2006 in Australian television

Events
  • 1 January – Mildura Digital Television, a joint venture between WIN Television Mildura and Prime Television, goes on air in the Mildura area of Victoria as a Network Ten digital-only affiliate.
  • 2 January – The Seven, Foxtel and Ten Networks outbid Channel Nine and are awarded the rights to broadcast the AFL from 2007 to 2011 for a record $780 million. Also around this time, Seven announce that they have won the rights to broadcast the V8 Supercars from 2007 to 2014.
  • 30 January – Channel Nine launches a new logo and major revamp, dropping the famous dots and replacing it with a stand-alone nine in a blue box.
  • 9 February – The Nine Network announces Eddie McGuire in his new role as the network's new CEO.
  • 20 February – Television Sydney formally launches after three months of testing, giving Sydney community television for the first time in almost two years.
  • 1 April – The final season of Blue Heelers goes to air now on Saturday Nights, pitting it against ABC's The Bill and Network Ten's AFL coverage.
  • 3 April – After weeks of poor ratings Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? airs for the final time on Monday Nights. It returns for a short period following an 18-month break due to McGuire's role as CEO for the Nine Network.
  • 9 May – Then Sunrise weather presenter and future Family Feud host Grant Denyer and his partner Amanda Garner win the fourth season of Dancing with the Stars.
  • 21 May – Brant Webb and Todd Russell speak to new A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw about their time underground in Beaconsfield in a 2-hour special called The Great Escape. They are paid a reported $2.6 million by Channel Nine for the right to talk to them.
  • 4 June – After 12 years and a record-breaking 510 episodes, the last episode of the Seven Network show Blue Heelers goes to air.
  • 30 June – Australian soap opera Neighbours Broadcasts its 5000th episode, which sees Paul Robinson trapped in a mineshaft by his son Robert.
  • 7 July – Children's fantasy drama series H2O: Just Add Water starring Claire Holt, Phoebe Tonkin and Cariba Heine premieres on Network Ten.
  • 9 July – BBC Nature Documentary series Planet Earth narrated by David Attenborough premieres on the ABC.
  • 18 July – Australian kids program Play School celebrates 40 years on air.
  • 31 July – Jamie Brooksby wins the sixth season of Big Brother.
  • 29 August – Model Jake Wall and his professional skating partner Maria Filippov win the first season of Torvill and Dean's Dancing on Ice.
  • 14 September – Today Tonight host Naomi Robson is deported from Indonesia after doing a story on a West Papuan boy called Wa Wa who, supposedly, was going to be eaten by cannibals. This sparks a war of words between Seven and Nine, who ran the original story on Wa Wa in May on 60 Minutes. Naomi presents her final edition of Today Tonight on 1 December.
  • 16 September – Television in Australia turns 50. The next day, this is commemorated with a live TV special from Star City, Sydney on the Seven Network.
  • 29 September Backyard Blitz finishes its 6-year run on the Nine Network. Jamie Durie leaves Nine and signs up with the Seven Network, the next year, he dances his way on Dancing with the Stars.
  • 30 September – The Fox Footy Channel ceases broadcasting then later revived as Fox Footy in 2012. It is replaced by Fox Sports 3 and Fox Sports News on 1 October.
  • 18 October – PBL announces the sale of 50% of the Nine Network, including its 50% stake in ninemsn and ACP to CVC Asia Pacific for $4.5 billion.
  • 26 November – Irishman Damien Leith defeats 17-year-old Jessica Mauboy to be based only on Sony BMG after being crowned the title of Australian Idol 2006 at the Sydney Opera House.
  • 28 November – AFL player Anthony Koutoufides (Kouta) and his partner Natalie Lowe win the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars.
  • 10 December – Network Ten and Fox Sports broadcasts V8 Supercars for the final-ever time, before handing the television rights to the Seven Network from 2007 to 2014. Ten and Fox Sports later revived the V8 Supercars coverage 9 years later.
  • Voiceover artist Robbie McGregor leaves SBS after 17 years. He is replaced the next year by Lani John Tupu.

Ratings

New channels

Premieres

Free-to-air television
Program Channel Debut date
RAN – Remote Area Nurse SBS TV 5 January
9am with David and Kim Network Ten 30 January
The Biggest Loser[3] Network Ten 13 February
Bert's Family Feud Nine Network 13 February
Bondi Rescue Network Ten 15 February
The Chaser's War on Everything[4] ABC TV 17 February
Head 2 Head[5] ABC TV 18 February
Clever Nine Network 19 February
Magda's Funny Bits Nine Network 21 February
Where Are They Now? Seven Network 26 February
Thank God You're Here Network Ten 5 April
Hello/Goodbye Nine Network 11 May
It Takes Two Seven Network 28 May
What's Good For You Nine Network 29 May
The Wedge Network Ten 30 May
Can We Help? ABC TV 9 June
Wine Me, Dine Me[6] Nine Network 21 June
Mortified Nine Network 30 June
H2O: Just Add Water Network Ten 7 July
Torvill and Dean's Dancing on Ice Nine Network 11 July
Honey, We're Killing the Kids Network Ten 12 July
Quizmania Nine Network 25 July
jtv ABC TV 29 July
First Tuesday Book Club ABC TV 1 August
Cybershack[7] Network Ten 1 August
Yasmin's Getting Married Network Ten 1 August
You May Be Right
Axed after four episodes		 Seven Network 13 August
Two Twisted Nine Network 14 August
The Master
Axed after one episode but returned later in the year		 Seven Network 16 August
David Tench Tonight[8] Network Ten 17 August
The Force: Behind the Line Seven Network 22 August
Real Stories Network Ten 22 August
Police Files: Unlocked Seven Network 6 September
Good Game[7] ABC2 19 September
What a Year Nine Network 2 October
The Real Seachange Seven Network 8 October
Operatunity Oz[9] ABC TV 8 October
Big Questions Nine Network 19 October
Tripping Over[10] Network Ten 25 October
Do It Nine Network 5 November
Speaking in Tongues SBS TV 7 November
Food Safari SBS TV 6 December
Puzzle Play Network Ten 21 December

Subscription television
Program Channel Debut date
Crown Australian Celebrity Poker Challenge[11] FOX8 5 January
An Aussie Goes Barmy[12] FOX8 29 November

New international programming
Program Channel Debut date
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace SBS TV 30 January
Prison Break Seven Network 1 February
Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi Nine Network 5 February
One Piece (4Kids version) Network Ten 13 February
Mew Mew Power Network Ten 13 February
Doc Martin[13] ABC TV 18 February
Roobarb and Custard Too ABC TV 20 February
The Gnoufs ABC TV 20 February
The Buzz on Maggie Seven Network 25 February
/ Pinky Dinky Doo ABC TV 27 February
A Town Called Panic ABC TV 28 February
/ Edgar and Ellen ABC TV 2 March
/ Zombie Hotel ABC TV 2 March
/ Skyland ABC TV 2 March
Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet ABC2 6 March
Lunar Jim ABC TV 14 March
Samurai Champloo SBS TV 23 March
Bratz Network Ten 31 March
Worst Week of My Life, The The Worst Week of My Life[14] ABC TV 5 April
Help! I'm a Teenage Outlaw ABC TV 11 April
Class of the Titans ABC TV 18 April
/ Gerald McBoing-Boing ABC TV 1 May
ATOM Seven Network 20 May
Dr. Dog ABC TV 23 May
/ Jane and the Dragon ABC TV 25 May
/ Bernard ABC TV 25 May
Dougie in Disguise ABC TV 2006
All Grown Up! Network Ten 13 June
The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss ABC2 15 June
The New Adventures of Old Christine Nine Network 6 July
My Life as a Teenage Robot Network Ten 7 July
Planet Earth ABC TV 9 July
Bleak House[15] ABC TV 9 July
City of Men SBS TV 17 July
The Emperor's New School Seven Network 22 July
Dora the Explorer Nine Network 23 July
/ Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs ABC TV 31 July
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Network Ten 15 August
Avatar: The Last Airbender ABC TV 24 August
Naughty, Naughty Pets ABC TV 29 August
Princess Natasha ABC TV 29 August
/ Miss BG ABC TV 5 September
Stuart Little: The Animated Series Network Ten 9 September
Sensitive Skin Sensitive Skin[16][17] ABC TV 15 September
Jericho Network Ten 21 September
The Batman Nine Network 23 September
IT Crowd, The The IT Crowd[18] ABC TV 27 September
The Secret Show ABC TV 5 October
Time Warp Trio ABC TV 6 October
Biker Mice from Mars (2006) Network Ten 13 October
/ Staines Down Drains Seven Network 22 October
Curious George ABC TV 23 October
The Unit Seven Network 25 October
Those Scurvy Rascals ABC TV 30 October
Code Lyoko Network Ten 1 November
/ PollyWorld Seven Network 12 November
Little Princess ABC TV 13 November
Louie ABC TV 22 November
Russian Dolls: Sex Trade SBS TV 2 December
Wild at Heart[19] Network Ten 3 December
SCU: Serious Crash Unit Seven Network 5 December
Life As We Know It Seven Network 5 December
Top Gear SBS TV 12 December
/ Erky Perky Seven Network 26 December

Subscription television
Program Channel Debut date
Entourage[20] Arena 1 January
Hannah Montana[21] Disney Channel 21 April
Surreal Life, The The Surreal Life (Beginning with season 3, seasons 1[22] and 2 aired later)[23] VH1 June
Kept[24] VH1 June
Emmerdale[25] UKTV 2 July
Strange Love[26] VH1 5 September
SuperGroup[27] VH1 6 September
So NoTORIous[28] VH1 2 October
House of Carters[29] E! 4 November
Celebrity Fit Club Celebrity Fit Club[30][31] VH1 2 December

Programming changes

Changes to network affiliation

This is a list of programs 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.

Program New network Previous network Date
Mopatop's Shop ABC2 ABC Kids (now defunct) 3 April
Fourways Farm ABC2 ABC Kids (now defunct) 5 April
Fireman Sam (Original series) ABC2 ABC Kids (now defunct) 11 April
/ / Anthony Ant ABC2 ABC Kids (now defunct) 4 June
Teletubbies ABC2 ABC Kids (now defunct) 3 July
/ Yakkity Yak ABC TV Network Ten 13 September
/ Sonic X Seven Network Network Ten 18 November

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.

International
Program Subscription network Free-to-air network Date
Lost[32] Fox8 Seven Network 27 November

Television shows

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s
2001
  • Big Brother (2001–2008, 2012–2014)
2002
2003
2004
2005
  • Medical Emergency (2005–present)

Ending this year
DateShowChannelDebut
21 January headLand Seven Network 15 November 2005
23 January Speaking in Tongues SBS TV 7 November 2005
4 June Blue Heelers Seven Network 18 January 1994
28 July Wheel of Fortune Seven Network 21 July 1981
27 August Business Sunday Nine Network 2 March 1986
4 September You May Be Right Seven Network 13 August 2006
21 October 2006 Midnight Zoo Seven Network 31 July 2006
29 October 2006 Operatunity Oz ABC TV 8 October 2006
26 November Sportsworld Seven Network 1987
29 November The Glass House ABC TV 10 August 2001
9 December Head 2 Head ABC TV 18 February 2006
20 December In the Box Network Ten 21 December 1998
27 December 2006 An Aussie Goes Barmy FOX8 29 November 2006

TV movies

See also

References
  1. "TransACT welcomes all-new Al Jazeera English to TransTV" (Press release). TransACT. 21 November 2006. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  2. Clarke, Alice (7 December 2006). "Beam me on and veg out, Scotty". The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  3. Biggest Loser is Ten's Biggest Winner Archived 23 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine, eNews, 14 February 2006.
  4. "The Chaser pushes boundaries". The Age. Melbourne. 10 February 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  5. Connolly, Paul (26 February 2006). "The ABC of cheap". The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  6. "Wine Me, Dine Me" (Press release). Nine Network. 16 June 2006. Archived from the original on 17 May 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
  7. Hearn, Louisa (24 July 2006). "Turn on and tune in, TV tests the taste for tech". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
  8. "Ten's animated host a world first". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 August 2006. Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  9. Morgan, Clare (7 October 2006). "Adrift on the high Cs". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2008.
  10. Oliver, Robin (25 October 2006). "Review of 'Tripping Over'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
  11. "Highlights (Entertainment)". Foxtel. Archived from the original on 15 January 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
  12. Idato, Michael (29 November 2006). "Review: An Aussie Goes Barmy". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  13. Doc Martin – ABC TV Guide
  14. The Worst Week Of My Life – ABC TV Guide
  15. Bleak House – ABC TV Guide
  16. Dubecki, Larissa (14 September 2006). "Sensitive Skin". The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  17. "Sensitive Skin". ABC Television. 15 September 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  18. The IT Crowd – ABC TV Guide
  19. Dunn, Emily (3 December 2006). "Review of Wild at Heart". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  20. Enker, Debi (15 December 2005). "Networking". The Age. Melbourne. p. 19. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  21. "Hannah Montana". Herald Sun. Melbourne. 9 April 2006. p. X06.
  22. "VH1's Celebreality". MTV Networks Australia. Archived from the original on 17 September 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  23. Murphy, Kerrie (25 October 2007). "TELEVISION GUIDE – THURSDAY JUNE 29". The Australian. Sydney.
  24. "VH1's Celebreality". MTV Networks Australia. Archived from the original on 17 September 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  25. "Symons: Marilyn Fisher was easy, cracking the UK wasn't". Australian Associated Press. 22 June 2006.
  26. "This is a Strange Love". MTV Networks Australia. Archived from the original on 17 September 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  27. "5 Rockstars. 12 Days. No Excuses". MTV Networks Australia. Archived from the original on 17 September 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  28. "Tori Spelling's new reality show". MTV Networks Australia. Archived from the original on 17 September 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  29. "E!online". Archived from the original on 1 November 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  30. "VH1's Celebreality Summer". MTV Networks Australia. Archived from the original on 29 July 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  31. "Celebrity Fit Club". MTV Networks Australia. Archived from the original on 29 July 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  32. Idato, Michael (27 November 2006). "Pay TV". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 34. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
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