Video Hits (Australian TV series)
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music television |
| Founded | February 15, 1987 |
| Defunct | August 6, 2011 |
| Fate | Discontinued |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Music video series, compilation albums, DVD compilations |
Video Hits was an Australian music video series that aired from 15 February 1987 until 6 August 2011 on Network Ten. At the time of its conclusion, it ranked as the world's second longest-running music television program, surpassed only by the Eurovision Song Contest. Starting in May 2011, the show was broadcast for two hours on both Saturday and Sunday mornings.
History
Between 1987 and 1999, Video Hits showcased tracks from the Australian Music Report chart, later transitioning to the ARIA Report during the 2000s. Its format shifted over time from a Top 40 countdown to a Top 10 by early 2008. An "Interactive Top 10" segment was introduced in the late 1990s but was discontinued following allegations of vote manipulation involving Australian artist Rani and her song "Always on My Mind".
In 1989, the program played a pivotal role in securing global distribution for independent band Drops Of Light by featuring their music video "Never Knew The Way" as a predicted hit, which stirred controversy among major record labels.
By 2003, Video Hits drew an audience of approximately 1.5 million viewers each Sunday in metropolitan regions. Production credits include Helen Ryan, Donna Andrews, and Gary Dunstan.
From its inception until 2004, the show maintained a continuous video clip format. In 2004, it expanded to include artist interviews and a wider variety of musical genres. By mid-2005, live Sunday broadcasts were introduced, often filmed at locations such as shopping centres and festivals, with guest co-host appearances from acts like The Veronicas and The Black Eyed Peas. The following year, in 2006, the format evolved into live broadcasts without a studio audience, where artists selected videos in a style reminiscent of ABC's rage.
Celebrating its twentieth anniversary in 2006, Video Hits presented a Top 100 Video Clips countdown based on votes collected online and via SMS; this was repeated with slight modifications in 2007. Michael Jackson's "Thriller" secured the number one position both years. In 2008, the show aired a special edition titled A-Z of Pop.
In September 2006, Video Hits First debuted as a G-rated spin-off featuring ARIA top 10 videos alongside competitions and interviews, created to address concerns regarding explicit content. By 2008, the Saturday Top 10 segment had been phased out from Video Hits.
Towards the end of 2009, regional affiliate Southern Cross Ten replaced Video Hits with Hit List TV, a locally produced chart show designed to align with Macquarie Southern Cross Media’s radio content and to meet local programming obligations more cost-effectively.
In July 2011, Network Ten announced that Video Hits would be discontinued as part of a significant corporate restructure. The final episode aired on 6 August 2011, concluding with Coldplay’s "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall."
Format
The core content of Video Hits consisted primarily of Top 40 songs from both Australian and international charts, including promotional clips that had yet to enter official rankings.
The program actively supported Australian music charts by featuring domestic artists such as George, Frenzal Rhomb, The John Butler Trio, Little Birdy, Delta Goodrem, The Hampdens, The Cat Empire, and The Sleepy Jackson.
Viewer engagement was encouraged through SMS-based competitions; in 2005 alone, prizes exceeding $650,000 were awarded.
Video Hits Up-Late (also known as Video Hits Presents) consisted of brief segments ranging from five to thirty minutes aired during early morning slots on selected weekdays and weekends, adopting a presentation style similar to Nine Presents on the Nine Network.
Video Hits Uncut was a late Friday night program lasting between ninety and one hundred twenty minutes that featured videos rated MA15+ due to explicit content unsuitable for daytime viewing; some clips were edited when necessary.
Weekend editions titled Video Hits Presents typically ran for thirty to sixty minutes and often highlighted an artist’s collection of videos or included interviews linked to new album releases or tours.
Presenters
At the time of its cancellation, Video Hits and Video Hits First were presented by Faustina 'Fuzzy' Agolley alongside Dylan Lewis.
The 2004 revamp introduced hosts Kelly Cavuoto and Axle Whitehead, both alumni of Australian Idol. Following an incident at a children's television awards event, Cavuoto was removed from her role late in 2004. Whitehead continued as the sole presenter but resigned on 1 November 2006 after misconduct at the 2006 ARIA Awards.
After Whitehead's departure, Agolley assumed full hosting duties for Video Hits, conducting interviews with prominent artists including The Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, Coldplay, and Pete Murray. In February 2007, Nathan Sapsford, known from MTV, joined as co-host and eventually became the main presenter while Agolley returned to hosting Video Hits First. They occasionally collaborated on special episodes such as the A-Z of Pop. Sapsford exited in 2009, with Hayden Guppy stepping into the role. Later that year, in December, Dylan Lewis was announced as Guppy’s successor beginning in 2010.
Compilation albums
The following compilation albums were released to promote the Video Hits series:
- Video Hits 1 (1988) under CBS Records
- Video Hits 2 (1989) via CBS Records
- Video Hits Classics (1990) distributed by CBS Records
- Video Hits – Australian Classics (1991) through Sony Music
- Video Hits (1995) on Sony Music
- Video Hits '96 (1996) released by Sony Music
- Video Hits – Past Hits Vol. 1 (1997), a 2-CD set from Sony Music
- Video Hits – Past Hits Vol. 2 (1998), another 2-CD set under Sony Music
- Video Hits – Viewer Top 20 Countdown (1998) from Sony Music
- Video Hits – Viewer Hop 20 (2000) via Sony Music
- Video Hits – Ballads (2000) released by Sony Music
- Video Hits / Just Dance (2000), a 2-CD set through Sony Music
- Video Hits '86–'96 (2005), a 2-CD collection from EMI Australia
- Video Hits '96–'06 (2006), also a 2-CD set by EMI Australia
- Video Hits – More Hits (2006), a 3-CD set on EMI Australia
- Video Hits – 20 Years of Australian Hits (2007), a 2-CD compilation from EMI Australia
- Video Hits First (2008), released as a CD/DVD package by EMI Australia
- Video Hits One Hit Wonders (2009), a 3-CD set under EMI Australia
- Video Hits – The Number Ones (2009), another 3-CD collection from EMI Australia
- Video Hits – The Greatest Covers (2010), a 3-CD set through EMI Australia
- Video Hits – Summer of Festivals (2011), a 2-CD release by EMI Australia
DVD compilations
DVDs issued to complement the Video Hits brand include:
- Video Hits '86–'96 (2005)
- Video Hits '96–'06 (2006)
- Video Hits – More Hits (2006)
- Video Hits – 20 Years of Australian Hits (2007)
- Video Hits First (2008), with the DVD provided as an extra alongside the CD