2002 in Australian television explained

Events

• 25 January – Richard Morecroft reads his last ABC News bulletin. He is replaced the following Monday by Tony Eastley.
• 4 February – Nine cast members from All Saints participate in The Weakest Link: All Saints Special to mark the first and only anniversary of The Weakest Link in Australia. Erik Thomson wins the special, but his winnings are unknown.
• 11 February – The Nine Network's post-Sale of the Century replacement, Shafted hosted by former Hey Hey It's Saturday member Red Symons premieres. After dismal ratings the show is cancelled in April the same year. On the same day the network's post-Burgo's Catch Phrase replacement Pass the Buck, a new game show based on the UK game show containing a word association premieres leading into Nine's most-watched 6pm news bulletin, After dismal ratings the show is cancelled in May the same year.
• 20 February – American science fiction fantasy series premieres on the Nine Network.
• 11 March – The Seven Network's Docklands studios in Melbourne open, with the first Seven News Melbourne news bulletin being broadcast from the centre. This leads to a national relaunch of the Seven News brand with new sets and graphics in most cities. Also on that day, the nine remaining contestants from the third season of The Mole take part in a special episode of The Weakest Link for a chance to add $100,000 to the prize kitty. The team performed well against expectations, winning only $14,100, the lowest amount ever won on the Australian version of the show. On The Mole, this figure is rounded up to $15,000. The show was cancelled one month later after dismal ratings.
• 6 March – Foxtel introduces a new sports channel called Fox Footy Channel. It runs until 1 October 2006.
• 20 March – Tim Lane resigns from the Nine Network following a disagreement in regards to commentating AFL matches with Eddie McGuire involving the Collingwood Football Club. Lane defects to rival Network Ten in 2003, where he remained until Ten lost the rights at the end of 2011.
• 28 March – The Nine Network televises its first AFL game until Nine lost the TV rights at the end of 2006.
• 30 March – The Western Front premieres on Network Ten in Perth and was hosted by Tim Gossage and Lachy Reid.
• 30 March – Network Ten televises its first AFL game until Ten lost the TV rights at the end of 2011.
• 8 April – Frasier returns to the Nine Network and the show debuts its 7:00 pm weeknight timeslot.
• 8 April – Australian media analysis television program Media Watch returns to air on the ABC several months after the broadcaster had removed its former managing director Jonathan Shier with David Marr taking over as host as Paul Barry had been sacked by Shier in 2000 following its cancellation.
• 24 April – Crystal-Rose Cluff wins the third season of The Mole, taking home $108,000 in prize money. Alaina Taylor is revealed as the Mole, and Marc Jongebloed is the runner-up.
• 2 May – Final episode of the Australian drama series (which is the very first television series in Australia to be filmed in widescreen) Something in the Air airs on ABC.
• 16 May – Kath & Kim premieres on the ABC and is a surprise hit. It was picked up by the Seven Network in 2007.
• 1 July – Peter Corbett wins the second season of Big Brother.
• 2 July – American science fiction fantasy series Smallville premieres on the Nine Network.
• 26 July – Mixy ends after 4-year run and it will be replaced by children's weekday morning and afternoon blocks on the ABC.
• 6 August – Eddie McGuire and Catriona Rowntree present an all new IQ test television series called which is airing on Nine Network. It has also been ranked as the most watched television show for 2002 in Australia.
• 8 August – The American action drama series 24 premieres on the Seven Network.
• 12 August –
  • After being cancelled in 2001, Burgo's Catch Phrase relaunches on the Nine Network and is a surprise hit, with new graphics, new theme music and new prizes with the contestant backdrop increased to three people with the game show been produced by Southern Star Endemol, leading into Nine's most-watched 6pm news bulletin.
  • TV and radio personality Dylan Lewis is voted winner of Celebrity Big Brother.
  • The Australian drama White Collar Blue premieres on Network Ten.
• September – SBS launches its first Digital channel, the SBS World News Channel.
• 1 September – The Nine Network undergoes a revamp to change their on-air graphics, including changing their dots back to spears as well as the numeral becoming 3D for the colour-coded days.
• 30 September – The Wiggles return to television with a brand new television series called Lights, Camera, Action, Wiggles! airing for the first time ever on ABC.
• 4 October – Beyblade premieres on Fox Kids and two weeks later on Network Ten as part of Cheez TV. Also that day, David Koch takes over from Chris Reason as co-host of Sunrise, a role which he still holds as of today.^[1]
• 29 November – Brian Henderson retires from reading Sydney's National Nine News after four decades. He is replaced the following Monday by Jim Waley, who manages to keep the bulletin on top of the ratings in Sydney for the next two years.^[2]

Channels

New channels

• 6 March – Fox Footy Channel

Defunct channels

• 30 November – Oh! (replaced by FOX8 on Optus Television)

Premieres

Domestic series

width=60%	Program	width=20%	Channel	width=20%	Debut date
The Garden Gurus	Nine Network
Shafted	Nine Network
Pass the Buck	Nine Network
Auction Squad	Seven Network
Australian Survivor	Nine Network
Fear Factor	Nine Network
Saturday Night Footy	Network Ten
Kath & Kim	ABC TV
Old Tom	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
Young Lions	Nine Network
Celebrity Big Brother	Network Ten
MDA	ABC TV
	Nine Network
White Collar Blue	Network Ten
Creature Features^[3]	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
CNNNN	ABC TV
Lights, Camera, Action, Wiggles!	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
Don't Blame Me	Nine Network
Fairy Tale Police Department	Seven Network
Mornings with Kerri-Anne	Nine Network
Bad Cop, Bad Cop	ABC TV

International series

width=60%	Program	width=20%	Channel	width=20%	Debut date
Level 9	Nine Network
Yizo Yizo	SBS TV
Two Thousand Acres of Sky	Seven Network
The Strip	Nine Network
Hitler's Holocaust	SBS TV
/ Secrets of the Dead	SBS TV
The Cindy Margolis Show	Nine Network
Vampires, Pirates and Aliens	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
Atlantis High	ABC Kids (digital only)
Merlin the Magical Puppy	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
Busy Buses	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
The Hoobs	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
Eddy and the Bear	ABC Kids (digital only)
Little Ghosts	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
The Famous Five (1995)	ABC Kids (digital only)
The Adventures of Dawdle the Donkey	ABC Kids (digital only)
Black Books	ABC TV
The Six Wives of Henry VIII	ABC TV
North Square^[4]	ABC TV
	Nine Network
Digimon Tamers	Network Ten
/ Don't Eat the Neighbours	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
The Kumars at No. 42	ABC TV
Connie the Cow	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
/ Guinevere Jones	Network Ten
Rescue Heroes	Network Ten
Night and Day	ABC TV
The Legend of Tarzan	Seven Network
Angelina Ballerina	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
Fourways Farm	ABC Kids (digital only)
/ Starhill Ponies	ABC Kids (digital only)
/ Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001)	Network Ten
	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
Molly's Gang	ABC Kids (digital only)
Dog and Duck	ABC Kids (digital only)
Construction Site	ABC Kids (digital only)
Teacher's Pet	Seven Network
/ Queer as Folk	SBS TV
Smallville	Nine Network
The Way We Live Now (2001)	ABC TV
The Book Group	ABC TV
/ Cyberchase	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
SpongeBob SquarePants	Network Ten
Caillou	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
Baby Blues	Nine Network
Band of Brothers^[5]	Nine Network
Medabots	Network Ten
The Ripping Friends	Fly TV (digital only)
Pongwiffy	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
Olliver's Adventures	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
Engie Benjy	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
	Network Ten
Curb Your Enthusiasm^[6]	Nine Network
Small Potatoes (1999)	ABC TV
Beyblade	Network Ten
	Network Ten
	Network Ten
Dr. Phil	Nine Network
/ Ace Lightning	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
Bounty Hamster	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
Andy Pandy (2002)	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
Foyle's War	ABC TV
	ABC TV
Archie's Weird Mysteries	Seven Network
Funny Little Bugs	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
Teletubbies Everywhere	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
/ X-DuckX	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)
The Adventures of Mole	Seven Network
The Adventures of Toad	Seven Network
Animal Ark	ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
// Anthony Ant	ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
/// Upstairs, Downstairs Bears	ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
// Blazing Dragons	ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
Buzz and Poppy	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
Oscar Charlie	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
Binka	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
Snailsbury Tales	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
Oswald	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
/ Slim Pig	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
The Wheels on the Bus	ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
/ Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings (2002)	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
/ Henry's World	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
The Fantastic Flying Journey	ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
Mopatop's Shop	ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
Skipper & Skeeto	ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
Microscopic Milton	ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
Letters from Felix	ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
Coupling	ABC TV	2002
Scrubs	Seven Network	2002
24	Seven Network	2002
Sheena	Network Ten	2002
The Queen's Nose	ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
/ Clifford the Big Red Dog	Nine Network	2002
/ The Dead Zone	Nine Network	2002
Footballers' Wives	Network Ten	2002
Amazon	Nine Network	2002
Dog Eat Dog	Seven Network	2002
Really Wild Animals	ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
Freakylinks	Nine Network	2002
// Dark Realm	Nine Network	2002
Hollywood 7	Seven Network	2002
/ The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	2002
Hype	Nine Network	2002
Big Bag	ABC Kids (digital only)	2002

Subscription television

Domestic

width=60%	Program	width=20%	Channel	width=20%	Debut date
A Day in the Life^[7]	Arena

International

width=60%	Program	width=20%	Channel	width=20%	Debut date
Osbournes, The The Osbournes^[8]	MTV
Shinzo	Fox Kids
Time Squad Time Squad^[9]	Cartoon Network
Justice League Justice League	Cartoon Network
// The Cramp Twins	Cartoon Network
The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius ^[10]	Nickelodeon
Zoids: Chaotic Century ^[11]	Cartoon Network
Beyblade	Fox Kids
Story of Tracy Beaker, The The Story of Tracy Beaker^[12]	Nickelodeon
Fun at the Funeral Parlor^[13]	UKTV
Anna Nicole Show, The The Anna Nicole Show^[14]	Arena
Lenny Henry in Pieces^[15]	UKTV
Yu-Gi-Oh!	Nickelodeon	2002
The Fairly OddParents!	Nickelodeon	2002
Invader Zim	Nickelodeon	2002
Kim Possible	Disney Channel	2002

Specials

width=60%	Program	width=20%	Channel	width=20%	Debut date
2002 Country Music Association Awards	Main Event
2002 Tony Awards^[16]	Ovation Channel	-->

Free-to-air premieres

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

International

width=40%	Program	width=20%	Free-to-air network	width=20%	Subscription network	width=20%	Date
The Osbournes^[17] ^[18]	Network Ten	MTV

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

width=40%	Program	width=20%	Subscription network	width=20%	Free-to-air network	width=20%	Date
Li'l Horrors	Fox Kids	Seven Network	2002

International

width=40%	Program	width=20%	Subscription network	width=20%	Free-to-air network	width=20%	Date
/ The Saddle Club	Fox Kids	ABC TV	2002
Saved by the Bell: The College Years	Nickelodeon	Seven Network
Mary-Kate and Ashley in Action! Mary-Kate and Ashley in Action!	Nickelodeon

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.

Domestic

width=40%	Program	width=20%	New network(s)	width=20%	Previous network(s)	width=20%	Date
Elly & Jools	ABC Kids (digital only)	Nine Network
Lizzie's Library	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2002

International

width=40%	Program	width=20%	New network(s)	width=20%	Previous network(s)	width=20%	Date
The Zack Files	ABC TV	ABC Kids (digital only)
/ George Shrinks	ABC TV	ABC Kids (digital only)
Sailor Moon	Network Ten	Seven Network
Percy the Park Keeper	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	Nine Network
The Forgotten Toys (TV special)	Seven Network	ABC TV
The New Adventures of Madeline	Seven Network	ABC TV
The First Snow of Winter	Seven Network	ABC TV
Harry and the Hendersons	Network Ten	ABC TV	2002
The Kids of Degrassi Street	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2002
Katie and Orbie	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2002
/ The Animals of Farthing Wood	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2002
/ Babar	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2002
Koki	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2002
Barney & Friends	ABC Kids (digital only)	Nine Network	2002
Bananaman	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2002
Byker Grove	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2002
Bump in the Night	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2002
The Greedysaurus Gang	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2002
Degrassi Junior High	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2002
Monty	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2002
True Tilda	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2002

Ending / resting this year

Date	Show	Channel	Debut
11 January	Cybergirl	Network Ten	21 July 2001
22 April	The Weakest Link	Seven Network	5 February 2001
2 May	Something in the Air	ABC TV	17 January 2000
7 July	Halifax f.p.	Seven Network	9 October 1994
26 July	Mixy	ABC TV	16 February 1998
29 September	All Aussie Adventures	Network Ten	5 August 2001
14 November	BackBerner	ABC TV	19 August 1999
18 December	Young Lions	Nine Network	17 July 2002

See also

• 2002 in Australia
• List of Australian films of 2002

Notes and References

1. Web site: Why Kochie was almost fired from Sunrise . Coffs Coast Advocate. Bronte. Coy. 6 November 2017. 1 August 2018.
2. News: Stephanie. Peatling. The Waley it is .... The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 December 2002. 28 May 2007.
3. Hassall. Greg. 9 September 2002. Review of Creature Features. The Sydney Morning Herald's The Guide. 14–15.
4. News: Silky briefs and stolen Y-fronts . Brian . Courtis . 12 . . . . 20 February 2002 . 7 January 2010 .
5. News: Sacha. Molitorisz. The best war series ever made. The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 August 2002. 28 December 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20021214153108/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/08/27/1030053058293.html. 14 December 2002 . live.
6. News: The man behind Seinfeld is back with a new side-splitter . Jim . Schembri . 20 . . . . 17 October 2002 . 12 January 2010 .
7. News: Day in the life reveals sweet surprises . . . X03 . . 17 February 2002 .
8. News: Last Word All the News That Fits . Cameron . Adams . . . . 14 March 2002 . 64 . The Osbournes starts on MTV Australia from 4 April at 7pm. .
9. Toon Watch . 6 . Cartoon Network (Australia) . Toon HQ . 2002 . 1.
10. Web site: What's New On Nick? – July / August 2002 . 18 December 2009 . Nickelodeon (Australia) . 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20020804220510/http://www.nickelodeon.com.au/blammo/xxwhats.html . 4 August 2002.
11. Toon Watch . 5 . Cartoon Network (Australia) . Toon HQ . 2002 . 2.
12. Web site: What's New On Nick? – July / August 2002 . 18 December 2009 . Nickelodeon (Australia) . 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20021204112838/http://www.nickelodeon.com.au/blammo/xxwhats.html . 4 December 2002.
13. Web site: UKTV Highlights . 5 January 2010 . UKTV (Australia and New Zealand) . 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20021019222905/http://www.uktv.com.au/whatsonHighlights.asp?f=yes . 19 October 2002.
14. News: NETWORKING . Kylie . Miller . 12 . . . . 30 October 2003 . 14 January 2010 .
15. Web site: 18 January 2010. FOXTEL Highlights (General Entertainment). . https://web.archive.org/web/20021106010325/http://www.foxtel.com.au/highlights/month.jsp?cat=general-entertainment. 6 November 2002.
16. Web site: 18 January 2010. FOXTEL Highlights (General Entertainment). . https://web.archive.org/web/20021204164301/http://www.foxtel.com.au/highlights/month.jsp?cat=general-entertainment. dead. 4 December 2002.
17. News: Ozzy-speak defies bleeper . Neil . Melloy . . . Brisbane, Australia . 22 June 2002 . 18 .
18. News: Unholy and mundane . Gordon . Farrer . . . Melbourne, Australia . 28 June 2002 . 17 . 17 December 2009 .