Brian Walsh

Friends and colleagues of Brian Walsh, one of the great supporters of Australian TV and the arts, awoke this morning to news he had passed away.

“At the Foxtel Group, Brian was a long-time mentor, a confidant, a colleague and an unwavering friend to so many. In 1995, Brian was a key member of the management team that established Australian subscription television with the launch of Foxtel. “For much of the last 27 years I have been responsible for much of the Foxtel programming, promotions, publicity and marketing. “As I move into this chapter of my career I thought it was time to spread my wings and do some other things. He posed for our camera before the premiere with star Tim Minchin and then was busy afterwards asking Foxtel guests how much they enjoyed the first episode which Foxtel had just screened. He kept asking me to do better and in the end I ran out of names. Brian’s talent and his unique ability to engage people saw him become Foxtel’s creative force over the past two decades including overseeing all scripted and unscripted commissions for the Foxtel Group. “In the end he asked me to do it. Brian initially established his reputation as a gifted media, entertainment and sports publicist. Brian began his career with ABC before going into feature film production and distribution at Palm Beach Pictures and promotions and publicity at Sydney Radio Station 2SM. Under that deal he was to continue his consultancy with the subscription TV platform. “This is my 27th year I’ve been involved with Foxtel,” Walsh told Mediaweek at the time.

Vanguard Australian television executive Brian Walsh, best known as Foxtel's Executive Director of Television, has died.

“At the Foxtel Group, Brian was a long-time mentor, a confidant, a colleague and an unwavering friend to so many. In 1995, Brian was a key member of the management team that established Australian subscription television with the launch of Foxtel. Brian initially established his reputation as a gifted media, entertainment and sports publicist.

The Foxtel Group today expressed profound sadness at the sudden loss of an iconic figure throughout Foxtel's 28-year history. Walsh began his career with ABC ...

“At the Foxtel Group, Brian was a long-time mentor, a confidant, a colleague and an unwavering friend to so many. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at Our condolences go to his family and to those closest to him. Australia’s creative community has lost a much-loved figure in Brian. For us, the loss is heavily felt. He initially established his reputation as a gifted media, entertainment and sports publicist.

Brian Walsh, one of the founding executives of Foxtel, was found dead on Thursday in Sydney.

He would later join Foxtel at its launch in 1995, eventually becoming the pay-TV company’s director of television. Working as a consultant, Mr Walsh attended a lunch with Sam Chisholm, head of Rupert Murdoch’s BSkyB, and his adviser Bruce McWilliam at Rose Bay’s Catalina restaurant in 1994. We have lost an icon of Australian television that will never be replaced. Foxtel described Mr Walsh as a “gifted media, entertainment and sports publicist”, crediting the executive for the company’s most well-known TV series including Wentworth, Deadline Gallipoli and The Kettering Incident. Mr Walsh was named godfather to one of Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch’s children. Mr Walsh’s career began with the ABC and Sydney radio station 2SM.

Simply the best: Tributes flow as TV legend behind iconic rugby league ad dies.

“That’s a shock to the system. He was Foxtel,” Jackie O said on Friday. He was very passionate.

Brian Walsh is remembered by Hollywood actor Guy Pearce as a "mate" and "mentor" after a career that spanned almost five decades.

"For us, the loss is heavily felt. "I'm in shock & utterly devastated at the news of losing my long time friend & mentor Brian Walsh. - Brian Walsh worked for the Ten Network, Foxtel, the UK's Sky and Sky TV in Asia

The television industry is in mourning following the sudden death of “much-loved” Foxtel executive Brian Walsh.

A king maker, TV legend and dear friend. Instrumental to the success of— Luke Dennehy (@LukeDennehy) TV in his blood and a brilliant marketer. He mentored. When people you know die, it’s a shock to the system. “That’s a shock to the system. He was Foxtel,” Henderson said. He was very passionate. “We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for Brian. “His greatest gift was bringing joy to people including through the industry he was so passionate about and all those he collaborated with over so many years. “He had an extraordinary life and accomplished so much. “At the Foxtel Group, Brian was a long-time mentor, a confidant, a colleague and an unwavering friend to so many.

A leading figure in the national media industry has died following an incredible career spanning four decades.

“That’s a shock to the system. When people you know die, it’s a shock to the system. He was a behind the scenes guy, who was always looking out for others and looking for opportunities for other people. He was Foxtel,” Jackie O said on Friday. He was very passionate. his advice ‘get over yourselves, it’s only television’.” “But on the positive side because Walshie always looked on the bright side of life, he was able to enjoy it for a short time.” “He was a humble and modest man, he preferred to stay out of the spotlight.” “He was such a lovely bloke and I spent a lot of time with him up at Avoca, and he loved Avoca,” he said. “He was just a lovely bloke, he was just a star. “He was a very close friend of mine, a mentor and a legend.” “Walshie was a pioneer for the pioneer of the media industry,” Mr Fordham said.

Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany says Foxtel executive Brian Walsh “always cared about everyone other than himself”, following his death on Thursday.

Australian TV pioneer - executive, publicist and co-founder of Foxtel - died age 67.

“At the Foxtel Group, Brian was a long-time mentor, a confidant, a colleague and an unwavering friend to so many. Then in 1995, he was a key member of the management team which established Australian subscription television with the launch of Foxtel. Australia’s creative community has lost a much-loved figure in Brian.