1999 in Australian television

List of years in Australian television
+...

The year 1999 in Australian television involved many events.

Events

[edit]
  • 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

[edit]

New channels

[edit]

Debuts

[edit]

Free-to-air

[edit]

Domestic

[edit]
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

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

Film debuts

[edit]

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

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

International

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

Subscription television

[edit]

International

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

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

International

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

Subscription premieres

[edit]

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

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

International

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

Specials

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

Television shows

[edit]

ABC

Seven Network

Nine Network

Network Ten

Ending / resting this year

[edit]
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

[edit]

References

[edit]
  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)