Endemol Australia, formerly known as Southern Star Group, Southern Star Productions, Southern Star/Hanna-Barbera Australia and Taft-Hardie Group Pty Ltd, was a major Australian independent television production, distribution, and syndication company. On 26 July 2015, the company was merged with Shine Australia to succeed it as Endemol Shine Australia.
History
The company began in 1972 as Hanna-Barbera Pty Ltd (Australia), an Australian division of Hanna-Barbera (which was founded by Kevin Weldon).In 1974, the Hamlyn Group's Australian division managed by Kevin Weldon acquired 50% of Hanna-Barbera Australia and appointed Neil Balnaves as managing director.In 1978, James Hardie Industries acquired the Hamlyn Group, and in 1979, Balnaves was promoted to managing director of the entire Hamlyn Group.[1]
In 1983, James Hardie Industries and Hanna-Barbera corporate parent Taft Broadcasting reorganised the division as Taft-Hardie Group Pty Ltd. In 1984, the company established a division in Los Angeles
hq location country
Australia
key people
Mark and Carl Fennessy (2016)
industry
Animation
Television production
fate
Merged with Shine Australia
subsid
Endemol Southern Star (2000–2009)
known as Southern Star Productions, founded and headed by
Buzz Potamkin
.
Programs produced by this division would be animated at Hanna-Barbera's studios in Sydney, and carried the name Southern Star/Hanna-Barbera Australia.
It co-owned CIC Video's Australian video unit called CIC-Taft Video and launched a video label, THG Video, in 1984, then renamed to Taft Video in 1987.
In 1987, it made a $42 million bid for Communications and Entertainment Limited, but it never realised.[2]
In 1988, Neil Balnaves led an A$11 million management buyout of Taft-Hardie, reorganising the company as Southern Star Group. The home video division was renamed to Southern Star Video in 1989. The Sydney animation facilities were also sold to The Walt Disney Company who turned it into Disney Animation Australia, while the Los Angeles division continued to operate until 1991 when it was sold to Turner Broadcasting System.
In January 2000, Endemol formed a joined venture with Southern Star Group called Endemol Southern Star.
In August 2008, Southern Star Group had sold its 75% majority stake in London-based British drama production indie Carnival Films to American entertainment congolomate NBCUniversal and had it placed into its international production division NBCUniversal International Television Production (now Universal International Studios) with Southern Star Group also sold its distribution rights to Carnival's productions to the latter.[3]
In January 2009, Endemol acquired Southern Star Factual from Fairfax Media in a transaction worth A$75 million,[4][5] effective shuttering Endemol Southern Star.
Southern Star Productions's founder Buzz Potamkin died from pancreatic cancer on 22 April 2012.[6]
On 11 December 2013, Southern Star announced it would rebrand as Endemol Australia, completing the rollout by February 2014. The change was brought about by Chief Executive Officer, Janeen Faithfull.[7][8]
On 15 November 2016, Mark and Carl Fennessy were appointed joint CEOs of Endemol Australia as well as its parent company, Endemol Shine Australia.[9]
Southern Star Group's founder Neil Balnaves died in a boating accident on 21 February 2022.[10][11]
Hanna-Barbera Pty Ltd (Australia)'s founder Kevin Weldon died peacefully 'content to have lived a full, lucky and blessed life', surrounded by family and loved ones, in November 2023.
Programs
Prime-time drama
As Hanna-Barbera Pty Ltd / Taft-Hardie Group Pty Ltd
Deadline (1982, TV movie)
Return to Eden (1983–1986)
Remember Me (1985, TV movie)
The Last Frontier (1986, TV miniseries)
Shark's Paradise (1986, TV movie)
As Southern Star
Party Tricks
Offspring
Return to Eden
Love My Way
The Surgeon
Blue Heelers
The Secret Life of Us
Always Greener
Water Rats
Marking Time
Police Rescue
Murder Call
Rescue: Special Ops
Wild Boys
Rush
Young Lions
Blue Murder
Dangerous
Out of the Blue
Fireflies
Spirited
Rain Shadow
The Alice
Tangle
Puberty Blues
Bed of Roses
Big Sky
Howzat! Kerry Packer's War
McLeod's Daughters (2001–2009)
City Homicide
Echo Point
The Beautiful Lie
Cody
Which Way Home
Good Vibrations
Gallipoli
Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo
Paper Giants: Magazine Wars
Children of the Dragon
Beaconsfield (TV movie)
Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch War
Police Crop: The Winchester Conspiracy (TV movie)
On the Beach (TV movie)
Joh's Jury (TV movie)
Dripping in Chocolate
Hard Knox
Do or Die
Police State (TV movie)
A Difficult Woman
Marshall Law
Ring of Scorpio
Secret Men's Business (TV movie)
As Hanna-Barbera Pty Ltd / Taft-Hardie Group Pty Ltd
Deadline (1982, TV movie)
Return to Eden (1983–1986)
Remember Me (1985, TV movie)
The Last Frontier (1986, TV miniseries)
Shark's Paradise (1986, TV movie)
As Southern Star
Party Tricks
Offspring
Return to Eden
Love My Way
The Surgeon
Blue Heelers
The Secret Life of Us
Always Greener
Water Rats
Marking Time
Police Rescue
Murder Call
Rescue: Special Ops
Wild Boys
Rush
Young Lions
Blue Murder
Comedy
Bad Cop, Bad Cop
The Bob Morrison Show
Dayne's World
Legally Brown
You Have Been Watching
Con's Bewdiful Holiday Videos
Kids & family
Animation outsourced from Hanna-Barbera USA
Wait Till Your Father Gets Home (1972–1974) (season 1 and some episodes of seasons 2 & 3)
The New Scooby-Doo Movies (1973) (season 2)
Valley of the Dinosaurs (1974)
Clue Club (1976)
The Robonic Stooges (1977–1978)
Wonder Wheels (1977)
The All New Popeye Hour (1978–1983)
The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone (1979, TV movie)
Casper's Halloween Special (1979, TV special)
Casper's First Christmas (1979, TV special)
The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang (1980–1981)
Animation outsourced from Hanna-Barbera USA
Wait Till Your Father Gets Home (1972–1974) (season 1 and some episodes of seasons 2 & 3)
The New Scooby-Doo Movies (1973) (season 2)
Valley of the Dinosaurs (1974)
Clue Club (1976)
The Robonic Stooges (1977–1978)
Wonder Wheels (1977)
The All New Popeye Hour (1978–1983)
The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone (1979, TV movie)
Casper's Halloween Special (1979, TV special)
Casper's First Christmas (1979, TV special)
The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang (1980–1981)
The Flintstones: Wind-Up Wilma (1981, TV special)
Laverne & Shirley in the Army (1981–1982)
As Hanna-Barbera Pty Ltd / Taft-Hardie Group Pty Ltd
Famous Classic Tales (1973–1983)
The Toothbrush Family (1974)
Taggart's Treasure (1976) (unsold pilot)
The Flintstones: Little Big League (1978, TV movie)[12]
Dinky Dog (1978–1981)
Drak Pack (1980)
The Kwicky Koala Show (1981–1982)
CBS Storybreak (1985–1989) (co-production with CBS Entertainment Productions)
The Berenstain Bears (1985–1987)
Teen Wolf (1986–1987) (co-production with Clubhouse Pictures in Season 1 and Atlantic/Kushner-Locke in Season 2)
As Southern Star
A*mazing
Foreign Exchange
The Adventures of Sam
The Beeps
Blue Water High
RAGGS Kids Club Band
The Sleepover Club
Tracey McBean
Cake Business!
The Missed Christmas Presents
The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky
Magic Mountain
Snobs
Bananas in Pyjamas (co-production with ABC)
Faireez
Ketchup: Cats Who Cook
Reality
RPA – (1995–2012)
Ralph TV – (2007)
Battlefronts – (2008)
Monster House – (2008)
Garden Angels – (2009)
No Leave, No Life – (2009–2012)
Beauty and the Geek Australia – (2010–2011)
Drug Lords – (2010)
Real Prison Breaks – (2010–2011)
Strictly Speaking – (2010)
Undercover Boss Australia – (2010–2011)
Balls of Steel Australia – (2011–2012)
Big Brother Australia – Network 10 (2001–2008) and Nine Network (2012–2014)
