Sarah Murdoch will remain as host of the top-rating Australia's Next Top Model, as FOXTEL has announced that it would renew the locally produced entertainment series for its seventh season.

"FOXTEL is proud to announce that we have signed Sarah Murdoch for a further season of Australia's Next Top Model," said Brian Walsh, FOXTEL Executive Director of Television.

"It is our most enduring and most successful locally made series and Sarah is an integral reason for the show's success. Next year will mark a new chapter in the program's history and we are confident it will, again, be compelling television."

Murdoch will also serve as the Executive Producer for the show through her production company, Room 329 Productions. Sarah came under fire last September when she announced the wrong winner for the the sixth season of Australia's Next Top Model.

Murdoch initially anounced Sydney's Kelsey Martinovich as the season sixth winner,and later admitted a mistake after Martinovich had already delivered her acceptance speech.

At first, it was thought to have been a technical issue involving the show's voting system but Be.Interactive, Australia's Next Top Model phone voting handler, said there were no technical problems with the voting and the vote was closed at the correct time and the correct winner was delivered.

Foxtel and Murdoch denied responsibility on their part, which led to speculations that the gaffe may have been a publicity stunt.

FOXTEL has also announced its commitment to Australian productions and a substantial increase to its local commissions, including 10 major drama and comedy series, more than 20 new documentary and lifestyle programs and its biggest line up of marquee Australian sport.