Nine Secures Netball Rights from Foxtel in Five-Year Deal
Nine displaces Foxtel in exclusive netball broadcast deal, expanding free-to-air access across Super Netball, Australian Diamonds, and World Cup 2027. The shift prioritizes broader audience reach over subscription-gated content.
Nine Group has secured exclusive broadcast and streaming rights to Suncorp Super Netball, the Australian Diamonds, and the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027, displacing Foxtel Group in a five-year deal commencing January 1, 2027.
Free-to-Air Access Expands Significantly Under New Deal
The agreement, announced April 15, 2026, distributes netball across Nine's full ecosystem. Games will air free on the 9Network, stream free on 9Now, and be available on subscription service Stan Sport.
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Coverage includes select Super Netball matches each round, all Finals Series matches, all Diamonds internationals, and key World Cup 2027 fixtures. Nine describes the arrangement as delivering the largest free-to-air footprint in netball history.
Netball Australia CEO Stacey West cited fan demand as a key factor. "Nine was the foundation broadcaster of the Suncorp Super Netball League ten years ago and it's wonderful for us to partner once again," West said. "We have heard consistently from our fans that they want to see more netball content."
Foxtel's Subscription Model Loses Ground to Broader Reach
Under Foxtel's previous arrangement, covering 2022 to 2026, Super Netball was distributed primarily through Kayo Sports. Only two games per round were accessible without a full subscription.
That gating approach limited total audience reach for a sport with over 700,000 registered participants and more than 1 million active players nationally. Netball connects with seven in 10 Australian families, according to Netball Australia.
Nine Chief Sales Officer Matt James framed the audience in commercial terms. "Netball gives brands access to one of the most influential consumer audiences in the country: households, families and women who drive spending decisions every day," James said.
DAZN completed its acquisition of Foxtel at the beginning of 2026, restructuring Nine's primary pay-TV competitor immediately before the netball rights were awarded.
Nine Builds Out Women's Sport Portfolio
Nine's existing women's sports portfolio now spans the WTA Tour, NRLW, WNBL, Super W, and Suncorp Super Netball. The network also holds rights to the NRL, State of Origin, Wallabies, Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Grand Slam tennis, and the Olympic Games.
Amanda Laing, Nine's Managing Director of Streaming and Broadcast, stated the network's intent directly. "We're building a portfolio around the sports Australians care most deeply about, and netball belongs in that company. We believe women's sport is one of the strongest growth stories in media."
Netball Australia Chair Liz Ellis AO acknowledged the competitive environment surrounding the deal. "Nine has taken advantage of the opportunity to make a real and meaningful investment into netball when the competition for women's sport is intensifying," Ellis said.
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Commercial Platforms and Next Steps
Nine has outlined several commercial formats for brand partners under the deal, including category partnerships, data-led planning, and cross-platform campaigns spanning broadcast, streaming, and digital.
The Netball World Cup Sydney 2027 adds an international dimension to the rights package, creating a concentrated advertising window comparable in structure to Nine's Olympic Games coverage.
Further commercial details will be announced closer to the January 2027 commencement date.
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