ITV Studios Australia

ITV Studios Australia is an Australian television production company and the local arm of the United Kingdom-based ITV Studios group. Its corporate history reaches back to Artist Services, a production business established in 1989 by a group of investors that included television presenter and producer Steve Vizard. Artist Services became associated with a broad range of Australian programming, including sketch comedy, sitcom and drama, talk programming, factual entertainment, and variety formats. Among the programs associated with its early period were Fast Forward, Full Frontal, SeaChange, and Tonight Live with Steve Vizard. The business changed ownership and identity as the Australian television production market consolidated. John Fairfax Holdings acquired a substantial interest in Artist Services in 1995, and Granada acquired the company in full in 1998. It subsequently operated under the Granada Media Australia name. During the Granada period, the company produced or co-produced programming for Australia’s principal commercial networks as well as subscription and lifestyle channels. Its work included the early seasons of Dancing with the Stars for the Seven Network, Merrick & Rosso Unplanned for the Nine Network, Australia's Next Top Model for Fox8, Australian Princess and Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation for Network Ten, the revived Young Talent Time, and Come Dine with Me Australia for the Lifestyle Channel. The company adopted the ITV Studios Australia name in January 2013. The first program to carry the new branding was reported to be the second season of the ABC comedy series Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell. The rebrand aligned the Australian production operation with ITV Studios’ broader international production and distribution network while retaining its role as a local producer working with Australian broadcasters and platforms. Under the ITV Studios Australia identity, the company has continued to develop, produce, and co-produce unscripted entertainment, factual and lifestyle programming, comedy, and competition formats. Examples include Paddock to Plate for the Lifestyle Channel, The Chase Australia for the Seven Network, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! for Network Ten, and The Voice Australia for the Nine Network. The company’s production model is broadcaster-facing: it supplies locally made programs to commercial free-to-air networks, the ABC, subscription television services, and other Australian outlets. Its format work also connects Australian productions with internationally established television concepts managed or distributed through the wider ITV Studios group. ITV Studios Australia is based at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney. Public reference material identifies it as an active production company, but does not provide a separately reported public revenue figure, stock listing, or independently disclosed executive roster for the Australian operation. Its significance lies primarily in its long-running contribution to Australian television production and in its ability to localise entertainment and factual formats for the Australian market.

ITV Studios Australia originated as Artist Services, an Australian production company formed in 1989 by a group of investors that included Steve Vizard. The company developed a substantial local television portfolio, producing or participating in programs across comedy, drama, talk, entertainment, and variety. Early associated productions included Fast Forward, Full Frontal, SeaChange, and Tonight Live with Steve Vizard. These programs helped establish the business as a supplier of locally made content rather than a single-format specialist. The ownership structure changed during the 1990s. John Fairfax Holdings acquired a significant interest in Artist Services in 1995. Granada later acquired the entire company in 1998, after which the operation was known as Granada Media Australia. Under that banner it continued to work across Australia’s commercial and subscription television sectors. Its productions included the first seven seasons of Dancing with the Stars for the Seven Network, Merrick & Rosso Unplanned for the Nine Network, six seasons of Australia's Next Top Model for Fox8, and Australian Princess for Network Ten. The company also produced Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation, the 2012 revival of Young Talent Time, and Come Dine with Me Australia. In January 2013, the company was rebranded ITV Studios Australia, bringing its market identity into line with the international ITV Studios group. The second season of the ABC comedy Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell was identified as the first program to carry the new branding. The rebrand did not end the company’s local production role; instead, it placed an established Australian production operation within ITV Studios’ international network. The ITV Studios Australia era has included lifestyle, factual, entertainment, and reality programming. Paddock to Plate was produced for the Lifestyle Channel, while The Chase Australia was produced for the Seven Network. The company also produced Network Ten’s Australian version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and became associated with The Voice Australia from its sixth season onward for the Nine Network. Across these programs, the company has worked with commercial free-to-air networks, the ABC, and subscription television services. The company is based at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney. Its public profile is primarily tied to production credits and broadcaster relationships rather than separately disclosed financial reporting. No authoritative public reference supplied for this entry identifies a current executive roster, separate stock ticker, or standalone public website for the Australian entity.

1. 2017The Voice Australia joins the portfolio

   The company produces The Voice Australia from its sixth season onward for Nine.

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2. 2015The Chase Australia enters production

   ITV Studios Australia produces the Australian version of The Chase for the Seven Network.

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3. 2013Rebrand to ITV Studios Australia

   Granada Media Australia adopts the ITV Studios Australia name.

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4. 2009Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation launches

   The Network Ten entertainment panel format begins its original run, later receiving a further run in 2018–2019.

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5. 2004Dancing with the Stars production begins

   The Granada Media Australia operation produces the first of the first seven Australian seasons of Dancing with the Stars for Seven.

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6. 1998Granada acquires the company

   Granada acquires Artist Services in full, leading to the Granada Media Australia identity.

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7. 1995John Fairfax Holdings takes a major stake

   John Fairfax Holdings acquires half of Artist Services.

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8. 1989Artist Services is founded

   The predecessor of ITV Studios Australia is established by a group of investors including Steve Vizard.

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Australian television production company specialising in locally produced entertainment, reality, factual, lifestyle, comedy, and format-based programming for commercial, public, and subscription broadcasters.

• The Voice AustraliaReality and singing competition2017

  An Australian adaptation of the international singing competition format. ITV Studios Australia has produced the program from its sixth season onward for the Nine Network, making it one of the company’s most prominent current format-based productions.

• The Chase AustraliaQuiz and game show2015

  The Australian version of the internationally distributed quiz format in which contestants compete against a professional quiz expert. ITV Studios Australia produced the program for the Seven Network from 2015.

• I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!Reality entertainment2015

  The Australian production of the celebrity survival and reality format for Network Ten. The program places public figures in a remote setting and combines competition, entertainment, and observational reality elements.

• Dancing with the StarsDance competition2004

  A locally produced version of the celebrity ballroom-dance competition. The company produced the first seven Australian seasons for the Seven Network between 2004 and 2007.

• Talkin' 'Bout Your GenerationComedy panel show2009

  A generation-themed comedy and panel program produced for Network Ten. Its original run covered 2009–2012, followed by another run in 2018–2019.

• Australia's Next Top ModelReality competition

  The Australian edition of the modelling competition format, produced for Fox8 across six seasons during the Granada Media Australia period.

• Fast ForwardSketch comedy

  A prominent Australian sketch-comedy production associated with the company’s Artist Services origins.

• SeaChangeDrama and comedy-drama

  An Australian comedy-drama series associated with the company’s early Artist Services production history.

• 2013Rebrand to ITV Studios AustraliaStrategy

  The Australian operation was being aligned with the international ITV Studios production and distribution group.

  What changed. Granada Media Australia adopted the ITV Studios Australia name in January 2013.

  Aftermath. The company retained its Australian production focus while operating under the globally recognised ITV Studios identity.

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• 1998Full acquisition by GranadaM&A

  Artist Services had developed into an established Australian television production business after taking investment from John Fairfax Holdings.

  What changed. Granada acquired the company in full, after which it operated as Granada Media Australia.

  Aftermath. The business continued producing Australian programming under the Granada identity before later becoming part of the ITV Studios brand.

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• 2017The Voice Australia moves into the ITV Studios Australia production portfolio

  ITV Studios Australia produces the sixth season onward of The Voice Australia for the Nine Network.

  Product generationOther
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• 2013The business adopts the ITV Studios Australia name

  The Australian production operation is rebranded from Granada Media Australia to ITV Studios Australia.

  Leadership changeOther
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• 1998Granada acquires Artist Services

  Granada acquires the remaining business and the company subsequently operates under the Granada Media Australia identity.

  M&A
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• 1995John Fairfax Holdings acquires a substantial stake in Artist Services

  John Fairfax Holdings purchases half of Artist Services as the production company expands its Australian television business.

  M&A
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• 1989Artist Services is established

  A group of investors including Steve Vizard forms Artist Services, the predecessor of ITV Studios Australia.

  Other
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1. ITV Studios Australia