Press release from 6dc
At a glamorous cocktail event hosted by ASTRA Awards and OK! Magazine, finalists were announced in the four Subscribers’ Choice categories which will open for public vote on Tuesday 21st June. The event, held at Hugo’s Lounge in Sydney’s Potts Point, celebrated the 86 finalists for this year’s twenty ASTRA Awards categories with guests including some of subscription televisions favourite stars including Charlotte Dawson, Alex Perry, Andrew Winter and Danny Clayton. The event also featured the announcement of finalists for the Channel of the Year award.
One of the highlights of the ASTRA Awards annual program, the Subscribers’ Choice categories encourage viewers to show their support for their favourite subscription television programs and personalities. Consumer voting starts on Tuesday 21st June, closing on Monday 11th July 2011. Audiences will be able to vote for their favourite talent and home-grown and international shows online at astraawards.com, and via SMS, and the iTV application at Channel 333.
In the Favourite Personality – Female category four of Australia’s favourite presenters Charlotte Dawson, Jane Gazzo, Laura Dundovic and Sarah Murdoch will go head to head for viewers’ votes, whilst the competition gets serious for the men with eight finalists vying for the Favourite Personality – Male ASTRA Award. David Speers made headlines for his performance as host at the 2010 ceremony, and is up against last year’s Favourite Personality winner Andrew Winter amongst the contenders.
The 9th Annual ASTRA Awards celebrate local and international content with the Subscribers’ Choice ASTRA Award for Favourite Program – Australian and Favourite Program – International. The Australian category sees long time favourites like Australia’s Next Top Model and Selling Houses Australia facing off against new local productions including Dating in the Dark Australia and Grand Designs Australia while finalists in the International category include Gossip Girl, American Idol, Deadliest Catch and Jersey Shore.
The ASTRA Awards Subscribers’ Choice finalists are:
Favourite Program – Australian
Australia’s Next Top Model Series 6 FOX8
B430 Season 2 Channel [V]
Dating in the Dark Australia FOX8
Grand Designs Australia The LifeStyle Channel
MAX Sessions: Slash MAX
On the Couch FOX SPORTS
Selling Houses Australia Series 3 The LifeStyle Channel
Spirited W
Favourite Program – International
Gossip Girl FOX8
American Idol FOX8
Cake Boss LifeStyle FOOD Channel
Grand Designs Season 8 The LifeStyle Channel
Deadliest Catch Season 6 Discovery Channel
Man Vs. Wild Discovery Channel
Good Luck Charlie Disney Channel
Jersey Shore MTV
Favourite Personality – Female
Charlotte Dawson FOX8
Jane Gazzo Channel [V]
Laura Dundovic FOX8
Sarah Murdoch FOX8
Favourite Personality – Male
Alex Perry FOX8
Andrew ‘ET’ Ettingshausen Discovery Channel
Andrew Winter The LifeStyle Channel
Danny Clayton Channel [V]
David Speers SKY NEWS
Mark Bosnich FOX SPORTS
Peter Maddison The LifeStyle Channel
Phil Kearns FOX SPORTS
Finalists for the coveted ASTRA Award for Channel of the Year were also announced last night. The Channel of the Year is determined by the ASTRA Board and the finalists are:
Channel of the Year
Crime & Investigation Network
Discovery Channel
The LifeStyle Channel
SKY NEWS
FOX SPORTS
The 9th Annual ASTRA Awards will take place on Thursday 21st July at Sydney Theatre, Walsh Bay. The theatre style ceremony will showcase the talent, production and best programming categories of subscription television. Tickets are on sale now at www.astraawards.com.