Events 6 January – Rob Elliott takes over as host of Wheel of Fortune, after last year's attempt with Tony Barber as host turned to be unsuccessful. The program starts the year without Adriana Xenides, who takes a long-term leave due to ill health. She would return to the puzzleboard in July. Her place is filled by Kerrie Friend. After being absent throughout 1996, due in part to hosting Family Feud, John Deeks returns as announcer – the position had been held by David Day in Adelaide, and by Ron E Sparks in Sydney. 3 February – Australian drama serial Heartbreak High moves to ABC at 6:00 pm from Monday to Thursdays. 9 February – The 1993 film The Pelican Brief, starring Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington, premieres on the Nine Network. 31 March – The game show Burgo's Catch Phrase, hosted by John Burgess, starts screening on Nine Network. 13 June – The children's television series Bananas in Pyjamas appears for the first time in Singapore on Channel 5. 26 June – British sitcom Mr. Bean, starring Rowan Atkinson as the titular character, switches over to the Seven Network, a year after finishing up on the ABC. 29 June – The 1993 film In the Line of Fire, starring Clint Eastwood and John Malkovich, premieres on the Nine Network. 1 July – Prime Television comes to Mildura, ending a monopoly on commercial television held by STV-8 since 1965. 8 July – The ownership of Australia Television International moves from ABC to Seven Network. 8 July – The American animated series Hey Arnold! makes its debut on ABC. 11 July – The American-Canadian children's animated series Arthur debuts on ABC. The series is still broadcast on ABC Kids as of 2022. 4 August – Judge Judy makes its debut on Network Ten. 1 September – The Adventures of Lano and Woodley, starring comedians Colin Lane and Frank Woodley, premieres on the ABC. 6 September – The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales is broadcast live on the ABC and all of the commercial free-to-air television channels. September – Jo Beth Taylor resigns as host of Australia's Funniest Home Video Show. She is replaced by Catriona Rowntree for a month, before Kim Kilbey takes over at the start of 1998. 22 September – A reboot of the sitcom Kingswood Country called Bullpitt!, 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. Anne Haddy, who is the last of the original 1985 cast members departs the series. She died two years later after a long illness. 12 October – American sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond debuts on the Seven Network. 1 November – TCN-9 stages the first trial of digital television in the Southern Hemisphere. 16 November – The 1994 Film Forrest Gump, starring Tom Hanks, premieres on the Nine Network. 23 November – American animated comedy series King of the Hill debuts on the Seven Network at 7:30 pm. 3 December – American supernatural fiction, fantasy, action, horror series Buffy the Vampire Slayer debuts on the Seven Network. 20 December – American animated comedy series South Park debuts on SBS. It also became the network's highest rating series to date. December – Prime Television acquires the rights to Canal 9 in Argentina. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is televised for the first time on commercial television.

Channels

New channels 1 June – Ovation Channel 1 July – Odyssey Channel 1 September – The LifeStyle Channel 7 September – Movie Extra

Rebranded channels 20 March – MTV Australia (was ARC Music Channel) 18 April – Channel V Australia (was Red) 7 September – Movie One (was The Movie Network)

Debuts

Domestic Program Channel Debut date Bay City Seven Network The Eric Bana Show Live Seven Network Fallen Angels ABC Challenger Nine Network Simone de Beauvoir's Babies ABC Big Sky Network Ten Good Medicine Nine Network RPM Network Ten Good Guys, Bad Guys Nine Network Burgo's Catch Phrase Nine Network Plucka's Place Nine Network Smallest Room in the House ABC Kangaroo Palace Seven Network Race Around the World ABC The Wayne Manifesto ABC Plasmo ABC Return to Jupiter ABC A River Somewhere ABC Bush Telegraph Seven Network Murder Call Nine Network Shape, Shape, Shape ABC State Coroner Network Ten The Adventures of Lano and Woodley ABC Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord Nine Network Swinging ABC Bullpitt! Seven Network Kitu and Woofl ABC The Gift Nine Network Ground Zero Network Ten Wildside ABC Harry's Practice Seven Network Children's Hospital ABC Scrooge Koala's Christmas Seven Network The Cartoon Connection Seven Network

International Program Channel Debut date The Soong Sisters ABC The World of Eric Carle ABC Oliver's Travels ABC Anastasia SBS Oakie Doke ABC The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo Seven Network / The Outer Limits (1995) Seven Network // Billy the Cat ABC Unhappily Ever After Seven Network The Burning Zone Network Ten The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest Seven Network Billy Connolly's World Tour of Australia Seven Network Fantomcat Network Ten The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper Network Ten Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Seven Network Amazing Grace Seven Network A Mug's Game ABC Beethoven Network Ten Dark Skies Nine Network The Pretender Nine Network / Goosebumps Network Ten The Adventures of Sinbad Network Ten Mighty Ducks Seven Network Night Stand with Dick Dietrick Network Ten Lightning Force Network Ten Touched by an Angel Nine Network Something So Right Network Ten Seahouse ABC Beavis and Butt-Head Network Ten / Li'l Elvis and the Truckstoppers ABC Peak Practice Network Ten The 5 Mrs. Buchanans Seven Network The Fragile Heart ABC Common as Muck ABC Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys Network Ten Sunset Beach Network Ten Brooklyn Bridge Nine Network McKenna Nine Network The Tenant of Wildfell Hall ABC Agent Z and the Penguin from Mars ABC Millennium Seven Network Alien Empire ABC The Fast Show SBS TV The Newsroom SBS TV The Demon Headmaster ABC Moesha Network Ten Jake's Progress ABC The Adventures of Hyperman Network Ten Next of Kin ABC / Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years Nine Network / Magic Mountain ABC Hetty Wainthropp Investigates ABC The Story of Bean Seven Network / The Magic School Bus Network Ten Shine on Harvey Moon (1995) ABC The Sculptress ABC Dog Tracer ABC The Tomorrow People (1992) ABC / Dragon Flyz Network Ten Profiler Seven Network Misery Loves Company Seven Network Suddenly Susan Nine Network Dennis and Gnasher (1996) Network Ten Hey Arnold! ABC / Arthur ABC Pearl Nine Network Spin City Nine Network Dalziel and Pascoe ABC Madson ABC NewsRadio Network Ten / Beast Wars: Transformers Seven Network Melissa ABC Rude Dog and the Dweebs Network Ten Red Planet Network Ten Out of Control Seven Network Perfect Scoundrels Network Ten Judge Judy Network Ten McKenna Nine Network Little Lord Fauntleroy (1995) ABC / The Neverending Story ABC The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat ABC / Eagle Riders Network Ten Oh, Doctor Beeching! Seven Network Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic Network Ten Moloney Network Ten The Invaders Network Ten / Testament: The Bible in Animation ABC Pacific Palisades Network Ten Once Upon a Time ABC Early Edition Nine Network / The Living Edens ABC F/X: The Series Seven Network The Beast Network Ten / Mirror, Mirror II Network Ten Everybody Loves Raymond Seven Network Little Bear ABC The Lakes ABC Pilgrim's Rest ABC Two Fat Ladies ABC Full Circle with Michael Palin ABC Under the Hammer ABC Topless Women Talk About Their Lives SBS This Life Seven Network King of the Hill Seven Network The Missing Postman ABC Clueless Seven Network The Pursuit of Happiness Seven Network The Home Court Seven Network The Crew Seven Network Buffy the Vampire Slayer Seven Network / Stargate SG-1 Seven Network Can't Hurry Love Nine Network / Roar Network Ten Antonio Carluccio's Italian Feast ABC The Big Easy Seven Network L.A. Heat Seven Network The Willows in Winter Nine Network Bailey Kipper's P.O.V. Network Ten Under One Roof SBS Arabian Agenda SBS Charlotte and Charlotte SBS Meena ABC Small Stories ABC O Christmas Tree Seven Network America in the Fifties SBS South Park SBS Robin SBS / A Christmassy Ted Nine Network The Buddha of Suburbia ABC The Client Nine Network Crocodile Shoes II Nine Network Profit Seven Network / Masked Rider Seven Network 1997 Quack Pack Seven Network 1997 / Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Nine Network 1997 Power Rangers Zeo Seven Network 1997 Space Strikers Seven Network 1997 Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers Seven Network 1997 The Adventures of Mickey and Donald Seven Network 1997 Flash Gordon (1996) Seven Network 1997 Superman: The Animated Series Nine Network 1997

Subscription television

Domestic Program Channel Debut date Let's Wiggle Disney Channel

International Program Channel Debut date The Real World MTV The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss Nickelodeon Recess Disney Channel Blue's Clues Nickelodeon 1997 Brand Spanking New Doug Disney Channel 1997 Johnny Bravo Cartoon Network 1997 Cow and Chicken Cartoon Network 1997 The Moxy Show Cartoon Network 1997 / Blazing Dragons Nickelodeon 1997 The Story Store Nickelodeon 1997 Bug Alert Nickelodeon 1997

Subscription premieres This is a list of programs which made their premiere on Australian subscription television that had previously premiered on Australian free-to-air television. Programs may still air on the original free-to-air television network.

Domestic Program Subscription network Free-to-air network Date The Curiosity Show Nickelodeon Nine Network

International Program Subscription network Free-to-air network Date Victoria Wood as Seen on TV UKTV ABC F/X: The Series Fox8 Seven Network VR.5 Fox8 Seven Network Dexter's Laboratory Cartoon Network Seven Network 1997 / Orson and Olivia Nickelodeon ABC 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 premiered 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 Hey Dad..! (repeats) Seven Network Network Ten Prisoner (repeats) Seven Network Network Ten

International Program New network(s) Previous network(s) Date // M.A.S.K. Network Ten Nine Network Full House Nine Network Seven Network Ricki Lake Seven Network Network Ten An Audience with Billy Connolly Seven Network ABC / Dennis the Menace (1986) Network Ten ABC // Inspector Gadget Network Ten ABC Mr. Bean Seven Network ABC Barney & Friends Network Ten Nine Network

Television shows

ABC Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959–1999) Four Corners (1961–present)

Seven Network 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)

Nine Network Today (1982–present) Sale of the Century (1980–2001) A Current Affair (1971–1978, 1988–present) Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971–1999) Midday (1985–1998) 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, 2003–2005, 2012)

Network Ten Neighbours (Seven Network 1985, Network Ten 1986–present) GMA with Bert Newton (1991–2005)

Ending / resting this year