News

Foxtel rescues A Place to Call Home commissioning Seven to produce it

1 A-Place-to-Call-Home-_-Marta-Dusseldorp-as-Sarah-Adams-234x155Foxtel has commissioned a new series of Channel Seven’s popular period drama A Place to Call Home after it was cancelled earlier this year due to the cost of producing the show.

Fans had started a petition to save the show which had enjoyed relatively strong ratings, and Foxtel has stepped in with the new series to be produced by Seven Productions for the pay-TV network’s SoHo channel.

Foxtel executive director of television, Brian Walsh, said in a statement today: “A Place to Call Home is Australia’s most loved drama series and has captured the hearts of millions of fans across the country. We are proud to partner with the Seven Network on this landmark deal and ensure that audiences can continue to enjoy this beautifully crafted and elegantly produced series for a further two seasons.

“The Seven Network has produced Australian television’s most successful drama series of all time and we are delighted to partner with the highly experienced creative team at Seven, who will now work their magic for Foxtel subscribers.”

The second season of the show failed to bring in the million-plus audiences consistently delivered by the first season of the show. However, Foxtel has been looking to build on its slate of original local drama to supplement the foreign shows from the likes of the BBC and HBO which are more easily pirated by fans.

The network has been on a new subscription drive, recently slashing the price of its packages for subscribers in a bid to increase penetration ahead of the entry to market next year of streaming services like Netflix and StreamCo.

It is understood the series will include the same cast with Marta Dusseldorp, Noni Hazlehurst, Brett Climo and Craig Hall all returning, and is set to screen next year.

Alex Hayes

ADVERTISEMENT

Get the latest media and marketing industry news (and views) direct to your inbox.

Sign up to the free Mumbrella newsletter now.

 

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up to our free daily update to get the latest in media and marketing.