Brian Walsh (television executive)

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Brian Walsh
Born(1955-11-20)20 November 1955
Died16 March 2023(2023-03-16) (aged 67)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Alma materUniversity of Technology Sydney
Occupation(s)Media executive and entertainment publicist
Years active1978–2023
Known for
  • Foxtel executive
  • Network Ten publicity director
  • Celebrity and sporting publicist
  • Company founder of "The Promotion Department" with artists services firm executive Steve Vizard
AwardsLogie Hall of Fame[1]

Brian Walsh (20 November 1955 – 16 March 2023) was an Australian media executive and publicist.[2][3][4]

Walsh was best known for his lengthy tenure as the executive director of television at Foxtel and for his work as a sports and entertainment publicist.[2][5]

Life and career[edit]

Walsh was born on 20 November 1955,[6] and commenced his career in 1978, after he graduated from the University of Technology Sydney with a Bachelor of Communications. he worked for David Elfick Palm Beach Pictures[4]

Walsh had an extensive career in Australia and overseas. He worked for 2SM, Network 10, Star TV in Hong Kong and BSkyB in the United Kingdom.[7]

Walsh then joined 2SM as the station's promotions manager where he stayed for five years.

Early career at Network 10 and Network Nine[edit]

Walsh then moved into television commencing work at Network 10.[4]

As Network 10's publicity director, Walsh is credited with helping the evening soap Neighbours achieve success after it was axed by the Seven Network in 1985 due to poor viewership in Sydney, despite the show's solid ratings in Melbourne and Brisbane.[8][9]

In an attempt to overcome the show's poor performance in Sydney, Walsh helped create the successful "Nominate Your Neighbour" campaign in which Sydneysiders were invited to nominate fellow locals for their inspiring neighbourliness.[10] The Melbourne-based Neighbours actors then flew to Sydney to deliver brand new television sets to the winners.[10] The campaign was credited with helping the ratings in Sydney immediately increase.[10]

During his time at Network 10, Walsh is also credited with launching successful miniseries Vietnam, Bangkok Hilton and The Dirtwater Dynasty.[2]

Walsh left Network 10 in June 1989.[11]

In 1993, Walsh was hired by the Nine Network in an attempt to increase the ratings for their evening soap Paradise Beach.[12]

Foxtel executive[edit]

In 1995, Walsh was part of the foundation executive team at pay television company Foxtel when it was launched in Australia in 1995, appointed the company's executive director of television.[2][7]

He was vehemently opposed to Foxtel merging with Optus Vision and spoke against suggestions the two companies should merge, stating: "As long as I draw breath, there will never be a merger between Foxtel and Optus Vision. The only reason companies merge is when both parties have something to offer the other. Optus Vision has nothing to offer Foxtel Group. Optus Vision is losing the pay-TV race and I think this merger is wishful thinking on their part."[13]

In June 2022, Walsh was named as Foxtel's executive director of drama which entailed overseeing commissioned drama on both Binge and Foxtel.[14]

Walsh is credited with commissioning much of Foxtel's original content such as Love My Way, Slide, Satisfaction, Australia's Next Top Model, Tangle, Selling Houses Australia, Spirited, The Great Australian Bake Off, The Real Housewives of Melbourne, Gogglebox Australia, A Place to Call Home, Secret City, Wentworth, Upright, Deadline Gallipoli, The Kettering Incident, The End, Love Me, Colin From Accounts and The Twelve.[15][2]

In 2015, his work at Foxtel was recognised when he received the Industry Contribution Award at the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association's ASTRA Awards - a one off award which was presented as part of the 20th anniversary of subscription television in Australia.[16][17]

Walsh's last two commissioned series for Foxtel were Strife, and High Country.

Publicity officer[edit]

Walsh founded promotions and publicity company The Promotions Department with Steve Vizard's company Artist Services in 1989, with Planet Hollywood and Triple M being among his high-profile clients.[7]

As a sports publicist, Walsh coordinated the successful Simply the Best campaign for the New South Wales Rugby League premiership which featured American singer Tina Turner.[2] He also is credited with staging the grand final entertainment for State of Origin games and rugby league grand finals including the 1989 NSWRL grand final.[18]

Walsh was personally appointed by Barbra Streisand for her 2000 Australian concert tour.[4] He was also the publicist for concerts by Mariah Carey, Neil Diamond, Michael Jackson and Ricky Martin.[2]

As publicist for Jackson's 1996 Australian tour, Walsh was tasked with announcing Jackson's secret marriage to Debbie Rowe.[19][4] Walsh made the announcement in the Sheraton on the Park hotel in Sydney after initially being told there was to be a media conference, but was instead told by Jackson's personal security to make the announcement about his marriage to Rowe.[19]

Speaking in 2000 about being relatively unknown outside the industry, Walsh stated: "I'm a big believer that it's the clients which should get all the attention. The biggest mistake you can make in this game is when you think you're bigger than the act."[4]

Death and tributes[edit]

Walsh died in Sydney on 16 March 2023, at the age of 67.[6][2][20]

His death prompted tributes from Foxtel, Paramount, Screen Australia, Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, and the Australian Writers' Guild.[2]

Tributes to Walsh were also made on social media by a large number of Australian public figures including Steve Bastoni, Angela Bishop, Tony Burke, David Campbell, Danny Clayton, Peter Ford, Ben Fordham, Deborra-Lee Furness, Anita Jacoby, Yvie Jones, Prue MacSween, Tim Minchin, Guy Pearce, Richard Wilkins, and Jim Wilson.[2][20]

Honours[edit]

Walsh is the 2023 inductee into the annual Logie Hall of Fame.[1]

In November 2023, AACTA announced the Brian Walsh Award for Emerging Talent.[21]

Filmography[edit]

Notable Credits
Year Title Role Notes
2024 High Country [22] Exec Producer/Executive Director TV Final commissioned series
2023 Strife 6 episodes
2022 Colin from Accounts 8 episodes
The Twelve (Australian TV series)[23] 10 episodes
2021-23 Love Me (Australian TV series)[24][25] 12 episodes
2019-22 Upright (TV series) 16 episodes
2013-2021 Wentworth (TV series)[26][27][28] 100 episodes
2016-18 A Place to Call Home (TV series)[29] 33 episodes
2021 Wentworth Unlocked Special
Wentworth Reunion Event Special
2020 The End [30] 10 episodes
2016-19 Secret City (TV series) 11 episodes
2009-12 Tangle 22 episodes
1987 Vietnam 10 episodes
198? Neighbours [31] Publicist

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Hall of Fame honour for Brian Walsh".
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Knox, David (17 March 2023). "Vale: Brian Walsh". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  3. ^ Idato, Michael (17 March 2023). "The greatest showman: Australian TV loses a legend". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Life of Brian, a starring role in background". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 August 2000. p. 25. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  5. ^ Feng, Lydia (17 March 2023). "Brian Walsh, influential Australian TV executive, dies aged 67". ABC News. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b Weekend Australian obituary, 18–19 March 2023
  7. ^ a b c Conway, Andrew (2 October 1995). "The new boy". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 45. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  8. ^ Green, Dale (23 September 1985). "Seven sick of Neighbours, but Ten wants to move in". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 68. Retrieved 17 March 2023. Brian Walsh, director of publicity with Channel 10, said in view of the success in other states, with the right promotion the show had the potential to be a success in the Sydney market...
  9. ^ Walsh, Brian; Lang, Jacqui (23 July 2000). "I was there". The Age. p. 121. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  10. ^ a b c Oliver, Robin (16 November 1987). "Promo power". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 63. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  11. ^ Lewis, Jacqueline Lee (12 June 1989). "Also leaving Ten". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 53. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  12. ^ Sadlier, Kevin (8 August 1993). "Airwaves: Publicity task". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 133. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  13. ^ Mitchell, Alex (19 November 1995). "TV deal puts end to brawl". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 59. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  14. ^ Manning, James (22 June 2022). "Brian Walsh signs new contract to continue leading Foxtel Originals division". Mediaweek. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  15. ^ Knox, David (9 March 2019). "Brian Walsh: "A lot more stories yet I want to tell."". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  16. ^ Lallo, Michael (12 March 2015). "ASTRA Awards 2015 winners: Wentworth scoops best Australian drama for second year in a row". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 March 2023. Foxtel's director of television, Brian Walsh, won the inaugural Industry Contribution Award. Walsh was with Foxtel when it began 20 years ago, and was commended by Maiden for "launching the careers of many of Australia's best known and most successful personalities".
  17. ^ Knox, David (13 March 2015). "Standing ovation for Brian Walsh at ASTRA Awards". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  18. ^ Geddes, Jon (17 September 1989). "$300,000 for grand final 'bash'". The Sun-Herald. p. 73. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  19. ^ a b Curtin, Jennie (27 June 2009). "Married, with children and a koala". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  20. ^ a b Epstein, Jackie (17 March 2023). "Tributes flow following death of TV legend Brian Walsh". Herald Sun. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  21. ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/11/call-for-entries-aacta-brian-walsh-award.html
  22. ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/04/foxtel-commissions-new-drama-high-country.html
  23. ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/11/production-to-begin-on-the-twelve-for-foxtel.html
  24. ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/08/love-me-new-local-drama-for-binge-foxtel.html
  25. ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2020/12/foxtel-announces-new-local-drama-the-twelve.html
  26. ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/10/foxtel-why-wentworth-has-ended.html
  27. ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/09/how-wentworth-was-cancelled-then-brought-back-from-the-brink.html
  28. ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/05/how-wentworths-limbo-led-to-the-best-so-far.html
  29. ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/03/a-place-to-call-home-to-end-with-6th-season.html
  30. ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2020/11/airdate-the-end.html
  31. ^ https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/03/alan-fletcher-remembers-the-man-who-helped-save-neighbours.html
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