February 2016 archive

1996: February 24-March 1

Brits ban ‘greedy’ Aussie soap stars Magazine titles in the United Kingdom are banning Australian soap stars from their pages in protest at the large sums being asked for interviews and photo shoots. The editors of the magazines have written to the actors’ agents, complaining that some of the asking prices — some as high …

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Obituary: Sonia Borg

Sonia Borg, writer, producer and actor from various Crawford productions, died earlier this month. Born in Vienna in 1931, Borg studied acting before she and her family moved to India, where her father secured a job as an engineer. Borg joined Shakespeareana International, a theatre company that toured various countries including India, Singapore and Hong Kong. Her family then came …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2016/02/obituary-sonia-borg.html

7flix: The first week

The Seven Network has released the first schedule for its new channel, 7flix, which is due to open on Sunday 28 February. The schedule promises an emphasis on movies — with a movie every night at 8.30pm, vintage movies at 3.00am and movie marathons every Friday and Saturday night. 7flix debuts with eight episodes of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2016/02/7flix-the-first-week.html

1996: February 17-23

Cover: Teri Hatcher (Lois And Clark The New Adventures Of Superman) What’s Up Doc? signs Steven Just Kidding co-host Steven Jacobs has signed on as the new host of Nine‘s cartoon show What’s Up Doc? Jacobs replaces previous host Catriona Rowntree, who is now working on Nine’s Getaway program. What’s Up Doc? now moves from …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2016/02/1996-february-17-23.html

Ten’s HD message blurring definition

Network Ten has announced that it will be launching a high definition simulcast of its main Ten channel on Wednesday 2 March. The announcement, which relates to Ten’s signal in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, follows the Nine Network‘s move to simulcast its main channel in high definition back in November — with ABC set …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2016/02/tens-hd-message-blurring-definition.html

Happy 70th Birthday, Peter Hitchener!

Nine News has celebrated Melbourne newsreader Peter Hitchener‘s 70th birthday with a pre-weekend bash — culminating in the GTV Nine newsroom being permanently named “The Peter Hitchener Newsroom”. The plaque that marks the unique honour is engraved with the tribute — “the nicest man in television”. Hitchener started his career in Queensland in the 1960s before …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2016/02/happy-70th-birthday-peter-hitchener.html

Help relive the Spirit Of 96!

Any regular reader of this site will be very familiar with Number 96, the ground-breaking series that redefined Australian television drama in the 1970s with its radical mix of drama, sex, diversity and comedy. The ongoing stories from within a Sydney apartment block brought a never-before-seen depiction of suburban and adult life into Australian living rooms …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2016/02/help-relive-the-spirit-of-96.html

1996: February 10-16

Cover: Kristy Wright, Shane Ammann (Home And Away) ‘Jana Show’ takes shape Details are starting to emerge about the new current affairs program the Seven Network is planning for its new star, Jana Wendt. Wendt, who moved from Nine‘s 60 Minutes for a reported $2 million-a-year deal with Seven, is set to front a 60 …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2016/02/1996-february-10-16.html

New channel 7flix debuts 28 February

During last night’s debut screening of mini-series Molly, the Seven Network unveiled its new channel, 7flix. 7flix, to broadcast on channel 76, debuts on Sunday 28 February. The channel promotes a heavy emphasis on movies with some TV titles thrown in — including Once Upon A Time, The Amazing Race, Grey’s Anatomy, The Muppets and Seinfeld. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2016/02/new-channel-7flix-debuts-28-february.html

1996: February 3-9

Cover: Nicole Kidman The gang of four 60 Minutes producer John Westacott insists that, despite Jana Wendt leaving the program to join the Seven Network, “We’re still the winning team!” Westacott concedes that losing Wendt is disappointing but still has full confidence in his team of reporters — Tracey Curro, Richard Carleton, Charles Wooley and …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2016/02/1996-february-3-9.html