1994 in Australian television

Events

  • 18 January – Australian police drama series Blue Heelers premieres on Seven Network.
  • 28 January – American animated series Rugrats makes its debut on ABC at 5:30 pm.
  • 31 January – American children's action TV series Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers debuts on Seven Network.
  • 31 January – A sequel to the Australian family film Clowning Around called Clowning Around II airs on Seven Network.
  • February – Derryn Hinch has taken over Ray Martin's place as host of the Australian award-winning daytime talk program Midday.
  • 7 February – Nicky Buckley replaces Jo Bailey as Glenn Ridge's co-host on Sale Of The Century, where she would remain for the next 6 years.
  • 10 February – American science fiction television series The X-Files makes it debut on Network Ten.
  • 11 February – The ABC has signed a deal to sell its children's TV series Bananas in Pyjamas to various countries around the world. The series has been sold for broadcasting in the UK, Cyprus, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Portugal, Iceland, Canada, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, South Africa, Namibia and Ireland. A deal is about to be signed with a Japanese network to air the series and ABC Enterprises executives will fly over to the USA for the New York Toy Fair and talks on how to crack the lucrative US market.
  • 27 February – Network Ten launches Heartbreak High, a brand new schoolroom drama which was a spinoff of the 1993 Australian romantic comedy feature film The Heartbreak Kid.
  • 28 February – Australian long running children's TV series Mr Squiggle returns to ABC for a brand new series at 3:55 pm.
  • 3 March – British long running science fiction series Doctor Who airs on ABC for the last time in its original run at 4:30 am with the fourth and final part of the sixth and final serial of Season 22 Revelation of the Daleks.
  • 5 March – American animated series Animaniacs premieres on the Nine Network as part of their What's Up Doc? block.
  • 21 March – Final episode of the Australian comedy series Mother and Son airs on ABC.
  • 24 March – American sitcom Frasier starring Kelsey Grammer premieres on the Nine Network.
  • 27 March – The Animals of Farthing Wood, a British children's animated series based on the books by Colin Dann premieres on ABC at 8:00 am as part of Couch Potato.
  • 31 March – Australia's iconic and long running soap Home and Away begins premiering on NBC in Namibia.
  • 10 April – Australian children's TV series Lift Off has spawned into a game show titled EC Plays Lift Off with Mr. Fish as the host and only running for 13 episodes. It will air on ABC on every Sunday morning as part of Couch Potato.
  • 11 April – Australian children's comedy series The Ferals premieres on ABC.
  • 11 April – Michael Tunn, the host of the ABC's Afternoon Show returns with a brand new music series called Loud as a replacement for the weekday afternoon magazine show that was axed in late 1993. The show includes music videos as well as reviews on movies and video games, feature stories on youth culture, musicians talking about their favourite music videos and on location interviews with bands and will be shown from Monday to Thursday at 5:30 pm.
  • 13 April – A Country Practice switches over to air on Network Ten following its final air on Seven Network in 1993.
  • 16 April – American children's TV series Barney & Friends premieres on Nine Network.
  • 30 April – The Tasmanian television market is aggregated, with TasTV (now WIN Television) taking a Nine Network affiliation & Southern Cross taking a dual Seven and Ten affiliation.
  • 9 May – Frontline a satirical look at current affairs television from Australian comedy group The D-Generation and starring Rob Sitch as anchor Mike Moore starts airing on the ABC.
  • 16 May – A brand new Australian game show for children called A*mazing debuts on Seven Network. Hosted by James Sherry and airing at 4:30 pm, the show pitted teams from two different primary schools against each other during the course of a week. Points gained by each contestant during the week would be totalled up to decide the winning school at the end of each week.
  • 20 May – SBS commences transmission in Darwin.
  • 23 May – Australia's favourite koala Blinky Bill returns to television with a brand new animated series on ABC at 4:30 pm. The series had previously aired in Germany, Hong Kong, the UK, Singapore, Ireland and on UK forces television before airing in its homeland.
  • 1 June - Australian soap opera Home and Away airs on television in the United States for the first time on the country's newly launched cable television channel FX. It would take years to bring the soap opera to America.
  • 16 June – Final episode of the Australian music series Loud airs on ABC.
  • 20 June – Australian teen game show Vidiot returns to the ABC for a brand new series with Scott McRae taking over as presenter.
  • 30 June – ABC has expired the rights to the long running British science fiction series Doctor Who. The series itself will no longer continue to air on the Australian free for air public broadcaster until 2003, but will soon air on cable television on UKTV in 1996. The ABC will also broadcast the television movie of the series in July of the same year.
  • 1 August – Melbourne's ATV10 celebrates 30 years of transmission.
  • 17 August – Australian comedy series Hey Dad..! hosts its final original episode on Seven Network.
  • 18–28 August – The Commonwealth Games are televised live on Network Ten from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
  • 8 September – ABC debuts The Human Animal, a six-part British nature documentary series written and presented by Desmond Morris described as "a study of human behaviour from a zoological perspective", travels the world to filming the diverse customs and habits of various regions while suggesting common roots.
  • 23 September – Iconic Australian drama series Banjo Paterson's The Man From Snowy River: The McGregor Saga starring Andrew Clarke and Wendy Hughes premieres on the Nine Network.
  • 29 September – The fourth episode of ABC's The Human Animal includes sexually explicit scenes when it depicted a couple making love by using tiny endoscopic cameras placed inside both bodies to show intimate orifices. It also depicts the insertion of a man's erect penis into a woman's vagina and the subsequent orgasm.
  • October – In Neighbours, the Kennedy family (Susan, Karl, Libby, Billy, Mal) arrive at No. 28, Doug and Pam Willis leave for Darwin, Julie Martin is killed in the Murder Mystery Weekend.
  • 16 October – The Nine Network rebrands its on-air graphics.
  • 19 October – A television special known as The Very Best of the Don Lane Show airs on Nine Network at 8:30 pm. It features Don Lane introducing some of the memorable segments to have come from the popular variety show that ran from 1975 to 1983, including footage of guest stars Mel Brooks, Billy Connolly, James Randi, Charlton Heston, Bob Hope, Liza Minnelli, Robin Williams, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Allen, John Farnham, Peter Sellers and Johnny O'Keefe. This special was remastered for a DVD release in 2004.
  • 5 November – A Country Practice (1981–1993 on Channel 7) revival attempt on Network Ten backfires and is swiftly cancelled due to low ratings.
  • 26 November – The popular television character Ossie Ostrich leaves Hey Hey It's Saturday after 23 years as Daryl Somers' co-host. When the show returns in 1995, Somers will host solo.
  • The infamous TAC Nightshift commercial depicting A Volkswagen Kombi goes to air on television for the very first time.
  • The 1994 FIFA World Cup is broadcast live from the United States and is shown on SBS and Prime Television.
  • Community Television starts with long-term trials of stations in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
  • The ABC purchases an Australian children's television programme from the creators of Johnson and Friends called Boffins about tiny alien like creatures called Boffins who spent their days in kitchen cupboards and surrounding areas, trying to discover science behind how the world works. The series was never broadcast in Australia but it did air in several other countries such as Singapore, Israel, Malaysia, Brunei, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Canada, Africa and the Middle East. The complete series will be released on VHS in Australia the following year by ABC Video and Roadshow Entertainment featuring all thirteen episodes.
  • American children's animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles changes it schedule to mornings as part of Agro's Cartoon Connection on Seven Network.

Debuts

ProgramNetworkDebut date
Kate Ceberano and FriendsABC TV17 January
Blue HeelersSeven Network18 January
Level 23Network Ten24 January
Alan Jones LiveNetwork Ten31 January
Man O ManSeven Network5 February
Under the SkinSBS TV16 February
The Bob Morrison ShowNine Network22 February
Heartbreak HighNetwork Ten27 February
The TimesSeven Network14 March
DentonSeven Network15 March
Ballzup!ABC TV20 March
HeartlandABC TV23 March
The AFL Footy ShowNine Network24 March
The Big ByteSBS TV24 March
EC Plays Lift OffABC TV10 April
The Reading, Writing RoadshowABC TV11 April
The FeralsABC TV11 April
LoudABC TV11 April
Consumer PowerABC TV13 April
The ZoneNine Network30 April
FrontlineABC TV9 May
Sydney WeekenderSeven Network14 May
A*mazingSeven Network16 May
The Damnation of Harvey McHughABC TV2 June
StampedeABC TV10 June
Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn LeftSeven Network19 June
Strike It LuckyNine Network11 July
The BattlersSeven Network13 July
Total RecallSeven Network15 August
Ocean GirlNetwork Ten29 August
The NRL Footy ShowNine Network1 September
JanusABC TV1 September
Living in the 90sABC TV1 September
WedlockedSeven Network7 September
Banjo Paterson's The Man From Snowy River: The McGregor SagaNine Network23 September
The Liberals: 50 Years of the Federal PartyABC TV12 October
Big Girl's BlouseSeven Network13 October
Halifax f.p.Nine Network9 November
Escape from JupiterABC TV26 November

International Programming

ProgramNetworkDebut date
United States States of MindSBS TV2 January
United States The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3Nine Network3 January
United Kingdom Great Crimes and Trials of the 20th CenturyABC TV7 January
Spain SandinoSBS TV8 January
United States The Late Show with David LettermanNine Network12 January
Denmark Kings Without CrownsSBS TV16 January
United Kingdom Coast of DreamsSBS TV19 January
Greece A Very Merry WidowSBS TV19 January
United States Super Mario WorldNine Network20 January
United Kingdom Grace & FavourNetwork Ten28 January
United States RugratsABC TV28 January
United States/Japan Mighty Morphin' Power RangersSeven Network31 January
United States Biker Mice from MarsNetwork Ten31 January
Australia/France/United States Clowning Around IISeven Network31 January
United States Adventures of Sonic the HedgehogNetwork Ten31 January
United Kingdom/Wales FunnybonesABC TV1 February
United States/United Kingdom Where's Wally?ABC TV2 February
United States Missing PersonsNine Network2 February
United States NYPD BlueNetwork Ten3 February
United Kingdom Calling the ShotsABC TV3 February
United States/Canada Eek! The CatNetwork Ten3 February
United Kingdom Anglo-Saxon AttitudesABC TV6 February
United States The X-FilesNetwork Ten10 February
United States Flesh 'n' BloodSeven Network13 February
United States DougNetwork Ten13 February
United States Davis RulesNine Network17 February
Canada Tooth Fairy, Where Are You?ABC TV18 February
United States A Child's Garden of VersesABC TV18 February
Canada Here's How!ABC TV22 February
United Kingdom To Play the KingABC TV24 February
United Kingdom GallowglassABC TV27 February
United Kingdom Body & SoulNine Network1 March
United States SightingsSeven Network1 March
United Kingdom Tracey Ullman: A Class ActABC TV2 March
United States AnimaniacsNine Network5 March
Canada Forever KnightNine Network9 March
United Kingdom ItalianissimoABC TV12 March
United Kingdom AshendenABC TV20 March
United States Boy Meets WorldSeven Network23 March
United States Dave's WorldNine Network24 March
United States FrasierNine Network24 March
United Kingdom/France The Animals of Farthing WoodABC TV27 March
United States Almost HomeSeven Network29 March
United States Here and NowSeven Network30 March
United Kingdom Kevin's CousinsABC TV1 April
United States Ferris BuellerNine Network1 April
United States Out All NightNine Network2 April
United Kingdom Blood and HoneyABC TV3 April
Canada NorthwoodABC TV11 April
United States The Hat SquadNine Network15 April
United States Barney & FriendsNine Network16 April
United Kingdom Old Bear StoriesABC TV18 April
United Kingdom Rat-a-Tat-TatABC TV20 April
Canada Mathica's MathshopABC TV20 April
United States Walker, Texas RangerNine Network28 April
United States Today's GourmetSBS TV30 April
United Kingdom In Suspicious CircumstancesSeven Network4 May
United Kingdom The Full WaxABC TV7 May
United Kingdom Hit and RunSBS TV11 May
United States Grace Under FireSeven Network15 May
Netherlands MiffyABC TV16 May
United States His and Hers (USA)Seven Network17 May
United Kingdom The Greedysaurus GangABC TV23 May
United States Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanSeven Network25 May
United Kingdom KinseyABC TV30 May
United States Discover America: The WestSBS TV31 May
United States Where I LiveSeven Network3 June
Canada Ready or NotABC TV17 June
Australia/New Zealand/France Deepwater HavenNetwork Ten19 June
United States Beakman's WorldNetwork Ten19 June
United States Key WestSeven Network22 June
United States Great Scott!Nine Network24 June
United Kingdom Kevin and Co.ABC TV27 June
United Kingdom Between the LinesSeven Network28 June
United States/Canada/France Madeline (TV series)ABC TV28 June
United Kingdom Philbert FrogABC TV28 June
United Kingdom Behaving BadlyABC TV3 July
United States/Canada/France Conan the AdventurerNetwork Ten4 July
United Kingdom A Touch of FrostSeven Network8 July
United Kingdom Murder Most HorridABC TV11 July
Canada The Admiral and the PrincessABC TV15 July
United Kingdom Teddy TrucksABC TV15 July
Republic of Ireland GlenroeSBS TV18 July
France SupercitiesSBS TV19 July
United Kingdom Jo Brand Through the CakeholeSeven Network21 July
Germany Dolphin StoriesSBS TV21 July
Canada Ooh La LaSBS TV22 July
United States Great Chefs of San FranciscoSBS TV23 July
Germany SwitchSBS TV26 July
Wales/United Kingdom Thicker than WaterABC TV31 July
United Kingdom Do-It-Yourself Mr. BeanABC TV5 August
United Kingdom As Time Goes ByABC TV8 August
United States Knight Rider 2000Network Ten10 August
France/Canada Highlander: The SeriesSeven Network11 August
United Kingdom Back to School Mr. BeanABC TV12 August
United Kingdom Underbelly (UK)ABC TV14 August
France/Italy Orson and OliviaABC TV19 August
United States Space Age: The Quest for Planet MarsSBS TV21 August
United States SeaQuest DSVNetwork Ten28 August
United States Models Inc.Network Ten30 August
United States Mad About YouNetwork Ten30 August
Canada/France CounterstrikeNetwork Ten1 September
United States Burke's Law (1994)Network Ten2 September
United Kingdom The Human AnimalABC TV8 September
United States Star Trek: Deep Space NineNine Network10 September
United Kingdom/United States Tales of the CityABC TV11 September
United States Café AmericainSeven Network14 September
United Kingdom Ben Elton: The Man from AuntieABC TV17 September
United States Good AdviceNine Network19 September
Croatia Countess DoraSBS TV21 September
United Kingdom So Haunt MeABC TV22 September
United Kingdom The LodgeABC TV26 September
United Kingdom Sea DragonABC TV26 September
Spain Seven SignsSBS TV27 September
United Kingdom Wallace and GromitABC TV30 September
United Kingdom Noel's House PartyNine Network30 September
United States ExosquadNetwork Ten15 October
United Kingdom Mansion: Great Houses of EuropeSBS TV18 October
United Kingdom Discovering JapanABC TV19 October
New Zealand Shortland StreetSBS TV24 October
United Kingdom Side by SideABC TV29 October
United States The Sinbad ShowSeven Network1 November
United Kingdom The DreamstoneABC TV6 November
United Kingdom The Riff Raff ElementABC TV12 November
United Kingdom Budgie the Little HelicopterABC TV18 November
United Kingdom Tumbledown FarmABC TV18 November
United States ScarlettNine Network20 November
United Kingdom BottomABC TV22 November
United States Ricki LakeNetwork Ten28 November
United States The John Larroquette ShowNine Network28 November
United States Byrds of ParadiseNetwork Ten28 November
United States Real Stories of the Highway PatrolNine Network30 November
United States The MommiesSeven Network1 December
United States RenegadeNine Network1 December
United States Diagnosis: MurderNine Network1 December
United States The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.Nine Network3 December
United States CobraSeven Network3 December
United States Babylon 5Seven Network3 December
United States/Canada Kung Fu: The Legend ContinuesNine Network5 December
United Kingdom Sea TrekABC TV8 December
United Kingdom Open a DoorABC TV11 December
United States/Wales/United Kingdom The Little Engine That CouldABC TV11 December
United Kingdom Prince CindersABC TV11 December
United States The Nightmare YearsSeven Network12 December
United Kingdom Byker GroveABC TV13 December
Spain Three StarsSBS TV16 December
United Kingdom Rubbish, King of the JumbleABC TV18 December
United States Wild PalmsNine Network19 December
Germany SuccessSBS TV23 December
United Kingdom Mole's ChristmasSeven Network24 December
United States Jolly Old St. NicholasSeven Network24 December
United Kingdom Noddy and Father ChristmasABC TV25 December
United Kingdom The Mousehole CatABC TV25 December
United States Brains & Brawn (1993)Seven Network26 December
France Twins of DestinyABC TV27 December
United States What's Up Doc?: A Salute to Bugs BunnyABC TV28 December
United Kingdom See How They GrowABC TV29 December
United Kingdom The World of HammerSBS TV31 December
United States Mighty MaxSeven Network1994
United States/Canada Tales from the CryptkeeperNetwork Ten1994
United States BonkersSeven Network1994
United States MarsupilamiSeven Network1994

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

ProgramNew network(s)Previous network(s)Date
A Country PracticeNetwork TenSeven Network13 April
KaboodleABC TVSeven Network27 June
Ship to ShoreABC TVNine Network2 October

International

ProgramNew network(s)Previous network(s)Date
United States Unsolved MysteriesNetwork TenSeven Network15 January
United Kingdom The Black AdderABC TVSeven Network8 April
United Kingdom Fawlty TowersSeven NetworkABC TV14 April
United Kingdom Executive StressNetwork TenABC TV22 April
United Kingdom Blackadder IIABC TVSeven Network13 May
United States The Wonderful World of DisneyNetwork TenNine Network, Seven Network5 June
United Kingdom Blackadder the ThirdABC TVSeven Network10 June
United Kingdom Blackadder Goes ForthABC TVSeven Network24 June
United Kingdom Woof!ABC TVNine Network9 October
Canada The Woman Who Raised a Bear as Her SonABC TVSBS TV11 December
United Kingdom Blackadder's Christmas CarolABC TVSeven Network24 December

Specials

ProgramChannelDebut date
No Cure for Cancer United States No Cure for CancerNine Network6 April

Television

ABC TV

Seven Network

Nine Network

Network Ten

Ending this year

DateShowChannelDebut
22 JanuaryLet the Blood Run FreeChannel Ten1990
4 FebruarySupermarket SweepChannel Nine1992
16 MarchNewlywedsChannel Seven1993
20 MarchKideoABC1993
21 MarchMother and SonABC1984
28 AprilAlan Jones LiveChannel Ten31 January 1994
4 MayUnder the SkinSBS16 February 1994
13 MayBlockbustersChannel Seven1991
27 MayAll in a Day's WorkABC1992
1 JuneHeartlandABC23 March 1994
16 JuneLoudABC11 April 1994
27 JuneThe Adventures of Blinky BillABC23 May 1994
3 JulyEC Plays Lift OffABC10 April 1994
8 JulyParadise BeachChannel Nine1993
16 AugustThe Bob Morrison ShowChannel Nine22 February 1994
17 AugustHey Dad...!Channel Seven1987
18 AugustThe Damnation of Harvey McHughABC2 June 1994
14 OctoberStrike It LuckyChannel Nine11 July 1994
5 NovemberA Country PracticeChannel Ten (Channel Seven, 1981–1993)18 April 1994
25 NovemberMan O ManChannel Seven5 February 1994
1 DecemberReal LifeChannel Seven1992
9 DecemberStampedeABC10 June 1994
14 DecemberLive and SweatyABC1991
24 DecemberVideo Smash HitsChannel Seven1990

See also

References

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