Quick Q: Who and what Foxtel’s content boss most admires

Welcome to Quick Q – Monday Media’s weekly Q&A series dedicated to finding out more about the personalities that matter most in the Australian media landscape.

Every week The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age asks key figures across corporate media, business, sport, federal politics, radio, television and culture to answer a series of questions about their lives, careers, hobbies and news habits.

This week’s conversation is with Amanda Laing, Foxtel Group’s chief content and commercial officer.

How did you get your big break?
I got a lucky break when I found myself as general counsel of ACP Magazines in the late 90’s. It was
my first job outside a law firm and the so-called “Tower of Power” in Park Street was the place to be.
It was the start of my long career in media which has now spanned magazines, television, digital,
production, streaming and sport. I’ve been lucky enough to work with the best in the business
during a time of great upheaval and dynamic transformation.

What are daily news media habits?
I first read the overseas entertainment and sports digital publications – like Variety, The Hollywood
Reporter and Sport Business – then I shift to the local news by skimming the main digital news sites.
On the weekend, I spread the newspapers out on the table in the sunshine, and settle in with a cup
of tea.

Which living person do you most admire?
It’s a dead heat between my mum and Michelle Obama. I also have enormous admiration for Adam
Goodes and Kurt Fearnley – both of whom not only challenged but bravely smashed through
prejudices and preconceptions.

Your guilty streaming pleasure?
Watching our new drama The Twelve is a great pleasure. A guilty pleasure is Ted Lasso, but only
because it isn’t on Foxtel and Binge.

Which phrase do you overuse?
Referring to someone as having been “hit in the ass with a rainbow” because it captures perfectly
when someone gets a win through no actual work or effort of their own. Priceless.

What did you want to do when you grew up?
A photographer or a journalist. I’ve always loved storytelling.

What was your first job?
Waitressing at a little Italian restaurant in Canberra. It was chaotic, and it paid poorly, but the Carbonara was to die for.