2006 in Australian television

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Events

• 1 January – Mildura Digital Television, a joint venture between WIN Television Mildura and Prime Television, goes on air in the Mildura area of Victoria as a Network Ten digital-only affiliate.
• 2 January – The Seven, Foxtel and Ten Networks outbid Channel Nine and are awarded the rights to broadcast the AFL from 2007 to 2011 for a record $780 million. Also around this time, Seven announce that they have won the rights to broadcast the V8 Supercars from 2007 to 2014.
• 30 January – Channel Nine launches a new logo and a major revamp, dropping the famous dots and replacing it with a stand-alone nine in a blue box.
• 9 February – The Nine Network announces Eddie McGuire in his new role as the network's new CEO.
• 20 February – Television Sydney formally launches after three months of testing, giving Sydney community television for the first time in almost two years.
• 1 April – The final season of Blue Heelers goes to air now on Saturday Nights, pitting it against ABC's The Bill and Network Ten's AFL coverage.
• 3 April – After weeks of poor ratings Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? airs for the final time on Monday Nights. It returns for a short period following an 18-month break due to McGuire's role as CEO for the Nine Network.
• 9 May – Then Sunrise weather presenter and future Family Feud host Grant Denyer and his partner Amanda Garner win the fourth season of Dancing with the Stars .
• 21 May – Brant Webb and Todd Russell speak to new A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw about their time underground in Beaconsfield in a 2-hour special called The Great Escape. They are paid a reported $2.6 million by Channel Nine for the right to talk to them.
• 4 June – After 12 years and a record-breaking 510 episodes, the last episode of the Seven Network show Blue Heelers goes to air.
• 30 June – Australian soap opera Neighbours Broadcasts its 5000th episode, which sees Paul Robinson trapped in a mineshaft by his son Robert.
• 7 July – Children's fantasy drama series H₂O: Just Add Water starring Claire Holt, Phoebe Tonkin and Cariba Heine premieres on Network Ten.
• 9 July – BBC Nature Documentary series Planet Earth narrated by David Attenborough premieres on the ABC.
• 18 July – Australian kids program Play School celebrates 40 years on air.
• 31 July – Jamie Brooksby wins the sixth season of Big Brother.
• 29 August – Model Jake Wall and his professional skating partner Maria Filippov win the first season of Torvill and Dean's Dancing on Ice .
• 14 September – Today Tonight host Naomi Robson is deported from Indonesia after doing a story on a West Papuan boy called Wa Wa who, supposedly, was going to be eaten by cannibals. This sparks a war of words between Seven and Nine, who ran the original story on Wa Wa in May on 60 Minutes . Naomi presents her final edition of Today Tonight on 1 December.
• 16 September – Television in Australia turns 50. The next day, this is commemorated with a live TV special from Star City, Sydney on the Seven Network.
• 29 September Backyard Blitz finishes its 6-year run on the Nine Network. Jamie Durie leaves Nine and signs up with the Seven Network, the next year, he dances his way on Dancing with the Stars .
• 30 September – The Fox Footy Channel ceases broadcasting then later revived as Fox Footy in 2012. It is replaced by Fox Sports 3 and Fox Sports News on 1 October.
• 18 October – PBL announces the sale of 50% of the Nine Network, including its 50% stake in ninemsn and ACP to CVC Asia Pacific for $4.5 billion.
• 26 November – Irishman Damien Leith defeats 17-year-old Jessica Mauboy to be based only on Sony BMG after being crowned the title of Australian Idol 2006 at the Sydney Opera House.
• 28 November – AFL player Anthony Koutoufides (Kouta) and his partner Natalie Lowe win the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars .
• 10 December – Network Ten and Fox Sports broadcasts V8 Supercars for the final-ever time, before handing the television rights to the Seven Network from 2007 to 2014. Ten and Fox Sports later revived the V8 Supercars coverage 9 years later.
• Voiceover artist Robbie McGregor leaves SBS after 17 years. He is replaced the next year by Lani John Tupu.

Ratings

Main article: List of Australian television ratings for 2006

New channels

• 1 October – Fox Sports 3
• 1 October – Fox Sports News
• 15 November – Al Jazeera English ^[1]
• 1 December – Sci Fi Channel ^[2]

Premieres

Free-to-air television

Program	Channel	Debut date
RAN – Remote Area Nurse	SBS TV	5 January
9am with David and Kim	Network Ten	30 January
The Biggest Loser [3]	Network Ten	13 February
Bert's Family Feud	Nine Network	13 February
Bondi Rescue	Network Ten	15 February
The Chaser's War on Everything [4]	ABC TV	17 February
Head 2 Head [5]	ABC TV	18 February
Clever	Nine Network	19 February
Magda's Funny Bits	Nine Network	21 February
Where Are They Now?	Seven Network	26 February
Thank God You're Here	Network Ten	5 April
Hello/Goodbye	Nine Network	11 May
It Takes Two	Seven Network	28 May
What's Good For You	Nine Network	29 May
The Wedge	Network Ten	30 May
Can We Help?	ABC TV	9 June
Wine Me, Dine Me [6]	Nine Network	21 June
Mortified	Nine Network	30 June
H2O: Just Add Water	Network Ten	7 July
Torvill and Dean's Dancing on Ice	Nine Network	11 July
Honey, We're Killing the Kids	Network Ten	12 July
Quizmania	Nine Network	25 July
jtv	ABC TV	29 July
First Tuesday Book Club	ABC TV	1 August
Cybershack [7]	Network Ten	1 August
Yasmin's Getting Married	Network Ten	1 August
You May Be Right Axed after four episodes	Seven Network	13 August
Two Twisted	Nine Network	14 August
The Master Axed after one episode but returned later in the year	Seven Network	16 August
David Tench Tonight [8]	Network Ten	17 August
The Force: Behind the Line	Seven Network	22 August
Real Stories	Network Ten	22 August
Police Files: Unlocked	Seven Network	6 September
Good Game [7]	ABC2	19 September
What a Year	Nine Network	2 October
The Real Seachange	Seven Network	8 October
Operatunity Oz [9]	ABC TV	8 October
Big Questions	Nine Network	19 October
Tripping Over [10]	Network Ten	25 October
Do It	Nine Network	5 November
Speaking in Tongues	SBS TV	7 November
Food Safari	SBS TV	6 December
Puzzle Play	Network Ten	21 December

Subscription television

Program	Channel	Debut date
Crown Australian Celebrity Poker Challenge [11]	FOX8	5 January
An Aussie Goes Barmy [12]	FOX8	29 November

New international programming

Program	Channel	Debut date
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace	SBS TV	30 January
Prison Break	Seven Network	1 February
Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi	Nine Network	5 February
One Piece (4Kids version)	Network Ten	13 February
Mew Mew Power	Network Ten	13 February
Doc Martin [13]	ABC TV	18 February
Roobarb and Custard Too	ABC TV	20 February
The Gnoufs	ABC TV	20 February
The Buzz on Maggie	Seven Network	25 February
/ Pinky Dinky Doo	ABC TV	27 February
A Town Called Panic	ABC TV	28 February
The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers (TV series)	ABC TV	2 March
/ Edgar and Ellen	ABC TV	2 March
/ Zombie Hotel	ABC TV	2 March
/ Skyland	ABC TV	2 March
New Captain Scarlet	ABC2	6 March
Lunar Jim	ABC TV	14 March
Samurai Champloo	SBS TV	23 March
Bratz	Network Ten	31 March
Worst Week of My Life, The The Worst Week of My Life [14]	ABC TV	5 April
Help! I'm a Teenage Outlaw	ABC TV	11 April
Class of the Titans	ABC TV	18 April
Animal Jam	ABC TV	25 April
/ Gerald McBoing-Boing	ABC TV	1 May
ATOM	Seven Network	20 May
Dr. Dog	ABC TV	23 May
/ Jane and the Dragon	ABC TV	25 May
/ Bernard	ABC TV	25 May
All Grown Up!	Network Ten	13 June
The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss	ABC2	15 June
The New Adventures of Old Christine	Nine Network	6 July
My Life as a Teenage Robot	Network Ten	7 July
Planet Earth	ABC TV	9 July
Bleak House [15]	ABC TV	9 July
City of Men	SBS TV	17 July
The Emperor's New School	Seven Network	22 July
Dora the Explorer	Nine Network	23 July
/ Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs	ABC TV	31 July
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX	Network Ten	15 August
Avatar: The Last Airbender	ABC TV	24 August
Naughty, Naughty Pets	ABC TV	29 August
Monkey Dust	ABC2	29 August
Princess Natasha	ABC TV	29 August
/ Miss BG	ABC TV	5 September
Stuart Little: The Animated Series	Network Ten	9 September
Sensitive Skin Sensitive Skin [16] [17]	ABC TV	15 September
Jericho	Network Ten	21 September
The Batman	Nine Network	23 September
IT Crowd, The The IT Crowd [18]	ABC TV	27 September
The Secret Show	ABC TV	5 October
Time Warp Trio	ABC TV	6 October
Biker Mice from Mars (2006)	Network Ten	13 October
/ Staines Down Drains	Seven Network	22 October
Curious George	ABC TV	23 October
The Unit	Seven Network	25 October
Those Scurvy Rascals	ABC TV	30 October
Code Lyoko	Network Ten	1 November
Dougie in Disguise	ABC2	12 November
/ PollyWorld	Seven Network	12 November
Little Princess	ABC TV	13 November
Louie	ABC TV	22 November
Russian Dolls: Sex Trade	SBS TV	2 December
Wild at Heart [19]	Network Ten	3 December
SCU: Serious Crash Unit	Seven Network	5 December
Life As We Know It	Seven Network	5 December
Top Gear	SBS TV	12 December
/ Erky Perky	Seven Network	26 December

Subscription television

Program	Channel	Debut date
Entourage [20]	Arena	1 January
Hannah Montana [21]	Disney Channel	21 April
Surreal Life, The The Surreal Life (Beginning with season 3, seasons 1 [22] and 2 aired later) [23]	VH1	June
Kept [24]	VH1	June
Emmerdale [25]	UKTV	2 July
Strange Love [26]	VH1	5 September
Supergroup [27]	VH1	6 September
So NoTORIous [28]	VH1	2 October
House of Carters [29]	E!	4 November
Celebrity Fit Club Celebrity Fit Club [30] [31]	VH1	2 December

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.

Program	New network	Previous network	Date
Mopatop's Shop	ABC2	ABC Kids (now defunct)	3 April
Fourways Farm	ABC2	ABC Kids (now defunct)	5 April
Fireman Sam (Original series)	ABC2	ABC Kids (now defunct)	11 April
/ / Anthony Ant	ABC2	ABC Kids (now defunct)	4 June
Teletubbies	ABC2	ABC Kids (now defunct)	3 July
/ Yakkity Yak	ABC TV	Network Ten	13 September
/ Sonic X	Seven Network	Network Ten	18 November

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.

International

Program	Subscription network	Free-to-air network	Date
Lost [32]	Fox8	Seven Network	27 November

Television shows

1960s

• Four Corners (1961–present)

1980s

• Wheel of Fortune (1981–1996, 1996–2003, 2004 –2006)
• Neighbours (1985–present)
• Home and Away (1988–present)
• The Movie Show (1986–2008)
• Rage (1987–present)

1990s

• Hotline (1990–2007)
• Australia's Funniest Home Videos (1990–present)

2000s

2001

• Big Brother (2001–2008, 2012–2014)

2002

2003

• Australian Idol (2003–2009)
• Deal or No Deal (2003–2013)

2004

• Border Security: Australia's Front Line (2004–present)
• Dancing with the Stars (2004–present)

2005

• Medical Emergency (2005–present)

Ending this year

Date	Show	Channel	Debut
21 January	headLand	Seven Network	15 November 2005
23 January	Speaking in Tongues	SBS TV	7 November 2005
4 June	Blue Heelers	Seven Network	18 January 1994
28 July	Wheel of Fortune	Seven Network	21 July 1981
27 August	Business Sunday	Nine Network	2 March 1986
4 September	You May Be Right	Seven Network	13 August 2006
21 October 2006	Midnight Zoo	Seven Network	31 July 2006
29 October 2006	Operatunity Oz	ABC TV	8 October 2006
18 November 2006	So Fresh TV	Nine Network	6 September 2003
26 November	Sportsworld	Seven Network	1987
29 November	The Glass House	ABC TV	10 August 2001
9 December	Head 2 Head	ABC TV	18 February 2006
20 December	In the Box	Network Ten	21 December 1998
27 December 2006	An Aussie Goes Barmy	FOX8	29 November 2006

See also

• 2006 in Australia
• List of Australian films of 2006

References

1. "TransACT welcomes all-new Al Jazeera English to TransTV" (Press release). TransACT. 21 November 2006. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
2. Clarke, Alice (7 December 2006). "Beam me on and veg out, Scotty". The Age . Melbourne. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
3. Biggest Loser is Ten's Biggest Winner Archived 23 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine , eNews, 14 February 2006.
4. "The Chaser pushes boundaries". The Age. Melbourne. 10 February 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
5. Connolly, Paul (26 February 2006). "The ABC of cheap". The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
6. "Wine Me, Dine Me" (Press release). Nine Network. 16 June 2006. Archived from the original on 11 June 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
7. Hearn, Louisa (24 July 2006). "Turn on and tune in, TV tests the taste for tech". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 16 April 2008.
8. "Ten's animated host a world first". The Sydney Morning Herald . 14 August 2006. Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
9. Morgan, Clare (7 October 2006). "Adrift on the high Cs". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 24 April 2008.
10. Oliver, Robin (25 October 2006). "Review of 'Tripping Over'". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 7 January 2008.
11. "Highlights (Entertainment)". Foxtel. Archived from the original on 15 January 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
12. Idato, Michael (29 November 2006). "Review: An Aussie Goes Barmy". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 29 December 2008.
13. Doc Martin – ABC TV Guide
14. The Worst Week Of My Life – ABC TV Guide
15. Bleak House – ABC TV Guide
16. Dubecki, Larissa (14 September 2006). "Sensitive Skin". The Age . Melbourne. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
17. "Sensitive Skin". ABC Television. 15 September 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
18. The IT Crowd – ABC TV Guide
19. Dunn, Emily (3 December 2006). "Review of Wild at Heart". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 26 December 2009.
20. Enker, Debi (15 December 2005). "Networking". The Age . Melbourne. p. 19. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
21. "Hannah Montana". Herald Sun . Melbourne. 9 April 2006. p. X06.
22. "VH1's Celebreality". MTV Networks Australia. Archived from the original on 17 September 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
23. Murphy, Kerrie (25 October 2007). "TELEVISION GUIDE – THURSDAY JUNE 29". The Australian . Sydney.
24. "VH1's Celebreality". MTV Networks Australia. Archived from the original on 17 September 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
25. "Symons: Marilyn Fisher was easy, cracking the UK wasn't". Australian Associated Press. 22 June 2006.
26. "This is a Strange Love". MTV Networks Australia. Archived from the original on 17 September 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
27. "5 Rockstars. 12 Days. No Excuses". MTV Networks Australia. Archived from the original on 17 September 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
28. "Tori Spelling's new reality show". MTV Networks Australia. Archived from the original on 17 September 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
29. "E!online". Archived from the original on 1 November 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
30. "VH1's Celebreality Summer". MTV Networks Australia. Archived from the original on 29 July 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
31. "Celebrity Fit Club". MTV Networks Australia. Archived from the original on 29 July 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
32. Idato, Michael (27 November 2006). "Pay TV". The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 34. Retrieved 7 January 2010.