Foxtel Sets Up Premium Entertainment Division

September 11, 2014 World Screen Top Stories

MELBOURNE: Foxtel has elevated Graham Burrells to manage a newly formed group of premium entertainment channels at Foxtel Networks, encompassing showcase, SoHo, The Comedy Channel and the recently announced BoxSets. 

Burrells now takes on the post of head of premium entertainment. He joined Foxtel in 1995 as creative director. He left for stints at BSkyB and Sky One, returning to Foxtel in 2002 as the channel manager of The Comedy Channel and FOX Classics. He went on to become head of entertainment. Most recently, Burrells served as Foxtel's creative director of movies and drama.

Also joining the new premium entertainment division are Sara Frazer, in the role of head of programming for premium entertainment; Fraser Stark, as group operations manager of the unit; and Mikki Katz, group creative director.

Brian Walsh, Foxtel's executive director of television, said, “Graham has been a hugely valued executive at Foxtel since the early days of the company and this new role draws on the wealth of experience he has accrued across the creative, promotional, production and programming realms of the television business in Australia and internationally.

“The new premium entertainment division holds some of Foxtel’s most acclaimed and coveted programming and Graham will be responsible for maximizing the full potential of our exclusive HBO deal, and the deals with our other international distributors, as well as nurturing the environment for our expanding slate of Australian dramas.”

Burrells said, “It’s an honor to be working on channels with the finest television drama and entertainment programming from around the world, and we have great team assembled here at Foxtel.

“The announcement of BoxSets has generated a lot of excitement and it’s good to already be immersed in the creative and technical challenges of launching a unique new channel for our subscribers. I am also very keen to be renewing relationships with the comedy community.”