That was always a mystery for mine, even in 2008 (Nine’s last year of their original run IIRC before moving to “ONE HD” with Ten AFL’s Anthony Hudson calling - their years were also good) audience had started to head south and an Olympic year with Beijing (on a rival TV network though), even by mid-2000s, while Olympics and other sports and FTA in general was still at a high if not growing (e.g.) MasterChef from 2009. Who to blame, if any? FINA? Swimming Aus? IOC? Broadcasters? Media? Marketing? Athlete drawcards dwindled? Competition? Lost its spark? All of the above?
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I think Thorpe retiring in the mid 00’s killed off a lot of interest- he was as big a drawcard as there was.
I feel like it’s only been in the last couple of years that there’s real star power again in Australian swimming. Hopefully that flows through to strong ratings for 9.
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Doubt it will. Seven aired Olympic/Commonwealth Games trials in primetime on the main channel when they had the Swimming Australia rights and it didn’t rate well while the Big Bash outrated the Short Course Swimming Championships held in Melbourne last year when Nine showed it on their main channel.
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World Aquatics Championships Fukuoka in prime time on Nine
Australia’s swimmers will take on the best in the world on the road to Paris 2024 in the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, exclusive, live and free on the 9Network and 9Now from Fukuoka in Japan.
AUSTRALIAN DOLPHINS VS WORLD ON 9NETWORK AND 9NOW
STREAM ANYWHERE, ANYTIME FOR FREE ONLY ON 9NOW
With competition this week in water polo, diving, marathon and artistic swimming on 9Now, the action really heats up from Sunday, July 23, when the fastest fish dive into the pool for the finals, which will be broadcast in prime time from 9.00pm over eight nights.
The opening night of coverage features the box-office women’s 400m freestyle event with Australia’s Ariarne Titmus against American superstar Katie Ledecky and Canadian world record holder Summer McIntosh in a mouthwatering race.
Cheer on Ariarne Titmus in the race of the year during Day 1 in Fukuoka on Sunday, July 23, at 9.00pm, exclusive to the 9Network and 9Now
Australia has the fastest females in the world, with Emma McKeon, Kaylee McKeown, Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan all set to star in Fukuoka.
The men’s field will include our 200m breaststroke world record holder Zac Stubblety-Cook, 100m freestyle Olympic gold medallist Kyle Chalmers, 400m freestyle reigning world champion Elijah Winnington, and the son of former world champion Hayley Lewis, Kai Taylor.
Shaping up to our best men are Chalmers’ 100m freestyle rival, Romania’s David Popovici, and Irish 1500m distance sensation Daniel Wiffen.
Also in action is Aussie young gun and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sam Short, 19, who will contest the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle events and is tipped to be one of the stars of the Paris Olympics.
In commentary for Nine’s Wide World of Sports will be swimming legends Ian Thorpe, Giaan Rooney and Ellie Cole, joined by race caller Mat Thompson and host Nick McArdle.
Current world champion, Olympic champion and world-record holder Zac Stubblety-Cook
Ian Thorpe said: “Fukuoka is a very important place in the history of both World Aquatics and my own. I took part in my first international competition there as a 14-year-old and it was also the location where I was fortunate enough to be the first swimmer to win six gold medals at one World Championships and broke multiple world records.
“I look forward to seeing how the Australian swim team can perform against the rest of the world in their lead-up to next year’s Olympic Games.”
Paralympic swimming legend Ellie Cole spoke of her excitement at joining Thorpe and Rooney.
“It’s an honour to be on the legendary Nine Wide World of Sports Commentary team for the World Aquatics Championships and bring the excitement, passion and love for our sport to viewers around the world,” she said.
Brent Williams, Nine’s Director of Sport, said: “The Australian Dolphins squad already comprises a host of household names and superstars, but the emerging talent is just as exciting. Wide World of Sports will be showcasing these champions taking on the very best in the world across Nine’s broadcast platforms.
“This is the biggest event on the aquatics calendar in 2023 and our experts Ian Thorpe, Giaan Rooney and Ellie Cole will cover every race. Whether you are a fan of swimming, diving, water polo or artistic swimming, you can catch all the action live and free, anytime or anywhere on 9Now.”
The 2023 World Aquatics Championships Fukuoka will be available to watch exclusive, live and free on the 9Network and 9Now until July 30.
Fans will receive coverage of every heat and every final every day.
WHERE TO WATCH: WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS FUKUOKA ON NINE
Diving until July 22 – Streamed on 9Now
Quota positions for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are up for grabs in the diving, with Rio bronze medallist Maddison Keeney headlining a 10-strong Australian team.
High Diving from July 25-27 – Streamed on 9Now
Two-time world champion Rhiannan Iffland will be in action in the women’s 20m high dive. Iffland has won the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series for the last six years and is unbeaten at the midpoint of the 2023 season.
Water Polo until July 29 – Streamed on 9Now
In the water polo, the Aussie men’s team will be hoping to bounce back from a loss to Greece in the opening match when the Sharks play the USA on Wednesday.
Artistic Swimming until July 22 – Streamed on 9Now
Australia will compete in Tuesday night’s final of the mixed team technical event, while on Thursday spots for Paris go on the line in the team free routine.
Marathon Swimming until July 20 – Streamed on 9Now
Swimming – Broadcast on 9Network and 9Now
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The last time the worlds were in primetime was in 2001 also in Fukuoka and on 9 which drew massive ratings for the network
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Nine are tweaking their swimming schedule. I’m adjusting the mainc schedules on the fly:
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Nine crew passing time tonight: 
https://twitter.com/wwos/status/1682699489113698304?s=61&t=oO6ptizS9TsvQMK_wJM__g
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How so?
Roz doing double duty tonight?
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I believe WWOS’ Nick McArdle (usually Australian Open 9Gem feed and Rugby Union host) is handling Ashes tonight
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Great seeing Giaan Rooney back, IIRC previously on the books for Nine about 15 years ago before Seven (Ten/ONE HD got Nine’s Nicole Livingstone), however I don’t recall seeing her at Birmingham 2022 and I foget was she at Tokyo 2020? Ian Thorpe (now Nine too) was the main one along with Basil Zempilas. I think there was discussion here her contract was not renewed by Seven or she decided to take time out?
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Nick McArdle is hosting the World Swimming Championship coverage from the news set with Ian Thorpe and Ellie Cole.
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Great memories. Not the same without Rabs, Armstrong and co
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Nice to see Nine using official graphics from the competition for the studio presentation.
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Tom Deeson doing poolside interviews. Nine going all out compared to last year when they used the world feed in Budapest.
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Do you mean Tom Decent? (sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald)
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Ian Thorpe seems to have disappeared after commenting off screen on the last race and isn’t in the studio.
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FINA rebranded to World Aquatics last year. Nice to see swimming on TV in primetime as the cricket is washed out
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