1997 in Australian television
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
Events
- 6 January – Rob Elliott takes over from Tony Barber as host of Wheel of Fortune. The programme starts 1997 without Adriana Xenides as she takes long term leave as letter turner due to a cancerous breakdown, she returns the puzzleboard in July. Her place is filled by ex-Perfect Match hostess Kerrie Friend. After a notable absence throughout 1996 due in part to hosting Family Feud for the last remainder of the year, John Deeks returns to the booth as announcer – the position had been held by David Day in Adelaide, and Ron E Sparkes in Sydney.
- 3 February – Australian drama serial Heartbreak High switches over to air on ABC at 6:00 pm from Monday to Thursdays.
- 31 March – A brand new Australian game show called Burgo's Catch Phrase hosted by former Wheel of Fortune presenter John Burgess starts screening on Nine Network.
- 1 July – Prime Television comes to Mildura, ending a monopoly on commercial television held by STV-8 since 1965.
- 11 July – American-Canadian children's animated series Arthur debuts on ABC.
- 4 August – Judge Judy makes it debut on Network Ten.
- September – Jo Beth Taylor resigns as host of Australia's Funniest Home Video Show as part of the show's biggest hosts in history – she is replaced by Getaway reporter, Catriona Rowntree, and then axed.
- 22 September – A reboot of the classic Australian 1980s sitcom Kingswood Country called Bullpitt! once again starring Ross Higgins as Ted Bullpitt airs on Seven Network.
- 11 October – In Neighbours, Helen Daniels dies in her sleep at a family get together. The last ever of the original 1985 cast members Anne Haddy departs the series, she died two years later after a long illness.
- 12 October – American sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond debuts on Seven Network.
- 1 November – TCN-9 stages the first trial of digital television in the Southern Hemisphere.
- 19 November – American animated comedy series King of the Hill screens on Network Ten at 8:00 pm following The Simpsons at 7:30 pm.
- 3 December – American supernatural drama, fantasy, action, horror series Buffy the Vampire Slayer debuts on Seven Network.
- 7 December – American animated comedy series King of the Hill switches over to airing on Seven Network following bad ratings on Ten.
- 20 December – American animated comedy series South Park airs on SBS. It also became the network's highest rating series to date.
- The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales is broadcast live on all ABC and commercial free-to-air television channels.
Channels
New channels
- 1 June – Ovation Channel[1]
- 1 July – Odyssey Channel[2]
- 1 September – The LifeStyle Channel[3]
- 7 September – Movie Extra[3]
Rebranded channels
- 20 March – MTV Australia (was ARC Music Channel)[4]
- 18 April – Channel V Australia (was Red)[4]
- 7 September – Movie One (was The Movie Network)[3]
Debuts
Domestic
| Program | Channel | Debut date |
|---|---|---|
| Bay City | Seven Network | 4 January |
| Fallen Angels | ABC | 7 February |
| Big Sky | Network Ten | 17 February |
| RPM | Network Ten | 30 March |
| Good Guys, Bad Guys | Nine Network | 30 March |
| Burgo's Catch Phrase | Nine Network | 31 March |
| Plucka's Place | Nine Network | 5 April |
| The Wayne Manifesto | ABC | 2 June |
| Magic Mountain | ABC | 3 June |
| Plasmo | ABC | 4 June |
| Return to Jupiter | ABC | 8 June |
| Murder Call | Nine Network | 11 August |
| Shape, Shape, Shape | ABC | 11 August |
| State Coroner | Network Ten | 14 August |
| The Adventures of Lano and Woodley | ABC | 1 September |
| Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord | Nine Network | 1 September |
| Swinging | ABC | 10 September |
| Bullpitt! | Seven Network | 22 September |
| Kitu and Woofl | ABC | 7 October |
| Mirror, Mirror II | Network Ten | 11 October |
| The Gift | Nine Network | 27 October |
| Wildside | ABC | 23 November |
| Harry's Practice | Seven Network | 2 December |
| Children's Hospital | ABC | 14 December |
| The Cartoon Connection | Seven Network | 22 December |
| Challenger | Nine Network | 1997 |
International
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Subscription Television
International
| Program | Channel | Debut date |
|---|---|---|
| Let's Wiggle | Disney Channel | June |
International
| Program | Channel | Debut date |
|---|---|---|
 The Real World[5] |
MTV | April |
| The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss |
Nickelodeon | May |
| Recess |
Disney Channel | December |
| Blue's Clues |
Nickelodeon | 1997 |
| Brand Spanking New Doug |
Disney Channel | 1997 |
Changes to network affiliation
This is a list of programs which made their premiere on an Australian television network that had premiered on another Australian television network. The networks involved in the switch of allegiances are predominantly both free-to-air networks or both subscription television networks. Programs that have their free-to-air/subscription television premiere, after having premieed on the opposite platform (free-to air to subscription/subscription to free-to air) are not included. In some cases, programs may still air on the original television network. This occurs predominantly with programs shared between subscription television networks.
Domestic
| Program | New network(s) | Previous network(s) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heartbreak High | ABC | Network Ten | 3 February |
International
| Program | New network(s) | Previous network(s) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
  M.A.S.K. |
Network Ten | Nine Network | 4 February |
| Dennis the Menace |
Network Ten | ABC | 28 April |
| Inspector Gadget |
Network Ten | ABC | 9 June |
 Mr. Bean |
Seven Network | ABC | 26 June |
| Barney and Friends |
Network Ten | Nine Network | 18 October |
| King of the Hill |
Seven Network | Network Ten | 7 December |
Television shows
- Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959–1999)
- Four Corners (1961–present)
- Wheel of Fortune (1981–1996, 1996–2003, 2004–2008)
- Home and Away (1988–present)
- Blue Heelers (1994–2006)
- The Great Outdoors (1993–present)
- Today Tonight (1995–present)
- Today (1982–present)
- Sale of the Century (1980–2001)
- A Current Affair (1971–1978, 1988–present)
- Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971–1999)
- Midday (1973–1998)
- 60 Minutes (1979–present)
- Australia's Funniest Home Video Show (1990–2000, 2000–2004, 2005–present)
- The AFL Footy Show (1994–present)
- The NRL Footy Show (1994–present)
- Water Rats (1996–2001)
- Burgo's Catch Phrase (1997–2001, 2002–2003)
- The Price is Right (1993–1998)
- Neighbours (Seven Network 1985, Network Ten 1986–present)
- GMA with Bert Newton (1991–2005)
Ending / Resting this year
| Date | Show | Channel | Debut |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 May 1997 | Frontline | ABC TV | 9 May 1994 |
| 15 September 1997 | Full Frontal | Channel Seven | 13 May 1993 |
| 19 December 1997 | Agro's Cartoon Connection | Channel Seven | 1989 |
References
- ↑ Freeman, Jane (1 June 1997). "A festival in your living room". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 15. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
- ↑ Jane, Freeman (22 June 1997). "Docos hold the faithful". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 13. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
- 1 2 3 Weiniger, Peter (27 August 1997). "(Cable Watch)". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. p. 14. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- 1 2 Elder, Bruce (30 March 1997). "The new MUSIC WARS". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 13. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
On March 20, ARC disappeared to be replaced by MTV, Music Television, and on April 18 RED will be replaced by Channel [V].
- ↑ Thomas, Brett (5 April 1997). "GET REAL, WORLD – MTV IS WHERE IT'S AT". The Sun-Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 6.
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