New award categories and high-calibre judging panels from across the creative industries are just some of the changes announced to the annual ASTRA Awards, as nominations open for the 2015 event.

From 2015, all ASTRA Awards will be judged by panels of eminent producers, presenters and executives, bringing the ASTRAs into line with most international and domestic award programs, including the AACTAs, Emmys and Academy Awards.

Announcing the changes, ASTRA CEO Andrew Maiden said the changes represented a “coming of age” for the Australian subscription television industry, which will celebrate its 20^th anniversary in 2015.

“The huge quality and range of content on subscription television deserves to be judged by the most senior and experienced leaders from the creative industries,” Maiden said.

“Broadening our judging panels to include the best creative minds in the country will help ensure the ASTRA Awards are known as the pre-eminent annual prizes for quality screen content,” he said.

The 2015 ASTRA Awards will also feature 18 categories, including new individual awards for the most outstanding female presenter and male presenter.

Categories for 2015 are:

Individual awards

• Female Actor
• Male Actor
• Female Presenter
• Male Presenter
• New Talent
• Broadcast Journalist

Program awards 

• Drama (Australian)
• Drama (International)
• Children’s Program
• Music Program
• Sports Program
• News Program
• Reality Program
• Factual Program
• Lifestyle Program
• General Entertainment Program
• Channel of the Year
• Channel Achievement Award