1979 in Australian television

This article is a summary of 1979 in Australian television.

List of years in Australian television

Events

  • February - The Government approves the application for ATV0 to convert its transmission to the Channel 10 frequency.
  • 11 February - A brand new Australian weekly current affairs program 60 Minutes premieres on Nine Network. Based on the American newsmagazine television program of the same name, it has a lack lustre beginning, but will soon rise to become one of the highest rating programs in Australia.
  • 27 February - Australian prime time black comedy/soap opera from Reg Grundy Productions Prisoner premieres on the 0-10 Network. It enjoys a large following both in Australia and around the world, particularly in the UK and parts of the USA.
  • 28 February - In Prisoner, there was the Franky Doyle riot, Meg Jackson’s husband Bill Jackson is stabbed.
  • April - The Special Broadcasting Service screens the first of a series of multi-language programs on ABC on Sunday mornings.
  • 2 April - Australian actor Ron Blanchard and Alexander Bunyip the delightful character from the popular children's book The Monster That Ate Canberra by Michael Salmon present a brand new afternoon block for children called ARVO which also features programs such as Play School, Mr. Squiggle and Friends, Sesame Street, Basil Brush and The Famous Five.
  • 24 April - American prime time soap opera Dallas premieres on The 0-10 Network.
  • 1 May - During an escape with her girlfriend Doreen Anderson, Franky Doyle was shot. Her last words were “b***dy b*****ds’.
  • 28 June - Australian drama series Patrol Boat debuts on ABC.
  • 1 July - Commercial television stations now required to screen ‘C’ classified programming, aimed solely at children aged 6 to 13, every weekday between 4:00pm and 5:00pm. Early ‘C’ classified programs include Simon Townsend's Wonder World (0-10), Stax (Seven) and Shirl's Neighbourhood (Seven). Commercial stations are also required to screen a minimum of 30 minutes each weekday, prior to 4:00pm, of programming aimed at pre-school viewers.
  • 9 July - Crawford Productions's brand new soap opera Skyways begins it premiere on the Seven Network.
  • 13 August - A brand new Australian environmental education series for children called Earthwatch debuts on ABC at 5:00pm as part of the ARVO lineup.
  • 2 October - American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes debuts on Nine Network.
  • November - Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is taking control of TEN-10 Sydney and his bid to take over the Australian airline company which owns ATV0 Melbourne Ansett Australia, sparks a review into media ownership by the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal.
  • 5 December - American sitcom Taxi premieres on Nine Network.

Debuts

Program Network Debut date
60 Minutes Nine Network 11 February
Doctor Down Under Seven Network 12 February
Prisoner The 0-10 Network 27 February
The Oracle ABC 12 March
Golden Soak ABC 13 March
Bailey's Bird Seven Network 25 March
ARVO ABC 2 April
Love Thy Neighbour in Australia Seven Network 9 April
Patrol Boat ABC 28 June
Carrots Seven Network 2 July
Skyways Seven Network 9 July
Ride on Stranger ABC 15 July
Top Mates ABC 16 July
Earthwatch ABC 13 August
Simon Townsend's Wonder World The 0-10 Network 3 September
Shirl's Neighbourhood Seven Network 1979
Wombat BTQ-7 1979
The World Around Us Seven Network 1979

New International Programming

Television shows

1950s

  • Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959–1999)

1960s

1970s

Ending this year

DateShowChannelDebut
12 January Cuckoo in the Nest Seven Network 22 December 1978
18 February Chopper Squad The 0-10 Network 5 November 1976
24 February Glenview High Seven Network 27 September 1977
1979 ARVO ABC 2 April 1979
1979 Super Flying Fun Show Nine Network 1970
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See also

References

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