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Endemol Australia

From Alfawiki
Endemol Australia
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryTelevision production, distribution, syndication
Founded1972; 54 years ago (1972)
FounderKevin Weldon
DefunctJuly 26, 2015 (2015-07-26)
FateMerged with Shine Australia to form Endemol Shine Australia
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
ParentEndemol (before merger)

Endemol Australia, previously known under various titles including Southern Star Group, was a prominent independent television production, distribution, and syndication entity based in Australia. On 26 July 2015, it combined forces with Shine Australia to establish Endemol Shine Australia.

History

The company originated in 1972 as Hanna-Barbera Pty Ltd (Australia), founded by Kevin Weldon. It underwent multiple ownership transitions over the years. In 1974, the Hamlyn Group acquired a 50% stake in Hanna-Barbera Australia and appointed Neil Balnaves as managing director. By 1978, Hamlyn Group was taken over by James Hardie Industries, with Balnaves advancing to managing director.

In 1983, the business was restructured into Taft-Hardie Group Pty Ltd. The following year, in 1984, a Los Angeles branch named Southern Star Productions was launched under Buzz Potamkin, creating animation content at Sydney’s Hanna-Barbera studios under the joint Southern Star/Hanna-Barbera Australia label. The company also held co-ownership of CIC-Taft Video and introduced THG Video (which later became Taft Video). An attempt to acquire Communications and Entertainment Limited in 1987 with a $42 million bid was unsuccessful.

In 1988, Neil Balnaves led a management buyout worth A$11 million, after which the company was renamed Southern Star Group. The home video division was rebranded as Southern Star Video in 1989. Sydney’s animation operations were sold to The Walt Disney Company, becoming Disney Animation Australia; meanwhile, the Los Angeles branch continued until its sale to Turner Broadcasting System in 1991.

A joint venture between Endemol and Southern Star called Endemol Southern Star was formed in January 2000. Southern Cross Broadcasting took ownership of the company in April 2004, followed by acquisition by Fairfax Media in 2007.

In January 2009, Endemol acquired Southern Star Factual from Fairfax Media for A$75 million, leading to the dissolution of Endemol Southern Star.

Founder Buzz Potamkin passed away in April 2012.

Under CEO Janeen Faithfull’s leadership, Southern Star underwent rebranding to become Endemol Australia by February 2014.

In November 2016, Mark and Carl Fennessy were named joint CEOs of both Endemol Australia and its parent company Endemol Shine Australia.

Neil Balnaves, founder of the company’s earlier incarnation, died tragically in a boating accident in February 2022.

Kevin Weldon, who established Hanna-Barbera Pty Ltd (Australia), passed away peacefully in November 2023.

As Hanna-Barbera Pty Ltd / Taft-Hardie Group Pty Ltd

As Southern Star

Comedy


Animation produced by Hanna-Barbera USA

  • Wait Till Your Father Gets Home (1972–1974) (first season and select episodes from seasons 2 and 3)
  • The New Scooby-Doo Movies (1973) (second season)
  • 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, television movie)
  • Casper's Halloween Special and
 Casper's First Christmas (1979, TV specials)
  • The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang (1980–1981)
  • The Flintstones: Wind-Up Wilma (1981, TV special)
  • Laverne & Shirley in the Army and
 Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour (1981–1983)
  • Yogi Bear's All Star Comedy Christmas Caper (1982, TV special)
  • The Dukes and Pac-Man, second seasons only

(1983)

  • Pink Panther and Sons (1984)
  • Snorks and Pound Puppies seasons two and three respectively

(1987)

  • Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers (1987)
  • Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats (1988)

Under Hanna-Barbera Pty Ltd / Taft-Hardie Group Pty Ltd

As Southern Star

Reality Programming

  • RPA – aired from 1995 to 2012
  • Ralph TV – broadcast in 2007
  • Battlefronts – released in 2008
  • Monster House – premiered in 2008
  • Garden Angels – debuted in 2009
  • No Leave, No Life – ran between 2009 and 2012
  • Beauty and the Geek Australia – on air from 2010 to 2011
  • Drug Lords – aired in 2010
  • Real Prison Breaks – broadcast during 2010–2011
  • Strictly Speaking – premiered in 2010
  • Undercover Boss Australia – aired from 2010 to 2011
  • Balls of Steel Australia – on air between 2011 and 2012
  • Big Brother Australia – shown on Network 10 from 2001 to 2008 and later on Nine Network between 2012 and 2014
  • Don't Tell the Bride – aired in 2012
  • When Love Comes to Town – released in 2014
  • Mesmerised – premiered in 2015
  • Married at First Sight Australia – ongoing since 2015
  • The Hotplate – debuted in 2015

Documentary & Factual Series

Motion Pictures

Related Topics

References

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