# 2008 in Australian television

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The year 2008 in Australian television was the 53rd year of continuous operation.

## Events

* 14 January – The Nine Network undergoes a major revamp in its production and logo and on-air graphics as a part of a new network re-launch, and after a two-year absence, returns the famous "Nine Balls" logo, except instead of balls, they use discs. It will see an overhaul of news and current affairs graphics (news graphics revised, not current affairs) and studios sets (also didn't happen) and a general on-air look.
* 1 February – Former The Great Outdoors host Shelley Craft quits Channel Seven and moves to Channel Nine to join the team of Domestic Blitz and take over from Toni Pearen as host of Australia's Funniest Home Videos.
* 7 February – Veteran television king Ray Martin quits the Nine Network after 30 years with the network.
* 8 February – ABC TV is rebranded ABC1, which is visible on on-air graphics from 12:00 pm.
* 8 February – Long running Australian soap opera Neighbours airs on the BBC in the UK for the very last time after being shown for 22 years. It will switch over to air on Five on 11 February.
* 12 February – The Supreme Court of Victoria places an injunction on the broadcast and exhibition of the Nine Network's drama series Underbelly in Victoria, following concerns that the series, which depicts Melbourne's gangland wars, could prejudice an ongoing murder trial.
* 14 March – A Current Affair broadcasts its 5000th episode and celebrates its 20th anniversary.
* 30 March – Today introduces a three-and-a-half-hour format, starting at 5.30 am and finishing at 9 am.
* 3 April – Kate Ritchie (Sally Fletcher), one of the original 1988 cast members of Home and Away, leaves the series after twenty years.
* 7 April – The Nine Network makes the first episodes of the new series Canal Road available for download over the Internet, ahead of its television broadcast on 16 April.
* 27 April – Jack Chambers wins the first season of So You Think You Can Dance Australia.
* 4 May – Kate Ritchie wins the Gold Logie Award for the Most Popular Personality on Australian Television for the second consecutive year at the 2008 Logie Awards.
* 7 May – SBS TV launches a revamped version of its logo, as well as a new slogan: "Six Billion Stories and counting".
* 27 May – Nine Network revived the series Wheel of Fortune under a new title of Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune and its production company Sony Pictures Television (the same company used in the US flagship counterpart, and offers a top prize of AU$1,000,000. The series shortly cancelled after five weeks of air on 27 June due to low ratings, while the same format would later be adopted in the US version three months later, with the first top prize win occurred October 14, 2008.
* 2 June – The Seven Network apologises after airing an episode of the hospital drama All Saints in which it is suggested that a child born of an incestuous relationship is likely to result in the child having Down's syndrome.
* 1 July – 16-year-old guitarist Smokin' Joe Robinson wins the second season of Australia's Got Talent.
* 18 July – Hi-5 celebrated its 400th episode.
* 21 July – The final episode of Network Ten's baddie reality show Big Brother Australia airs. The eighth and final season was won by 52-year-old grandmother Terri Munro.
* 25 July – The final episode of the Nine Network's late-night news program Nightline airs after 16 years of broadcast.
* 26 July – Peter Cundall's last appearance on Gardening Australia before retiring from Australian Landscapes. It goes to air on ABC1.
* 3 August – The final episode of the Nine Network's flagship news and current affairs program Sunday airs. Sunday was axed by the network after 27 years of broadcast.
* 26 August - Australian dramedy series Packed to the Rafters premieres on Seven Network, which broadcasts every Tuesday at 8:30 pm.
* 28 August – Australia's Naughtiest Home Videos, a revival of the spin-off to Australia's Funniest Home Videos, rebadged on the Nine Network. It last time played on the network is when the late CEO, Kerry Packer banned the spin-off for life 16 years ago.
* 10 October – Today Tonight draws with a final goodbye with Anna Coren in the hot-seat before heading to CNN in Hong Kong. Matt White replaced by Coren the following Monday.
* 20 October – National Nine News changes its name to Nine News when it launches a new-look – losing viewers to Seven News.
* 9 November – McLeod's Daughters actor Luke Jacobz and his partner Luda Kroiter win the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars.
* 23 November – The sixth season of Australian Idol was won by Wes Carr.
* 1 December – The Seven Network wins the ratings year for the second consecutive year, and its third overall, with a record ratings share of 28.7%. The two other commercial networks, the Nine Network (27.2%) and Network Ten (21.0%), came in second and third place respectively. The two public broadcasters, ABC1 and SBS TV, managed a ratings share of 17.5% and 5.6% respectively.
* 5 December – Heather Foord presents her final weeknight bulletin on Nine News Queensland. Her final appearance wraps up a year of poor ratings for the once-leading bulletin, which lost all 40 weeks of ratings to the rival Seven News Brisbane in 2008.

## Celebrity deaths

| Name | Age | Date of death | Broadcast description |
| Grybas, Clinton Clinton Grybas | 32 | 5 January 2008 | AFL and sports commentator and presenter |
| Harvey, Sandra Sandra Harvey | 49 | 21 January 2008 | Four Corners producer |
| Ledger, Heath Heath Ledger | 28 | 22 January 2008 | Australian-born international actor (Sweat, Roar) |
| Harwood, Andrew Andrew Harwood | 62 | 6 February 2008 | Host (It's Academic, Good Morning Sydney, Til Ten) |
| Andrews, Steve Steve Andrews | 38 | 10 March 2008 | QTQ9 voice over announcer |
| Jacobs, Jessica Jessica Jacobs | 17 | 10 May 2008 | Actress (The Saddle Club, Fergus McPhail, Holly's Heroes) |
| Lindsay, Reg Reg Lindsay, AM | 79 | 5 August 2008 | Australian singer and Host, (The Reg Lindsay Country Hour, Country Homestead) |
| Allen, Christie Christie Allen | 53 | 12 August 2008 | Australian singer and performer Countdown performer |
| Priestley, Mark Mark Priestley | 32 | 27 August 2008 | Actor (All Saints) |
| Pate, Michael Michael Pate | 88 | 1 September 2008 | Actor (Matlock Police) |
| Heinze, Kevin Kevin Heinze | 80 | 1 September 2008 | Horticulturalist and Host (Sow What) |
| Leonard, Peter Peter Leonard | 66 | 23 September 2008 | Journalist and WIN News Canberra newsreader. |
| Courtis, Brian Brian Courtis | 63 | 29 September 2008 | Melbourne television critic |
| Guest, Rob Rob Guest | 57 | 2 October 2008 | Host and theatre performer (Man O Man, Special Missing Pieces) |
| Kereama, Levi Levi Kereama | 27 | 4 October 2008 | Australian Idol 2003 contestant |
| Pryor, Dennis Dennis Pryor | 83 | 30 November 2008 | Melbourne television critic |
| Marsland, Richard Richard Marsland | 32 | 6 December 2008 | Writer (Rove, The Glass House, Newstopia) |

### New channels

* 7 January – Sky News Business Channel
* 17 March – Nine HD
* 28 April – Channel Ten Darwin
* 22 June – BBC HD
* 22 June – Discovery HD
* 22 June – National Geographic Channel HD
* 22 June – Fox Sports HD
* 22 June – ESPN HD
* 1 November – CBeebies
* 1 November – BBC Knowledge
* 1 November – 111 Hits

## Premieres
### Domestic series
### Telemovies
#### Domestic telemovies

| Program | Network | Debut date |
| Emerald Falls | Network Ten | 23 March 2008 |
| Valentine's Day | ABC1 | 6 July 2008 |
| Scorched | Nine Network | 31 August 2008 |
| Prime Minister is Missing, The The Prime Minister is Missing | ABC1 | 23 October 2008 |
| Menzies and Churchill at War | ABC1 | 30 October 2008 |
| Infamous Victory: Ben Chifley's Battle for Coal | ABC1 | 30 October 2008 |
| Informant, The The Informant | Network Ten | 14 November 2008 |
| Very Barry Christmas, A A Very Barry Christmas | ABC1 | 25 December 2008 |

#### International telemovies

| Telemovie title | Network | Debut date |
| Ben 10: Race Against Time / Ben 10: Race Against Time | Cartoon Network | 20 September 2008 |
| Camp Rock Camp Rock | Disney Channel | 26 September 2008 |
| Knight Rider Knight Rider | Seven Network | 27 September 2008 |
| Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death | ABC1 | 2 December 2008 |
| 24: Redemption 24: Redemption | Seven Network | 5 December 2008 |
| Rather You Than Me Rather You Than Me | UK.TV | 27 December 2008 |
| Curse of Steptoe, The The Curse of Steptoe | UK.TV | 28 December 2008 |

### Miniseries
#### International miniseries

| Miniseries | Network | Airdate(s) |
| Line of Beauty, The The Line of Beauty | ABC TV | 13, 20 and 27 January 2008 |
| Andromeda Strain, The The Andromeda Strain | Showcase | 20 and 27 April 2008 |
| Sense and Sensibility | UK.TV | 3, 10 and 17 July |
| Talk to Me | UK.TV | 15, 22 and 29 July , 5 August |
| Victoria's Empire | UK.TV | 18 and 25 August 1 September |
| Cranford | UK.TV | 21 and 28 August 4, 11 and 18 September |
| Tin Man Tin Man | Seven Network | 26 and 27 December 2008 |

### Documentary specials
#### Domestic documentary specials

| Program | Network | Debut date |
| Jihad Sheilas | ABC TV | 5 February 2008 |
| The Spirit of Australian Sport: Australian Football | The History Channel | June 2008 |
| Miracle on Everest | ABC1 | 15 July 2008 |
| Walk Like a Man | SBS TV | 22 July 2008 |
| The Spirit of Australian Sport: Swimming | The History Channel | 30 July 2008 |
| Roller Derby Dolls | ABC1 | 9 September 2008 |
| The Spirit of Australian Sport: Rugby League | The History Channel | 17 September 2008 |
| Beyond Kokoda: War Without Mercy | The History Channel | 25 September 2008 |
| The Fibros and the Silvertails | ABC1 | 9 October 2008 |
| No Way, Get F*#ked, F*#k Off! | SBS TV | 11 October 2008 |
| How Kevin Bacon Cured Cancer | ABC1 | 28 October 2008 |
| The Intervention (about the NT National Emergency Response) | ABC1 | 30 October 2008 |
| The Spirit of Australian Sport: Horse Racing | The History Channel | 3 November 2008 |
| Searching 4 Sandeep | ABC1 | 13 November 2008 |
| Humpbacks: From Fire to Ice | ABC1 | 16 November 2008 |
| The Howard Years | ABC1 | 17 November 2008 |
| Hairtales | ABC1 | 20 November 2008 |
| The Making of My Favourite Australian | ABC1 | 10 December 2008 |

#### International documentary specials

| Telemovie title | Network | Debut date |
| How To Commit The Perfect murder | SBS TV | 24 February 2008 |
| The Story of Bohemian Rhapsody | Ovation | 3 March 2008 |
| Is TV Bad for My Kids | The LifeStyle Channel | 9 March |
| William & Catherine: A Royal Romance | Nine Network | 17 March 2008 |
| Once Upon a Time: Walt Disney | SBS TV | 23 March 2008 |
| China's Sexual Revolution | SBS TV | 25 March 2008 |
| Life After People | The History Channel | 19 May 2008 |
| Calling All Aliens | SBS TV | 22 and 29 June 2008 |
| J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life | Seven Network | 13 July 2008 |
| Jamie Oliver's Eat to Save Your Life | Network Ten | 16 July 2008 |
| Jamie Oliver's Fowl Dinners | Network Ten | 23 July 2008 |
| How To Beat Your Kid's Asthma | The LifeStyle Channel | 25 July 2008 |
| Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert | Disney Channel | 26 July 2008 |
| / Stranded: The Andes Plane Crash Survivors | SBS TV | 3 August 2008 |
| Chelsea Flow Show 2008 | The LifeStyle Channel | 31 August |
| Crufts 2008 | The LifeStyle Channel | 7 September |
| As Seen on TV: The K-Tel Story | SBS TV | 10 October 2008 |
| Mister President | SBS TV | 31 October 2008 |
| Election Day | SBS TV | 4 November 2008 |
| The War Briefing | SBS TV | 4 November 2008 |
| Michael Jackson: What Really Happened | ABC2 | 5 November 2008 |
| The Mystery of the Mary Celeste: Revealed | ABC1 | 13 November 2008 |
| Britney: For the Record | Network Ten | 2 December 2008 |
| Empire State Building Murders | SBS TV | 21 December 2008 |
| The Germanic Tribes | SBS TV | 21 December 2008 |
| Princes in the Tower | ABC1 | 28 December 2008 |
| 638 Ways to Kill Castro | ABC1 | 29 December 2008 |
| Expedition Bhutan | ABC1 | Unknown |

### Specials
## Sports broadcasting rights

* A-League – Association football
    Further information: A-League § TV Coverage
    The A-League broadcasting rights were held exclusively by subscription television network Fox Sports for the 2008–09 season. Fox Sports broadcast every match of the season live-to-air, and also screened a weekly "highlights" program.
* Australian Football League (AFL) – Australian rules football
    Further information: Australian Football League § Television
    The Australian Football League (AFL) broadcasting rights were jointly held by two free-to-air networks, Seven Network and Network Ten, and one subscription television network, Fox Sports, for the 2008 AFL season. Generally the eight matches per round were divided as such: Fox Sports aired four games all live-to-air (a Saturday afternoon match, a Saturday night match, a Sunday afternoon match and the Sunday twilight match), the Seven Network aired two matches delayed (the Friday night match and a Sunday afternoon match), and Network Ten aired two matches, one live-to-air and one delayed, which consisted of a Saturday afternoon and a Saturday night match respectively. The broadcast of matches may vary between networks, and broadcast times may change depending on the area of broadcast. The 2008 AFL Grand Final was broadcast live-to-air by the Seven Network, whilst Network Ten broadcast the 2008 Brownlow Medal and the 2008 NAB Cup Grand Final.
* Olympic Games
    Further information: List of 2008 Summer Olympics broadcasters
    The primary broadcaster of the 2008 Summer Olympics was the Seven Network, whilst complementary coverage was provided by SBS TV.
* Paralympic Games
    Further information: 2008 Summer Paralympics § Coverage
    The 2008 Summer Paralympics was broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) via ABC1 and ABC2.
| Sport | Network/s | Games per Week | Breakup of Games | Notes |
| Euro 2008 (Association Football) | Setanta Sports Australia Special Broadcasting Service | - | Setanta Sports Australia – 27 Games Live Replays/Highlights of all games Special Broadcasting Service: 8 Games Live, Including The Opening Game 6 Other Group Matches The Final Highlights of all Matches. | |
| NBL (Basketball) | Fox Sports Channel Nine | 8 | Fox Sports: 1–2 Games LIVE Channel Nine: Weekly Highlights of 1 game each week | |
| NRL (Rugby league) | Channel Nine Fox Sports – Pay-TV | 8 | Channel Nine – 3 Games Friday Night AEST 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm LIVE Friday Night AEST 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm Delayed 2 hours Sunday Afternoon AEST 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Delayed 1 hour Fox Sports: 5 Games Saturday Afternoon AEST 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm LIVE Saturday Night AEST 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm LIVE Saturday Night AEST 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm Delayed 2 hours Sunday Afternoon AEST 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm LIVE Monday Night AEST 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm LIVE Also replays of matches broadcast on Channel Nine. | Channel Nine broadcast the 2008 NRL Grand Final and 2008 State of Origin series live. |
| Other Football (Association Football) | Fox Sports ESPN Australia Setanta Sports Australia SBS | 4 | Fox Sports: All Socceroos Matches Asian World Cup Qualifiers English Premier League (8–10 Matches Live per Week) Asian Champions League Coca-Cola Championship English League Cup Setanta Sports Australia Scottish Premier League English Conference French Ligue 1 Portuguese Liga German Bundesliga Italian Serie A English FA Cup UEFA Cup Copa Libertadores Copa Sudamericana World Cup Qualifiers from Europe/South America ESPN Australia Spanish La Liga Italian Serie A UEFA Champions League UEFA Cup MLS Special Broadcasting Service UEFA Champions League UEFA Cup FA Cup |