Endemol Australia
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation Television program |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia |
| Parent | Taft Broadcasting (1972–1987) Hamlyn Group (50%) (1974-1978) James Hardie Industries (50%) (1978–1988) Independent (1988–2004) Southern Cross Broadcasting (2004-2007) Fairfax Media (2007–2009) Endemol (2009-present) |
| Divisions | Endemol Southern Star |
Southern Star Group (formerly known as Southern Star Productions, Southern Star/Hanna-Barbera Australia & Taft-Hardie Group Pty. Ltd.) is Australia's largest independent television production and distribution group.
History
It began life in 1972 as Hanna-Barbera Pty. Ltd. (Australia), an Australian division of Hanna-Barbera. In 1974, the Hamlyn Group acquired 50% of Hanna-Barbera Australia and appointed Neil Balnaves as managing director. In 1978, James Hardie Industries acquired the Hamlyn Group, and in 1979, Balnaves was promoted to managing director of the entire Hamlyn Group.[1]
In 1983, James Hardie Industries and Hanna-Barbera corporate parent Taft Broadcasting reorganized the division as Taft-Hardie Group Pty. Ltd. In 1984, the company established a division in Los Angeles known as Southern Star Productions, headed by Buzz Potamkin. Programs produced by this division would be animated at Hanna-Barbera's studios in Sydney, and carried the name Southern Star/Hanna-Barbera Australia.
In 1988, Neil Balnaves led an A$11 million management buyout of Taft-Hardie, reorganizing the company as Southern Star Group. The Sydney animation facilities were also sold, while the Los Angeles division continued to operate until 1991 when it was sold to Turner Broadcasting Systems.
In April 2004, the company was acquired by Southern Cross Broadcasting and, in 2007, by Fairfax Media. Major divisions are Southern Star Entertainment, Endemol Southern Star, a joint venture with Endemol and Southern Star International. The company also has Southern Star Factual a natural history and science production company in the UK and an animation studio Singapore.
In January 2009, Endemol acquired Southern Star Factual from Fairfax Media in a transaction worth A$75 million.
Programs
Prime-time drama
- Love My Way
- The Surgeon
- Blue Heelers
- The Secret Life of Us
- Water Rats
- Police Rescue
- Murder Call
- Rescue: Special Ops
- Wild Boys
Children's and family television programming
- Foreign Exchange
- The Adventures of Sam
- Blue Water High
- RAGGS Kids Club Band
- The Sleepover Club
- Tracey McBean
- The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky
- Magic Mountain
- Oscar and Friends
- LazyTown
- Faireez
- CBS Storybreak*
- The Berenstain Bears*
- Teen Wolf (with Clubhouse Pictures)*
- Marvin: Baby of the Year*
- Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (TV special)*
- Peter Pan and the Pirates*
- Mad Scientist*
*Produced as Southern Star/Hanna-Barbera Australia.
Reality television programming
- Big Brother Australia - Nine Network (2012-)
- Deal or No Deal - Seven Network (2009–present, joint by a Seven News production)
Factual
Notes
External links
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