June 2014 archive

Obituary: Greg Coote

Film and television executive and producer Greg Coote has died in Los Angeles at the age of 72. He had been ill with cancer. Australian-born Coote started his career in the mailroom at Village Roadshow and worked his way up to become managing director. He then left the company to become managing director of Rupert …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2014/06/obituary-greg-coote.html

1994: June 25-July 1

Lisa’s still dogged by doubts Despite the success of Blue Heelers and the popularity of her character, Maggie Doyle, actress Lisa McCune (pictured) still worries about her performance. “It’s been a year since we made the pilot, but every Monday morning I still get nervous,” she says. “I get to work and think, ‘Can I …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2014/06/1994-june-25-july-1.html

Obituary: Ian Cook

Ian Cook, executive with Sky News Australia, has died at the age of 68. He had been battling illness for some years. Sky News CEO Angelos Frangopoulos paid tribute to the man they called ‘Cookie’ as a great man of Australian television news and mentor to many young journalists: “Ian was a great mentor to the many journalists …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2014/06/obituary-ian-cook.html

Community TV’s future in question

Federal Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull is reported to be considering the future of community TV as the government ponders opportunities for the broadcast spectrum. The planning of broadcasting spectrum following the closure of analogue television allows for six channels — ABC, SBS and three commercial operators — including one unallocated frequency. Community TV broadcasters are currently operating on …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2014/06/community-tvs-future-in-question.html

Bert Newton quietly exits Nine

The Nine Network has confirmed that it has not renewed ties with Bert Newton after his contract with the network quietly lapsed last year — potentially ending a TV career that began back in 1957, just months after TV began in Australia. The Daily Telegraph reports that industry speculation over Newton’s contract at Nine was triggered …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2014/06/bert-newton-quietly-exits-nine.html

1994: June 18-24

Cover: Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, Sharon Stone, Winona Ryder Lochie’s Getaway gig Lochie Daddo has been announced as David Reyne‘s replacement on travel show Getaway. “Travelling is one of my favourite pastimes and now they are paying me to do it,” he told TV Week. His first story will screen on the show’s ‘Australia On …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2014/06/1994-june-18-24.html

RVN2 turns 50

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the official launch of station RVN2 (now a branch of the Prime7 network), based in Wagga Wagga and serving the Eastern Riverina and South Western Slopes districts of New South Wales. Television was not entirely unheard of in the region — as keen viewers could get distant signals from …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2014/06/rvn2-turns-50.html

Can 3AW get Bruce back on Ten?

Melbourne radio 3AW‘s Nightline program has put the call out… for co-presenter Bruce Mansfield to be invited to reprise his role of newsreader at Ten in Melbourne on its upcoming 50th anniversary. The idea is reminiscent of Brisbane’s Seven News inviting its founding newsreader Brian Cahill to make a guest appearance on the eve of its 50th anniversary in 2009. Mansfield, with …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2014/06/can-3aw-get-bruce-back-on-ten.html

Obituary: Leigh Spence

Leigh Spence, director of TV dramas including Prisoner, A Country Practice and Home And Away, has died at the age of 75. Soap opera historian Andrew Mercado has written a tribute to Spence, published by The Sydney Morning Herald. Spence’s career started at the ABC in the late 1950s, starting as a studio hand before working …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2014/06/obituary-leigh-spence.html

SBS launches Join In slogan

SBS will use its coverage of the FIFA World Cup to launch its new branding slogan, ‘Join In’. The new slogan replaces ‘Seven Billion Stories’ which originally launched as ‘Six Billion Stories’ in 2008. The new network promo features SBS employees and personalities with the message that in this culturally diverse society we should appreciate our …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2014/06/sbs-launches-join-in-slogan.html