This is a synoptic list of events and premieres which occurred, in 2014 in Australian television, the 59th year of continuous operation of television in Australia.
Events 1 January – Foxtel launches two new subscription channels Syfy and TV Hits, which replace SF and TV1 respectively. 31 January – Chris Bath presents her final bulletin for Seven News after deciding to stand down and concentrate on her full-time Sunday Night role. Mark Ferguson replaced her the following Monday (3 February). 2 February – The Nine Network's GO! channel unveils a new logo, on-air package and demographic (women 20–40), with a revamped timetable with Kids WB, dropping reality TV catch-up programming which they now air on the Network's primary channel only. 13 March – Foxtel launches Presto, an online streaming service allowing subscribers to access content available on Foxtel Movies separate from a full Foxtel subscription. 20 March – Showcase wins the Channel of the Year award at the 2014 ASTRA Awards. 10 April – Two new subscription channels—Disney XD and Foxtel Movies Disney—launch on the Foxtel platform. 6 July – Adam Dovile and Lisa Lamond win the second series of House Rules and New Zealand animated kids show The Barefoot Bandits premieres on Eleven with the voices of Josh Thomson (The Project) as Fridge, Laura Daniel (Jono and Ben) as Riley and Tammy Davis (Outrageous Fortune) as Tane. 17 July - John Walton dies (aged 62). Actor of stage, television and film, he was best known as Dr. Craig Rothwell in The Young Doctors. 20 July – The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reverts its flagship ABC1 television channel to its former ABC name. 21 July – Anja Nissen wins the third season of The Voice. 3 August – BBC Worldwide is set to launch a new premium drama and comedy subscription channel known as BBC First which will be available on the Foxtel platform. 13 August – Meyne Wyatt becomes the first Indigenous Australian actor in Neighbours''' 29-year history to have a leading role when he makes his debut in the soap as Nate Kinski. 18 August – The Nine Network secures film rights to revive Paramount Pictures along with DreamWorks, taking them from Network Ten after cost-cutting measures. 17 September – Johann Wagner wins the first season of The Recruit and was drafted as a rookie to the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). 28 September – Australia Network is shut down to be replaced by a similar 24-hour television and online service known as Australia Plus Television. 1 October – The Antenna Awards are returning to Australian community TV stations. 18 November – The Abbott government reduces ABC's annual budget by A$50m, or roughly 5%. 21 November – Network Ten revives the Sony Pictures output deal. Erin Brockovich was the first film to air on TEN. 25 November – AFL player David Rodan and his partner Melanie Hooper win the fourteenth season of Dancing with the Stars. 26 November – Ryan Ginns wins the eleventh and final series of Big Brother. 1 December – Network Ten revives the Universal Pictures output deal. Bird on a Wire was the first film to air, but screened on ONE. 1 December – The Seven Network wins the ratings year for the eighth consecutive time topping total people, primary channels, reality (My Kitchen Rules, House Rules & The X Factor), breakfast (Sunrise), weekend breakfast (Weekend Sunrise), morning television (The Morning Show), advertisement breaks, news updates, movies, Sport (AFL, Tennis & Melbourne Cup) and suitable only for people over 55, while Nine wins all three demos. 7 December - The Seven Network broadcasts Supercars Championship for the final-ever time, before handing the television rights to Fox Sports and Network Ten.
Deaths Date Name Age Broadcast notability 14 February James Condon 90 Actor, scriptwriter and voice artist who appeared in numerous radio and television series, including The Story of Peter Gray and Number 96, he was the husband of Neighbours star Anne Haddy 22 February Charlotte Dawson 47 Television personality and hostess best known for her role as a judge on Australia's Next Top Model. 26 April Joan Bruce 86 British-born Australian actress of stage and screen, best known for soap opera Certain Women and voice artist in animated film Dot and the Kangaroo. 30 April Ian Ross 73, Television newsreader best known for his roles on Today and Seven News in Sydney. 8 May Harry Potter 72 Journalist with Network Ten from 1978 to 2010. 27 June Ian Cook 68 News director. 24 July Pete Michell 43 Television presenter for Seven Adelaide. 1 August Michael Johns 35 Singer and reality television participant, who competed in the seventh season of American Idol."American Idol Alum Michael Johns Dies at 35" from TV Guide (2 August 2014) 17 September Elaine Lee 74 South African-born Australian actress best known for soap opera Number 96 as Vera Collins 24 October Mike Dorsey 83 British-born Australian actor known for Number 96 as Reginald "Daddy" McDonald and The Young Doctorsas Sir Clifford Langley and was also a music tour promotor. 31 December Coralie Condon 99 Actress, writer, producer, composer and presenter based in Perth and known as "The First Lady of Western Australian Television"
Premieres
Domestic series + Program Original airdate Network Source Darren Robertson's Charcoal Kitchen LifeStyle Food Get Ace Eleven Meet the Frockers LifeStyle You Coastwatch Oz Seven Network Hello Birdy ABC Haunting: Australia Syfy Hoopla Doopla! ABC 4 Kids (ABC2) Young, Lazy and Driving Us Crazy Seven Network Love Child Nine Network Move It GO! Fat Tony & Co. Nine Network Arena Inside Story Nine Network Janet King ABC Secrets & Lies Network Ten Lost with the Boys Tenplay (online) Plonk Eleven Fox8 NITV Network Ten Wacky World Beaters ABC3 ABC Crimes that Shook Australia Crime & Investigation Network Worst Year of My Life, Again ABC3 Jonah from Tonga (online streaming)7 May ABC iviewABC ABC3 Unplanned America SBS 2 Bogan Hunters 7mate When Loves Comes to Town Nine Network Old School ABC ManSpace GO! What Really Happens in Bali Seven Network Taking on the Chocolate Frog Studio Nine Network The Skinner Boys: Guardians of the Lost Secrets GO! Kinne 7mate Fox Sports 1 Fox8 Sam Fox: Extreme Adventures Eleven Village Vets Australia Wild Australia Nat Geo Wild ABC Back Seat Drivers ABC2 Bringing Sexy Back Seven Network Utopia ABC ABC Living with the Enemy SBS Blue Zoo ABC3 Crash Test Mummies & Daddies ABC2 Keneally and Cameron Sky News Australia SellOut 7TWO Gold Coast Cops Network Ten One Party Tricks Network Ten Fashion Bloggers Style Network Seven Network Nine Network Outback Rangers Nat Geo Wild Black Comedy ABC
International series