Gold Coast, Queensland - Michael Bourchier was named producer of the year at the Screen Producers Association of Australia annual conference on Nov. 15. Bourchier’s credits as executive producer or producer include the feature films Lucky Miles and Napoleon, and TV series The Upside Down Show, Out There, Head Start and Heartbreak High. Among other recipients were Nick Murray as drama producer of the year for the Blackjack telemovies; Trevor Blainey, feature film producer (for Noise); Laura … [Read more...] about SPAA hands out awards to Aussie producers
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April 2008 debut flagged for ABC kids’ channel
Sydney - The Australian Broadcasting Commission flagged plans to launch a dedicated free-to-air digital children’s channel in April 2008 after the Liberal/National Party Government pledged to provide A$82 million (US$74.9 million) in funding if it is re-elected at the Nov. 24 Federal election. The four-year funding would be split between commissioning new Australian entertainment and education programming, and buying Australian and international content. Branded ABC3, the channel would … [Read more...] about April 2008 debut flagged for ABC kids’ channel
Telstra to beam Beijing Olympics in HD to Australian homes
Sydney - Telstra has signed agreements with China Netcom and the Australian rights holder, the Seven Network, to broadcast live coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics to millions of Australian homes. The telco will use two dedicated fibre-optic cable links from China to Australia as a dual backup to provide uninterrupted and live broadcasting, circumventing any cable failures. Telstra will monitor the international broadcast feeds as they travel from Beijing across more than 15,000 km submarine … [Read more...] about Telstra to beam Beijing Olympics in HD to Australian homes
BMC to provide panoramic broadcast sites for Beijing Olympics
Beijing - Beijing International Media Services Company (BMC), a JV of China’s Beijing Television and Seven Network Asia Ltd providing broadcast services, facilities and equipment, will establish its new live broadcasting site at the Crouching Dragon Market Place, 500m east of the Beijing Olympics’ main sites, the Bird’s Nest Beijing National Stadium and the Water Cube National Aquatic Center. BMC will set up multiple equipped, non-equipped and ad-hoc studios on the rooftop of … [Read more...] about BMC to provide panoramic broadcast sites for Beijing Olympics
Yahoo!7 searches for Australia’s best wannabe sports commentator
Sydney - Yahoo!7’s Olympics site has launched The Fanatic (www.yahoo7.com.au/fanatic), a quest to find an ‘armchair’ sports commentator who will get the chance to work at the Beijing Olympics. Wannabe sports callers are invited to submit unlimited entries highlighting their commentating ability in a variety of situations from everyday events like Dad burning the BBQ to kids playing sport on the weekend or a hula-hoop championship in the backyard Submissions will be judged by a … [Read more...] about Yahoo!7 searches for Australia’s best wannabe sports commentator
NDS opens new office in Seoul; Astro signs up for VideoGuard CAS
Seoul – NDS, provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, has opened a new office in Seoul to house its expanded Korean sales, support and R&D operation which has grown to 120 employees in the last six years. Sue Taylor, VP and General Manager of NDS Asia Pacific, said, “NDS Korea is pivotal in our ability to roll out state-of-the-art technologies, such as advanced conditional access and middleware solutions, set-top box (STB) integration and mobile solutions, to some of the … [Read more...] about NDS opens new office in Seoul; Astro signs up for VideoGuard CAS