Showcase (Australian TV channel)

This article is about the Australian television channel. For other uses, see Showcase (disambiguation).
Showcase
Launched 1 December 2007[1]
Owned by Premium Movie Partnership (2007-2012)
Foxtel Networks (2012-present)
Picture format 576i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Slogan The Home Of HBO
Country Australia
Language English
Sister channel(s) SoHo
BoxSets
Timeshift service Showcase Two
Website showcasechannel.com.au/
Availability
Satellite
Foxtel Channel 115 (SD/HD)
Channel 158 (two)
Channel 1115 (SD)
Cable
Foxtel Channel 115 (SD/HD)
Channel 158 (two)
Channel 1115 (SD)
Optus Channel 115 (SD)
Channel 158 (two)
IPTV
Foxtel Play Channel 115
Telstra T-Box Channel ???

Showcase (stylised as showcase) is an Australian premium cable and satellite television channel. It is owned and operated by Foxtel Networks and was a sister network to the Showtime channels. Showcase is managed by Showtime's chief executive officer Peter Rose. In 2007 Rose said Showcase "provides a real home at last for quality drama in Australia, and this list of outstanding event television is just the start".

Showcase can be found on channel 115 on Foxtel, Optus TV, and broadcast the Australian premieres of Dexter and Australian made series Satisfaction.

On 15 November 2009 Showcase launched two additional channels: showcase two and showcase HD.

Foxtel took over managing and producing Showcase and the other Showtime channels as of 31 October 2012, with it purchasing assets of the PMP.[2] On 9 December 2012, it was announced that Movie Network and Showtime (with the exception of Showcase) would be replaced with a new lineup of Foxtel-branded movie channels to be named Foxtel Movies[3] Showcase would continue to be the home of premium dramas from HBO and other international networks, original programming, documentaries, and independent films.

On 3 November 2014 showcase moved from Foxtel's Premium Movies and Drama package to the newly founded Drama package. In addition, the channel moved from channel 404 to channel 115 and showcase + 2 moved from channel 414 to channel 158.[4][5]

Overseas programming

Many of the programs featured on Showcase are Australian premieres, and feature on cable networks in America which feature adult themes and mature issues such as HBO, Showtime and FX in America. At Foxtel's 2013 programming highlights presentation on 26 February 2013, Foxtel announced an agreement with HBO that was to see HBO content be exclusively shown on showcase, with it not to screen on free to air television for at least five years.[6]

Original programming

Showcase launched with the Australian premiere of Satisfaction, based around high-class Australian escorts and their clients. The show ran for three seasons.

Showcase also aired all three series of Love My Way, a series which moved from FOX8 to W to Showtime each season yet was re-run on Showcase all together for the first time in 2007–2008.

In 2008, Foxtel and Showcase announced a new Australian drama called Tangle. Tangle is from the makers of Love My Way, and features an all-star Australian cast of Matt Day, Kat Stewart, Justine Clarke, Ben Mendelsohn and Catherine McClements. The series debuted on 1 October 2009 to rave reviews: "Tangle puts Free to Air Television to shame. Australian drama desperately needs more voices that emanate from truth".[9]

In 2010 Showtime commissioned a 6-hour mini-series Cloudstreet based on the novel by Tim Winton. The series premiered on 22 May 2011.[10] The stellar cast includes Essie Davis as Dolly Pickles, Stephen Curry as Sam Pickles, Emma Booth as Rose Pickles, Kerry Fox as Oriel Lamb, Geoff Morrell as Lester Lamb, and with Todd Lasance as Quick Lamb and NIDA graduate Hugo Johnstone-Burt as Fish Lamb.[11]

Title Number of
seasons		 Number of
episodes		 First broadcast Last broadcast Status
Love My Way (Series 3) 1 8 2007 2007 Ended.
Satisfaction 3 30 2007 2010 Ended.
Cloudstreet 1 3 2011 2011 Ended.
Tangle 3 22 2009 2012 Ended.
Devil's Playground 1 6 2014 Airing.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Walsh, Liz (2 December 2007). "Easily satisfied". The Sunday Mail. p. 3. |section= ignored (help)
  2. ↑ "Foxtel to acquire Showtime channels TV Tonight". David Knox. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "New movie channels for Foxtel TV Tonight". David Knox. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  4. ↑ "Foxtel announces a new value revolution for subscription TV" (PDF) (Press release). Foxtel. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  5. ↑ Knox, David (3 November 2014). "BoxSets, Discovery Kids launch on Foxtel.". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  6. ↑ Knox, David (27 February 2013). "Foxtel launches 2013 programming TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  7. ↑ Higgins, D (March 30, 2015). "APRIL on FOXTEL: Game Of Thrones, Mad Men, Wentworth, Deadline Gallipoli and 200+ other new shows". The Green Room. Foxtel. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  8. ↑ Knox, David (5 November 2015). "Foxtel Upfronts 2016: Local thrillers, Lifestyle & US Drama.". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "Tangle". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  10. ↑ "Airdate: Cloudstreet". TV Tonight. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  11. ↑ "Stellar cast announced for Cloudstreet adaptation – FOXTEL Insider – What's On". FOXTEL. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2011.

External links

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