2011 in Australian television

This is a list of Australian television events and premieres which occurred in 2011. This year will be the 56th year of continuous operation of television in Australia.

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2011 in Australian television
Television series premieres
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Awards
2011 in television

Events
  • 11 January – Ten Network Holdings and CBS Studios International launch digital multi-channel Eleven, which replaces the standard definition simulcast of One HD.[1] Network Ten also permanently shifts its long-running soap opera Neighbours to the new channel after having aired the series for 24 years. The first episode on Eleven was its highest-rated program of the night, recording 254,000 metropolitan viewers.[2]
  • 13 January – The Australian Government lifts restrictions on the anti-siphoning rule to allow the Seven Network to air parts of the Australian Open on its digital multichannel 7Two while Seven News airs on the primary channel.[3] This practice has continued in subsequent years.
  • 16 January – Prime Television and GWN Television rebrand as Prime7 and GWN7 respectively, reaffirming their alignment with the Seven Network. The "Prime" on-screen watermark is also removed for Seven Network digital multichannels 7Two and 7mate.
  • 24 January – The launch of 6PM with George Negus and Ten Evening News marks Network Ten's return to the regular broadcasting of news and current affairs programs in the 6:00–7:00 pm timeslot for the first time in 20 years. The new line-up is in direct competition with news and current affairs offerings on both the Seven and Nine networks.[4]
  • 4 April – Seven picks up the rights to televise Wimbledon, and in doing so, promises viewers live coverage of most matches including the men's and women's singles semi-finals, and championship matches.[5]
  • 27 April – Two days before it was due to air, ABC Television is forced to cancel their planned coverage of the Wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton, which was to be a "satirical commentary" by The Chaser, due to restrictions imposed by Clarence House.[6] Set to air on ABC2, The Chaser’s Royal Wedding Commentary, was instead replaced by a simulcast of BBC's coverage and commentary of the wedding.[6]
  • 28 April – The Australian Football League (AFL) television broadcast rights for the 2012 to 2016 seasons is awarded to the Seven Network and Foxtel in a record $1.253 billion deal (including mobile and internet coverage awarded to Telstra).[7][8] The Seven Network will broadcast four games each round, three of them live, as well as all finals live.[7][8] For the first time, Foxtel will broadcast all nine matches each round, as well as all finals except the Grand Final, live, simulcasting the Seven Network's coverage of its four games.[7][8] Foxtel will also relaunch a dedicated AFL channel after its previous attempt, the Fox Footy Channel, ceased broadcasting in 2006.[7][8]
  • 2 May – Emma Duncan wins the sixth season of The Biggest Loser.
  • 8 May – Network Ten shifts the focus of its high-definition digital multichannel One from purely sports coverage and programming, to a mix of general entertainment and sports, specifically targeting audiences in the male 24-to-54-year-old demographic.[9]
  • 26 June – Heather Foord presents her final Nine News Queensland bulletin before retiring from television permanently; she is replaced the following weekend by Eva Milic.[10]
  • 10 July – TV chef Manu Feildel, alongside professional dance partner Alana Patience, win the eleventh season of Dancing with the Stars.
  • 28 July – 7TWO, 7mate, GEM, GO!, ONE & ELEVEN expand to Western Australia.
  • 1 August – Surfers and best friends Tyler Atkins and Nathan Jolliffe win the first season of The Amazing Race Australia.
  • 2 August – Jack Vidgen wins the fifth season of Australia's Got Talent.
  • 7 August – Kate Bracks wins the third season of MasterChef Australia.
  • 20 and 21 August – The Nine Network's most-watched Queensland news bulletin conducts two crosses to journalists in a helicopter claiming to be "near Beerwah, Queensland", where the remains of murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe had been found earlier that month. However, the crosses are revealed to be fake when, on the second night, rival station Channel Seven filmed footage of the Nine helicopter sitting on the helipad outside their studios at Mount Coot-tha at the time of the broadcast. Radar footage also revealed that, on the first night, the helicopter was actually hovering over Chapel Hill, 70 km away from Beerwah. Two journalists, Melissa Mallet and Cameron Price, as well as news producer Aaron Wakeley, are all sacked by the Nine Network following the incident, while Lee Anderson resigned in protest over the sackings.[11]
  • 21 August – Polly Porter and Warwick "Waz" Jones win the fourth season of The Block.
  • 7 September – Robert Davidov wins the first series of Top Design Australia.
  • 9 September – Nine Network confirmed that they were bringing back Big Brother Australia in 2012.
  • 9 September – The eleventh season of the popular British children's television series Thomas & Friends finally airs on ABC2 at 1:05pm starting with Hide and Peep.
  • 12 September – Dylan Cooper wins the third season of Project Runway Australia.
  • 30 September – Ten Late News and Sports Tonight withdrawn their Broadcasts for the very last time.
  • 12 October – Michael Lynch wins the first series of The Renovators.
  • 22 October – Nine News Sydney overtakes Seven News Sydney as the news ratings leader in Sydney for the first time since 2004.[12]
  • 25 October Montana Cox wins the seventh season of Australia's Next Top Model.
  • 11 November – 7TWO, 7mate, GEM, GO!, ONE & ELEVEN expand to South Eastern South Australia.
  • 21 November – Comedian Julia Morris wins the first season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia.
  • 22 November – Reece Mastin wins the third series of The X Factor.
  • 23 November – Greta Yaxley wins the second season of Junior MasterChef Australia.
  • 24 November – Sarah Lawther and Lachlan Cosgrove win the third season of Beauty and the Geek Australia.
  • 27 November – The Seven Network wins its 40th (out of a possible 40) week of ratings for the 2011 calendar year, and becomes the first Australian television network to achieve a clean sweep of a ratings calendar year.[13]

Celebrity Deaths
  • 8 January – Geoff Raymond (aged 89), news presenter.[14]
  • 21 May – Bill Hunter (aged 71), actor[15]
  • June 11, James Elliot (aged 82) Scottish-born Australian actor, best known as Alf Sutcliffe Number 96[16]

Channels
New channels
  • 11 January – Eleven
  • 29 May – Disney Junior
  • 28 July - 7TWO, GO!, GEM, ONE, ELEVEN & 7mate (Albany/Bunbury)
  • 11 November - February 2012 - 7TWO, GO!, GEM, ONE, ELEVEN & 7mate (Mount Gambier/Riverland)
Renamed channels
  • 16 January – Prime7 (replacing Prime)
  • 16 January – GWN7 (replacing GWN)
  • 1 May – ABC4 Kids (replacing ABC For Kids on 2, but shared with ABC2)
  • 8 May – One (replacing One HD)

Premieres

Domestic series
Main article: List of Australian television series premieres in 2011

International series
Main article: List of international television series premieres on Australian television in 2011

Telemovies
Domestic telemovie premieres on Australian television in 2012
Telemovie Original airdate(s) Network Ref
Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer was Here 7 February Nine Network [17]
Underbelly Files: Infiltration 14 February Nine Network [17]
Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away 21 February Nine Network [17]
Blood Brothers 8 May Nine Network [18]

Miniseries
Domestic
Program Channel Debut date Reference/s
Cloudstreet Cloudstreet Showcase 22 May [19][20]
International
Program Channel Debut date Reference/s
Collision Collision ABC1 7 January [21]
Murderland Murderland ABC1 28 January [22]
Kennedys, The The Kennedys ABC1 22 May [23]

Documentaries
Domestic
Program Channel Debut date Reference/s
Living the End Living the End SBS One 25 January [24]
Irish in Australia, The The Irish in Australia The History Channel 17 March [25]
Secret History of Eurovision, The The Secret History of Eurovision SBS One 6 and 13 May [26]
International
Program Channel Debut date Reference/s
Despicable Me TV Show Despicable Me TV Show Seven Network 19 February [27]
Madagascar Madagascar Nine Network 4 May [28]
Madagascar Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice Nine Network 9 and 16 June [29]
Shadow of the Moon, The The Shadow of the Moon SBS One TBA [30]
Teenage Paparazzo Teenage Paparazzo ABC2 23 October [31]

Programming changes

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 Previous network Date
Neighbours Neighbours Eleven Network Ten 11 January
Animation Fixation Animation Fixation Eleven Network Ten 12 January
The Chaser's War on Everything The Chaser's War on Everything 7mate ABC1 28 August

International
Program New network Previous network Date
Diagnosis Murder Diagnosis: Murder Eleven Nine Network 11 January
JAG JAG Eleven Network Ten 11 January
MacGyver MacGyver Eleven Network Ten 11 January
Cheers Cheers Eleven Nine Network 11 January
Roseanne Roseanne Eleven Seven Network 11 January
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Eleven Network Ten 11 January
Happy Days Happy Days Eleven Nine Network 11 January
Mork and Mindy Mork and Mindy Eleven Nine Network 11 January
The Brady Bunch The Brady Bunch Eleven Nine Network 11 January
Family Ties Family Ties Eleven Nine Network 11 January
Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Eleven Network Ten 11 January
The Simpsons The Simpsons Eleven Network Ten 11 January
Futurama Futurama Eleven Network Ten 11 January
The Office The Office Eleven Network Ten 11 January
Nurse Jackie Nurse Jackie Eleven Network Ten 11 January
Californication Californication Eleven Network Ten 11 January
The Love Boat The Love Boat Eleven Nine Network 12 January
Touched by an Angel Touched by an Angel Eleven Nine Network 12 January
7th Heaven 7th Heaven Eleven Network Ten 12 January
The Cleveland Show The Cleveland Show Eleven Network Ten 12 January
King of the Hill King of the Hill Eleven 7TWO 12 January
Stargate Universe Stargate Universe Eleven Network Ten 13 January
90210 90210 Eleven Network Ten 14 January
So You Think You Can Dance So You Think You Can Dance Eleven Network Ten 14 January
Get Smart Get Smart Axed after 3 episodes Eleven GO! 15 January
Hogan's Heroes Hogan's Heroes Axed after 2 episodes Eleven GO! 15 January
Smallville Smallville Eleven Network Ten 16 January
Angel Angel Eleven Network Ten 16 January
Supernatural Supernatural Eleven Network Ten 17 January
Dexter Dexter Eleven Network Ten 17 January
Star Trek: The Next Generation Star Trek: The Next Generation Eleven GO! 20 January
The Golden Girls The Golden Girls GEM Seven Network 3 February
MegaStructures MegaStructures 7mate Ten HD (now defunct) 3 February
Malcolm in the Middle Malcolm in the Middle Eleven Network Ten 4 February
Sex and the City Sex and the City Eleven Network Ten 4 February
Frasier Frasier Eleven GO! 5 February
The Nanny The Nanny GO! (second run) GEM 28 March
Spin City Spin City GO! Nine Network 2 May
24 24 One Seven Network 11 July
The King of Queens The King of Queens Eleven GO! 17 July
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Buffy the Vampire Slayer Eleven Network Ten 13 August
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! / I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! GO! Nine Network 23 November
Mad About You Mad About You 7Two Network Ten 28 November
Who's The Boss? Who's The Boss? 7Two Nine Network 28 November
Step By Step Step By Step 7Two Nine Network 4 December
Get Smart Get Smart One Eleven 19 December
Hogan's Heroes Hogan's Heroes One Eleven 19 December
M*A*S*H M*A*S*H One Seven Network 19 December

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.

Program Free-to-air network Subscription network Date Reference/s
The Gadget Show The Gadget Show Network Ten LifeStyle 15 January [32]
Jersey Shore Jersey Shore 7mate MTV 11 May [33]
Sons of Anarchy Sons of Anarchy One Showcase 11 May [34]
Penguins of Madagascar, The The Penguins of Madagascar Network Ten Nickelodeon 13 May [35]
Power Rangers Samurai Power Rangers Samurai GO! Nickelodeon 17 July
Teen Mom Teen Mom GO! MTV 2 October
Jeopardy! Jeopardy! One W 24 October
Britain's Next Top Model Britain's Next Top Model Eleven Fox8 31 October
Beyblade: Medal Masters Beyblade: Medal Masters Network Ten Cartoon Network 8 November
The Glades The Glades Network Ten W 28 November
Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge Network Ten Cartoon Network 14 December

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.

Program Subscription network Free-to-air network Date Reference/s
Cleveland Show, The The Cleveland Show Fox8 Network Ten / Eleven 13 March
Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors Cartoon Network Network Ten 10 September
In the Night Garden In the Night Garden... CBeebies ABC4 Kids November
Merlin Merlin UKTV Network Ten 26 December
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! KidsCo Nine Network / ABC Kids Channel (now defunct) December

Ended this year
Program End date Network Debut date Reference/s
Puzzle Play 28 January Network Ten 21 December 2006
Ben Elton Live From Planet Earth Ben Elton Live From Planet Earth 22 February Nine Network 8 February 2011 [36]
The 7.30 Report 4 March ABC1 28 January 1986
Stateline 4 March ABC1 16 February 1996
City Homicide 30 March Seven Network 27 August 2007 [37][38]
Conviction Kitchen 12 April Seven Network 22 February 2011 [38]
The New Adventures of Winnie The Pooh 29 May Playhouse Disney 20 January 1990 (On Seven Network)
East West 101 1 June SBS One 6 December 2007 [39][40]
Between the Lines Between the Lines 2 June[note 1] Nine Network 12 May 2011 [41][42]
In Their Footsteps 10 July Nine Network 8 May 2011
Angry Boys 27 July ABC1 11 May 2011
Video Hits Video Hits 6 August Network Ten 15 February 1987 [43][44]
Rescue: Special Ops 5 September Nine Network 2 August 2009 [45][46]
Top Design Australia 7 September Nine Network 13 July 2011 [38][47]
Top Gear Australia Top Gear Australia 13 September Nine Network 29 September 2008 (on SBS) [48][49]
Collectors 23 September ABC1 24 March 2005
Sports Tonight Sports Tonight 30 September Network Ten / One 30 August 1993 [50]
Ten Late News Ten Late News 30 September Network Ten 21 January 1991 [50]
Spit It Out 3 October Seven Network 4 October 2010
6.30 with George Negus 6.30 with George Negus (previously 6pm With George Negus) 28 October Network Ten 24 January 2011 [51]
Wild Boys 20 November Seven Network 4 September 2011 [52][53]
Spicks and Specks Spicks and Specks 23 November ABC1 9 February 2005 [54]
Kerri-Anne Kerri-Anne (previously Mornings With Kerri-Anne) 25 November Nine Network 28 October 2002 [55]
RPM 16 November One 22 March (second run) [56][57]
Hi-5 16 December Nine Network 12 April 1999

Returning this year
Program New Network Previous network Debut date End date Return date Reference/s
Good Chef Bad Chef Network Ten Seven Network 2006 2007 3 January
This Is Your Life Same Nine Network 1995 2008 28 February
RPM One Network Ten 1997 2008 22 March
It's a Knockout Same Network Ten April 1985 September 1987 27 November
gollark: Such as, I don't know, venting the mantle to the surface.
gollark: That would ruin the climate first, ecosystem second, and only if you did horrendous amounts of it.
gollark: Given the Death Star, I'd say crazy power source.
gollark: Either they use vector control plus some crazy power source, or just somehow have cheap vector control.
gollark: Just tape a laser pointer to it, they only use a few watts or something.

See also

Notes
  1. Originally, the fourth episode of Between the Lines was due to be the final episode broadcast on 2 June 2011;[41][42] the Nine Network then decided to air the sole remaining episode produced the following week on 9 June 2011,[42] however, they reversed this decision screening the first part of Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice.[29] The final episode is therefore yet to air.

References
  1. Knox, David (11 January 2011). "ELEVEN is on the air". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  2. Knox, David (10 January 2011). "Week 3". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  3. Chessell, James (13 January 2011). "Conroy agrees to extra air time for Australian Open". The Australian. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  4. Knox, David (19 January 2011). "TEN takes time for News". TV Tonight. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  5. Seven snatches Wimbledon tennis coverage | Herald Sun
  6. Knox, David (28 April 2011). "Not amused. Chaser's Royal Wedding commentary cancelled". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  7. Witham, Jennifer (28 April 2011). "AFL seals broadcast deal". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  8. "AFL secures TV rights deal for next five years worth $1.253 billion". 28 April 2011. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  9. Knox, David (28 April 2011). "NONE to relaunch with entertainment in May". TV Tonight. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  10. Feeney, Katherine (27 June 2011). "Heather Foord's final sign-off". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  11. "Channel 9 sacks three, news director resigns over 'Choppergate' scandal". News.com.au. 26 August 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  12. Nine News Sydney takes ratings crown from Seven, Media Spy, 22 October 2011
  13. "40 weeks makes a clean sweep for Seven". TV Tonight. 27 November 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  14. Knox, David (8 January 2011). "Vale: Geoff Raymond". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  15. "Australian acting legend Bill Hunter dies from cancer at 71". The Australian. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  16. "Web: Obituary: James Elliot".
  17. Knox, David (28 January 2011). "Airdate: Underbelly Files: Lucifer / Infiltration / Man Who Got Away". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  18. Knox, David (28 April 2011). "Airdate: Blood Brothers". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  19. Knox, David (14 December 2010). "Foxtel: 2011 slate". TV Tonight. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  20. Knox, David (17 March 2011). "Airdate: Cloudstreet". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  21. Knox, David (3 January 2011). "Airdate: Collision". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  22. Knox, David (16 January 2011). "Airdate: Murderland". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  23. Knox, David (29 April 2011). "Airdate: The Kennedys". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  24. Knox, David (21 January 2011). "Airdate: Living the End". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  25. Knox, David (23 February 2011). "Airdate: The Irish in Australia". TV Tonight. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  26. Knox, David. "Airdate: The Secret History of Eurovision". TV Tonight. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  27. Knox, David. "Airdate: Despicable Me". TV Morning. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  28. Knox, David. "Airdate: Madagascar". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  29. Knox, David (7 June 2011). "Airdate: Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice". TV Tonight. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  30. Knox, David (28 January 2011). "SBS handpicks from across the globe". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  31. Knox, David (19 October 2011). "Airdate: Teenage Paparazzo". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  32. Knox, David (January 2011). "Week 3". TV Tonight. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  33. Knox, David (28 April 2011). "Airdate: Jersey Shore". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  34. Knox, David (14 January 2011). "Sons of Anarchy coming (later) to ELEVEN". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  35. Knox, David (3 May 2011). "Airdate: Penguins Of Madagascar". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  36. Knox, David (23 February 2011). "Axed: Ben Elton Live from Planet Earth". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  37. Knox, David (30 March 2011). "City Homicide... it's a crime". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  38. Knox, David (30 December 2011). "Axed in 2011". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  39. Knox, David (31 March 2011). "The end for East West 101". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  40. Knox, David (28 May 2011). "Gallery: Farewell to East West 101". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  41. Knox, David (27 May 2011). "Axed: Between the Lines". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  42. Vickery, Colin (3 June 2011). "Final episode of Eddie McGuire's Between The Lines to be aired". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  43. Vickery, Colin (5 July 2011). "Channel 10 stars face chop in major restructure". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  44. "Fuzzy shrugs off Video Hits axing". Herald Sun. 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  45. Knox, David (31 July 2011). "Axed: Rescue Special Ops won't be renewed". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  46. Knox, David (5 September 2011). "Farewell: Rescue Special Ops". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  47. Knox, David (8 September 2011). "Top Design picks its winner, but..." TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  48. "Top Gear Australia axed". 14 September 2011. Archived from the original on 24 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  49. "Top Gear Australia hits the skids". Adelaide Now. 15 September 2011.
  50. Sandra Sully replaces Deborah Knight and joins Bill Woods in Ten news revamp at 5pm, late news cancelled, The Daily Telegraph, 21 September 2011
  51. Devlyn, Darren (19 October 2011). "Ten dumps 6.30pm with George Negus, 7PM Project expanded to an hour". Herald Sun. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  52. Knox, David (8 November 2011). "Seven not renewing Wild Boys". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  53. Byrnes, Holly (8 November 2011). "Wild Boys won't return to Channel Seven in 2012". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  54. Knox, David (25 May 2011). "Spicks and Specks to end in November". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  55. Knox, David (25 November 2011). "Kerri-Anne: "I sincerely believe I will see you in the future, Thankyou..."". TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  56. "Network Ten axes RPM program". SpeedCafe. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  57. Knox, David (17 February 2012). "Axed: RPM". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
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