Comedy Channel, 111 HITS to relocate from Melbourne to Sydney.
Melbourne-based Comedy Channel and 111 HITS are moving with staff offered relocated positions in Sydney.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under Subscription
Foxtel is set to relocate its offices for the Comedy Channel and 111 HITS from Melbourne to Sydney.
The Foxtel-owned-and-operated Comedy Channel has been based in Melbourne since 2006, drawing upon the southern city’s roots in live comedy, such as stand-up, TV sketch shows and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. It was joined by entertainment channel 111 HITS in 2008.
A Foxtel spokesperson told TV Tonight staff are being offered their positions in Sydney and jobs with the upcoming AFL channel.
“111 Hits and The Comedy Channel are moving to Sydney and all staff are being offered to relocate to Sydney in their same jobs or apply for other positions in Melbourne, including the new Fox Sports AFL Channel.
“Any redundancies would only occur if a staff member elects not to move or does not find placement in another role in Melbourne, where we currently employ over 800 people across Sales, Fox Sports, Sky News and Marketing.”
At this stage it isn’t clear if any productions will be affected given Comedy Channels productions have been mostly short-run productions in either Melbourne or Sydney.
10 Responses
Well at least their being nice to the workers
the theme continues , if its going to be a riddle , something we don’t understand , an illogical step then Foxtel are bound to do it !!
I think it’s to do with AFL coverage. The Comedy channel was originally run from Sydney but transferred to Melbourne when Pay TV lost its extensive coverage of AFL back in 2005/06. Now that Pay TV is ramping up again it’s transferred back to Sydney.
@ Beluga, I don’t think it means that all TV will be produced from Sydney. All FTA networks & Pay TV networks (other than 111/Comedy ) are based in Sydney but all production doesn’t come from there.
What a sad time for the fabulous 111/Comedy/FOXSports Office. Having had the pleasure to work with these guys who can be described as none other than an amazing extended family, I wish them all luck and love for the future. Big hugs to Annette, Lynne, Mark, Joe, Ossie, Vardo, Ant, Fi, Kaine, Liv, Ramsay, Shaun, Wayne, Alex & Darren! (Sorry to those I missed! Hope to share a few drinks with ya’ll soon!) xxx SP xxx
I’m confused as to why there is a need to move the office to Sydney?
Is there any reason for this move?
kind of odd. Melbourne has always really been 1 for comedy & Sydney for drama.
is this a sign of things to come? All TV to come out of Sydney? I know that’s a broad statement as GTV does a lot of local production, but to save costs and streamline, perhaps it is on the cards for all networks?
But why? Why spend all that money relocating them for no real good reason? Melbourne is a far better location for Comedy with all the comedy festivals held there, as well as Australian made productions more prominant in Melbourne then Sydney (look at Rove for all those years).
I wonder if Channel Manager of Comedy/111 HITS and ex Big Brother Housemate Alex Ristevski will try out for Big Brother 2012?
Comedy Channel must have saved a lot of money after dumping Jay Leno , Jimmy Kimmel , Letterman and Conan and adding heaps of reruns. Enjoy the rent every 4 weeks in the new offices and the rent increase in a year….