# 1997 in Australian television

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]]

## Events

* 6 January – Rob Elliott takes over as host of Wheel of Fortune, after the failed attempt last year with long-time Sale of the Century quizmaster Tony Barber as host. The program starts 1997 without Adriana Xenides, as she takes long-term leave due to ill health. She would return to the puzzleboard in July. Her place is filled by ex-Perfect Match hostess Kerrie Friend. After a notable absence throughout 1996 due in part to hosting Family Feud for the last remainder of the year, John Deeks returns to the booth as announcer – the position had been held by David Day in Adelaide, and Ron E Sparks in Sydney.
* 3 February – Australian drama serial Heartbreak High switches over to air on ABC at 6:00 pm from Monday to Thursdays.
* 9 February – The 1993 film The Pelican Brief starring Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington premieres on the Nine Network.
* 31 March – A brand new Australian game show called Burgo's Catch Phrase hosted by former Wheel of Fortune presenter John Burgess starts screening on Nine Network.
* 13 June – Australian children's television series Bananas in Pyjamas appears for the first time in Singapore on Channel 5.
* 26 June – British sitcom Mr. Bean starring Rowan Atkinson as the titular character switches over to the Seven Network a year after finishing up on the ABC.
* 29 June – The 1993 film In the Line of Fire starring Clint Eastwood and John Malkovich premieres on the Nine Network.
* 1 July – Prime Television comes to Mildura, ending a monopoly on commercial television held by STV-8 since 1965.
* 8 July – Ownership of Australia Television International moves from ABC to Seven Network.
* 8 July – American animated series Hey Arnold! makes its debut on ABC.
* 11 July – American-Canadian children's animated series Arthur debuts on ABC. The series is still broadcast on ABC Kids as of 2022.
* 4 August – Judge Judy makes it debut on Network Ten.
* 1 September – Cult Sitcom The Adventures of Lano and Woodley starring comedians Colin Lane and Frank Woodley premieres on the ABC.
* September – Jo Beth Taylor resigns as host of Australia's Funniest Home Video Show as part of the show's biggest hosts in history – she is replaced by Getaway reporter, Catriona Rowntree, and then axed.
* 22 September – A reboot of the classic Australian 1980s sitcom Kingswood Country called Bullpitt! once again starring Ross Higgins as Ted Bullpitt airs on Seven Network.
* 11 October – In Neighbours, Helen Daniels dies in her sleep at a family get together. The last ever of the original 1985 cast members Anne Haddy departs the series, she died two years later after a long illness.
* 12 October – American sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond debuts on the Seven Network.
* 1 November – TCN-9 stages the first trial of digital television in the Southern Hemisphere.
* 16 November – The 1994 Film Forrest Gump starring Tom Hanks premieres on the Nine Network.
* 23 November – American animated comedy series King of the Hill screens on the Seven Network at 7:30 pm.
* 3 December – American supernatural fiction, fantasy, action, horror series Buffy the Vampire Slayer debuts on the Seven Network.
* 20 December – American animated comedy series South Park airs on SBS. It also became the network's highest rating series to date.
* December – Prime Television acquires the rights to Canal 9 in Argentina.
* The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales is broadcast live on the ABC and all commercial free-to-air television channels.
* The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is televised for the first time on commercial television.

### Channels
#### New channels

* 1 June – Ovation Channel
* 1 July – Odyssey Channel
* 1 September – The LifeStyle Channel
* 7 September – Movie Extra

#### Rebranded channels

* 20 March – MTV Australia (was ARC Music Channel)
* 18 April – Channel V Australia (was Red)
* 7 September – Movie One (was The Movie Network)

## Debuts
### Domestic

| Program | Channel | Debut date |
| Bay City | Seven Network | 4 January |
| The Eric Bana Show Live | Seven Network | 30 January |
| Fallen Angels | ABC | 7 February |
| Challenger | Nine Network | 10 February |
| Simone de Beauvoir's Babies | ABC | 16 February |
| Big Sky | Network Ten | 17 February |
| Good Medicine | Nine Network | 19 February |
| RPM | Network Ten | 30 March |
| Good Guys, Bad Guys | Nine Network | 30 March |
| Burgo's Catch Phrase | Nine Network | 31 March |
| Plucka's Place | Nine Network | 5 April |
| Smallest Room in the House | ABC | 21 April |
| Kangaroo Palace | Seven Network | 25 May |
| Race Around the World | ABC | 2 June |
| The Wayne Manifesto | ABC | 2 June |
| Plasmo | ABC | 4 June |
| Return to Jupiter | ABC | 8 June |
| A River Somewhere | ABC | 25 June |
| Bush Telegraph | Seven Network | 8 August |
| Murder Call | Nine Network | 11 August |
| Shape, Shape, Shape | ABC | 11 August |
| State Coroner | Network Ten | 14 August |
| The Adventures of Lano and Woodley | ABC | 1 September |
| Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord | Nine Network | 1 September |
| Swinging | ABC | 10 September |
| Bullpitt! | Seven Network | 22 September |
| Kitu and Woofl | ABC | 7 October |
| The Gift | Nine Network | 27 October |
| Ground Zero | Network Ten | 7 November |
| Wildside | ABC | 23 November |
| Harry's Practice | Seven Network | 2 December |
| Children's Hospital | ABC | 14 December |
| Scrooge Koala's Christmas | Seven Network | 20 December |
| The Cartoon Connection | Seven Network | 22 December |

### International

| Program | Channel | Debut date |
| The Soong Sisters | ABC | 2 January |
| The World of Eric Carle | ABC | 3 January |
| Oliver's Travels | ABC | 7 January |
| Anastasia | SBS | 7 January |
| Oakie Doke | ABC | 13 January |
| The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo | Seven Network | 20 January |
| / The Outer Limits (1995) | Seven Network | 23 January |
| // Billy the Cat | ABC | 24 January |
| Unhappily Ever After | Seven Network | 27 January |
| The Burning Zone | Network Ten | 29 January |
| The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest | Seven Network | 30 January |
| Billy Connolly's World Tour of Australia | Seven Network | 30 January |
| Fantomcat | Network Ten | 30 January |
| The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper | Network Ten | 30 January |
| Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Seven Network | 2 February |
| Amazing Grace | Seven Network | 3 February |
| A Mug's Game | ABC | 3 February |
| Beethoven | Network Ten | 4 February |
| Dark Skies | Nine Network | 6 February |
| The Pretender | Nine Network | 6 February |
| / Goosebumps | Network Ten | 8 February |
| The Adventures of Sinbad | Network Ten | 8 February |
| Mighty Ducks | Seven Network | 10 February |
| Night Stand with Dick Dietrick | Network Ten | 10 February |
| Lightning Force | Network Ten | 10 February |
| Touched by an Angel | Nine Network | 16 February |
| Something So Right | Network Ten | 19 February |
| Seahouse | ABC | 21 February |
| Beavis and Butt-Head | Network Ten | 4 March |
| / Li'l Elvis and the Truckstoppers | ABC | 6 March |
| Peak Practice | Network Ten | 8 March |
| The 5 Mrs. Buchanans | Seven Network | 10 March |
| The Fragile Heart | ABC | 16 March |
| Common as Muck | ABC | 21 March |
| Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys | Network Ten | 21 March |
| Sunset Beach | Network Ten | 7 April |
| Brooklyn Bridge | Nine Network | 7 April |
| McKenna | Nine Network | 12 April |
| The Tenant of Wildfell Hall | ABC | 13 April |
| Agent Z and the Penguin from Mars | ABC | 13 April |
| Millennium | Seven Network | 14 April |
| Alien Empire | ABC | 16 April |
| The Fast Show | SBS TV | 19 April |
| The Newsroom | SBS TV | 19 April |
| The Demon Headmaster | ABC | 27 April |
| Moesha | Network Ten | 4 May |
| Jake's Progress | ABC | 4 May |
| The Adventures of Hyperman | Network Ten | 15 May |
| Next of Kin | ABC | 19 May |
| / Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years | Nine Network | 31 May |
| / Magic Mountain | ABC | 3 June |
| Hetty Wainthropp Investigates | ABC | 7 June |
| The Story of Bean | Seven Network | 19 June |
| / The Magic School Bus | Network Ten | 21 June |
| Shine on Harvey Moon (1995) | ABC | 25 June |
| The Sculptress | ABC | 29 June |
| Dog Tracer | ABC | 29 June |
| The Tomorrow People (1992) | ABC | 1 July |
| / Dragon Flyz | Network Ten | 1 July |
| Profiler | Seven Network | 2 July |
| Misery Loves Company | Seven Network | 4 July |
| Suddenly Susan | Nine Network | 7 July |
| Dennis and Gnasher (1996) | Network Ten | 7 July |
| Hey Arnold! | ABC | 8 July |
| / Arthur | ABC | 11 July |
| Pearl | Nine Network | 15 July |
| Spin City | Nine Network | 15 July |
| Dalziel and Pascoe | ABC | 18 July |
| Madson | ABC | 18 July |
| NewsRadio | Network Ten | 24 July |
| / Beast Wars: Transformers | Seven Network | 24 July |
| Melissa | ABC | 27 July |
| Rude Dog and the Dweebs | Network Ten | 29 July |
| Red Planet | Network Ten | 1 August |
| Out of Control | Seven Network | 1 August |
| Perfect Scoundrels | Network Ten | 4 August |
| Judge Judy | Network Ten | 4 August |
| McKenna | Nine Network | 4 August |
| Little Lord Fauntleroy (1995) | ABC | 10 August |
| / The Neverending Story | ABC | 13 August |
| The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat | ABC | 13 August |
| / Eagle Riders | Network Ten | 14 August |
| Oh, Doctor Beeching! | Seven Network | 19 August |
| Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic | Network Ten | 20 August |
| Moloney | Network Ten | 21 August |
| The Invaders | Network Ten | 1 September |
| / Testament: The Bible in Animation | ABC | 14 September |
| Pacific Palisades | Network Ten | 16 September |
| Once Upon a Time | ABC | 22 September |
| Early Edition | Nine Network | 27 September |
| / The Living Edens | ABC | 28 September |
| F/X: The Series | Seven Network | 29 September |
| The Beast | Network Ten | 3 October |
| / Mirror, Mirror II | Network Ten | 11 October |
| Everybody Loves Raymond | Seven Network | 12 October |
| Little Bear | ABC | 16 October |
| The Lakes | ABC | 19 October |
| Pilgrim's Rest | ABC | 20 October |
| Two Fat Ladies | ABC | 23 October |
| Full Circle with Michael Palin | ABC | 26 October |
| Under the Hammer | ABC | 30 October |
| Topless Women Talk About Their Lives | SBS | 15 November |
| This Life | Seven Network | 18 November |
| King of the Hill | Seven Network | 23 November |
| The Missing Postman | ABC | 27 November |
| Clueless | Seven Network | 30 November |
| The Pursuit of Happiness | Seven Network | 1 December |
| The Home Court | Seven Network | 1 December |
| The Crew | Seven Network | 1 December |
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Seven Network | 3 December |
| / Stargate SG-1 | Seven Network | 3 December |
| Can't Hurry Love | Nine Network | 3 December |
| / Roar | Network Ten | 3 December |
| Antonio Carluccio's Italian Feast | ABC | 4 December |
| The Big Easy | Seven Network | 5 December |
| L.A. Heat | Seven Network | 8 December |
| The Willows in Winter | Nine Network | 13 December |
| Bailey Kipper's P.O.V. | Network Ten | 14 December |
| Under One Roof | SBS | 14 December |
| Arabian Agenda | SBS | 14 December |
| Charlotte and Charlotte | SBS | 14 December |
| Meena | ABC | 14 December |
| Small Stories | ABC | 15 December |
| O Christmas Tree | Seven Network | 19 December |
| America in the Fifties | SBS | 20 December |
| South Park | SBS | 20 December |
| Robin | SBS | 20 December |
| / A Christmassy Ted | Nine Network | 23 December |
| The Buddha of Suburbia | ABC | 26 December |
| The Client | Nine Network | 28 December |
| Crocodile Shoes II | Nine Network | 28 December |
| Profit | Seven Network | 30 December |
| / Masked Rider | Seven Network | 1997 |
| Quack Pack | Seven Network | 1997 |
| / Ace Ventura: Pet Detective | Nine Network | 1997 |
| Power Rangers Zeo | Seven Network | 1997 |
| Space Strikers | Seven Network | 1997 |
| Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers | Seven Network | 1997 |
| The Adventures of Mickey and Donald | Seven Network | 1997 |
| Flash Gordon (1996) | Seven Network | 1997 |
| Superman: The Animated Series | Nine Network | 1997 |

## Subscription television
### Domestic

| Program | Channel | Debut date |
| Let's Wiggle | Disney Channel | June |

### International

| Program | Channel | Debut date |
| The Real World | MTV | April |
| The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss | Nickelodeon | May |
| Recess | Disney Channel | 5 December |
| Blue's Clues | Nickelodeon | 1997 |
| Brand Spanking New Doug | Disney Channel | 1997 |
| Johnny Bravo | Cartoon Network | 1997 |
| Cow and Chicken | Cartoon Network | 1997 |
| The Moxy Show | Cartoon Network | 1997 |
| / Blazing Dragons | Nickelodeon | 1997 |
| The Story Store | Nickelodeon | 1997 |
| Bug Alert | Nickelodeon | 1997 |

### 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 |
| The Curiosity Show | Nickelodeon | Nine Network | January |

#### International

| Program | Subscription network | Free-to-air network | Date |
| Victoria Wood as Seen on TV | UKTV | ABC | 8 June |
| F/X: The Series | Fox8 | Seven Network | 20 November |
| VR.5 | Fox8 | Seven Network | 22 November |
| Dexter's Laboratory | Cartoon Network | Seven Network | 1997 |
| / Orson and Olivia | Nickelodeon | ABC | 1997 |

### Changes to network affiliation

This is a list of programs which made their premiere on an Australian television network that had 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 having premiered 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 |
| Heartbreak High | ABC | Network Ten | 3 February |
| Hey Dad..! (repeats) | Seven Network | Network Ten | January |
| Prisoner (repeats) | Seven Network | Network Ten | January |

#### International

| Program | New network(s) | Previous network(s) | Date |
| // M.A.S.K. | Network Ten | Nine Network | 4 February |
| Full House | Nine Network | Seven Network | 10 February |
| Ricki Lake | Seven Network | Network Ten | 17 February |
| An Audience with Billy Connolly | Seven Network | ABC | 20 March |
| / Dennis the Menace (1986) | Network Ten | ABC | 28 April |
| // Inspector Gadget | Network Ten | ABC | 9 June |
| Mr. Bean | Seven Network | ABC | 26 June |
| Barney & Friends | Network Ten | Nine Network | 18 October |

## Television shows

ABC
* Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959–1999)
* Four Corners (1961–present)
Seven Network
* Wheel of Fortune (1981–1996, 1996–2003, 2004–2008)
* Home and Away (1988–present)
* Blue Heelers (1994–2006)
* The Great Outdoors (1993–present)
* Today Tonight (1995–present)
Nine Network
* Today (1982–present)
* Sale of the Century (1980–2001)
* A Current Affair (1971–1978, 1988–present)
* Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971–1999)
* Midday (1985–1998)
* 60 Minutes (1979–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)
* The Price is Right (1993–1998, 2003–2005, 2012)
Network Ten
* Neighbours (Seven Network 1985, Network Ten 1986–present)
* GMA with Bert Newton (1991–2005)

## Ending / resting this year

| Date | Show | Channel | Debut |
| 19 May 1997 | Frontline | ABC TV | 9 May 1994 |
| 28 May 1997 | Kangaroo Palace | Channel Seven | 25 May 1997 |
| 20 June 1997 | Plasmo | ABC TV | 4 June 1997 |
| 8 July 1997 | The Wayne Manifesto | ABC TV | 2 June 1997 |
| 10 July 1997 | Johnson and Friends | ABC TV | 3 September 1990 |
| 31 August 1997 | Return to Jupiter | ABC TV | 8 June 1997 |
| 15 September 1997 | Full Frontal | Channel Seven | 13 May 1993 |
| 19 September 1997 | S'Cool Sport | ABC TV | 20 April 1996 |
| 27 September 1997 | Club Buggery | ABC TV | 21 April 1995 |
| 29 September 1997 | Swinging | ABC TV | 10 September 1997 |
| 24 October 1997 | Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord | Nine Network | 1 September 1997 |
| 25 October 1997 | Plucka's Place | Nine Network | 5 April 1997 |
| 11 November 1997 | Kitu and Woofl | ABC TV | 7 October 1997 |
| 19 December 1997 | Agro's Cartoon Connection | Channel Seven | 22 January 1990 |
| 19 December 1997 | The Gift | Nine Network | 27 October 1997 |
| 22 December 1997 | Ocean Girl | Network Ten | 29 August 1994 |