Contents

1989 in Australian television

Below is a list of television-related events in 1989.

Events[edit]

• December 1988 / January – Young Talent Time was rested by Network Ten during the Cricket / Australian Open season^{[citation needed]}. One week into January 1989 the network announced that the show would not return. Reasons given for YTT's axing are very bad ratings. It was unable to match its rivals from Seven or Nine.
• January – Nine Network launches two brand new daytime talk shows: In Melbourne Today and In Sydney Today, which later merge to become Ernie and Denise.
• January – Seven Network purchases the Australian television rights to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics for $40 million.
• 13 January – American police drama series Hill Street Blues switches over to broadcast on ABC.
• 25 January – Network Ten debuts a brand new evening drama series: E Street (1989–1993).
• 30 January – Network Ten launches a brand new local morning series called Til Ten (1989–1991) hosted by Andrew Harwood^{[citation needed]} and Joan McInnes.
• 6 February – The Afternoon Show (1987–1993) returns to the ABC for another year with a brand new lineup of two programmes presented by James Valentine. The two programmes include the debut of the British children's animated series Count Duckula and a repeat of the very first episode of Doctor Who to feature Tom Baker, Robot.
• 11 February – Long running Australian soap opera Home and Away starts airing in the UK for the very first time on ITV.
• 13 February – Australian investigative journalism/current affairs program Four Corners (1961–present) returns to the ABC for another year with Andrew Olle as presenter once again.
• 14 February – A brand new Australian sitcom called The Family Business (1989) starring Shane Withington debuts on Network Ten. The series ran for only one season and 13 episodes.
• 14 February – American sitcom Roseanne premieres on Network Ten.
• 28 February – A brand new live comedy series The Big Gig premieres on ABC (1989–1992).
• 28 February – Australian miniseries Edens Lost debuts on ABC at 8:30pm. The series only ran for three episodes and was shown on three days and one week with a budget of only $A3.9 million.
• 6 March – The Adventures of Spot, a British children's animated TV series based on the books by Eric Hill and aimed at pre-schoolers, debuts on the ABC.
• 7 March – Australian drama series G.P. (1989–1996) debuts on the ABC.
• 13 March – Australian version of the children's game show Double Dare (1989–1992) airs on Network Ten.
• 15 March – First episode of the new Australian police drama Police Rescue (1989–1996) airs on the ABC.
• 17 March – Bert Newton hosts the TV Week Logie Awards, telecast on the Seven Network for the first time.
• 20 March – The Bert Newton Show and new soap opera The Power, The Passion launch on the Seven Network, only shown for a few months, but later cancelled after a strong competition win with Midday with Ray Martin.
• 23 March – Long running Australian soap opera Home and Away begins airing on British forces television on BFBS and SSVC Television. The networks have transmitted the show in a range of countries including Germany, Cyprus and the Falkland Islands.
• 31 March – Phase 1 of Aggregation of television services occurs in Southern NSW, with WIN Television becoming a regional Nine Network affiliate, Prime Television becoming the Seven Network affiliate & Capital Television (now Southern Cross Ten) becoming the Network Ten affiliate.
• April – American TV executive Bob Shanks is hired by Network Ten to lift its ailing ratings.
• 12 April – Accident-prone^{[citation needed]} sketch comedy Fast Forward starring Steve Vizard, Marg Downey, Jane Turner, Gina Riley, Magda Szubanski (Kath & Kim) premieres on Seven Network (1989–1992).
• 1 May – Australian children's programme Swap Shop returns to the ABC for a brand new series.
• 6 May – Final episode of the Australian music television series The Factory (1987–1989) is broadcast on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation at 9:00am.
• 8 May – Australian media analysis television program Media Watch (1989–2000, 2002–present) presented by Stuart Littlemore debuts on the ABC airing on Monday nights.
• 8 May – Australian 7 episode sitcom Dearest Enemy starring Grigor Taylor, Frank Wilson and Bruce Spence premieres on ABC.
• 26 May – Neighbours launches a newly revised theme song, with an overload of new cast members who will be "boned" or "suspended" from the soap indefinitely between now and 1994. Between August and November 1989 Neighbours suffered poor ratings with 290,000 national viewers compared to Seven's Home and Away 1,500,000 nationally. The new-look and re-recorded Neighbours theme was again sung by Barry Crocker, which was used until mid-1992.
• 13 June – Australian children's sitcom Pugwall (1989–1991) debuts on the Nine Network.
• 16 June – SBS launches a new television series called Eat Carpet (1989–2005). Hosted by Annette Shun Wah who was also the host of SBS's other television series MC Tee Vee and The Noise
• 3 July – A new nightly version of the former long-running weekly Australian music television show Countdown airs on ABC with a new title Countdown Revolution hosted by Andy McLean, Lisa Collins and Daniel Woods. The show itself received a modest following and was axed the following year.
• 22 July – American animated series ThunderCats airs on Seven Network in Victoria for the first time.
• 23 July – After poor ratings, disgraced^{[citation needed]} network Network Ten is relaunched as 10 TV Australia, introducing a new lineup with increased game show content. Most of the new shows are axed by the end of the year following bad ratings.
• 29 July – Australian game show The Price is Right, again hosted by Ian Turpie, returns to television airing on 10 TV Australia at 7:30pm on Saturdays as part of the network's attempted revamp. Despite the show returning, only 12 episodes were lasted in the face of stiff competition of AFL coverage on most-watched^{[citation needed]} rival Channel Seven.
• 9 August – Greek-Australian sitcom, Acropolis Now premieres on Seven Network in Australia (1989–1992).
• September – Network Ten is sold to Steve Cosser, head of Broadcom Australia, for $22 million.^{[citation needed]}
• 14 September – After very nasty^{[citation needed]} ratings, the final episode of the Australian game show The Price is Right airs on 10 TV Australia.
• 9 October – Neighbours, Australian television's long running soap opera has been snapped up for television broadcasting in Germany when the series begins airing on Sat. 1 with the title beginning translated to Nachbarn.
• 21 October – British science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf premieres on ABC.
• 22 October – The 1985 film Back to the Future starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd premieres on 10 TV Australia.
• November – Jacki MacDonald quits Hey Hey It's Saturday after 11 years. McDonald is replaced by Denise Drysdale when the show returns in 1990.
• 17 November – Australian dating game show Perfect Match airs its final episode on 10 TV Australia. The show was cancelled due to poor ratings, failing to match the success of its 1984 series, which broke records for 5:30pm.
• December – The Seven Network wins the 1989 ratings year with a record of 34.0% share.^{[citation needed]}
• 5 December – Australian soap opera Home and Away begins its very first broadcast in New Zealand on the country's already newly launched channel TV3.
• 16 December – The late Australian rock musician Brad RobinsonofAustralian Crawl fame presents a brand new Australia music program on 10 TV Australia called Spin.
• 31 December – Phase 2 of Aggregation of Television services occurs in Orange & Wagga Wagga, with aggregation occurring in Wollongong and Canberra in March.

Television[edit]

Debuts[edit]

New international programming[edit]

Program	Network	Debut date
Lost Belongings	ABC TV	2 January
Global Rivals	SBS TV	3 January
Intimate Contact	Network Ten	3 January
Talking Animals	ABC TV	4 January
Brown Sugar	SBS TV	4 January
How to Be Celtic	SBS TV	22 January
The Fire-Raiser	ABC TV	30 January
Kids Incorporated	Seven Network	30 January
Fast Times	Network Ten	5 February
The Munsters Today	Network Ten	5 February
Count Duckula	ABC TV	6 February
Home James!	ABC TV	6 February
China Beach	Nine Network	6 February
Wiseguy	Nine Network	7 February
Empty Nest	Seven Network	10 February
Bizarre	Network Ten	13 February
Roseanne	Network Ten	14 February
Mission: Impossible (1988)	Nine Network	16 February
Roby and Boby on the Roads	ABC TV	18 February
Thirtysomething	Network Ten	21 February
Vicky the Viking	ABC TV	23 February
Billionaire Boys Club	Seven Network	27 February
Topsy Turvy	SBS TV	1 March
Floyd on Britain and Ireland	SBS TV	4 March
Concerto Grosso Modo	ABC TV	6 March
The Adventures of Spot	ABC TV	6 March
/// Once Upon a Time... Life	SBS TV	10 March
Henry's Leg	ABC TV	20 March
Storybreak	ABC TV	21 March
It's Garry Shandling's Show	Nine Network	22 March
The Bronx Zoo	Network Ten	29 March
/ Jack the Ripper (1988)	Seven Network	2 April
Of Pure Blood	Nine Network	5 April
Rags to Riches	Network Ten	8 April
War and Remembrance	Network Ten	9 April
Midnight Caller	Seven Network	12 April
Tripper's Day	ABC TV	23 April
Blind Justice	ABC TV	30 April
Aliens in the Family (1987)	ABC TV	2 May
The Thatcher Factor	SBS TV	4 May
White Peak Farm	ABC TV	10 May
Danger Bay	ABC TV	16 May
Mama's Boy	Nine Network	27 May
Pet and Pest	SBS TV	2 June
The Secret World of Polly Flint	ABC TV	5 June
Safari	SBS TV	14 June
The Image in the Mirror	SBS TV	14 June
Xerxes	SBS TV	15 June
Lizzie's Pictures	ABC TV	18 June
Mother Again	SBS TV	20 June
The Other Side of the River	SBS TV	20 June
Dead Head	ABC TV	21 June
Mr. Belvedere	Seven Network	21 June
Codename: Kyril	Seven Network	25 June
Farrington of the F.O.	Seven Network	29 June
Dr. Fad	Network Ten	3 July
Eisenhower and Lutz	Network Ten	7 July
The New Mike Hammer	Nine Network	13 July
/ The World of David the Gnome	ABC TV	14 July
Full House	Seven Network	14 July
Hannay	ABC TV	15 July
Superboy	Nine Network	17 July
The Wonder Years	10 TV Australia	24 July
Quantum Leap	10 TV Australia	24 July
Rising Waters	SBS TV	25 July
Supersense	ABC TV	27 July
Just the Ten of Us	Nine Network	1 August
Teen Wolf	Nine Network	5 August
The Road to War: Great Britain, Italy, Japan, USA	ABC TV	6 August
The Kids in 12C	SBS TV	7 August
The Show with the Mouse	ABC TV	10 August
Superman	Nine Network	12 August
/ My Pet Monster	Seven Network	13 August
Odysseus: The Greatest Hero of Them All	ABC TV	16 August
AlfTales	Seven Network	27 August
/ The Heroes	10 TV Australia	27 August
Diamonds	Seven Network	28 August
Big World Cafe	SBS TV	1 September
Lonesome Dove	Seven Network	4 September
Everything's Relative	10 TV Australia	8 September
London Embassy	ABC TV	10 September
Ramona	ABC TV	11 September
Baby Boom	Seven Network	11 September
Out to Tuesday	SBS TV	12 September
Just for Laughs	ABC TV	14 September
The Maltese	SBS TV	16 September
T. and T.	Seven Network	18 September
The Bell	Seven Network	21 September
My Secret Identity	10 TV Australia	21 September
Hollywood Legends	ABC TV	23 September
C.O.P.S.	Nine Network	23 September
Dennis the Menace (1986)	ABC TV	2 October
The Van Dyke Show	10 TV Australia	5 October
Tickets for the Titanic	SBS TV	8 October
Brotherhood of the Rose	Seven Network	8 October
Around the World in 80 Days	Nine Network	8 October
High Mountain Rangers	10 TV Australia	8 October
Denver, the Last Dinosaur	Nine Network	9 October
Running Scared	ABC TV	12 October
Raising Miranda	10 TV Australia	14 October
The Oldest Rookie	Seven Network	15 October
Red Dwarf	ABC TV	21 October
City Tails	ABC TV	25 October
Windmills of the Gods	Seven Network	29 October
A Very British Coup	Seven Network	9 November
/ The Magistrate	ABC TV	15 November
Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater	Seven Network	19 November
Paradise	Seven Network	19 November
Aaron's Way	ABC TV	19 November
/ The Smoggies	ABC TV	20 November
The Ratties	ABC TV	20 November
Married... with Children	10 TV Australia	20 November
Unsub	Nine Network	21 November
Sonny Spoon	Nine Network	22 November
Miss Marple	Seven Network	22 November
Tattingers	Nine Network	23 November
Dear John (UK)	Seven Network	23 November
Pulaski: The TV Detective	ABC TV	25 November
The Wizard	10 TV Australia	26 November
Chelmsford 123	ABC TV	28 November
TV 101	10 TV Australia	28 November
Buck James	Nine Network	29 November
Private Eye	10 TV Australia	29 November
After Henry	ABC TV	1 December
Andy Capp	Seven Network	4 December
Game, Set and Match	ABC TV	6 December
Vanity Fair (1989)	ABC TV	9 December
Knightwatch	Seven Network	10 December
Dirty Dancing	Seven Network	11 December
Cover Her Face	Nine Network	11 December
Leg Work	10 TV Australia	14 December
Simon and the Witch	ABC TV	18 December
Secrets & Mysteries	Nine Network	18 December
Square One Television	ABC TV	18 December
Death of an Expert Witness	Seven Network	18 December
Billy's Christmas Angels	ABC TV	25 December
Nearly Departed	Seven Network	26 December
Night Heat	Seven Network	26 December

Changes to network affiliation[edit]

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[edit]

International[edit]

Program	New network(s)	Previous network(s)	Date
Hill Street Blues	ABC TV	Nine Network	13 January
Gumby	ABC TV	Seven Network	20 February
Minder	Seven Network	ABC TV	2 May
/ ThunderCats	Seven Network (Victoria)	10 TV Australia (Victoria)	22 July
Miami Vice	10 TV Australia	Nine Network	30 August
The Abbott and Costello Cartoon Show	ABC TV	10 TV Australia	9 October
Floyd on Fish	ABC TV	SBS TV	13 October
Sea Urchins	10 TV Australia	ABC TV	1989

Television shows[edit]

1950s[edit]

• Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959–1999)

1960s[edit]

• Four Corners (1961–present)

1970s[edit]

• Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971–1999)
• 60 Minutes (1979–present)

1980s[edit]

• Sale of the Century (1980–2001)
• Wheel of Fortune (1981–1996, 1996–2003, 2004–08)
• Sunday (1981–2008)
• The Price is Right (1981–1985, 1989, 1993–1998, 2003–2005, 2012)
• Today (1982–present)
• Neighbours (1985–present)
• The Flying Doctors (1986–1993)
• Rage (1987–present)
• Home and Away (1988–present)
• Seven's Super Saturday (1988–1990)
• The Comedy Company (1988–1990)
• Fast Forward (1989–1992)
• The Big Gig (1989–1991)
• G.P. (1989–1996)
• Til Ten (1989–1991)

Ending this year[edit]

Returning this year[edit]

See also[edit]

• 1989 in Australia
• List of Australian films of 1989

References[edit]