Former Nine chief executive Hugh Marks Links With Tennis Australia In New Media Role

Tennis Australia has hired former boss of Channel Nine Hugh Marks in a consulting role to help execute international broadcast deals for the Australian Open and overhaul its digital properties.

Marks was at the helm of Nine for more than five years before resigning in April and was responsible for the $300 million deal to lure the Australian Open away from Seven West Media from 2020 to 2024.

Working alongside several other advisers, Marks will assist in building out TA’s media strategy which will ultimately have an impact on what revenue the organisation can achieve in the medium term.

Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley said in February that the Australian Open was expected to record a loss of about $100 million, because of payment for coronavirus-related protocols, including the “hard quarantine” players were forced into upon arrival in Australia.

Victoria’s five-day lockdown in the middle of the Australian Open this year cost organisers more than $20 million in revenue.

Reports have emerged that the future media strategy is focused on global trends and the pressure broadcasters face, rather than the complications that have occurred because of the pandemic.