2003 in Australian television

Events
  • 10 February – 5 years since the last show, Ray Martin returns to the hosting role on Nine's A Current Affair.
  • 17 March – Seven launches a new news bulletin at 4:30 pm, titled Target Iraq, detailing the latest developments on the war in Iraq. After the invasion concludes, the bulletin is retained and is renamed Seven 4.30 News (later Seven Afternoon News), with production moving to Melbourne before it is moved back to Sydney in 2006, where it remains as of today.
  • 19 April – Rove McManus wins the 2003 TV WEEK Gold Logie.
  • 21 April –
  • 4 June – Mike London quits as National Nine News Brisbane weekend co-anchor after he allegedly arranged for a female fan to complain about the presenting style of then-weeknight presenter Bruce Paige.[2]
  • 23 June – The Price Is Right revived on the Nine Network at 5.30pm weeknights after 5 years off the air, Larry Emdur returned as hosting and Shawn Cosgrove returned as voiceover, earlier news reports had speculated that former A*mazing host James Sherry would be the star, but it never happened.
  • 25 June
    • Neighbours producers has announced that star Delta Goodrem will not renew her contract with the Network Ten series when it expires in next month. She is expected to be seen on-air until September.
    • CSI: Miami a sequel to the American mystery fiction television series in the CSI franchise, premieres on the Nine Network and is shown every Wednesday at 8:30pm.
  • 27 June – Network Ten axes vintage episode reruns of Neighbours earlier through the 1991 series after very bad ratings and on the following Monday 30 June, TEN launches the one-hour afternoon news bulletin instead. In 2002 Neighbours rated only 70,000 viewers during the whole 1990 series.
  • 30 June – Two of the ABC's digital television service channels ABC Kids and Fly TV closed down due to funding cuts from the Federal Government.
  • 13 July – The Australian version of the Endemol-hit decision making game: Deal or No Deal, premieres on the Seven Network hosted by Weekend Sunrise host Andrew O'Keefe, offering a top prize of a staggering two million dollars before lowering the top prize to $200,000 next year.
  • 21 July – Regina Bird wins season 3 of Big Brother, becoming the show's first female winner.
  • 27 July – The Australian version of Pop Idol (known as Australian Idol) debuts on Network Ten.
  • 28 September – Shaun Faulkner wins the fourth season of The Mole, taking home $104,000 in prize money. Petrina Edge is revealed as the Mole, and Nathan Beves is the runner-up.
  • 10 October –
    • After protests from the community during the Vietnam War, SBS TV has chosen to cancel its broadcasts of the state-run news service across Vietnam.
    • Hi-5 celebrated its 200th episode.
  • 23 October – Axed-Neighbours star Delta Goodrem wins the GOLD ARIA for Single of the Year at the 2003 ARIA Awards, along with 6 trophies, including John Farnham being inducted to the Hall of Fame and blasted the speakers loud to 1985's "You're The Voice".
  • 19 November – The first series of Australian Idol was won by Guy Sebastian defeating Shannon Noll, along with his very first single, Angels Brought Me Here debuting at #1 on the ARIA Top 50 singles and Video Hits Top 20 singles chart reaching 4 time Platinum and album Just as I Am debuted at #1 and was reached 6 times Platinum. In 2010, Angels Brought Me Here ranked #1 on the ARIA end of decade singles chart.
  • 24 November - Release date of Guy Sebastian's debut single, "Angels Brought Me Here".
  • 5 December – After six years of reading the news together, Ross Symonds and Ann Sanders are both sacked as presenters of Seven News Sydney following years of dismal ratings to rivals National Nine News Sydney and Ten Eyewitness News Sydney. Ian Ross replaced them as of 2004. Symonds subsequently left the network, while Sanders remains with Seven to this day, reading the national morning news and the local Sydney afternoon news.
  • 22 December – Australian children's comedy series The Ferals returns to air on ABC after a very long absence since 1995. Rather than airing in the afternoons on Mondays at 5:00pm, the series now airs at 11:20am weekday mornings.
  • December – Nine Network takes a new record as the network wins all 40 weeks of ratings.

Debuts
Program Channel Debut date
Welcher & Welcher ABC 6 February
Skithouse Network Ten 9 February
Ocean Star Network Ten 10 February
Comedy Inc. Nine Network 19 February
Your Life on the Lawn Seven Network February
After the Game Network Ten 1 March
Pirate Islands Network Ten 3 March
Enough Rope ABC 19 March
Greeks on the Roof[3] Seven Network 1 May
Micallef Tonight Nine Network 12 May
Big Bite[4] Seven Network 8 May
The Block Nine Network 1 June
The Price Is Right Nine Network 23 June
Deal or No Deal (2003 series)[5] Seven Network 13 July
Australian Idol Network Ten 27 July
CrashBurn Network Ten 23 August
Merrick and Rosso Unplanned Nine Network 3 September
Snobs Nine Network 29 September
Inside Australia SBS 12 October
Seaside Hotel Seven Network 18 October
Marking Time ABC 9 November
Surfing the Menu ABC 2003

New International Programming
Program Network Debut date
The Lionhearts Seven Network 25 January
Kim Possible Seven Network 1 February
Adventures from the Book of Virtues Seven Network 1 February
Fimbles ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) 3 February
Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto! ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) 24 February
Lizzie McGuire ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) 20 March
God, the Devil and Bob Seven Network 24 March
The Save-Ums! ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) 2003
The Life of Mammals ABC TV 26 March
Mamemo ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) 18 April
Yu-Gi-Oh! Network Ten 21 April
Digimon Frontier Network Ten 21 April
Girlstuff/Boystuff ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) 3 June
Martin Morning ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) 3 June
/ Corneil and Bernie ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) 3 June
The Fairytaler ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) 9 June
CSI: Miami Nine Network 25 June
Lloyd in Space Seven Network 28 June
Without a Trace Nine Network 2 July
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003) Network Ten 4 July
Dr. Phil Nine Network 7 July
Lavender Castle ABC TV 17 July
Teamo Supremo Seven Network 26 July
Transformers: Armada Network Ten 9 August
Rubbadubbers ABC TV 11 August
/ Gadget and the Gadgetinis Network Ten 15 August
/ Jasper the Penguin ABC TV 25 August
King ABC TV 3 September
Red Cap Red Cap [6] ABC TV 19 September
Static Shock Nine Network 20 September
Beyblade V-Force Network Ten 22 September
Crush Gear Turbo Network Ten 26 September
Siegfried & Roy: Masters of the Impossible Nine Network 28 September
/ Yakkity Yak Network Ten 28 September
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy Queer Eye for the Straight Guy [7] Network Ten 29 September
The Koala Brothers ABC TV 8 October
Samurai Jack Nine Network 16 October
Justice League Unlimited Nine Network 17 October
What's New Scooby-Doo? Nine Network 19 October
/ Rotten Ralph ABC TV 3 November
Wire, The The Wire [8] Nine Network 18 November
Murder Investigation Team ABC TV 25 November
The O.C. Nine Network 4 December
Strawberry Shortcake Network Ten 6 December
Roboroach Network Ten 19 December
Little Wolf's Book of Badness ABC TV 24 December
Yvon of the Yukon Seven Network 2003
Poochini's Yard Seven Network 2003
/ Inuk ABC Kids (digital only) 3 February
Hack Network Ten 2003
Less than Perfect Seven Network 2003

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
Eddy and the Bear ABC TV ABC Kids (digital only) 17 April
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) Nine Network 28 April
Speed Racer ABC Kids (digital only) ABC TV, Seven Network, Network Ten 7 April
Batfink ABC Kids (digital only), ABC TV Network Ten 9 June (ABC Kids), 15 September (ABC TV)
/ Babar ABC TV ABC Kids (digital only) 8 December
/ The Magic School Bus ABC TV ABC Kids (digital only) 2003
/ The Adventures of Tintin ABC Kids (digital only) ABC TV 2003
// Billy the Cat ABC TV ABC Kids (digital only) 2003

Subscription television

Domestic
Program Channel Debut date
Islandares[9] Nickelodeon 7 February
Saturday Nick Television Nickelodeon 2003

International
Program Channel Debut date
Bruiser[10] UKTV 4 January
World of Pub[11] UKTV 1 February
Roger Roger[11] UKTV 25 February
Punk'd [12] MTV 1 July
Chalk[13] UKTV 19 July
That's So Raven[14] Disney Channel 18 August
Baby Looney Tunes Cartoon Network 1 September
/ Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension Fox Kids 2003
Hamtaro Cartoon Network 2003
/// ¡Mucha Lucha! Cartoon Network 2003

Free-to-air premieres

This is a list of programs which made their premiere on Australian free-to-air television that had previously premiered on Australian subscription television. Programs may still air on the original subscription television network.

International
Program Free-to-air network Subscription network Date
Jackass [15] Network Ten MTV 5 February

Subscription premieres

This is a list of programs which made their premiere on Australian subscription television that had previously premiered on Australian free-to-air television. Programs may still air on the original free-to-air television network.

Domestic
Program Subscription network Free-to-air network Date
Outriders [9] Nickelodeon Nine Network 28 January
Hi-5 [16] Nickelodeon Nine Network Q4

International
Program Subscription network Free-to-air network Date
Degrassi Junior High Degrassi Junior High [9] Nickelodeon ABC TV 28 January
Pie in the Sky [17] UKTV ABC TV 1 February
Sunburn[18] UKTV 16 March
Sk8 / Sk8 [19] Nickelodeon 5 May
Kids of Degrassi Street, The The Kids of Degrassi Street [20] Nickelodeon ABC TV 28 July
Viva S Club Viva S Club [20] Nickelodeon 28 July
Blobheads Blobheads [16] Nickelodeon 17 October
North Square[21][22] UKTV ABC TV 12 November
Henry's World Henry's World [16] Nickelodeon ABC TV 1 October

Specials
Program Channel Debut date
2003 Kids' Choice Awards[19] Nickelodeon 10 May
2003 Teen Choice Awards[23] Fox Kids 25 October

Ending / Resting this year
DateShowChannelDebut
8 June Always Greener Seven Network 2001
30 June Pirate Islands Network Ten 3 March 2003
14 November CNNNN ABC TV 2002
28 November Burgo's Catch Phrase Nine Network 1997
gollark: Check out this [REDACTED] on the [REDACTED]! It's [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]!
gollark: cease.
gollark: Do you want your soul feasted on?
gollark: I suppose I could help with the underground bunker.
gollark: I WILL FEAST ON YOUR SOUL

See also

References
  1. Aussies tune in to cheat, The Age, 22 April 2003
  2. Miles, Janelle; Connolly, Steve (4 June 2003). "Newsreader quits after complaint scandal". The Age. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  3. Eff 'n' bewdiful, The Age, 1 May 2003.
  4. Race for year's worst show, The Age, 8 May 2003.
  5. Who wants to be a multimillionaire?, The Age, 10 July 2003.
  6. Hassall, Greg (19 September 2003). "Red Cap". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  7. Warneke, Ross (2 October 2003). "Gay gurus make a splash". The Age. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  8. Hassall, Greg (24 November 2003). "TV previews". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 10. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  9. "What's New On Nick? – February 2003". Nickelodeon (Australia). 2003. Archived from the original on 7 February 2003. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  10. "UKTV Highlights". UKTV (Australia and New Zealand). 2003. Archived from the original on 8 January 2003. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  11. "UKTV Highlights". UKTV (Australia and New Zealand). 2003. Archived from the original on 16 February 2003. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  12. "Trading in Star Misery". Herald Sun. Melbourne, Australia: News Limited. 26 June 2003. p. I02. Punk'd debuts on MTV this Tuesday at 9.30pm.
  13. "UKTV Highlights". UKTV (Australia and New Zealand). 2003. Archived from the original on 15 July 2003. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  14. Charlotte (17 August 2003). "Playing in the zone". TV Guide. Sunday Herald Sun. p. X06.
  15. Adams, Cameron (5 February 2003). "Here comes trouble – Jackass hits Australia". Herald Sun. Melbourne, Australia: News Limited. p. H07.
  16. "What's New On Nick? – Term 4". Nickelodeon (Australia). 2003. Archived from the original on 11 December 2003. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  17. "Today's Highlights". Foxtel. Archived from the original on 1 February 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
  18. ellis, scott (16 March 2003). "PAY TV HIGHLIGHTS". The Sunday Age. Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 8.
  19. "What's New On Nick? – Term 2 2003". Nickelodeon (Australia). 2003. Archived from the original on 8 June 2003. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  20. "What's New On Nick? – Term 3". Nickelodeon (Australia). 2003. Archived from the original on 3 August 2003. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  21. Schembri, Jim; Paul Kalina (6 November 2003). "Wednesday". The Age. Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 27.
  22. Courtis, Brian (20 February 2002). "Silky briefs and stolen Y-fronts". The Age. Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 12.
  23. "FOXTEL Highlights (Entertainment)". Foxtel. Archived from the original on 7 October 2003. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
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