1999 in Australian television
The year 1999 in Australian television involved many events.
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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.[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.
New channels
- 4 April – Australian Christian Channel[2]
- 1 October – Oh![3]
Debuts
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 |
Bananas in Pyjamas: Surprise Party | ABC TV | 18 October |
Y? | Nine Network | 1 November |
Ground Force | Seven Network | 1999 |
International
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 |
International
Program | Channel | Debut date |
---|---|---|
Oh Yeah! Cartoons [6] | Nickelodeon | 24 January |
Animorphs[7] | Nickelodeon | April |
The Brothers Flub[7] | Nickelodeon | 5 April |
Wimzie's House[8] | Nickelodeon | 3 May |
Birdz[8] | Nickelodeon | 16 May |
Rocket Power[9] | 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 [10] | 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[7] | Network Ten | March |
/ Minty | Nickelodeon[11] | ABC TV | 7 August |
International
Program | Subscription network | Free-to-air network | Date |
---|---|---|---|
The Forgotten Toys | Nickelodeon | ABC TV | 4 October |
Family Guy | Fox8 | Seven Network | 28 November |
Specials
Program | Channel | Debut date |
---|---|---|
1999 Kids' Choice Awards[8] | Nickelodeon | 29 May |
Wayne's Best Dares[11] | Nickelodeon | 19 September |
Television shows
- Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959–1999)
- Four Corners (1961–present)
- 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)
- 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, 2002–2004)
- Neighbours (1985–1989, 1989–present)
- GMA With Bert Newton (1991–2005)
Ending / Resting this year
References
- "When loyalty means nought". The Courier-Mail. News Limited. 27 April 1999. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- Browne, Rachel (4 April 1999). "Preacher Beadman Spreads The World". The Sun-Herald. Sydney, Australia. p. 37.
- Melloy, Neil (9 September 1999). "Oh! We had better name the show". Courier Mail. p. 24.
- Sikes, Gini (22 August 1999). "The XXX factor". The Sun-Herald. Sydney, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 5. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- Curtis, Quentin (24 October 1999). "Analysing the Mafia". The Sun-Herald. Sydney, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 6. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- Nick Nooze. Nickelodeon (Australia). 3. 1998.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link) - Nick Nooze. Nickelodeon (Australia). 4. 1999.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link) - "What's New On Nick? – May 1999". Nickelodeon (Australia). 1999. Archived from the original on 8 May 1999. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
- Nick Nooze. Nickelodeon (Australia). Summer. 1999.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link) - 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.
- Nick Nooze. Nickelodeon (Australia). 5. 1999.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)