AUSTRALIAN TV NEWS: The ASTRA Pioneer Award was presented to one of Australia’s most highly regarded Executive Producers, Kim Vecera at the Women in Television Breakfast earlier today.
The Australian television industry has benefited from the creativity, inspiration and hard work of many – this inaugural Pioneer award acknowledges contribution through leadership, innovation and creativity and support for the development of subscription television in Australia.
“Kim Vecera is a worthy recipient of the inaugural ASTRA Pioneer Award”, said John Porter, President of the ASTRA Board of Directors and CEO of AUSTAR. “As Executive Producer, Kim has led some of the most innovative and impactful programming in the young history of the Australian subscription television industry. She is in the vanguard of creative talent in television and we are fortunate to have her continuing to contribute to our ongoing success”.
Kim began her career as Project Officer at the Australian Film Commission before being appointed Business Affairs Manager at Roadshow Coote and Carroll, one of Australia's most prestigious film and television production companies. During her ten-year tenure, the company produced over 300 hours of programming including the award-winning Brides of Christ and GP.
With the introduction of subscription television, Village Roadshow appointed Kim as Chief Executive Officer of the new 24-hour music channel enterprise, ARC music TV, which re-branded to MTV Australia in 1997.
In 1999 Kim was appointed as Consultant Production Executive at Fox Studios Australia overseeing all local film and television commissions before being promoted to Head of Production.
In 2002 Kim joined FOXTEL as Head of Production, owned and operated channels which involved supervision of local programming on key Fox branded Channels, including FOX8. Credit highlights from that period include Executive Producer of Australia's Next Top Model, Love Bytes, Dangerous, and Seasons 1 and 2 of the multi award-winning Love My Way.
With a wealth of experience and knowledge, in 2005 Kim joined SHOWTIME as Executive Producer/Consultant on original drama commissions whilst continuing as Executive Producer/Consultant on all FOXTEL original drama commissions.
For SHOWTIME Australia, Kim has executive produced Season 3 of Love My Way, Satisfaction Seasons 1, 2 and 3, and Tangle Seasons 1 and 2. In 2010, she is executive producing the 6-hour television mini-series adaptation of Tim Winton's highly acclaimed novel Cloudstreet.
In 2009 for FOXTEL, Kim executive produced the comedy series Whatever Happened To That Guy? and co-executive produced the narrative comedy :30 Seconds. She is also currently executive producing the new W Channel drama commission Spirited, starring Claudia Karvan.
The ASTRA Pioneer Award is determined by a vote of the ASTRA Board of Directors.
ASTRA CEO, Petra Buchanan said “This award recognises the tremendous talent and leadership within the subscription TV industry. We take seriously the importance of acknowledging and highlighting individuals that are doing great work to grow subscription TV in Australia.”
The Future is Now ASTRA 2010 Conference draws together Australia's subscription television industry for a timely look at the media landscape and what lies ahead. An innovative and thought provoking range of topics and speakers will focus on how enhanced technology and viewer demand is impacting the industry today.
The Australian television industry has benefited from the creativity, inspiration and hard work of many – this inaugural Pioneer award acknowledges contribution through leadership, innovation and creativity and support for the development of subscription television in Australia.
“Kim Vecera is a worthy recipient of the inaugural ASTRA Pioneer Award”, said John Porter, President of the ASTRA Board of Directors and CEO of AUSTAR. “As Executive Producer, Kim has led some of the most innovative and impactful programming in the young history of the Australian subscription television industry. She is in the vanguard of creative talent in television and we are fortunate to have her continuing to contribute to our ongoing success”.
Kim began her career as Project Officer at the Australian Film Commission before being appointed Business Affairs Manager at Roadshow Coote and Carroll, one of Australia's most prestigious film and television production companies. During her ten-year tenure, the company produced over 300 hours of programming including the award-winning Brides of Christ and GP.
With the introduction of subscription television, Village Roadshow appointed Kim as Chief Executive Officer of the new 24-hour music channel enterprise, ARC music TV, which re-branded to MTV Australia in 1997.
In 1999 Kim was appointed as Consultant Production Executive at Fox Studios Australia overseeing all local film and television commissions before being promoted to Head of Production.
In 2002 Kim joined FOXTEL as Head of Production, owned and operated channels which involved supervision of local programming on key Fox branded Channels, including FOX8. Credit highlights from that period include Executive Producer of Australia's Next Top Model, Love Bytes, Dangerous, and Seasons 1 and 2 of the multi award-winning Love My Way.
With a wealth of experience and knowledge, in 2005 Kim joined SHOWTIME as Executive Producer/Consultant on original drama commissions whilst continuing as Executive Producer/Consultant on all FOXTEL original drama commissions.
For SHOWTIME Australia, Kim has executive produced Season 3 of Love My Way, Satisfaction Seasons 1, 2 and 3, and Tangle Seasons 1 and 2. In 2010, she is executive producing the 6-hour television mini-series adaptation of Tim Winton's highly acclaimed novel Cloudstreet.
In 2009 for FOXTEL, Kim executive produced the comedy series Whatever Happened To That Guy? and co-executive produced the narrative comedy :30 Seconds. She is also currently executive producing the new W Channel drama commission Spirited, starring Claudia Karvan.
The ASTRA Pioneer Award is determined by a vote of the ASTRA Board of Directors.
ASTRA CEO, Petra Buchanan said “This award recognises the tremendous talent and leadership within the subscription TV industry. We take seriously the importance of acknowledging and highlighting individuals that are doing great work to grow subscription TV in Australia.”
The Future is Now ASTRA 2010 Conference draws together Australia's subscription television industry for a timely look at the media landscape and what lies ahead. An innovative and thought provoking range of topics and speakers will focus on how enhanced technology and viewer demand is impacting the industry today.