As it also had the rights for all major swimming competitions, Nine for the first time had the FTA rights to the highest competitions of Australia's four biggest spectator sports: rugby league, Australian rules (shared with Ten), cricket and swimming.
As it also had the rights for all major swimming competitions until 2008, with major swimming competitions shown in primetime. During the early to mid 2000s, Nine for the first time had the FTA rights to the highest competitions of Australia's four biggest spectator sports: rugby league, Australian rules (shared with Ten), cricket and swimming.