After butting heads with Channel Seven over contract disputes, champion swimmer Grant Hackett has found a new television home at Channel Nine – where he will act as sports anchor for their Melbourne news arm.
Bad blood erupted between Hackett and Seven when the network demanded he compete on their flagship competition show Dancing With The Stars – an urging that Hackett wasn’t comfortable with.
"It wasn't a show I wanted to do . . . I'm the first person to take the mickey out of myself, I don't mind doing that. I'm six foot six and white with two left feet, so I'm not a great dancer, but from my point starting a media career it's not where I wanted to be." He told News Limited.
Nine stepped in after the swimmer severed ties with Seven, offering him a more comfortable role in front of the camera – as a sports presenter co-anchoring with Jo Hall.
It's part of a four year contract with Nine, which will see Hackett across a range of roles, including appearances on Today and Wide World Of Sports.
The position is an indication that Hackett could retire from the pool entirely - which he suggested following the Beijing Games, but has not yet confirmed.