Nine.com.au
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | News portal, Digital media |
| Predecessor | Ninemsn |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Microsoft and PBL Media (joint venture) |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Owner | Nine Entertainment |
| Parent | Nine Entertainment |
| Website | nine |
Nine.com.au is an Australian news portal owned by Nine Entertainment. Initially launched in 1997 as a joint venture equally shared between Microsoft and PBL Media (which later became Nine Entertainment), it was originally known as "Ninemsn." In 2013, Microsoft divested its share to Nine Entertainment, resulting in the rebranding of the entity to Nine Digital in 2016. The website adopted the name Nine.com.au on 28 June 2016.
The platform manages various affiliated sites such as Nine News, Wide World of Sports, and 9Honey.
History
The partnership commenced in 1997 with a $50 million investment that merged Microsoft's digital assets with PBL's media operations, including the Nine Network and Australian Consolidated Press.
In December 2005, Ninemsn expanded by acquiring HWW Limited, a prominent Australian company specializing in content syndication and mobile publishing, offering listings for television, film, music, dining, and live events. The following year saw the purchase of 5th Finger Pty Ltd, a provider focused on SMS and mobile marketing solutions.
A significant website overhaul featuring a new logo and enhanced user personalization was launched in mid-2011. After Microsoft sold its 50% interest in Mi9 to Nine Entertainment in 2013, Mi9 was renamed Nine Digital. Despite the sale, Microsoft maintained a strategic partnership to represent advertising products.
Ninemsn updated its homepage design towards the end of 2014. Subsequent to Nine Entertainment’s rebranding of its television divisions in November 2015, Ninemsn transitioned to Nine.com.au on 28 June 2016. Concurrently, sub-brands were rebranded to incorporate the Nine identity—examples include 9Coach, 9Finance, and 9Honey. By November 2016, most sub-brands except for 9Finance and 9Pickle were merged under the 9Honey brand aimed at female audiences; this included launching 9Style and discontinuing 9Lifestyle. In March 2017, the family-oriented brand 9Mums was introduced to focus on parenting content.