Video Hits (Australian TV series)

"Video Hits" is an Australian music television show that first aired in June 1986. It broadcasts on Network Ten for three hours each Saturday and Sunday morning.

History

From the late 1980s to 1999, the show highlighted songs featured in the Australian Music Report chart each week. This fluctuated from a Top 40 format to a Top 30, Top 20 and currently just a Top 10 countdown. In the 2000s, the show switched to the ARIA Report. In the late 1990s, an "Interactive Top 10" was introduced with songs supposedly voted in by the public. This was later stopped after claims of vote rigging. One case in particular saw a song by Australian singer Rani (called "Always on My Mind") chart in the Top 5 of the interactive chart for more than six months, having sold poorly in shops and getting very little airplay.

In 2003, the show reached 1.5 million viewers every Sunday in metropolitan markets.

From 1986 to 2004, the show featured a non-stop video clip-based format. In 2004, the show introduced a new look and format that included feature interviews each week and clips from different music genres.

During late 2005, the show was broadcast live on Sundays with a live audience. Special guests appeared on the show to co-host, such as The Veronicas, The Black Eyed Peas and Melissa Tkautz to name a few.

In 2006, the show was broadcast live without an audience. The chosen artist picked songs they wanted played along with their own past and present videos in a format similar to ABC's rival music TV show "rage". As of April 2007, the show still continues with this format.

"Video Hits" turned 20 years old in 2006 and celebrated with a special event featuring a countdown of the Top 100 Video Clips of the past twenty years, compiled from online and SMS votes.

A new show called "Video Hits First" premiered in September 2006. The premise for "Video Hits First" is that it is rated G and suitable for all audiences, after claims throughout the media that certain music videos were sexually explicit. The format also shows the top 10 video clips from the ARIA Charts and it also features competitions and interviews with artists.

Programme format

"Video Hits" generally plays Top 40 Australian and overseas titles as well as clips that are being promoted but not in the charts.

"Video Hits" supports Australian music, featuring local artists such as George, Frenzal Rhomb, The John Butler Trio, Little Birdy, Delta Goodrem, The Hampdens, The Cat Empire and The Sleepy Jackson.

"Video Hits" also hosts various competitions through SMS. In 2005, the show gave away more than $650,000 in prizes.

Presenters

The new format introduced in 2004 included two regular hosts Kelly Cavuoto and Axle Whitehead - former contestants on "Australian Idol" in 2003.

The host of "Video Hits First" is Faustina 'Fuzzy' Agolley, who began hosting the show since its inception in September.

After Cavuoto was sacked in late 2004 for being at a kids TV awards show under the influence of alcohol, Whitehead took over as a solo host of the show. Axle resigned on November 1, 2006 after exposing himself at the 2006 ARIA Awards, which were held 3 days earlier [http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/flasher-host-resigns/2006/11/01/1162339910323.html] .

After Axle's resignation, Faustina 'Fuzzy' Agolley became host of "Video Hits". She has since interviewed many artists including The Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, Coldplay and Pete Murray. In February 2007, MTV presenter Nathan Sapsford joined and began co-hosting the show. Soon after, he became the sole host, with Fuzzy going back to only hosting "Video Hits First". On special occasions (such as the recent "Video Hits" special "A-Z of Pop"), they both share hosting duties.

Host Faustina 'Fuzzy' Agolley has constantly been mistaken for Australia's Sneaky Sound System lead singer Connie Mitchell.

See also

* List of Australian music television shows
* List of Australian television series
* Video Hits Australia Top 100 Video Clips

External links

* [http://ten.com.au/ten/tv_VideoHits.html "Video Hits"'s official website]
* [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20670894-2,00.html "Axle Exposes Himself" - News.com.au article]