ASTRA, the subscription media industry’s peak body, has unveiled the 2015 ASTRA graduate program with eight people selected to undertake paid short term contracts with leading television brands.

Now in its fifth year, the ASTRA Graduate Program is a partnership with Australian Film, Television & Radio School (AFTRS) and provides employment pathways for creative talent in the competitive television industry.

The successful graduates recently completed a Foundation Diploma from AFTRS and will now undertake 13 weeks of work with channels and platforms including Foxtel, FOX SPORTS, Disney Channel, SBS Subscription Television, Discovery Networks and TVSN.

Starting in February 2015, the eight young people will undertake roles across a variety of areas including marketing, programming, acquisitions, production and broadcasting.

“Television is a notoriously difficult industry to break into and the ASTRA graduate program aims to provide young people with a foot in the door,” said Andrew Maiden, ASTRA CEO.

“This program is a breeding ground for some of our best talent with many past participants now in significant roles with STV companies and associated production companies,” he said.

One such graduate is Tom Phillips who was part of the 2012 program and was successful in securing an internship at FOX SPORTS and is now a full time in the on-air creative department.

“The ASTRA program not only gave me access to the inner workings of the industry but it equipped me with real world skills and networks which has benefited my career greatly and continues to provide opportunities” Mr Phillips said

The graduate program is part of ASTRA’s commitment to foster creativity and nurture talent among the STV industry. The graduates will join over 6600 individuals employed by STV in dozens of businesses large and small, with the industry investing over $600 million in local production and adding over $1.9 billion to Australia’s GDP.

“The aim of the ASTRA graduate program is to provide opportunities for the most creative, skilled and motivated graduates to be exposed to and trained in the subscription television sector. The program is a great opportunity for graduates to enter the industry,” Sandra Levy, CEO of AFTRS said.

The successful candidates of the ASTRA Graduate Program and the organisations they will be working with are :

• John Murdaca – SBS
• Simon Croker – Discovery
• Brett Walton – TVSN
• Antony Robinson – FOX Sports
• Nick Harriot – FOX Sports
• Nick Spellicy – Disney Channel
• Andrew Perry- Foxtel
• Connor Palmer – Foxtel