STUDIO was a subscription television arts channel available in Australia on the Foxtel and Austar platforms.[1]

STUDIO
Final logo, used between 2012 and 2015
CountryAustralia
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format576i (SDTV 16:9)
Ownership
OwnerSpecial Broadcasting Service
History
LaunchedApril 2010
ReplacedOvation
Closed27 March 2015 (2015-03-27)
Replaced byFoxtel Arts
Former namesSTVDIO (2010–2012)
Links
WebsiteOfficial website

History

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Original logo, used from 1 April 2010 until 1 March 2012

The channel launched in April 2010 as STVDIO, and was owned and operated by SBS Subscription TV, a subsidiary of free-to-air broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service.

The channel replaced Ovation on Foxtel and Austar. Studio was launched as a competitor to Ovation, since Foxtel believed Ovation was not rating strongly enough.

STUDIO was Australia's only channel dedicated to arts and entertainment. It broadcast classical and popular music, literature, film, visual arts and dance with documentaries and performances.[1]

As part of a brand redesign in March 2012, the channel was renamed STUDIO, considered a more accessible name.[2]

The channel was forced to close on 27 March 2015 as it was unable to re-negotiate their contract with Foxtel, and was instead replaced with Foxtel-owned channel Foxtel Arts. As a result, a number of the channel's arts programs moved to SBS and its video on demand service.[3][4]

Local Australian productions

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The channel also recorded live local music, theatre and dance productions, known as the STUDIO Season Ticket.[5]

  • Smoke & Mirrors with iOTA – Filmed at The Famous Spiegeltent during Sydney Festival 2011.[6]
  • Amadou & Mariam at WOMADelaide 2011 – The blind Mali duo performed at Adelaide's world music festival in March.[7]
  • Iconic Songs with Archie Roach – Indigenous performer and activist Archie Roach was joined by long-time friends Shane Howard and Neil Murray at WOMADelaide 2011 to perform three iconic Australian songs.[7]
  • The 2011 Helpmann Awards – Australia's performing arts awards, broadcast live from the Sydney Opera House.[8]
  • The Australian Ballet presents Graeme Murphy's Romeo & Juliet – Live broadcast from Melbourne's the Arts Centre.[9]
  • notes from the hard road and beyond from Melbourne Festival 2011 – STUDIO announced it would record the closing night of the Melbourne International Arts Festival with performances by Joss Stone, Mavis Staples, and Rickie-Lee Jones.[10]

Arts community

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In addition to live performances, STUDIO also broadcast news about the Australian arts community. The channel broadcast short programs called [ STUDIO ‘Artbreaks’ which included interviews with local and international artists, performers, and coverage of current arts events.[11]

Past artists include:

Past arts events covered include:

References

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  1. ^ a b "About STUDIO". STUDIO. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  2. ^ "STVDIO becomes Studio, making it easier to pronounce". Mumbrella. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  3. ^ Knox, David (27 March 2015). "STUDIO channel takes its final bow". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  4. ^ Knox, David (24 November 2014). "STUDIO to end on Foxtel in March, shift to SBS platforms". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  5. ^ "STUDIO Season Ticket". 25 August 2011.
  6. ^ "Smoke & Mirrors, Saturday, June 11". The Age. Melbourne. 11 June 2011.
  7. ^ a b "STUDIO | Australia's arts & entertainment channel".
  8. ^ "2011 Helpmann Awards Red Carpet, Monday, August 1". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 August 2011.
  9. ^ "The Australian Ballet presents Graeme Murphy's Romeo & Juliet - Live". 3 August 2011.
  10. ^ "Notes from the hard road and beyond from Melbourne Festival 2011 - STUDIO".
  11. ^ "Stvdiochannel - YouTube". YouTube.
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