1994 in Australian television

Events
  • 18 January – Australian police drama series Blue Heelers premieres on Seven Network.
  • 28 January – American animated series Rugrats makes its debut on ABC at 5:30 pm.
  • 31 January – American children's action TV series Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers debuts on Seven Network.
  • 31 January – A sequel to the Australian family film Clowning Around called Clowning Around II airs on Seven Network.
  • February – Derryn Hinch has taken over Ray Martin's place as host of the Australian award-winning daytime talk program Midday.
  • 7 February – Nicky Buckley replaces Jo Bailey as Glenn Ridge's co-host on Sale Of The Century, where she would remain for the next 6 years.
  • 10 February – American science fiction television series The X-Files makes it debut on Network Ten.
  • 11 February – The ABC has inked a deal to sell its children's TV series Bananas in Pyjamas to various countries around the world. The series has been sold for broadcasting in the UK, Cyprus, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Portugal, Iceland, Canada, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, South Africa, Namibia and Ireland. A deal is about to be signed with a Japanese network to air the series and ABC Enterprises executives will fly over to the USA for the New York Toy Fair and talks on how to crack the lucrative US market.
  • 27 February – Network Ten launches Heartbreak High, a brand new schoolroom drama which was a spinoff of the 1993 Australian romantic comedy feature film The Heartbreak Kid.
  • 28 February – Australian long running children's TV series Mr Squiggle returns to ABC for a brand new series at 3:55 pm.
  • 3 March – British long running science fiction series Doctor Who airs on ABC for the last time in its original run at 4:30 am with the fourth and final part of the sixth and final serial of Season 22 Revelation of the Daleks.
  • 5 March – American animated series Animaniacs premieres on the Nine Network as part of their What's Up Doc? block.
  • 21 March – Final episode of the Australian comedy series Mother and Son airs on ABC.
  • 24 March – American sitcom Frasier starring Kelsey Grammer premieres on the Nine Network.
  • 27 March – The Animals of Farthing Wood, a British children's animated series based on the books by Colin Dann premieres on ABC at 8:00 am as part of Couch Potato.
  • 10 April – Australian children's TV series Lift Off has spawned into a game show titled EC Plays Lift Off with Mr. Fish as the host and only running for 13 episodes. It will air on ABC on every Sunday morning as part of Couch Potato.
  • 11 April – Australian children's comedy series The Ferals premieres on ABC.
  • 11 April – Michael Tunn, the host of the ABC's Afternoon Show returns with a brand new music series called Loud as a replacement for the weekday afternoon magazine show that was axed in late 1993. The show includes music videos as well as reviews on movies and video games, feature stories on youth culture, musicians talking about their favourite music videos and on location interviews with bands and will be shown from Monday to Thursday at 5:30 pm.
  • 13 April – A Country Practice switches over to air on Network Ten following its final air on Seven Network in 1993.
  • 16 April – American children's TV series Barney and Friends premieres on Nine Network.
  • 30 April – The Tasmanian television market is aggregated, with TasTV (now WIN Television) taking a Nine Network affiliation & Southern Cross taking a dual Seven and Ten affiliation.
  • 9 May – Frontline a satirical look at current affairs television from Australian comedy group The D-Generation and starring Rob Sitch as anchor Mike Moore starts airing on the ABC.
  • 16 May – A brand new Australian game show for children called A*mazing debuts on Seven Network. Hosted by James Sherry and airing at 4:30 pm, the show pitted teams from two different primary schools against each other during the course of a week. Points gained by each contestant during the week would be totalled up to decide the winning school at the end of each week.
  • 20 May – SBS commences transmission in Darwin.
  • 23 May – Australia's favourite koala Blinky Bill returns to television with a brand new animated series on ABC at 4:30 pm.
  • 16 June – Final episode of the Australian music series Loud airs on ABC.
  • 20 June – Australian teen game show Vidiot returns to the ABC for a brand new series with Scott McRae taking over as presenter.
  • 30 June – ABC has expired the rights to the long running British science fiction series Doctor Who. The series itself will no longer continue to air on the Australian free for air public broadcaster until 2003, but will soon air on cable television on UKTV in 1996. The ABC will also broadcast the television movie of the series in July of the same year.
  • August – The Commonwealth Games are televised live on Network Ten from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
  • 1 August – Melbourne's ATV10 celebrates 30 years of transmission.
  • 17 August – Australian comedy series Hey Dad..! hosts its final original episode on Seven Network.
  • 23 September – Iconic Australian drama series Banjo Paterson's The Man From Snowy River: The McGregor Saga starring Andrew Clarke and Wendy Hughes premieres on the Nine Network.
  • October – In Neighbours The Kennedy Family (Susan, Karl, Libby, Billy, Mal) arrive at No. 28, Doug & Pam Willis leave for Darwin, Julie Martin is killed in the Murder Mystery Weekend.
  • 16 October – The Nine Network rebrands its on-air graphics.
  • 19 October - A television special known as The Very Best of the Don Lane Show airs on Nine Network at 8:30 pm. It features Don Lane introducing some of the memorable segments to have come from the popular variety show that ran from 1975 to 1983, including footage of guest stars Mel Brooks, Billy Connolly, James Randi, Charlton Heston, Bob Hope, Liza Minnelli, Robin Williams, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Allen, John Farnham, Peter Sellers and Johnny O'Keefe. This special was remastered for a DVD release in 2004.
  • 5 November – A Country Practice (1981–1993 on Channel 7) revival attempt on Network Ten backfires and is swiftly cancelled due to low ratings.
  • 26 November – The popular television character Ossie Ostrich leaves Hey Hey It's Saturday after 23 years as Daryl Somers' co-host. When the show returns in 1995, Somers will host solo.
  • The infamous TAC Nightshift commercial depicting A Volkswagen Kombi goes to air on television for the very first time.
  • The 1994 FIFA World Cup is broadcast live from the United States and is shown on SBS and Prime Television.
  • Community Television starts with long-term trials of stations in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
  • The ABC purchases an Australian children's television programme from the creators of Johnson and Friends called Boffins about tiny alien like creatures called Boffins who spent their days in kitchen cupboards and surrounding areas, trying to discover science behind how the world works. The series was never broadcast in Australia but it did air in several other countries such as Singapore, Israel, Malaysia, Brunei, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Canada, Africa and the Middle East. The complete series will be released on VHS in Australia the following year by ABC Video and Roadshow Entertainment featuring all thirteen episodes.
  • American children's animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles changes it schedule to mornings as part of Agro's Cartoon Connection on Seven Network.

Debuts
Program Network Debut date
Kate Ceberano and Friends ABC TV 17 January
Blue Heelers Seven Network 18 January
Level 23 Network Ten 24 January
Alan Jones Live Network Ten 31 January
Man O Man Seven Network 5 February
Under the Skin SBS TV 16 February
The Bob Morrison Show Nine Network 22 February
Heartbreak High Network Ten 27 February
The Times Seven Network 14 March
Denton Seven Network 15 March
Ballzup! ABC TV 20 March
Heartland ABC TV 23 March
The AFL Footy Show Nine Network 24 March
The Big Byte SBS TV 24 March
EC Plays Lift Off ABC TV 10 April
The Reading, Writing Roadshow ABC TV 11 April
The Ferals ABC TV 11 April
Loud ABC TV 11 April
Consumer Power ABC TV 13 April
The Zone Nine Network 30 April
Frontline ABC TV 9 May
Sydney Weekender Seven Network 14 May
A*mazing Seven Network 16 May
The Adventures of Blinky Bill ABC TV 23 May
The Damnation of Harvey McHugh ABC TV 2 June
Stampede ABC TV 10 June
Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left Seven Network 19 June
Strike It Lucky Nine Network 11 July
The Battlers Seven Network 13 July
Total Recall Seven Network 15 August
Ocean Girl Network Ten 29 August
The NRL Footy Show Nine Network 1 September
Janus ABC TV 1 September
Living in the 90s ABC TV 1 September
Wedlocked Seven Network 7 September
Banjo Paterson's The Man From Snowy River: The McGregor Saga Nine Network 23 September
The Liberals: 50 Years of the Federal Party ABC TV 12 October
Big Girl's Blouse Seven Network 13 October
Halifax f.p. Nine Network 9 November
Escape from Jupiter ABC TV 26 November

International Programming
Program Network Debut date
States of Mind SBS TV 2 January
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 Nine Network 3 January
Great Crimes and Trials of the 20th Century ABC TV 7 January
Sandino SBS TV 8 January
The Late Show with David Letterman Nine Network 12 January
Kings Without Crowns SBS TV 16 January
Coast of Dreams SBS TV 19 January
A Very Merry Widow SBS TV 19 January
Super Mario World Nine Network 20 January
Grace & Favour Network Ten 28 January
Rugrats ABC TV 28 January
/ Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Seven Network 31 January
Biker Mice from Mars Network Ten 31 January
// Clowning Around II Seven Network 31 January
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog Network Ten 31 January
/ Funnybones ABC TV 1 February
/ Where's Wally? ABC TV 2 February
Missing Persons Nine Network 2 February
NYPD Blue Network Ten 3 February
Calling the Shots ABC TV 3 February
/ Eek! The Cat Network Ten 3 February
Anglo-Saxon Attitudes ABC TV 6 February
The X-Files Network Ten 10 February
Flesh 'n' Blood Seven Network 13 February
Doug Network Ten 13 February
Davis Rules Nine Network 17 February
Tooth Fairy, Where Are You? ABC TV 18 February
A Child's Garden of Verses ABC TV 18 February
Here's How! ABC TV 22 February
To Play the King ABC TV 24 February
Gallowglass ABC TV 27 February
Body & Soul Nine Network 1 March
Sightings Seven Network 1 March
Tracey Ullman: A Class Act ABC TV 2 March
Animaniacs Nine Network 5 March
Forever Knight Nine Network 9 March
Italianissimo ABC TV 12 March
Ashenden ABC TV 20 March
Boy Meets World Seven Network 23 March
Dave's World Nine Network 24 March
Frasier Nine Network 24 March
/ The Animals of Farthing Wood ABC TV 27 March
Almost Home Seven Network 29 March
Here and Now Seven Network 30 March
Kevin's Cousins ABC TV 1 April
Ferris Bueller Nine Network 1 April
Out All Night Nine Network 2 April
Blood and Honey ABC TV 3 April
Northwood ABC TV 11 April
The Hat Squad Nine Network 15 April
Barney and Friends Nine Network 16 April
Old Bear Stories ABC TV 18 April
Rat-a-Tat-Tat ABC TV 20 April
Mathica's Mathshop ABC TV 20 April
Walker, Texas Ranger Nine Network 28 April
Today's Gourmet SBS TV 30 April
In Suspicious Circumstances Seven Network 4 May
The Full Wax ABC TV 7 May
Hit and Run SBS TV 11 May
Grace Under Fire Seven Network 15 May
Miffy ABC TV 16 May
His and Hers (USA) Seven Network 17 May
The Greedysaurus Gang ABC TV 23 May
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Seven Network 25 May
Kinsey ABC TV 30 May
Discover America: The West SBS TV 31 May
Where I Live Seven Network 3 June
Ready or Not ABC TV 17 June
// Deepwater Haven Network Ten 19 June
Beakman's World Network Ten 19 June
Key West Seven Network 22 June
Great Scott! Nine Network 24 June
Kevin and Co. ABC TV 27 June
Between the Lines Seven Network 28 June
// Madeline (TV series) ABC TV 28 June
Philbert Frog ABC TV 28 June
Behaving Badly ABC TV 3 July
Conan the Adventurer Network Ten 4 July
A Touch of Frost Seven Network 8 July
Murder Most Horrid ABC TV 11 July
The Admiral and the Princess ABC TV 15 July
Teddy Trucks ABC TV 15 July
Glenroe SBS TV 18 July
Supercities SBS TV 19 July
Jo Brand Through the Cakehole Seven Network 21 July
Dolphin Stories SBS TV 21 July
Ooh La La SBS TV 22 July
Great Chefs of San Francisco SBS TV 23 July
Switch SBS TV 26 July
/ Thicker than Water ABC TV 31 July
Do-It-Yourself Mr. Bean ABC TV 5 August
As Time Goes By ABC TV 8 August
Knight Rider 2000 Network Ten 10 August
/ Highlander: The Series Seven Network 11 August
Back to School Mr. Bean ABC TV 12 August
Underbelly (UK) ABC TV 14 August
Orson and Olivia ABC TV 19 August
Space Age: The Quest for Planet Mars SBS TV 21 August
SeaQuest DSV Network Ten 28 August
Models Inc. Network Ten 30 August
Mad About You Network Ten 30 August
/ Counterstrike Network Ten 1 September
Burke's Law (1994) Network Ten 2 September
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Nine Network 10 September
/ Tales of the City ABC TV 11 September
Café Americain Seven Network 14 September
Ben Elton: The Man from Auntie ABC TV 17 September
Good Advice Nine Network 19 September
Countess Dora SBS TV 21 September
So Haunt Me ABC TV 22 September
The Lodge ABC TV 26 September
Sea Dragon ABC TV 26 September
Seven Signs SBS TV 27 September
Wallace and Gromit ABC TV 30 September
Noel's House Party Nine Network 30 September
Exosquad Network Ten 15 October
Mansion: Great Houses of Europe SBS TV 18 October
Discovering Japan ABC TV 19 October
Shortland Street SBS TV 24 October
Side by Side ABC TV 29 October
The Sinbad Show Seven Network 1 November
The Dreamstone ABC TV 6 November
The Riff Raff Element ABC TV 12 November
Budgie the Little Helicopter ABC TV 18 November
Tumbledown Farm ABC TV 18 November
Scarlett Nine Network 20 November
Bottom ABC TV 22 November
Ricki Lake Network Ten 28 November
The John Larroquette Show Nine Network 28 November
Byrds of Paradise Network Ten 28 November
Real Stories of the Highway Patrol Nine Network 30 November
The Mommies Seven Network 1 December
Renegade Nine Network 1 December
Diagnosis: Murder Nine Network 1 December
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Nine Network 3 December
Cobra Seven Network 3 December
Babylon 5 Seven Network 3 December
/ Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Nine Network 5 December
Sea Trek ABC TV 8 December
Open a Door ABC TV 11 December
/ The Little Engine That Could ABC TV 11 December
Prince Cinders ABC TV 11 December
The Nightmare Years Seven Network 12 December
Byker Grove ABC TV 13 December
Three Stars SBS TV 16 December
Rubbish, King of the Jumble ABC TV 18 December
Wild Palms Nine Network 19 December
Success SBS TV 23 December
Mole's Christmas Seven Network 24 December
Jolly Old St. Nicholas Seven Network 24 December
Noddy and Father Christmas ABC TV 25 December
The Mousehole Cat ABC TV 25 December
Brains & Brawn (1993) Seven Network 26 December
Twins of Destiny ABC TV 27 December
What's Up Doc?: A Salute to Bugs Bunny ABC TV 28 December
See How They Grow ABC TV 29 December
The World of Hammer SBS TV 31 December
Mighty Max Seven Network 1994
/ Tales from the Cryptkeeper Network Ten 1994
Bonkers Seven Network 1994
Marsupilami Seven Network 1994

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
A Country Practice Network Ten Seven Network 13 April
Kaboodle ABC TV Seven Network 27 June
Ship to Shore ABC TV Nine Network 2 October

International
Program New network(s) Previous network(s) Date
Unsolved Mysteries Network Ten Seven Network 15 January
The Black Adder ABC TV Seven Network 8 April
Fawlty Towers Seven Network ABC TV 14 April
Executive Stress Network Ten ABC TV 22 April
Blackadder II ABC TV Seven Network 13 May
The Wonderful World of Disney Network Ten Nine Network, Seven Network 5 June
Blackadder the Third ABC TV Seven Network 10 June
Blackadder Goes Forth ABC TV Seven Network 24 June
Woof! ABC TV Nine Network 9 October
The Woman Who Raised a Bear as Her Son ABC TV SBS TV 11 December
Blackadder's Christmas Carol ABC TV Seven Network 24 December

Specials
Program Channel Debut date
No Cure for Cancer No Cure for Cancer Nine Network 6 April

Television

ABC TV

Seven Network

Nine Network

Network Ten

Ending this year
DateShowChannelDebut
22 January Let the Blood Run Free Channel Ten 1990
4 February Supermarket Sweep Channel Nine 1992
16 March Newlyweds Channel Seven 1993
20 March Kideo ABC 1993
21 March Mother and Son ABC 1984
28 April Alan Jones Live Channel Ten 31 January 1994
4 May Under the Skin SBS 16 February 1994
13 May Blockbusters Channel Seven 1991
27 May All in a Day's Work ABC 1992
1 June Heartland ABC 23 March 1994
16 June Loud ABC 11 April 1994
27 June The Adventures of Blinky Bill ABC 23 May 1994
3 July EC Plays Lift Off ABC 10 April 1994
8 July Paradise Beach Channel Nine 1993
16 August The Bob Morrison Show Channel Nine 22 February 1994
17 August Hey Dad...! Channel Seven 1987
18 August The Damnation of Harvey McHugh ABC 2 June 1994
14 October Strike It Lucky Channel Nine 11 July 1994
5 November A Country Practice Channel Ten (Channel Seven, 1981–1993) 18 April 1994
25 November Man O Man Channel Seven 5 February 1994
1 December Real Life Channel Seven 1992
9 December Stampede ABC 10 June 1994
14 December Live and Sweaty ABC 1991
24 December Video Smash Hits Channel Seven 1990
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See also

References
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