Studio (TV channel)
| Company type | Subscription television channel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | April 2010 |
| Defunct | March 27, 2015 |
| Fate | Closed; replaced by Foxtel Arts |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Owner | Special Broadcasting Service (SBS Subscription TV) |
STUDIO was an Australian subscription-based television channel dedicated to the arts, accessible via Foxtel and Austar platforms.
History
Introduced in April 2010 under the name STVDIO, the channel was operated by SBS Subscription TV, a division of the Special Broadcasting Service. It took over the slot previously held by Ovation on Foxtel and Austar, following Foxtel's decision that Ovation's audience numbers were inadequate.
As Australia's exclusive arts and entertainment channel, STUDIO showcased a broad range of content including classical and contemporary music, literature, cinema, visual arts, dance performances, documentaries, and theatrical presentations.
In March 2012, the channel underwent a rebranding initiative that changed its name from STVDIO to STUDIO to enhance viewer accessibility.
Operations ended on 27 March 2015 when the channel was unable to extend its agreement with Foxtel. Subsequently, it was succeeded by Foxtel-owned Foxtel Arts, with some programming migrating to SBS and its on-demand service.
Local Australian productions
Under the STUDIO Season Ticket banner, the channel produced live broadcasts of Australian music, theatre, and dance events, such as:
- Smoke & Mirrors with iOTA – Recorded at The Famous Spiegeltent during the 2011 Sydney Festival.
- Amadou & Mariam at WOMADelaide 2011 – A live performance by the Malian musical duo at Adelaide’s world music festival.
- Iconic Songs with Archie Roach – Featuring Indigenous musician Archie Roach alongside Shane Howard and Neil Murray at WOMADelaide 2011.
- The 2011 Helpmann Awards – Live coverage of Australia’s premier performing arts awards from the Sydney Opera House.
- The Australian Ballet presents Graeme Murphy's Romeo & Juliet – Broadcast live from Melbourne’s Arts Centre.
- Notes from the hard road and beyond from Melbourne Festival 2011 – The closing night event of Melbourne International Arts Festival featuring artists Joss Stone, Mavis Staples, and Rickie-Lee Jones.
Arts community
In addition to live event coverage, STUDIO delivered arts news through brief segments titled STUDIO Artbreaks, which included interviews with both domestic and international artists as well as reports on significant arts happenings.
Artists highlighted included:
- Dance choreographer Graeme Murphy
- Film director Wim Wenders
- Writers Thomas Keneally and Shaun Tan
- Conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy
- Novelist Tim Winton
- Vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater
- Theatre luminary John Bell
- Filmmaker Adam Elliot
- Musician and Go-Betweens co-founder Robert Forster
- Spiegeltent impresario David Bates
- Opera singer Cecilia Bartoli
- Musician from You Am I Tim Rogers
The channel also covered various arts festivals and exhibitions such as:
- 21st Century: Art in the First Decade exhibition at GoMA in Brisbane
- Brisbane Festival 2011
- Adelaide Cabaret Festival
- Biennale of Sydney 2010
- Desert Harmony Festival 2010
- Edge of Elsewhere exhibition during Sydney Festival 2010
- New Indigenous Wings and Ballets Russes: The Art of Costume exhibitions at the National Gallery of Australia
- Venice Biennale 2011
- Australian Chamber Orchestra Instruments initiative from the Instrument Fund
- ABAF Awards 2010