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Vale Brian Walsh

A creative leader in Australian Television

Simon Smith

The NFSA acknowledges the sudden passing of significant Australian television executive Brian Walsh (1955–2023).

A visionary, friend and mentor

Over four decades, Walsh was one of the most influential creatives across our screen industry, and was a passionate supporter of Australian stories, storytelling and production.

His vision, commitment and determination contributed to the international success of iconic series such as Neighbours and Wentworth, and he was a friend and mentor to numerous practitioners in the broadcast industry.

Despite many successful roles at other networks, Brian Walsh remains best known as the driving force behind the introduction of Foxtel, Australia’s most successful subscription television network.

The Birth of Foxtel

The NFSA retains an 85-minute on-camera interview conducted by interviewer Andrew Urban in August 2010, part of a collection of interview master tapes with key Foxtel executives generously donated by the network.

In this excerpt, Walsh recalls the momentous 1994 meeting at Sydney’s Catalina Restaurant that led to his appointment at Foxtel, and how he altered the original proposed name for the new network:

Brian Walsh interviewed by Andrew Urban. Recorded 12 August 2010. Courtesy: Foxtel Group. NFSA title: 1015232

'A great love of television'

In this excerpt, Walsh recalls his early interest in promotion and marketing, and the hands-on work ethic that remained much admired across his career: