Nine wins exclusive TV rights to Cleo Smith abduction interview

Nine Entertainment Co. has reportedly signed a $2 million deal to gain exclusive rights to interview the parents of Cleo Smith after she was kidnapped in Western Australia in late 2021.

Nine director of news and current affairs, Darren Wick, told Mumbrella: “We are honoured that the family of Cleo Smith has chosen to tell their story to Nine.”

“From a 60 Minutes story to other opportunities across Nine, we will continue to support Cleo and her family as they go through the court process, and we take our legal obligations around reporting on Cleo’s story extremely seriously.”

Max Markson, who reportedly negotiated the million dollar deal with the network, told Mumbrella: “Unfortunately due to contract confidentiality, I am unable to make any comment on this matter.”

Nine also said it would not make a comment on any figure that has been speculated.

It was also rumoured that Seven was also chasing the rights to the interview for its Spotlight series, with Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes taking interest in the story.

Mumbrella has reached out to Seven for comment.

The four-year-old was allegedly abducted from her family’s tent at a campsite near Carnavon, in Western Australia, on 16 October last year.

After an 18-day search she was found alive after 18 days, and a 36-year-old man has since been charged.