Events 1 January – Digital Television arrives in the major state capitals of Australia and states in it, with the ABC and SBS permitted to operate multi-channel services. 24 January – The Seven Network loses the TV rights to the AFL for the first time, since televised football began in 1957. The rights are won by a Nine Network-Network Ten-Fox Footy Channel consortium. 5 February – The Weakest Link premieres on the Seven Network, airing twice a week, Mondays and Fridays, however, shortly before the commencement of the AFL season, the latter edition is moved forwards to Thursdays in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and then in Sydney and Brisbane after the conclusion of the AFL season. 11 February – The Network Ten undergoes a major revamp in its production and circle logo and on air graphics as a part of a new network re-launch, with the launch of its motto Seriously Ten, which are both currently in use to the 2012 revamp. 22 February – The voice actors behind the Funimation dubbed version of Dragon Ball Z Sean Schemmel (Goku, Nails and King Kai) and Christopher Sabat (Piccolo, Vegeta and Yamcha) appear on Cheez TV for an interview on Network Ten. 26 March – The $10,000 bank target is achieved for the first time on an episode of The Weakest Link. 10 April – American mystery fiction television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premieres on the Nine Network and is shown every Tuesday at 8:30 pm. 22 April – The Australian version of Big Brother premieres on Network Ten. 25 April – Brooke Marshall wins the second season of The Mole, taking home $100,000 in prize money. Michael Laffy is revealed as the Mole, and Hal Pritchard is the runner-up. 7 May – Nine players who were voted off The Weakest Link early in previous episodes were given a second chance to win up to $100,000. 27 May – Nine previous winners of The Weakest Link appear on the show again for another chance to win up to $100,000. In this episode, the $10,000 bank target is achieved again. 2 June – Mamma Mia: The Ultimate ABBA-Thon a 75-minute live variety special with a tribute to ABBA, goes to air live on the Nine Network. The special followed by a showing of ABBA: The Movie, a 1977 documentary on the group’s visit to Australia. 22 June – Hi-5 airs its 100th episode. 24 June – Australian children's Sunday morning wrapper programme Couch Potato airs its final episode on ABC hosted by Abby Coleman and David Heinrich and finishing up with a rerun of SimsalaGrimm. 16 July – Network Ten's Melbourne-based drama series The Secret Life of Us makes its first screening debut. The first season of Big Brother was won by Ben Williams. Australian soap opera Home and Away has switched over to air on Channel 5 in the UK after ITV lost the rights to the series. 31 July – Australian miniseries Blue Murder finally screens in NSW and the ACT for the very first time on the ABC six years after its broadcast in other states and territories due to the life sentence of Neddy Smith. 1 August – The ABC launches its very first digital multi-channel service ABC Kids. The channel airs programmes aimed at children and runs from 6:00am to 6:00pm. 7 August – The final episode of Water Rats goes to air on the Nine Network and the show was axed after six years. 8 August – Australian rural drama series McLeod's Daughters, based on the 1996 telemovie of the same name, premieres on Nine Network, which broadcasts every Wednesday at 7:30 pm. Long running Australian soap opera Neighbours begins airing on television stations in Ireland for the very first time on RTÉ. 11 September – Television networks relay coverage from CNN, NBC, ABC America and the BBC for up to forty-eight hours in the wake of September 11 attacks. Ten News is the first Australian network to cover the events, on its late news bulletin with Sandra Sully. 29 September – The Seven Network televises its final game of AFL until March 2007. 1 November – The ABC launches another digital multi-channel service called Fly TV. Airing from 6:00pm to 6:00am, the channel broadcasts music videos, reviews, comedy, drama, news programming, sport programmes, cartoons and current affairs for teenagers and young adults. 22 November – After Prime Television axes Regional television news bulletins in Newcastle, Wollongong and Canberra, and Southern Cross Broadcasting axes regional bulletins in Canberra and North Queensland, the ABA holds an inquiry into the adequacy of regional news services. Bulletins eventually return to those areas in 2004, albeit in the form of two-minute updates during weekdays in the ratings season. 25 November – The 1999 Film Notting Hill starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts premieres on the Seven Network. 29 November – After 21 years, Sale of the Century is "rested". It later returns to the Nine Network as Temptation in 2005 and runs until 2007, and again 2008 until 2009. Also another Nine Network game show Burgo's Catch Phrase has given the axe after 4 years. 12 December – The American comedy-drama series Gilmore Girls premieres on the Nine Network. December – The Nine Network will introduce a watermark on its programs. Until now, the Channel Nine watermark will now be broadcast on all news (until 2008 for the major revamp of its news bulletins, but reinstated in late 2009), current affairs and Live programs. December – A record $72,900 is won on The Weakest Link'''s special titled The Best of the Best.
Debuts Free-to-air Domestic Program Channel Debut date Love Is a Four Letter Word ABC The Big Arvo Seven Network The Weakest Link Seven Network Greed Network Ten Sit Down, Shut Up Network Ten Flat Chat Nine Network Cash Bonanza Nine Network Head Start ABC Littlemore ABC Big Brother Network Ten The Saddle Club ABC TV Horace and Tina Network Ten Wild Kat Network Ten Outriders Nine Network Insiders ABC Cybergirl Network Ten Big Brother: Adults Only Network Ten All Aussie Adventures Network Ten McLeod's Daughters Nine Network Catalyst ABC The Glass House ABC Always Greener Seven Network Bush Mechanics ABC Escape of the Artful Dodger Nine Network Corridors of Power ABC Kids, Drugs and Growing Up Nine Network Changi ABC The Chaser election specials ABC Effie: Just Quietly SBS TV The Shapies Nine Network Fishing Australia WIN Television 2001 The Great South East Seven Network (Queensland) 2001 Hook, Line and Sinker Southern Cross Tasmania 2001 The World Game SBS TV 2001
International Program Channel Debut date Cupid Network Ten State of the Planet ABC TV Four Fathers ABC TV Dad ABC TV Savage Dragon Network Ten Passions Seven Network The Chimp Channel Nine Network The Hughleys Seven Network The Big Knights ABC TV The Wacky World of Tex Avery Seven Network Payne Network Ten Hero to Zero ABC TV Malcolm in the Middle Nine Network Shadow Raiders ABC TV Big Kids ABC TV Junior Seven Network Bette Network Ten // The Baskervilles ABC TV Bloodlines: Murder in the Family Seven Network Angela Anaconda ABC TV Our Hero ABC TV Kiss Me Kate ABC TV Angelmouse ABC TV The Division Nine Network Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue Seven Network Takács Quartet SBS TV Life Force ABC TV Love in a Cold Climate ABC TV Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Seven Network Spider-Man Unlimited Network Ten Plonsters ABC TV CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Nine Network Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke Nine Network Sabrina: The Animated Series Seven Network The Parkers Nine Network The Sins ABC TV Ed Network Ten Sheep in the Big City Nine Network The Zeta Project Nine Network Pond Life SBS TV Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 SBS TV That's My Bush! SBS TV X-Men: Evolution Nine Network My Family ABC TV Harry and the Wrinklies ABC TV House of Mouse Seven Network /// Animated Tales of the World SBS TV Down to Earth ABC TV Arliss Seven Network / Action Man (2000) Network Ten Night Man Nine Network Burnside ABC TV Border Cafe ABC TV Black Cab ABC TV / Jackie Chan Adventures Network Ten Cubeez ABC TV My Best Friend is an Alien ABC TV Titch ABC TV / Aaagh! It's the Mr. Hell Show! SBS TV Dark Angel Seven Network Boston Public Seven Network Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married Nine Network Tom and Vicky ABC Kids (digital only) August PB Bear and Friends ABC Kids (digital only) August / George Shrinks ABC Kids (digital only) August Horrible Histories (2001 cartoon) ABC Kids (digital only) August Roger and the Rottentrolls ABC Kids (digital only) August Maggie and the Ferocious Beast ABC Kids (digital only) Rosie and Jim ABC Kids (digital only) Cardcaptors Network Ten Preston Pig ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) / The Mystery of Black Rose Castle ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) Stark Raving Mad Seven Network The Lone Gunmen Seven Network Rocket Power Network Ten Sylvanian Families Network Ten The Street Nine Network Courage the Cowardly Dog Nine Network Soldier of Fortune, Inc. Seven Network Mike, Lu and Og Nine Network Ethelbert the Tiger ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) Beverly Hills Teens Network Ten Sister, Sister Seven Network Butt-Ugly Martians Network Ten Bill and Ben ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) The Ananda Lewis Show Nine Network / Sali Mali ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) Tiny Planets ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) / John Callahan's Quads! SBS TV Smart Guy Seven Network The Kids from Room 402 Network Ten Beast ABC TV El Nombre ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) Marion and Geoff ABC TV / Sitting Ducks ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) In a Land of Plenty ABC TV What About Joan? Network Ten Eye Spy Seven Network Beware: Bad Drivers Seven Network The Ghost Hunter ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) Albie ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) The Fugitive (2000) Nine Network / Treasure ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) The Invisible Man (2000) Network Ten / Custer's Last Stand Up ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) The Oblongs Nine Network Gilmore Girls Nine Network Human Remains SBS TV / Further Tales of the City Nine Network Eckhart ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) Badjelly the Witch ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) Light Through Ashes SBS TV Oggy and the Cockroaches ABC Kids (digital only) 2001 Space Goofs ABC Kids (digital only) 2001 What About Mimi? Seven Network 2001 Yoho Ahoy ABC Kids (digital only) 2001 // Weird-Oh's Seven Network 2001 The Zack Files ABC Kids (digital only) 2001 Top of the Pops ABC TV 2001
Changes to network affiliation This is a list of programmes which made their premiere on an Australian television network that had previously 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 previously premiering 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 Bananas in Pyjamas ABC Kids (digital only) ABC TV Play School ABC Kids (digital only) ABC TV Johnson and Friends ABC Kids (digital only) ABC TV 2001 The Ferals ABC Kids (digital only) ABC TV 2001 The Adventures of Blinky Bill ABC Kids (digital only) ABC TV 2001 Mr. Squiggle and Friends ABC Kids (digital only) ABC TV 2001 Kideo ABC Kids (digital only) ABC TV 2001
International