#abccommercial

[abc-commercial-blog]

REVIEW SERIES 2 TO AIR ON COMEDY CENTRAL USA

Series 2 of the US version of Review with Myles Barlow, re-named Review, will air on Comedy Central USA on 30th July 2015. The first series screened on Comedy Central in March 2014 and was adapted from ABC Commercial’s format.

Written and executive produced by Charlie Siskel and Andrew Daly, Daly continues to star in the character of Forrest MacNeil – the host of the series. Review is executive produced by Daly, Jeffrey Blitz (The Office), Andy Blitz (Late Night with Conan O’Brien) and Charlie Siskel (Tosh.0). The series is directed by Jeffrey Blitz.

The format is also being developed in the UK and Belgium. The series has had international sales success in Africa, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden and New Zealand.

Katherine McMillan, Sales Manager, Formats for ABC Commercial said, “Review is a fantastic adaptation of the original format, and we’re thrilled that US audiences will enjoy a second season of this hit comedy.”

Review With Myles Barlow is an original multi-award winning half hour comedy. While other critics waste time with trivial matters such as film, food or art, one man dares to review all facets of life – our experiences, our emotions, our deepest, darkest desires – to rate them out of five stars.

Contact: Jennifer Russell ABC Commercial, Australian Broadcasting Corporation  ABC Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia  Tel: + 61 2 8333 3163 email: [email protected] 

ABOUT ABC COMMERCIAL: For the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC Commercial is responsible for the management of a range of media businesses delivering products and services to the global marketplace. For global program distribution, ABC Commercial represents the catalogues of the ABC as well as Opera Australia and Screen Australia's factual catalogue.

[abc-commercial-blog]

Tony Iffland Joins ABC Commercial

Tony Iffland has been appointed General Manager, ABC Content Sales with ABC Commercial.

In this new role, Iffland will draw on his substantial experience in content distribution, production and media management,  to contribute to the expanding activities of ABC Commercial’s content sales business.

He will lead the ABC Content Sales team in globally distributing its slate representing ABC-commissioned and independently acquired content across all genres – particularly drawing on its strengths in factual, children’s, drama, comedy, lifestyle and News & Current Affairs.  His experience in strategic business development and activity diversification will also assist in capitalising on the growth opportunities presented by the expansion of the catalogue and partner relationships.

Iffland was previously Director of Television at SBS, where he was responsible for a range of content and programming innovations. Prior to that he was General Manager, BBC Worldwide Australia and Chief Executive of UK.TV.

Sharon Ramsay-Luck, ABC Commercial’s Head of Sales & Business Development, said “It’s a thrill to have an industry professional of Tony’s calibre and experience – not to mention integrity and good humour – join us to lead our sales team.  We have prioritised the expansion and repositioning of our business over the past few years and I’ve no doubt that Tony will contribute enormously to the continuation of that growth trajectory.”

Iffland added “I’m greatly looking forward to making my mark on the ABC Content Sales business, which I’ve admired for some time. My track record representing quality brands and content is a great fit for this ambitious business. I can’t wait to strengthen existing relationships and develop new content opportunities for the benefit of both producers and broadcast platforms, new and traditional.”

Tony Iffland commenced in his new role Monday, July 20th 2015.                      

For further information please contact:                                                                Lisa Hresc                                                                                             Head of Marketing & Communications, ABC Commercial                           ABC Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia                                                                         Tel: + 61 2 8333 3996                                                                                     email: [email protected]                                                     

About ABC Commercial

ABC Commercial are responsible for bringing ABC content, services and brands to the global marketplace. All revenue from our activities is reinvested into the production of ABC content and programming.

www.abccommercial.com

[abc-commercial-blog]

ADAM BRAND WINS BIG AT CMC MUSIC AWARDS

‘MY SIDE OF THE STREET’ – Single Out Now At last night’s Annual CMC Music Awards, rock-country star Adam Brand walked away with gongs for AUSTRALIAN VIDEO OF THE YEAR for ‘What Your Love Looks Like’, along with the coveted CMC OZ ARTIST OF THE YEAR award. Brand, already a multiple CMC Award-winner, was thrilled to have achieved further trophies for his ARIA Award-nominated album ‘My Side Of The Street’.

Adam’s current single ‘My Side of the Street’ is out now.   WATCH the video here

Shot in a variety of stunning Townsville locations, the ‘My Side Of The Street’ video clip depicts a diverse local community pitching in to achieve a positive outcome, in line with the song’s lyrics; “Come a little closer...I know now you should come on over, to my side of the street". The unique graffiti artwork is inspired by the song’s title, and painted by internationally acclaimed artist Lee Harnden, who originally hails from Townsville QLD. “Combine a world-renowned graffiti artist, members of our Military, the SES Services, some amazing locals and breathtaking North QLD locations, and you have all the ingredients for a video that will make a statement!” said Adam. “This video shows what can happen when we all come together on the same side of the street.” Adam Brand is a 12-time Golden Guitar Award-winner, and multiple ARIA Award-nominee. ‘My Side Of The Street’ debuted at #5 on the ARIA Australian Album Chart in 2014, and #1 on the ARIA Country Album Chart. ‘My Side Of The Street’ was produced by Adam’s long-time collaborator Craig Porteils (Guns n Roses, Billy Idol, Guy Sebastian) and is a 13-track long-player that features Jasmine Rae on ‘Quit This Time’ and closes out with ‘Most People I Know Think That I’m Crazy’, made famous by Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs. www.adambrand.com.au twitter.com/adambrand facebook.com/AdamBrandOfficial www.abcmusic.com.au For further information and interview requests please contact: Nicole Stringer National Promotions Manager - ABC Contemporary Music 02 9207 0600 [email protected]

[abc-commercial-blog]

The Wiggles - Ready Steady Wiggle S2 To Make US Debut Exclusively on Hulu

ABC Commercial’s Content Sales team is pleased to announce an exclusive SVOD partnership with Hulu and the quintessential preschool team, ‘The Wiggles’. The Hulu subscription service will be the exclusive US premiere home of Ready Steady Wiggle Series 2, and 104 episodes from The Wiggles, Ready, Steady, Wiggle will be available to Hulu subscribers. The Wiggles Managing Director, Paul Field, said ‘Anthony, Emma, Lachy and Simon are thrilled that their hugely popular latest TV series will be available to their fans in the US’. Following exceptional ratings for The Wiggles TV Series Ready, Steady, Wiggle! ABC Kids TV has rush released the broadcast of the second series of Ready, Steady, Wiggle! The Wiggles are experiencing an amazing resurgence of success in Australia – with the new Fab Four selling out concerts around the country and strong demand for their new series on TV, DVD and Digital platforms. The Wiggles have spent the last year entertaining children around the globe with their TV series Ready, Steady, Wiggle, tours of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Dubai and four new releases on CD and DVD! Anthony (Blue), Simon (Red), Emma (Yellow) and Lachy (Purple) have really taken off! Sharon Ramsay-Luck, Head ABC Sales & Business Development commented saying, “It is exciting to offer such great content to one of the premium streaming TV destinations in the US and to extend this fantastic brand to a wider audience”. Hulu provides an experience that makes it easy for subscribers to watch their favorite kids shows in a safe, commercial-free environment. Recommended programming within the Kids section of Hulu are restricted to other commercial-free children's programming so children can quickly and securely jump to their favorite shows. Commercial-free kids programming is available to subscribers on all Hulu-compatible devices. For further information contact: Lisa Hresc, Head Marketing & Communications ABC Commercial, Australian Broadcasting Corporation Tel: + 61 2 8333 3996 Email: [email protected] ABOUT ABC COMMERCIAL: For the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC Commercial is responsible for the management of a range of media businesses delivering products and services to the global marketplace.

[abc-commercial-blog]

ABC Commercial Announces programming deal with Presto TV

ABC Commercial is pleased to announce it has signed an agreement with Presto TV to license a broad range of ABC content that includes award-winning comedies, acclaimed drama series and popular children’s programs.

Providing content to the new online streaming service will broaden the reach of ABC Commercial content, facilitating an increase in audience engagement and creating new licensing revenues that can be re-invested into new ABC productions.

Presto TV subscribers will be able to laugh along to comedy series such as Summer Heights High, We Can Be Heroes, Angry Boys and Ja’mie: Private School Girl by multi-award winning creator and performer Chris Lilley, as well as A Moody Christmas, Agony Aunts, The Librarians and the iconic home-grown sitcom Mother and Son. Quality dramas also available on the service will include award winning series Rake, Redfern Now, Bastard Boys and the delightful Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. Children will be able to enjoy full seasons from top Australian and international ABC For Kids programs including The Wiggles, Sesame Street, Bob the Builder, Thomas and Friends, Angelina Ballerina and the hugely popular pre-school series Octonauts. Jessica Ellis, General Manager, Video Entertainment & Distribution, said, “ABC Commercial is delighted to partner with Presto TV giving customers access to a wide variety of quality, local Australian dramas, comedies and children’s content. “This opportunity also further establishes ABC Commercial’s position as a leading partner in online content distribution”. Shaun James, Director of Presto and Video on Demand, said, “Our deal with the ABC will provide our Presto TV subscribers with a great range of quality and popular programming that will appeal to viewers of all ages.” “Importantly subscribers will be able to stream and watch full seasons of these shows on demand when and where they want on a multitude of different devices for a low monthly fee.” About ABC Commercial ABC Commercial is responsible for bringing ABC content, services and brands to the global marketplace. All revenue from our activities is reinvested into the production of ABC content and programming. www.abccommercial.com

About Presto Presto is powered by Foxtel, one of Australia's most progressive and dynamic media companies. Presto allows Australians to experience great entertainment on demand, for a low monthly subscription fee. Presto is currently available to its subscribers across PC, Mac and iOS as well as Android and on TV via Google Chromecast. Recent releases and old favourites from major and key independent film studios are currently available in a Presto Movies monthly subscription. Presto TV features a vast library of subscription on demand television content comprising a broad range of locally commissioned and internationally acquired content including drama, comedy, factual and entertainment TV programs. Presto Movies is owned by Foxtel Management Pty Limited. Presto TV is a new service and will be a 50-50 joint venture between Foxtel and Seven West Media, subject to ACCC approval. www.presto.com.au For more details please contact Marguerite Barbara Publicity Manager, ABC Video Entertainment and Distribution 02 8333 3930 [email protected]

[abc-commercial-blog]

ABC MUSIC wins two more ARIA Awards

At the Music Award Ceremony in Sydney on the 26th November celebrating the best of the Australian Music Industry, ABC Music won two honours in the 2014 ARIA Awards, taking the total number of awards won by the label this year to an impressive six out of a possible eleven categories.

The Wiggles made history by taking out the Best Children’s Award for the 12th time, although the 2014 win is a first for the new line-up which features the first female Wiggle, Emma Watkins. Apples & Bananas is the fifth release from the new line-up featuring Simon Pryce, Lachlan Gillespie, Emma Watkins and original member Anthony Field. The Wiggles Big Show! Live tour is currently underway and will continue through December.

Buddy Goode has won the ARIA for Best Comedy Release, with his album It’s a Buddy Goode Christmas. This is Goode’s second ARIA, following his 2012 win with his album Unappropriate. Goode’s comedy albums combine his inappropriate sense of humour with country and western musical stylings.

Natalie Waller, General Manager of ABC Music, is pleased with the wins.

“The ARIA awards represent the Australian music industry’s achievements for this year and to have ABC Music artists included amongst those winners highlights the variety and quality of our artists and their releases.”

“We’re incredibly proud of all our artists who were nominated for awards and we extend our congratulations to The Wiggles and Buddy Goode for their wins.”

Last night’s awards have taken ABC Music’s 2014 ARIA Awards tally to six, having won four Fine Arts Awards in October.

For further information please contact: National Promotions Manager ABC Contemporary Music Nicole Stringer: [email protected]

[abc-commercial-blog]

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA TAKES AUSTRALIA’S MOST TRUSTED NEWS SERVICE TO THE SKIES

Virgin Australia: Libby Armstrong 0400 814 573  [email protected]

ABC Commercial Lisa Hresc  02 8333 3996  [email protected]

[abc-commercial-blog]

ABC Music wins all four 2014 ARIA Fine Arts Awards and receives 22 nominations across 11 categories

At a ceremony at the Art Gallery of NSW today (7 October 2014), it was announced that ABC Music had been awarded all four of the 2014 ARIA Fine Arts Awards, and received a total of 22 nominations across 11 categories.

The winners of the four Fine Arts Awards, all of which were taken by ABC Music, were: Compassion – Lior, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Nigel Westlake (Best Classical Album); The Bitter Suite – Paul Grabowsky Sextet (Best Jazz Album); Permission to Evaporate – Joseph Tawadros (Best World Music Album); and Gurrumul: His Life and Music – Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu / SSO (Best Original Soundtrack / Cast / Show Album).

Natalie Waller, General Manager of ABC Music, commented: “We extend huge congratulations to all of our winning and nominated artists. We are very proud of the breadth of ABC Music’s output, and our 22 nominations across 11 categories – from Classical to Comedy, Jazz to Children’s – speaks volumes about the quality and variety of the artists with whom we are so privileged to work. “Today we offer special congratulations to the ABC Music artists who have won all four Fine Arts Awards, including Joseph Tawadros who won the Best World Music Album Award for the third year in succession, and Paul Grabowsky who has now won an ARIA in every decade since the 1980s. Good luck to all our nominees in the remaining categories for the ceremony on 26 November!”

ARIA 2014 FINE ARTS AWARDS: THE WINNING ALBUMS

The Award for Best Classical Album was taken by Compassion, a collaboration between composer Nigel Westlake, singer Lior and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Compassion, a “Symphony of Songs”, draws from the rich worlds of Islam and Judaism to present a collection of profound and poetic insights into the practice of compassion and its ability to transform our relationships as human beings. Recorded at the Sydney Opera House, the work has been acclaimed by critics and audiences alike: it was awarded five stars by The Australian and has been revived as a live concert on numerous occasions including in Melbourne's Myer Music Bowl.

Australian jazz legend Paul Grabowsky was presented with the Award for Best Jazz Album for The Bitter Suite, recorded with the Paul Grabowsky Sextet – a group which comprises some of the finest players on the Australian jazz scene. The album was written in an “urgent tumble” in just a couple of weeks, and draws on everything from The Rolling Stones to Rachmaninoff. Awarding the album five stars, The Australian acclaimed the “superb interpretations of imaginative compositions”.

Oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros took his third ARIA Award in succession for Best World Music Album with Permission to Evaporate. Recorded in New York in February 2014, Joseph was joined by Christian McBride (bass), Mike Stern (guitar) and Matt McMahon (piano), and by his long-time musical companion and brother James Tawadros (req and bendir). The album takes inspiration from a wide variety of styles and sounds from bluegrass to world, jazz to folk.

The incomparable Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu won the Award for Best Original / Soundtrack / Cast / Show Album for Gurrumul: His Life and Music. Recorded live with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the album presents some of Gurrumul’s most famous works accompanied by orchestra, alongside introductions from Gurrumul’s family which give a rare insight into the people, the country and the stories behind one of Australia’s most popular musicians.

For more information visit www.ariaawards.com.au.

2014 ARIA AWARDS: ABC MUSIC NOMINATIONS BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM Compassion – Lior / Sydney Symphony Orchestra / Nigel Westlake (Winner) Adès: Polaris / Stanhope: Piccolo Concerto Andrew Macleod / Melbourne Symphony Orchestra / Benjamin Northey / Markus Stenz Empires – Latitude 37 Mozart Arias – Emma Matthews / Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra / Marko Letonja Stravinsky: Rite of Spring / Mahler: Symphony No.1 – Australian World Orchestra / Zubin Mehta

BEST JAZZ ALBUM The Bitter Suite – Paul Grabowsky Sextet (Winner)

BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM Permission to Evaporate – Joseph Tawadros (Winner) Birdsong at Dusk – William Barton Flute Spirit: Dreams and Improvisations – Jane Rutter

BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK / CAST / SHOW ALBUM Gurrumul: His Life and Music – Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu / SSO (Winner) triple j’s One Night Stand – Various Artists ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Virginia Read (Gershwin: Take Two)

The winners of the following categories will be announced on 26 November 2014. BEST MALE ARTIST Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu BEST LIVE ACT Melbourne Ska Orchestra BEST BLUES AND ROOTS ALBUM ‘Til My Tears Roll Away – The Audreys BEST CHILDREN’S ALBUM Let’s Put The Beat In Our Feet – Alex Papps Jazzamatazz! – Ali McGregor Christmas at Jay’s Place – Jay Laga’aia Apples & Bananas – The Wiggles BEST COMEDY ALBUM It’s a Buddy Goode Christmas – Buddy Goode Learning To Be Me – Ja’mie BEST COUNTRY ALBUM My Side of the Street – Adam Brand

For further information, please contact: Toby Chadd | ABC Classics & Jazz | [phone] | [email protected]