You'll be able to stream the State of Origin through 9Now this year

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 09 February 2018

Good news for rugby league fans: 2018 is the year you'll finally be able to stream NRL games through Nine's 9Now catch-up service. Games - including the State of Origin - will be available live and on demand on the web, iOS, Android, Chromecast, and Apple TV.

While Nine broadcasts most of its programming live online through 9Now, digital rights are especially messy when it comes to sports. Thankfully, this is no longer the case for NRL.

"The view from a consumer point of view is that if it’s on Nine, it should be on 9Now," said Nine General Manager of Video, Niamh Collins.

Of course, you'll only be able to use 9Now to view NRL games that Nine is already airing. If you want access to every game, you'll either need Foxtel or an NRL Live Pass.

Outside of sport, 9Now's 2018 will largely focus on improving the day-to-day usage experience for its five million subscribers. A better sign-on process for smart TVs, improved playback with less buffering, and a focus on helping viewers discover new content are all on the cards.

Nine is also looking at bringing 9Now to new platforms - such as the Foxtel Now Box and Amazon Fire TV - once there's enough consumer demand. Discussions are also being had around 4K streaming, but that's more of a "longer term play".

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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