Compulsive Viewing

Nine learned how to develop and exploit its star system better than any other channel.

Charismatic executives drew on a sorcerer's armoury of tricks to inspire people to their talented best. And when it came to gargantuan egos, the ones driving the action from behind the scene could easily dwarf those fronting the camera.

Kerry Packer's ego, of course, was the biggest of all, Packer branded the entire Nine Network with his win-at-any-cost credo. Failure was never an option; success was never enough.

Constantly needling "You can do better, son", he pushed his people a step beyond what commonsense told them was attainable.