9Now
![]() |
|
Developer(s) | Nine Network |
---|---|
Initial release | 27 January 2016 |
Development status | Active |
Operating system | Android, iOS |
Platform | Adobe Flash or Native Applications |
Available in | English |
Type | Catch up / Internet Television |
Website | 9now.com.au |
9Now is a video on demand, catch up TV service run by the Nine Network. The service became available on 27 January 2016, replacing Nine's previous service 9Jumpin. 9Now also offers online live streaming for Channel Nine, 9Gem, 9Go! and 9Life as well as live news via 9News.com.au.[1][2]
Coincidently, 9Now served a major role in Australian regional television which even resulted in affiliation swaps for Nine and competitor Network Ten in most markets by July 2016.
Contents
History[edit]
Origins[edit]
2010–2013: FIXPlay catch-up television[edit]
On 12 April 2010, as a part of its online entertainment brand TheFIX, the Ninemsn Company released FIXPlay, an online video on demand catch-up TV service for the Nine Network, incorporating locally produced programs from Nine and GO! along with back-catalogue content from local and international distributors.[3][4] FIXPlay became the second catch-up TV service released by a commercial Australian network, the first being PLUS7 from Yahoo7 and the Seven Network.
2012–2013: Jump-in app[edit]
On 26 July 2012, Nine released Jump-in, a trial social television app on iPhone and iPad for its coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. The app allowed users to view information on the television broadcast, set reminders and comment on events, view the full Olympic schedule, latest medal tally, event results, news coverage and other video highlights.[5] After its success throughout the Olympics, Jumpin was commercially launched on 4 February 2013 as an interactive television app that allowed viewers a behind the scenes insight into select television series, voting and posting live comments on select television series (that would appear on-screen), and entering competitions.[6]
2013–2016: 9Jumpin[edit]
On 8 November 2013, FIXPlay was merged into Jump-in, later renamed 9Jumpin in May 2014, integrating catch-up TV with interactive social media.[7] The app's original interactive TV features were integrated into its new website, while new catch-up content was now available on mobile devices. The 9Jumpin website was closed on 28 January 2016, one day after the silent launch of 9Now.
2016–present: 9Now and its role in the 2016 Australian Regional Television Shakeup[edit]
In October 2015, with the upcoming launch of 9Life and relaunch of 9HD and looming network-wide rebrand, Nine announced that 9Jumpin would be replaced with an entirely new service called 9Now. Pete Wiltshire, chief revenue officer of Nine Entertainment Co., stated that "[9Jumpin] was never designed to be streaming product and it isn't" and announced that the purpose-built 9Now service will replace 9Jumpin as Nine's on-demand catch-up TV service with a wider range of content, while also delivering live streaming of Nine, 9Gem, 9Go! and 9Life.[8] 9Now was described as "a premium destination for live streaming, catch-up and on-demand content for all of the Nine Network's linear channels".[1] The 9Now website and app were launched on 27 January 2016 along with live streaming for Nine, with live streaming for the multichannels to launch on a later date.[9][10] However, unlike competitors PLUS7 and TENplay, 9Now requires users to create a My9 account before allowing access to catch-up content and live streaming.[2] Livestreams for 9Go!, 9Gem and 9Life were launched on 17 May 2016.
This service coincidentaly became the starting point in Australian television's major change since regional aggregation from the late 80's to the early 90's. The launch of 9Now prompted WIN Television, a regional affiliate of Nine Network, to sue Nine Entertainment Co. (Channel Nine and 9Now's parent) in February 2016 for allegedly breaching its program supply (affiliation) agreement by streaming its programming online nationally and into regional areas, claiming that it violated WIN's territorial rights to Nine Network's programming per the affiliation agreement.[11][12] Justice Hammerschlag of the NSW Supreme Court dismissed the case on 28 April 2016, ruling that the affiliation agreement only applied to terrestrial television, and that "live streaming is not broadcasting within the meaning of the [program supply agreement], and that Nine is under no express or implied obligation not to do it."[13][14] Nine Entertainment Co.'s victory prompted network executives to revoke WIN's affiliation with the network beyond June 2016, and instead entered into a new regional affiliation with Southern Cross Television.[15] Prior to these events, Nine and WIN had disputes between each other since 2007 due to advertising revenue disagreements. Media enthusiasts, towards the end of 2015, predicted that Nine is about to sever ties with WIN and affiliate with SCTV at the start of 2016, only to get delayed when Nine extended its agreement with WIN for another six months.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Reilly, Claire (29 October 2015). "Nine Network to live stream all channels and revamp HD". CNET. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ^ a b Knox, David (28 January 2016). "9Now ready for Live streaming". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ "NINEMSN LAUNCHES FIXPlay". TV Tonight. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ^ Knox, David (12 April 2010). "Nine launches FIXPlay, video catch-up". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ^ "Jump-in to London 2012 Olympics". Mi9. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ^ "Mi9 announces full commercial Launch of Jump-in". Mi9. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ^ "State-of-the-art app for Origin viewers - 9jumpin to stage first ever "Tweet of Origin" battle". Mi9. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ^ Mason, Max (29 October 2015). "Nine to launch new lifestyle channel 9Life and stream all channels 24/7". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- ^ "Nine begins roll-out of catch-up and streaming service 9Now and registration system My9". mUmBRELLA. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ "Nine catch-up site 9Now quietly launches". mediaweek. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ Mason, Max (10 February 2016). "Bruce Gordon's WIN takes Nine to court over streaming". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ^ Christensen, Nic (10 February 2016). "WIN takes Nine to court to try and block its live streaming service 9Now in regional areas". mUmBRELLA. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ^ McDonald, Philippa (28 April 2016). "Regional broadcaster WIN loses bid to stop Channel Nine streaming programs". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ^ Knot, David (28 April 2016). "Nine victory in 9NOW streaming lawsuit filed by WIN TV". mUmBRELLA. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ^ White, Dominic (29 April 2016). "Nine and Southern Cross in multi-year affiliation deal". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 April 2016.