The streaming and broadcasting divisions of Australia’s Nine Group are being merged as part of a long-anticipated restructure under managing director of streaming and broadcast Amanda Laing.The new strategic approach, revealed today and effective from July 1, will see key executives take on expended responsibilities across Nine Network, catch-up service 9Now and streaming platform Stan.The leadership changes will see veteran Nine executive and current director of television Micheal Healy elevated to executive director of entertainment across all platforms.Cailah Scobie, currently chief content officer for Stan, will preside over all three platforms as executive director of entertainment content acquisitions.Stan’s acting MD, Dan Taylor, has been named executive director of the streaming platform, while 9Now and programming director Hamish Turner will become executive director of Nine, its multi-channels and 9Now.Additionally, new roles have been created to oversee entertainment, news, sport and marketing across the business. These include chief strategy officer of streaming and broadcast and chief marketing officer of streaming and broadcast, with recruitment for the roles starting soon.The restructure is part of the media group’s ‘Nine2028’ strategy and follows its new operating model and the creation of Laing’s centralised streaming and broadcast division, announced in January.The media company has yet to say whether staffing cuts will be made as a result of the restructure.In a presentation to staff on Friday, Laing explained that the company was not currently structured to realise its full potential.“We’ve got some really big strategic decisions to make. To make those decisions, we need to do a bunch of work around making sure that everyone in this room understands what is that strategic north star that we’re chasing,” Laing said.Laing added that the restructure would reshape the multi-platform broadcaster to more effectively drive growth and maximise value from both advertising and subscription streams.“While Nine’s streaming and broadcast brands have enjoyed independent success, our strength lies in the power of the Nine Group and today’s changes are the first step in unlocking that potential,” she added.In other changes, news and current affairs director Fiona Dear has been appointed as executive director for that division, which includes a remit across all platforms. Sport, which represents the biggest single area of investment across the Nine Group, will see the consolidation of production teams across broadcast and streaming under the leadership of Brent Williams.Laing will lead a strategic programme across all other elements of the the group’s sport business to identify opportunities for efficiencies and growth in advertising and subscription revenues, rights and partnerships.Structurally, Nine’s state MDs, Queensland’s Kylie Blucher, West Australia’s Clive Bingwa and South Australia’s Sean O’Brien, will now all report to Laing, to help boost the growth of all streaming and broadcast businesses in those markets.The news comes after Nine Entertainment appointed Matt Stanton as CEO and MD in March.Stanton’s appointment came after a comprehensive international search process for a new CEO, following the exit of former Nine chief Mike Sneesby, who stepped down in September last year after a challenging tenure.The company was beset by issues, which came to a head in 2024, including management integrity challenges, newsroom toxicity allegations, strikes and cost-cutting measures that resulted in the loss of hundreds of jobs.
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