1999 in Australian television

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The year 1999 in Australian television involved many events.

Events

• 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.
• 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

New channels

• 4 April – Australian Christian Channel
• 1 October – Oh!

Debuts

Free-to-air

Domestic

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
Mary Poppins: Surprise Party	ABC TV	18 October
Y?	Nine Network	1 November
Ground Force	Seven Network	1999

International

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	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	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
The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer	Unknown	1999

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

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

International

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

International

Program	Channel	Debut date
Oh Yeah! Cartoons Oh Yeah! Cartoons	Nickelodeon	24 January
Animorphs Animorphs	Nickelodeon	April
Brothers Flub The Brothers Flub	Nickelodeon	5 April
Wimzie's House Wimzie's House	Nickelodeon	3 May
Birdz Birdz	Nickelodeon	16 May
Rocket Power Rocket Power	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

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

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

International

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

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
Driven Crazy	Nickelodeon	Network Ten	March
Minty / Minty	Nickelodeon	ABC TV	7 August

International

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

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

Television shows

ABC

• Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959–1999)
• Four Corners (1961–present)

Seven Network

• Wheel of Fortune (1981–1996, 1996–2003, 2004–present)
• Home and Away (1988–2005, 2005–present)
• Blue Heelers (1994–2006)
• The Great Outdoors (1993–present)
• Today Tonight (1995–present)
• All Saints (1998–present)

Nine Network

• Today (1982–present)
• Sale of the Century (1980–2001)
• A Current Affair (1971–1978, 1988–2005, 2006–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)

Network Ten

• Neighbours (1985–1989, 1989–present)
• GMA With Bert Newton (1991–2005)

Ending / Resting this year

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

• 1999 in Australia
• List of Australian films of 1999

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