Laurie Patton
Encyclopedia
Laurie Patton is an Australian media, IT and events industry executive. In 2010 he was a member of an Expert Panel for a review of the Australian Government's investment in the Indigenous broadcasting and media sector. From 2004 to 2010 Patton was the inaugural Chief Executive of free-to-air
community television station TVS (Television Sydney
).
Patton is Executive Director of the Television Sydney Foundation (2009 - 2011) and Executive Director / Principal of Conexion Event Management, a Sydney based conference and exhibition company. He is also a non-executive director of the National Heart Foundation of Australia
(NSW Division) (2006 - 2011) and chair of the Foundation's National Fundraising Committee.
Patton joined TVS shortly after the company was awarded its broadcast licence, bringing together a small team of industry professionals and volunteers to create a digital broadcast operations centre and launch the channel in February 2006. In February 2009 TVS became the first Australian television channel to simultaneously stream continuously live on the Internet and on 1 March 2010 became the first community channel to simulcast in digital and analogue. The station is backed by the University of Western Sydney
(UWS) and Metro Screen
. UWS and Metro Screen also back the Television Sydney Foundation, whose aim is to secure philanthropic donations to be used to support the development of local programming for TVS.
In March 2008 Patton co-founded ACTA
, the Australian Community Television Alliance, and represented ACTA on the Federal Government's Digital Switchover Taskforce Industry Advisory Group. He is credited with successfully lobbying the Australian Government to have additional broadcast spectrum provided to the metropolitan community stations to allow them to broadcast in digital on the Australian Freeview
platform.
Patton's television career began as an on-camera reporter and producer of news and current affairs programs, working for each of the three Australian commercial television networks. He reported from Los Angeles for Network Ten
and from London for the Seven Network
and was the first dedicated finance reporter on an Australian commercial television network (for Seven News
). His producer credits include Seven's "Eleven AM" and "Newsworld", Nine's "Sunday and "Business Sunday" and Ten's "Good Morning Australia".
Patton later held a range of executive positions at the Seven Network including General Manager of Seven Queensland
, General Manager of Channel Seven Sydney and Network Director of Marketing.
In 1995 Patton created World Movies
, the highly acclaimed pay TV
channel, and has held non-executive directorships on boards including Sky News Australia
, SportsVision and the New South Wales Film and Television Office
(FTO). While Deputy Chair of the FTO Patton initiated and led the first official delegation of Australian film makers to the Shanghai International Film Festival
and headed up exploratory negotiations with the China Film Group
that led to the signing of an official film co-production agreement between Australia and China.
Patton was a consultant and Chief Operating Officer for Continental Century Pay-TV, which along with Australis Media created the first Australian pay TV platform called Galaxy Television. He was a founding director of the subscription television industry association now called ASTRA
.
Free-to-air
Free-to-air describes television and radio services broadcast in clear form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscription or one-off fee...
community television station TVS (Television Sydney
Television Sydney
TVS, or Television Sydney , is a free-to-air community television station broadcasting in Sydney, Australia.-History:Transmissions officially commenced on analogue UHF channel 31 in February 2006 after three months of technical trials...
).
Patton is Executive Director of the Television Sydney Foundation (2009 - 2011) and Executive Director / Principal of Conexion Event Management, a Sydney based conference and exhibition company. He is also a non-executive director of the National Heart Foundation of Australia
National Heart Foundation of Australia
The National Heart Foundation of Australia is an independent charity established in 1959. Its vision is for Australians to have the best cardiovascular health in the world and its mission is to reduce suffering and death from heart, stroke and blood vessel disease in Australia.Over the past five...
(NSW Division) (2006 - 2011) and chair of the Foundation's National Fundraising Committee.
Patton joined TVS shortly after the company was awarded its broadcast licence, bringing together a small team of industry professionals and volunteers to create a digital broadcast operations centre and launch the channel in February 2006. In February 2009 TVS became the first Australian television channel to simultaneously stream continuously live on the Internet and on 1 March 2010 became the first community channel to simulcast in digital and analogue. The station is backed by the University of Western Sydney
University of Western Sydney
The University of Western Sydney, also known as UWS, is a multi-campus university in the Greater Western region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
(UWS) and Metro Screen
Metro Screen
Metro Screen is a Paddington, Sydney based not-for-profit film and television training organisation. It is the NSW member of Screen Development Australia and is located in the Paddington Town Hall, Cnr Oxford St & Oatley Rd, Paddington....
. UWS and Metro Screen also back the Television Sydney Foundation, whose aim is to secure philanthropic donations to be used to support the development of local programming for TVS.
In March 2008 Patton co-founded ACTA
Acta
ACTA may refer to:* Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments, a standards organization for terminal equipment such as registered jacks* Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, in southern California...
, the Australian Community Television Alliance, and represented ACTA on the Federal Government's Digital Switchover Taskforce Industry Advisory Group. He is credited with successfully lobbying the Australian Government to have additional broadcast spectrum provided to the metropolitan community stations to allow them to broadcast in digital on the Australian Freeview
Freeview
DTV Services, trading as Freeview, is the name for the collection of free-to-air services on the Digital Terrestrial Television platform in the UK. The service is jointly run by its five equal shareholders, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and transmitter operator Arqiva. DTV Services is designed to market...
platform.
Patton's television career began as an on-camera reporter and producer of news and current affairs programs, working for each of the three Australian commercial television networks. He reported from Los Angeles for Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
and from London for the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
and was the first dedicated finance reporter on an Australian commercial television network (for Seven News
Seven News
Seven News is the television news service of the Seven Network in Australia.National bulletins are presented from Seven's high-definition studios in Martin Place, Sydney, while flagship 6pm bulletins are produced in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. The network also produces Seven...
). His producer credits include Seven's "Eleven AM" and "Newsworld", Nine's "Sunday and "Business Sunday" and Ten's "Good Morning Australia".
Patton later held a range of executive positions at the Seven Network including General Manager of Seven Queensland
Seven Queensland
Seven Queensland is an Australian television station, licensed to, and serving the regional areas of Queensland. The station is owned and operated by the Seven Network from studios located in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast, using the callsign STQ, which stands for Sunshine Television,...
, General Manager of Channel Seven Sydney and Network Director of Marketing.
In 1995 Patton created World Movies
World Movies
World Movies is an Australian subscription television channel dedicated to foreign films, available on Foxtel, Optus TV and Austar. The channel features foreign film, documentaries, independent cinema, and interviews with international movie stars....
, the highly acclaimed pay TV
Pay TV
Pay television, premium television, or premium channels refers to subscription-based television services, usually provided by both analog and digital cable and satellite, but also increasingly via digital terrestrial and internet television...
channel, and has held non-executive directorships on boards including Sky News Australia
Sky News Australia
Sky News Australia is an Australian 24 hour cable and satellite news channel available in 2.5 million homes on Foxtel, Austar, Optus Television and Neighbourhood Cable subscription platforms....
, SportsVision and the New South Wales Film and Television Office
New South Wales Film and Television Office
The NSW Film & Television Office is the official screen agency of the New South Wales Government. Its charter says its role is:*to provide financial and other assistance to the film and television industry in carrying out the industry's activities in New South Wales and to disseminate information...
(FTO). While Deputy Chair of the FTO Patton initiated and led the first official delegation of Australian film makers to the Shanghai International Film Festival
Shanghai International Film Festival
The Shanghai International Film Festival , abbreviated SIFF, is one of the largest film festivals in East Asia.Along with Tokyo International Film Festival, the SIFF is one of the biggest film festivals in Asia. The first festival was held from October 7 to 14, 1993, and was held biennially until...
and headed up exploratory negotiations with the China Film Group
China Film Group
China Film Group Corporation , abbreviated as CFGC, is the largest and most influential state-run film enterprise in China.-History:The predecessor China Film Corporation was established in 1949...
that led to the signing of an official film co-production agreement between Australia and China.
Patton was a consultant and Chief Operating Officer for Continental Century Pay-TV, which along with Australis Media created the first Australian pay TV platform called Galaxy Television. He was a founding director of the subscription television industry association now called ASTRA
ASTRA
Asociaţia Transilvană pentru Literatura Română şi Cultura Poporului Român is a cultural association founded in 1861 in Sibiu...
.