{{short description|Australian news and current events website}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=April 2015}} {{Infobox website | name = Nine.com.au | type = Internet portal | logo = Nine.com.au logo.svg | screenshot = Nine screenshot.png | url = {{url|http://www.nine.com.au/}} | commercial = Yes | registration = Optional | owner = Nine | author = Nine Entertainment<br>Microsoft | launch_date = 1997 | current_status = Active}}
'''Nine.com.au''' (formerly '''Ninemsn''') is an Australian news website, owned by Nine Entertainment. It was originally established as a 50:50 joint venture between Microsoft and PBL Media (now Nine Entertainment) in 1997 as "Ninemsn". Microsoft sold its stake in the venture to Nine Entertainment in 2013 and the company was rebranded as Nine Digital in 2016. The website was rebranded to its current name Nine.com.au on 28 June 2016.
Nine.com.au is currently a network of sites including Nine News, Wide World of Sports and 9Honey.
==History== The venture was established in 1997, with a combined investment of $50 million, which brought together all the online assets of Microsoft and all the media assets of PBL, which include the Nine Network, Australian Consolidated Press and other PBL assets.<ref>{{cite web |last=Douglas |first=Jeanne-Vida |date=23 September 2002 |title=Contract wording alone rescued NineMSN: sources |url=https://www.zdnet.com.au/contract-wording-alone-rescued-ninemsn-sources-120268450.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607111258/http://www.zdnet.com.au/contract-wording-alone-rescued-ninemsn-sources-120268450.htm |archive-date=7 June 2011 |access-date=2 June 2009 |work=ZDNet|publisher=CBS Interactive}}</ref>
In December 2005, Ninemsn acquired Australian content syndication and mobile publishing leader HWW, that syndicated television, movie, music, restaurant and gig guide listings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/HWW-agrees-to-Ninemsn-acquisition/2005/12/22/1135032135186.html|title=HWW agrees to Ninemsn acquisition|date=22 December 2005|work=Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=2 June 2009}}</ref>
In 2006, Ninemsn purchased 5th Finger Pty Ltd, a leading Australian SMS and mobile marketing service provider.
Ninemsn introduced a new logo and a major redesign in mid-2011, allowing users to customise the site to their own preference.
Microsoft sold its 50% stake of Mi9 to Nine Entertainment in 2013, whereby Mi9 was rebranded to Nine Digital.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brw.com.au/p/tech-gadgets/nine_buys_with_online_microsoft_lxUHMI94L2VT5CYM64QqzO|title=Nine buys out online arm Mi9 ahead of float, ending joint venture with Microsoft|last=Fitzsimmons|first=Caitlin|date=14 October 2013|work=Business Review Weekly|publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=8 September 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000706/http://www.brw.com.au/p/tech-gadgets/nine_buys_with_online_microsoft_lxUHMI94L2VT5CYM64QqzO|url-status=dead}}</ref> As part of the arrangement, Microsoft signed a long-term strategic partnership agreement, whereby Mi9 will continue to represent Microsoft's suite of advertising products.
Ninemsn introduced a new look homepage in late 2014. Following the rebranding of its television assets in November 2015, Nine Entertainment rebranded Ninemsn to Nine.com.au on 28 June 2016.<ref name="MumbrellaRebrand">{{cite web|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/nine-rebrand-digital-news-assets-ninemsn-banner-366340|title=Ninemsn brand set to disappear as Nine renames site|last=Hayes|first=Alex|date=11 May 2016|publisher=Mumbrella|access-date=28 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="BandtRebrand">{{cite web|url=http://www.bandt.com.au/media/nine-unveils-new-look-nine-com-au-ahead-ninemsn-rebrand|title=Nine Unveils New-Look Nine.Com.Au Ahead Of Ninemsn Rebrand|last=Howcroft|first=Russel|date=24 June 2016|publisher=Mumbrella|access-date=28 June 2016}}</ref> Ninemsn's sub-brand sites were also rebranded to incorporate the Nine brand as 9Coach, 9Elsewhere, 9Finance, 9TheFix, 9Homes, 9Honey, 9Kitchen, 9Lifestyle and 9Pickle respectively. However, in November 2016, all sub-brands apart from 9Finance and 9Pickle were reorganised under a revised 9Honey umbrella brand that aimed to target women; 9Style was launched to take the previous role of 9Honey while 9Lifestyle was closed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mumbrella.com.au/nine-unites-verticals-under-9honey-network-umbrella-as-helen-mccabe-looks-to-better-integrate-nines-tv-and-digital-businesses-406480 |title=Nine unites verticals under 9Honey network umbrella as Helen McCabe seeks better TV and digital integration |last=Ward |first=Miranda |date=7 November 2016 |website=Mumbrella |access-date=4 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kruger |first=Colin |date=8 November 2016 |title=Nine Network hope to lure women with 9Honey |url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/cbd/pacific-current-investors-want-to-bench-afl-chairman-mike-fitzpatrick-20161107-gskaem.html |work=Sydney Morning Herald |location=Sydney |access-date=4 September 2017}}</ref> 9Mums was later launched in March 2017 as a family and parenting brand.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mumbrella.com.au/9honey-officially-launches-mums-content-play-helen-mccabe-eyes-off-video-finance-434337 |title=9Honey officially launches mums content play as Helen McCabe eyes off video and finance expansion |last=Ward |first=Miranda |date=23 March 2017 |website=Mumbrella |access-date=4 September 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|http://www.nine.com.au}}
{{Nine Entertainment}} {{MSN services}}
Category:Australian news websites Category:Internet properties established in 1997 Category:MSN Category:Nine Network Category:Web portals Category:1997 establishments in Australia