Foxtel Group held its third in-person launch event in three weeks in Sydney Wednesday night with stars of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty talking about the hit HBO series.
Foxtel is keeping the excitement bubbling along with a fourth sports-themed event in three weeks today. The confirmation that subscription Total TV data, including the much-anticipated Kayo ratings, will now be available through Foxtel, is also imminent. Mediaweek reported last week that the group hoped to have the numbers available for the start of the NRL season (tonight) and AFL (March 16).
Binge was the host of the Winning Time event with the streaming platform’s executive director Alison Hurbert-Burns the MC.
Binge’s Sydney Harbour setting
The Foxtel team chose a Vaucluse property featured in the Amazon Prime Video series Luxe Listing Sydney for the launch. The property offers gun barrel views down Sydney harbour and guests got to see the first Sydney sunset since the weather turned bad last month.
Jess Yates and Luke Egan
The only challenge for the events team was a gale-force wind that impacted the audio.
The main attraction at the event was two stars of The Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers – Aussie Jason Clarke, as Jerry West (NBA star turned league executive), and Quincy Isaiah, who plays Magic Johnson.
Hurbert-Burns interviewed the two stars on a tennis court repurposed as a basketball court against the backdrop of the city.
Fox Sports’ Lara Pitt, Catherine Cox and Hannah Hollis
Guests at the event included Ainkaran Krishnarajah, finance director, Foxtel Group, Kate De Brito, executive director Flash, Michael Brooks, managing director Warner Bros International Television Productions, Robi Stanton VP Warner Media Australia and New Zealand, Catherine Cox, Hannah Hollis, Lara Pitt and Jessica Yates, Fox Sports presenters, surfer-turned-broadcaster Luke Egan, and Paul Smith, Sydney Kings owner.
Overseeing the event were Foxtel Group Binge head of communications Asha Burns, Foxtel Group director of communications Jacqui Abbott and chief communications officer Paul Edwards.
Foxtel photos by Henrique Fanti.
Mediaweek’s Trent Thomas (left) with Foxtel’s Paul Edwards (centre) and Ainkaran Krishnarajah