2001 in Australian television

List of years in Australian television
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Events

• 1 January – Digital Television arrives in the major state capitals of Australia and states in it, with the ABC and SBS permitted to operate multi-channel services.
• 24 January – The Seven Network loses the TV rights to the AFL for the first time, since televised football began in 1957. The rights are won by a Nine Network-Network Ten-Fox Footy Channel consortium.
• 5 February – The Weakest Link premieres on the Seven Network, airing twice a week, Mondays and Fridays, however, shortly before the commencement of the AFL season, the latter edition is moved forwards to Thursdays in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and then in Sydney and Brisbane after the conclusion of the AFL season.
• 11 February – The Network Ten undergoes a major revamp in its production and circle logo and on air graphics as a part of a new network re-launch, with the launch of its motto Seriously Ten, which are both currently in use to the 2012 revamp.
• 22 February – The voice actors behind the Funimation dubbed version of Dragon Ball Z Sean Schemmel (Goku, Nails and King Kai) and Christopher Sabat (Piccolo, Vegeta and Yamcha) appear on Cheez TV for an interview on Network Ten.
• 26 March – The $10,000 bank target is achieved for the first time on an episode of The Weakest Link.
• 10 April – American mystery fiction television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premieres on the Nine Network and is shown every Tuesday at 8:30 pm.
• 22 April – The Australian version of Big Brother premieres on Network Ten.
• 25 April – Brooke Marshall wins the second season of The Mole, taking home $100,000 in prize money. Michael Laffy is revealed as the Mole, and Hal Pritchard is the runner-up.
• 7 May – Nine players who were voted off The Weakest Link early in previous episodes were given a second chance to win up to $100,000.
• 27 May – Nine previous winners of The Weakest Link appear on the show again for another chance to win up to $100,000. In this episode, the $10,000 bank target is achieved again.
• 2 June – The ABBA Tribute Show goes to air live on the Nine Network.
• 22 June – Hi-5 celebrates its 100th episode.
• 24 June – Australian children's Sunday morning wrapper programme Couch Potato airs its final episode on ABC hosted by Abby Coleman and David Heinrich and finishing up with a rerun of SimsalaGrimm .
• 16 July –
  • Network Ten's Melbourne-based drama series The Secret Life of Us makes its first screening debut.
  • The first season of Big Brother was won by Ben Williams.
  • Australian soap opera Home and Away has switched over to air on Channel 5 in the UK after ITV lost the rights to the series.
• 31 July – Australian miniseries Blue Murder finally screens in NSW and the ACT for the very first time on the ABC six years after its broadcast in other states and territories due to the life sentence of Neddy Smith.
• 1 August – The ABC launches its very first digital multi-channel service ABC Kids. The channel airs programmes aimed at children and runs from 6:00am to 6:00pm.
• 7 August – The final episode of Water Rats goes to air on the Nine Network and the show was axed after six years.
• 8 August –
  • Australian rural drama series McLeod's Daughters , based on the 1996 telemovie of the same name, premieres on Nine Network, which broadcasts every Wednesday at 7:30 pm.
  • Long running Australian soap opera Neighbours begins airing on television stations in Ireland for the very first time on RTÉ.
• 11 September – Television networks relay coverage from CNN, NBC, ABC America and the BBC for up to 48 hours in the wake of 11 September attacks. Ten News made the record books as the first Australian Television News Service to ever cover the Coverage on its Late News bulletin with Sandra Sully.
• 29 September – The Seven Network televises its final game of AFL until March 2007.
• November – After Prime Television axes Regional television news bulletins in Newcastle, Wollongong and Canberra, and Southern Cross Broadcasting axes regional bulletins in Canberra and North Queensland, the ABA holds an inquiry into the adequacy of regional news services. Bulletins eventually return to those areas in 2004, albeit in the form of two-minute updates during weekdays in the ratings season.
• 1 November – The ABC launches another digital multi-channel service called Fly TV. Airing from 6:00pm to 6:00am, the channel broadcasts music videos, reviews, comedy, drama, news programming, sport programmes, cartoons and current affairs for teenagers and young adults.
• 25 November – The 1999 Film Notting Hill starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts premieres on the Seven Network.
• 29 November – After 21 years, Sale of the Century is "rested". It later returns to the Nine Network as Temptation in 2005 and runs until 2007, and again 2008 until 2009. Also another Nine Network game show Burgo's Catch Phrase has given the axe after 4 years.
• 12 December – The American comedy-drama series Gilmore Girls premieres on the Nine Network.
• December – The Nine Network will introduce a watermark on its programs. Until now, the Channel Nine watermark will now be broadcast on all news (until 2008 for the major revamp of its news bulletins, but reinstated in late 2009), current affairs and Live programs.
• December – A record $72,900 is won on The Weakest Link's special titled The Best of the Best.

Debuts

Free-to-air

Domestic

Program	Channel	Debut date
Love Is a Four Letter Word	ABC	30 January
The Big Arvo	Seven Network	1 February
The Weakest Link	Seven Network	5 February
Greed	Network Ten	11 February
Sit Down, Shut Up	Network Ten	16 February
Flat Chat	Nine Network	19 February
Cash Bonanza	Nine Network	3 March
Head Start	ABC	4 March
Littlemore	ABC	5 March
Big Brother	Network Ten	23 April
Horace and Tina	Network Ten	4 May
Wild Kat	Network Ten	2 June
Outriders	Nine Network	9 July
Insiders	ABC	15 July
Cybergirl	Network Ten	21 July
Big Brother: Adults Only	Network Ten	23 July
All Aussie Adventures	Network Ten	5 August
McLeod's Daughters	Nine Network	8 August
Catalyst	ABC	9 August
The Glass House	ABC	10 August
Always Greener	Seven Network	9 September
Bush Mechanics	ABC	11 September
Escape of the Artful Dodger	Nine Network	17 September
Corridors of Power	ABC	8 October
Kids, Drugs and Growing Up	Nine Network	9 October
Changi	ABC	14 October
The Chaser election specials	ABC	23 October
Effie: Just Quietly	SBS TV	6 November
The Shapies	Nine Network	1 December
Tracey McBean	ABC	31 December
Fishing Australia	WIN Television	2001
The Great South East	Seven Network (Queensland)	2001
Hook, Line and Sinker	Southern Cross Tasmania	2001
The World Game	SBS TV	2001

International

Program	Channel	Debut date
Cupid	Network Ten	3 January
State of the Planet	ABC TV	10 January
Four Fathers	ABC TV	12 January
Dad	ABC TV	15 January
Savage Dragon	Network Ten	24 January
Passions	Seven Network	29 January
The Chimp Channel	Nine Network	29 January
The Hughleys	Seven Network	29 January
The Big Knights	ABC TV	30 January
The Wacky World of Tex Avery	Seven Network	3 February
Payne	Network Ten	5 February
Hero to Zero	ABC TV	12 February
Malcolm in the Middle	Nine Network	13 February
Shadow Raiders	ABC TV	13 February
Big Kids	ABC TV	14 February
Junior	Seven Network	17 February
Bette	Network Ten	17 February
/ / The Baskervilles	ABC TV	26 February
Bloodlines: Murder in the Family	Seven Network	26 February
Angela Anaconda	ABC TV	27 February
Our Hero	ABC TV	2 March
Kiss Me Kate	ABC TV	9 March
Angelmouse	ABC TV	12 March
The Division	Nine Network	13 March
Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue	Seven Network	24 March
Takács Quartet	SBS TV	24 March
Life Force	ABC TV	26 March
Love in a Cold Climate	ABC TV	1 April
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command	Seven Network	7 April
Spider-Man Unlimited	Network Ten	9 April
Plonsters	ABC TV	9 April
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	Nine Network	10 April
Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke	Nine Network	15 April
Sabrina: The Animated Series	Seven Network	28 April
/ The Saddle Club	ABC TV	30 April
The Parkers	Nine Network	4 May
The Sins	ABC TV	4 May
Ed	Network Ten	8 May
Sheep in the Big City	Nine Network	14 May
The Zeta Project	Nine Network	16 May
Pond Life	SBS TV	19 May
Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040	SBS TV	19 May
That's My Bush!	SBS TV	19 May
X-Men: Evolution	Nine Network	25 May
My Family	ABC TV	28 May
Harry and the Wrinklies	ABC TV	30 May
House of Mouse	Seven Network	2 June
/ / / Animated Tales of the World	SBS TV	2 June
Down to Earth	ABC TV	3 June
Arliss	Seven Network	7 June
/ Action Man (2000)	Network Ten	11 June
Night Man	Nine Network	18 June
Burnside	ABC TV	22 June
Border Cafe	ABC TV	30 June
Black Cab	ABC TV	30 June
/ Jackie Chan Adventures	Network Ten	1 July
Cubeez	ABC TV	2 July
My Best Friend is an Alien	ABC TV	2 July
Titch	ABC TV	9 July
/ Aaagh! It's the Mr. Hell Show!	SBS TV	14 July
Dark Angel	Seven Network	26 July
Boston Public	Seven Network	30 July
Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married	Nine Network	30 July
Tom and Vicky	ABC Kids (digital only)	August
PB Bear and Friends	ABC Kids (digital only)	August
/ George Shrinks	ABC Kids (digital only)	August
Horrible Histories (2001 cartoon)	ABC Kids (digital only)	August
Roger and the Rottentrolls	ABC Kids (digital only)	August
Maggie and the Ferocious Beast	ABC Kids (digital only)	1 August
Rosie and Jim	ABC Kids (digital only)	1 August
Cardcaptors	Network Ten	6 August
Preston Pig	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	7 August
/ The Mystery of Black Rose Castle	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	15 August
Stark Raving Mad	Seven Network	20 August
The Lone Gunmen	Seven Network	30 August
Rocket Power	Network Ten	31 August
Sylvanian Families	Network Ten	1 September
The Street	Nine Network	4 September
Courage the Cowardly Dog	Nine Network	5 September
Soldier of Fortune, Inc.	Seven Network	6 September
Mike, Lu and Og	Nine Network	10 September
Ethelbert the Tiger	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	24 September
Beverly Hills Teens	Network Ten	30 September
Sister, Sister	Seven Network	30 September
Butt-Ugly Martians	Network Ten	1 October
Bill and Ben	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	3 October
The Ananda Lewis Show	Nine Network	8 October
/ Sali Mali	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	24 October
Tiny Planets	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	30 October
/ John Callahan's Quads!	SBS TV	12 November
Smart Guy	Seven Network	13 November
The Kids from Room 402	Network Ten	18 November
Beast	ABC TV	19 November
El Nombre	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	19 November
Marion and Geoff	ABC TV	19 November
/ Sitting Ducks	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	19 November
In a Land of Plenty	ABC TV	19 November
What About Joan?	Network Ten	2 December
Eye Spy	Seven Network	3 December
Beware: Bad Drivers	Seven Network	3 December
The Ghost Hunter	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	5 December
Albie	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	6 December
The Fugitive (2000)	Nine Network	6 December
/ Treasure	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	6 December
The Invisible Man (2000)	Network Ten	6 December
/ Custer's Last Stand Up	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	7 December
The Oblongs	Nine Network	8 December
Gilmore Girls	Nine Network	12 December
Human Remains	SBS TV	15 December
/ Further Tales of the City	Nine Network	17 December
Eckhart	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	20 December
Badjelly the Witch	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	25 December
Light Through Ashes	SBS TV	30 December
Oggy and the Cockroaches	ABC Kids (digital only)	2001
Space Goofs	ABC Kids (digital only)	2001
What About Mimi?	Seven Network	2001
Yoho Ahoy	ABC Kids (digital only)	2001
/ / Weird-Oh's	Seven Network	2001
The Zack Files	ABC Kids (digital only)	2001
Top of the Pops	ABC TV	2001

Changes to network affiliation

This is a list of programmes 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
Bananas in Pyjamas	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	1 August
Play School	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	1 August
Johnson and Friends	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
The Ferals	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
The Adventures of Blinky Bill	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Mr. Squiggle and Friends	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Kideo	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001

International

Program	New Network(s)	Previous Network(s)	Date
Bimble's Bucket	NBN Television	Nine Network	9 June
Sesame Street	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	1 August
/ The Magic School Bus	ABC Kids (digital only)	Network Ten	1 August
Johnny Bravo	Nine Network	Seven Network	14 September
Horrible Histories (2001 cartoon)	ABC TV	ABC Kids (digital only)	17 December
Henry's Cat	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Bob the Builder	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Teletubbies	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Bear in the Big Blue House	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Stickin' Around	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Santo Bugito	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
The Forgotten Toys	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
The Animal Shelf	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Oakie Doke	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Franklin	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Fireman Sam	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Hey Arnold!	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
The Wombles (1996)	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Tweenies	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
/ Lil' Elvis Jones and the Truckstoppers	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Rocky and the Dodos	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Noddy's Toyland Adventures	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Sheeep	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
/ / The Baskervilles	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
/ Arthur	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
/ Minty	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
Brambly Hedge	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
The Big Knights	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
CatDog	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001
/ Simsala Grimm	ABC Kids (digital only)	ABC TV	2001

Subscription television

Domestic

Program	Channel	Debut date
Kate & Julia [1]	Arena	8 August
Hooley Dooleys	Fox Kids	2001
Shock Jock	TV1	2001

International

Program	Channel	Debut date
Fat Dog Mendoza	Nickelodeon	2 January
Yvon of the Yukon	Nickelodeon	2 January
Maury Maury [2]	Arena	March
Custer's Last Stand Up / Custer's Last Stand Up [3]	Nickelodeon	16 March
Looney Tunes	Boomerang	3 April
Merrie Melodies	Boomerang	3 April
Tom and Jerry	Boomerang	3 April
As Told by Ginger As Told by Ginger [3] [4]	Nickelodeon	7 April
Toonami	Cartoon Network	7 July
The Oblongs	Oh!	17 July
Being Eve Being Eve [5]	Nickelodeon	24 August
Invader Zim Invader Zim [6]	Nickelodeon	Q3/Q4
Samurai Jack	Cartoon Network	2001
The Tidings	Fox Kids	2001
Cardcaptors	Cartoon Network	2001
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing	Cartoon Network	2001
/ / Rainbow Fish	Disney Channel	2001
Theodore Tugboat	Disney Channel	2001
Super Duper Sumos	Fox Kids	2001
Dinozaurs	Fox Kids	2001
/ / Wunschpunsch	Fox Kids	2001
Generation O!	Nickelodeon	2001
Screech Owls	Fox Kids	2001
/ Kong: The Animated Series	Fox Kids	2001
Dora the Explorer	Nickelodeon	2001
/ Dragon Tales	Fox Kids	2001
/ Braceface	Fox Kids	2001
Adult Swim	Cartoon Network	2001
Home Movies	Cartoon Network	2001
Meeow!	Fox Kids	2001
Ultimate Book of Spells	Fox Kids	2001

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
Eugénie Sandler P.I. [6]	Nickelodeon	ABC TV	3 August
Hi-5	Fox Kids	Nine Network	2001
Escape from Jupiter	Fox Kids	ABC TV	2001

International

Program	Subscription network	Free-to-air network	Date
/ Dumb Bunnies	Nickelodeon	Seven Network	2 January
An Actor's Life For Me [7] [8]	UKTV	ABC TV	10 April
Angel [9]	Fox8	Seven Network [ citation needed ]	24 April
Full Wax [10] [11]	UKTV	ABC TV	1 June
Brittas Empire, The The Brittas Empire [10] [12]	UKTV	ABC TV	6 June
Friends [13]	Oh!	Nine Network	3 July
Drew Carey Show, The The Drew Carey Show [13]	Oh!	Nine Network	July
ER [13]	Oh!	Nine Network	August
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends	Nickelodeon	ABC TV	2001
Insektors	Fox Kids	ABC TV	2001
Budgie the Little Helicopter	Fox Kids	ABC TV	2001
Freaky Stories	Nickelodeon	ABC TV	2001
Oscar and Friends	Nickelodeon	ABC TV	2001
What About Mimi?	Fox Kids	Seven Network	2001
Cubeez	Fox Kids	ABC TV	2001
/ / Weird-Oh's	Fox Kids	Seven Network	2001

Specials

Program	Channel	Debut date
2001 Kids' Choice Awards 2001 Kids' Choice Awards [3]	Nickelodeon	12 May

Television shows

ABC

• Four Corners (1961–present)
• The Fat (2000–2003)

Seven Network

• Wheel of Fortune (1981–1996, 1996–2003, 2004–present)
• Home and Away (1988–present)
• Blue Heelers (1994–2006)
• Today Tonight (1995–present)
• All Saints (1998–present)
• Ground Force (1999–2004)
• AMV (2000–present)

Nine Network

• Today (1982–present)
• Sale of the Century (1980–2001)
• A Current Affair (1971–1978, 1988–2005, 2006–present)
• Australia's Funniest Home Video Show (1990–2000, 2000–2004, 2005–present)
• The AFL Footy Show (1994–present)
• The NRL Footy Show (1994–present)
• Water Rats (1996–2001)
• Burgo's Catch Phrase (1997–2001, 2002–2003)
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (1999–2006, 2007–2010)
• Surprise Surprise (2000–2001)
• Backyard Blitz (2000–2007)

Network Ten

• Neighbours (1985–1989, 1989–present)
• GMA With Bert Newton (1991–2005)
• Rove Live (2000–2006)

Ending / Resting this year

Date	Show	Channel	Debut
5 January	Zirkos Kids	NBN Television	2000
2 March	Open Learning	ABC	1992
1 April	Greed	Channel Ten	11 February 2001
9 April	The Micallef P(r)ogram(me)	ABC	1998
26 April	Quantum	ABC	1985
8 May	Flat Chat	Channel Nine	19 February 2001
24 June	Couch Potato	ABC	1991
24 July	Love Is a Four Letter Word	ABC	30 January 2001
6 August	Water Rats	Channel Nine	1996
16 August	Above the Law	Channel Ten	2000
19 August	Wild Kat	Channel Ten	2 June 2001
25 August	Crash Zone	Channel Seven	1999
21 September	Denise	Channel Seven	1998
29 November	Burgo's Catch Phrase	Channel Nine	1997
29 November	Sale of the Century	Channel Nine	1980
2 December	Head Start	ABC	4 March 2001
10 December	Escape of the Artful Dodger	Channel Nine	17 September 2001
	Consuming Passions	ABC	1992

See also

• 2001 in Australia
• List of Australian films of 2001

References

1. "Funnygirls pairing up". Herald Sun . Melbourne, Australia: News Limited. 8 August 2001. p. H02.
2. Murphy, Kerrie (19 April 2001). "ScreenWatch – Pep talk for kids". The Australian . Sydney, Australia: News Limited. p. M26.
3. Nick Nooze. Nickelodeon (Australia). Autumn. 2001.
4. "What's New On Nick? – April 2001". Nickelodeon (Australia). 2001. Archived from the original on 11 April 2001. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
5. "What's New On Nick? – August 2001". Nickelodeon (Australia). 2001. Archived from the original on 5 August 2001. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
6. Nick Nooze. Nickelodeon (Australia). October. 2001.
7. "UKTV Highlights". UKTV (Australia and New Zealand). 2001. Archived from the original on 28 April 2001. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
8. Hughes, Simon (16 January 1995). "A state of being – gag after gag". The Age . Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 15. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
9. Englund, Vicki (24 April 2001). "TV Reviews". The Courier-Mail . Brisbane, Australia: News Limited. p. 22.
10. "UKTV Highlights". UKTV (Australia and New Zealand). 2001. Archived from the original on 16 June 2001. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
11. Gill, Raymond (31 March 1993). "Ruby is a comic gem". The Age . Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 2. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
12. Stewart, Alison (21 December 1992). "THE BRITTAS EMPIRE". The Sydney Morning Herald . Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 2. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
13. Idato, Michael (17 June 2001). "Briefs". Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 3. Retrieved 27 December 2009. Friends, makes its long overdue cable premiere in Australia on July 3. The cable channel Oh! will also premiere The Drew Carey Show in July and E.R. in August.