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We all know the American Real Housewives series sucks up all the limelight. The international shows notoriously don't do well. The Real Housewives of Dubai has been put on “pause” after two seasons, The Real Housewives of Vancouver was canceled after it’s second season, and The Real Housewives of Melbourne was shelved after five seasons. However, one Real Housewives show from Australia is hiding in the shadows — The Real Housewives of Sydney. So here’s why you need to take the show out from down under and put it up on your watchlist.Season 1 of TheReal Housewives of Sydney started off with a bang! Although chaotic, the season was very entertaining to watch. They debuted the series with an iconic Og cast of Aussies - Krissy Marsh, Nicole O’Neil, Athena X Levendi, Lisa Oldfield, Matty Samaei, Melissa Tkautz, and Victoria Rees.

The Real Housewives franchise needs something new. Time and time again, we’ve seen them try to expand the franchise to different cities around the world; The Real Housewives of Dubai, The Real Housewives of Toronto, and The Real Housewives of Melbourne, which all ended up getting canceled after one or two seasons. So Bravo needs to really switch it up. They need to stop thinking about where the next destination to show is, and start thinking about what the next lifestyle they should be showing is. This is why I think The Real Housewives of Broadway actually makes sense.

Discovery Plus has struck a deal to begin streaming episodes of “The Biggest Loser,” “Flipping Out,” “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” and more NBCUniversal-owned unscripted titles, the company said Thursday.

Under the new pact with NBCUniversal Global Distribution, the Discovery, Inc.-owned streaming service will give subscribers access to select seasons of 12 NBCUniversal reality TV series: “The Biggest Loser” and its reboot, “Flipping Out,” “American Ninja Warrior,” “Top Chef Canada,” “The Real Housewives of Cheshire,” “The Real Housewives of Johannesburg,” “The Real Housewives of Melbourne,” “Wags Atlanta,” “Wags LA,” “Wags Miami” and “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.”

These shows will rollout on Discovery Plus throughout January, streaming alongside the platform’s own original titles, as well as its library content from brands Discovery like TLC, ID, Discovery Channel, HGTV and Food Network.

The deal marks another licensing agreement for Discovery Plus to offer content that isn’t owned by Discovery brands,...

On Monday morning, Andy Cohen, the “Real Housewives” executive producer, appeared on NBC’s “Today” to announce that Bravo has greenlit “The Real Housewives of Dubai.” Though the “Real Housewives” format has been used around the world, and a few of those series — such as “The Real Housewives of Melbourne” — have even aired on Bravo, there’s never been an official international version of the show until now.

“The Real Housewives of Dubai,” which has not yet begun production, will premiere next year on Bravo. The project has been an open secret in the Bravo world, and many guessed correctly that it would be what Cohen would be announcing on “Today.”

Though the network hasn’t announced any casting yet, it’s a safe bet that Caroline Stanbury, formerly of Bravo’s “Ladies of London,” will be in the group. That “Real Housewives”-like docusoap ran for three seasons, from...

“Making It,” the hit NBC show fronted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, is set for an Australian version, commissioned by national free-to-air broadcaster Network 10.

Launching in 2021, “Making It Australia” will revolve around a central theme inspired by popular craft and DIY trends and each episode will consist of two challenges, crafted by the local show’s hosts. The challenges will put the makers’ abilities to the test, while also enabling them to share their touching personal experiences and DIY stories, as they vie for an Aud$100,000 cash prize.

Hosts and executive producers Poehler and Offerman were Emmy-nominated for the original U.S. version of “Making It,” which is produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio, in association with Paper Kite Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment. The show was a ratings success on NBC, with season three set to launch next year.

“We are so grateful to Network 10, Matchbox and...

‘Bad Education’ (Photo credit: HBO)

Launched today, Foxtel’s low-cost entertainment streaming service Binge offers 10,000 hours of content, rising to 20,000 hours by the end of the year – but no exclusives and relatively few Australian shows.

Yet executives are confident the curated mix of drama, movies, lifestyle and reality shows and documentaries will appeal to the younger segment of the population who will never subscribe to Foxtel and are hooked on streaming content.

With similar pricing to Netflix and Stan, its monthly fees range from $10 for one stream in Standard Definition to $14 for two streams in HD and $18 for four streams.

It may well be the last throw of the dice if the platform co-owned by News Corp. and Telstra is to succeed in arresting the slide in Foxtel’s customers and the company’s revenues and profits.

Executives at Streamotion, which houses Binge and Kayo Sports, tested the concept and...

Alastair McKinnon.

Matchbox Pictures’ MD Alastair McKinnon outlines the company’s readjustment and emphasis on development, reflects on the success of Stateless and his bullish, post-pandemic outlook.

Q: Apart from the shutdown of Clickbait and the delay in shooting The Real Housewives of Melbourne, Matchbox Pictures’ productions have not been impacted by the lockdown?

A: They are the only two programs that were in physical production that needed to shut down. However we had a number of other shows at various stages of development for which our schedules and timelines have absolutely been impacted by the lockdown.

It has been a period of intensive readjustment and planning to adapt to the new environment and make sure our energy is in the right place, which I feel absolutely confident it is.

Q: I assume you and your colleagues are devoting more time to development, including the adaptation of Rebecca Starford’s...

The cast of ‘Wentworth.’

The coronavirus pandemic has forced the suspension or postponement of 119 screen productions, resulting in a loss to the production sector of $471 million.

That’s according to Screen Producers Australia’s updated screen production survey on the impact of Covid-19.

In addition to the production disruption, the survey found $20 million in export revenue has been lost, bringing the total to nearly $100 million.

Among the productions that have been shut down or delayed are Neighbours, Wakefield, Australia’s Got Talent, Back to the Rafters, Wentworth, Five Bedrooms, Harrow, The Voice Australia, The Bureau of Magical Things, Why Are You Like This?, Yes, Chef!, Rfds, The Real Housewives of Melbourne, Little J & Big Cuz, The Block and The Bachelor Australia.

That represents $232 million in actual spending and $239 million in estimates. The survey did not cover stalled Hollywood productions including Marvel Studio’s Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings...

Ben Allan and Clara Chong.

While production shutdowns are causing mass unemployment among all sectors of the screen sector, some practitioners see an upside.

Main Course Films’ writer/director Clara Chong and producer/Dop Ben Allan are in post on Wabi-Sabi, a deeply personal feature doc on ageing and death centred on Clara’s mother, who suffered from multiple system atrophy (Msa), a rare neuro-degenerative disorder.

“Because Clara and I do the majority of our projects together, doing post production at home has meant we can do things like put the kids to bed and then go back to colour grading,” Allan tells If.

“Now in the time of the coronavirus, it means we can be social distancing while staying on schedule with post on the film and our other projects.”

Producer Steve Jaggi, who has Rosie Lourde’s debut feature Romance on the Menu in post, sees an upside for Australian content creators,...

The Real Housewives of Melbourne is just the gift that keeps on giving. The international import (from Australia, naturally), is now in its third season on Bravo and man, it's just so absurd. It's almost unreal. And that is said with all due compliments. Haven't been watching the (mis)adventures of your queens from Down Under—Gina Liano, Chyka Keebaugh, Gamble Breaux, Jackie Gillies, Janet Roach, Lydia Schiavello, Pettifleur Berenger and Susie McClean—it's Ok. There's still time to rectify that. This is what you've been missing. Please keep in mind these stories are not made up. Or are they? No, they're not made up. They are 100 percent scenes that happened in the...

The Real Housewives of Sydney.

Following the success of The Real Housewives of Melbourne, The Real Housewives of Sydney will begin filming in September and premiere on Foxtel.s Arena in 2017.

The Real Housewives of Sydney will feature seven new housewives:.

AthenaX Levendi, married to an Australian Greek jewellery designer who owns and runs Levendi Jewellers; ex-model turned real estate agent Krissy Marsh; mother of two (and wife of David) Lisa Oldfield; cosmetic nurse and beauty expert Matty Samaei; actress, model and singer Melissa Tkautz; party planner and former Miss Australia Nicole O.Neil; and entrepreneurial mum and social scene queen Victoria Rees. .

The ten-part, one-hour series is again produced by Matchbox Pictures in conjunction with Foxtel..

The Real Housewives of Melbourne, which has so far run for three seasons,.was produced by Euan Jones and executive produced by Kylie Washington and Lisa Potasz.

The third season's a charm. Below, watch a sneak peek of The Real Housewives of Melbourne TV show. Season three premieres on Bravo, Friday, July 22, 2016, at 9:00pm Et/Pt. Expect a wedding and a trip to Dubai in the upcoming season.The Real Housewives of Melbourne TV series cast includes: Chyka Keebaugh, Gamble Breaux, Gina Liano, Jackie Gillies, Janet Roach, Lydia Schiavello, and Pettifleur Berenger. In the third season, new housewife Susie McLean joins the reality series.Read More…...

The Housewives from Down Under are making their splashy return to the States once again on Friday, July 22 with the season three premiere of The Real Housewives of Melbourne. All your favorites— Chyka Keebaugh, Gamble Breaux, Gina Liano, Jackie Gillies, Janet Roach, Lydia Schiavello and Pettifleur Berenger—are back along with newcomer Susie McLean. Yes, Real Housewives of Melbourne has a ballooning cast of eight ladies. Last year, there were stripper rumors, feuds, bitch switching, trips and more rumors and feuds over rumors. This season, the ladies reach a "whole new level of madness" as Gamble and Rick get hitched, but not without some drama of course. Pettifleur has some family issues, and the...

But Australian internet users group warns the court cases will drive more traffic to sites offering streaming and torrent services

Two federal court lawsuits by entertainment companies are seeking to block access in Australia to pirated versions of popular films and TV shows including The Lego Movie, Jurassic World and The Real Housewives of Melbourne.

But the head of internet users’ not-for-profit organisation Internet Australia, which includes ISPs among its members, has warned that the cases will drive further traffic to sites the entertainment companies say facilitate piracy.

Continue reading...

The Real Housewives of Melbourne are back for a third season in 2016 and will premiere February 21.

Returning for season three are Chyka Keebaugh, Gamble Breaux, Gina Liano, Jackie Gillies, Janet Roach, Lydia Schiavello and Pettifleur Berenger. .

This season they are joined by Melbourne socialite and country girl turned Toorak Housewife, Susie McLean.

This 11-part one hour soap-doc provides an insider view of the lifestyles of the wealthy and extravagant women with a revealing insight into their world..

With a backdrop of exotic settings and high-end events, nothing is off limits as the Housewives navigate love, family, marriage, fidelity, babies, health and friendship..

Popular family members are back including Chyka.s husband Bruce and children Chessie & Bj, Jackie.s husband Ben, Gamble.s new husband Rick, Lydia.s husband Andrew, and of course her pampered pooch Figaro..

Season three begins with flowing champagne and delicious treats as the Housewives catch up...

Foxtel has revealed its 2016 lineup of Australian series, which includes a raft of new commissions and programming across drama, lifestyle and factual..

Next year will see the return of Wentworth (SoHo), A Place to Call Home (SoHo), Australia.s Next Top Model (FOX8), The Real Housewives of Melbourne (Arena), The Recruit (FOX8), Crimes That Shook Australia (Ci Network), Coast (History), The Great Australian Bake Off (LifeStyle Food), Gogglebox Australia (The LifeStyle Channel), Selling Houses Australia (The LifeStyle Channel), Grand Designs Australia (The LifeStyle Channel) and River Cottage Australia (LifeStyle Food).

Foxtel also confirmed today a broad range of new programming to premiere in 2016 including two new Foxtel Original drama series.

The first is Secret City (showcase), a political thriller starring Anna Torv, Dan Wylie, Damon Herriman and two time Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver..

The second is event series The Kettering Incident (showcase) featuring Elizabeth Debicki and Matt Le Nevez.

Downriver, Holding The Man, The Infinite Man, Kill Me Three Times and Maya The Bee Movie will compete for best feature film at the 15th Screen Producers Australia Awards.

In contention for the TV drama series prize are The Code, Glitch, Love Child series 2 and the third seasons of Miss Fisher.s Murder Mysteries and Wentworth.

To be presented on November 19, the awards recognise excellence in 11 film, television and interactive categories including the inaugural short film production award.

The nominees for feature documentary production are Between A Frock And A Hard Place, The Dalfram Dispute 1938: Pig Iron Bob, Sam Klemke.s Time Machine, That Sugar Film and Women He.s Undressed.

In the running for best telemovie or miniseries are Catching Milat, Deadline Gallipoli, Devil.s Playground, House of Hancock and The Secret River.

The contenders for best TV comedy are 8Mmm Aboriginal Radio, series 2 of Danger 5, Maximum Choppage,...

Foxtel has announced it will progressively double its investment in Australian scripted, factual, lifestyle and entertainment programming by 2018, boosting funding to record levels. As part of a plan to triple spending on scripted content, the pay TV giant will ramp up its drama slate to at least five original series each year, up from the current average of two, over the next three years. Also, more money will be invested in local comedies following Open Slather, a 20-part sketch show produced by Rick McKenna and Laura Waters. new banner McWaters Productions, which is airing on the Comedy Channel. The budget for factual programming will also triple as Foxtel moves towards commissioning at least six new documentary series annually. The home of Australia.s Next Top Model and The Real Housewives of Melbourne, the platform intends to order at least nine new entertainment series each year. The commitment to boost content...

Anyone who was under the illusion that this season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne had run out of drama before the finale had another thing coming on Thursday night.

After months of back-and-forth over rumors, not to mention plenty of nasty comments by resident villain Giana Liano, even cool-headed clairvoyant Jackie Gillies lost some of her shine-shine-shine.

Once Gillies arrived at this week's big event, a birthday party for season 2 newbie Pettifleur Berenger, she told People she immediately felt her extra-powerful intuition tingling. What followed was, according to fellow Housewife Chyka Keebaugh, "very big drama that no one saw coming or expected.

The Real Housewives of Melbourne has been upgraded.

After Bravo aired the reality series from Down Under on Sunday afternoons last year, season 2 moves to Thursday nights, and star Jackie Gillies promises, "There's drama, there's tears, there's arguments – happy moments, too. There's a lot of comedy this season, I will say."

But, let's be honest, we don't come to our Housewives for laughs, we come for the glass-throwing antics.

With two new cast members entering the fray (regular Andrea Moss exited after season 1), Gillies promises there will plenty of fresh strife. Here are the highlights:

More Blow-Ups Are in Store...

The Real Housewives of Melbourne has been upgraded. After Bravo aired the reality series from Down Under on Sunday afternoons last year, season 2 moves to Thursday nights, and star Jackie Gillies promises, "There's drama, there's tears, there's arguments - happy moments, too. There's a lot of comedy this season, I will say." But, let's be honest, we don't come to our Housewives for laughs, we come for the glass-throwing antics. With two new cast members entering the fray (regular Andrea Moss exited after season 1), Gillies promises there will plenty of fresh strife. Here are the highlights: More Blow-Ups Are in...

The Real Housewives of Melbourne has been upgraded. After Bravo aired the reality series from Down Under on Sunday afternoons last year, season 2 moves to Thursday nights, and star Jackie Gillies promises, "There's drama, there's tears, there's arguments - happy moments, too. There's a lot of comedy this season, I will say." But, let's be honest, we don't come to our Housewives for laughs, we come for the glass-throwing antics. With two new cast members entering the fray (regular Andrea Moss exited after season 1), Gillies promises there will plenty of fresh strife. Here are the highlights: More Blow-Ups Are in...

Gina Liano was made for TV. Anybody who has seen The Real Housewives of Melbourne knows that. The self-described "ultimate drag queen" is a barrister in Australia—lawyer to us yanks—who doesn't mince words. But last season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne, the crossover hit reality series that has its second season premiering tonight on Bravo, was Gina's first go at entertainment. "I've never had an audience of such. I was nervous, I suppose. I didn't know how I'd be perceived by an audience," Gina told E! News in a phone interview from Australia. But audiences have embraced her. During the first season, Gina sparred with pretty much every other cast member including...

America, get ready to shine, shine, shine. The Real Housewives of Melbourne returns on Thursday, March 5 at a brand-new time—primetime! The Australian import is moving from Sundays at noon to Thursdays at 9 p.m. and all your favorite ladies are back. That's right, Jackie Gillies, Gina Liano, Chyka Keebaugh, Janet Roach, Lydia Schiavello are returning for a new season with two newbies, Gamble Breaux and Pettifleur Berenger. It's the first Australian version of The Real Housewives and the first Australian reality show to get imported to the states. Something Jackie, the psychic wife of rocker Ben Gillies, said she predicted would happen. During the first season, Jackie...

The first ladies of Australia are coming back to Bravo—The Real Housewives of Melbourne season 2 has been acquired by the network and is on the move to primetime. Season 2 of The Real Housewives of Melbourne will premiere Thursday, March 5 at 9 p.m. on Bravo. Season one of the series aired Sundays at 12 p.m. on Bravo in August. Joining returning faces Gina Liano, Chyka Keebaugh, Janet Roach, Lydia Schiavello and Jackie Gillies are two newbies, Gamble Breaux and Pettifleur Berenger. Don't worry, they're bringing drama along with them, just check out the trailer below! Season 1 cast member Andrea Moss left the show after season one, citing her portrayal. She famously sparred with...

The first round of Aacta Award winners have been announced today at the 4th Aacta Award Luncheon held at the Star Event Centre in Sydney.

Celebrating screen craft excellence in Australia, 22 awards were presented, recognising the work of screen practitioners working in television, documentary, short fiction film, short animation and feature film.

The Luncheon was hosted by writer/actor/producer/director Adam Zwar, who was also joined throughout the event by a list of distinguished presenters. including Aacta President Geoffrey Rush, David Stratton, Damian Walshe-Howling, Alexandra Schepisi, Charlotte Best and Diana Glenn.

In the feature film category, Predestination took home the most Awards; with Ben Nott Acs taking out the prize for Best Cinematography, Matt Villa Ase winning the award for Best Editing, and Matthew Putland scooping Best Production Design.

Tess Schofield was honoured with the Aacta Award for Best Costume Design for her work on The Water Diviner while...

Director Russell Crowe Movie up for Best Film: Australian Academy Awards 2015 nominations (photo: Actor-director Russell Crowe in 'The Water Diviner') Aacta Awards: Feature Film Categories Best Film The Babadook Kristina Ceyton and Kristian Moliere Charlie's Country Nils Erik Nielsen, Peter Djigirr and Rolf de Heer Predestination Paddy McDonald, Tim McGahan, Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig The Railway Man Chris Brown, Andy Paterson and Bill Curbishley Tracks Emile Sherman and Iain Canning The Water Diviner Andrew Mason, Keith Rodger and Troy Lum Best Director The Babadook Jennifer Kent Charlie's Country Rolf de Heer Predestination Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig The Rover David Michôd Best Actress Kate Box The Little Death Essie Davis The Babadook Sarah Snook Predestination Mia Wasikowska Tracks Best Actor Russell Crowe The Water Diviner David Gulpilil Charlie's Country Damon Herriman The Little Death Guy Pearce The Rover Best Supporting Actor Patrick Brammall The Little Death Yilmaz Erdogan...

Get ready for The Real Housewives of Melbourne. Yes, the Real Housewives franchise has made its way Down Under. Bravo will air the Australian production starting Aug. 3 at 12 p.m. with back-to-back episodes. The 12-episode season, including the two-part reunion, will air through this summer. The Real Housewives of Melbourne follows six ladies—Gina Liano, Andrea Moss, Chyka Keebaugh, Janet Roach, Lydia Schiavello and Jackie Gillies—and their lives of luxury and culture. Don't worry, the Aussies still bring plenty of drama with resort getaways, cocktail parties, backstabbing, divorces, and even psychic powers. Yep, psychic powers. Check out the clip below. Andrea is a mom of three and the owner...