Press Release from The Lantern Group
The subscription television industry will be out in all their glorious best on Monday April 20 for the 7th Annual ASTRA Awards at Sydney’s Royal Hall of Industries. The awards are a celebration of the extraordinary array of talent and programming the industry provides across the 80 separate channels owned or controlled by more than 40 different Australian or international media companies. The subscription television industry now contributes many millions of dollars into the Australian entertainment and information landscape.
The awards ceremony will be a huge night, with performances from the British theatrical sensation STOMP, the hilarious, and world famous Avenue Q, Australian music ‘it’ girl Cassie Davis, rock legends Hoodoo Gurus and presenters including Charlotte Dawson (FOX8), Brian McFadden FOX8), Antonia Kidman (W Channel), Merrick & Rosso (Comedy Channel), Ruby Rose (MTV), Lee Furlong (FOX Sports), Matthew Newton (TV1), Brendan Moar (LifeStyle Channel), Alison Whyte and Kestie Morassi (Showcase) and the newest members of the subscription television family, the ‘30 Second’ cast members Kat Stewart, Peter O’Brien, Gyton Grantley, Joel Tobeck and Stephen Curry (The Comedy Channel).
“The awards ceremony itself is shaping up to be an old fashioned variety show on steroids. From the extensive and outstanding news coverage, to the sports that satisfies every passion in the country, documentaries that move people, music that gets the nation dancing, comedy that provides needed joy and laughter, to the very best of Australian drama, the Annual ASTRA Awards are an opportunity to showcase and celebrate all of this” said Debra Richards CEO ASTRA.
The STV viewers have voted the winners of the prestigious five favourite award categories, the other awards have been judged by a panel taken from all sectors of the subscription television industry. Highlights from the 7th Annual ASTRA Awards will be available across subscription channels and platforms from April 21 so viewers can share in the celebrations. A full broadcast will also be available On Demand for FOXTEL iQ subscribers from April 23.
When the stars hit the red carpet for the 7th Annual ASTRA Awards they will be moving to the beat provided by Australia’s newest pop-rock sensation Short Stack. Avenue Q, the unique troupe starring Michala Banas, Luke Joslin and Natalie Alexopoulos, perform with puppets and have garnered Tony Awards in New York, will also be entertaining the crowd on the red carpet with their antics, as well as another special performance during the award ceremony. The internationally successful show has many major celebrity fans, and their performance at the ASTRA Awards will be the broadcast in Australia.
Shining a spotlight on all the glitz, glamour and fashion of the night will be Project Runway mentor, Henry Roth. Henry will be doing fashion commentary and interviews with the celebrities walking the red carpet prior to them entering the awards ceremony, discussing all the fashion hits and misses of the night. Henry will welcome for the first viewing all 13 finalists of FOX8’s Australia’s Next Top Model who will be featuring on the show this year.
Having already performed at a past Oscars® ceremony, STOMP are now set to entertain our audience with their unstoppable energy and exuberance. The pounding performers create something truly brilliant and unique by leaping, spinning, skidding and pounding performance on the orchestra of metal dustbins and bin lids. STOMP will then tour the rest of Australia and New Zealand with their spectacular show.
Also getting the audience on their feet will be Australia’s hottest musical entity Cassie Davis. Cassie’s debut hit single ‘I Like It Loud’ has drawn rave reviews and attention from all over the world, and resulted in a Top 11 chart debut for the single as well as gaining a Top 5 position on Australia’s Airplay chart. Proving she is no one hit wonder, Cassie has returned to the country’s airwaves with her new single ‘Differently’ featuring international star Travis McCoy (of Gym Glass Heroes fame) and was crowned the #1 Most Added track at Australian radio.
Closing the night will be the legendary and iconic rock band the Hoodoo Gurus. For over twenty years and eight albums, Australia’s Hoodoo Gurus have given the world a dozen classic anthems, topped the charts and gained cult hero status. The awards are particularly close to the band’s heart as they have been nominated in the Most Outstanding Music Program or Coverage for their MAX Sessions In The Sand: Hoodoo Gurus performance.
After the awards ceremony guests will attend an after-party – setting the mood and getting the crowd moving will be one of Australia’s best-kept secrets – Zoe Badwi. Zoe has teamed up with ARIA award-winning outfit TV Rock to co-produce her smash hit ‘Release Me’. Joining Zoe Badwi at the after-party will be DJ Grant Smilie who is one half of TV Rock and one of Australia’s top DJs who has signed Zoe to his recently formed record label.
ASTRA is proud to welcome back as important supporting sponsors AUSTAR, FOXTEL, TELSTRA, Steam, Gearhouse Broadcast, MCN, XYZ Networks, OpenTV, TP Events, Napoleon Perdis, Lindt and mount Franklin and would like to recognise their continued support. This year ASTRA welcomes new sponsors in PricewaterhouseCoopers, a-pac: Australia’s Public Affairs channel, FOXTEL Television Centre, Full Circle Media, Stage & Screen Travel Services and ghd. We look forward to working with them all this year and developing long lasting relationships.