Who Killed Channel 9?: The Death of Kerry Packer’s Mighty TV Dream Machine

This is a book about television like no other. How exactly do you kill a network that for nearly three decades stood out as the dominant force in the media landscape, taken not just into the homes but the hearts of ordinary Australians, influencing their lives in everything from sports to politics?

With Kerry Packer at the helm, and with a galaxy of stars that made it the envy of its rivals, Channel 9 ruled the airwaves, consistently winning the ratings and fostering a unique esprit de corps within its ranks. It was a network conspicuous for its success, notorious for its arrogance, but indisputably the one. Yet in a few short years, it has gone from front-runner to also-ran-hit by rock-bottom morale, mass redundancies and a resurgent opposition spurred on by former Nine executives out for revenge. Where does the blame lie - and who would ever be brave enough to expose the bitter personality conflicts, management blunders and acts of sheer bastardry leading to Nine's sad demise?