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Stephanie Brantz (born 1972 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian sports presenter currently on the Nine Network.

Brantz, born in Queensland to Dutch parents, began a modelling career in 1985 while attending St Peters Lutheran College in Indooroopilly. In 2000, she moved to television presenting with SBS where she became a well known presenter of On the Ball in 2000, before filling in as host of Toyota World Sports and later co-hosting the show in 2006 with Les Murray.

She also became the face of SBS during their coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and began secretly dating football commentator Simon Hill. She is a mother of three.

In July 2006, just after the World Cup, Brantz was recruited by Nine CEO Eddie McGuire to front several sporting programmes, including National Nine News, The Cricket Show, Sunday & The Footy Show.

As well as her on-air duties, Brantz is presenter of a pre and post match function at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Aussie Stadium. At this event, she chats with various commentators from the sport being played at the time.

Brantz is currently presenting a weekly highlights show of the National Basketball League on the Nine Network, which began on October 15. She will also be doing "analysis and roving reports" for the network's 2006-07 Ashes cricket coverage.

On the 19 February 2007, she was appointed the sports presenter on Nightline.

She currently presents Nine News Sydney Sport 2 Days a week.

[edit] Issues with Channel Nine and cricketers

Brantz's role with Channel Nine came under the spotlight, as she was supposed to interview players during breaks in or at the end of play. Brantz was reported removed from the network's cricket coverage because the players were apparently reluctant to speak with her, preferring to speak to ex-players such as Mark Taylor or Ian Healy. Brantz said "I think the culture needs to change...I think this is perhaps a case of Channel Nine not being quite sure about what to do with a woman in sport." A Cricket Australia spokesman, replied "They [the players] don't have gender concerns and most of the players I know enjoy female company."

[edit] External links

• Stephanie's journey from soccer mum to the face of World Cup, Anthony Stavrinos The Sydney Morning Herald 26 February 2006
• Simon and Steph a real team
• Women get second shot at cricket, Annette Sharp The Sun-Herald 12 November 2006