Women's prison drama Wentworth trumped acclaimed mini-series Top Of The Lake at the ASTRA's, where the tears flowed as freely as the champagne.
It was an emotionally charged event at Pay-TV's night-of-nights, where they handed out 23 awards including a posthumous honour to Charlotte Dawson, who died last month.
The tribute to the Australia's Next Top Model judge was led by her teary-eyed fellow ANTM judges Didier Cohen and Jennifer Hawkins in recognition of her contribution to subscription television.
It was the second time Cohen and Hawkins made their way to the stage after ANTM earlier won most outstanding reality program at the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association awards.
Production for the new season of ANTM was due to start this month, but it has been put back several months due to Dawson's death.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The glowing Dawson tribute was the only sombre moment for the evening in which Wentworth beat Top Of The Lake for industry voted best Australian drama and Nicole da Silva beat Elisabeth Moss for most outstanding actress.
Da Silva plays inmate Franky Doyle in Wentworth, which is a re-imagining of the 1980s TV series Prisoner.
The second season of Wentworth starts on May 20 and the series has been a hit for Foxtel.
It has been sold to several networks around the world and a German adaption of Wentworth is now in production.
Winning the most outstanding actress award was beyond da Silva's comprehension.
She is a massive fan of Madmen actress Moss, who won a Golden Globe for her role as Robin Griffin in Top Of The Lake.
"I'm shocked," da Silva said.
"I'm a huge fan of Madmen ... I was just happy to be nominated in the same category as Elisabeth Moss.
"This is affirmation that it's a great series and it's a great team I work with."
Top Of The Lake, which received several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, walked away with just one ASTRA after Peter Mullan won most outstanding performance by an actor.
The hugely popular Selling Houses Australia delivered three of the four awards won by the Lifestyle Channel.
Selling Houses Australia presenters Shaynna Blaze and Andrew Winter won the viewer voted favourite female and male personality awards and the viewer voted most favourite program.
Lifestyle Channel's fourth victory was Paddock to Plate, hosted by chef Matt Moran, which won the industry voted most outstanding lifestyle program.
Even though Lifestyle won the most awards, it was Showcase which won the coveted channel of the year. The award was presented by Days Of Our Lives stars Kristian Alfonoso and Shaun Christian.
Showcase is home to epic series Game Of Thrones, crime-drama Breaking Bad and political thriller House Of Cards.
And even though Game Of Thrones has some of TV's most rabid fans, they didn't vote en masse for the fantasy series.
American post-apocalyptic horror drama series The Walking Dead beat Game Of Thrones to win the favourite international program, while the History Channel won the inaugural achievement award.
LIST OF WINNERS AT ASTRA AWARDS:
Favourite Personality Male:
Andrew Winter [Selling Houses Australia] (The LifeStyle Channel)
Favourite Personality Female:
Shaynna Blaze [Selling Houses Australia] (The LifeStyle Channel)
Favourite Program - Australian:
Selling Houses Australia (The LifeStyle Channel)
Favourite Program - International:
Grand Designs UK (The LifeStyle Channel)
Favourite Program - International Drama:
The Walking Dead (FX)
Most Outstanding Childrens Program or Event:
Disney Channel FanFest TV Special Event (Disney Channel)
Most Outstanding Music Program:
The Riff (Channel [V])
Most Outstanding Sports Program:
The DHL Australia 2013 Lions Tour (Fox Sports)
Most Outstanding Sports Entertainment Program:
Open Mike (Fox Footy)
Most Outstanding Factual Program:
The People Speak (History Channel)
Most Outstanding News Program:
Sky News National - Election 2013 (SKY News National)
Most Outstanding Reality Program:
Australia's Next Top Model Season 8 (Fox8)
Most Outstanding Lifestyle Program:
Paddock To Plate (The LifeStyle Channel)
Most Outstanding General Entertainment Program:
Slimefest 2013 (Nickelodeon)
Most Outstanding Australian Drama:
Wentworth (SoHo)
Most Outstanding Use of Innovation:
Rugby on Fox Sports
Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor - Male:
Peter Mullan, Top Of The Lake (UKTV)
Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor - Female:
Nicole da Silva, Wentworth (SoHo)
Most Outstanding Performance by a Broadcast Journalist:
David Speers, PM Agenda, The Nation, Election Coverage (Sky News)
Best New Talent:
Kelli Underwood (Fox Sports)
Honorary ASTRA:
Charlotte Dawson
Channel Achievement:
History Channel
Channel of the Year:
Showcase
