Why did Nine PBS lose access to its data?

Cloud provider Open Source Storage (OSS) ceased operations and blocked access to the servers storing Nine PBS’s 50TB of archival data. The contract had expired, and the company failed to provide the required 30-day window for data retrieval.

What was the court’s decision in the Nine PBS case?

The court ruled that Nine PBS is the rightful owner of the data and is entitled to its retrieval. Iron Mountain must grant access to the servers within 30 days, with a third-party contractor assisting in data extraction.

What conditions must be met for data recovery?

Nine PBS must pay current and overdue storage fees, return equipment after data extraction, and ensure no other OSS clients’ data is compromised. Data integrity must also be verified.

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Security

Court Allows Nine PBS to Retrieve 50TB of Archival Data After Hosting Provider’s Bankruptcy

August 17, 2026

Photo: Tom's Hardware

Quick answer

A court granted Nine PBS permission to retrieve 50TB of archival data from Iron Mountain’s data center after cloud provider OSS filed for bankruptcy.

US broadcaster Nine PBS has secured a court order to retrieve 50 terabytes of archival data stored with the bankrupt cloud provider Open Source Storage (OSS). The data, containing 70 years of television history, was locked after OSS ceased operations in March 2026. Despite an expiring contract, the provider did not grant Nine PBS the required 30-day period to extract its data.

The dispute was complicated by the fact that the data was physically located on servers at Iron Mountain’s data center, which refused access, citing OSS’s ownership of the equipment. Nine PBS had to take legal action to prove its rights to the archive. In June 2026, the court ruled in favor of the broadcaster, but Iron Mountain continued to block access, demanding additional guarantees.

Under the August 12, 2026, court ruling, Nine PBS will retrieve the data within 30 days. A third-party contractor, a former OSS employee, will assist in the process. The broadcaster must pay current and overdue storage fees and ensure that no other OSS clients’ data is affected during extraction. Equipment used for retrieval must be returned to Iron Mountain afterward.

Experts note that this case highlights the importance of backing up critical data. The 3-2-1 strategy is recommended: three copies of data on two different media, with one stored offsite. This approach helps prevent similar incidents in the future.

Common questions

Why did Nine PBS lose access to its data?: Cloud provider Open Source Storage (OSS) ceased operations and blocked access to the servers storing Nine PBS’s 50TB of archival data. The contract had expired, and the company failed to provide the required 30-day window for data retrieval.
What was the court’s decision in the Nine PBS case?: The court ruled that Nine PBS is the rightful owner of the data and is entitled to its retrieval. Iron Mountain must grant access to the servers within 30 days, with a third-party contractor assisting in data extraction.
What conditions must be met for data recovery?: Nine PBS must pay current and overdue storage fees, return equipment after data extraction, and ensure no other OSS clients’ data is compromised. Data integrity must also be verified.

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