Southern Star Signs Flemish Deal

SYDNEY, October 23: VMMA
Belgium has acquired two new Australian one-hour drama series from Southern
Star International: Packed to the Rafters and Rush.

Produced by Seven Network
Australia, Pack to the Rafters looks
at the lives of would-be empty-nesters whose family just can’t seem to stay far
from home. Since premiering in Australia on August 26, the series has
maintained an average all-audience market share of 38 percent.

Rush is a Southern Star John Edwards production for
Network Ten, produced in cooperation with Film Victoria. The contemporary
action drama series, set in a critical incident police unit, provides an
insider’s view of police under pressure. To date, the series has maintained an
average all-audience market share of 26 percent.

“Based on the results of
series such as McLeod’s Daughters, Home & Away and All Saints, it is safe to conclude that the Flemish audience
will embrace the new Australian hit series Packed to the Rafters and Rush,” said Luc Janssens, the head of acquisitions for VMMA. “This is why
we are so pleased to announce the acquisition of both series. The combination
of good storytelling, excellent character building, mixed together with the
typical Australian ‘look and feel’ will with no doubt result in excellent
ratings in Flemish Belgium.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski