The FOXTEL Channels Group is thrilled to announce a raft of exciting new programming commissions and new series for 2012, securing more local productions and more exclusive US content than ever before.
The FOXTEL Channels Group will also create a tenth channel launching early 2012. It will be home to action-packed, non-scripted series, aimed at men 25-40 years – all delivered in detailed High Definition.
The FOXTEL platform currently commands 56 percent of all television viewing in subscriber’s homes, and provides over 200 channels of fresh, exciting, exclusive content, as well as the best and most diverse HD offering there is.
The FOXTEL Channels Group (FOX8, ARENA, W, Bio, The History Channel, CI Network, The Comedy Channel, and 111 HITS) has every television genre covered, and it will help grow the FOXTEL platform by adding even more new exclusive local and international programming in 2012.
Brian Walsh, FOXTEL Director of Television said, “In 2011 we have again enjoyed a successful year of Australian programming – it is my pleasure to announce the exciting new series and as well as a brand new channel for 2012.
“At the annual LA Screenings this year, FOXTEL secured the biggest line-up of first run US series ever. Our subscribers will see a unique and exciting slate of US programming, specifically acquired for the FOXTEL Channels Group. We are proud to have bought more shows from the widest range of programming distributors than any other television network in Australia.
“We’ve also recognised a unique opportunity to create a new channel amongst the FOXTEL Channels Group aimed at the niche, male 25-40 viewer. This new channel will deliver hundreds of hours of new real action and real entertainment to viewers in enthralling High Definition.
“The FOXTEL Channels Group will deliver fresh and engaging new local productions, plus return viewer favourites, across the drama, comedy, factual and entertainment genres in 2012.”
EXCLUSIVE NEW US PROGRAMMING
SMASH is the story of a group of people who come together to put on a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. It is from NBC Universal and is one of the most talked about pilots from the new US TV season and will debut early next year exclusively on FOXTEL’s W channel. SMASH features some of the biggest names in Hollywood – including Debra Messing, Anjelica Houston, AMERICAN IDOL contestant Katherine McPhee, and the legendary Steven Spielberg.
AWAKE is an intense serial drama about the power of the mind from 20th Century Fox starring Jason Isaacs as the lead character. He wakes up from a car accident involving his wife and teenage son and learns the devastating news that his wife died in the crash. Trying to put the pieces of his life back together, he wakes up the next day to realise his wife is very much alive and his son has died in the accident. The series leaves the viewer wondering if he has really lost his wife or his son, and which reality is the truth. This series will premiere exclusively on W.
SHAMELESS is the US series from Warner Bros adapted from the UK program of the same name. With a stellar cast including William H Macy, Emmy Rossum and Joan Cusack, it was a recent breakout hit in the US and is currently in production for a second season, which will also exclusively premiere on W.
GRIMM is a captivating cop drama from NBC Universal to appear on FOX8. It is a dark and fantastical project about a world in which characters inspired by Grimm’s Fairy Tales actually do exist. Set in present day, the series puts a new twist on the stories of the Brothers Grimm in which a homicide detective learns that he is a descendent of a group of hunters known as “Grimms”, who fight to keep humanity safe from the supernatural creatures of the world.
LAST MAN STANDING sees Tim Allen, the star of the mega 90s hit HOME IMPROVEMENT, return to TV in America with a bang. After more than ten years off the air, his new series LAST MAN STANDING smashed the competition with an impressive 19 million viewers tuning in to the first night. FOX8 will be home to LAST MAN STANDING.
THE BITCH IN APARTMENT 23 is a new sitcom due for release mid-season in the US. It is a girl buddy comedy which has a twist on celebrity cameos, with James van der Beek from DAWSON’S CREEK as a cast regular. It will exclusively premiere on FOX8 in 2012.
THE SECRET CIRCLE comes from Kevin Williamson and Warner Bros, and is a supernatural teen drama about a circle of witches. It is the most watched new show on the CW network and will exclusively premiere on FOX8.
HART OF DIXIE stars THE OC’s Rachel Bilson and is a classic riches-to-rags story about a big time New York City doctor who is forced to move to country Alabama. The show is from Warner Bros and has been commissioned for a full season already – it will premiere on FOX8 in early 2012.
SWITCHED AT BIRTH is a one-hour scripted drama about two teenagers who were switched at birth and grew up in very different environments – its series premiere in 2011 was the highest rated show debut for ABC Family to date, and it will exclusively premiere on FOX8.
Also new to FOXTEL is PRETTY LITTLE LIARS and the first-run program THE LYING GAME – both from Warner Bros to premiere on FOX8. The shows are huge hits on the US cable ABC Family network, with the Season One finale episode of THE LYING GAME ranking number one with female audiences in its time slot in the States.
NEW CHANNEL IN 2012
The new factual channel is an action and entertainment television brand, with programming that has taken its US parent channel straight to number one within its audience of men under 40 yrs. The programming has real grit, real determination and passion. Highlights include:
PAWN STARS is a series that has broken all records for its US network exceeding 7 million viewers, making it the number one US cable show for all people 25-54.
STORAGE WARS is another hit in the US with the Season 2 premiere attracting 5.1 million viewers, making it the A&E channel’s largest audience ever.
AX MEN is enjoying its best year yet, averaging 1.7 million viewer impressions in the US amongst the 25-54 age group in 2011.
SWAMP PEOPLE is the number one cable show in the US on Thursday nights.
ICE ROAD TRUCKERS is the international hit phenomenon – this series paved the way for this style of factual entertainment and an all new series will be screening in 2012.
DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER is an adrenalin-charged original series attracting 3 million plus viewers for its 200th episode – now in full HD.
PREMIERE NEW LOCAL PRODUCTIONS
Debuting in early 2012, is a fantastic new local production called OFF THEIR ROCKERS, which is based on a hugely successful format from Europe and is also being developed in the US with Betty White. OFF THEIR ROCKERS is a hidden camera comedy series where the elderly take on the younger generation with hilarious results. It will exclusively premiere on THE COMEDY CHANNEL in 2012.
TONY ROBINSON EXPLORES AUSTRALIA became the most watched documentary series ever on FOXTEL and this year Tony Robinson will return with a new series for The History Channel, TONY ROBINSON’S TIME WALKS.
Joining the line-up on The History Channel in 2012 will also be a very special event – THE PEOPLE SPEAK, to premiere late in 2012. THE PEOPLE SPEAK assembles some of Australia’s finest actors to interpret the words that Australians have written, shouted or cried-out throughout the years. Originally conceived by actors Matt Damon and Josh Brolin, the US original was based on the works of Howard Zinn and his book, “A People’s History of the United States.”
The CI Network will be home to the next instalment of the hugely successful 2011 police reality show, KALGOORLIE COPS, which followed the hard-working police force in Australia’s wild, wild west – but this time FOXTEL, is heading to the top end. TERRITORY COPS will closely follow the police activity throughout Darwin and the Northern Territory. It will be raw, real and with no-holds-barred.
The CI Network will also premiere KINGS CROSS ER, a half-hour documentary series set in St Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst. The observational series will give viewers a look inside one of the busiest and most unique emergency departments in the country.
Also on the factual front, we will premiere a new Australian series of I SURVIVED, which will screen on Bio in 2012. I SURVIVED: STORIES OF AUSTRALIA is the in-their-own words recount of everyday Australians who have lived to tell about their extraordinary tales of near death and tragedy. It is emotional, real and a remarkable piece of television and is a major event for Bio next year.
FOXTEL has commissioned GOT TO DANCE from Shine Television for FOX8. The series, which will tap in to talent from across the country, will see Australians put their best feet forward in a high energy talent series which invites contestants from age 7 to 70 to hit the dancefloor.
FOX8 pulls up stumps in January 2012 with the debut of CRICKET SUPERSTAR, a series in which 15 young hopefuls, under the watchful eye of mentor, Allan Border, vie to become Australia’s next big thing on the cricket pitch.
For a completely different view of Australian sport comes WAG NATION, a compelling fly-on-the-wall reality series which follows the exploits of five “wags” – amongst them, the wives and girlfriends of some of footy’s most prominent players. This is the “Real Housewives” of Australian football – both codes – and it’s sure to get tongues wagging when it debuts on ARENA in March 2012.
RETURNING LOCAL PRODUCTIONS
FOXTEL has commissioned a second series of ROVE LA for FOX8 in 2012. This decision was cemented by the great reaction from the Hollywood community, the brilliant guest line-up, as well as strong ratings and sponsorship support.
The FOXTEL Channel’s Group highest rating local production, AUSTRALIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL will return in 2012 for a record eighth season on FOX8.
Another huge hit for ARENA this year has been the return of PROJECT RUNWAY AUSTRALIA. FOXTEL brought the show back, bigger and better than ever with Megan Gale and Alex Perry, and the show will return for its fourth season in 2012.
THE COMEDY CHANNEL’s highest rated program, BALLS OF STEEL AUSTRALIA, will also be back for another series in 2012, and will again be hosted by the very talented Craig Reucassel.
The dating game made a spectacular return to our screens last summer with the debut of DATING IN THE DARK, hosted by Laura Dundovic. It’s back on FOX8 for a second cycle in 2012, with more dark rooms, more action, and more fun.
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