ASTRA Awards 2015: As we celebrate 20 years of subscription TV, we look back at the Foxtel stars who changed TV forever
ON the eve of the ASTRA Awards, we look back at some key personalities and shows over the last 20 years that changed TV forever.
TWENTY years ago, Foxtel hit Australia as a major player in the subscription television market. Fast forward two decades, and the TV landscape has significantly changed.
In 1995, the arrival of cable television ended the choice of just five free-to-air channels to what is now a digital universe with more than 200 channels, both free-to-air and subscription. Live-streaming subscription services will further shake up the industry in 2015.
On the eve of the subscription television’s annual ASTRA Awards to be hosted by E! News’s Guiliana Rancic, we look back at some of Foxtel’s key personality and programming landmarks.
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IN THE BEGINNING
FOXTEL started broadcasting in Australia in October, 1995 on October 23, 1995, with Foxtel launching a 20-channel service. Australia’s Mr Movies, Bill Collins, was one of the network’s key signings, recruited to introduce Classic Movies. Foxtel entered the market on the back of a Bart Simpson campaign “I want my Foxtel”. The Simpsons became FOX 8’s most popular early program.
HUGH WHO?
BEFORE Broadway, X-Men, and Wolverine, — but after knocking back a role on Neighbours — a young bloke named Hugh Jackman in 1996 made his debut on Foxtel as co-host of Fox Fashion alongside Melissa Hoyer. The fresh-faced host is now an international superstar who can do no wrong on the red carpet, and seems much more at home hosting the Tony Awards.
THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
HOSTED by the late Stan Zemanek, the panel chat show had seen a several versions and hosts on free-to-air networks since the 1960s, and was revamped on Foxtel in 1996. Zemanek’s ‘beauties’ included Rose Porteous-Hancock, Carlotta, Johanna Griggs, Prue MacSween, Julia Morris, Jeannie Little, Ita Buttrose and Lisa Wilkinson — many of who remain in even more high-profile positions across networks today. B & B was one of Foxtel’s longest-running productions and Zemanek, who died in 2007, was the longest-serving ‘beast’.
MOLLY JOINS THE BAND
IN 2003 Countdown legend Molly Meldrum joined Foxtel to launch The Drum. His early interviews included chats with Matt Damon and Cher.
DRAMA, DRAMA, DRAMA
REMEMBER Crash Palace? You’re not alone. But the 65-eps of boozy backpacker antics in Kings Cross was the first long-format Australian drama series Foxtel commissioned. The only way has been up since. Love My Way premiered in 2004 and drew accolades from fans and critics alike, going on to net Foxtel’s first Logie Award. The string of Aussie drama successes since has grown to include big guns like Wentworth, Tangle and Cloudstreet. Last year Foxtel announced it will revive the popular A Place To Call Home after it was axed from free-to-air.
THE REALITY MODEL
THE launch of Australia’s Next Top Model in 2005 turned an international franchise into Australian reality for Foxtel. 2015 will usher in season nine. The series five finale of the show in 2009 was at the time the most-watched regular show on Australian subscription television. Hosts and judges have included a bevy of beauty and talent in the form of Erika Heynatz. Sarah Murdoch, Jodhi Meares, the late Charlotte Dawson and Jennifer Hawkins, but it’s fashion designer Alex Perry who is the stalwart — he’s been on every season.
PROPERTY BOOM
SELLING Houses Australia launched in 2008 and quickly became a firm viewer favourite. It was the start of a long string of successes for host Andrew Winter, who appeared on the UK version, and his sidekicks Shaynna Blaze and Charlie Albone. Now in its eighth season, it’s as unstoppable as ever. Last year it was the highest-rating series in subscription television history. It has picked up swag of ASTRA awards, and made Winter a perennial winner of Favourite Male Personality at the ASTRAs since 2010.
OLYMPIC GOLD
THE 2012 London Olympics was a milestone for sports fans in Australia, with Foxtel effectively redefining how they watched the Olympics. The network made use of eight new channels, each dedicated to specific sports, assuring coverage of every gold medal event. It essentially allowed viewers to program their own Olympics experience. The move earned the 2013 Logie for Outstanding Sports Coverage.
2015 ASTRA AWARDS
THURSDAY, from 7.30PM, HIGHLIGHTS WILL BE SHOWN ACROSS FOXTEL CHANNELS
* Foxtel is part-owned by News Corp
Age shall not weary KAK’s ‘peachy’ bum
EM RUSCIANO: As I took in the masterpiece that was KAK’s badongadonk I thought: YES! How empowering, inspiring and amazing! Pass me the kale.
What Foxtel’s stars really got up to
WANT to take a look behind the scenes of last night’s ASTRA Awards? Here’s what the celebs got up to according to social media.
Eddie beats Gina for ASTRA award
IT was billed as Team Eddie versus Team Gina. Gina Liano’s The Real Housewives Of Melbourne was pitted against the Eddie McGuire-produced The Recruit in the best reality show category at the ASTRA Awards.