Foxtel in fight for hot new shows after Netflix withdraws Aussie broadcast rights to acclaimed US drama Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright in House of Cards which will no longer be seen on Foxtel. Picture: Sony/Showtime Source: Supplied SOMETIMES it's what they don't tell you at the annual TV upfronts that says the most - a glaring omission from Foxtel's showcase has exposed the Australian expansion plans of US streaming giant Netflix for the first time. Industry sources have confirmed Foxtel was forced to scrap any mention of the US drama series House Of Cards at its 2015 presentation after Netflix withdrew the Australian broadcast rights to the acclaimed show - which it now reportedly plans to use itself to launch here early next year. It is understood Foxtel subscribers will continue to have access to Netflix production Orange Is The New Black for at least another year, but a source confirmed the Kevin Spacey-led political drama will not be seen on the pay-TV network when the third season premieres next year. That season is expected to hit US screens in February or March, which also happens to be when Netflix is rumoured to be readying to launch into Australia. House Of Cards was the first original production commissioned to enormous international success by Netflix and it seems logical the on-demand video service would want to lure new customers here with its most popular TV title. When contacted for comment about the show's future with Foxtel, a US spokesman for Netflix was coy: "Sorry, we don't comment on (the) terms of our licensing deals."" In other upfront "no-show" news, ABC legal drama Janet King was not flagged as part of Aunty's offering next year, but insiders are adamant the series could still get a second season. While ABC budget cuts have trimmed commissions, it is thought leading lady Marta Dusseldorp's renewed commitment to A Place To Call Home (now to be seen on Foxtel) could be affecting Janet King's scheduling. And a small footnote from Ten's gala upfronts at The Star on Thursday night: a network spokesman confirmed its previously touted big sea epic Batavia has been sunk because producers Screentime "were unable to secure funding in the timeframe we were aiming for, but we are not ruling out an opportunity with Batavia further down the track." Sunrise and Dancing With The Stars favourite Edwina Bartholomew. Picture: Seven Source: Channel 7 SHE may be the busiest woman on TV today, but Sunrise and Dancing With The Stars favourite Edwina Bartholomew still found time for a passion project this year. Inspired by the work and camaraderie of the Rural Fire Service, while covering the NSW bushfires, she made it her mission to organise a fundraising calendar to honour the volunteer heroes all over Australia. Co-ordinating visits to a range of fire-affected communities including the Blue Mountains, and with the Sunrise weather crew and photographer Tarsha Hosking on board, the calendar features "models" from all walks of life, including one man who has volunteered since the 1950s. Eddy has also roped in the Sunrise staff to stuff envelopes later this month to make sure anyone who buys a calendar from the show's website (available from tomorrow) will receive it in time for Christmas. All monies raised will go to the Red Cross to help future fire-affected communities. AMANDA Keller has had a killer year - soaring to the top of the Sydney radio ratings and on a winner with Ten's lifestyle series The Living Room. Still, she and the show's co-hosts leapt at the chance to give back and play Oprah during a special Christmas taping, where the audience was showered with free gifts. The seasonal stunt saw more than $30,000 in surprises shared with the audience members, who had been secretly surveyed about what they'd like from Santa - with all wishes then granted via online shopping site oo.com.au. The Living Room's Amanda Keller plays Oprah in a new Christmas special. The audience were hand-picked from needy communities and went home with everything from TVs and computer tablets, to go-carts and outdoor furniture. The Christmas surprise show will make for a happy finale for the year, when it airs later this month. AMONG the interesting new commissions announced by SBS on Friday - and beyond my girl crush on cucina queen Silvia Colloca's cooking show - three are set to ­impress. They include a four-part documentary series following Heston Blumenthal as he shifts his famed Fat Duck restaurant from the UK to Melbourne (to air in 2016); local drama The Principal, which has already begun filming around Sydney and stars Rectify's Aden Young andHeartbreak High's Alex Dimitriades; and the return of the provocative doco Go Back To Where You Came From, which will again ignite the refugee debate when it takes Australians to Syria and Baghdad. CHANNEL 9 is the only network yet to confirm its 2015 schedule, but the death watch has already begun for Big Brother, which flatlined in the ratings this week. Wednesday night's figures were terminal, with the reality series plunging out of the top 20 and pulling a dismal 463,000 viewers nationally. ONE TO WATCH: Ella Scott sails in for NCIS role SHE'S played a cop, a lawyer and a nurse on Australian television, now a tour of duty to LA has seen Ella Scott Lynch land a guest role on Channel 10"s top-rating US military series NCIS. Ella Scott Lynch has landed a guest role on Channel 10"s US series NCIS. Shane Warne ... nothing if not predictable. The former All Saints, Crownies and Underbelly: Badness star is currently filming her role as Anna, a decorated sailor and hospital corpsman who has returned from two tours in Afghanistan to study at medical school. Scott Lynch is also expected to appear in season two of Nine's "60s drama series Love Child next year. TV GOSSIP: Warne to play a frisky summer SHANE Warne is nothing if not predictable. In a frisky mood at Channel 9"s summer of cricket lunch on Monday, the spin king was true to form: ducking out between speeches to tend to his very needy mobile phone; refusing the plate of vegies put in front of him (OK, that was me, as a dare); and sledging his co-commentators across the room. And be warned: the Peter Pan prankster is already planning to bowl a few wrong'uns based on the naughty names flying in for the test series. Joe Root, de Kock ... you get the gist. DON'T MISS: Sorkin's long goodbye to TV HIS pen was at its mightiest when writing The West Wing. But like politics, or Project Runway, one day Aaron Sorkin was in and the next, as he declared last week, he was out. After being burned by critics of The Newsroom, the talented creator (pictured with actress Olivia Munn) confirmed this third season would be the last and his swan song in television. While this series has been patchy, this season his mojo has returned. Creator/executive producer Aaron Sorkin and actress Olivia Munn at the premiere of HBO's The Newsroom Season 3. Picture: Mark Davis/Getty Source: Getty Images Originally published as Big fight for hot new shows