2011 in Australian television explained

This is a list of Australian television events and premieres which occurred in 2011. This year will be the 56th year of continuous operation of television in Australia.

Events

• 11 January – Ten Network Holdings and CBS Studios International launch digital multi-channel Eleven, which replaces the standard definition simulcast of One HD.^[1] Network Ten also permanently shifts its long-running soap opera Neighbours to the new channel after having aired the series for 24 years. The first episode on Eleven was its highest-rated program of the night, recording 254,000 metropolitan viewers.^[2]
• 13 January – The Australian Government lifts restrictions on the anti-siphoning rule to allow the Seven Network to air parts of the Australian Open on its digital multichannel 7Two while Seven News airs on the primary channel.^[3] This practice has continued in subsequent years.
• 16 January – Prime Television and GWN Television rebrand as Prime7 and GWN7 respectively, reaffirming their alignment with the Seven Network. The "Prime" on-screen watermark is also removed for Seven Network digital multichannels 7Two and 7mate.
• 24 January – The launch of 6PM with George Negus and Ten Evening News marks Network Ten's return to the regular broadcasting of news and current affairs programs in the 6:00–7:00 pm timeslot for the first time in 20 years. The new line-up is in direct competition with news and current affairs offerings on both the Seven and Nine networks.^[4]
• 4 April – Seven picks up the rights to televise Wimbledon, and in doing so, promises viewers live coverage of most matches including the men's and women's singles semi-finals, and championship matches.^[5]
• 27 April – Two days before it was due to air, ABC Television is forced to cancel their planned coverage of the Wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton, which was to be a "satirical commentary" by The Chaser, due to restrictions imposed by Clarence House.^[6] Set to air on ABC2, The Chaser’s Royal Wedding Commentary, was instead replaced by a simulcast of BBC's coverage and commentary of the wedding.^[6]
• 28 April – The Australian Football League (AFL) television broadcast rights for the 2012 to 2016 seasons is awarded to the Seven Network and Foxtel in a record $1.253 billion deal (including mobile and internet coverage awarded to Telstra).^{[7] [8]} The Seven Network will broadcast four games each round, three of them live, as well as all finals live.^{[7] [8]} For the first time, Foxtel will broadcast all nine matches each round, as well as all finals except the Grand Final, live, simulcasting the Seven Network's coverage of its four games.^{[7] [8]} Foxtel will also relaunch a dedicated AFL channel after its previous attempt, the Fox Footy Channel, ceased broadcasting in 2006.^{[7] [8]}
• 2 May – Emma Duncan wins the sixth season of The Biggest Loser.
• 8 May – Network Ten shifts the focus of its high-definition digital multichannel One from purely sports coverage and programming, to a mix of general entertainment and sports, specifically targeting audiences in the male 24-to-54-year-old demographic.^[9]
• 26 June – Heather Foord presents her final Nine News Queensland bulletin before retiring from television permanently; she is replaced the following weekend by Eva Milic.^[10]
• 10 July – TV chef Manu Feildel, alongside professional dance partner Alana Patience, win the eleventh season of Dancing with the Stars.
• 28 July – 7TWO, 7mate, GEM, GO!, ONE & ELEVEN expand to Western Australia.
• 1 August – Surfers and best friends Tyler Atkins and Nathan Jolliffe win the first season of The Amazing Race Australia.
• 2 August – Jack Vidgen wins the fifth season of Australia's Got Talent.
• 7 August – Kate Bracks wins the third season of MasterChef Australia.
• 20 and 21 August – The Nine Network's most-watched Queensland news bulletin conducts two crosses to journalists in a helicopter claiming to be "near Beerwah, Queensland", where the remains of murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe had been found earlier that month. However, the crosses are revealed to be fake when, on the second night, rival station Channel Seven filmed footage of the Nine helicopter sitting on the helipad outside their studios at Mount Coot-tha at the time of the broadcast. Radar footage also revealed that, on the first night, the helicopter was actually hovering over Chapel Hill, 70 km away from Beerwah. Two journalists, Melissa Mallet and Cameron Price, as well as news producer Aaron Wakeley, are all sacked by the Nine Network following the incident, while Lee Anderson resigned in protest over the sackings.^[11]
• 21 August – Polly Porter and Warwick "Waz" Jones win the fourth season of The Block.
• 7 September – Robert Davidov wins the first series of Top Design Australia.
• 9 September – Nine Network confirmed that they were bringing back Big Brother Australia in 2012.
• 9 September – The eleventh season of the popular British children's television series Thomas & Friends finally airs on ABC2 at 1:05pm starting with Hide and Peep.
• 12 September – Dylan Cooper wins the third season of Project Runway Australia.
• 30 September – Ten Late News and Sports Tonight withdrawn their Broadcasts for the very last time.
• 12 October – Michael Lynch wins the first series of The Renovators.
• 22 October – Nine News Sydney overtakes Seven News Sydney as the news ratings leader in Sydney for the first time since 2004.^[12]
• 25 October Montana Cox wins the seventh season of Australia's Next Top Model.
• 11 November – 7TWO, 7mate, GEM, GO!, ONE & ELEVEN expand to South Eastern South Australia.
• 21 November – Comedian Julia Morris wins the first season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia.
• 22 November – Reece Mastin wins the third series of The X Factor.
• 23 November – Greta Yaxley wins the second season of Junior MasterChef Australia.
• 24 November – Sarah Lawther and Lachlan Cosgrove win the third season of Beauty and the Geek Australia.
• 27 November – The Seven Network wins its 40th (out of a possible 40) week of ratings for the 2011 calendar year, and becomes the first Australian television network to achieve a clean sweep of a ratings calendar year.^[13]

Celebrity deaths

• 4 January – Geoff Raymond (aged 89), news presenter.^[14]
• 21 May – Bill Hunter (aged 71), actor^[15]
• 11 June, James Elliot (aged 82) Scottish-born Australian actor, best known as Alf Sutcliffe Number 96^[16]

Channels

New channels

• 11 January – Eleven
• 29 May – Disney Junior
• 28 July - 7TWO, GO!, GEM, ONE, ELEVEN & 7mate (Albany/Bunbury)
• 11 November - February 2012 - 7TWO, GO!, GEM, ONE, ELEVEN & 7mate (Mount Gambier/Riverland)

Renamed channels

• 16 January – Prime7 (replacing Prime)
• 16 January – GWN7 (replacing GWN)
• 1 May – ABC4 Kids (replacing ABC For Kids on 2, but shared with ABC2)
• 8 May – One (replacing One HD)

Premieres

Domestic series

See main article: List of Australian television series premieres in 2011.

International series

See main article: List of international television series premieres on Australian television in 2011.

Telemovies

Ref

		Nine Network	^[17]
		Nine Network
		Nine Network
Blood Brothers		Nine Network	^[18]

Miniseries

Domestic

width=60%	Program	width=20%	Channel	width=20%	Debut date	Reference/s
Cloudstreet Cloudstreet	Showcase		^[19] ^[20]

International

width=60%	Program	width=20%	Channel	width=20%	Debut date	Reference/s
Collision Collision	ABC1		^[21]
Murderland Murderland	ABC1		^[22]
Kennedys, The The Kennedys	ABC1		^[23]

Documentaries

Domestic

width=60%	Program	width=20%	Channel	width=20%	Debut date	Reference/s
Living the End Living the End	SBS One		^[24]
Irish in Australia, The The Irish in Australia	The History Channel		^[25]
Secret History of Eurovision, The The Secret History of Eurovision	SBS One		^[26]

International

width=60%	Program	width=20%	Channel	width=20%	Debut date	Reference/s
Despicable Me TV Show Despicable Me TV Show	Seven Network		^[27]
Madagascar Madagascar	Nine Network		^[28]
Madagascar Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice	Nine Network		^[29]
Shadow of the Moon, The The Shadow of the Moon	SBS One	TBA	^[30]
Teenage Paparazzo Teenage Paparazzo	ABC2		^[31]

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.

Domestic

width=40%	Program	width=20%	New network	width=20%	Previous network	width=20%	Date
Neighbours Neighbours	Eleven	Network Ten
Animation Fixation Animation Fixation	Eleven	Network Ten
The Chaser's War on Everything The Chaser's War on Everything	7mate	ABC1

International

width=40%	Program	width=20%	New network	width=20%	Previous network	width=20%	Date
Diagnosis Murder	Eleven	Nine Network	11 January
JAG JAG	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
MacGyver MacGyver	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
Cheers Cheers	Eleven	Nine Network	11 January
Roseanne Roseanne	Eleven	Seven Network	11 January
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Sabrina, the Teenage Witch	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
Happy Days Happy Days	Eleven	Nine Network	11 January
Mork and Mindy Mork and Mindy	Eleven	Nine Network	11 January
The Brady Bunch The Brady Bunch	Eleven	Nine Network	11 January
Family Ties Family Ties	Eleven	Nine Network	11 January
Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
The Simpsons The Simpsons	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
Futurama Futurama	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
The Office The Office	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
Nurse Jackie Nurse Jackie	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
Californication Californication	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
The Love Boat The Love Boat	Eleven	Nine Network	12 January
Touched by an Angel Touched by an Angel	Eleven	Nine Network	12 January
7th Heaven 7th Heaven	Eleven	Network Ten	12 January
The Cleveland Show The Cleveland Show	Eleven	Network Ten	12 January
King of the Hill King of the Hill	Eleven	7TWO	12 January
Stargate Universe Stargate Universe	Eleven	Network Ten	13 January
90210 90210	Eleven	Network Ten	14 January
So You Think You Can Dance So You Think You Can Dance	Eleven	Network Ten	14 January
Get Smart Get Smart Axed after 3 episodes	Eleven	GO!	15 January
Hogan's Heroes Hogan's Heroes Axed after 2 episodes	Eleven	GO!	15 January
Smallville Smallville	Eleven	Network Ten	16 January
Angel Angel	Eleven	Network Ten	16 January
Supernatural Supernatural	Eleven	Network Ten	17 January
Dexter Dexter	Eleven	Network Ten	17 January
Star Trek: The Next Generation	Eleven	GO!	20 January
The Golden Girls The Golden Girls	GEM	Seven Network	3 February
MegaStructures MegaStructures	7mate	Ten HD (now defunct)	3 February
Malcolm in the Middle Malcolm in the Middle	Eleven	Network Ten	4 February
Sex and the City Sex and the City	Eleven	Network Ten	4 February
Frasier Frasier	Eleven	GO!	5 February
The Nanny The Nanny	GO! (second run)	GEM
Spin City Spin City	GO!	Nine Network
24 24	One	Seven Network
The King of Queens The King of Queens	Eleven	GO!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Buffy the Vampire Slayer	Eleven	Network Ten
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! / I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!	GO!	Nine Network
Mad About You Mad About You	7Two	Network Ten
Who's The Boss? Who's The Boss?	7Two	Nine Network
Step By Step Step By Step	7Two	Nine Network
Get Smart Get Smart	One	Eleven
Hogan's Heroes Hogan's Heroes	One	Eleven
M*A*S*H M*A*S*H	One

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.

width=45%	Program	width=20%	Free-to-air network	width=20%	Subscription network	width=15%	Date	Reference/s
The Gadget Show The Gadget Show	Network Ten	LifeStyle		^[32]
Jersey Shore Jersey Shore	7mate	MTV		^[33]
Sons of Anarchy Sons of Anarchy	One	Showcase		^[34]
Penguins of Madagascar, The The Penguins of Madagascar	Network Ten	Nickelodeon		^[35]
Power Rangers Samurai Power Rangers Samurai	GO!	Nickelodeon
Teen Mom Teen Mom	GO!	MTV
Jeopardy! Jeopardy!	One	W
Britain's Next Top Model Britain's Next Top Model	Eleven	Fox8
Beyblade: Medal Masters Beyblade: Medal Masters	Network Ten	Cartoon Network
The Glades The Glades	Network Ten	W
Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge	Network Ten	Cartoon Network

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.

width=45%	Program	width=20%	Subscription network	width=20%	Free-to-air network	width=15%	Date	Reference/s
Cleveland Show, The The Cleveland Show	Fox8	Network Ten / Eleven
Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors	Cartoon Network	Network Ten
In the Night Garden In the Night Garden...	CBeebies	ABC4 Kids	November
Merlin Merlin	UKTV	Network Ten
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!	KidsCo	Nine Network / ABC Kids Channel (now defunct)	December

Ended this year

width=45%	Program	width=15%	End date	width=20%	Network	width=20%	Debut date	Reference/s
Puzzle Play		Network Ten
Ben Elton Live From Planet Earth Ben Elton Live From Planet Earth		Nine Network		^[36]
The 7.30 Report		ABC1
Stateline		ABC1
City Homicide		Seven Network		^[37] ^[38]
Conviction Kitchen		Seven Network
The New Adventures of Winnie The Pooh		Playhouse Disney
East West 101		SBS One		^[39] ^[40]
Between the Lines Between the Lines		Nine Network		^[41] ^[42]
In Their Footsteps		Nine Network
Angry Boys		ABC1
Video Hits Video Hits		Network Ten		^[43] ^[44]
		Nine Network		^[45] ^[46]
Top Design Australia		Nine Network		^[47]
Top Gear Australia Top Gear Australia		Nine Network	(on SBS)	^[48] ^[49]
Collectors		ABC1
Sports Tonight Sports Tonight		Network Ten / One		^[50]
Ten Late News Ten Late News		Network Ten
Spit It Out		Seven Network
6.30 with George Negus 6.30 with George Negus (previously 6pm With George Negus)		Network Ten		^[51]
Wild Boys		Seven Network		^[52] ^[53]
Spicks and Specks Spicks and Specks		ABC1		^[54]
Kerri-Anne Kerri-Anne (previously Mornings With Kerri-Anne)		Nine Network		^[55]
RPM		One	(second run)	^[56] ^[57]
Hi-5		Nine Network

Returning this year

width=20%	Program	width=10%	New Network	width=10%	Previous network	width=10%	Debut date	width=10%	End date	width=10%	Return date	Reference/s
Good Chef Bad Chef	Network Ten	Seven Network	2006	2007
This Is Your Life	Same	Nine Network	1995	2008
RPM	One	Network Ten	1997	2008
It's a Knockout	Same	Network Ten	April 1985	September 1987

See also

• 2011 in Australia
• List of Australian films of 2011

Notes and References

1. Web site: . David . Knox . ELEVEN is on the air . 11 January 2011 . 16 January 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110320142154/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/01/eleven-is-on-the-air.html . 20 March 2011 . live.
2. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Week 3. 16 January 2011. 10 January 2011.
3. News: Chessell. James. Conroy agrees to extra air time for Australian Open. 16 January 2011. The Australian. 13 January 2011.
4. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. TEN takes time for News. 19 January 2011. 25 January 2011.
5. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/tv-radio/seven-snatches-wimbledon-tennis-coverage/story-e6frf9ho-1226033315376 Seven snatches Wimbledon tennis coverage | Herald Sun
6. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Not amused. Chaser’s Royal Wedding commentary cancelled. 27 April 2011. 28 April 2011.
7. Web site: Jennifer . Witham . AFL seals broadcast deal . AFL BigPond Network . 28 April 2011 . 28 April 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121008125149/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/112560/default.aspx . 8 October 2012 .
8. Web site: AFL secures TV rights deal for next five years worth $1.253 billion . 28 April 2011 . 28 April 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121008125149/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/112560/default.aspx . 8 October 2012 .
9. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. NONE to relaunch with entertainment in May. 7 April 2011. 28 April 2011.
10. News: Heather Foord's final sign-off. The Sydney Morning Herald. Katherine. Feeney. 27 June 2011. 5 November 2017.
11. Web site: Channel 9 sacks three, news director resigns over 'Choppergate' scandal. News.com.au. 26 August 2011. 30 November 2016. 20 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220134807/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/channel-9-fake-news-cross-will-anyone-be-chopped/news-story/23e0914d06115e393dfe6086125cb853. dead.
12. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212214219/http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2011/10/22/nine-news-sydney-takes-ratings-crown-from-seven/ Nine News Sydney takes ratings crown from Seven
13. Web site: 40 weeks makes a clean sweep for Seven. 2011-12-25. 2011-11-27. TV Tonight.
14. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Vale: Geoff Raymond. 8 January 2011. 16 January 2011.
15. Web site: Australian acting legend Bill Hunter dies from cancer at 71 . 21 May 2015 . 8 April 2015 . The Australian.
16. Web site: Web: Obituary: James Elliot.
17. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Airdate: Underbelly Files: Lucifer / Infiltration / Man Who Got Away. 28 January 2011. 28 January 2011.
18. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Airdate: Blood Brothers. 28 April 2011. 28 April 2011.
19. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Foxtel: 2011 slate. 14 December 2010. 25 January 2011.
20. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Airdate: Cloudstreet. 17 March 2011. 16 April 2011.
21. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Airdate: Collision. 17 January 2011. 3 January 2011.
22. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Airdate: Murderland. 21 January 2011. 16 January 2011.
23. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Airdate: The Kennedys. 29 April 2011. 29 April 2011.
24. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Airdate: Living the End. 21 January 2011. 21 January 2011.
25. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Airdate: The Irish in Australia. 20 March 2011. 23 February 2011.
26. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Airdate: The Secret History of Eurovision. 20 April 2011.
27. Web site: TV Morning. David. Knox. Airdate: Despicable Me. 21 April 2011.
28. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Airdate: Madagascar. 5 February 2011.
29. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Airdate: Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice. 7 June 2011. 8 June 2011.
30. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. SBS handpicks from across the globe. 28 January 2011. 29 January 2011.
31. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Airdate: Teenage Paparazzo. 19 October 2011. 29 October 2011.
32. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Week 3. January 2011. 20 January 2011.
33. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Airdate: Jersey Shore. 28 April 2011. 16 May 2011.
34. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Sons of Anarchy coming (later) to ELEVEN. 14 January 2011. 17 January 2011.
35. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Airdate: Penguins of Madagascar. 3 May 2011. 16 May 2011.
36. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Axed: Ben Elton Live from Planet Earth. 23 February 2011. 16 May 2011.
37. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. City Homicide... it’s a crime. 30 March 2011. 23 February 2012.
38. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Axed in 2011. 30 December 2011. 23 February 2012.
39. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. The end for East West 101. 31 March 2011. 23 February 2012.
40. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Gallery: Farewell to East West 101. 28 May 2011. 23 February 2012.
41. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Axed: Between the Lines. 27 May 2011. 27 May 2011.
42. News: Vickery. Colin. Final episode of Eddie McGuire's Between The Lines to be aired. Herald Sun. 5 June 2011. 3 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110610033533/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/tv-radio/final-episode-of-eddie-mcguires-between-the-lines-to-be-aired/story-e6frf9ho-1226068755656. 10 June 2011 . live.
43. News: Channel 10 stars face chop in major restructure . Colin . Vickery . . 5 July 2011 . 10 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121025032426/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/tv-radio/channel-10-stars-face-chop-in-major-restructure/story-e6frf9ho-1226087496883 . 25 October 2012 . live.
44. News: Fuzzy shrugs off Video Hits axing . . 8 July 2011 . 10 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121025032426/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/fuzzy-shrugs-off-video-hits-axing/story-e6frf96x-1226090215178 . 25 October 2012 . live.
45. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Axed: Rescue Special Ops won’t be renewed. 31 July 2011. 23 February 2012.
46. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Farewell: Rescue Special Ops. 5 September 2011. 23 February 2012.
47. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Top Design picks its winner, but.... 8 September 2011. 23 February 2012.
48. Web site: Top Gear Australia axed . 14 September 2011 . 17 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111024070843/http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/top-gear-australia-axed-20110914-1k8lc.html . 24 October 2011 . dead.
49. Web site: Top Gear Australia hits the skids . 15 September 2011 . Adelaide Now.
50. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sandra-sully-replaces-deborah-knight-and-joins-bill-woods-in-ten-news-revamp-at-5pm-late-news-cancelled/story-e6frewyr-1226142493272 Sandra Sully replaces Deborah Knight and joins Bill Woods in Ten news revamp at 5pm, late news cancelled
51. News: Ten dumps 6.30pm with George Negus, 7PM Project expanded to an hour . Herald Sun . 19 October 2011 . Darren . Devlyn . 18 October 2011 .
52. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Seven not renewing Wild Boys. 8 November 2011. 23 February 2012.
53. News: Holly. Byrnes. Wild Boys won't return to Channel Seven in 2012. The Daily Telegraph. 8 November 2011. 23 February 2012.
54. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Spicks and Specks to end in November. 25 May 2011. 27 May 2011.
55. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Kerri-Anne: "I sincerely believe I will see you in the future, Thankyou...". 25 November 2011. 26 November 2011.
56. Web site: Network Ten axes RPM program. SpeedCafe. 23 February 2012. 17 February 2012.
57. Web site: TV Tonight. David. Knox. Axed: RPM. 17 February 2012. 23 February 2012.