[press release from SPAA]
Foxtel’s Executive Director Television and Marketing, Brian Walsh, has been confirmed to deliver the prestigious Hector Crawford Memorial Lecture at the opening session of next week’s SPAA Conference on Wednesday, 12 November at 9:00am at the Sheraton Mirage on the Gold Coast.
“Brian Walsh is one of Australia’s most respected and senior television executives with a lifetime of experience in creating, commissioning and executive producing Australian programs. He is providing direction for the PAY TV industry as it competes with traditional free to air broadcasting and the roll out of new digital services,” said Geoff Brown, SPAA Executive Director.
Brian Walsh began his career in the entertainment industry at Palm Beach Pictures working on feature films and documentaries with veterans, David Elfick and Phil Noyce. He started his television career at the ABC before crossing to the Ten Network where he became the National Director of Publicity and Promotions.
During his time at Ten he launched a number of series which became local and international hits, including Neighbours and the Kennedy Miller miniseries Vietnam and Bangkok Hilton, both starring a young Nicole Kidman. Whilst at Ten Walsh moved into sports marketing, heading up Promotions and Publicity for two Olympic Games and the Australian Rugby League.
In 1990 Walsh founded The Promotions Department, a company that grew to become one of Australia’s leading promotions and publicity companies, specialising in media, entertainment, sports and event management. Campaigns handled by the company included Tina Turner’s “Simply The Best” for the Australian Rugby League, the launch of the Super 12s Rugby competition and the America’s Cup Challenge. Concert tours included U2, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones and Ricky Martin, and events such as the Gala Opening of Fox Studios Australia and the Sydney Olympic Stadium. Walsh was also a consultant to BSkyB in the UK and was involved in the launch of Premier League soccer as well as Star TV in Hong Kong, where he launched Channel [V] music channel in 52 countries.
In 1995 he joined the foundation executive team of FOXTEL. As Director of Programming, Publicity & Promotions he oversaw the launch, programme acquisition, creation of entertainment channels and the promotion and marketing of the FOXTEL brand. In this role Walsh has discovered and developed numerous careers and been responsible for some of the most successful television franchises of the past decade, including the award-winning Australian drama series Love My Way.
In 2007 Walsh became FOXTEL’s Executive Director Television and Marketing leading the teams responsible for programming, on-air personalities and communications to existing and new subscribers.
Previous Hector Crawford Memorial Lecture speakers have included Noel Pearson, Hilary McPhee, Harold Mitchell, Dare Jennings, Lachlan Murdoch, Sandra Levy, Peter Garrett and Noni Hazlehurst.