The team behind the series Strife, which broke records to become the Foxtel Group’s streaming platform’s biggest original series premiere of all time, has returned to the writers’ room for season two.
Binge has labelled Strife a “massive hit” after revealing it was the biggest ever Binge Original series launch for first day and first-week viewing.
That means the series had a bigger launch week than Colin From Accounts.
After that comedy won three TV Week Logie Awards in mid-2023, Binge reported Colin From Accounts was Foxtel Group’s most-watched original scripted series of all time with season one sold to multiple territories around the world, including the BBC in the United Kingdom.
See also: Best streaming services 2024 – What’s essential to watch the world’s finest TV. Binge ranked #1
How hit comedies will grow Binge numbers…and help launch Hubbl
Having two hits comedy originals is great news for the Foxtel Group and Binge ahead of the launch of Hubbl.
The Foxtel Group is promising Hubbl will change the TV and streaming experience by aggregating subscriptions. Making it both easy to manage and offering price breaks. It is telling subscribers to Binge and Kayo it “will simplify how you search and watch content, as well as provide the ability to manage all your subscriptions in one place”.
Binge viewers who watched either Colin From Accounts and Strife will be more likely to stay subscribed with the knowledge second seasons of both shows will be coming.
Hubbl, which launches in February 2024, will make it easy to stay subscribed, or to dip in and out of subscriptions if you prefer. It is expected that in addition to being able to manage Binge and Kayo subscriptions, Hubbl will have partnerships with a range of subscription and FTA streaming services.
See also: Foxtel Group’s Hubbl launch – Binge, Kayo Sports accounts moving to new platform in February
Strife production notes
Strife is produced by Made Up Stories (Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers) in partnership with global film and TV studio Fifth Season, the series tells the story of a modern, imperfect woman and publisher named Evelyn Jones (Asher Keddie) and her journey from lounge room blogger to becoming a force in women’s media.
The series is inspired by Mia Freedman’s memoir, Work, Strife, Balance, and is written by Australian screenwriter Sarah Scheller (The Letdown).
Steve Hutensky, Alison Hurbert-Burns, Jodi Matterson, Mia Freedman, Amanda Laing, Asher Keddie and Sarah Scheller
In real life, Freedman became a force in digital media with her Mamamia brand after a successful career in magazines including time editing Cosmopolitan.
The series stars Asher Keddie (Nine Perfect Strangers, Offspring) alongside Matt Day, Jonathan LaPaglia, Tina Bursill, Emma Lung, Alex Dimitriades, Maria Angelico, Rhys Mitchell, Olivia Junkeer, BeBe Bettencourt, Bryony Skillington, Lucy Ansell, Darcy Tadich, Lincoln Younes and Willow Speers. Season one was directed by Stuart Bowen.
Alison Hurbert-Burns, executive director, Binge and Foxtel group content and commissioning, said: “Strife has connected with our audiences with Evelyn’s journey hitting a chord with viewers across the country.
“Strife has seen audience growth faster than any other Binge original, breaking records to become our biggest series launch for both first day and first-week viewing. I am excited to see the writers, led by Sarah Scheller, back in the writers’ room to work on next season.”
Executive producers from Made Up Stories, Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson and Steve Hutensky said: “We couldn’t be more thrilled with how audiences have embraced Strife and fallen in love with Asher Keddie’s complicated, inimitable Evelyn Jones. Thanks to our partners at Binge for supporting this story and bringing it to audiences across Australia and to our wonderful cast and crew, including the incredible Sarah Scheller and her writing team who are hard at work on season two.”
Prentiss Fraser, Fifth Season’s president, TV Distribution added: “It’s no surprise Strife is capturing a huge audience so quickly – it’s brilliantly fresh, beautifully shot and an authentic take on women juggling work, family, and relationships. The performances from Asher Keddie and the rest of the cast are incredible, and we’re thrilled people are engaging with our perfectly, imperfect characters.”