The former head of Optus Sport, Howard Rees, has joined Nine Entertainment’s Streaming and Broadcast leadership team as its new chief strategy officer.
Managing director of the division, Amanda Laing, announced his appointment in an email to staff earlier this week, while Rees confirmed the move on LinkedIn on Wednesday evening.
“This is a critical role in the Streaming and Broadcast leadership team, and I am confident Howard’s leadership skills will complement this group and our whole division,” Laing told staff in the email.
“In an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing industry, Howard has a unique skillset that makes him the perfect fit for this newly created position, and we are incredibly fortunate to have his expertise at Nine.”
Rees spent nearly three years with Optus Sport, leading the streaming service with the broadcast rights in Australia to various sporting codes and events, including the English Premier League, Emirates FA Cup, Women’s Super League, J League, UEFA Euro 2024, and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
Prior to this, he spent five years at Foxtel Group, where he oversaw the company’s shift to streaming as director of strategy. He also previously spent eight years at Sky in the UK.
His move to Nine follows the broadcaster’s acquisition of the English Premier League, among other rights previously held by Optus Sport, earlier this year.
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The acquisition made approximately 100 Optus Sport staffers without jobs.
According to Laing’s note to staff, Rees’ responsibilities will include strategic development and business planning, content strategy and innovation, monetisation of streaming and broadcasting, and market intelligence and insights.
Nine Entertainment today posted revenue of $2.7 billion and a net profit after tax of $133 million in FY25. Nine’s streaming service Stan was a standout performer, fuelling second-half EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation) to grow 8%.
Nine also pointed to audience growth across broadcast and streaming, with its platforms accounting for around 20% of TV screen time, ahead of competitors.