Monday, March 19 to Sunday, April 1
All sporting eyes will be on Melbourne in March when an estimated one billion viewers worldwide watch the 12th FINA World Championships which Channel Nine is broadcasting exclusively in Australia from March 19 to April 1.
Nine's coverage will be hosted by the network's sports anchor, Ken Sutcliffe, and the commentary team will be headed up by the "Voice of Swimming", Ray Warren. Sutcliffe and Warren each have over 30 years' experience in hosting prestige international sporting events.
Nine's commentary team includes three Australian swimming champions who collectively have won two Olympic gold, two silver and three bronze medals as well as a host of other titles: Nicole Livingstone, Giaan Rooney and Duncan Armstrong.
They will be joined by world championship silver medallist Loudy Tourky, taking a break from the pool to cover the diving for Nine.
The Nine Network will cover events in all five aquatic competitions: swimming, open water swimming, diving, water polo and synchronised swimming, which involve some 2000 athletes from 175 countries.
Nine's broadcast of the 12th FINA Championships is the network's biggest ever coverage of the world titles: a total of 27 hours, with 17 hours of coverage during prime time and 10 hours of highlights.
Every swimming final will be shown on Nine. The swimming (and synchronised swimming) events will be held in a specially built temporary pool inside the Rod Laver Arena. This is the first time a 50-metre temporary pool has been used for a major international swimming meet in the southern hemisphere and it will be the deepest suspended pool ever constructed.
The Australian team for the titles will be spearheaded by the captain, Grant Hackett, the most successful male swimmer in FINA World Championship history with 10 gold, five silver and three bronze medals. The all-conquering women's team includes defending world champions Leisel Jones, Jodie Henry, Libby Lenton and Jessicah Schipper.
As well as the colour and excitement of the swimming action, Nine will host A Current Affair nightly from the FINA World Championships from Monday to Friday (March 26-30).
TELECAST SCHEDULE
Monday March 19
11.30pm – 12.30am: Late-night highlights
Wednesday March 21
10.30pm – 11.30pm: Late-night highlights
Friday March 23
11.30pm – 12.30am: Late-night highlights
Saturday March 24
4.00pm – 6.00pm: Wrap-up of highlights
Sunday March 25
7.00pm - 9.00pm: Swimming Finals
11.30pm – 12.30am: Late-night highlights
Monday March 26
7.00pm – 8.50pm: Swimming Finals
11.30pm – 12.30am: Late-night
Tuesday March 27
7.00pm – 9.15pm: Swimming Finals
Wednesday March 28
7.00pm – 9.00pm: Swimming Finals
Thursday March 29
7.00pm – 9.20pm: Swimming Finals
Friday March 30
7.00pm – 9.00pm: Swimming Finals
Saturday March 31
4.10pm – 6.00pm: Highlights
7.00pm – 9.15pm: Swimming Finals
Sunday April 1
6.30pm – 7.00pm: Wrap up of week
7.00pm – 9.00pm: Swimming Finals
11.00pm – 12.00am: Late-night highlights
***Viewers should check local TV guides for full telecast details***
For more information please contact
The Program Department
Tel: 08 9449 9867