1999 in Australian television

The year 1999 in Australian television involved many events.

List of years in Australian television
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Events

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  • 11 January – The ABC moves its long running children's series Play School from its long standing time-slot of 4pm weekdays, to 3:30pm.
  • 1 February – QSTV becomes an affiliate of the Seven Network, becoming known as Seven Central.
  • 13 February – A new Australian science fiction drama series for children Crash Zone produced by the Australian Children's Television Foundation in association with the Disney Channel begins its air on Seven Network.
  • 19 February - Neighbours airs the famous Full Monty strip scene involving Karl Kennedy, Joel Samuels, Drew Kirk, Toadie Rebecchi and Billy Kennedy.
  • March – WIN Television WA commences broadcasting to regional & remote Western Australia, ending the long-time monopoly held by Golden West Network.
  • April – Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? begins on Channel Nine and Adriana Xenides retires from Seven's Wheel of Fortune after 18 years as letter turner. She will be replaced by former model Sophie Falkiner. Xenides died from bowel cancer in 2010.
  • 7 April – The famous Toyota Hilux Bugger TV commercial that originally aired in New Zealand goes to air for the first time on Australian television during a commercial break of an episode of The Panel on Network Ten.
  • 9 April – American animated sitcom Family Guy debuts on the Seven Network.
  • 19 April – Final episode of Australian talk show Strassman airs on Nine Network.
  • 21 April - In Neighbours, Hannah Martin returns from France; Philip Martin's birthday
  • 6 May – Musical director Geoff Harvey is sacked from the Nine Network after 38 years.[1]
  • 28 May – Final episode of the Australian National morning program 11AM airs on the Seven Network. The show was axed after 24 years.
  • May – The Seven Network becomes the first Australian television network to introduce a watermark on its on-air programs.
  • 21 June - In Neighbours, Toadie Rebecchi loses his famous ponytail.
  • 28 June – Australian drama series SeaChange returns to the ABC for a second season achieving recording ratings for the network.
  • 1 July – Australian children's longest running series Mr. Squiggle celebrates its 40th year.
  • 9 July – Australian children's longest running series Mr. Squiggle airs its final episode on the ABC.
  • 13 July - In Neighbours, it was Sarah Beaumont and Peter Hannay's wedding.
  • 19 August – A brand new Australian political satire sketch comedy television series called BackBerner presented by standup comic Peter Berner and noted Australian character actor Louise Siversen screens on the ABC.
  • 31 August – American sitcom The King of Queens starring Kevin James premieres on the Nine Network.
  • 20 September – British children's animated series Bob the Builder debuts on the ABC.
  • 17 October – British six-part documentary series Walking with Dinosaurs debuts on the ABC.
  • 20 October - In Neighbours, Philip and Hannah Martin and Ruth Wilkinson leave; Joe, Lyn, Steph, Flick and Michelle Scully arrive.
  • 24 October – American crime drama series The Sopranos begins on the Nine Network.
  • 19 November – Studio 9 Unplugged, a tribute special dedicated the famous studio rooms at GTV9 presented by Don Lane, goes to air on the Nine Network, ending a 40-year era of live television in that studio.
  • 20 November – The final episode of Hey Hey It's Saturday airs on Nine Network. Before retiring, the creator, host and producer of the series Daryl Somers leaves Nine Network after 28 years.
  • 23 November – The 1996 slasher film Scream starring David Arquette, Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox premieres on the Nine Network at 9:30pm.
  • 26 November – British cooking programme The Naked Chef starring Jamie Oliver screens on the ABC. In Neighbours, the 1999 season final features the Millennium party plus the Scully house burns!
  • 2 December – American animated science fiction sitcom Futurama created by Matt Groening the creator of The Simpsons debuts on the Seven Network.
  • 13 December – Australian children's educational TV series Lift Off airs on ABC for the very last time at 10:00am.
  • 31 December – ABC is the host Australian broadcaster of the international TV event 2000 Today, a 26-hour live telecast of new year celebrations around the world, commencing at 8:30pm (AEDST) on 31 December.
  • Jana Wendt becomes presenter of the Australian television public affairs program Dateline.

Channels

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New channels

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Debuts

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Free-to-air

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Domestic

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Program Network Debut date
The Adventures of Sam ABC TV 29 January
Thunderstone Network Ten 12 February
Crash Zone Seven Network 13 February
Wipeout Seven Network 15 February
Hi-5 Nine Network 12 April
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Nine Network 18 April
The $1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime Seven Network 31 May
See How They Run ABC TV 6 June
Pig's Breakfast Nine Network 5 July
The Mick Molloy Show Nine Network 10 July
Sunday Sunrise Seven Network 25 July
The Big Breakfast Seven Network 2 August
Dog's Head Bay ABC TV 16 August
BackBerner ABC TV 19 August
The 10:30 Slot ABC TV 20 August
High Flyers Network Ten 28 August
Unreal TV Network Ten 5 September
Flipper and Lopaka Seven Network 10 September
Rove Nine Network 22 September
Chuck Finn Seven Network 18 October
Bananas in Pyjamas: Surprise Party ABC TV 18 October
Y? Nine Network 1 November
Ground Force Seven Network 1999

International

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Program Channel Debut date
  Percy the Park Keeper Nine Network 2 January
 /  WildC.A.T.S. Network Ten 6 January
  Aquila ABC TV 10 January
  Chicago Sons Nine Network 12 January
  Daria ABC TV 12 January
  Dawson's Creek Network Ten 19 January
 /  The New Adventures of Robin Hood Network Ten 22 January
  Gulliver's Travels Nine Network 30 January
  World's Wildest Police Videos Network Ten 1 February
  Vanity Fair (1998) ABC TV 7 February
  Maggie Network Ten 7 February
  Godzilla: The Series Network Ten 7 February
  Jesse Nine Network 8 February
  The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star ABC TV 10 February
  The Hello Girls ABC TV 11 February
  Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Network Ten 13 February
  Celebrity Deathmatch Network Ten 18 February
  Big Train ABC TV 22 February
  CatDog ABC TV 24 February
  Power Rangers in Space Seven Network 25 February
  The Magnificent Seven Seven Network 27 February
  Rude Awakening Network Ten 4 March
  Is It Legal? Seven Network 12 March
  Faces in Contemporary Greece Song SBS 20 March
 /  Animal Crackers ABC TV 24 March
  Lesley Garrett Tonight ABC TV 27 March
 /  Titanic Nine Network 30 March
  The Jamie Foxx Show Nine Network 31 March
  Ted Sieger's Wildlife ABC TV 5 April
  Family Guy Seven Network 9 April
  Rocky and the Dodos ABC TV 16 April
  Echo ABC TV 24 April
  Becker Network Ten 24 April
  World's Most... Nine Network 10 May
  Animorphs ABC TV 10 May
 /  Dumb Bunnies Seven Network 15 May
  Zoo Olympics ABC TV 18 May
  Eye of the Storm ABC TV 6 June
  League of Gentlemen ABC TV 9 June
  Psychos ABC TV 9 June
  Sir Bernard's Stately Homes ABC TV 9 June
  Fantasy Island (1998) Network Ten 11 June
  Claude's Crib Seven Network 14 June
  Charmed Network Ten 18 June
 /  Croc Files Network Ten 28 June
  The Treasure Seekers ABC TV 4 July
  Bimble's Bucket Nine Network 4 July
  Supernatural: The Unseen Powers of Animals ABC TV 9 July
  Brother's Keeper Network Ten 11 July
  Rick Stein's Seafood Odyssey ABC TV 14 July
  Bodyguards Network Ten 17 July
  The Planets ABC TV 21 July
  Will & Grace Seven Network 22 July
 / /  Albert the Fifth Musketeer ABC TV 23 July
  Stanley's Dragon ABC TV 25 July
  L.A. Doctors Network Ten 26 July
  The Fantastic Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor Nine Network 31 July
  The Wild Thornberrys ABC TV 2 August
  Maisy ABC TV 6 August
  The Worst Witch ABC TV 8 August
  Births, Marriages and Deaths ABC TV 15 August
  The New Woody Woodpecker Show Network Ten 15 August
  The Prince and the Pauper (1996) ABC TV 15 August
  For Your Love Nine Network 19 August
  Looking for Miracles Nine Network 22 August
  Raging Planet Seven Network 23 August
  Lisa ABC TV 27 August
  The First Snow of Winter ABC TV 30 August
 /  George and Martha ABC TV 30 August
  The King of Queens Nine Network 31 August
  Inspector Rex SBS 2 September
  Blue's Clues Nine Network 6 September
  Sex and the City[4] Nine Network 6 September
  Brimstone Nine Network 6 September
  Dinnerladies ABC TV 8 September
  Dilbert Network Ten 9 September
  Voltron: The Third Dimension Seven Network 9 September
  Push Network Ten 9 September
  Red Shoe Diaries Network Ten 11 September
  Hallo Aus Berlin ABC TV 15 September
  The Powerpuff Girls Seven Network 16 September
  Police Academy: The Series Nine Network 18 September
  The Martin Short Show Nine Network 20 September
  The Wombles (1997) ABC TV 20 September
  Bob the Builder ABC TV 20 September
 /  Martial Law Seven Network 25 September
  Significant Others Network Ten 30 September
  Crusade Nine Network 30 September
  Walking with Dinosaurs ABC TV 17 October
  Eureka Street ABC TV 17 October
  Feds Network Ten 17 October
 /  Gogwana ABC TV 18 October
Sopranos, The   The Sopranos[5] Nine Network 24 October
  Boiling Point Nine Network 27 October
  The Mrs Bradley Mysteries ABC TV 29 October
 /  Archibald the Koala ABC TV 10 November
  Blood on the Carpet ABC TV 16 November
  Shingalana the Little Hunter Network Ten 20 November
  Robot Wars Nine Network 21 November
  Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island SBS 23 November
  The Naked Chef ABC TV 26 November
  Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane Seven Network 28 November
  It's Like, You Know... Nine Network 29 November
  Turks Network Ten 29 November
  Hyperion Bay Nine Network 29 November
  Providence Seven Network 30 November
  Futurama Seven Network 2 December
 /  Fly Tales ABC TV 6 December
  The Norm Show Nine Network 7 December
  Project G.e.e.K.e.R. Network Ten 7 December
  That '70s Show Seven Network 9 December
  Maggie Winters Nine Network 10 December
  Eye of the Wolf ABC TV 12 December
  Wing Commander Academy Network Ten 14 December
  Hiller and Diller Seven Network 16 December
  Michael Hayes Nine Network 16 December
  Voyage SBS 19 December
  Vengeance Unlimited Nine Network 23 December
 / /  Catherine the Great Nine Network 29 December
  Sonic Underground Seven Network 1999
  Histeria! Nine Network 1999
  Basket Fever Seven Network 1999
  Costello Seven Network 1999
  Celebrity Drug Disasters Getting Better Unknown 1999

Film debuts

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Changes to network affiliation

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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

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Program New network(s) Previous network(s) Date
Good News Week Network Ten ABC TV 21 March

International

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Program New network(s) Previous network(s) Date
  Brambly Hedge ABC TV Nine Network 31 August
  Adventures in Rainbow Country Nine Network ABC TV 19 November
  The Mary Tyler Moore Show Seven Network Nine Network 29 November
 /  Monster Maker ABC TV Network Ten 25 December

Subscription television

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International

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Program Channel Debut date
Oh Yeah! Cartoons   Oh Yeah! Cartoons[6] Nickelodeon 24 January
Animorphs   Animorphs[7] Nickelodeon April
Brothers Flub   The Brothers Flub[7] Nickelodeon 5 April
Wimzie's House   Wimzie's House[8] Nickelodeon 3 May
Birdz   Birdz[8] Nickelodeon 16 May
Rocket Power   Rocket Power[9] Nickelodeon 7 December
  The Powerpuff Girls Cartoon Network 1999
  I am Weasel Cartoon Network 1999
 /  Ed, Edd n Eddy Cartoon Network 1999
 /  Bob and Margaret The Comedy Channel 1999
  The Mr. Potato Head Show Fox Kids 1999
  Bruno the Kid Fox Kids 1999
  The Worst Witch Nickelodeon 1999
  Big Wolf on Campus Fox Kids 1999
  Stressed Eric The Comedy Channel 1999
  Billy Nickelodeon 1999
  Wiggly Park Nickelodeon 1999

Changes to network affiliation

edit

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

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Program New network Previous network Date
Lift Off Disney Channel Fox Kids 2 February

International

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Program New network Previous network Date
  EastEnders[10] UKTV ABC TV 5 February
  Student Bodies Fox Kids Disney Channel 1999

Subscription premieres

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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

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Program Subscription network Free-to-air network Date
Driven Crazy Nickelodeon[7] Network Ten March
Minty  /  Minty Nickelodeon[11] ABC TV 7 August

International

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Program Subscription network Free-to-air network Date
  The Forgotten Toys Nickelodeon ABC TV 4 October
  3rd Rock from the Sun Fox8 Seven Network 21 October
  Family Guy Fox8 Seven Network 28 November

Specials

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Program Channel Debut date
1999 Kids' Choice Awards   1999 Kids' Choice Awards[8] Nickelodeon 29 May
Wayne's Best Dares   Wayne's Best Dares[11] Nickelodeon 19 September

Television shows

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ABC

Seven Network

Nine Network

Network Ten

Ending / resting this year

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Date Show Channel Debut
2 January The Toothbrush Family (season 2) Network Ten 1998
2 January Ketchup: Cats Who Cook Network Ten 1998
21 January Wildlife with Olivia Newton-John Nine Network 1995
22 January Law of the Land Nine Network 1993
1 February Misery Guts Nine Network 1998
5 February The Cartoon Connection Seven Network 1997
19 April Strassman Nine Network 1998
23 April The Adventures of Sam ABC 29 January 1999
1 May Big Sky Network Ten 1997
28 May 11AM Seven Network 1982
26 June The Adventures of Lano and Woodley ABC 1997
2 July Wildside ABC 1999
9 July Mr. Squiggle and Friends ABC 1959
30 July Sunrise Seven Network 1991
28 August The Mick Molloy Show Nine Network 10 July 1999
27 September Live and Kicking Seven Network 1998
3 November Breakers Network Ten 1998
8 November Dog's Head Bay ABC 16 August 1999
20 November Hey Hey It's Saturday Channel Nine 1971
22 November Petals ABC 1998
25 November What's Cooking? Nine Network 1991
29 November Heartbreak High Network Ten
ABC
1994
13 December Lift Off ABC 1992
13 December Medivac Network Ten 1996
24 December What's Up Doc? Nine Network 1993

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "When loyalty means nought". The Courier-Mail. News Limited. 27 April 1999. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  2. ^ Browne, Rachel (4 April 1999). "Preacher Beadman Spreads The World". The Sun-Herald. Sydney, Australia. p. 37.
  3. ^ Melloy, Neil (9 September 1999). "Oh! We had better name the show". Courier Mail. p. 24.
  4. ^ Sikes, Gini (22 August 1999). "The XXX factor". The Sun-Herald. Sydney, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 5. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  5. ^ Curtis, Quentin (24 October 1999). "Analysing the Mafia". The Sun-Herald. Sydney, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 6. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  6. ^ Nick Nooze. 3. Nickelodeon (Australia). 1998.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
  7. ^ a b c Nick Nooze. 4. Nickelodeon (Australia). 1999.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
  8. ^ a b c "What's New On Nick? – May 1999". Nickelodeon (Australia). 1999. Archived from the original on 8 May 1999. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  9. ^ Nick Nooze. Summer. Nickelodeon (Australia). 1999.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
  10. ^ Conway, Andrew (1 February 1999). "New Today for Dalley". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 2. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  11. ^ a b Nick Nooze. 5. Nickelodeon (Australia). 1999.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)