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FOXTEL today announced a brand new channel completely dedicated to home and property – LifeStyle HOME – which will launch on March 1, 2011. 

A new addition to XYZnetworks’ LifeStyle Channels, LifeStyle HOME will be the ultimate destination for home and property entertainment bringing together the best inspirational and informative ideas for every Australian home. From home makeovers to investments; renovation to relaxing in the garden; property dreams to property nightmares – LifeStyle HOME will feature fresh, informative and inspiring programming from Australia and around the world.

LifeStyle HOME will sit on Channel 119 replacing the How To Channel.

FOXTEL Executive Director of Television, Brian Walsh, said: “With LifeStyle HOME we are broadening our lifestyle offering to give our viewers more of the home and property content that they love, while bringing all of FOXTEL’s lifestyle programming under one banner from the team at XYZnetworks who specialise in this ever growing and popular genre.”

Favourite programs from How To Channel, including A Place in The Sun, Homes Under The Hammer, Holmes On Homes and Carter Can, will be seen on LifeStyle HOME.

Other signature series on the channel will include The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie, Mark Burnett’s Design Star, May The Best House Win and House Gift.

Programs from The LifeStyle Channel such as Colin & Justin’s Home Heist, Property Virgins and Axe The Agent will also appear on the new channel.

LifeStyle HOME will premiere on March 1, 2011.

FOXTEL has announced that it will outsource the production of the next season Australia’s Next Top Model to one of three local companies, shortlisted from a general call for submissions of interest. The successful candidates are Fremantle Media, Shine Australia and Southern Star Endemol.

“We have had considerable interest from the production sector, many of whom, tabled strong credentials to co-produce, with Room 329 Productions, the next season of Australia’s Next Top Model,” said Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh. “We have selected three from the list and FOXTEL, along with Room 329, will work through the selection process in the course of the next few weeks.

“I would like to acknowledge the incumbent production company Granada Australia and thank them for nurturing the series over six successful seasons. We will continue to work with them on other productions in the future,” Mr Walsh said.

FOXTEL today announced a major commitment to Australian productions and a substantial increase to its local commissions, including 10 major drama and comedy series, more than 20 new documentary and lifestyle programs and its biggest ever line up of marquee Australian sport.

Returning for its seventh season will be FOXTEL’s most successful and highest rating locally- produced entertainment series, Australia’s Next Top Model, to be hosted by Sarah Murdoch, who will also serve as an Executive Producer through her production company, Room 329 Productions.

“FOXTEL is proud to announce that we have signed Sarah Murdoch for a further season of Australia’s Next Top Model,” said Brian Walsh, FOXTEL Executive Director of Television. “It is our most enduring and most successful locally made series and Sarah is an integral reason for the show’s success. Next year will mark a new chapter in the program’s history and we are confident it will, again, be compelling television.

FOXTEL also announced the signing of Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson, to the company. Elle will host Britain’s Next Top Model and appear on promotional campaigns to be seen exclusively on FOXTEL in 2011.

“FOXTEL is delighted to have entered into a commercial arrangement with Elle Macpherson, whose series, Britain’s Next Top Model, will be seen on FOX8 from January,” Mr Walsh said. “Elle will be featured on the FOXTEL platform throughout the year promoting her show and its delivery through FOXTEL’s world-class PVR, the iQ.”

The Australian and British series of the Top Model franchise will join the original, America’s Next Top Model with Tyra Banks, all to be seen on FOX8 HD in 2011.

Joining them in the television fashion stakes on FOXTEL in 2011 will be a new local version of the international television hit Project Runway Australia. The Australian edition will enter its third cycle with an all new look.

Another major Australian entertainment series to feature in 2011 will be the local spin off of the UK hit, Got To Dance, featuring internationally successful, Sydney-born dancer Adam Garcia, as head judge and mentor. Got to Dance Australia will be joined in the schedule by the second season of the original UK series and the debut of its US counterpart, titled Live To Dance, which will hosted by Australia’s Andrew Gunsberg and feature Paula Abdul.

Also in the general entertainment genre will be the premiere season of Cricket Superstar, scheduled for the second half of the year, along with a second season of this summer’s break-out hit, the Australian series of Dating In The Dark.

Australian children’s and family programming will include Nickelodeon’s popular Kids Choice Awards and Disney Channel’s As The Bell Rings.

In local comedy programming, THE COMEDY CHANNEL will debut three new series in the first half of 2011; You Have Been Watching to be hosted by Peter Berner, Balls Of Steel with The Chaser’s Craig Reucassel and an untitled stand-up project which will feature some of the country’s emerging comedy talent.

In lifestyle programming, there are new seasons of locally made, Grand Designs Australia, Selling Houses Australia, Come Dine With Me Australia, the debut of Relocation Relocation Australia and Donna Hay- Fast, Fresh, Simple – all to be seen on The LifeStyle Channel.

The most anticipated drama event of 2011 and exclusive to FOXTEL, is the television adaptation of the Australian best seller Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet, which will have its premiere on Showcase. Also premiering on FOXTEL will be a controversial new Australian youth drama series, SLiDE, currently filming in Brisbane, to be seen on FOX8 HD,  TV1’s eagerly awaited mini-series, Killing Time, featuring David Wenham, and Movie Extra’s Small Time Gangster. 

The new dramas will be joined by a second season of the most watched locally made drama on FOXTEL this year, W channel’s Spirited,  starring Claudia Karvan,  plus a third series of the award-winning Tangle on Showcase and a second season of The Jesters on Movie Extra.

Australian-produced documentaries and observational reality will feature heavily on FOXTEL’s 2011 roster.

FOXTEL will premiere Kalgoorlie Cops, an eye-catching series for the Crime & Investigation Network, which follows local law enforcers in the country’s most remote city. Park Street will be observational television of a different kind as cameras go behind-the- scenes of the magazine industry and the women who rule it. Danni Minogue – Style Queen follows many days in the life of the often controversial Australian entertainer, now fashion designer in an intriguing new series to be seen on FOX8 HD. 

Lifestyle YOU! will premiere Eat Yourself Sexy and Trinny & Susannah’s Australian Makeover Mission and UK television figure Tony Robinson is down under to host his new series, Tony Robinson Explores Australia, for The History Channel.

The History Channel will also premiere locally made documentaries including Lachlan Macquarie, The Digger – A History, The Irish In Australia, Kapyong, Your Shout – The Story of Australian Beer and an Australian production of the The People Speak (inspired by the US version created by actors Matt Damon and Josh Brolin) and a captivating new interview series to be hosted by Australia’s most successful radio broadcaster Alan Jones.

National Geographic Channel has two major Australian productions, Aussie Strike Force and 62 Days at Sea, Discovery Channel will deliver Rocket Compulsion whilst on Crime & Investigation Network, Tara Moss will return with a second series of Tough Nuts: Australia’s Hardest Criminals.

Underpinning FOXTEL’s commitment to Australian production is FOX Sports unrivalled coverage of every major AFL, NRL, Rugby and Australian soccer fixture as well as 24/7 sports news and comment across six channels, three of them in High Definition, plus Sky Racing with its three channels, also TVN and Main Event Television. 

Other major local sports highlights throughout the year will include ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 on FOX SPORTS and Australian Surfing events on Fuel TV.

SKY News will continue to monitor and report on the nation, and the world, seven days a week, around the clock, with The Weather Channel on alert, recording and reporting updates from around Australia, also 24/7.

Music television features something for every one with extensive coverage of events such as Big Day Out on Channel [V] and CMC Rocks on Country Music Channel. MTV Networks will stage a major live music production as well as launching a new documentary-style music series Breaking, and MTV Style and MTV News will continue in 2011.  MAX Sessions continues on MAX. Channel [V] will have a third series of B430.

FOXTEL commences its 16th year of delivering Australians the widest choice in home entertainment with 2011 set to be the biggest year to date for the local production slate.

The curtain is almost down on another exciting, inspiring and dramatic ASP World Tour as surfers converge on the final and most famous stop to contest the 2010 Billabong Pipe Masters.

The world championship may already be decided, with Kelly Slater claiming an inconceivable 10th title after his victory in Puerto Rico, but never has the famous Pipeline event carried so much significance.

Oahu’s north shore will once again provide a stunning backdrop for the year’s final event, but the hearts and emotions of the surfers and many hundreds of spectators on the shore will be as heavy as the Banzai swell.

One of the region’s favourite sons, Andy Irons, won’t be with them this year and event promoters will pay tribute to their fallen friend by staging the contest in honour of his name.

The waiting period for the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons opens on Thursday 9 December and FUEL TV will begin LIVE coverage from the first day of surfing.

FUEL TV surfing commentator and former ASP Tour World Champion Mark Occhilupo said surfers will be out to honour a “great mate” at Pipe.

“All of Andy’s friends would love to win it for him,” said Occy.

 “I’d love to see his brother Bruce come out and win this thing. Andy had a fearless spirit. He took risk-taking to a new level, but these big contests are where he thrived and where he belonged. I wonder if Bruce can take that spirit with him.”

The year’s final event will also see the return of Aussie Joel Parkinson, who missed the majority of the season after suffering a horrific foot injury in July. Fellow Aussie Taj Burrow is the reigning Pipe champion and is returning to defend his crown.

FUEL TV’S LIVE and EXCLUSIVE coverage of the ASP World Tour is available to FOXTEL and AUSTAR subscribers.

2010 BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS - LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE ON FUEL TV

FUEL TV’s new action sports talk show, Pop Gun, makes its much anticipated debut with a special 90-minute premier episode this Friday night (Dec 3) at 7pm AEDST.

Every Friday night, Australia’s most recognisable skater, Corbin Harris, will meet with the biggest names in action sports and delve into the art, fashion and music that define all that is pop culture.

In Friday’s premiere episode Harris speaks to UFC boss Dana White alongside two of the sport’s greatest warriors, Georges St Pierre and Josh Koscheck.

The UFC president and two of its biggest stars provided Pop Gun with a rare exclusive interview during a promotional visit to Montreal, where they spoke candidly about the growing popularity of the UFC and the negative perceptions about their sport from certain sections of the public.

Harris is then joined on his suave 50’s-style set by ARIA Award-winning hip hop group Bliss n Eso hot on the success of their latest EP ‘Running on Air’.

The big names from the pop world will continue to roll through the doors of Pop Gun this summer, with future episodes to feature daredevil Robbie Maddison, US skate legend Tony Hawk, Bra Boys Koby and Sunny Abberton, world champion boxer Anthony ‘The Man’ Mundine and Parramatta Eels rugby league star Nathan Hindmarsh – an action sports enthusiast from the other side of the sporting spectrum.

POP GUN - PREMIERES FRIDAY 3 DECEMBER at 7pm AEDST on FUEL TV

Leading Sydney businesses and their staff will swap the boardroom for the treadmill when they begin the FOXTEL Lap 2010 challenge in its new location, First Fleet Park at Circular Quay this Friday, December 3 in support of children’s health.

The FOXTEL Lap corporate treadmill challenge is a one-day staged public event that will see teams run as many 100m ‘laps’ as they can to raise funds for Australia’s largest children’s medical research body the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI).

Now in its fourth year, the event will be hosted by Sarah Murdoch and FOXTEL celebrities who will hit the treadmill alongside prominent Sydney CEOs and local business identities.

FOXTEL Lap ambassadors appearing at First Fleet Park include FOX8’s Dating in the Dark host Laura Dundovic, Discovery Channel’s SHARK WEEK presenter Andrew Ettingshausen, Australia’s Next Top Model winner Amanda Ware, finalists Kathryn Lyons, Jessica Moloney, Joanna Broomfield, and judge Charlotte Dawson, MTV presenter Erin McNaught, Commonwealth Games presenters Matt Shirvington and Tiffany Cherry, Olympian Geoff Heugill, Mark Bosnich from FOX SPORTS, Channel [V]’s Billy Russell and Kyle Linahan, and many more. 

NOVA 96.9’s popular breakfast show host Merrick Watts will also be running on the NOVA treadmill. Tune in this Friday morning for live crosses to the venue as Merrick attempts to run as many 100m laps as he can in 30 minutes.

The Sydney FOXTEL Lap commences at 8.00am with running teams including FOXTEL, NOVA, Deloitte, MCRI, ACP, Commonwealth Bank, KPMG, Fitness First, FOX SPORTS, Macquarie Bank, M&C Saatchi, NRL, OMD, MCN, St George, Westfield, Westpac, Travelex, Xbox, and many more.

Sydney is the final stop for the annual fundraising event that has also taken place nationally in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane. More funds have been raised this year than ever before meaning the 2010 FOXTEL Lap is on track to make its largest donation to the MCRI to date.

The successful event – not just for elite athletes – is about participation, having fun and getting fit. Since 2005 the event has raised almost $1.5 million dollars for research to address the big health issues affecting kids today including diabetes, allergies, premature birth, obesity, mental health conditions and cancer.

The FOXTEL Lap is sponsored by NOVA, Deloitte, Commonwealth Bank, Corporate Health Management, Fitness First, AHRI, and SCT Logistics.

It’s not too late to get a team together and sponsor your colleagues or favourite celebrities. For more information or to register, visit www.foxtellap.com.au.

As the weather gets warmer and the year winds down, FOXTEL launches 100 Days of Summer offering the greatest choice of premium programming on Australian television this summer and holiday season.

The fantastic line-up includes first-run international dramas, top-rating reality and lifestyle programming, blockbuster movie titles and exclusive Australian productions. Viewers will also be treated to 100 days of sport and documentaries, live music festivals and cool kids programming.

Headlining the 100 Days of Summer are the exciting, new and exclusive Australian programs, including the hot reality series Dating In The Dark (FOX8) and Freshwater Blue (MTV), a third season of Come Dine With Me Australia (The LifeStyle Channel) and a second season of The Jesters (Movie Extra) starring Mick Molloy.

Trevor Marmalade returns to television in The Statesmen of Comedy (THE COMEDY CHANNEL) and Arena goes behind the scenes of the magazine world in Park Street (debuting in February).

In addition, 100 Days of Summer will feature the highly-anticipated return of the massive international hit series Gossip Girl Season 4 (FOX8) and Entourage Season 7 (Arena). In January, music superstars, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler will join the judging panel on American Idol Season 10 (FOX8).

Also exclusive to FOX8 will be Paula Abdul’s new series Live To Dance. Hosted by former Channel [V] host Andrew Gunsberg, the show will launch in January fresh off the satellite from the US.

The hot US drama The Glades stars Australian Matt Passmore and will premiere exclusively on the W channel in December. Also in the impressive drama line-up are the premieres of cult hit Dexter Season 5, Sons of Anarchy Season 3 and the hit comedy series Eastbound and Down (showcase).

A thrilling offering of sport will be seen on FOXTEL with the high definition presentation of the Hyundai A-League on FOX SPORTS, as well as a must-watch season of summer Cricket including the KFC Twenty 20 Big Bash.

International sports include NFL (Grid Iron – FOX Sports) and Superbowl (Grid Iron – ESPN). The Billabong Pipe Masters will also be shown live (Surfing – FUEL).

FOXTEL Box Office, now part of FOXTEL On Demand, brings subscribers the latest movies with exclusive premieres in December including box office sensation Inception and mega-hit Sex and the City 2. Also, James Cameron’s epic Avatar will premiere in sparkling high definition in January on Showtime Premiere HD and Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jr, will debut on Movie One.

FOXTEL brings subscribers 100 days of holiday fun and entertainment for the whole family with the premiere of the local production ZingZillas (CBeebies), plus A Muppets Christmas (The Disney Channel) and the new British kids drama Going Postal (UKTV).

The LifeStyle Channels take a look inside our homes and lives for 100 days with more local productions than ever. Premiering in December will be the intriguing Secret Sex Lives of Australian Women and Secret Sex Lives of Australian Men (LifeStyle YOU), along with all-new Aussie Christmas Lights (The LifeStyle Channel). Selling Houses Australia Season 4 (The LifeStyle Channel) will exclusively premiere in February.

Factual programming highlights include; Tough Nuts: Australia’s Hardest Criminals – Ray Bennett: The Criminal Mastermind (Crime & Investigation Network), Lachlan Macquarie – The Father of Australia (The History Channel), Things To Try Before You Die (Nat Geo Adventure), America’s Hardest Prisons and Aussie Strike Force (National Geographic Channel) and Shark Week – Hosted by Andrew Ettingshausen (Discovery Channel).

The music channels will turn up the heat with 100 days of scorching music action including some big local productions in early 2011; Big Day Out Li[V]e 2011 (Channel [V]), Channel [V] at Good Vibrations 2011 (Channel [V]) and MAX Sessions: Marcia Hines Sessions (MAX). And, from the international stage the December line-up includes 100 Days of Summer Hits ([V] HITS) and U2 Day (MAX).

All these programs and so many more are on FOXTEL throughout the entire 100 Days of Summer.

SKY NEWS today announced an exclusive three year agreement with presenter Paul Murray. 

SKY NEWS Chief Executive Officer, Angelos Frangopoulos said: “Paul Murray is an extraordinary talent and I’m delighted he’s agreed to be a big part of Australia’s News Channel for the next three years and beyond.

“Paul Murray LIVE has become must watch television and we have exciting plans to further develop the program in 2011 as SKY NEWS marks its 15th year on air.”

Paul Murray LIVE brings a change of pace to news and current affairs, taking an alternative look at the stories making headlines. When the program returns in 2011 it will be extended to one-hour and will air Monday through Thursday nights at 9.00pm.

Paul Murray said: “There’s plenty of room for opinion on TV. The key is to try and make it well informed and argue things you honestly believe in, even when they aren’t popular.

“SKY NEWS has backed me in for a long time with various shows and have given Paul Murray LIVE time to get it right. Now they’re throwing everything they have to make it even bigger next year and beyond. I couldn’t feel more supported by a great group of people.”

Murray, who is also a Triple M radio network presenter, joined SKY NEWS in 2008, and has been presenting his program for the last three years.

* Note: All programs listed are in AEDT

Sky News today announced top-rating radio host Ray Hadley will present a weekly current affairs talk show to premiere on Tuesday, November 16 at 8.15pm.

Hadley! will screen each week exclusively on the main SKY NEWS National Channel 601. It is the first time that Hadley has hosted his own television program.

Each week Hadley will go head-to-head in the SKY NEWS Sydney studio with a panel of news- makers and regular guests for a robust discussion and analysis of the week’s big national issues as well as feature interviews.

Listeners to his hugely successful radio program on Sydney’s 2GB will know that the highly opinionated Hadley does not shy away from having his say, and that’s what has taken him to the top of the radio ratings week after week and year after year. His program has been number one for the last 56 surveys (last loss was 2003) and is syndicated throughout New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

Now he is bringing his unique blend of opinion and entertainment to SKY NEWS.

SKY NEWS Chief Executive Officer, Angelos Frangopoulos said: “Ray is a natural talent and has proven his extraordinary popularity with the success of his radio career. We’re looking forward to him joining SKY NEWS as a part of our commitment to national debate and discussion.”

Hadley said: “I’m doing this for one reason, I find it challenging and invigorating.

“I’m in a comfortable position now to only do what I want, and when I was approached by Angelos his enthusiasm for the project was both evident and contagious.”

Hadley, who, in 2011 will chalk up 29 years in radio, has recently returned from Delhi where he was part of FOXTEL’s Swimming Commentary Team for the XIX Commonwealth Games. In October this year he won four Australian Commercial Radio Awards – Best Current Affairs Presenter, Best Sports Presenter, Best Networked Program and Best Sports Event Coverage (2009 NRL Grand Final), taking his total to 20. 

Production has commenced on the ten episode television drama SliDE, which will premiere exclusively on FOX8 in 2011.

Specifically designed for FOXTEL’s flagship channel, SLiDE, is co-produced by Playmaker Media and Hoodlum and is a furiously funny and fearlessly frank series following the exploits of five teenagers smashing their way into adulthood. Cameras rolled in Brisbane this week.

SliDE will star five of Australia’s freshest acting faces – Adele Perovic, Ben Schumann, Brenton Thwaites, Emily Robins and Gracie Gilbert. The series focuses on the ‘first times’ of these five young teenagers who encounter every manner of obstacle in their quest to steal experiences they’re not entitled to – nothing will dampen their outlook or spirit.

The series is devised as a multiplatform online / television drama featuring social media and an online experience that stands to revolutionise how television programs connect and communicate with the audience.

In addition to tuning in to the one hour episodes each week on FOX8, you will be able to experience SLiDE on the internet at FOX8.tv and via social media, Facebook and Twitter, providing viewers with an entertainment experience like never before.

“SLiDE is an ambitious Australian drama that takes us flying into the new world of online and social media. It is a FOXTEL first, and will fit perfectly into FOX8’s schedule in 2011,” FOXTEL Executive Director of Television and Marketing Brian Walsh said.

“The producers and writers have done an outstanding job in connecting with the age group and desired audience so far. SLiDE will be raw and real and, in true FOXTEL tradition, different to what has been seen on Australian television previously.”