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 spent up big to boost Seven’s profile.
But the economic boom of the 1980s was soon over, Skase’s Qintex group was in ruins and he owed millions.
He fled the country amid criminal charges and was soon found to be hiding out in Spain to avoid the authorities.
In 1993, Network Ten current affairs host Derryn Hinch — a former high-profile signing of Skase’s at Seven six years earlier — gained exclusive access to interview Skase in Spain. The result was a two-hour special, The Skase Mirage, taking its name from Skase’s former luxury hotel chain.
The broadcast of The Skase Mirage, 25 years ago, is among the latest additions to Classic TV Guides.
- Sunday 1 November 1959 — BRISBANE Official Opening BTQ7 Brisbane
- Sunday 4 March 1962 — NEW SOUTH WALES Official Opening NBN3 Newcastle
- Sunday 5 July 1964 — VICTORIA Heaven Knows Mr Allison
- Monday 14 February 1966 — BRISBANE
- Friday 20 March 1970 — VICTORIA TV Week Logie Awards
- Friday 18 February 1972 — MELBOURNE TV Week Logie Awards
- Saturday 26 February 1972 — TASMANIA
- Tuesday 27 June 1972 — CANBERRA Number 96 debuts in Canberra
- Monday 9 February 1976 — VICTORIA Tandarra debuts
- Saturday 26 January 1980 — SYDNEY
- Monday 16 January 1984 — VICTORIA Mother And Son debuts
- Monday 20 January 1986 — MELBOURNE Neighbours debuts on Ten
- Sunday 17 January 1988 — VICTORIA Home And Away debuts
- Sunday 10 February 1991 — MELBOURNE The Simpsons debuts
- Wednesday 21 April 1993 — MELBOURNE The Skase Mirage
- Monday 16 January 1995 — SYDNEY
