15 years of - National Film and Sound Archive

15 years of
Broadcasting
15
FOXTEL’s
15 years of
Broadcasting
A Message
from ouR CEO
FOXTEL celebrates 15 years of
One of subscription television’s greatest
Audiences may fragment as channel
broadcasting on the 23 of October 2010.
achievements has been to lead Australia
choices multiply, but television retains its
into the digital television era liberating
power to pull people together, to entertain,
personal empowerment through choice,
inform and enlighten connecting the
control and convenience over a vast library
community like nothing else.
Since 1995, Australian television has been
transformed from a 5-channel analogue
world, to a multi-channel digital universe
of more than 200 channel choices on
FOXTEL alone.
of over 15,000 hours of content each and
every week.
The subscription television industry has
excelled in many areas of television.
FOXTEL has had many transformative
Australians have never had more quality
moments - one of the biggest and
live sports choices. We have championed
most central to the Australian broadcast
media diversity and a new generation of
landscape was our digital launch in 2004.
television news. With our channel and
Since then we have been relentless
platform partners we have broken ground
Our achievements are collective ones.
innovators with our iQ and iQ HD personal
in original Australian drama with many
They are due to many thousands of people
digital recorders, Telstra Mobile FOXTEL,
series; made huge strides in children’s,
who have worked for or contributed
FOXTEL Live to Air on Virgin Blue flights,
documentary and music programming;
to FOXTEL and the other subscription
the launch of High Definition television
and set new standards in lifestyle and
television platforms; the many individual
in 2008, Next Generation in 2009 and in
general entertainment.
channels and their employees; the
2010 our move into 3D sports broadcasting
service providers to our industry including
and broadband television with FOXTEL
our sales, installation, technology and
delivered through Microsoft’s Xbox over
advertising partners; and the creative and
the internet and FOXTEL On Demand to
entertainment industries we work with
over 800,000 IP-enabled iQs nationally. If
from documentary through drama, news,
consumers want FOXTEL on cable, satellite,
I hope you enjoy this overview of FOXTEL’s
music, lifestyle, children’s and on to sports.
mobile or broadband – we will deliver.
15 years of broadcasting – please join us
FOXTEL’s owners Consolidated Media
Through all this change, we have never
Holdings Limited, News Corporation and
lost sight of what beats at the heart of
Telstra have been committed investors,
our service: the millions of Australians
risk-takers, guides and supporters
who are our customers - and their
throughout. Without them there would be
experience of the extraordinary diversity
Kim Williams AM
no FOXTEL. Their patience and persistence
of information, joy, wonder and comfort
Chief Executive Officer & Managing
have been core to FOXTEL’s evolution.
that television provides.
Director FOXTEL Management Pty Ltd
In this brief history, we remember some
of the key events and people who have
shaped FOXTEL and subscription television
over our journey. And we look to the future.
We aim to be the first choice in
entertainment through an unswerving
devotion to innovation at the service of
Australian consumers.
on the next stage of the journey.
3
In thinening...
Beg
In December 1994, the CEO of British Sky
Subscription television was a late entrant
Broadcasting Sam Chisholm, publicity
to Australia. Services began in the US
and competition benefits need
and promotions consultant Brian
decades earlier and early services in the
encouragement and acknowledgement.
Walsh and Chisholm’s legal adviser
UK from 1984.
Bruce McWilliam lunched at Catalina’s
Restaurant in Sydney’s Rose Bay.
James Packer, whose family led
Australia’s commercial television industry
What would be a good name for
for decades, told the annual ASTRA
the fledgling subscription television
subscription television conference in
partnership between Rupert Murdoch’s
2007: “Subscription TV….first came across
News Corporation and Telstra? How about
our radar some twenty odd years ago….
“NewsTel”? Mmm. How about marrying
As I remember things, it was the devil
“The investment, employment, diversity,
“Australia will catch up with the
international marketplace.”
FOXTEL and subscription television
arrived after some years of turmoil in the
Australian media. In the late 1980s, News
Corporation sold the Ten Network to Frank
Lowy. Kerry Packer sold the Nine Network
to Alan Bond. The John Fairfax group sold
News Corporation’s “FOX” film and
incarnate on Mondays and Wednesdays,
television brand with Telstra? “FOXTEL” was
and a not to be missed opportunity on
the name taken to News Corp’s Australian
Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Fridays,
In newspapers, the News Corporation
CEO Ken Cowley and from him to Rupert
we couldn’t make up our minds. Today,
bought the Herald & Weekly Times in
Murdoch and Telstra’s then CEO Frank
of course, we regard our stake in the
1987. Warwick Fairfax launched an ill-fated
Blount. FOXTEL was born and an unusually
subscription TV industry as a great asset
takeover bid for John Fairfax the same year
lively and colourful history has ensued.
with a tremendous future.” His father
– and the Tourang syndicate led by Conrad
Kerry Packer joined Rupert Murdoch in
Black would eventually take control.
FOXTEL and FOX SPORTS in 1997.
By the early 1990’s, Kerry Packer had
Former FOXTEL Director Lachlan Murdoch
regained the Nine Network from
gave his perspective to an earlier ASTRA
Bond. Canada’s CanWest group gained
FOXTEL would first go live on cable at
7.30pm on 23 October 1995 with a 20
channel service.
It began transmission from a stunning new
digital television facility perched above
the sparkling waters of Sydney’s Pyrmont
on Wharf 8. FOXTEL would lead a creativeindustry inspired rejuvenation of the
Pyrmont area, strongly supported by then
NSW Treasurer Michael Egan and Premier
the Seven Network to Christopher Skase.
conference in 2003: “Since inception, the
ownership of the Ten Network and the
pay-television business has been treated
Seven Network was re-listed on the ASX.
by government and regulatory bodies as
In parallel, Australia’s telecommunications
a fully mature industry in need of control
industry was going through a great
and limitations at every turn.
revolution. The Bob Hawke and later
“The truth is that our industry – with
Paul Keating Labor Governments would
its accumulative debt of $8 billion –
promote competition in telephony
Kennett worked with FOXTEL to establish
has required faith and investment,
services, starting the process in 1991
its national Customer Sales and Service
not fierce restraint.
by awarding Optus the licence to
Bob Carr. In Victoria, then Premier Jeff
Centre in Melbourne’s Moonee Ponds.
It was a long road to Wharf 8 and
Moonee Ponds.
4
“A fledgling industry like ours must be
enabled and encouraged to grow.
become Australia’s second national
telecommunications carrier to compete
with Telecom.
FOXTEL would lead a creative-industry inspired rejuvenation of the
“ Pyrmont
area….FOXTEL established its national Customer Sales and
Service Centre in Melbourne’s Moonee Ponds.
The scene was set for the arrival in 1995 of the biggest changes to
television and telecommunications Australians had ever experienced.
”
FOXTEL CEO Mark Booth and NSW Premier Bob Carr, 1995.
In 1992, the Broadcasting Services Act
to “bundle” telephony and TV. The cable/
was changed to allow subscription
telephony wars began.
television, initially on satellite-only with 3
licences to provide a total of 10 channels.
Meanwhile, Australis Media prepared to
sell its “Galaxy” subscription television
In 1993, a consortium of News
service over satellite and microwave
Corporation, PBL, and Telecom (later
delivery systems (MDS). Australis
FOXTEL’s first chairman Telstra CEO Frank
Blount told a Sydney conference in
1995: “…networks are being developed
to support an enormous range of new
services whose multiplicity and diversity is
almost unlimited, and driven by customer
demand. The interactive multimedia
Telstra) was formed to bid for a satellite
had signed exclusive content supply
licence. It was known as “PMT” after
agreements with a group of major
Packer, Murdoch, Telecom. The satellite
Hollywood studios. Australis later supplied
licence auction became a fiasco for the
content from these studios to FOXTEL.
Federal Government. PMT was dissolved
Optus Vision signed exclusive content
It would be a bonanza for consumers,
in September 1994.
supply agreements with the remaining
and a period of massive investment,
Hollywood studios. Australis franchisees
innovation and risk-taking by the
AUSTAR and East Coast TV commenced
providers.
News Corporation announced it would
join Telstra which would roll out a national
cable network to deliver telephony
broadcasting in August 1995.
and television on a new “information
The scene was set for the arrival in 1995
superhighway.” Optus formed Optus Vision
of the biggest changes to television and
to roll out its own national cable network
telecommunications Australians had ever
services of the near future will be as
diverse as the interests and requirements
of their users…”
Only the fittest and most committed
providers would survive…......
experienced.
5
Facts & f igures
FOXTEL today:
1.63 million FOXTEL subscriber households1
$477 million FOXTEL EBITDA; $206 million EBIT1
5.74 million subscription TV viewers each week1
4034 FOXTEL employees1
$2.2 billion total FOXTEL capex investment 1995 – 2010
57.3% share of viewing in subscription TV households2
$2 billion FOXTEL revenue1
22.4% subscription TV share of all TV viewing3
1. Year ending 30 June 2010
2. National STV Homes, 6am-12midnight, Total People, July 2009 – June 2010
3. Metro Viewing Share (All Metro TV Homes, 6am-12midnight, Total People, July 2009 – June 2010)
Audience share of all TV viewing homes
35%
30%
Nine Network
25%
Seven Network
20%
Ten Network
15%
ABC
10%
Subscription TV
5%
SBS
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
6
Number of FOXTEL channels
225
200
200
175
160
150
125
130
139
143
145
149
100
75
50
25
20
20
25
30
34
34
38
45
47
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
FOXTEL Subscriber homes / Viewers
6m
2m
5m
1.75m
1.5m
4m
1.25m
3m
1m
2m
0.75m
0.5m
1m
0.25m
0
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
7
1995
VIC Premier Jeff Kennett opens
FOXTEL’s Customer Sales and Service
Centre in Melbourne’s Moonee Ponds.
TV viewers will get personal service from
their TV provider 24-hours-a-day – a
completely new experience. The CSSC
first staff intake is 45 people.
Australis Media launches
Galaxy on Australia Day
with 8 subscription TV
channels using microwave
and satellite distribution.
April, Super League battle over Rugby
League commences as FOXTEL, the
free-to-air networks and Optus Vision
contest for sports rights.
VIC Premier Jeff Kennett.
January
News Corporation and Telstra announce
the creation of FOXTEL. Mark Booth
FOXTEL buys 50% of
later appointed inaugural CEO.
XYZ Entertainment.
Australia’s ‘Mr Movies’,
Construction of FOXTEL’s cutting-edge
Bill Collins, signs a
headquarters at Wharf 8 Pyrmont gets
long-term contract
underway in June. Employees move from
to introduce all-time
George St office building. Wharf 8 is the
classic movies on FOXTEL.
first 100% digital TV broadcast centre
in Australia featuring open plan offices,
2 studios, 10 edit suites, and 1 audio suite.
8
FOXTEL launches its cable service at 7pm on 23 October.
Head of Broadcast Engineering Peter Smart pushes the
button. 20 channels – FOX; fx; Showtime; Encore; TV1;
Nickelodeon; Discovery; Arena; RED; Premier Sports; BBC
World; CNN; ABN; Bloomberg; World Movies; Cartoon
Network; TNT; CMT; FOXTEL Weather and FOXTEL EPG. Cost:
Installation $19.95. Monthly fee $39.95.
Australis approaches FOXTEL
with merger proposal.
Optus Vision launches
cable service.
Hollywood star Joan Collins with QLD
Premier Wayne Goss launch FOXTEL
in Queensland. FOXTEL’s first
entertainment programs include
AUSTAR commences services.
Dallas, Dynasty, and MacGyver.
AUSTAR lists on the ASX in 1999.
December
FOXTEL goes to market with the Bart
Simpson campaign – “I want my
FOXTEL.” Bart champions the idea of
convergence of the new “information
superhighway” and entertainment.
The Simpsons will become the FOX8
channel’s most popular early program.
29
Subscribers
Employees
FOXTEL CEO Mark Booth
and Bart Simpson.
8,006
9
1996
Beauty and the Beast with Stan Zemanek launches on FOX. Beauties will
include Maureen Duvall, Rose Porteous-Hancock, Carlotta, Joanna Griggs, Prue
McSween, Julia Morris, Donna Gubbay, Jan Murray, Jeannie Little, Ita Buttrose,
Charlotte Miller – Dawson, Lisa Wilkinson, Freda Lesslie and Belinda Green.
B&B will become one of FOXTEL’s longest running productions. A future
series is hosted by Doug Mulray.
Sky News, Australia’s first
24-hour news channel
launches from a business
park in the Sydney suburb of
French’s Forest. Juanita Phillips
is the first newsreader.
The Comedy Channel launched.
January
pm
$9.95
Australis-FOXTEL merger
blocked by the Australian
Competition and Consumer
Commission.
Premier Sports becomes
ARL wins first round of
FOX SPORTS.
Federal Court battle to
prevent Super League.
FOXTEL launches 5-channel Entertainment Plus tier
with FOX Soap, Talk, Travel and History at $9.95pm.
Ken Cowley, Sarah Fergurson and Lachlan Murdoch
in Melbourne to launch Entertainment Plus.
10
Entertainment News hosted by Mike
Hammond and Jo Bailey launches on FOX.
FOX Cubs, a locally produced pre-school
program hosted by Michelle Pettigrove
launched, later going to the FOX Kids Channel.
Federal Court full bench
Hugh Jackman debuts on Australian TV on FOXTEL.
overturns February legal
Jackman and Melissa Hoyer host FOX fashion.
decision by Justice
Burchett and backs Super
League over the ARL.
December
FOX channel
launches Shark
Bay drama series
starring Rowena
Wallace, Dieter
Brummer and
UKTV and Hallmark
Francis O’Connor.
launch on FOXTEL.
Food fx launched with Australian chefs giving cooking lessons.
Chefs include Peter Doyle.
The Hub arts and entertainment program hosted by Amanda
Keller launches on XYZ’s Arena Channel. The Graveyard Shift on Arena
shows late night horror movies hosted by Tabitha Clutterbuck.
634
FOXTEL for business premises launched.
Subscribers
Employees
136,746
11
1997
The Multi-Channel Network (MCN),
a joint venture between FOXTEL,
Australis and its franchisees, and
channels is established to sell
advertising. Advertising cannot
start until July because it is banned
by law on STV until that date.
David Malone appointed CEO, MCN.
Tom Mockridge
appointed FOXTEL CEO.
FOX Channel becomes
FOX8, the flagship channel
on the FOXTEL platform.
FOXTEL launches pay-perview on Event TV.
January
Nude Night Surfing from Bondi
Super League begins with a live
Brisbane Broncos v Auckland
Warriors game on FOX SPORTS 2.
Ian “Molly” Meldrum goes behind
the scenes on the year’s biggest
blockbuster James Cameron’s Titanic
for Entertainment News on FOX.
12
broadcast on the Comedy Channel.
National Geographic
Channel joins Discovery
Channel in FOXTEL’s
documentary line-up.
Main Event pay-per-view
channel replaces Event TV.
December
The LifeStyle Channel from XYZ
launches with Australian Living.
FOXTEL and Australis launch
Telstra and Optus stop their
second merger attempt.
cable roll-outs.
Annual losses of Australis,
Optus Vision and FOXTEL are
$897 million combined.
ACCC denies Australis-FOXTEL
merger. Plan abandoned by
the companies in November.
790
Princess Diana dies in Paris
car crash. FOXTEL’s 24-hour
279,843
news channels provide
unprecedented coverage of
Subscribers
Employees
an event that stuns the world.
13
1998
Door-to-door sales become a key selling medium for FOXTEL. The service
is outsourced to SalesForce which becomes FOXTEL’s long-term partner, later
acquired by the Salmat group. Salmat over the years provides 45 to 330
full-time-equivalent staff at any single time to meet FOXTEL’s needs.
Australis retrenches 80. Hollywood
studios that supply Australis take
legal action to end the deal, alleging
Australis is insolvent.
January
LAWS program launches on FOXTEL. John Laws opens
with guests Alan Jones and singer David Campbell.
PM John Howard and Opposition Leader Kim Beazley
attend the LAWS launch function at Star City.
LAWS goes on to create more than 400 episodes, which
will include the last TV interview with fugitive businessman
Christopher Skase in July 2000.
FOXTEL’s owners News and Telstra
terminate their 25-year program
supply agreement with Australis.
14
FOX Kids and The
History Channel launch
PBL and News Corporation
“equalise” their interests
in subscription TV to work
together with Telstra
in FOXTEL.
as a shared channel.
Michelle Pettigrove, FOX Kids host.
PBL buys 25% of FOXTEL from News,
leaving News with 25% and Telstra with
50%. News sells PBL 50% of FOX SPORTS.
Austar pays $50 million for East Coast TV thereby raising its stake in
XYZ Entertainment to 50%, with the other 50% owned by FOXTEL. XYZ
becomes a major provider of lifestyle, general entertainment, and
music channels – and later weather, children’s and documentary services.
December
Australis Media collapses, receivers
take over. FOXTEL obtains direct movie
LifeStyle channel launches the
supply from key Hollywood studios
Life Changes series – prominent
under a deal negotiated by then FOXTEL
Australians tell their life stories
Director Lachlan Murdoch. FOXTEL
including Ita Buttrose, Rodney Eade,
reaches agreement with the Australis
Les Murray, John Singleton.
receiver to buy its satellite STU’s. FOXTEL
offers Australis subscribers an interim
satellite service.
937
Subscribers
Employees
417,360
15
1999
FOXTEL expands its reach with the launch of a
satellite service. FOXTEL will now be available to
70% of Australian homes, adding 2 million potential
satellite homes to the 2.5 million homes passed by
Telstra cable. FOXTEL already has a list of more than
100,000 homes waiting for FOXTEL satellite.
The Federal Government makes a one-off exception to
the restrictive sports regulation to allow FOX SPORTS to
broadcast the Australia-West Indies cricket tour live.
FOXTEL CEO Tom Mockridge: “FOX SPORTS last year
televised live, ball-by-ball coverage of the Australian
cricket team’s tours of India and Pakistan, including
Mark Taylor’s sensational innings of 334, and this was
the first time events of this type have received any
sort of live television coverage in Australia.”
January
Antonia Kidman hosts
Premiere on FOX8.
Andrew Ettingshausen hosts
Young Guns 99 on FOX8, a look
at six new stars of the NRL.
FOXTEL announces weekly Melbourne
comedy quiz programme Sunday Roast
hosted by Peter Rowsthorn, Shane Bourne
and Steve Bedwell.
Roast marks FOXTEL’s continuing commitment
“ toSunday
local production and our plans this year to expand
our production base in Melbourne.
”
16
Brian Walsh - Director of Programming,
Promotions and Publicity FOXTEL (February)
FOXTEL, which is less than fours years old,
“ directly
employs more than 1,300 people with
an average age of 25, many of them starting
their careers and working in graphics, writing,
editing, on-air performing and other highlyskilled areas of programming.
“Australia’s Pay TV businesses as a whole
”
directly employ more than 3,000 people, with
many other people enjoying jobs that have
been created to support our businesses.”
FOXTEL broadcasts the
Tom Mockridge CEO FOXTEL (May)
opening of FOX Studios.
Bill Collins interviews
Hollywood legend
Super Planet with Merrick & Rosso
Shirley Jones for FX.
launches on The Comedy Channel.
December
FOXTEL Executive Richard Freudenstein
appointed GM of BSkyB.
FOXTEL achieves Australian
subscription TV’s first international sale
of an original production – Beauty and
Audience viewing in subscription
the Beast will screen twice daily on New
TV homes is revealed for the first
Zealand network television, Prime.
time by AC Nielsen. It shows 46%
Brian Walsh, Director of Programming,
Promotion and Publicity, said:
of viewing in STV homes is to STV
channels, high by world standards.
The share will rise over time.
1324
“When they’re not tearing strips of each
other in the battle to have their
574,930
Worlds
opinion heard, Stan and his panel offer
sound advice to viewers seeking
Weirdest Pets
answers to life’s toughest questions.”
hosted by Craig
Wing and Jess
FOX News channel
Gower on FOX8.
becomes stand-
Subscribers
Master Color Identity
Employees
alone on FOXTEL.
PMS 1935C • Process C 0 M 100.0 Y 56.0 K 18.0
Typefaces • News - Franklin Gothic ITCby BT Heavy 88% Horz. Scale
Channel - Swiss 721 BT Black 130% Horz. Scale
17
2000
AC Nielsen data shows Subscription TV is consistently
winning up to 50% of viewing in Subscription TV
homes (All People 6am to 12 midnight).
Mad mad world of sports with
ET launches on FOX8. Andrew
Ettinghausen hosts many early
programs for FOXTEL.
January
Jim Blomfield
appointed FOXTEL CEO.
MAIN EVENT broadcasts Anthony Mundine’s
first professional fight versus Zohs.
During the Sydney 2000 Olympics, FOX8 runs
non-stop Simpsons. The channel becomes the
only non-Olympic subscription or free-to-air
channel to increase its viewing. FOX8 uses the
same 24/7 animation alternative with success
during Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and Delhi 2010.
18
FOXTEL introduces movie “multiplexing” with
the Showtime 2 available at no extra charge for
subscribers of Showtime and Encore. Showtime 2
screens Showtime on 2 hours delay, giving viewers
more choices about when they watch the big movies.
FOXTEL announces local programming
initiatives: including a co-production of
McLeod’s Daughters with the Nine Network;
Headstart, an international co-production for
FOXTEL and the ABC produced by Ben
Gannon, the producer of Heartbreak High
and Wildside.
FOXTEL and Network Ten agree to produce
a fifth season of Beauty and the Beast.
December
On 2 December, all FOXTEL subscribers
receive a new music channel,
musicMAX, and Fashion TV.
1431
FOX Kids moves from the
702,414
Entertainment Plus tier to basic
for all subscribers.
Cartoon Network and Bloomberg
Television expand from FOXTEL cable-
Subscribers
Employees
only to include satellite subscribers.
19
2001
Sam Chisholm appointed
TV1 launches comedy-drama
FOXTEL Chairman.
Shock Jock set in 1980’s
talk-back radio industry.
FOXTEL commissions its first long-format
Australian drama series Crash Palace (65
episodes) to be set in a backpackers’ hostel
and made at Sydney’s new Fox Studios.
Production partners include BSkyB, SkyNZ
and the Fox International Entertainment
Channels in Spain, Latin America and Japan.
January
Crash Palace will employ many Australian actors, technicians,
“ writers
and production teams.
This is a landmark series for the pay TV industry and a world first
for Australian television. It demonstrates how, with the assembly
of the right creative teams and a storyline of universal appeal,
broadcasters from a number of territories can work together to
build a unique television project.
”
Brian Walsh - Director of Television FOXTEL (May)
The LifeStyle Channel
20
Home & Food launches.
Maggie Taberrer At Home With
commences on fx Channel.
FOX8 launches the original documentary
series Ties That Bind where prominent
Australians visit the overseas homelands of
their ancestors. Includes Wendy Matthews,
Mary Coustas and Craig Wing.
Kim Williams
appointed FOXTEL CEO.
December
Christopher Skase dies. FOX8
rebroadcasts the landmark
Disney Channel Joins FOXTEL.
exclusive LAWS interview with
Skase recorded in July 2000.
775,253
1471
The 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington shock the world.
FOXTEL’s news channels Sky News, Fox News, BBC World News, CNN, CNBC, and
Subscribers
Employees
Bloomberg bring unprecedented round-the-clock coverage to a shocked Australia.
21
20o2
Australia’s subscription
television industry is economically
unsustainable. Financial losses of
FOXTEL and Optus Vision lead to peace
talks between their respective owners
– News Corporation, PBL, Telstra – and
“ Subscription television
Optus Communications. FOXTEL and
Optus announce a Content Supply
Agreement (CSA) to cut costs, make
FOXTEL available to Optus customers and
create a future for subscription TV. Austar
supports the CSA. To-date, key movies
and sport are split between FOXTEL and
Optus. If it proceeds, the CSA will mean
consumers can receive on a single
costs have long been
an economic burden
for Optus – in many
ways hindering
its development in
the roll-out of local
telephony and other
new services.
”
Chris Anderson, CEO Optus
(March)
service all premium movies, sports,
Win a Beach House
general entertainment, lifestyle, kids,
subscriber promotion.
music, news and documentary channels.
Seperately, Telstra agrees with FOXTEL
on terms to bundle FOXTEL, subject to
Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission (ACCC) clearance.
January
FOXTEL-Optus content Supply
Agreement announced.
FOXTEL launches the FOX Footy Channel dedicated to
the AFL, Australia’s first single-sport channel and the first
to broadcast in 16:9 widescreen. All 8 games per round
are broadcast, 3 live and exclusive. For the first time,
FOXTEL subscribers can watch all three major football
codes: AFL, NRL, ARU.
There has never been such rapid
“ take-up
of a pay-TV channel in Australia.
”
Kim Williams - CEO FOXTEL, on the consumer
response to the launch (February)
22
After a nine-month process the ACCC clears the FOXTEL-Optus CSA.
are now in a position to accelerate Australia’s entry
“We
into the digital age and provide new competition and
opportunities for content suppliers, infrastructure providers
and consumers in both city and regional areas.
”
Kim Williams - CEO FOXTEL (November)
The Hallmark Channel
opens an Australian office and
schedules the channel locally.
FOXTEL acquires 100% ownership
of The Comedy Channel.
FOXTEL channels expand to 45.
December
FOXTEL commits to a
$600m plus digital upgrade
1,048,015
of its cable and satellite
services with an open access
regime for content suppliers.
ESPN joins FOXTEL.
1654
Changi drama series co-produced by
Telstra bundles FOXTEL with telephony
Subscribers
services – a new growth era begins.
Employees
UKTV-ABC broadcast on UKTV.
23
2003
FOXTEL steps toward digital launch
by contracting NDS to support its
platform development, including
co-development of the critical
Electronic Program Guide.
FOXTEL Digital Engineering
Department created to steer
expansion and upgrade of platform.
FOXTEL’s preparations
FOXTEL supplies programming to
for digital launch
Neighbourhood Cable in Geelong,
in 2004 begin.
plus TransACT cable in Canberra.
This is part of FOXTEL’s CSA
FOX8 launches The Drum
commitment to support competition.
hosted by Molly Meldrum
FOXTEL announces a $600m digital
In May, AAPT will reach agreement
with early interviews with
investment to expand with new
for it to sell FOXTEL.
Cher and Matt Damon.
channels, digital interactive services and
0
convert its set-top-units from analogue to
digital. FOXTEL says it will create a new
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
1 0
0 1
1 0
digital TV campus for the industry in
North Ryde, including FOXTEL and other
STV channels.
1
1
00
January
0
Subscription TV’s share of viewing in
Open TV to supply digital interactive
subscription TV homes peaks at a
applications for FOXTEL digital. Pace
record high of 57% over the summer.
Micro Technology will supply digital STU’s.
Lachlan Murdoch, News Ltd Chairman and
FOXTEL Director, gives the keynote address
to the annual ASTRA Conference.
“Our industry is about to come of age in Australia, not only
accelerating our previously stalled progress but transforming
the country’s media landscape for good - and for the better.”
is a positive thing and Australians should have it.
“Choice
(Diversity)…is a keyword in media policy discussion in Australia
and is admirably reflected in subscription television generally…
“We currently carry 47 subscription television channels. They
”
are owned by 39 different Australian and international media
and communications companies. Twelve of them are wholly
Australian-owned or Australian-based.”
24
1 1
1 1
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1 10 110 0 0110 1
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0
00
10
0
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0
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0
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00
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0
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0
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0
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0
launches. C1 will deliver
“Street TV” project. FOXTEL TV producers
expanded services for
teach disadvantaged youth how to tell
FOXTEL digital in 2004.
their stories through TV. Street TV becomes
a long-running commitment by FOXTEL and
1
0
1
11
00
0
partnership with the Salvos.
0
1
December
Subscription TV and
MAX Sessions features
CSC at Moonee Ponds
Blondie, Coldplay, The
prepares to move to
Whitlams, Jack Johnson.
new, high-tech building
FOXTEL reach agreement
1,069,493
for digital expansion.
to join the OzTam
audience ratings system,
1752
creating a single
Main Event features
measurement system for
Barry Humphries –
both terrestrial TV and STV.
Back to My Roots
live from Melbourne’s
State Theatre.
fx relaunches as W for women. Antonia Kidman to
host The Little Things. Mars Venus will be hosted by
Rebecca Gibney for W.
Subscribers
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
FOXTEL joins with the Salvos for the
Employees
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
Optus C1 satellite
25
20o4
FOXTEL announces it has
secured a $550 million bank
Sunday March 14 FOXTEL Digital launches
facility underwritten by ABN
at a glittering function at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair
AMRO and the Commonwealth
on Sydney Harbour.
Bank of Australia to fund
FOXTEL’s full digital conversion.
The FOXTEL Digital Revolution, a one-hour television
special hosted by Mike Hammond, introduces
FOXTEL subscribers to the new service.
Hugh Jackman returns to FOXTEL to become
the face of FOXTEL Digital and spearhead the
marketing campaign.
January
FOXTEL announces the number of channels
in basic will rise from 25 to 66 channels.
experience liberating choice and a completely
FOX SPORTS 1 and 2, World Movies
and Showtime convert to 16:9.
“From March 14, consumers will be able to
16:9
new way to watch television when they switch
on FOXTEL Digital.”
With key features never seen before in Australia, FOXTEL Digital
“ will
deliver cable and satellite subscribers enhanced viewing
through an exciting range of more than 130 channels, interactive
services and expanded viewing options, all with DVD quality
pictures and CD quality sound. Kim Williams - CEO FOXTEL (February)
”
In late March, Prime Minister the Hon John Howard MP launches
the Sky News Active Parliamentary Channel in the Great Hall of
Parliament House, Canberra.
“Can I take this opportunity of congratulating FOXTEL on FOXTEL Digital?
It is a wonderful medium, it is a wonderful companion to the lonely in
our community. It is a wonderful source of entertainment, a wonderful
source of information, a wonderful source of pleasure and enjoyment.”
26
Start of closed captioning on FOXTEL Digital, giving more than two million
deaf and hearing impaired Australians the potential to access a wide range
Subscription television
of captioned subscription television programming for the first time.
achieves an average
weekly share of viewing
in subscription TV homes
FOXTEL Digital’s Sky News Active
FOXTEL and AUSTAR join forces
and Nickelodeon services enable
with domestic airline Virgin Blue
of 52.1% for the 2004 year
viewers to vote with their remote.
to introduce an exciting new generation
compared with 50.5% in
of “LIVE” satellite TV in-flight entertainment
2003 and 47.9% in 2002.
on passengers seat-back screens.
Subscription television’s
share of viewing in
subscription television
homes reaches a record
high of 60.5% in the last
week of December.
Brett Godfrey, Kim Williams and John Porter.
December
2367
1,156,255
Love My Way
drama series
following the
lives of young
Australians and
their relationships
launches on FOX8.
Band in the Bubble
– Regurgitator live from
Federation Square in
Melbourne is broadcast
on the dedicated digital
Bubble TV Channel.
FOXTEL connects its 500,000th Australian home to
FOXTEL Digital, only 8 months after the digital launch.
More than 51% of the FOXTEL managed subscriber base
is connected to the digital service. FOXTEL becomes
Subscribers
in the world.
Employees
100% digital by 2007, the fastest digital conversion
27
20o5
FOXTEL’s Patrick Delany unveils the iQ Personal Digital Recorder.
FOXTEL iQ delivers the benefits and more of DVD recording and viewing, but
“ without
messy video tapes and DVDs which will become a thing of the past.
With FOXTEL iQ your warranty never runs out….Your PDR technology will never
be outdated. FOXTEL has the ability to continually upgrade the FOXTEL iQ…
”
FOXTEL and FOX SPORTS launch Sports
Patrick Delany - Executive Director of Content,
Active on the exclusive Rugby Super 12’s.
Product Development and Delivery FOXTEL (February)
January
Series 1 of Australia’s Next Top
Telstra Group MD Bruce
Model launches on FOX8.
Akhurst appointed Chairman
The Premier of Victoria, The Hon Steve
of FOXTEL.
Bracks, opens FOXTEL’s newly completed
National Customer Solutions Centre in
Dean Street, Moonee Ponds.
Commencement of “100 Mates”
subscriber marketing campaign
where the winner can take 100
mates to a major sports event.
FOXTEL Summer
TVN racing channel begins
UKTV locally produced drama
Supernova launches.
Programming
broadcasting on FOXTEL’s
marketing
digital platform, the first
campaign -
third party to utilise FOXTEL’s
“Free to Air Bears
digital open access regime.
in Hibernation.”
28
FOXTEL and AUSTAR announce
production will commence mid-year
on the second series of Love My Way.
FOXTEL launches the new
Aurora Community television Channel
Crime & Investigation Network.
launches supported by FOXTEL.
Main Event covers the
Anthony Mundine v Danny
Green grudge match. It is Main
Event’s biggest broadcast to-date
with 136,000 subscribers who
test all the resources of the CSC
at Moonee Ponds.
FOXTEL announces that it
has passed 1 million
FOXTEL Director of Engineering
FOXTEL celebrates its 10th Birthday.
digital direct subscribers.
Peter Smart is honoured as a
FOXTEL and the Australian Film
Fellow of the Society of Motion
Television and Radio School
Picture and Television Engineers.
(AFTRS) launch a new
partnership to give students the
opportunity to experience the
frontline of the subscription
television sector in Australia as
part of a new course offered at
the school.
December
1,219,892
2076
Love My Way wins FOXTEL’s first Logie.
FOX SPORTS becomes
the exclusive
broadcaster of the
Hyundai A-League.
FOXTEL launches its
Digital service for
commercial premises.
Subscribers
to commence selling the FOXTEL Digital service.
Employees
FOXTEL and Optus announce an agreement for Optus
29
20o6
FOXTEL and FOX SPORTS broadcast
Melbourne’s Commonwealth Games
with live multi-channel viewing on 7 screens.
FOXTEL announces its first full year
operating profit after a decade of
loses. In the year ended 30 June,
FOXTEL recorded a $4m profit (before
tax, after depreciation and interest
and including joint ventures)
representing a $160m turnaround on
the previous year. FOXTEL had
1,129,000 direct connected
subscribers, an increase of 10% since
30 June 2005. More than 1 million
subscribers have now chosen the
FOXTEL Digital service, around 90%
of the customer base.
January
Prime Minister the Hon John Howard MP opens
FOXTEL’s new Digital Campus in North Ryde, Sydney.
The Movie Network launches the
second series of Project Greenlight
Australia, a movie screenwriting contest
with a $1 million prize to produce the
winning script. The 2005 winner was Solo
by Morgan O’Neill.
30
FOXTEL donates a TV
The History Channel launches He’s
service to all Starlight
Coming South – The Attack on Sydney
Express rooms in
Harbour” lifting the lid on the mystery
Children’s Hospitals
of one of Australia’s most significant
nationally in Melbourne,
wartime episodes – the surprise Sydney
Sydney, Brisbane,
Harbour attack by Japanese midget
Adelaide, and Perth.
submarines on May 31, 1942. It will go
on to win a Logie.
The History Channel launches other
programs including Australian Iconic
Towns. The Battle of Long Tan; and
Thanks for Listening - The History of
Australian Radio looking at a medium
An Aussie Goes Barmy follows
that helped shape Australia from the
English cricket fans on the Ashes
tour featuring Hugh Jackman’s mate
FOXTEL sponsors Musica Viva
Gus Worland for FOX8.
presenting approximately 2,500
1920s onwards.
concerts each year in Australia
and around the world.
1,324,237
December
FOXTEL and the Australian Film, Television and Radio School
announce the FOXTEL AFTRS Scholarship to recognise
2013
Exceptional New Talent emerging from the AFTRS.
Power of One with Peter
Powers features ordinary
Australians doing hilarious
things in public for FOX8.
FOXTEL broadcasts the Annual
Helpmann Awards recognising
artistic achievement in musical
theatre, contemporary music,
comedy, opera, classical music,
dance and physical theatre.
Launch of Telstra Mobile
FOXTEL – one of the
world’s most substantial
Subscribers
Employees
mobile offerings.
31
20o7
Subscription TV….first came
“ across
our radar some twenty
James Packer, Executive
Chairman of PBL and former
FOXTEL Director, gives the
keynote address to the
FOXTEL acquires new AFL rights
from 2007 – 2011. FOXTEL licenses
FOX Sports to produce 4 live
matches per week and key
programs like On The Couch.
annual ASTRA Conference:
odd years ago….As I remember
things, it was the devil incarnate
on Mondays and Wednesdays,
and a not to be missed
opportunity on Tuesdays and
Thursdays. On Fridays, we
couldn’t make up our minds.
Today, of course, we regard our
stake in the subscription TV
industry as a great asset with
a tremendous future.
”
Andrew Demetriou - AFL CEO.
January
FOX8 launches the drama series
Dangerous where teenagers clash
with the law and life.
Michael Parkinson interviews
Shane Warne for a FOX8 exclusive
insight into the life of the world’s
most controversial cricketer.
has been FOXTEL Digital’s cornerstone
“ ofSimplicity
success. The service itself is a complex web of
groundbreaking engineering and commerce but
we have made it simple for consumers with
seamless technology and intuitive navigation.
Patrick Delany - Executive Director of Content,
”
Product Development and Delivery FOXTEL (March)
The King – a dramatisation of the life
story of Graham Kennedy produced
and broadcast on TV1.
Showcase launches the drama series
Satisfaction set in a Sydney brothel.
32
FOXTEL’s earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)
for the year of $237m were up 40% on
FOXTEL sponsors the Australian Writers Foundation Fellowship,
last year’s result. FOXTEL posted a record
recognising the contribution by an outstanding writer to the
$76m profit (before tax and refinancing
development of Australian culture through TV writing.
charges, after depreciation and interest and
including joint ventures) up from last year’s
maiden profit of $4m.
Stan Zemanek passes away. FOXTEL
broadcasts Stan Zemanek – My Way
FOXTEL wins rights to the
2010 and 2012 Winter &
Summer Olympic Games.
a tribute to the life of the 10-year host
of Beauty and the Beast.
Ian Thorpe joins FOXTEL to
host Fish Out of Water to
explore the effect of drought
and climate change on
Australia’s water resources.
1,492,467
December
Federal Court finds against the Seven
2065
Network on all counts in the C7 litigation.
FOXTEL CEO Mr Kim Williams: “FOXTEL has
maintained throughout the proceedings
Mike Hammond hosts
that it acted fairly and lawfully in all its
Thanks for Listening –
commercial dealings and the Judge’s
The History of
decision vindicates our position. In relation
Australian Radio for
to the judge’s comments on market, media
The History Channel.
competition since commencement of the
litigation has become even stronger, not less.
This is particularly so in the television
FOXTEL sponsors The Dreaming Festival, a multi-arts,
entertainment market in which FOXTEL
multi-venue Indigenous cultural event at Woodford, Qld.
competes with the commercial and national
broadcasters, and DVD/video sales and rentals.”
”
Subscribers
robustly and fairly as we always have..
Employees
will continue to expand its service, commitment
“ toFOXTEL
customers and content partners and compete
33
20o8
Series 1 of Selling
Houses Australia
commences on
LifeStyle Channel.
FOX Footy channel’s original
sports anchor, FOX SPORTS
presenter and rising star of
FOXTEL launches its HD service with five, 24-hour HD
Australian sports
channels - BBC HD, Discovery HD, National Geographic
broadcasting Clinton Grybas
Channel HD, FOX SPORTS HD and ESPN HD plus Australian
dies suddenly. Grybas is
television premiere blockbuster movies through FOXTEL
greatly missed by FOXTEL, FOX
Box Office HD.
SPORTS and subscription TV.
January
FOXTEL’s says its High
Football Superstar hosted by
Defintion iQ2 and
Brian McFadden launches on FOX8.
HD service is to launch
later in the year.
Peter Tonagh, FOXTEL’s CFO since 2004, manages the complex move
to a new customer management system called ViVA. The transition
is challenging and takes many months to bed down. It provides the
platform for looking after FOXTEL’s growing digital subscriber base and
expanding service and channel options.
FOXTEL launches three new channels CBeebies, BBC Knowledge, and Channel 111.
FOXTEL wins rights to the 2010 XIX Delhi
Commonwealth Games.
Customer Service Centre employees do ViVA Las Vegas.
34
Main Event broadcasts Andre Rieu’s
Melbourne Concert in HD.
FOXTEL and Austar with Sky News announce
Australia’s public affairs channel A-PAC, which
A U S T R A L I A’ S
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
C H A NN E L
is unveiled in Canberra by the Prime Minister the
Featuring
Hon Kevin Rudd MP.
FOXTEL’s earnings before interest,
tax, depreciation and amortisation
(EBITDA) rose 48% to $351m from
$237m last financial year. FOXTEL
posted a profit of $157m (before tax
and after depreciation and interest
1,569,639
and including joint ventures) more
than double the $76m result for the
previous year.
Angelo Frangopoulos - Sky News CEO, John Hartigan - Sky News
Chairman and Kevin Rudd - PM.
December
2214
The History Channel launches
Beyond Kokoda.
FOXTEL’s Online Guide expands
to a 14-Day view in advance.
Bill Collins Interviews Sir
Roger Moore as James
Bond for FOX Classics.
Subscribers
Runway for Arena.
Employees
Series 1 of Project
35
20o9
FOXTEL announces iQ and iQ2
subscribers can order FOXTEL Box
Office movies via the phone and
online, without the need for a
phone line return path connected
to the set-top-unit. iQ and iQ2
subscribers exceed 540,000.
iQ2 functionality expands again to
now be able to record an additional
20 minutes on the end of all shows.
FOXTEL launches its first remote
specifically designed for kids
FOXTEL says it has
- the MiniMote.
installed over
100,000 iQ2’s since
June 2008 launch.
Jim Waley anchors
the nightly Sky
National News.
January
Main Event broadcasts live
the 2009 Mardi Gras Parade.
FOXTEL launches new
look foxtel.com.au.
FOXTEL announces that during the
Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in
February 2010, viewers will be
able to watch every Australian
athlete competing live. FOXTEL
will present its coverage over
four HD channels.
Graham Burrells - FOXTEL Creative Director, Olympics.
FOXTEL commissions
Australian drama
Spirited (from the
producers of Love
36
My Way).
FOXTEL Next Generation
launches – more choice and
control for our customers
•30 new channel choices including
themed movie channels, new sports and
documentary channels, and tailored
general entertainment channels.
•12 new channels brands: LifeStyle YOU,
• A new movie service with 16
dedicated movie channels.
• New search functionality with an
interactive TV Guide feature called
iSuggest for iQ and iQ2 subscribers.
• Immediate recording details of
favourite shows for iQ and iQ2
subscribers with Record Me, which
13TH STREET, The Style Network,
sends shows straight to the iQ Planner
Eurosport, KidsCo, FMC, STARPICS,
simply by pressing the Green button on
showtime action, showtime comedy,
the remote during a show’s promo.
showtime drama, Discovery Turbo MAX
and Nat Geo Wild.
• New SKY News Local ACTIVE screens
for each of Australia’s five capital
• FOXTEL HD+ will be home to 15 High
cities and improved Weather ACTIVE.
Definition channels – including four
• Movies On Demand – A new FOXTEL
dedicated HD sports channels and six
Box Office with up to 40 recent release
new HD movie channels.
movies to choose from at any one time.
• The 10 new HD channels are FOX SPORTS
1,610,661
1HD, 2HD and 3HD, FOX8 HD, W HD,
MOVIE ONE HD, showcase HD, showtime
action HD, showtime premiere HD,
STARPICS 1HD and 2HD, and UKTV HD.
December
2399
FOXTEL becomes a corporate
FOXTEL’s revenue for the year ended 30 June 2009
sponsor of the FFA’s A-League
reached $1.84b, an 11% increase on the prior year.
for the next 3 years.
Despite difficult trading conditions, FOXTEL’s earnings
before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation
(EBITDA) grew by 16% to $406m (from $351m) last year.
Australia’s Next Top Model Series 5
Finale becomes the most watched
Subscribers
Host Sarah Murdoch.
Employees
show on subscription TV.
37
2010
FOXTEL broadcasts the
Singapore Youth Olympics.
“Spirited” premieres on W
Channel with Claudia Karvan.
FOXTEL broadcasts Socceroos vs
New Zealand live in 3D, the first
3D broadcast of its kind in Australia.
FOXTEL and Telstra announce an
Australian first which will see the
most comprehensive Australian
mobile coverage of any Olympic
Series 3 Football
Winter Games delivered via the
Superstar with Kris Smith
Telstra Next G™ network.
and Lee Furlong for FOX8.
Tough Nuts hosted by
Tara Moss for CI network.
January
FOXTEL’s Vancouver 2010 Olympic
Tangle Series
Winter Games goes 24/7 on 4
2 launches
television channels, mobile
on Showcase.
television and online, including via
FOXTEL launches
YouTube.com and facebook.com.
iPhone application.
FOXTEL and Microsoft sign ground breaking agreement to
transmit 30 channels of FOXTEL via XBOX Live over the internet.
38
Sky News pre-eminence in political reporting
during the 2010 Federal Election is acknowledged.
The Australian Financial Review “Power List” panellist
the pollster Rod Cameron said: “As a total ABC person,
it pains me to say that when informed people come
FOXTEL’s broadcast of
home [and wonder] ‘What’s going on; have I missed
the Delhi 2010 XIX
something?’ They won’t go to the ABC; they’ll go
Commonwealth Games
straight to Sky News.”
begins on six dedicated high
definition and standard
Kim Williams - CEO FOXTEL (September)
definition FOXTEL channels,
showcasing over 500 hours of
live events and more than 1700
hours of total coverage. Steve
Liebmann, anchors the 27
strong FOXTEL reporting team.
1,615,487*
”
*As of June 2010
December
2399*
FOXTEL launches internet TV service:
FOXTEL On Demand. It delivers TV and
Launch of FOXTEL’s holiday
Kids Club, a vacation care
movies direct to the HD iQ2 set-top box
via the internet.
service on site at North
Ryde for employees kids
during school holidays.
60% of subscribers
now take an iQ or iQ2.
FOXTEL announces a 17.5% growth in
earnings (EBITDA) to $477m for the year
to 30 June 2010. This result was supported
by continued strong uptake of the FOXTEL
iQ and FOXTEL High Definition services.
FOXTEL’s revenue for the year was up
nearly 10% to just over $2b.
Subscribers
“
ngelos Frangopoulos (Sky News CEO) has done a truly
A
outstanding job with his talented, dedicated and focused
team which has covered live and in full more breaking
news stories, more live political events and more policy
announcements than any other Australian broadcaster this
election. David Speers anchored the coverage and has
established himself as a central force in political journalism.
39
Diverse channels
www.foxtel.com.au/download
Fully funded by FOXTEL
and AUSTAR and
operated by the
Australian News Channel
Main Event Television Pty
Ltd (33.3% FOXTEL,
33.3% AUSTAR, 33.3%
Singtel Optus)
Discovery Networks
International (100%)
Greek language channel.
Distributed in Australia
by Overlook BV
XYZnetworks Pty Ltd (a
50/50 joint venture
between AUSTAR and
FOXTEL)
Aurora Television Limited
(non-profit organisation)
Australian Christian
Channel (non-profit
organisation)
BBC (100%)
BBC (100%)
BBC (100%)
FOXTEL, Australia
100% owned by
interests associated with
Michael Bloomberg
Turner Broadcasting
System Asia Pacific, Inc
(100%)
Turner Broadcasting
System Asia Pacific, Inc
(100%)
BBC (100%)
NBC Universal (100%)
Turner Broadcasting
System Asia Pacific, Inc
(100%)
XYZnetworks Pty Ltd (a
50/50 joint venture
between AUSTAR and
FOXTEL)
FOXTEL, Australia
FOXTEL, Australia
Discovery Networks (100%)
XYZnetworks Pty Ltd have
exclusive distribution rights
to Discovery Channel in
Australia
Discovery Networks
International (100%)
Discovery Networks
International (100%)
Discovery Networks
International (100%)
Discovery Networks
International (100%)
Wholly owned subsidiary
of Buena Vista
International Inc.
E! Entertainment (100%)
ESPN Inc. (100%)
ESPN Inc. (100%)
Eurosport Société
Anonyme (100%), France
Eurosport Société
Anonyme (100%), France
Interfine Holdings
(100%)
FTV rogrammgesellschaft
MBH (100%), France
Warner Bros (25%); MGM
(25%); Disney (25%);
Village Roadshow (25%)
FOXTEL, Australia
FOXTEL, Australia
FOXTEL, Australia
FOXTEL, Australia
FOXTEL, Australia
FOXTEL, Australia
FOXTEL, Australia
News Corporation
Premier Media Group
(100%) (a 50/50 joint
venture between News
Limited and CMH)
Premier Media Group
(100%) (a 50/50 joint
venture between News
Limited and CMH)
Premier Media Group
(100%) (a 50/50 joint
venture between News
Limited and CMH)
Premier Media Group
(100%) (a 50/50 joint
venture between News
Limited and CMH)
Premier Media Group
(100%) (a 50/50 joint
venture between News
Limited and CMH)
Premier Media Group
(100%) (a 50/50 joint
venture between News
Limited and CMH)
Premier Media Group
(100%) (a 50/50 joint
venture between News
Limited and CMH)
Premier Media Group
(100%) (a 50/50 joint
venture between News
Limited and CMH)
FOXTEL, Australia
Premier Media Group
(100%) (a 50/50 joint
venture between News
Limited and CMH)
Kidsco Ltd
XYZnetworks Pty Ltd (a
50/50 joint venture
between AUSTAR and
FOXTEL)
XYZnetworks Pty Ltd (a
50/50 joint venture
between AUSTAR and
FOXTEL)
XYZnetworks Pty Ltd (a
50/50 joint venture
between AUSTAR and
FOXTEL)
Main Event Television Pty
Ltd (a joint venture
between SingTel Optus
33.3%, AUSTAR 33.3%
and FOXTEL 33.3%)
XYZnetworks Pty Ltd (a
50/50 joint venture
between AUSTAR and
FOXTEL)
Warner Bros (25%); MGM
(25%); Disney (25%);
Village Roadshow (25%)
Warner Bros (25%); MGM
(25%); Disney (25%);
Village Roadshow (25%)
Warner Bros (25%); MGM
(25%); Disney (25%);
Village Roadshow (25%)
FOXTEL, Australia
NBC Universal (100%)
Satellite Music Australia
fully owned by Southern
Cross Broadcasting
(100%)
A U S T R A L I A’ S
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
C H A NN E L
Warner Bros (25%); MGM
(25%); Disney (25%);
Village Roadshow (25%)
MTV Networks (100%)
MTV Networks (100%)
MTV Networks (100%)
MTV Networks (100%)
MTV Networks (100%)
NGC Network Asia, LLC
(100%)
NGC Network Asia, LLC
(100%)
National Geographic
Channel Australia Pty Ltd
(100%)
NGC Network Asia, LLC
(100%)
NGC Network Asia, LLC
(100%)
XYZnetworks Pty Ltd
(35%), Nickelodeon
Australia (65%)
XYZnetworks Pty Ltd
(35%), Nickelodeon
Australia (65%)
National Indigenous
Television (Not-for-profit
organisation)
Wholly owned subsidiary
of Buena Vista
International Inc.
RAI Italy. Distributed in
Australia by Overlook BV
Sony (33.3%), Universal
(33.3%), Paramount
(33.3%) (TV1)
Sony (20%); Universal
(20%); Paramount
(20%); 20th Century
Fox(20%); Liberty Media
(20%)
Sony (20%); Universal
(20%); Paramount
(20%); 20th Century
Fox(20%); Liberty Media
(20%)
Sony (20%); Universal
(20%); Paramount
(20%); 20th Century
Fox(20%); Liberty Media
(20%)
Sony (20%); Universal
(20%); Paramount
(20%); 20th Century
Fox(20%); Liberty Media
(20%)
Sony (20%); Universal
(20%); Paramount
(20%); 20th Century
Fox(20%); Liberty Media
(20%)
Sony (20%); Universal
(20%); Paramount
(20%); 20th Century
Fox(20%); Liberty Media
(20%)
Sony (20%); Universal
(20%); Paramount
(20%); 20th Century
Fox(20%); Liberty Media
(20%)
Sony (20%); Universal
(20%); Paramount
(20%); 20th Century
Fox(20%); Liberty Media
(20%)
Sony (20%); Universal
(20%); Paramount
(20%); 20th Century
Fox(20%); Liberty Media
(20%)
Sony (20%); Universal
(20%); Paramount
(20%); 20th Century
Fox(20%); Liberty Media
(20%)
Seven Network (33.3%),
Nine Network (33.3%),
BSkyB (33.3%)
Seven Network (33.3%),
Nine Network (33.3%),
BSkyB (33.3%)
Seven Network (33.3%),
Nine Network (33.3%),
BSkyB (33.3%)
Seven Network (33.3%),
Nine Network (33.3%),
BSkyB (33.3%)
TABCorp Ltd (100%)
TABCorp Ltd (100%)
TABCorp Ltd (100%)
Premier Media Group
(100%) (a 50/50 joint
venture between News
Limited and CMH)
Premier Media Group
(100%) (a 50/50 joint
venture between News
Limited and CMH)
Warner Bros (25%); MGM
(25%); Disney (25%);
Village Roadshow (25%)
Warner Bros (25%); MGM
(25%); Disney (25%);
Village Roadshow (25%)
Warner Bros (25%); MGM
(25%); Disney (25%);
Village Roadshow (25%)
Warner Bros (25%); MGM
(25%); Disney (25%);
Village Roadshow (25%)
E! Entertainment (100%)
PAN TV wholly owned
by SBS (100%)
Turner Broadcasting
System Asia Pacific, Inc
(100%)
ThoroughVisioN Pty Ltd
Interfine Holdings
(100%)
BBC (100%)
BBC (100%)
NBC Universal (100%)
XYZnetworks Pty Ltd (a
50/50 joint venture
between AUSTAR and
FOXTEL)
XYZnetworks Pty Ltd (a
50/50 joint venture
between AUSTAR and
FOXTEL)
FOXTEL, Australia
FOXTEL, Australia
XYZnetworks Pty Ltd (a
50/50 joint venture
between AUSTAR and
FOXTEL
PAN TV wholly owned
by SBS (100%)
Sony (33.3%), Universal
(33.3%), Paramount
(33.3%)
TVN
FOXTEL products & features
Discovery Networks
(100%)
Our Team
Chairmen
Bruce Akhurst. Sam Chisholm. Paul Rizzo. Frank Blount.
Directors
John Alexander. Gerry Sutton. Peter Macourt. Richard Freudenstein. John Stanhope. Guy Jalland. David Moffat.
Christopher Anderson. William Stewart. John Hartigan. Gregory Winn. Solomon Trujillo. Zygmunt Switkowski.
James Packer. Lachlan Murdoch. Peter Yates. James Blomfield. Gerald Moriarty. Nicholas Falloon. Gregory Willis.
Tom Mockridge. Peter Shore. Danita Lowes. Ian Philip. Kenneth Cowley. Mark Booth. Robert Muscat. Harvey Parker.
Ian Davis*. Martin Dalgleish*. Bruce Duncan*. Geoffrey Kleemann*. James McLachlan*. Kim Williams.
*Alternate Directors
Employees fifteen years plus
Brigitte Chart. Byron George. Kym Sessions. Janelle Moran. Mark Radovic. James Versteegen. Christopher Fletcher. Christopher Neville.
Ian Stanley. Lisa Lollato. Liza Raimundo. Justin Rowley. Elena Rizzuto. Giovanni Albanese. Andrew Gibson. Andrew Ross. Peter Copas.
Brian Walsh. Rosemary Carrick. John McAlister. Alan Hurdle. Lynette Ireland. Michael Fitzhardinge. Peter Smart. Ross Crowley.
Employees ten to fifteen years
Paul Hodgson. Leslie Holcomb. Angela Trajcevski. Marc Versic. Christopher Gregory. Shawne Rubinstein. Frances Hansford. Kathryn
Gray. Vasiliki Papageorgiou. Tina Ravenscroft. Timothy Martin. William J Swan. Andrew Minenko. Mary Oti. Damien Parker. James
O’Connell. Alexandra Hay. Ashraz Khan. Diana McFadden. Mariska Deane. David Jupp. Geoffrey Tilston. Christina Hernando. Margaret
Dawson. Ken Hardy. Voula Lordanic. Mark Dyke. Michael Edwards. Stephen Martret. Janet Galea. Kylie Lewis. Dragana Neto. Jennifer
Garvey. Josh Dowling. Christopher Hicks. Jason Galea. Stellina Gunn. Paulette Holloway. Melanie Gough. Heather Mary McLaren. Steven
Griffiths. Matthew Simpson. Dacre Timbs. John Mitsios. Maria Gentile. Rachael Howard. Phillip McQueeney. Colleen Wales. Tracey
Dean. Justine Castles. Naomi Sipus. Elizabeth Cook. Catherine Floy. Andrew Heyes. Dianne Brown. Wendy Hawkins. Michael Gooley.
Brad Whitehouse. Kelly Vaughan. Michelle Prince. Leesa Daniels. Marina Dachs. Alice Gooding. Scott Morson. Amanda So. Peter
Campbell. Patrick Fox. Judy Calcagno. Sharyon Sneddon. Hayley Padayachee. Bianca Venables. Vesna Dmitrovic. Mathew Ellul. Daniel
Juzva. George Siaosi. Joachim Berger. Tracy Pereira. Kathleen Foster. Thomas Zseni. Debbie Waites. Marcia Spiteri. David Marks. Jen
Parnham. Nell Payne. Sarah Micallef. Tammy Chiodo. Caroline Beattie. Lorraine Neilson. Simon Dennis. Daniela Yallappa. Steven
Circosta. Richard Franklin. Kim Marie Pickett. Matthew Bennetts. Shane Kennedy. William Sam. Steve Gnafakis. Richard Robson. Jane
Sorell. Sonali Abeyatunge. Stephen Baldwin. Belinda Nicolazzo. Bob Bell. Mark Harrold. Catherine Murray. Bobby Louca. Roderick
Thompson. Karen Garman. Marilena Mitilineos. Peter Mainstone-Mitchell. Megan Jeffery. Kylie Watson. Rochelle Patterson. Murray
Sweeney. Peter Leslie. Gabrielle Bennie. Nunzio Bagnato. Nesime Weinman. Tracy Bridges. Mary Sofocleous. Kendall Legudi. Marija
Raljevic. Kerry Anne Henry. Antoinette Hill. Piers Beagley. Alex Leong. Gregory Crockett. Mary Bilaver. Nicole Lehmann. Esta
Aleksovski. Fleur Fahey. Jason Old. John O’Brien. Dylan Jamieson. Margaret Pietromonaco. Olga Brundell. Brenda Massa. Silvana
Galati. Chelsea Howard. Murray Allan. Darren Windus. Shane Costa. Stephen Hancock. Claude Fortunato. Michelle Fletcher. Robyn
Confait. Bradley Glamuzina. David Tomley. Rania Karatzaferis. Donald Brooks. Rodney Cramp. Wayne Davidson. Christine Tegart.
James McGaw. Anthony Capes. Anthea Bartlett. Brett Copeland. Brooke Hodgson. Terry Hind. Jeffrey Smith. Pauline Hewett. Stephen
Kelly. Fran Marr. David Butler. Fiona James. Petrina Avins. Amanda Riesz. Derek Curtis. Craig Robson. Ian Waldram. Duane Hatherly.
Debra Birks. Sundaresh Rao. Jason Smith. Marie Andriopoulos. Robert Felkel. Elizabeth Curtis. Clare Champion. Joanne Henderson. Effie
Tsitsis. Marjorie Newcombe. Lynette Gilpin. Konstantinos Arsenoulis. Mary Lindkvist. Deanna Van Rooy. Angela Scherma. Karen
Tunnicliffe. Donato Caretti. Carla Rigoni. George Luther. Nina Luther. Jocelyn Surjenko. Debbie Singleton. Carmelita Nicolas. Scott
McAuliffe. Shannon Baughan. Cameron Forrester. Anna Carli. Gina Talbot. Indu Vijayakumar. Michael Lilley. Claudia Fleck. Nancy
Roumbos. Magio Kantzipas. Adrian Seeary.
42
FOXTEL Management Pty Ltd.
5 Thomas Holt Drive, North Ryde 2113
GPO BOX 99 Sydney NSW 2001
+61 (2) 9813 6000
www.foxtel.com.au