• Mitch Fifield and Pauline Hanson among politicians listening to Peter Tonagh and Marta Dusseldorp
Subscription TV industry body ASTRA and Foxtel held their annual Parliament House reception last night in Mural Hall.
After an opening reel showing highlights of content available on subscription TV channels, Sky News host Kieran Gilbert welcomed guests to the event and introduced Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh.
The platform boss saluted outgoing ASTRA chairman Tony Shepherd and CEO Andrew Maiden.
Tonagh spoke about piracy and the success of reducing the issue in Australia over the last 12 months. He acknowledged the support from politicians and spoke of Foxtel’s ongoing commitment to erasing piracy.
He also addressed Foxtel’s drive to tell Australian stories and its significant investment in programming across all genres.
Tonagh then introduced actress Marta Dusseldorp and they discussed the success of Foxtel’s A Place To Call Home and the Australian industry. Dusseldorp spoke of her love of the industry and her passion for representing all of Australia in her work.
Bruce Meagher, Marta Dusseldorp, Peter Tonagh and Mitch Fifield
Before the formalities ended, Gilbert introduced highlights from Top Of The Lake: China Girl, which launches on the platform next weekend.
Other platform talent on hand included Neale Whitaker from the forthcoming Love it Or List It, Tim Horan and Mal Meninga from Fox Sports, Blake Austin from Canberra Raiders and a Fox Sports ambassador, and from Sky News – Kristina Keneally, Peter Van Onselen and Andrew Bolt.
Also representing Foxtel were Brian Walsh, Deanne Weir, Lynette Ireland, Bruce Meagher and Jamie Campbell.
Channel partners who made the trip to the capital included Jacqui Feeney from Fox International Channels, Ben Richardson from Viacom, Chris Keely from SBS World Movies, Robi Stanton from Turner and Phyllisse Stanton from Aurora.
Politicians enjoying Foxtel’s hospitality in Mural Hall included Mitch Fifield, Michelle Rowland, Sarah Hanson-Young, Kevin Andrews, Pauline Hanson, Barnaby Joyce and Jane Prentice.