1997 in Australian television explained

Events

• 6 January – Rob Elliott now takes over from John Burgess as host of Wheel of Fortune, after the failed attempt last year with long-time Sale of the Century quizmaster Tony Barber as host. The programme starts 1997 without Adriana Xenides, as she takes a long- term leave as the letter turner due to a cancerous breakdown. She would return to the puzzleboard in July. Her place is filled by ex-Perfect Match hostess Kerrie Friend. After a notable absence throughout 1996 due in part to hosting Family Feud for the last remainder of the year, John Deeks returns to the booth as announcer – the position had been held by David Day in Adelaide, and Ron E Sparks in Sydney.
• 3 February – Australian drama serial Heartbreak High switches over to air on ABC at 6:00 pm from Monday to Thursdays.
• The 1993 film The Pelican Brief starring Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington premieres on the Nine Network.
• 31 March – A brand new Australian game show called Burgo's Catch Phrase hosted by former Wheel of Fortune presenter John Burgess starts screening on Nine Network.
• 13 June – Australian 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 – Ownership of Australia Television International moves from ABC to Seven Network.
• 8 July – American animated series Hey Arnold! makes its debut on ABC.
• 11 July – 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 it debut on Network Ten.
• 1 September  - Cult Sitcom The Adventures of Lano and Woodley starring comedians Colin Lane and Frank Woodley premieres on the ABC.
• September – Jo Beth Taylor resigns as host of Australia's Funniest Home Video Show as part of the show's biggest hosts in history – she is replaced by Getaway reporter, Catriona Rowntree, and then axed.
• 22 September – A reboot of the classic Australian 1980s sitcom Kingswood Country called Bullpitt! once again 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. The last ever of the original 1985 cast members Anne Haddy 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 screens 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 airs 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 funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales is broadcast live on the ABC and all commercial free-to-air television channels.
• The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is televised for the first time on commercial television.

Channels

New channels

• 1 June – Ovation Channel^[1]
• 1 July – Odyssey Channel^[2]
• 1 September – The LifeStyle Channel^[3]
• 7 September – Movie Extra

Rebranded channels

• 20 March – MTV Australia (was ARC Music Channel)^[4]
• 18 April – Channel V Australia (was Red)
• 7 September – Movie One (was The Movie Network)

Debuts

Domestic

width=60%	Program	width=20%	Channel	width=20%	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
	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

width=60%	Program	width=20%	Channel	width=20%	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
/	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
/	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
/	ABC
Pacific Palisades	Network Ten
Once Upon a Time	ABC
Early Edition	Nine Network
/ The Living Edens	ABC
	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
	Nine Network	1997

Subscription television

Domestic

width=60%	Program	width=20%	Channel	width=20%	Debut date
Let's Wiggle	Disney Channel

International

width=60%	Program	width=20%	Channel	width=20%	Debut date
data-sort-value="Real World, The"	The Real World^[5]	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

International

Program	Subscription network	Free-to-air network	Date
Victoria Wood as Seen on TV	UKTV	ABC
	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

width=40%	Program	width=20%	New network(s)	width=20%	Previous network(s)	width=20%	Date
Heartbreak High	ABC	Network Ten
Hey Dad..! (repeats)	Seven Network	Network Ten
Prisoner (repeats)	Seven Network	Network Ten

International

width=40%	Program	width=20%	New network(s)	width=20%	Previous network(s)	width=20%	Date
// M.A.S.K.	Network Ten	Nine Network
Full House	Nine Network	Seven Network
Ricki Lake		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

Date	Show	Channel	Debut
19 May 1997	Frontline	ABC TV	9 May 1994
28 May 1997	Kangaroo Palace	Channel Seven	25 May 1997
20 June 1997	Plasmo	ABC TV	4 June 1997
8 July 1997	The Wayne Manifesto	ABC TV	2 June 1997
10 July 1997	Johnson and Friends	ABC TV	3 September 1990
31 August 1997	Return to Jupiter	ABC TV	8 June 1997
15 September 1997	Full Frontal	Channel Seven	13 May 1993
19 September 1997	S'Cool Sport	ABC TV	20 April 1996
27 September 1997	Club Buggery	ABC TV	21 April 1995
29 September 1997	Swinging	ABC TV	10 September 1997
24 October 1997		Nine Network	1 September 1997
25 October 1997	Plucka's Place	Nine Network	5 April 1997
11 November 1997	Kitu and Woofl	ABC TV	7 October 1997
19 December 1997	Agro's Cartoon Connection	Channel Seven	22 January 1990
19 December 1997	The Gift	Nine Network	27 October 1997
22 December 1997	Ocean Girl	Network Ten	29 August 1994

See also

• 1997 in Australia
• List of Australian films of 1997

Notes and References

1. News: A festival in your living room. Jane . Freeman . 15 . The Sydney Morning Herald. . Sydney . 1 June 1997 . 17 January 2010 .
2. News: Docos hold the faithful . Freeman . Jane . The Sydney Morning Herald. . Sydney . 22 June 1997 . 13 . 21 December 2009 .
3. News: (Cable Watch) . Peter . Weiniger . . . . 27 August 1997 . 14 . 1 January 2010 .
4. News: The new MUSIC WARS . Bruce . Elder . . . Sydney . 30 March 1997 . 13 . On March 20, ARC disappeared to be replaced by MTV, Music Television, and on April 18 RED will be replaced by Channel [V]..
5. News: GET REAL, WORLD – MTV IS WHERE IT'S AT . Brett . Thomas . 6 . . . Sydney . 5 April 1997 .