Prominent Australian TV Executive and philanthropist Neil Balnaves has died aged 77 in a boating accident, his foundation has said.
Balnaves was reported to have been on holiday with his wife, Diane, near Tahiti when the accident occurred.
His foundation released a short statement today confirming his death, stating: “The Balnaves family sends their heartfelt thanks for people’s kind words and wishes and kindly requests privacy at this difficult time.”
Tributes poured in from the Australian creative and arts world for the philanthropist, who gave $20M of his fortune to arts organizations following a boating accident on the Gold Coast 20 years ago, which almost killed him.
Balnaves essentially founded the outfit that went on to become Endemol Shine Australia, overseeing Australian versions of the likes of Big Brother, Bananas in Pyjamas and Water Rats during his tenure.
He became Managing Director in 1974 of then-Hanna Barbera Pty and was promoted to...
Balnaves was reported to have been on holiday with his wife, Diane, near Tahiti when the accident occurred.
His foundation released a short statement today confirming his death, stating: “The Balnaves family sends their heartfelt thanks for people’s kind words and wishes and kindly requests privacy at this difficult time.”
Tributes poured in from the Australian creative and arts world for the philanthropist, who gave $20M of his fortune to arts organizations following a boating accident on the Gold Coast 20 years ago, which almost killed him.
Balnaves essentially founded the outfit that went on to become Endemol Shine Australia, overseeing Australian versions of the likes of Big Brother, Bananas in Pyjamas and Water Rats during his tenure.
He became Managing Director in 1974 of then-Hanna Barbera Pty and was promoted to...
- 2/22/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
The Balnaves Foundation has pledged $530,000 to Nida’s First Nations Program, facilitating three scholarships, three paid internships, and funding for the institute’s first Elder in Residence.
The scholarships will provide $30,000 per annum for three years for Bachelor of Fine Arts students, with one starting in 2022 and another in 2023 and 2024.
The students will also be matched with a First Nations arts industry mentor, supported with additional travel to home as required and provided with an ‘On Country’ experience during studies.
As a pathway into employment, the program will conclude with a six-month paid industry internship for each of the recipients.
In addition to the scholarship program, and as part of the overall contribution to Nida, the Foundation will also provide funding to enable an Indigenous Elder in Residence to offer wellbeing support and mentorship to all First Nations students.
Nida CEO Liz Hughes said: “We are hugely grateful for the...
The scholarships will provide $30,000 per annum for three years for Bachelor of Fine Arts students, with one starting in 2022 and another in 2023 and 2024.
The students will also be matched with a First Nations arts industry mentor, supported with additional travel to home as required and provided with an ‘On Country’ experience during studies.
As a pathway into employment, the program will conclude with a six-month paid industry internship for each of the recipients.
In addition to the scholarship program, and as part of the overall contribution to Nida, the Foundation will also provide funding to enable an Indigenous Elder in Residence to offer wellbeing support and mentorship to all First Nations students.
Nida CEO Liz Hughes said: “We are hugely grateful for the...
- 9/27/2021
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
SYDNEY -- Hugh Marks, the new CEO of Australian production and distribution major Southern Star Group (SSG), has shuffled his senior management team on the production side of the business, making two key internal promotions and poaching Granada Productions Australian managing director, Rory Callaghan, for a role with joint venture company Endemol Southern Star. Marks, who was elevated to CEO of the Southern Star Group following the retirement of long-time SSG executive chairman Neil Balnaves last month, has upped SSG chief operating officer Kim Anderson to chief executive of Southern Star Entertainment and Kris Noble to managing director of Endemol Southern Star (ESS). Callaghan has been tapped to fill Noble's shoes as director of programs at ESS and will take up his position with the company in January.
- 10/10/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
SYDNEY -- Neil Balnaves, executive chairman of leading Australian TV production and sales company Southern Star Group and one of the country's best-known TV executives, announced Thursday that he is resigning after more than 30 years with the company. He will be replaced by Hugh Marks, chief executive of production division Southern Star Entertainment, effective Sept.15. Marks' replacement is due to be finalized over the next few months. Balnaves, 61, has presided over the group from its beginning in 1974 as Hanna Barbera Australia. The company later became Taft Hardie, affiliated with Taft Broadcasting, before Balnaves led a management buyout in 1988 to create SSG. In 1996, he floated the company on the stock exchange. SSG has since become Australia's largest TV producer and distributor with annual revenues of AUS$120 million ($92 million).
- 8/11/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
SYDNEY -- Neil Balnaves, executive chairman of leading Australian TV production and sales company Southern Star Group and one of the country's best-known TV executives, announced Thursday that he is resigning after more than 30 years with the company. He will be replaced by Hugh Marks, chief executive of production division Southern Star Entertainment, effective Sept.15. Marks' replacement is due to be finalized over the next few months. Balnaves, 61, has presided over the group from its beginning in 1974 as Hanna Barbera Australia. The company later became Taft Hardie, affiliated with Taft Broadcasting, before Balnaves led a management buyout in 1988 to create SSG. In 1996, he floated the company on the stock exchange. SSG has since become Australia's largest TV producer and distributor with annual revenues of AUS$120 million ($92 million).
- 8/11/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
SYDNEY -- Australian production and distribution outfit Southern Star Group has appointed veteran entertainment industry journalist Don Groves as its manager of communications. Reporting to executive chairman Neil Balnaves, Groves will be responsible for coordinating publicity for all of Southern Star's divisions and for the group's overall media profile. Groves headed up Variety's Asia Pacific bureau for 13 years. Said Balnaves: "(Groves) will enhance the group's profile and stature as we prepare for our busiest-ever production period in the year starting July 1."...
SYDNEY -- Australia's largest TV production and sales company, the Southern Star Group, said Monday that it had received a takeover offer from one of the country's major regional broadcasters, Southern Cross Broadcasting, in a deal worth approximately AUS$100 million ($74.4 million). The deal highlights the need for content and growth opportunities for broadcasters as digital transmission comes into play over the next few years and also acknowledges the strengths of media stocks on the stock exchange compared with entertainment companies, which have in general softened over the past five years. "It's a good way to grow the company, and let's be honest, media stocks are performing better," SSG executive chairman Neil Balnaves said in an interview. Under the deal, SSG shares would be valued at AUS$0.89 (66 cents), representing a premium of 31% on its last closing price.
- 12/16/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
SYDNEY -- The Southern Star Group, one of Australia's major TV producers and distributors, said Wednesday that it has embarked on a stringent cost-cutting program and a major restructuring after suffering from the global downturn in TV programming sales in the past few years. The revamping is expected to lead to savings of as much as AUS$4 million ($2.6 million) annually, executive chairman Neil Balnaves told shareholders at the company's annual general meeting in Sydney. SSG in the financial year ending March 31 reported an operating profit of AUS$6.3 million ($4 million), up from a year-earlier AUS$4.3 million. Bolstered by those strong returns and the profits of the phenomenally successful Australian version of Big Brother, SSG earlier this year said it planned to "reinvest in its key assets and operations" by acquiring "appropriately priced acquisitions" to bolster its annual output, which last year added up to more than 300 hours.
- 8/28/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
SYDNEY -- Australian film and television producer and distributor the Southern Star Group is aiming to have a subscription television channel devoted to Australian programming ready to roll next year in the United Kingdom or United States. "The U.S. would be my preferred option because they are going to be so hungry for alternative programming starting next year," Southern Star executive chairman Neil Balnaves said after the group's annual general meeting. "They have trawled their libraries so much so often and turned them around so fast -- and multilicensed them to a whole lot of broadcasters -- it's now got to the point, where do they go? I mean, knitting channels! It's getting a bit desperate what they are going to air with."...
- 8/29/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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