About
activeTV is an internationally renowned independent production company based in Australia and Asia. The company produces programming across a broad range of genres including reality, factual, entertainment and children’s television. activeTV is known for taking on international formats and creating local versions boasting high production and entertainment values, which translates into top ratings for broadcasters.
The company has produced two seasons of ‘The Amazing Race Australia’ (Seven Network), which has won an International Emmy and awards at the inaugural Australian AACTAs and Asian Television Awards. This success comes off the back of four seasons of the award winning ‘The Amazing Race Asia’ (AXN), three seasons for Reshet in Israel and versions for the Philippines and Ukraine.
Since its inception, activeTV Asia has quickly cemented its reputation as the region’s most highly skilled producers of reality, entertainment and factual programming. Its slate includes ‘E! News Asia’ (Comcast), ‘Cash Cab Asia’ (AXN), original series ‘Can You Serve?’ and ‘Driving Change with Caltex’ (digital/StarWorld).
In Australia, activeTV boasts a highly respected children’s division, which has produced 91 episodes of the smash hit comedy-action series ‘Prank Patrol’, now exported to CBBC, ZDF and RAI. activeTV Australia also produce prestigious televised events, including ‘Woolworths Carols in the Domain’.
The company has gained an international reputation as a first class facilitator and producer of turnkey productions. In Australia the team have facilitated for US and UK programs including Discovery’s ‘World’s Toughest Truckers’, Comcast’s ‘Chelsea Lately’, fashion series ‘How Do I Look?’ and ‘Finding Bigfoot’ (Animal Planet).
activeTV is currently launching an exciting slate of original factual, reality and kids programming thanks to its recently formed development division ‘activeTV Originals’.
Awards
AACTA Awards 2012 - Best Reality Television Series - The Amazing Race Australia
International Emmy Awards 2012 - Non-Scripted Entertainment - The Amazing Race Australia
Asian Television Awards 2011 - Best Direction - Michael McKay
Asian Television Awards 2011 - Best Adaptation of an Existing Format - The Amazing Race Australia
Asian Television Awards 2009 - Best Adaptation of an Existing Format - The Amazing Race Asia
Asian Television Awards 2008 - Best Adaptation of an Existing Format - The Amazing
Nominations
AACTA Awards 2012 - Best Direction in Television - Michael McKay
Asian Television Awards 2012 - Best Adaptation of an Existing Format - The Amazing Race Australia
Asian Television Awards 2012 - Best Adaptation of an Existing Format - Cash Cab Asia
Asian Television Awards 2012 - Best Game or Quiz Programme - Cash Cab Asia
Asian Television Awards 2012 - Best Entertainment Presenter/Host - Oli Pettigrew in Cash Cab Asia
International Emmy Awards 2009 - Non-Scripted Entertainment - The Amazing Race Asia Season Three
News
activeTV launches new original content division
22nd Apr 2013
activeTV have announced the launch of a new content division at its networking event last week in Singapore. 'activeTV Originals' aims to address the need for more original content creation across the Asia-Pacific region and developing world-class formats that have international appeal. During the cocktail event, more than 50 industry executives and channel heads, were given a taste of the current slate of programs and pilots under the Originals division, spanning a range of genres.
This included Singapore character comedy Taxi Chronicles, for Yahoo!; Next Please!, which follows the trials and tribulations of a sharp-tongued Australian acting coach and agent; food entertainment pilot Progressive Dinner Wars for a Malaysian broadcaster; epic Antarctic adventure Race to the South Pole; twisted travel show That Geeky Guy and The Look, which goes in search of a real-life My Fair Lady. In the reality/factual genre, there’s new pan-regional treasure hunt series Treasure Trail and Snake Wars, which pits man against reptile in the wilds of suburban Australia. Additionally, in kids TV, activeTV is in development on an exciting pan-regional reality series with an Australian broadcaster.
activeTV have announced the launch of a new content division at its networking event last week in Singapore. 'activeTV Originals' aims to address the need for more original content creation across the Asia-Pacific region and developing world-class formats that have international appeal. During the cocktail event, more than 50 industry executives and channel heads, were given a taste of the current slate of programs and pilots under the Originals division, spanning a range of genres.
This included Singapore character comedy Taxi Chronicles, for Yahoo!; Next Please!, which follows the trials and tribulations of a sharp-tongued Australian acting coach and agent; food entertainment pilot Progressive Dinner Wars for a Malaysian broadcaster; epic Antarctic adventure Race to the South Pole; twisted travel show That Geeky Guy and The Look, which goes in search of a real-life My Fair Lady. In the reality/factual genre, there’s new pan-regional treasure hunt series Treasure Trail and Snake Wars, which pits man against reptile in the wilds of suburban Australia. Additionally, in kids TV, activeTV is in development on an exciting pan-regional reality series with an Australian broadcaster.
Speaking at the event, activeTV’s President Michael McKay said the Originals division is about investing in world-class ideas locally for audiences everywhere, “We feel the time is ripe to ramp up the development and creation of our own international formats for local, regional and international audiences. Broadcasters are beginning to look to this part of the world for new formats. It’s a natural progression and we are able to take advantage of this trend with an amazing creative team along with regional talent and partners.”
Originals is a collaboration between the Asian and Australian businesses, spearheaded by McKay and supported by Marc Checkley, Head of Development (Asia) and Amanda Peppard, Vice-President of Development (Australia). Working hand in hand with the team is Priscilla Yeo, head of casting. “There’s an obvious trend to character-lead entertainment and we are investing a lot of resources to find those characters and marrying them with our shows,” said McKay. He added that the company “is continuing to acquire and produce international formats but are supplementing this with our creative prowess and expertise in production”.
activeTV interviewed by Television Asia Plus
15th Apr 2013
Marc and Priscilla were lucky enough to be interviewed by Television Asia Plus about their eye for talent!
You can view the article with online at
http://www.onscreenasia.com/article/tv-asia-plus-web-exclusive-eye-for-talent/12005
Get the latest news and information, follow activeTV on twitter - @activeTVglobal
The Amazing Race Australia wins an AACTA Award!
31st Jan 2013
activeTV has won an Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award for ‘The Amazing Race Australia’ in the Best Reality Television Series category! This is the second award for this series following our International Emmy win.
We applaud our incredible crew and cast for their contribution to ‘The Amazing Race Australia’!
Get the latest news and information, follow activeTV on twitter - @activeTVglobal
The Amazing Race Australia is nominated again!
30th Jan 2013
activeTV have been nominated for two Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards!
'The Amazing Race Australia' has been nominated in the Best Reality Television Series and our President, Michael McKay, has been nominated for Best Direction in Television!
We would like to thank all of the cast and crew for their contribution to ‘The Amazing Race Australia’, and to the Academy for our nomination.
We look forward to the AACTA Award Ceremony in January!
For more information on the AACTA Award Nominees please visit http://aacta.org/winners-nominees/2nd-aacta-awards.aspx
Get the latest news and information, follow activeTV on twitter - @activeTVglobal
The Amazing Race Australia claims franchise's first International Emmy
29th Jan 2013
activeTV's production of Channel 7's 'The Amazing Race Australia' has scored a first for the hit reality series at the International Emmy Awards. The series won an Emmy for best Non-Scripted Entertainment at the prestigious awards held tonight in New York City.
The win gives the format, created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri, its first International Emmy to add to the original series' thirteen Primetime Emmys.
activeTV president, Michael McKay, host Grant Bowler and Channel 7 USA bureau GM Zane Bair were on hand to accept the award on behalf of the vast army of cast, producers, camera crews, international facilitators and locals from around the world who worked on the inaugural series.
"This is a win for all of our talented crew, dedicated facilitators and suppliers from every corner of the globe who have worked with us for so many years," said Michael McKay, Executive Producer.
activeTV's production of Channel 7's 'The Amazing Race Australia' has scored a first for the hit reality series at the International Emmy Awards. The series won an Emmy for best Non-Scripted Entertainment at the prestigious awards held tonight in New York City.
The win gives the format, created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri, its first International Emmy to add to the original series' thirteen Primetime Emmys.
activeTV president, Michael McKay, host Grant Bowler and Channel 7 USA bureau GM Zane Bair were on hand to accept the award on behalf of the vast army of cast, producers, camera crews, international facilitators and locals from around the world who worked on the inaugural series.
"This is a win for all of our talented crew, dedicated facilitators and suppliers from every corner of the globe who have worked with us for so many years," said Michael McKay, Executive Producer.
McKay also paid tribute to Channel 7 executives Tim Worner, Brad Lyons, Angus Ross and Trent Chapman as well as host Grant Bowler.
The Australian version won rave reviews and top ratings when it screened on the Seven Network in 2011. A second season followed in 2012 with critics applauding the series as a ‘standout production' with ‘inspired casting', a fast paced energy and a ‘dry Aussie humour'.
"Having worked closely with activeTV for many years, I'm delighted to see the Australian version recognised by the Academy," said van Munster, "Michael and his team delivered two stand-out series both of which were clearly of an international standard as this award recognises." activeTV Asia is co-owned by van Munster (Profiles Television) with McKay.
activeTV also produces an Asian version which was nominated for an International Emmy in 2009 as well as races for Israel, the Philippines and is now co-producing a Ukrainian version.
Get the latest news and information, follow activeTV on twitter - @activeTVglobal
activeTV nominated again for prestigious International Emmy and a raft of Asian TV Awards
10th Jan 2013
activeTV are extremely proud to have received their second International Emmy nomination for their production of 'The Amazing Race Australia'. The series, which is based on the multi-Emmy award winning format created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri, has been nominated in the Non-Scripted Entertainment Category. Active TV's first nomination was in 2009 for 'The Amazing Race Asia' on Sony's AXN Networks.
The Amazing Race Australia has been further recognised with a nomination in the 2012 Asian Television Awards in the category of Best Adaptation of an Existing Format.
ActiveTV Asia's recent production of Cash Cab Asia has also been nominated for three Asian Television Award categories - Best Game or Quiz Programme, Best Adaptation of an Existing Format, and Best Entertainment Presenter/Host for Oli Pettigrew.
activeTV thanks The International Academy of Television Arts and Science and TelevisionAsia for their recognition and all of our wonderful cast and crew for their incredible work on these excellent productions.
activeTV and FX brings The Ultimate Fighter to Australia
19th Dec 2012
activeTV produced ‘The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes’, airing on FX Australia and ESPN UK. There has been on international version before. However, this is the first version with Australian fighters and the first version filmed in Australia. The title ‘The Smashes’ is a play on words based on the ‘The Ashes’, a biennial test cricket match, and the passionate rivalry between Australia and England.
The Ultimate Fighter is a format in which undiscovered mix martial arts fighters from both countries live together and fight each other, hoping to win a UFC contract.
The finale will be aired live from the Gold Coast on December 15.
ZDF has bought Prank Patrol Australia
18th Dec 2012
activeTV and ABC3’s popular children’s comedy ‘Prank Patrol Australia’ has been bought by German public service broadcaster ZDF from US-based Marvista Entertainment.
Prank Patrol Australia has previously been sold to Italy’s Rai and UK’s CBBC.
Contact
activeTV Australia
242 Ferrars Street
South Melbourne, Victoria 3205 Australia
PH. +61 3 9647 5000
FX. +61 3 9682 1530
activeTV Asia
Level 2, 21A South Bridge Road
Singapore 058661
PH. +65 6738 4345
FX. +65 6735 6718
