Giuliana adds Hollywood glamour to ASTRA Awards
SKY NEWS was named Channel of the Year at the ASTRA Awards tonight.
The 13th annual awards are the biggest to date, celebrating 20 years of subscription television.
Host Giuliana Rancic added some Hollywood glamour to the evening.
The E! presenter and Fashion Police panelist wore 10 dresses during the evening, all from Australian fashion designers.
"We couldn't choose between the gowns," Rancic told APN.
"We felt like we wanted the opportunity to wear all these gowns because they're all so fabulous.
"Doing the red carpet for 13 years I've worn a lot of great gowns but my favourite gown ever is by Alex Perry - the orange gown I wore to the Grammys about two year ago. Still to this day people always tweet me (about) that."
SKY NEWS won four awards including Most Outstanding Male Presenter for Paul Murray and Most Outstanding Performance by a Broadcast Journalist for David Speers. It is Speers' eighth ASTRA Award, the most won by an individual in the awards' 13-year history.
Wentworth was named the Most Outstanding Drama for the second year in a row.
Star Danielle Cormack was named Most Outstanding Female Actor, following on from her co-star Nicole da Silva last year.
"Being in such close proximity to International Women's Day it's really great to be standing up here accepting an award in a show that is predominantly a female cast telling amazing stories about complex, interesting, damaged, humorous, brilliant women," Cormack said.
Andrew McFarlane of Devil's Playground was named Most Outstanding Male Actor.
Foxtel's Director of Television, Brian Walsh, was the recipient of a new award: the Industry Contribution Award.
"Brian is a distinguished leader in the Australian television industry, responsible for launching the careers of many of Australia's best known and most successful personalities. Fittingly, this recognition comes as the industry celebrates 20 years of achievement in 2015," ASTRA CEO Andrew Maiden said.
Phyllis Foundis, the first community TV nominee, was named Most Outstanding New Talent. She dedicated her win to her mother.
"At 85 she continues to teach me age and gender are no match for persistence, resilience, determination and a wardrobe full of shiny clothes," she said.
The viewer-voted categories were omitted from this year's awards, which were determined by a panel of 80 industry judges.
2015 ASTRA Awards winners
Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor - Female
Danielle Cormack (Wentworth, season 2: SoHo)
Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor - Male
Andrew McFarlane (Devil's Playground: showcase)
Most Outstanding Presenter - Female
Kelli Underwood (Back Page LIVE, Breaking Ground: FOX SPORTS)
Most Outstanding Presenter - Male
Paul Murray (Paul Murray LIVE: SKY NEWS)
Most Outstanding New Talent
Phyllis Foundis (Foundis: Aurora)
Most Outstanding Performance by a Broadcast Journalist
David Speers (PM Agenda, The Nation: SKY NEWS)
Most Outstanding Drama - Australian
Wentworth (season 2: SoHo)
Most Outstanding Drama - International
Game of Thrones (season 4: showcase)
Most Outstanding Children's Program
Monster Beach (Cartoon Network)
Most Outstanding Music Program
SLIMEFEST (Nickelodeon)
Most Outstanding Sports Program
Jeep Saturday LIVE on FOX (FOX FOOTY)
Most Outstanding News Program
Paul Murray LIVE (Paul Murray: SKY NEWS)
Most Outstanding Reality Program
The Recruit (season 1: FOX8)
Most Outstanding Factual Program
Hillsborough (ESPN)
Most Outstanding Lifestyle Program
Paddock to Plate (Matt Moran; season 2: The LifeStyle Channel)
Most Outstanding General Entertainment Program
Top Gear (BBC Knowledge)
Industry Contribution Award
Brian Walsh
Channel Achievement Award
Arena
Channel of the Year
SKY NEWS
