ARIA Awards to return to Channel 9 in 2022

Channel 9 has revealed the ARIA Awards ceremony will be back on its primary channel next year.

This year's awards, however, which will be conducted in partnership with YouTube Music and streamed on YouTube, will instead be on Nine's broadcast video on demand (BVOD) platform, 9Now.

ARIA revealed today its 2021 Awards would proceed, however the industry body had to make the call to take the event online, as it is still unclear what life will look like in Sydney come November.

It appears though that both Channel 9 and ARIA are preparing for next year's event to be a return to form, with the broadcaster revealing its 2022 plans in its Upfronts announcements to marketers, media agencies and media this afternoon.

"The ARIA Awards will take on a new look this year, proceeding as an innovative digital show in November on 9Now," a statement from Nine said. "After another turbulent year for the music industry, the Awards are a chance to honour the achievements of Australian music's finest."

It added: "The prestigious ARIA Awards will be broadcast once more on Channel 9 in 2022, the 36th year celebrating the best and most popular Aussie music acts of the year, win an outstanding showcase of celebrities and industry figures."

Other than the ARIA Awards broadcast, Channel 9 did not unveil any music-based programming.

Channel 7 - which currently boasts The Voice Australia, next year's revival of Australian Idol, and the on-ice Australia's Got Talent - will host its Upfronts presentation next month.

You can read about ARIA's decision to make this year's Awards a virtual affair here, and about the move to scrap gender-based categories here.