Steve Bracks to exit as ASTRA chairman

Steve Bracks will depart as Chairman of the ASTRA board in September to become Australia’s next consul-general in New York.

The former Victorian Premier has been praised by the ASTRA board, for working to support the subscription television sector for almost five years.

“Under Steve’s leadership the industry has won larger audiences, invested billions of dollars in Australian content, added to diversity in the media sector, and advanced further towards a regulatory framework that expands consumer choice and promotes investment and jobs,” ASTRA CEO, Andrew Maiden, said.

“On behalf of the board and members of ASTRA, I thank Steve for his leadership over nearly five years, congratulate him on his new appointment, and wish him the very best for the future,” Maiden said.

Steve Bracks said, “The subscription television sector has grown to the point where it now employs more than 6000 Australians across scores of businesses large and small, invests more than $600 million annually in local content, and reaches more than seven million Australians.

“I have enjoyed my work with the subscription television sector and would like to thank the board and members for their support since October 2008.”

Last year in an interview with TV Tonight, he said was asked to take up the ASTRA Chairman role by former Foxtel CEO Kim Williams, replacing former NSW Premier Nick Greiner.

“Kim out of the blue came to see me a couple of years after I had left as Premier and said he had an interesting suggestion. We discussed it, I considered it. I liked the people involved and the young nature of the industry and the place they were carving for themselves, so I thought I would take it on.

“I have a good spread but this is different. It’s a different segment of the economy in a new, aggressive part of the media offering in the country. I like it, it’s a good challenge from my point of view.”

ASTRA expects to announce a new chair to replace Bracks before his departure in September.