South Australian travel and lifestyle program South Aussie with Cosi has a new home on the Seven Network.
General manager Seven Adelaide, Andy Kay, today announced the signing of Andrew “Cosi” Costello, host and creator of South Aussie with Cosi.
Kay said he was thrilled to welcome Costello – known as Cosi to his viewers and half a million followers on social media – to Adelaide’s #1 network.
“Adelaide has a worldwide reputation as one of the most liveable cities in the world and nobody promotes the city, and the state, like Cosi,” he said.
“His ability to connect to audiences, on television and on social media, with enthusiasm and energy is evident in every episode of South Aussie with Cosi. We are thrilled that Cosi is joining Channel Seven for the next part of his journey.
“Cosi will also be working with the Seven Network on some of our signature programs and we look forward to working together with him to develop ideas and program concepts.”
Cosi said he and his team couldn’t be happier to be joining Adelaide’s #1 rating station.
“Channel Seven has been such a force in media for so many decades and we are thrilled to be joining their team of passionate South Aussies,” he said.
“When I look at the Channel Seven building at Hindmarsh, surrounded by South Australian icons like the Brewery Lights, The Entertainment Centre and The Gov, it really is the perfect place for South Aussie with Cosi to call home.
“South Aussie with Cosi was SA’s smallest TV production when it started a decade ago and it now has grown to become the state’s biggest non-news TV show and we are incredibly proud of that.”
South Aussie with Cosi launched in 2011 and has become the highest rating local travel and lifestyle series on Adelaide television.
In more than 200 episodes, South Aussie with Cosi has showcased regional and city destinations, and promoted South Australian businesses, local lifestyle, community spirit and the state’s history.
Cosi grew up on the Yorke Peninsula and studied agriculture at Roseworthy College. His media career began 20 years ago when he won a radio competition on a local radio station.
Cosi would go on to make a name for himself on both SAFM and Triple M, co-hosting the breakfast shows on both stations with a host of prominent radio presenters. He currently co-hosts the breakfast show on SAFM with Bec Morse and Lehmo.
Cosi began a new phase of his career in 2011 when he took a sliver of an idea for a TV show and turned it into South Aussie with Cosi. Cosi’s objective when he launched the program was not only to promote South Australia, but to encourage others to get passionate about living in one of the best places in the world, and to urge families to travel and explore the state.
He took his passion to social media to connect directly with South Australians and today has more than 450,000 followers.
A champion for those who experience financial hardship, Cosi over the years has organised events such as a camping trips for single mums and their kids, annual birthday parties for 100 children who miss out on celebrations through social isolation or illness, and movie screenings for children with disabilities and their families.
In 2018 he won the South Australian Local Hero Award and in the same year was a finalist for the Australian of The Year, for his achievements in charity and tourism.
Seven will soon announce a launch date for South Aussie with Cosi.