Channel 9 - TV shows, news, and sports streaming for free in Australia

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Channel 9 needs no introduction as one of Australia’s oldest and most popular free-to-air channels. This staple of Australian TV broadcasting has not only survived several decades of rapid technological change but has continued to win new audiences and evolve to embrace the latest innovations in digital TV and streaming.

In this guide we’ll explore what the Nine Network has to offer modern TV and streaming audiences in Australia and how to get the best free content from the TV channel that’s ‘Still the One’.

What is Channel 9?

Channel 9 is one of Australia’s first TV channels, dating back to an era when pay TV was yet to arrive on Australian shores and all television content was broadcast using analogue signals and receivers. The Channel 9 logo is something of an icon in popular culture and has graced some of Australia’s most memorable and important sports and news broadcasts.

However, Channel 9, aka the Nine Network, is no dinosaur. This free to air TV service has kept pace with the evolution of telecommunications and television, and is now available exclusively on digital broadcasts, as well as opening the world of live streaming and on-demand content to its viewers via 9Now and its sister channels, 9Gem, 9Go!, 9Rush and 9Life.

More than that, Nine’s content still has widespread appeal. Not only is Nine Australia’s leader in news and current affairs shows, but it also has partnerships with major international studios that allow it to broadcast popular TV series and reality shows alongside local content. Channel 9 remains an important free-to-air sports broadcaster, with free content including NRL footy, tennis and more.

What shows are on Channel 9?

Channel 9 has a wide selection of content available to its viewers. These range from hard-hitting current affairs programs and news to classic series and reality TV series mega-hits like Married at First Sight. In fact, you’re going to have a hard time deciding what to watch when you see the full range of content that Channel 9 offers across its digital broadcasts and on-demand service 9Now.

What’s new on Channel 9

Lots of content is added on Channel 9’s TV catalogue each week with new episodes or seasons of your favourite shows. There’s plenty of dramas, comedies, thrillers, and even local shows that you can access for free. Check out some of them right here.

Reality shows on Channel 9

Channel 9 more than holds its own against cable TV providers and streaming services when it comes to reality TV. The channel’s massive selection of reality TV shows includes Australia’s most popular show, Married at First Sight, along with staples like The Block, Space Invaders, Beauty and the Geek, and Love Island Australia.

Top action and drama on Channel 9

If it’s free-to-air TV series you’re after, then Channel 9 has you covered. Channel 9’s selection of shows and series include vintage series like Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Everwood, Law & Order: SVU, and Midsomer Murders. Channel 9 also broadcasts a range of home-grown series including Amazing Grace, Doctor Doctor, Halifax: Retribution, Underbelly, and SeaChange.

Favourite comedies on Channel 9

More than drama, Channel 9 also offers a bunch of hilarious programs for easy viewing. Comedies include classics like Full House, M.A.S.H., 3rd Rock from the Sun, as well as newer programs like Young Sheldon, Lethal Weapon, Resident Alien, Suburgatory, and so many more.

Sci-fi and fantasy on Channel 9

Channel 9 and its catch up streaming service 9now also offers heaps of classics in the science fiction and fantasy genre, some of which you can check out below.

Sport on Channel 9

The sports broadcasting landscape in Australia has changed a lot since the days when free-to-air TV stations dominated. Today they’re in competition with sports streaming services and the cable TV sports networks. Despite this Channel 9 still broadcasts some of Australia’s most popular sporting codes, with NRL coverage, Super Rugby Pacific, and the State of Origin tests, as well as the Australian Open which you can rewatch on 9Now and WNBL.

9Now – Channel 9’s live streaming service

While Channel 9 still broadcasts to millions of Australian households the old-fashioned way, it also offers live streaming and on demand content access via 9Now. In fact, 9Now claims to have one of the biggest streaming subscriber audiences in Australia, with over seven million Aussies reportedly signing up to the service since its launch in January 2016.

9Now is the latest iteration of Nine Network’s foray into TV streaming. The streaming service replaced 9JumpIn in 2016, offering a bigger variety of content than ever before. And that content selection is genuinely impressive. Streaming of live Nine Network content is available at the click of a button and you can also the network’s full selection of broadcast content on-demand, at your leisure.

Additional content is available through Nine’s TV channels for streaming.

Channel	Shows
9Gem	Comedy – Fawlty Towers Golden Girls Classic TV series like Poirot, The Closer, ER and House. Sports content – major events like the Rugby Union World Cup
9Go!	9Go! was designed with the younger viewer in mind and features a large selection of animated and live action series for children between the ages of 4 and 18. TV shows – Adventure Time, Pokémon, Space Chickens in Space. Reality TV- American Idol, Survivor and Dance Moms.
9Life	If you’re looking for your lifestyle and reality TV fix, you can’t go wrong with 9Life. Reality shows – Come Dine with Me, The Bachelor and Bachelorette, Real Housewives, Top Chef.
9Rush	9Rush is for viewers looking for adrenaline-soaked action, offering a range of dynamic reality and lifestyle TV series. Shows – Top Gear, Diesel Brothers and Misfit Garage. Survival series – Man vs. Wild, Naked and Afraid and Bear Grylls: Face the Wild.

How much are Channel Nine’s TV channels?

Channel 9 has a value proposition that its competitors find hard to match. Thanks to ads funding, all Channel 9 content is free, forever. That means no monthly fees, no contracts – just the content you want when you want it.

While you can watch all Channel 9 content free of charge, you will require some equipment to do so. To catch Channel 9’s broadcasts you’ll need an antenna and a digital TV. If you’re after live streaming of Channel 9 content or want to watch on-demand you’ll need a broadband internet connection and a personal computer, mobile device or a streaming box.

How does Channel 9 compare with other services?

When it comes to content Channel 9 holds up surprisingly well against some of Australia’s most popular streaming TV and broadcast services, particularly for its most popular niche markets – reality shows and current events. If you’re a fan of classic or vintage TV shows, there’s also a range of content you won’t find anywhere else available both via live streaming and on demand.

How does Channel 9 compare to Channel 7?

Channel 7 is recognised as Channel 9’s biggest rival in the free to air TV space and are of comparable strength when it comes to content popularity and variety. Channel 9 has recently dominated the ratings battle between the two thanks largely to its rights to Married at First Sight. However, Seven has its own selection of hit reality shows, including The Voice Australia and Australia’s Got Talent to balance the equation.

Seven also has a strong selection of sports to counter Nine’s rights to NRL, including broadcast rights to AFL, BBL and Supercars. The channels are also equals in the innovation department, offering digital broadcasts alongside live and on-demand streaming.

How does Channel 9 compare to Channel 10?

Channel 9 and Channel 10 can be considered direct rivals, and there isn’t too much to separate the two although they appeal to slightly different audiences. Channel 9 leads in the news and current affairs department and is heavily geared towards reality TV fans. In comparison, Channel 10 has a stronger selection of local shows, including hits like MasterChef Australia and Australian Survivor.

When it comes to sport, the two are comparable, broadcasting a handful popular sports events, with Ten featuring FA Cup Football, MotoGP racing and one A-League match a week to rival Nine’s rights to live NRL matches and the Australian Open.

How does Channel 9 compare to ABC?

ABC is Australia’s national broadcaster and one of the oldest free to air TV stations in the country. While the two target the same market, Channel 9 tends to outmuscle ABC in every department. Like Channel 9, ABC streams all its content live and offers access to its shows on demand.

However, Channel 9 outguns ABC when it comes to content popularity. Whereas Channel 9 offers a relatively wide selection of hit series and shows, particularly in the reality TV niche, ABC features a humbler selection of local content. The absence of high-profile live sport content on ABC also gives Channel 9 the edge in the sporting department.

How does Channel 9 compare to SBS?

Both SBS and Channel 9 offer free to air content, but similarities end there as the two channels are geared towards different audiences. Whereas Channel 9 focuses on shows with mainstream appeal to a broad Australian market, SBS focuses more on alternative and arthouse content, including a wide variety of foreign-language movies and series targeting several language demographics ranging from Hindi to Italian. SBS’s offerings include some niche sports events, including the Spanish Supercopa and Dakar Rally.

How does Channel 9 compare with Netflix and Prime Video?

Netflix and Amazon Prime target different content types to Channel 9. The international streaming services produce their own ad-free shows, bundling these in with a large library of popular films. By contrast Channel 9 features a large selection of reality TV shows, most of which are not available on either Netflix or Amazon Prime. The Channel 9 network also has a strong focus on current affairs and news, and includes some sports content, whereas Netflix and Prime are more focused on entertainment than current affairs.

How does Channel 9 compare to Foxtel?

Foxtel’s budget puts it in position to offer a variety of content Channel 9 can’t match as a free-to-air provider. This includes a wide selection of popular sports, the latest episodes of the world’s most popular TV shows and specialised channels for niche markets, including docos and drama, that are only on Foxtel and its streaming service Foxtel Now. However, Channel 9 does hold its own when it comes to reality series, and its news and current affairs content outperforms the syndicated current affairs shows available on Foxtel.

How to watch Channel 9

You can access Channel 9’s free to air live programming by using the traditional method of connecting an aerial to your TV set. If you’re a Foxtel subscriber, you can also access Channel 9 using your set-top box. Finally, if you have an internet connection you can stream Channel 9’s content using a streaming box, mobile app or browser. To find out more about the 9Now user experience read our 9Now review.

How to sign up to Channel 9

If you’re in Australia, you don’t need to do anything to access live Channel 9 programming. Simply connect your digital TV to an antenna and you can watch Channel 9 content for free. If you would like to stream Channel 9 content you can visit the 9Now website and create an account. All you need is a valid email account for verification. Once you’ve registered with 9Now you will be able to access streaming content on your internet-connected devices.

Channel 9 review – Great for current affairs and reality TV

Channel 9 over-delivers when you consider that the content is 100% free. You not only get Australia’s most popular news and current affairs shows, but some of the most popular reality TV shows in the country as well as free access to selected top level sports events. While you do need to put up with ads, Channel 9 offers enough on its broadcast and streaming services to keep you coming back for more.

Channel 9 FAQ