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Freeview. Free party.

The stories are trickling in on what went down when all the networks got together for a bash in Canberra.

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At last night’s Freeview launch at Parliament in Canberra there were CEOs, stars, buses and booze. And a lil thing about digital telly too.

Network stars and bosses mingled with politicians in the Mural Hall including Spicks and Specks‘ Myf Warhurst, All Saints’ Kip Gamblin, the Bananas in Pyjamas and Gladiators’ Tom Williams. Also in attendance were Underbelly’s Les Hill, Underbelly II‘s Dieter Brummer, The Chaser’s Julian Morrow, and Packed to the Rafters stars George Houvardas and Hugh Sheridan, as well as Good News Week’s Paul McDermott.

According to Mediaweek, Nine was represented by Jeffrey Browne, sales chief Peter Wiltshire, programmer Les Sampson and publicity chief Heidi Virtue. Nine reporters Laurie Oakes and Peter Harvey also attended. David Leckie and sales director James Warburton were there from Seven, while TEN sent Grant Blackley and sports chief David White. Host Kim Dalton represented the ABC and SBS’s Shaun Brown attended. From regional television there was Southern Crosss Bruce Abrahams, WIN Corp MD David Butorac and his brother and Prime’s Alan Butorac.

Nobody is saying if execs stood on different sides of the room or if David Leckie ignored Grant Blackley. After all he’d just been quoted as saying he didn’t care about TEN days before.

After the speeches, guests were bussed to the Canberra restaurant Ottoman. The Chaser’s Craig Reucassel, who had reportedly been wearing David Leckie’s name tag, told people “to get on the f***** buses, down the f***** stairs. And remember we are the f****** #1 network”.

Much boozing is said to have ensued. But where are the photos dammit….?

Source: Canberra Times, Mediaweek, West Australian

12 Responses

  2. David the freeview channel should show all old ITV past FROM 1970S TO 1980S TO 88 89 and show old thames television yorkshire television’s programmes from 1970s to 1980s 75 76 77 78 79 82 83 85 86 87 88 an dshow all old rockliffies ‘s babies cop show from 1987 88 89 london’s burning fom 1985 86 87 88 89 and show old ITV 1and BBC1’S programmes from 1970s to 1980s to 88 89 from danielclapham from 15 stockdale mcrescent bamber bridge preston lancashire PR5 6NA

  5. Having visited the Freeview website, it appears that they have sorted out Northern and Southern NSW, Regional Victoria, Mildura, Regional Queensland, Tasmania and Darwin. There is no mention of when/where it will be available in South Australia or here in Regional WA. We purchased a new LCD, HD-ready TV earlier this year. We’re stuck with GWN and WIN. WIN is shocking in that they show some program that is not even listed for the same day on Nine or Ten. I have no idea whether we can get 7HD or 9HD here – if I set my TV to channel 70 should I be able to see 7HD or is it only available to people in capital cities? The blurb on the Freeview media release states Freeview will be available to 99% of Australian homes. I have a feeling those of us in the Pilbara and other north-west regions will be in the 1% that don’t receive coverage. Sort of like mobile telephone coverage including 98% of the population. I noticed that it doesn’t say how much the Freeview branded set-top box will cost. It also says that your integrated plasma or LCD TV must be Freeview branded – I assume this is necessary to avoid having to buy the set top box. The Freeview branded DVR will only be good if the shows run to time – something that never happens with FTA TV.

  6. ACA just ran a piece on it but didn’t really say when we would get the new networks, it was just a big spin to once again promote it and bash the big bad Foxtel which has much of what Freeview promises. I’ll believe the promises when I see the extra channels but I’m not expecting much till mid 2009.

  7. Knoxover. it seems that everybody’s careers were skyrocketed after the first one, Dieter will get his chance. I still reckon he’ll play Mark Moran’s biological father, Les Cole. If they were going for almost near looks.

  8. lol I thought that was an actual picture from the party until I read on. I thought times must have been tougher than I realised for this country, then I realised it was someone’s bathtub.

  9. Lol at the guy from The Chaser doing Leckie.

    And OT but I wonder if Dieter Brummer’s career will get a second wind with U2?. I remember hearing he was washing windows or something recently.

  12. With such a ridiculously close relationship between the government and the free to air networks, there will definitely be more that wasn’t reported……….

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