Seven Studios, the production arm of Australia’s Seven West Media, has hired a former Nine Network exec as head of non-scripted development.

Fremantle’s Australian outpost has signed a first-look development, formats and international sales deal with a prodco recently launched by two former execs at Princess Pictures.

Two climate change documentaries fronted by Craig Reucassel, a factual entertainment series on public shaming and teetotaller Shaun Micallef’s exposé on the effects of alcohol will premiere on Australian pubcaster the ABC next year.

Leading Australian pay TV platform Foxtel has signed an extensive non-exclusive multi-year agreement with NBCUniversal but is axing two NBCU-owned channels as part of a refresh of its entertainment roster.

The national director of Australia’s Equity, the actors’ arm of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, has quit to join Screen Producers Australia.

Australian director Garth Davis and UK-, US- and Australia-based See-Saw Films have launched a production co-venture.

The CEO of New Zealand TV, radio, music and digital funding agency NZ On Air has resigned after 12 years in the post.

Australian pubcaster the ABC has named an investment manager from state agency Create NSW as its children’s production executive.

Amazon Prime has commissioned its first Australian drama, a new version of popular family-centred series Packed to the Rafters.

Spending on Australian television drama hit an all-time record of A$334m (US$232.2m) in the 2018/19 financial year, according to Screen Australia’s annual report into the genre.