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Grant Hackett signs with Nine

Grant Hackett will join the Nine Network as a weekend sports presenter and part of the 2012 London Olympics coverage.

Channel Nine today announced that Olympian Grant Hackett has signed with the network.

The announcement follows reports this week that Seven boss David Leckie had expected the swimmer to agree to forthcoming appearances on Dancing with the Stars.

Hackett will become a sports presenter on weekends for Melbourne’s National Nine News, after Heath O’Loughlin exits later in the year, as well as Nine’s coverage of the 2012 London Olympics.

Hackett will also appear on Nine’s What’s Good For You and join Ken Sutcliffe on Sunday’s Wide World Of Sports.

Press Release:
The Nine Network, Australia’s Olympic network, today announced the signing of champion swimmer Grant Hackett to an exclusive contract.

Under the long-term agreement, Hackett, 28, will appear across a range of Nine’s news, lifestyle and sports programs.

The triple Olympic gold medallist and reigning men’s 1500m freestyle world record holder will join the Channel Nine News team in Melbourne where he will present the weekend sport bulletins. Hackett will also regularly join Ken Sutcliffe on Wide World of Sports as one of the program’s revolving co-hosts.

In addition, Hackett will be involved in a new series of What’s Good For You, as well as other projects for the network.

Nine Network Chief Executive, Mr David Gyngell, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Grant Hackett back to the network where he started his media career. Grant is not only a champion swimmer but a champion Australian, a superstar in his own right.

“Grant is one of Australia’s most popular personalities and he has a big future here at Nine.”

As well as his wide-ranging regular commitments with Nine, Hackett will be a part of Nine’s commentary team for 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

“I am absolutely thrilled with the opportunity that has been presented to me by Channel Nine and very happy to be working with such a dynamic network,” Hackett said.

“It is exciting to know that I can continue to maintain solid links with the Australian public through Nine.

“I have a genuine love and passion for media and am keen to learn as much as I can and do the right thing by the people who have backed me. David Gyngell and John McAvoy (Nine Network Head of Factual Programming) have plotted a course of steady growth, which I am happy with. On top of that, my Olympic dream can live on through Nine’s involvement and I can’t wait to be a part of that.”

11 Responses

  1. Serves Seven right for being so heavy handed with Grant. Good pick up for Nine and he’ll be perfect for lifestyle shows such as What’s Good For You and of course the Olympics in 2012.

  2. This was on Melbourne Nine news last night, How is this news? Another reason why i don’t watch commercial tv news much and another example how Nine use their “news” to cross promote their network.

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