News

The second season of FremantleMedia Australia.s Wentworth was named most outstanding Australia drama and Foxtel.s Brian Walsh won the inaugural industry contribution award at Thursday night.s pay-tv awards.

Andrew McFarlane took the best actor trophy for Matchbox Pictures. Devil.s Playground and Wentworth.s Danielle Cormack was best actress.

Game of Thrones season 4 was deemed most outstanding international drama at the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association Awards held at The Star in Sydney.

Sky News collected four prizes, channel of the year and for most outstanding news program (Paul Murray Live), presenter Murray and broadcast journalist David Speers.

ITV Studios Australia.s Paddock to Plate took the lifestyle program award and Arena won the channel achievement award.

Walsh, Foxtel.s Executive Director of Television, spoke of growing up as a .a starry eyed kid from the suburbs,. keeping an imaginary television schedule in an exercise book...

As far I believe, these images posted by Hollywood stuntman and fight choreographer, Greg Van Borssum, are the first behind-the-scenes look at George Miller's Justice League: Mortal cast. You can see: Armie Hammer ("The Lone Ranger") who would've played Batman, Adam Brody ("The O.C.") who would've been The Flash, D.J. Cotrona ("G.I. Joe: Retaliation") who would've played Superman, Megan Gale ("Project Runway Australia") who would've played Wonder Woman, Santiago Cabrera ("Heroes") who would've played Aquaman, Hugh Keays-Byrne ("Mad Max: Fury Road") who would've played The Martian Manhunter, Teresa Palmer ("The Grudge 2") who would've played Talia Al Ghul and Jay Baruchel ("Goon") who would've played Maxwell Lord. Only main cast members not included in the images below are Common (John Stewart), Anton Yelchin (Wally West), Zoe Kazan (Iris West) and Stephen Tobolowsky (Alfred Pennyworth). In February of 2007, Warner Bros. hired Keiran and Michelle Mulroney to write a script...

Sports marketing research firm Repucom has appointed James Finlayson as director of business development.

The announcement:

Sydney, 14 December 2012 - Repucom, the global leader in sports marketing research, has appointed James Finlayson Director of Business Development as the company continues to boost its consultancy and strategic capabilities.

Finlayson joins from Foxtel, where he held the post of National AdSales and Sponsorship Manager for the Foxtel owned and operated channels for three years. During this time he worked with a number of leading brands on some of Foxtel’s hottest properties including local productions Australia’s Next Top Model and Project Runway Australia. He also worked with advertisers in developing integrated solutions and brand funded content campaigns. Prior to this he worked for international sponsorship consultancy SiS.

Lynne Anderson, Repucom Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, said: “James’s appointment reflects the continuing enhancement of Repucom’s offering to media networks,...

Ad promoting the announcement before Jennifer Hawkins’ name was leaked

Foxtel is to announce Jennifer Hawkins as the new presenter of Australia’s Next Top Model, reports website TV Tonight.

The announcement of a replacement for Sarah Murdoch had been intended as a major live media event being promoted with full page ads in the Sunday papers urging fans of the show to tune in at 8.10am on Monday for a simultaneous announcement on Fox8, 2Day FM, news.com.au and fox8.tv.

But TV Tonight broke the news today, saying: “Hawkins has eclipsed other front runners for the job including Project Runway Australia‘s Megan Gale along with other rumoured names including Miranda Kerr, Nicole Trunfio and Liz Hurley.”

The leak to TV Tonight ahead of tomorrow’s broadcast is the third live mishap to hit the Fox8 show which did not air last year because it could not...

Duane Hatherly has been appointed general manager of Lifestyle Channels and head of production. The role is effective as of late May.

The announcement:

Foxtel today announced Duane Hatherly has been appointed to the roles of General Manager, LifeStyle Channels and Head of Production, Foxtel effective from the completed acquisition of Austar by Foxtel, expected in late May.

Foxtel Executive Director of Television, Brian Walsh, said: “This is a well deserved promotion for Duane, an outstanding television executive who has demonstrated impressive qualities as a manager and an architect of channels in the general entertainment genre. He is an exceptional leader and has mentored many under his charge.

“Put simply, we could not have achieved the success we enjoy today without Duane’s passion and commitment to Foxtel and Subscription Television.”

Hatherly began his career with Foxtel in July 1996, shortly after the company began operations. His tenure has seen him work across many broadcast divisions,...

The nominations for the 10th annual Astra awards have been announced, with Killing Time (TV1), the second season of Spirited (W) and Tim Winton's cloudstreet (showcase) are competing for the honour of most outstanding drama.

Ninety five entries were selected across 21 categories for the subscription television awards.

Fox8's teen drama series SLiDE has been received a nod in the most outstanding use of innovation in programming category for its multiplatform strategy.- which saw entertainment company Hoodlum create an interactive website featuring graphic novels, music and webisodes.

Not all content recognised is local. Subscribers can vote for their favourite international drama, with showcase favourite Game of Thrones competing against Haven (13th Street), Boardwalk Empire (showcase), Torchwood: Miracle Day (UKTV), Falling Skies (Fox8) and True Blood (showcase).

The 10th annual Astra awards will be held at Sydney Theatre on June 21.

For a complete list of finalists, see below. Channel...

From drama to reality and factual – meet the production house powerhouses responsible for Australia’s greatest television.

Andrew Denton

Owner/ Creative guy

Zapruder’s Other Films The Gruen Transfer, Hungry Beast, Country Town Rescue, Randling

With producers Anita Jacoby and Peter Thompson, Andrew Denton’s Zapruder’s Other Films is known for intelligent and often funny television.

Denton came to prominence as the host of ABC’s 1988 comedy show Blah Blah Blah and was quick to get involved behind the scenes. His first executive producing credit came in 2001 when he gave The Chaser team their break with The Election Chaser.

Denton is responsible for adland favourite The Gruen Transfer, with five series including Gruen Planet and Nation under its belt. The show is one of the ABC’s highest rating formats attracting international interest.

Denton’s great skill is fostering young talent with his 2008 Project Next experiment resulting in Hungry Beast.

Project Runway Australia finalist Craig Braybrook has joined the weight debate surrounding Alex Perry. The Australian fashion designer, who is also a mentor on Australia's Next Top Model, was initially accused by TV star Ajay Rochester of "hating fat women" but called her claims "reprehensible". Perry was then labelled a 'fattist' after describing size eight Next Top Model contestant Alissandra Moone as "overstuffed luggage" in an episode of the show last week. Braybrook has now claimed to the Herald Sun that Perry and fellow contestants on the reality series would often make jibes about (more)...

Brand new Aussie shows spearhead Foxtel's programming across the next year.

In the next 12 months Foxtel is ramping up its local production slate, promising more Australia's Next Top Model, Project Runway Australia, The Contender Australia and new shows in entertainment and factual shows.

The move follows the announcement of another free-to-air channel in the form of 7mate, which includes a number of titles that have screened on pay TV.

Among the...  More >>...

Foxtel is considering cancelling Project Runway Australia. The fashion design reality show, which is hosted by model Kristy Hinze, has only had two seasons televised so far. A spokesperson for the show told The Daily Telegraph that it was "a difficult show to cast", adding: "We haven't engaged in a discussion with the cast members at this stage. We're not in a position to tell if we will go ahead this year." The (more)...