Gus Gould leaves Fairfax, signs exclusively with Nine

Nine has announced the signing of a new deal with Phil "Gus" Gould to provide exclusive content across all Wide World of Sports media platforms, bringing an end to his relationship with Fairfax Media and his columns in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Sun-Herald.

Nine’s director of sport Tom Malone said: “Gus holds a unique position in rugby league, having played, coached, administered and commentated – all at the highest levels. He is one of the most respected voices in the game and he sits at the heart of what we strive for every day – giving our audience the best seat in the house, through the eyes of legends.

“This new deal represents the future for Nine and Wide World of Sports, making great content and distributing it across all platforms. That’s what Gus will be doing through TV, digital, social media, podcasts and vodcasts.”

Nine’s head of sport digital Patrick Effeney hailed the new deal, saying: “Rugby league fans will now have a one-stop shop for Gus. The WWOS website will carry Gus’s columns exclusively at least three times a week, along with his podcasts and vodcasts. Our audience wants to see, read and hear from authentic experts. They don’t get any more authentic or expert than Gus Gould.”