NEW AND RETURNING ORIGINAL ENTERTAINMENT PLUS THE BIGGEST LINE-UP OF THE WORLD’S BEST SPORT HEADLINES THE FOXTEL MEDIA UPFRONT 2024
The Foxtel Group has showcased a significant line-up of premium entertainment and sport highlighted by new and returning Australian Originals as well as the best local and international sport.
Foxtel Group’s more than 4.7 million customers will have access to the most extensive entertainment content supply from more than 50 suppliers around the world and a significant investment in local productions, along with the most comprehensive offering of the biggest and most popular Australian and international sports.
Following a record-breaking year of local productions, with the Foxtel Group the most awarded broadcaster and streamer at the 2023 Logie Awards securing seven wins including the most awarded shows Colin from Accounts and The Twelve, several new commissions were announced at the Foxtel Media Upfront 2024.
HOMEGROWN ORIGINALS COMING SOON TO BINGE[1]
A new feature film commissioned by the Foxtel Group for BINGE highlighted the entertainment announcements with How to Make Gravy, an adaptation of Paul Kelly’s iconic Australian song, now in production on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Set to star in the film includes highly regarded actor Daniel Henshall, Australian icon, Hugo Weaving, celebrated French actress Agathe Rouselle along with a number of Australian stars including Brenton Thwaites, Damon Herriman and Kate Mulvany. It will also feature cameo performances from Australian musicians, Adam Briggs and Dallas Woods.
How to Make Gravy was adapted for the screen by award-winning musician Meg Washington and Nick Waterman, who will also direct. Academy Award-nominated producer, Schuyler Weiss will produce alongside Washington, Waterman and Hamish Lewis.
Also confirmed was THE LAST ANNIVERSARY, an adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel by Australian author Liane Moriarty, produced by Made Up Stories and Blossom Films and directed by John Polson, with production set to begin this year.
The premiere date of 6 December was announced for new original series, STRIFE, from Made Up Stories, and starring Australian icon Asher Keddie with all 8-episodes dropping at once. Inspired by Mia Freedman’s memoir, “Work, Strife, Balance”, STRIFE is set in the ever-changing world of publishing during the emerging digital age.
Amanda Laing, Chief Content & Commercial Officer, Foxtel Group & Managing Director BINGE, said: “The Foxtel Group has a long history of bringing critically-acclaimed Australian stories to the screen and we remain a committed champion for local, ground-breaking stories and voices in all genres. Many of these stories have been watched by millions globally, having been sold and screened in a number of international markets following their premiere on BINGE and Foxtel.
“We continue to be the partner of choice for the world’s biggest studios and content producers, providing an unmatched content slate from the largest and most diverse pipeline of partners globally.
“This ensures that our BINGE and Foxtel customers will continue to have access to the very best TV shows and movies from Australia and around the world, catering for every taste and every viewer.”
More premium and popular local entertainment is set to launch in the coming year including:
- HIGH COUNTRY, an eight-part mystery thriller starring Leah Purcell AM, Aaron Pedersen, Sara Wiseman and Ian McElhinney, and tells the story of detective Andrea (Andie) Whitford (Purcell) who is transferred to the Victorian High Country, where she is thrust into a baffling mystery of five missing persons who have vanished into the wilderness.
- THE TWELVE Season 2 starring celebrated international actor Sam Neill who reprises his role as Brett Colby, SC alongside Frances O’Connor as Meredith Nelson-Moore, SC in this gripping crime drama which follows a controversial murder trial seen through the lens of the jurors – 12 ordinary Australians who are facing their own realities and struggles.
- Production of Season 2 of smash-hit comedy series, COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS, created and written by and starring Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall starts in Sydney in the coming months.
- MIX TAPE, a four-part event miniseries adapted from the popular and critically acclaimed novel by Jane Sanderson and is BINGE’s first international co-production.
- A new docu-soap reality original series, BILLION DOLLAR PLAYGROUND, which takes viewers into the exclusive world of uber-wealthy guests who pay a premium for high-end vacation homes, as world-class staff service their round the clock demands.
MORE WORLD-CLASS ENTERTAINMENT
A rich and diverse line-up of international entertainment delivered through the world’s leading studios and content distributors will be available on Foxtel Group platforms over the coming year.
This includes the next instalment of TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY, starring Academy Award®-winner and Emmy®-nominated Jodie Foster premiering 15 January; BOOKIE, from creator Chuck Lorre and starring Charlie Sheen, this darkly funny comedy follows veteran Los Angeles bookie as the potential legalisation of sports gambling in California threatens to upend his business for good; THE SYMPATHIZER, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name; THE REGIME, starring Academy Award®-winner Kate Winslet, which tells the story of one year within the walls of the palace of a modern European regime as it begins to unravel; TED, based on the live-action/CGI box office hit and sequel from "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane; VIGIL S2, starring Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie in a brand-new investigation as they enter the secret world of drone warfare to catch a killer.
More anticipated titles will be available to Foxtel and BINGE customers, including APPLES NEVER FALL, based on Liane Moriarty’s novel, and starring Sam Neill and Annette Bening; FEUD CAPOTE VS THE SWANS, starring Naomi Watts, Demi Moore and Molly Ringwald and produced by Ryan Murphy and BELGRAVIA: THE NEXT CHAPTER, taking place 24 years from the series Belgravia.. Plus all the WWE action including WWE Elimination Chamber live from Perth in February 2024.
MUCH-LOVED LIFESTYLE ORIGINALS RETURNING
The FOXTEL Group continues to offer a premium slate of much loved LifeStyle Original programming with SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA returning for season 16 with hosts Andrew Winter, Wendy Moore and Dennis Scott. Standout hit and multi award-winning GOGGLEBOX AUSTRALIA along with another special edition of CELEBRITY GOGGLEBOX AUSTRALIA also set to return in 2024. On the night, the Group paid tribute to the late Cal Wilson for her extensive contribution to the comedy and entertainment industry and her celebrated career. She will be seen in her final role as host of GREAT AUSTRALIAN BAKE OFF in 2024 which was filmed earlier this year alongside judges Rachel Khoo and Darren Purchese and fellow host Natalie Tran.
Wendy Moore, Group General Manager – LifeStyle said: “We are incredibly proud of our LifeStyle Originals offering covering an array of genres including property, entertainment and cooking. These much-loved franchises have an incredible fan base and continue to deliver high quality entertainment. We are excited to share this returning content in 2024 for subscribers to enjoy.”
THE BIGGEST AND BEST SPORTS LINE-UP
In sport, 2024 will launch with a huge summer of cricket including every Australian Men’s and Women’s home international, every match of the BBL and WBBL, plus major domestic and international matches LIVE and ad break free during play on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.
As a key broadcast partner of ESPN in Australia, Kayo Sports and Foxtel are proud to be bringing all NBL and select WNBL games, plus select NBA games, across the summer. In addition, sports fans can watch NFL’s showpiece events LIVE.
March will also see the return of winter codes with every game of every round of the AFL and NRL to be broadcast LIVE and ad break free during play.
In 2024, the NRL will kick off in a big way with the opening round being staged in Las Vegas, and Fox League will be the only place to watch both games including the exclusive season opener between the Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs, LIVE. Fox League will be on ground with Matty Johns and NRL 360 LIVE from Las Vegas to catch all the build up.
Sports fans will also be able to watch every match of the Super Netball Season along with Australian International Tests and the Quad Series plus all the Supercars, MotoGP and Formula 1 events along with Main Event Boxing and UFC, Golf, AFLW, NRLW, NFL, Surfing and plenty more, as part of an unrivalled sport offering.
Rebecca McCloy, Executive Director - Commercial Sport, Foxtel Group, said: “Foxtel Group is the home of sport in Australia. We have long-term rights to the local and international sports Aussies love. In the last 12 months we signed 175 contracts with 130 sports bodies and federations.
“We’ve locked down deals for AFL and Cricket until 2031. And importantly, we have the biggest offering. Every minute of every AFL game throughout the season plus the finals up to the Grand Final, plus the most extensive cricket offering available to our more than three million sports subscribers.
“Add to those new deals with ESPN, Matchroom, and a 5-year contract with UFC, which has the youngest fan base of any professional sport in the world, and our offering is unmatched.”
From 2025, the new Foxtel Group and AFL rights come into effect. In addition to having all AFL and AFLW home and away games and finals (excluding the AFL Grand Final) available on Foxtel and Kayo Sports LIVE and ad break free during play, the Foxtel Group will introduce an exclusive 'Super Saturday' of games across the first eight rounds of the season*.
As part of the ground-breaking deal, for the first time Fox Sports’ popular commentary and award-winning production will be available on all AFL games including alternate commentary feeds, renowned graphic innovations and expanded digital highlights.
CLICK HERE FOR IMAGES FROM FOXTEL MEDIA UPFRONT 2024
EDITORIAL IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
*Excluding Anzac Day Eve, Anzac Day and Dreamtime at the MCG if they fall on a Saturday.
[1] All content coming to BINGE will also be available to Foxtel customers.