** Jefferies raises its rating for broadcasting firm Nine Entertainment Holdings NEC.AX to "buy" from "hold" and hikes price target to A$1.9 from A$1.2

** Brokerage notes linear TV and broadcast video on demand (BVOD) services combined represent 70% of TV viewing hours, despite a decade of disruption from streaming platforms

** Case studies from the U.S. and EU show that subscription video on demand (SVOD) and BVOD services combined could offset the decline in TV, where company has been growing market share - Jefferies

** Brokerage adds while the ad market remains subdued, according to management, rate cuts could provide upside alongside the company's effective cost-out programs

** Jefferies also views U.S. real estate firm CoStar's CSGP.O acquisition of Domain, where Nine is the largest shareholder, as positive

** Brokerage says CoStar's potential large marketing spend on Domain could trickle down to Nine, given its comprehensive media assets

** Stock up 34.4% so far this year, as of last close

(Reporting by Nikita Maria Jino in Bengaluru)

((Nikita.Jino@thomsonreuters.com;))