1990 in Australian television

Events
  • January – The 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand are broadcast on Seven Network.
  • 27 January – Australian longest running children's Saturday morning series Saturday Disney along with music video programme Video Smash Hits debut on Seven Network.
  • 29 January – Welsh children's animated series Fireman Sam premieres on ABC.
  • 29 January – Australian television and radio host Steve Vizard presents his very own national Tonight show titled Tonight Live with Steve Vizard which is shown five nights a week on Seven Network.
  • 3 February – Paul Keane was ready to get axed from his long-running role as Des Clarke in Neighbours, but has instead opted to take a four-month hiatus and was expected to return in April. Keane's break from the show comes as cast morale is at an all-time low following the departure of several key cast members, but producers are confident that Des will return with some good storylines.
  • 12 February – American children's animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuts on Seven Network.
  • 13 February – ABC debuts a new current affairs program Lateline hosted by Kerry O'Brien.
  • 16 February – Australian lifestyle and gardening series Gardening Australia debuts on ABC.
  • 20 February – In Neighbours, Toby & Noelene Mangel depart.
  • 23 February – In Neighbours, this was Bronwyn Davies' final episode.
  • 28 February – In Neighbours, this was Hilary Robinson's final episode.
  • 31 March – Neighbours Producers have chosen to write out the popular character of Sharon Davies – the on-screen sister to Rachel Friend's former character Bronwyn Davies, played by 19-year-old Jessica Muschamp said the exit of Neighbours may have been a "blessing in disguise." She finished her final credits in Neighbours in five weeks and after leaving the series, she went to English pantomime performances over Christmas and was considering mini-series and theatre roles in Australia.
  • April – Jennifer Keyte becomes the first solo woman newsreader on a commercial network in Australia when Glenn Taylor leaves the Melbourne bureau of Seven News.
  • 9 June – Neighbours star Linda Hartley has decided to leave the hit-turned-troubled 10 TV Australia soap opera after a behind-the-scenes battle between producers Grundy Television and 10 TV Australia. Hartley had requested for a hiatus from the series to allow time to travel overseas and to pursue an opportunity for a singing career including a recording contract with Sony Music Australia, but Grundys were not keen to renew her contract, claiming the show had exceeded its casting budget. However, budget cuts ran out, negotiations broke down again and Hartley has chosen to leave the series.
  • 2 July – Canadian children's animated series Babar based on a series of children's books by Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff premieres on ABC.
  • 15 July – After a long absence of six months, the Australian comedy series The Comedy Company returns on 10 TV Australia.
  • 3 September – Australian children's TV series Johnson and Friends debuts on ABC.
  • 5 September – In Neighbours, this was Beverly Robinson's final episode.
  • 7 September – In Neighbours Kerry Mangel was shot in the head while duck hunting by Mick Taylor, leaving Joe Mangel in Saw-styled screaming and crying. This was the final episode.
  • 10 October – In Neighbours, this was Des Clarke's final episode.
  • 11 November – Australian comedy series The Comedy Company airs its final episode on 10 TV Australia before getting axed after very bad ratings and a failure to match the success of its 1988 season.
  • 12 November – Australian children's TV series Johnson and Friends begins a second run and first ever repeat on ABC when it starts airing in the afternoons for the very first time ever. The series will be shown at 3:55 pm (which is usually the timeslot for airing 5 minute programmes for children) dominating the 5 minute programming thus making Play School screening at 4:05 pm and the 4:30 pm programmes to push forward to 4:35 pm.
  • 16 November - Hey Hey It's Saturday's Red Symons marries Elly Agotis in Melbourne in a Greek ceremony.
  • December – The Seven Network wins the 1990 ratings year with a record of 35.6% share for Total People. The most watched program was Seven's AFL: 1990 AFL Grand Final.
  • 8 December – Neighbours producers have announced that star Ashley Paske will not renew his contract with the troubled 10 TV Australia soap opera when it expires in January. He is expected to be seen on-air until May.
  • 9 December – 1990 Neighbours movie-length finale: Joe Mangel shakes and kidnaps Sky Bishop from Eric Jensen (episode 1), Joe & Toby Mangel are arrested for shoplifting and kidnapping Sky Bishop, Tom Ramsay returns to Rsmsay Street after a three-and-a-half year absence (episode 2), Paul Robinson proposes to Christina Aleesi, Glen Donnolly arrives and tells that Jim Robinson is his father (episode 3).
  • 21 December – James Valentine presents the Australian weekday afternoon magazine series The Afternoon Show for the last time at 5:00 pm on ABC. The programme includes reruns of the French-American-Canadian animated series Inspector Gadget and Canadian action drama series Danger Bay (Both these shows haven't been airing on the ABC for a long time since most of the year).
  • 22 December – Neighbours star Richard Norton has been informed by producers that they won't be renewing his contract with the troubled 10 TV Australia soap opera when it expires in February.
  • 31 December – Queensland becomes the second Aggregated market with local stations Sunshine Television (which now becomes Seven Queensland), WIN and QTV (now becomes Southern Cross Ten, later Southern Cross Nine).

Premieres

Domestic series
Program Network Debut date
Agro's Cartoon Connection Seven Network 22 January
Saturday Disney Saturday Disney Seven Network 27 January
Video Smash Hits Seven Network 27 January
The Super Sunday Show Seven Network 28 January
Tonight Live with Steve Vizard Tonight Live with Steve Vizard Seven Network 29 January
Family and Friends Nine Network 7 February
Lateline Lateline[1] ABC TV 13 February
Gardening Australia ABC TV 16 February
Facing Writers ABC TV 26 February
The C Company Nine Network 3 March
The Party Machine ABC TV 12 March
Graham Kennedy's Funniest Home Video Show Nine Network 29 March
Robbo's World Nine Network 2 April
Skirts Seven Network 18 April
The Greatest Tune on Earth Seven Network 20 May
The Private War of Lucinda Smith Nine Network 20 May
Elly & Jools Nine Network 11 June
The Bugs Bunny Show Nine Network 18 June
More Winners ABC TV 1 July
Savage Indictment ABC TV 1 July
Flair Seven Network 1 August
Let the Blood Run Free 10 TV Australia 20 August
Johnson and Friends ABC TV 3 September
Embassy ABC TV 12 September
The Search for the World's Most Secret Animals Nine Network 27 September
Jackaroo Seven Network 7 October
The Girl from Tomorrow Nine Network 30 October
Imparja National News Imparja Television 1990
In Brisbane Today Nine Network (Queensland only) 1990

International series
Program Network Debut date
The Popcorn Kid Nine Network 1 January
/ Max Headroom Seven Network 2 January
Surgical Spirit ABC TV 2 January
The Giddy Game Show ABC TV 4 January
Hothouse ABC TV 4 January
The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole ABC TV 7 January
Lincoln ABC TV 10 January
// The Ray Bradbury Theatre ABC TV 14 January
The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Seven Network 20 January
Pinny's House ABC TV 24 January
Fireman Sam ABC TV 29 January
The Story of the Dancing Frog ABC TV 2 February
Murphy Brown Nine Network 5 February
Doogie Howser M.D. 10 TV Australia 5 February
Dream Street Seven Network 11 February
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Seven Network 12 February
We'll Think of Something ABC TV 13 February
Kidd Video Nine Network 17 February
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn ABC TV 17 February
A Dream of Red Mansions SBS 18 February
After the War ABC TV 24 February
Floyd's American Pie SBS 25 February
Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days ABC TV 4 March
Agatha Christie's Poirot Seven Network 6 March
The Gemini Factor ABC TV 12 March
Beverly Hills Buntz Nine Network 23 March
Police Academy Nine Network 26 March
The Watch House ABC TV 28 March
Hard Time on Planet Earth Seven Network 28 March
Screen One ABC TV 1 April
Hard Copy Nine Network 2 April
Hale and Pace Nine Network 5 April
Marco SBS 7 April
Bugs vs. Daffy: Battle of the Music Video Stars Nine Network 12 April
One God-Three SBS 12 April
Maria Chapdelaine ABC TV 17 April
Bugs Bunny's Wild World of Sports Nine Network 19 April
Frontiers ABC TV 22 April
Heart of the High Country 10 TV Australia 22 April
Generations Seven Network 24 April
Rituals Seven Network 1 May
The Hitchhiker 10 TV Australia 1 May
The Black Forest Clinic 10 TV Australia 8 May
Ladies in Charge ABC TV 12 May
The Heat of the Day ABC TV 25 May
Cross of Fire Seven Network 27 May
Baywatch 10 TV Australia 8 June
The Six Cases of Father Brown SBS 9 June
Once a Cop SBS 9 June
Sparky's Magic Piano ABC TV 11 June
/ The Great Wall of Iron ABC TV 14 June
The Jim Henson Hour 10 TV Australia 16 June
Alexei Sayle's Stuff ABC TV 18 June
Singles Seven Network 22 June
A Kind of Loving ABC TV 23 June
/ Babar ABC TV 2 July
Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers Seven Network 8 July
Eye of the Dragon ABC TV 9 July
Madam Sousou SBS 10 July
The Charmings Nine Network 10 July
Woof! Nine Network 14 July
Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics Nine Network 14 July
The Karate Kid Nine Network 14 July
The Mind SBS 16 July
The Lenny Henry Show SBS 20 July
Father Dowling Mysteries Seven Network 29 July
Ffizz 10 TV Australia 31 July
E! Entertainment Nine Network 1 August
Never Come Back ABC TV 1 August
// Ox Tales Nine Network 6 August
Moondial ABC TV 10 August
Booker Nine Network 11 August
The Fear ABC TV 13 August
Marblehead Manor 10 TV Australia 14 August
Hardball Nine Network 16 August
Mike and Angelo ABC TV 20 August
Ernie's Incredible Illucinations ABC TV 20 August
The Country Boy ABC TV 24 August
Miguel Servet SBS 26 August
The Secret Drawer SBS 26 August
Major Dad 10 TV Australia 28 August
Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story Seven Network 9 September
Press Gang ABC TV 10 September
Spy Wars SBS 11 September
Space Knights Seven Network 15 September
Vid Kids 10 TV Australia 16 September
America's Funniest People Nine Network 20 September
Prisoners of Childhood SBS 21 September
The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley ABC TV 27 September
The Storm SBS 10 October
Knight & Daye 10 TV Australia 12 October
// The Adventures of the Little Koala Nine Network 20 October
Blind Faith Seven Network 22 October
Adventurer ABC TV 28 October
Shingen SBS 31 October
Island Son Seven Network 5 November
Body Styles SBS 7 November
Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue Seven Network
Nine Network
10 TV Australia		 9 November
Good Morning, Miss Bliss Seven Network 13 November
The Thanksgiving Promise Seven Network 18 November
Hey Vern, It's Ernest! Nine Network 19 November
Round the Bend ABC TV 19 November
// Wowser Nine Network 20 November
In the Heat of the Night Seven Network 20 November
That's Love 10 TV Australia 20 November
No Strings Seven Network 20 November
Only One Earth ABC TV 20 November
Murphy's Law 10 TV Australia 21 November
The Famous Teddy Z Nine Network 22 November
A Man Called Hawk Nine Network 22 November
Starting from Scratch 10 TV Australia 22 November
Vintage: A History of Wine ABC TV 23 November
A Fine Romance (1989) 10 TV Australia 24 November
A Peaceable Kingdom Nine Network 24 November
The Young Riders Seven Network 25 November
The Real Charlotte ABC TV 26 November
The Return of Shelley ABC TV 26 November
New Attitude Nine Network 26 November
Free Spirit Nine Network 28 November
Doctor Doctor Nine Network 28 November
Family Matters Seven Network 30 November
Annie McGuire Nine Network 6 December
The New Archies Nine Network 8 December
Great Circuses of the World Nine Network 9 December
/ Hollywood the Golden Years: The RKO Story ABC TV 13 December
/ Dolphin Cove Nine Network 14 December
48 Hours Nine Network 16 December
The Phantom of the Opera Nine Network 16 December
Rod, Jane and Freddy ABC TV 18 December
Cops 10 TV Australia 18 December
Blackadder's Christmas Carol Seven Network 20 December
Rarg 10 TV Australia 22 December
Jim Henson's The Storyteller 10 TV Australia 24 December
The Angel and the Soldier Boy ABC TV 25 December
Marvin: Baby of the Year Seven Network 26 December
/ The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers Seven Network 1990

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
Kaboodle Seven Network ABC TV 8 April

International
Program New network(s) Previous network(s) Date
Ken Hom's Chinese Cookery ABC TV SBS 5 January
The Real Ghostbusters Nine Network 10 TV Australia 3 March
The Banana Splits Southern Cross Television ABC TV 1990

Television shows

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

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

Ending this year
DateShowChannelDebut
20 January Seven's Super Saturday Seven Network 1988
21 January The Cartoon Connection Seven Network 1985
1 February The Power, The Passion Seven Network 1989
13 May Kaboodle Seven Network
ABC TV		 1987
10 June The Greatest Tune on Earth Seven Network 20 May 1990
26 June Elly & Jools Nine Network 11 June 1990
29 June Stop at this Station ABC TV 1988
11 November The Comedy Company 10 TV Australia 1988
15 November The Girl from Tomorrow Nine Network 30 October 1990
17 November Neighbours 10 TV Australia 1985

Returning this year

TV movies
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See also

References
  1. Knox, David (13 January 2010). "Gallery: 20 years of Lateline". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
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