1997 in Australian television

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Events

6 January – Rob Elliott takes over from Tony Barber as host of Wheel of Fortune. The programme starts 1997 without Adriana Xenides as she takes long term leave as letter turner due to a cancerous breakdown, she returns 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 previously was held by David Day in Adelaide, and Ron E Sparkes in Sydney.
3 February – Australian drama serial Heartbreak High switches over to air on ABC at 6:00 pm from Monday to Thursdays.
1 July – Prime Television comes to Mildura, ending a monopoly on commercial television held by STV-8 since 1965.
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.
11 July – American-Canadian children's animated series Arthur debuts on ABC.
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 an long illness.
1 November – TCN-9 stages the first trial of digital television in the Southern Hemisphere.
23 November – American animated comedy series King of the Hill screens on Seven Network at 7:30pm.
1 December – American animated comedy series South Park airs on SBS. It also became the network's highest rating series to date.
The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales is broadcast live on all ABC and commercial free-to-air television channels.

Channels

New channels

1 June – Ovation Channel^[1]
1 July – Odyssey Channel^[2]
1 September – The LifeStyle Channel^[3]
7 September – Movie Extra^[3]

Rebranded channels

20 March – MTV Australia (was ARC Music Channel)^[4]
18 April – Channel V Australia (was Red)^[4]
7 September – Movie One (was The Movie Network)^[3]

Debuts

Domestic

Program	Channel	Debut date
The Wayne Manifesto	ABC TV	2 June
Magic Mountain	ABC TV	3 June
Plasmo	ABC TV	4 June
Swinging	ABC TV	10 September
Kitu and Woofl	ABC TV	7 October
Plucka's Place	Nine Network	1997
The Gift	Nine Network	1997
Return to Jupiter	ABC TV	1997

International

Program	Channel	Debut date
The World of Eric Carle	ABC TV	3 January
Oakie Doke	ABC TV	13 January
Billy the Cat	ABC TV	24 January
The Demon Headmaster	ABC TV	27 April
Dog Tracer	ABC TV	29 June
Hey Arnold!	ABC TV	8 July
Arthur	ABC TV	11 July
Spin City	Nine Network	15 July
Rude Dog and the Dweebs	Network Ten	29 July
The Neverending Story	ABC TV	13 August
The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat	ABC TV	13 August
Once Upon a Time	ABC TV	22 September
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends	ABC TV	29 September
Little Bear	ABC TV	16 October
King of the Hill	Seven Network	23 November
South Park	SBS TV	1 December
Small Stories	ABC TV	15 December
Quack Pack	Seven Network	1997
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective	Nine Network	1997
Dennis and Gnasher (1996)	Network Ten	1997
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest	Seven Network	1997
The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo	Seven Network	1997
Dragon Flyz	Network Ten	1997
Fantomcat	Network Ten	1997
The Magic School Bus	Network Ten	1997
Jin Jin and the Panda Patrol	Seven Network	1997
Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic	Network Ten	1997
Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys	Network Ten	1997

Subscription Television

International

Program	Channel	Debut date
The Real World^[5]	MTV	April

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
Heartbreak High	ABC TV	Network Ten	3 February

International

Program	New network(s)	Previous network(s)	Date
Dennis the Menace	Network Ten	ABC TV	28 April
Inspector Gadget	Network Ten	ABC TV	9 June
Barney and 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 (1973–1998)
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)

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
15 September 1997	Full Frontal	Channel Seven	13 May 1993
19 December 1997	Agro's Cartoon Connection	Channel Seven	1989

References

^ Freeman, Jane (1 June 1997). "A festival in your living room". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 15. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
^ Jane, Freeman (22 June 1997). "Docos hold the faithful". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 13. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
^ ^a ^b ^c Weiniger, Peter (27 August 1997). "(Cable Watch)". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. p. 14. Retrieved 1 January 2010. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |pmd= (help)
^ ^a ^b Elder, Bruce (30 March 1997). "The new MUSIC WARS". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 13. Retrieved 21 December 2009. On March 20, ARC disappeared to be replaced by MTV, Music Television, and on April 18 RED will be replaced by Channel [V]. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |pmd= (help)
^ Thomas, Brett (5 April 1997). "GET REAL, WORLD – MTV IS WHERE IT'S AT". The Sun-Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 6.

[1] Freeman, Jane (1 June 1997). "A festival in your living room". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 15. Retrieved 17 January 2010.

[2] Jane, Freeman (22 June 1997). "Docos hold the faithful". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 13. Retrieved 21 December 2009.

[cablewatchmovieextra-3] Weiniger, Peter (27 August 1997). "(Cable Watch)". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. p. 14. Retrieved 1 January 2010. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |pmd= (help)

[musicwars-4] Elder, Bruce (30 March 1997). "The new MUSIC WARS". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 13. Retrieved 21 December 2009. On March 20, ARC disappeared to be replaced by MTV, Music Television, and on April 18 RED will be replaced by Channel [V]. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |pmd= (help)

[5] Thomas, Brett (5 April 1997). "GET REAL, WORLD – MTV IS WHERE IT'S AT". The Sun-Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 6.

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