Media Release: Thursday, September 11, 2014
Foxtel today announced the appointment of Graham Burrells as Head of Premium Entertainment.
Mr Burrells will manage the newly formed group of premium entertainment channels at Foxtel Networks – the drama channels showcase and SoHo, The Comedy Channel and the recently announced BoxSets.
Foxtel Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh 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 maximising 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.”
Mr Burrells said “It’s an honour 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.”
Mr Burrells first joined Foxtel in 1995 as Creative Director. After working at BSKYB in the UK as Creative Director for Sky One, he returned to Foxtel in 2002 as Channel Manager of The Comedy Channel and FOX Classics. He went on to become Head of Entertainment, overseeing local productions including Australia’s Next Top Model and a range of comedy and factual programming. From 2008 to 2012, he worked across Foxtel’s Olympic (Vancouver 2010 and London 2012) and Commonwealth (Delhi 2010) Games coverage as Executive in Charge of Production and Creative Director. Most recently he has been Foxtel’s Creative Director of Movies and Drama.
Other appointments in the Premium Entertainment division are:
Sarah Frazer – Head of Programming, Premium Entertainment
Fraser Stark – Group Operations Manager, Premium Entertainment
Mikki Katz – Group Creative Director, Premium Entertainment
-Brad