April 2018 archive

Taking commercial TV out back

It’s hard to believe now, but there was a time when swathes of the country — mostly outback regions — were largely oblivious to commercial television that the more populated areas of the country had taken for granted for years. While the rest of us might have been raving about the latest soaps and sitcoms, …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2018/04/taking-commercial-tv-out-back.html

Classic TV Guides: Hinch chases Skase

Christopher Skase was the Melbourne journalist turned corporate high flyer in the 1980s. His billion dollar corporation was built around lavish hotel resorts and a growing media empire. His purchase of the east coast Seven Network stations in 1987 suddenly elevated him to one of the most powerful media men in the country and he …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2018/04/classic-tv-guides-hinch-chases-skase.html

Obituary: Darrell Eastlake

Former Nine Network sports commentator Darrell Eastlake has died at the age of 75. His media career started in the 1960s, doing surf reports for Sydney radio station 2UW and later worked at 2GO on the Central Coast. He then moved into television, as a rugby league commentator for NBN3, Newcastle, before joining Nine for …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2018/04/obituary-darrell-eastlake.html

Obituary: Ron Blaskett

Ron Blaskett, one of the first performers on Melbourne television, has died at the age of 96. Blaskett was already established as a ventriloquist in the Melbourne theatre circuit when he appeared on of GTV9‘s first test transmissions in 1956 and official opening in January 1957. He had imported the doll that would become “Gerry …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2018/04/obituary-ron-blaskett.html

Seven, Foxtel in $1.2b cricket rights deal

Two weeks ago the Nine Network had announced that it had committed $300 million to a five-year deal with Tennis Australia — taking the game from the Seven Network, which had broadcast events such as the Australian Open for decades. At the time it was unclear what the outlook was for Nine’s future in cricket. …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2018/04/seven-foxtel-in-1-2b-cricket-rights-deal.html

When female newsreaders were “the good news”

The novelty of ABC‘s first female TV newsreader 40 years ago showed that attitudes to women on television were very different to now. “Australia’s newest sex symbol is not a naughty nurse from The Young Doctors. She’s not even a titillating teacher from Glenview High, or a passionate policewoman from Cop Shop. Believe it or …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2018/04/when-female-newsreaders-were-the-good-news.html