Australia’s Seven Network is counting on new and returning franchises, three new local dramas and two factual series to maintain ratings momentum next year.

The directors of episodes of Australian dramas Stateless and The Commons and children’s series Hardball were among those honoured at the 2020 Australian Directors’ Guild Awards in a virtual ceremony in Sydney today.

Amazon Prime has commissioned a documentary series following three real estate agents as they negotiate multi-million-dollar deals in Sydney, Australia’s most expensive city.

Australia’s Network 10 has commissioned local versions of a US craft competition show and a popular UK dog rehoming series as part of its 2021 line-up unveiled today.

Australian streamer Stan has commissioned a comedy feature about a runaway criminal dressed as Santa Claus who crashes into the outback home of a single mother and her two kids.

UK-based factual producer Spring Films will partner with Australia’s Smart Street Films on a documentary series calling for treasures stolen during the colonial era to be returned to the countries from which they were taken.

Australian prodco Smart Street Films has optioned a book by human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson which argues that treasures stolen during the colonial era should be returned to the countries from which they were taken.

Many Australian businesses that produce children’s content will be forced to close and thousands of jobs in the sector will be lost unless the government changes its planned media reforms, producers claim.

Jason Behan has left Universal Pictures Australasia after four-and-a-half years as VP of acquisitions as part of global lay-offs at NBCUniversal caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Streaming service Femflix, which carries features, documentaries, miniseries and shortform content celebrating female-centric storytelling, has launched in Australia and New Zealand.