1997 in Australian television

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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 July – Odyssey Channel
• 1 September – The LifeStyle Channel
• 7 September – Movie Extra

Rebranded channels

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

Debuts

Domestic

Program	Channel	Debut date
Bay City	Seven Network	4 January
The Eric Bana Show Live	Seven Network	30 January
Fallen Angels	ABC	7 February
Challenger	Nine Network	10 February
Simone de Beauvoir's Babies	ABC	16 February
Big Sky	Network Ten	17 February
Good Medicine	Nine Network	19 February
RPM	Network Ten	30 March
Good Guys, Bad Guys	Nine Network	30 March
Burgo's Catch Phrase	Nine Network	31 March
Plucka's Place	Nine Network	5 April
Smallest Room in the House	ABC	21 April
Kangaroo Palace	Seven Network	25 May
Race Around the World	ABC	2 June
The Wayne Manifesto	ABC	2 June
Plasmo	ABC	4 June
Return to Jupiter	ABC	8 June
A River Somewhere	ABC	25 June
Bush Telegraph	Seven Network	8 August
Murder Call	Nine Network	11 August
Shape, Shape, Shape	ABC	11 August
State Coroner	Network Ten	14 August
The Adventures of Lano and Woodley	ABC	1 September
Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord	Nine Network	1 September
Swinging	ABC	10 September
Bullpitt!	Seven Network	22 September
Kitu and Woofl	ABC	7 October
The Gift	Nine Network	27 October
Ground Zero	Network Ten	7 November
Wildside	ABC	23 November
Harry's Practice	Seven Network	2 December
Children's Hospital	ABC	14 December
Scrooge Koala's Christmas	Seven Network	20 December
The Cartoon Connection	Seven Network	22 December

International

Program	Channel	Debut date
The Soong Sisters	ABC	2 January
The World of Eric Carle	ABC	3 January
Oliver's Travels	ABC	7 January
Anastasia	SBS	7 January
Oakie Doke	ABC	13 January
The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo	Seven Network	20 January
/ The Outer Limits (1995)	Seven Network	23 January
// Billy the Cat	ABC	24 January
Unhappily Ever After	Seven Network	27 January
The Burning Zone	Network Ten	29 January
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest	Seven Network	30 January
Billy Connolly's World Tour of Australia	Seven Network	30 January
Fantomcat	Network Ten	30 January
The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper	Network Ten	30 January
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch	Seven Network	2 February
Amazing Grace	Seven Network	3 February
A Mug's Game	ABC	3 February
Beethoven	Network Ten	4 February
Dark Skies	Nine Network	6 February
The Pretender	Nine Network	6 February
/ Goosebumps	Network Ten	8 February
The Adventures of Sinbad	Network Ten	8 February
Mighty Ducks	Seven Network	10 February
Night Stand with Dick Dietrick	Network Ten	10 February
Lightning Force	Network Ten	10 February
Touched by an Angel	Nine Network	16 February
Something So Right	Network Ten	19 February
Seahouse	ABC	21 February
Beavis and Butt-Head	Network Ten	4 March
/ Li'l Elvis and the Truckstoppers	ABC	6 March
Peak Practice	Network Ten	8 March
The 5 Mrs. Buchanans	Seven Network	10 March
The Fragile Heart	ABC	16 March
Common as Muck	ABC	21 March
Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys	Network Ten	21 March
Sunset Beach	Network Ten	7 April
Brooklyn Bridge	Nine Network	7 April
McKenna	Nine Network	12 April
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall	ABC	13 April
Agent Z and the Penguin from Mars	ABC	13 April
Millennium	Seven Network	14 April
Alien Empire	ABC	16 April
The Fast Show	SBS TV	19 April
The Newsroom	SBS TV	19 April
The Demon Headmaster	ABC	27 April
Moesha	Network Ten	4 May
Jake's Progress	ABC	4 May
The Adventures of Hyperman	Network Ten	15 May
Next of Kin	ABC	19 May
/ Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years	Nine Network	31 May
/ Magic Mountain	ABC	3 June
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates	ABC	7 June
The Story of Bean	Seven Network	19 June
/ The Magic School Bus	Network Ten	21 June
Shine on Harvey Moon (1995)	ABC	25 June
The Sculptress	ABC	29 June
Dog Tracer	ABC	29 June
The Tomorrow People (1992)	ABC	1 July
/ Dragon Flyz	Network Ten	1 July
Profiler	Seven Network	2 July
Misery Loves Company	Seven Network	4 July
Suddenly Susan	Nine Network	7 July
Dennis and Gnasher (1996)	Network Ten	7 July
Hey Arnold!	ABC	8 July
/ Arthur	ABC	11 July
Pearl	Nine Network	15 July
Spin City	Nine Network	15 July
Dalziel and Pascoe	ABC	18 July
Madson	ABC	18 July
NewsRadio	Network Ten	24 July
/ Beast Wars: Transformers	Seven Network	24 July
Melissa	ABC	27 July
Rude Dog and the Dweebs	Network Ten	29 July
Red Planet	Network Ten	1 August
Out of Control	Seven Network	1 August
Perfect Scoundrels	Network Ten	4 August
Judge Judy	Network Ten	4 August
McKenna	Nine Network	4 August
Little Lord Fauntleroy (1995)	ABC	10 August
/ The Neverending Story	ABC	13 August
The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat	ABC	13 August
/ Eagle Riders	Network Ten	14 August
Oh, Doctor Beeching!	Seven Network	19 August
Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic	Network Ten	20 August
Moloney	Network Ten	21 August
The Invaders	Network Ten	1 September
/ Testament: The Bible in Animation	ABC	14 September
Pacific Palisades	Network Ten	16 September
Once Upon a Time	ABC	22 September
Early Edition	Nine Network	27 September
/ The Living Edens	ABC	28 September
F/X: The Series	Seven Network	29 September
The Beast	Network Ten	3 October
/ Mirror, Mirror II	Network Ten	11 October
Everybody Loves Raymond	Seven Network	12 October
Little Bear	ABC	16 October
The Lakes	ABC	19 October
Pilgrim's Rest	ABC	20 October
Two Fat Ladies	ABC	23 October
Full Circle with Michael Palin	ABC	26 October
Under the Hammer	ABC	30 October
Topless Women Talk About Their Lives	SBS	15 November
This Life	Seven Network	18 November
King of the Hill	Seven Network	23 November
The Missing Postman	ABC	27 November
Clueless	Seven Network	30 November
The Pursuit of Happiness	Seven Network	1 December
The Home Court	Seven Network	1 December
The Crew	Seven Network	1 December
Buffy the Vampire Slayer	Seven Network	3 December
/ Stargate SG-1	Seven Network	3 December
Can't Hurry Love	Nine Network	3 December
/ Roar	Network Ten	3 December
Antonio Carluccio's Italian Feast	ABC	4 December
The Big Easy	Seven Network	5 December
L.A. Heat	Seven Network	8 December
The Willows in Winter	Nine Network	13 December
Bailey Kipper's P.O.V.	Network Ten	14 December
Under One Roof	SBS	14 December
Arabian Agenda	SBS	14 December
Charlotte and Charlotte	SBS	14 December
Meena	ABC	14 December
Small Stories	ABC	15 December
O Christmas Tree	Seven Network	19 December
America in the Fifties	SBS	20 December
South Park	SBS	20 December
Robin	SBS	20 December
/ A Christmassy Ted	Nine Network	23 December
The Buddha of Suburbia	ABC	26 December
The Client	Nine Network	28 December
Crocodile Shoes II	Nine Network	28 December
Profit	Seven Network	30 December
/ 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
Superman: The Animated Series	Nine Network	1997

Subscription television

Domestic

Program	Channel	Debut date
Let's Wiggle	Disney Channel	June

International

Program	Channel	Debut date
The Real World	MTV	April
The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss	Nickelodeon	May
Recess	Disney Channel	5 December
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
Christopher Crocodile	Nickelodeon	1997
Fourways Farm	Nickelodeon	1997
Gran	Nickelodeon	1997
The Spooks of Bottle Bay	Nickelodeon	1997
The Story Store	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

Program	Subscription network	Free-to-air network	Date
The Curiosity Show	Nickelodeon	Nine Network	January

International

Program	Subscription network	Free-to-air network	Date
Victoria Wood as Seen on TV	UKTV	ABC	8 June
F/X: The Series	Fox8	Seven Network	20 November
VR.5	Fox8	Seven Network	22 November
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

Program	New network(s)	Previous network(s)	Date
Heartbreak High	ABC	Network Ten	3 February
Hey Dad..! (repeats)	Seven Network	Network Ten	January
Prisoner (repeats)	Seven Network	Network Ten	January

International

Program	New network(s)	Previous network(s)	Date
// M.A.S.K.	Network Ten	Nine Network	4 February
Full House	Nine Network	Seven Network	10 February
Ricki Lake	Seven Network	Network Ten	17 February
An Audience with Billy Connolly	Seven Network	ABC	20 March
/ Dennis the Menace (1986)	Network Ten	ABC	28 April
// Inspector Gadget	Network Ten	ABC	9 June
Mr. Bean	Seven Network	ABC	26 June
Barney & Friends	Network Ten	Nine Network	18 October

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	Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord	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

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