1993 in Australian television

Events
  • 4 January – Australian long running children's series Mr. Squiggle returns to the ABC for a brand new series with now an approximate running time for 5 minutes.
  • 11 January – The Australian version of the hit game show series Jeopardy! hosted by ex-Sale of the Century host Tony Barber begins a brief run on Network Ten.
  • 1 February – The Morning Show, rebranding its name to Good Morning Australia (as GMA with Bert Newton) after the original title name for the previous breakfast show started in 1981 ended. The Morning Show was the future title of a morning programme which made its debut 14 years later.
  • 3 February – In Neighbours, this was Toby Mangel, Dorothy Burke and Bouncer’s last episode together.
  • 5 February – Australian travel magazine series The Great Outdoors begins on Seven Network.
  • 7 February – The ABC launches its first foray into early-morning news and current affairs with a brand new programme called First Edition presented by Kate Dunstan and Doug Weller.
  • 11 February – In Neighbours, Bouncer returns; Philip Martin has a flashback to Loretta Martin's death.
  • 13 February – Hey Hey It's Saturday and Foreign Correspondent return for another year. At 22, Jo Beth Taylor becomes the youngest television presenter to host a prime-time program as she starts hosting Australia's Funniest Home Video Show for a four-year run.
  • 1 March – Prime broadcasts a brand new 6:00 pm news and current affairs programme called Prime 6 O'Clock News.
  • 3 March – The Birthday Cake Interview takes place. This is seen as a crucial factor in the surprise re-election of the ALP in the federal election.
  • 8 March – ABC begins having a 24-hour transmission for the second time, following the launch of the broadcaster's music block rage in April 1987.
  • 8 March – British long running science fiction series Doctor Who returns to the ABC after a very long absence since its last air in January 1992. Now airing weekday mornings at 4:30 am, the series will start with the first serial of Season 19 Castrovalva and will continue until 3 March 1994 with the fourth and final part of the sixth and final serial of Season 22 Revelation of the Daleks.
  • 15 March – Ten News Perth presenter Rachel McNally quits after a pay dispute and is replaced by Mikayla Turner.
  • 19 March – TV Week Logie Awards hosted by Bert Newton for the 18th time airs on Network Ten. Ray Martin wins the Gold Logie for the first time since 1987.
  • 22 March – Simon Townsend presents a brand new program on ABC called TVTV. Townsend is also joined by James Valentine, Edith Bliss, John Hanrahan, Julia Gardiner and Sueyan Cox and the series will be about television reviews or topics plus a segment called TV News which includes news on television and Townsend interviewing celebrities including a producer or a television star.
  • 29 March – Michael Tunn narrates a series of two half-hour documentary television specials created for The Afternoon Show called Bodybeat which talks about teenagers and body issues. The first part will be about girls and the second part will be about boys. The specials will air on ABC at 5:30 pm and will be shown on The Afternoon Show which Tunn also hosted.
  • 30 March – Mike Willesee comes under scrutiny for interviewing the two children held hostage during the 1993 Cangai siege.
  • 31 March – The long running Australian lifestyle and gardening programme Burke's Backyard begins airing on the BBC in the UK, making it the first time to air the series in that country.
  • 29 April – In Neighbours, Jim Robinson dies from a heart attack. The last ever of the original 1985 cast members, Alan Dale departs the series. Anne Haddy becomes the last original cast member in Neighbours 8-year history. Jim Robinson is the next character to be killed off the show following the past deaths of characters Daphne Clarke (Elaine Smith, 1988), Kerry Bishop (Linda Hartley, 1990), Harold Bishop (Ian Smith, 1991) and Todd Landers (Kristian Schmid, 1992) being terminated and written out.
  • 19 May – In Neighbours, it was Brad Willis and Beth Brennan’s non-Wedding.
  • 20 May – In Neighbours, Michael Martin is finally arrested, and is sent to jail.
  • 24 May – Australian teen music game show Vidiot presented by Eden Gaha returns for a brand new series on ABC.
  • 24 May – Australian children's television series Simon Townsend's Wonder World is relaunched on Nine Network with new reporters and having the title shortened to just Wonder World!.
  • 31 May – A new drama series Paradise Beach begins on the Nine Network.
  • 31 May – NSWRL State of Origin. Queensland vs. NSW games were broadcast on Nine Network.
  • 23 June – A brand new Australian factual program Money starts on Nine Network.
  • 27 June – Jo Beth Taylor gets slimmed at the end of the grand final on Australia's Funniest Home Video Show.
  • 5 July – British comedy series Absolutely Fabulous debuts on ABC.
  • 5 July – American animated series The Ren and Stimpy Show premieres on Network Ten. It was also the very first Nicktoon to air in Australia.
  • 17 July – Australian sitcom Eggshells returns to television with a second season on ABC.
  • 31 July – Nine Network premieres a new children's Saturday morning cartoon wrapper programme called What's Up Doc?. Presented by Danielle Fairclough, the programme features Warner Bros. based cartoons including old classic Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons and television series such as reruns of The Bugs Bunny Show, The Porky Pig Show, the fourth season of Beetlejuice and the Australian premiere of Batman: The Animated Series.
  • 13 August – Jo Bailey quits Sale Of The Century. Every week, female celebrities replace Bailey until the end on 1993 when a replacement is yet to be announced.
  • 23 August – Australian news program World Watch begins its first screening on SBS. This series carries news bulletins from countries all around the world and gives viewers the opportunity to see news bulletins in their native language.
  • 30 August – A new late night sports round-up program Sports Tonight premieres on Network Ten.
  • 4 September – ABC airs the final episode of the Australian sitcom Eggshells.
  • 8 September – American sitcom Seinfeld debuts on the Nine Network.
  • 5 September – All Australian television networks retire the 'PGR', and 'AO' classifications and replaces them with 'G', 'PG', 'M15+', 'MA15+', and 'AV15+' ('G' was already in use prior to the change, but would now be seen in its trademark triangle instead of a square/circle).
  • 20 September – Australian early morning news program First Edition returns with a revamped format presented by Tony Eastley.
  • 30 October – Australian comedy series The Late Show airs its final episode on ABC.
  • 1 November – Nine Network debuts a new Australian comedy drama series for children called Ship to Shore.
  • 22 November – A Country Practice airs on Seven Network for the last time. It will soon be picked by Network Ten for a brief run in 1994.
  • 25 November – Ray Martin presents his final episode of Midday. He moves on to A Current Affair effective from 1994 and is replaced in the Midday role by Derryn Hinch. As a result, Hinch moves from Melbourne to Sydney.
  • 26 November – Final episode of Australian comedy chat show Tonight Live with Steve Vizard is broadcast on Seven Network.
  • 1 December – The Seven Network wins the ratings year for the fifth consecutive year in primetime, with a 34.9% share for Total People. The most watched program was Seven's AFL: 1993 AFL Grand Final.
  • 7 December – American sitcom Seinfeld switches over to airing on Network Ten following bad ratings on Nine.
  • 17 December – Australian children's weekday afternoon magazine series The Afternoon Show airs its final episode at 5:00 pm on ABC with repeats of Widget and The Adventures of Tintin which were both animated series. It was also presented by Michael Tunn who will later host a replacement music show for the axed program titled Loud.
  • Canwest buys Network Ten from Westpac.
  • Neighbours becomes the least watched drama for the fourth year running.

Debuts
Program Network Debut date
Swordfish Network Ten 3 January
Talk to the Animals Seven Network 31 January
The Great Outdoors Seven Network 5 February
First Edition ABC TV 8 February
Newlyweds Seven Network 20 February
Seven Deadly Sins ABC TV 23 February
Prime 6 O'Clock News Prime 1 March
The Extraordinary Seven Network 4 March
TVTV ABC TV 22 March
The AFL Sunday Footy Show Nine Network 28 March
Bodybeat ABC TV 29 March
This Sporting Life ABC TV 19 April
Law of the Land Nine Network 20 April
Full Frontal Seven Network 13 May
Paradise Beach Nine Network 31 May
Our House Nine Network 23 June
Money Nine Network 23 June
The Comedy Sale Seven Network 25 July
What's Up Doc? Nine Network 31 July
At Home Seven Network 2 August
World Watch SBS TV 23 August
Sports Tonight Network Ten 30 August
Snowy Nine Network 8 September
Secrets ABC TV 16 September
Debate! Network Ten 18 September
Totally Wild Weekend Network Ten 18 September
The Feds Nine Network 20 September
Ship to Shore Nine Network 1 November
Mission Top Secret Network Ten 8 November
In Company with Cruickshank ABC TV 9 December
House of Fun Network Ten 19 December
Kideo ABC TV 26 December
The NRL Sunday Footy Show Nine Network 1993

International
Program Network Debut date
Die Kinder ABC TV 2 January
The Global Family SBS TV 4 January
Heaven's Retribution SBS TV 4 January
Matters of Taste SBS TV 5 January
Hoover vs. The Kennedys Network Ten 5 January
A Sense of Guilt ABC TV 6 January
Join the Gang SBS TV 9 January
Dodgem ABC TV 11 January
Wild and Crazy Kids ABC TV 13 January
Troublemakers ABC TV 19 January
// Fantastic Max ABC TV 25 January
City Nine Network 27 January
Sweet Seventeen ABC TV 27 January
Disney Adventures Seven Network 1 February
The Golden Palace Seven Network 6 February
/ Captain Zed and the Zee Zone Network Ten 7 February
2000 Malibu Road Network Ten 8 February
Billy Nine Network 9 February
Spider! ABC TV 11 February
Melrose Place Network Ten 12 February
/ Diana: Her True Story Network Ten 21 February
Greek Fire SBS TV 23 February
Capital News Nine Network 23 February
Mathematical Eye ABC TV 24 February
Bump ABC TV 1 March
Terry and Julian ABC TV 8 March
The Jacksons: An American Dream Network Ten 15 March
Redemption Song SBS TV 15 March
The Borrowers ABC TV 20 March
Hotel Amore SBS TV 22 March
The Mechanical Universe ABC TV 29 March
Pole to Pole ABC TV 4 April
/ The Adventures of Tintin ABC TV 5 April
Toucan Tecs ABC TV 12 April
Dark Justice Seven Network 13 April
Palace Guard Nine Network 15 April
Degrassi Talks ABC TV 19 April
The Girl from Mars ABC TV 19 April
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Nine Network 22 April
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends ABC TV 1 May
P.S. I Luv U Nine Network 8 May
The Old Devils ABC TV 9 May
Parenthood Network Ten 10 May
Back to the Future: The Animated Series Network Ten 13 May
Mr. Bean in Room 426 ABC TV 14 May
Mind the Baby, Mr. Bean ABC TV 21 May
School's Out ABC TV 21 May
Time Riders ABC TV 22 May
Noddy's Toyland Adventures ABC TV 26 May
Children of the North ABC TV 30 May
Freshman Dorm Seven Network 31 May
Cartoons for Big Kids ABC TV 9 June
Picket Fences Network Ten 10 June
Heartbeat ABC TV 13 June
Oh, Mr. Toad ABC TV 14 June
Hearts Are Wild Seven Network 17 June
Code 3 (1992) Network Ten 23 June
Clarissa ABC TV 27 June
Love & War Nine Network 28 June
Absolutely Fabulous ABC TV 5 July
The Ren and Stimpy Show Network Ten 5 July
Cutters Seven Network 5 July
/ Fievel's American Tails Network Ten 6 July
Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean ABC TV 9 July
Teech Nine Network 11 July
The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna Seven Network 15 July
2 point 4 Children ABC TV 16 July
The Face of Tutankhamun ABC TV 18 July
Civil Wars Network Ten 20 July
Capitol Critters Network Ten 23 July
Witchcraft ABC TV 25 July
Law & Order Network Ten 27 July
Batman: The Animated Series Nine Network 31 July
The Edge Nine Network 2 August
The Essential History of Europe SBS TV 3 August
/ Sirens Nine Network 3 August
Joshua Jones ABC TV 4 August
Mission Reading ABC TV 9 August
KYTV SBS TV 10 August
The New Untouchables Seven Network 10 August
/ Stark ABC TV 11 August
Delta Network Ten 14 August
FBI: The Untold Stories Network Ten 18 August
The Boys of St. Vincent Network Ten 22 August
Lipstick on Your Collar ABC TV 22 August
/ Rupert ABC TV 23 August
The Piglet Files Seven Network 24 August
Transformers: Generation 2 Network Ten 25 August
Roots Schmoots: A Journey by Howard Jacobson SBS TV 29 August
Far Flung Floyd SBS TV 3 September
Taz-Mania Nine Network 4 September
Woops! Seven Network 6 September
Seinfeld[1] Nine Network 8 September
Freddie and Max ABC TV 8 September
One Foot in the Grave ABC TV 11 September
Dancing ABC TV 12 September
The Baby-Sitters Club ABC TV 13 September
A Year in Provence ABC TV 13 September
Room for Two Nine Network 16 September
Bad Boyes ABC TV 27 September
// Madeline (TV specials) ABC TV 28 September
Hearts Afire Network Ten 30 September
Celts SBS TV 3 October
Look At It This Way ABC TV 3 October
/ The Adventures of T-Rex Network Ten 4 October
Lamb Chop's Play Along Seven Network 4 October
X-Men Network Ten 5 October
Drexell's Class Network Ten 5 October
Nonsense and Lullabyes ABC TV 6 October
Truckers ABC TV 6 October
Brum ABC TV 6 October
The Marzipan Pig ABC TV 8 October
Ghostwriter ABC TV 10 October
American Dreamer Seven Network 11 October
Eerie, Indiana Seven Network 19 October
Streetwise ABC TV 20 October
Framed ABC TV 22 October
/ Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars Network Ten 22 October
Tell Tale Hearts ABC TV 24 October
Pirates SBS TV 26 October
The Darkness SBS TV 27 October
The Gravy Train ABC TV 31 October
Fast Gerdi SBS TV 2 November
Roc Nine Network 17 November
G.B.H. ABC TV 23 November
The Gravy Train Goes East ABC TV 28 November
Blossom Seven Network 29 November
Reasonable Doubts Seven Network 30 November
South Beach Network Ten 1 December
/ Dog City Network Ten 1 December
Boys from the Bush Seven Network 2 December
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Seven Network 2 December
Casualty Network Ten 4 December
Men Behaving Badly ABC TV 6 December
Maigret Seven Network 6 December
Top of the Heap Nine Network 13 December
Vinnie and Bobby Nine Network 22 December
Silk Stalkings Nine Network 23 December
Postman Pat Takes the Bus ABC TV 23 December
A Flintstone Family Christmas Seven Network 24 December
Postman Pat and the Toy Soldiers ABC TV 24 December
On Christmas Eve ABC TV 25 December
Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too Seven Network 25 December
Old Bear Stories (Jolly Snow/Dolls House Christmas) ABC TV 25 December
/ Santa's First Christmas ABC TV 25 December
Root Into Europe ABC TV 26 December
// Shakespeare: The Animated Tales SBS TV 27 December
Space Rangers Nine Network 28 December
Madness ABC TV 30 December
Goof Troop Seven Network 1993
Disney's The Little Mermaid Seven Network 1993
The New Lassie Network Ten 1993
Casper and Friends Network Ten 1993

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
Round the Twist ABC TV Seven Network 20 March

International
Program New network(s) Previous network(s) Date
It Ain't Half Hot Mum Network Ten ABC TV
Seven Network		 22 July
Dungeons and Dragons Network Ten Seven Network 29 November
Seinfeld[2] Network Ten Nine Network 7 December

Television shows

ABC

Seven Network

Nine Network

Network Ten

Ending this year
DateShowChannelDebut
16 January Bingles Channel Ten 1992
26 February Big Square Eye ABC 1991
25 March Seven Deadly Sins ABC 23 February 1993
5 April Bodybeat ABC 29 March 1993
20 May E Street Channel Ten 1989
3 June Phoenix ABC 1992
10 July Kids' Stuff Network Ten 1991
12 August Stark ABC 11 August 1993
4 September Eggshells ABC 1991
14 September All Together Now Channel Nine 1991
30 October The Late Show ABC 1992
11 November Snowy Channel Nine 8 September 1993
22 November A Country Practice Seven Network 1981
26 November Tonight Live with Steve Vizard Channel Seven 1990
17 December The Afternoon Show ABC 1987

Returning this year
DateShowChannelDebut
24 May Simon Townsend's Wonder World Nine Network 1979
13 December The Price Is Right Nine Network 1981

See also

References
  1. Hawker, Philippa (8 September 1993). "Three cheers for two new 'Cheers'". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. p. 19. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  2. Dempsey, Shelley (22 November 1993). "ANTENNAE". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 2. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
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