Acclaimed local series Wentworth – inspired by the late 1970s hit Prisoner – was named most outstanding Australian drama for the second year running at the 2015 ASTRA Awards.

Lead actor Danielle Cormack, who plays Bea Smith, won the most outstanding performance by a female actor award. This follows her castmate, Nicole da Silva, getting the gong last year.

The Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association Awards – essentially the "Logies of pay TV" – were held at The Star in Sydney on Thursday. The event was hosted by American television personality Giuliana Rancic, presenter of the E! News program.

Andrew McFarlane won the most outstanding performance by a male actor award for his role in The Devil's Playground. A sequel to Fred Schepisi's 1976 film of the same name, it stars McFarlane as Father Marco Andrassi, a Catholic paedophile priest whose crimes are concealed or denied by those closest to him.

Fairfax Media reviewer Ruth Ritchie said McFarlane's performance – and those of his castmates Don Hany and Toni Collette – "will stand out and stay with viewers forever".

Game of Thrones, believed to be the world's most pirated program, was crowned most outstanding international drama.

Sky News was named channel of the year, having previously won that title in 2006. The 24-hour news channel's coverage of politics secured its win, according to the judges.

"Sky has become the benchmark for political news coverage, becoming the first and most trusted source of political news and analysis in Australia," said ASTRA CEO Andrew Maiden.

Sky's Paul Murray won the most outstanding news program award for Paul Murray Live, as well as most outstanding male presenter.

Colleague David Speers – who won a Walkley Award last year for his "excruciating" interview with Attorney-General George Brandis – was recognised with the prize for most outstanding performance by a broadcast journalist. It is Speers' eighth ASTRA Award.

Foxtel's director of television, Brian Walsh, won the inaugural Industry Contribution Award. Walsh was with Foxtel when it began 20 years ago, and was commended by Maiden for "launching the careers of many of Australia's best known and most successful personalities".

It was a good night for the Fox Sports channels, with Kelli Underwood winning most outstanding female presenter and the Jeep Saturday Live on Fox show taking the most outstanding sports program award.

Chef and restaurateur Matt Moran's Paddock to Plate won its second consecutive ASTRA Award for most outstanding lifestyle program; Phyllis Foundis – creator of the men's chat show Foundis – won most outstanding new talent; and the entertainment-oriented Arena took the channel achievement award.

FULL LIST OF ASTRA AWARD WINNERS:

Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Female

Danielle Cormack (Wentworth, Season 2: SoHo)

Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Male

Andrew McFarlane (Devil's Playground: Showcase)

Most Outstanding Presenter – Female

Kelli Underwood (Back Page Live, Breaking Ground: Fox Sports)

Most Outstanding Presenter – Male

Paul Murray (Paul Murray Live: Sky News)

Most Outstanding New Talent

Phyllis Foundis (Foundis: Aurora)

Most Outstanding Performance by a Broadcast Journalist

David Speers (PM Agenda, The Nation: Sky News)

Most Outstanding Drama – Australian

Wentworth (Season 2: SoHo)

Most Outstanding Drama – International

Game of Thrones (Season 4: Showcase)

Most Outstanding Children's Program

Monster Beach (Cartoon Network)

Most Outstanding Music Program

Slimefest (Nickelodeon)

Most Outstanding Sports Program

Jeep Saturday Live on Fox (Fox Footy)

Most Outstanding News Program

Paul Murray Live (Paul Murray: Sky News)

Most Outstanding Reality Program

The Recruit (Season 1: Fox8)

Most Outstanding Factual Program

Hillsborough (ESPN)

Most Outstanding Lifestyle Program

Paddock to Plate (Matt Moran; Season 2: The LifeStyle Channel)

Most Outstanding General Entertainment Program

Top Gear (BBC Knowledge)

Industry Contribution Award

Brian Walsh

Channel Achievement Award

Arena

mlallo@fairfaxmedia.com.au