Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Limited (ASX:NEC) is understood to be exploring a partial sale of Stan Entertainment Pty Ltd. after unsuccessful efforts to buy AFL broadcasting rights and a major contract loss. Nine executives, including Chief Executive Officer Mike Sneesby, have been in Los Angeles meeting with production companies.

While the meetings covered topics such as content deals, it is understood that broader strategic options for the business were also discussed. The understanding by some is that the free-to-air broadcaster and publisher is looking to sell a share of the business, in a similar scenario to online real estate website Domain, where it is a 60% shareholder. However, others close to Nine said that while the future of Stan had previously been canvassed by the company, there were no immediate plans for any change to its ownership.