The second season of FremantleMedia Australia’s Wentworth was named most outstanding Australia drama and Foxtel’s Brian Walsh won the inaugural industry contribution award at Thursday night’s pay-TV awards.
Andrew McFarlane took the best actor trophy for Matchbox Pictures’ Devil’s Playground and Wentworth’s Danielle Cormack was best actress.
Game of Thrones season 4 was deemed most outstanding international drama at the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association Awards held at The Star in Sydney.
Sky News collected four prizes, channel of the year and for most outstanding news program (Paul Murray Live), presenter Murray and broadcast journalist David Speers.
ITV Studios Australia’s Paddock to Plate took the lifestyle program award and Arena won the channel achievement award.
Walsh, Foxtel’s Executive Director of Television, spoke of growing up as a “a starry eyed kid from the suburbs,” keeping an imaginary television schedule in an exercise book and putting cellophane over his black and white TV, imagining a world of colour.
When he joined in 1995 as Director of Programming, Publicity & Promotions, he was Foxtel’s second employee.
He acknowledged many former Foxtel executives and CEOs plus Foxtel’s Director of Programming Ross Crowley, whom he described as a “remarkable friend and pillar of strength,” and former chairman Sam Chisholm.
ASTRA CEO Andrew Maiden said, “For two decades, Brian has discovered and developed the careers of many people and has also been instrumental in developing some of the most successful shows in subscription television history, including the dramas Love My Way, Devil’s Playground and Wentworth, documentaries and entertainment successes such as Australia's Next Top Model, Project Runway Australia, Real Housewives of Melbourne, Coast Australia and Rove LA.”
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Female
Danielle Cormack (Wentworth, season 2: SoHo)
Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Male
Andrew McFarlane (Devil’s Playground: showcase)
Most Outstanding Presenter – Female
Kelli Underwood (Back Page LIVE, Breaking Ground: FOX SPORTS)
Most Outstanding Presenter – Male
Paul Murray (Paul Murray LIVE: SKY NEWS)
Most Outstanding New Talent
Phyllis Foundis (Foundis: Aurora)
Most Outstanding Performance by a Broadcast Journalist
David Speers (PM Agenda, The Nation: SKY NEWS)
PROGRAM AWARDS
Most Outstanding Drama – Australian
Wentworth (season 2: SoHo)
Most Outstanding Drama – International
Game of Thrones (season 4: showcase)
Most Outstanding Children’s Program
Monster Beach (Cartoon Network)
Most Outstanding Music Program
SLIMEFEST (Nickelodeon)
Most Outstanding Sports Program
Jeep Saturday LIVE on FOX (FOX FOOTY)
Most Outstanding News Program
Paul Murray LIVE (Paul Murray: SKY NEWS)
Most Outstanding Reality Program
The Recruit (season 1: FOX8)
Most Outstanding Factual Program
Hillsborough (ESPN)
Most Outstanding Lifestyle Program
Paddock to Plate (Matt Moran; season 2: The LifeStyle Channel)
Most Outstanding General Entertainment Program
Top Gear (BBC Knowledge)
CHANNEL AND INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Industry Contribution Award
Brian Walsh
Channel Achievement Award
Arena
Channel of the Year
SKY NEWS