1981 in Australian television

This article is a summary of 1981 in Australian television.

List of years in Australian television

Events

Television
  • 15 February - Channel Nine Celebrates 25 Years Of Television, hosted by Bert Newton[1]
  • 2 March - Network Ten introduces its new breakfast TV show, Good Morning Australia, marking the return of breakfast television to Australian television screens.
  • 25 March - American animated television series The Nutty Squirrels Present switches over to air on regional television on NRN and other regional television networks but only in New South Wales.
  • 30 March - British sitcom To the Manor Born debuts on ABC.
  • 10 April - The TV Week Logie Awards air on Network Ten for the first time.
  • 23 May - Nine Network premieres a brand new sports program called Wide World of Sports.
  • 27 July - Wheel of Fortune premieres on the Seven Network, hosted by Ernie Sigley with her new co-partner former Adelaide Model Adriana Xenides.
  • 29 July - The Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer is broadcast across ABC and almost every commercial channel in Australia.
  • 16 September - The Nine Network celebrates 25 years of television in Australia.
  • 12 November - Final episode of the Australia soap opera The Restless Years airs on Network Ten.
  • 15 November - The Nine Network premieres its Sunday morning political current affairs program Sunday, hosted by Jim Waley.
  • 23 November - A Country Practice debuts on Seven Network.
  • December - After a two year-battle, Rupert Murdoch's News Limited finally gains control of the Melbourne headquarters of Network Ten after appealing the decision by the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal which blocked the takeover.

Debuts
Program Network Debut date
And Here Comes Bucknuckle ABC 26 January
Daily at Dawn Seven Network 3 February
Good Morning Australia Network Ten 2 March
Fatty and George ABC 3 March
Outbreak of Love ABC 15 March
Levkas Man ABC 18 March
Wide World of Sports Nine Network 23 May
Ratbags Network Ten 2 June
I Can Jump Puddles ABC 7 June
Holiday Island Network Ten 17 June
Bellamy Network Ten 26 June
Intimate Strangers ABC 12 July
Wheel of Fortune Seven Network 21 July
The New Price Is Right Seven Network 7 September
The Nargun and the Stars ABC 15 September
Sunday Nine Network 15 November
A Country Practice Seven Network 23 November

New International Programming

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.

International
Program New network(s) Previous network(s) Date
The Nutty Squirrels Present NRN ABC 25 March

Television shows

1950s
  • Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959–1999)

1960s

1970s

1980s

Ending this year
DateShowChannelDebut
22 April Levkas Man ABC 18 March 1981
28 April Daily at Dawn Seven Network 3 February 1981
5 May Fatty and George ABC 3 March 1981
19 July Intimage Strangers ABC 12 July 1981
27 July Skyways Seven Network 9 July 1979
2 August I Can Jump Puddles ABC 7 June 1981
13 October The Nargun and the Stars ABC 15 September 1981
12 November The Restless Years Network Ten 6 December 1977
18 December Bellamy Network Ten 26 June 1981

Returning this year

TV movies
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See also

References
  1. "TV Guide 15 February 1981". TELEVISIONAU.
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