Eurosport take over their rights?
I was going to say similar, but didn’t want to sound mean haha.
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Who is that?
Teddy Whitten, ‘Mr Football’ (Aussie Rules). EJ Whitten is his actual name, he has such landmarks as the EJ Whitten Bridge on Melbourne’s Western Ring Road freeway named in his honour. He passed away from cancer in 1995, just months after receiving a motorcade lap of honour at the MCG - virtually blind by then, with his son, famously. There was not a dry eye in the house.
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OK. Heard of him but don’t know him well enough to know EJ was him.
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9Now will stream the first two matches of the 2022/23 WNBL semi-finals, as well as the first game of the grand final series, in March.
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US Masters coverage commences on Thursday 5 April 5am AEST 9Gem
Thursday and Par 3 Competition
The main comp Friday - Monday.
Monday 10th 4am - 9am
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That should be Friday-Monday for the main comp.
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Yes - thanks fixed.
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I’d love to know if Nine make any money off this and if they do from sponsors where those sponsors see that audience opportunity? Wonder if live streaming or catch up clips drive some audience, especially in the no doubt targeted 25-54s and Male demographic and probably of an above average income.
Is it too much to ask that we can get the CBS/ESPN feed this year? The guy that hosts the world feed is so bad…
The 2023 Masters on Nine]
CAMERON SMITH, TIGER WOODS, ADAM SCOTT
IN THE BIGGEST GOLF TOURNAMENT IN THE WORLD
EVERY ROUND LIVE AND FREE FROM APRIL 7
ON 9GEM AND 9NOW
STREAM LIVE PLAY FOR FREE ON 9NOW INCLUDING
FEATURE GROUPS, AMEN CORNER, PLUS THE 15TH AND 16TH HOLES
Nine’s Wide World of Sports will showcase the biggest golf tournament in the world when The Masters comes to 9Now and 9GemHD viewers for free from Thursday, April 6 – the date of the annual Par 3 contest curtain-raiser.
The 2022 British Open winner, Cameron Smith, will lead Australia’s contingent alongside Adam Scott, who won The Masters a decade ago, Jason Day, Min Woo Lee and young amateur Harrison Crowe.
They will be up against a red-hot field that features Tiger Woods, world No.1 and defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickleson, Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson, with LIV golf and PGA Tour players both in the star-studded field.
Can Aussie Cameron Smith conquer The Masters this year?
Nine’s Director of Sport, Brent Williams, said: “The Masters is undoubtedly the pinnacle of golf on a global stage. Its rich, unparalleled history of delivering unforgettable moments and edge-of-your-seat drama continues to make Augusta a must-see sporting event for golf fans across Australia.
“Nine will again deliver it live and free, with coverage of every day of play, plus additional streams available on 9Now.”
Coverage begins with the annual Par 3 contest on Thursday, April 6, before the first round of The Masters gets underway on Friday, April 7.
9Now will feature additional content to stream with Feature Groups, Amen Corner and the 15th and 16th holes all available.
THE MASTERS – LIVE from Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia, USA.
Par 3 Contest Thursday, April 6: 5.00am to 7.00am LIVE on 9Gem and 9Now
Friday, April 7 5.00am-9.30am LIVE on 9Gem and 9Now
Saturday, April 8 5.00am-9.30am LIVE on 9Gem and 9Now
Sunday, April 9 5.00am-9.00am LIVE on 9Gem and 9Now
Monday, April 10 4.00am to end of play LIVE on 9Gem and 9Now
Note – Live coverage will continue until the end of play
Live and on-demand streaming for Channel 9’s Masters coverage available on
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9NOW dives in for Aussie swimming championships
9Now will line up on the blocks for Aussie Swimming’s showcase events, the Australian Age and Australian Swimming Championships, live and free from April 7 to 20.
STREAM LIVE AND FREE FROM APRIL 7 TO APRIL 20
Announced this morning on Sports Sunday, Nine’s streaming platform 9Now will show every heats and finals sessions, giving fans free access to every race across both events.
The largest annual event on the Swimming Australia calendar, the 2023 Australian Age Championships will see more than 2,600 aspiring Olympians and Paralympians from almost 400 different clubs across Australia contest over 200 separate events across nine days of competition, from April 7-15.
The Australian Championships will then see some of Australian swimming’s modern day greats like Emma McKeon, Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan, Rowan Crothers, Katja Dedekind and Lakeisha ‘Lucky’ Patterson all compete for the coveted title of Australian Champion from April 17-20.
The Australian Championships will also serve as the selection trials event for the World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester in August.
Nine’s Director of Sport, Brent Williams, said: “With the countdown to Paris 2024 well and truly underway, Swimming will play an important role in our plans to showcase Australia’s world class athletes on their journey to the largest sporting event in the world.”
“Our established heroes of the pool will be on show at the Australian Championships but prior to that, the Australian Age Championships (under 13-18) will provide an exciting arena for the stars of tomorrow to emerge as they dream of Los Angeles and Brisbane.
“The anywhere, anytime viewing opportunity that 9Now provides for all Australians makes it the ideal destination for 13 days of top class swimming – all live and free.”
Swimming Australia CEO, Eugénie Buckley, welcomed Nine’s commitment to Australia’s most prominent Olympic and Paralympic Sport.
“Nine’s Wide World of Sports has a long and proud history with swimming, and we are delighted to see that continue with 13 days of free to air coverage of our largest domestic event on 9Now,” Buckley said.
“Not only will sporting fans around the country have the opportunity to witness quality racing from our leading Australian Dolphins, there will also be stars of the future turning heads at the Australian Age Championships which will be exciting to watch on the Nine Network in the context of their commitment as the Olympic broadcaster through to Brisbane 2032.”
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