This article is a summary of 1979 in Australian television.
Events February - The Government approves the application for ATV0 to convert its transmission to the Channel 10 frequency. 11 February - A brand new Australian weekly current affairs program 60 Minutes premieres on Nine Network. Based on the American newsmagazine television program of the same name, it has a lack lustre beginning, but will soon rise to become one of the highest-rating programs in Australia. 27 February - Australian prime time black comedy/soap opera from Reg Grundy Productions Prisoner premieres on the 0-10 Network. It enjoys a large following both in Australia and around the world, particularly in the UK and parts of the US. April - The Special Broadcasting Service screens the first of a series of multi-language programs on ABC on Sunday mornings. 2 April - Australian actor Ron Blanchard and Alexander Bunyip the delightful character from the popular children's book The Monster That Ate Canberra by Michael Salmon present a brand new afternoon block for children called ARVO which also features programs such as Play School, Mr. Squiggle and Friends, Sesame Street, Basil Brush and The Famous Five. 24 April - American prime time soap opera Dallas premieres on The 0-10 Network. 28 June - Australian drama series Patrol Boat debuts on ABC. 1 July - Commercial television stations now required to screen ‘C’ classified programming, aimed solely at children aged 6 to 13, every weekday between 4:00pm and 5:00pm. Early ‘C’ classified programs include Simon Townsend's Wonder World (0–10), Stax (Seven) and Shirl's Neighbourhood (Seven). Commercial stations are also required to screen a minimum of 30 minutes each weekday, prior to 4:00pm, of programming aimed at pre-school viewers. 9 July - Crawford Productions's brand new soap opera Skyways begins it premiere on the Seven Network. 13 August - A brand new Australian environmental education series for children called Earthwatch debuts on ABC at 5:00pm as part of the ARVO lineup. 2 October - American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes debuts on Nine Network. November - Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is taking control of TEN-10 Sydney and his bid to take over the Australian airline company which owns ATV0 Melbourne Ansett Australia, sparks a review into media ownership by the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal. 5 December - American sitcom Taxi premieres on Nine Network.
Debuts Program Network Debut date 60 Minutes Nine Network Doctor Down Under Seven Network Prisoner The 0-10 Network The Oracle ABC Golden Soak ABC Bailey's Bird Seven Network ARVO ABC Love Thy Neighbour in Australia Seven Network Patrol Boat ABC Carrots Seven Network Skyways Seven Network Ride on Stranger ABC Top Mates ABC Earthwatch ABC Simon Townsend's Wonder World The 0-10 Network Shirl's Neighbourhood Seven Network 1979 Wombat BTQ-7 1979 The World Around Us Seven Network 1979
New international programming 7 January – The Kenny Everett Video Show (ABC) 7 January – All Creatures Great and Small (ABC) 8 January/7 May – Michael Bentine's Potty Time (8 January: Seven Network - Melbourne, 7 May: Seven Network - Sydney) 11 January/4 September – CHiPS (11 January: Seven Network - Melbourne, 4 September: Seven Network - Sydney) 13 January – Baggy Pants and the Nitwits (The 0-10 Network) 21 January – The Governor (ABC) 24 January – Bagpuss (ABC) 1 February – Rumpole of the Bailey (ABC) 10 February/19 February – Mickey's 50 (10 February: Seven Network - Melbourne, 19 February: Nine Network - Sydney) 11 February – Vega$ (Nine Network) 15 February – The Incredible Hulk (1978) (Seven Network) 19 February – Mork and Mindy (Nine Network) 5 March – Battle of the Planets (The 0-10 Network) 10 March – The Mumbly Cartoon Show (Nine Network) 21 March – Peark (The 0-10 Network) 24 March – The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty (The 0-10 Network) 24 March – I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali (The 0-10 Network) 2 April – The Eagle of the Ninth (ABC) 19 April – Sword of Justice (The 0-10 Network) 24 April – Dallas (The 0-10 Network) 27 April – Blake's 7 (ABC) 8 May – Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk (ABC) 22 May – The Famous Five (1978) (ABC) 28 May – Roots: The Next Generations (The 0-10 Network) 31 May – Project U.F.O. (The 0-10 Network) 4 June – Danger UXB (ABC) 12 June – Lillie (Seven Network) 23 July – Dynomutt, Dog Wonder (Nine Network) 26 July – The Clifton House Mystery (ABC TV) 8 August – Gather Your Dreams (ABC) 10 August/24 November – Salvage 1 (10 August: Nine Network - Melbourne, 24 November: Nine Network - Sydney) 3 September – 1990 (ABC) 21 September – Supertrain (Nine Network) 2 October – Hazell (ABC) 2 October – Diff'rent Strokes (Nine Network) 3 October – Angie (Nine Network) 11 October – Circus (ABC) 15 October – Yogi's Space Race (Nine Network) 19 October – Out of Bounds (ABC) 7 November – A Special Sesame Street Christmas (Seven Network) 18 November – Bless Me, Father (Seven Network) 19 November – WKRP in Cincinnati (Nine Network) 19 November – SCTV (The 0-10 Network) 19 November – The Big Blue Marble (Nine Network) 21 November – Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales (Seven Network) 21 November – Brothers and Sisters (Seven Network) 21 November – Joe & Valerie (Seven Network) 22 November – Return of the Saint (Seven Network) 24 November – David Cassidy: Man Undercover (Seven Network) 25 November – Mixed Blessings (Seven Network) 27 November – The Aphrodite Inheritance (ABC) 27 November – Disraeli (Seven Network) 5 December – Taxi (Nine Network) 11 December – Born and Bred (ABC) 13 December – Pennies from Heaven (ABC) 20 December – The Roller Girls (The 0-10 Network) 24 December – Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (ABC)
Television shows
1950s Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959–1999)
1960s Four Corners (1961–present)
1970s Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971–1999, 2009–2010) Young Talent Time (1971–1988) Countdown (1974–1987) The Don Lane Show (1975–1983) This is Your Life (1975–1980) Chopper Squad (1976–1979) In the Wild (1976–1981) Glenview High (1977–1979) 60 Minutes (1979–present) Prisoner (1979–1986) Doctor Down Under (1979–1980)
Ending this year Date Show Channel Debut 12 January Cuckoo in the Nest Seven Network 22 December 1978 18 February Chopper Squad The 0-10 Network 5 November 1976 24 February Glenview High Seven Network 27 September 1977 1979 ARVO ABC 2 April 1979 1979 Super Flying Fun Show Nine Network 1970
See also 1979 in Australia List of Australian films of 1979
References