# 1996 in Australian television

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

## Events

* Australian television celebrates its 40th birthday with celebrations lasting throughout the year. The actual birthday was on 16 September.
* Jessica Rowe joins Ten News Sydney in January to co-anchor with Ron Wilson for the next nine years.
* 1 January – To celebrate the start of the new year, ABC-TV debuts a series of new idents featuring people doing various activities using inspiration and fun. As they do so, they draw the ABC's famous worm logo. The logo then fades before the video fades to black and the words "it's your abc" appear.
* 5 February – American legal drama series JAG makes its debut on the Seven Network at 7:30 pm.
* 12 February - Midday With Kerri-Anne begins on Nine Network at 12:00 pm. It marks the return of the traditional variety format to the Midday brand, with Kerri-Anne Kennerley taking over from last year's co-hosts Tracy Grimshaw and David Reyne.
* 12 February – More tributes to Hey Hey It's Saturday's talent quest Red Faces continue with The Best and Worst of Red Faces No. 7 on Nine Network at 7:30 pm featuring more classic acts prior to 1995.
* 12 February – Nine Network's new Australian police drama Water Rats debuts at 8:30 pm with a two-hour episode starring Colin Friels, Catherine McClements, Sophie Heathcote and Aaron Jeffery.
* 16 February – A brand new state-based news and currents affairs program titled Stateline premieres on ABC at 6:00 pm and was shown every Friday evening. The show focus on issues concerning different states of Australia.
* 19 February – Australia's favourite koala Blinky Bill returns to the ABC for a brand new series titled Blinky Bill's Extraordinary Excursion at 4:30 pm. The series follows the adventures of Blinky and the gang who were lost while on an excursion and helping other animals in a situation while trying to find their way back to Greenpatch.
* 18 March – 40 Years of Television airs on the Seven Network, hosted by entertainers Garry McDonald and Magda Szubanski.
* 20 March – American sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun debuts on the Seven Network.
* April – Constable Wayne Patterson, portrayed by Grant Bowler, is killed in a car crash on the Blue Heelers episode An Act of Random Violence. Bowler departed the series.
* 3 April – The Ferals return to the ABC with a five-minute sequel series titled Feral TV at 5:25pm. The series also introduces new characters such as Kerry the Cane Toad and Rodney the Cockroach and follows the mischievous animals and their mishaps at a pirate television station.
* 13 May - WIN Television reintroduces its Albury Local News Bulletin nine months after it was axed.
* 16 May – DIC's Sailor Moon premiered on the Seven Network as part of Agro's Cartoon Connection.
* June – Liz Hayes quits the Today Show after 11 years and joins the 60 Minutes team, Tracy Grimshaw replaces Hayes on Today to co-host for the next nine years before leading up to A Current Affair from 2006 onwards.
* 3 June – Australian children's comedy series The Genie from Down Under a co-production between ACTF, the ABC (Australia) and the BBC (UK) begins screening on ABC every Monday at 5:00 pm.
* 17 June – Iconic British 1970s sitcom Fawlty Towers returns to air on the ABC again after being shown on commercial free for air television on Seven Network.
* 12 July – After 12 years John Burgess is sacked as host of Wheel of Fortune. The following Monday, former Sale of the Century quizmaster, Tony Barber returns to TV and begins hosting a failed run which lasts for the remainder of the year. WOF relocates from Adelaide to Sydney during this time. Wheel of Fortune was nearly cancelled at the end of 1996 after dismal ratings, but the show continued its long run instead.
* 18 July – Australian long running children's television series Play School celebrates its 30th birthday with a one-hour special on ABC at 4:00 pm.
* 30 July – British sitcom Father Ted premieres on the Nine Network.
* August – After a stand-off over who would air the show first with Seven owning the rights to the first season and Nine the subsequent seasons, despite Seven not renewing the Warner Bros. output deal, the first season of Friends screens on the Seven Network, almost two years after it premiered in the United States. Season two begins on the Nine Network in December.
* 15 August - In Neighbours, Karl Kennedy's surgery explodes.
* 14 September - Sale Of The Century begins its 40 years of television celebrity challenge special, then at 8.30pm the two hour special 40 Years Of Television — The Reel History goes to air on the Nine Network.
* 18 September - The Nine Network at 8.30pm airs another 40th Anniversary tribute special to Australian Television 40 Years Of Television — Then And Now, presented by Don Lane.
* 19 September – 1.9 million watch Kerri-Anne Kennerley and treasurer Peter Costello dancing the "Macarena" live on the Midday Show.
* 27 September - In Neighbours, Cheryl Stark dies.
* 17 November – The 1993 film Jurassic Park premieres on the Seven Network.
* 22 November - After a short live run in its 1.00pm timeslot, Reruns of Australian classic TV drama favourite Prisoner air for the last time on Network Ten. The following January, the Seven Network picked up the soap, which still airs all 692 episodes of reruns to this present day.
* 1 December – Grant Piro presents the final episode of Couch Potato for 1996 on ABC with reruns of the Australian children's educational TV series Lift Off and the American children's mystery TV series Ghostwriter. This also marks his very last day as presenter of the series since 1991.
* 10 December – Final episode of the Australian drama series G.P. screens on ABC.
* 28 December – American animated series Dexter's Laboratory premieres on the Seven Network. It was also the very first Cartoon Cartoon to air in Australia.
* The original 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon series airs on Australian television for the very last time on the Seven Network. It didn't return to air in Australia until the early 2010s where it was then aired on Network Ten's sister digital network Eleven.

### New channels

* 8 June – Disney Channel
* 14 June – ARC Music TV
* 30 June – The Comedy Channel
* 2 August – Nightmoves

## Debuts
### Domestic

| Program | Channel | Debut date |
| Pacific Drive | Nine Network | 29 January |
| Water Rats | Nine Network | 12 February |
| Who Dares Wins | Seven Network | 14 February |
| Stateline | ABC | 16 February |
| Blinky Bill's Extraordinary Excursion | ABC | 19 February |
| Naked: Stories of Men | ABC | 3 March |
| Time Masters | Seven Network | 1 April |
| Feral TV | ABC | 3 April |
| Good News Week | ABC | 19 April |
| S'Cool Sport | ABC | 20 April |
| Recovery | ABC | 20 April |
| Sweat | Network Ten | 20 April |
| Mercury | ABC | 2 May |
| Australian Story | ABC | 29 May |
| Crocadoo | Nine Network | 31 May |
| Where You Find the Ladybird | Network Ten | 1 July |
| Sun on the Stubble | ABC | 14 July |
| Animal Hospital | Nine Network | 30 July |
| The Silver Brumby | Network Ten | 3 August |
| The Music Shop | Network Ten | 5 August |
| The Adventures of the Bush Patrol | Seven Network | 1 September |
| Medivac | Network Ten | 10 September |
| Twisted Tales | Nine Network | 2 December |
| Bananas in Pyjamas: Singing Time | ABC | 16 December |
| In Pit Lane | C31 Melbourne | 1996 |
| House Gang | SBS | 1996 |

### International

| Program | Channel | Debut date |
| LAPD: Life on the Beat | Network Ten | 5 January |
| Road to Avonlea | Network Ten | 6 January |
| The Mask | Seven Network | 6 January |
| The Wizard of Oz | Network Ten | 6 January |
| / Creepy Crawlers | Network Ten | 12 January |
| Cadfael | Nine Network | 13 January |
| Travels A La Carte | SBS | 13 January |
| Goggle-Eyes | ABC | 17 January |
| The Critic | Network Ten | 18 January |
| Button Nose | Network Ten | 20 January |
| Teenage Health Freak | ABC | 22 January |
| In the Company of Men | ABC | 22 January |
| Central Park West | Nine Network | 23 January |
| King Arthur and the Knights of Justice | Network Ten | 27 January |
| Dumb and Dumber | Seven Network | 3 February |
| Cro | ABC | 4 February |
| The All New Alexei Sayle Show | ABC | 5 February |
| JAG | Seven Network | 5 February |
| The Biz | ABC | 9 February |
| Hudson Street | Network Ten | 11 February |
| / The New Adventures of Speed Racer | Network Ten | 11 February |
| Pirates | ABC | 11 February |
| Spender | Network Ten | 15 February |
| The Baldy Man | Network Ten | 1 March |
| Pride and Prejudice (1995) | ABC | 3 March |
| Phantom 2040 | Seven Network | 9 March |
| / The Hanging Gale | ABC | 14 March |
| Extreme | Network Ten | 16 March |
| Hawkeye | Seven Network | 19 March |
| 3rd Rock from the Sun | Seven Network | 20 March |
| Ned and Stacey | Network Ten | 20 March |
| Mortimer and Arabel | ABC | 5 April |
| Yogi the Easter Bear | Seven Network | 5 April |
| Happy Birthday Bunnykins | Seven Network | 5 April |
| Little Mouse on the Prairie | Network Ten | 6 April |
| Stickin' Around (minisodes) | ABC | 12 April |
| Sliders | Network Ten | 12 April |
| Out of the Blue | Seven Network | 13 April |
| Tales from the Crypt | Seven Network | 13 April |
| The Maxx | SBS | 13 April |
| The Choir | ABC | 14 April |
| Star Trek: Voyager | Nine Network | 16 April |
| American Gothic | Network Ten | 17 April |
| Mrs. Piggle Wiggle | Network Ten | 19 April |
| Bugs | Seven Network | 19 April |
| Street Sharks | Network Ten | 20 April |
| Elidor | ABC | 28 April |
| The New Adventures of Madeline | ABC | 1 May |
| Monty | ABC | 1 May |
| VR.5 | Seven Network | 2 May |
| Flipper (1995) | Network Ten | 4 May |
| The Thin Blue Line | ABC | 6 May |
| Murder One | Seven Network | 13 May |
| Sailor Moon | Seven Network | 16 May |
| Madison | ABC | 17 May |
| Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories | Network Ten | 17 May |
| Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | ABC | 29 May |
| / Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | Network Ten | 1 June |
| / The Genie From Down Under | ABC | 3 June |
| The Single Guy | Network Ten | 6 June |
| TV World: Time Traveller | SBS | 16 June |
| Cracker (USA) | Seven Network | 20 June |
| Kavanagh QC | ABC | 21 June |
| Mysterious Island | Nine Network | 22 June |
| Hamish Macbeth | ABC | 23 June |
| Postman Pat and the Tuba | ABC TV | 25 June |
| // Secret Life of Toys | ABC | 1 July |
| Insektors | ABC | 1 July |
| Fudge | Network Ten | 8 July |
| Winnetka Road | Network Ten | 9 July |
| / Gogs | ABC | 12 July |
| Action Man (1995) | Network Ten | 12 July |
| The Amazing Live Sea Monkeys | ABC | 17 July |
| The Marvel Action Hour | Network Ten | 20 July |
| Just William | ABC | 21 July |
| The Secret World of Alex Mack | ABC | 22 July |
| The Brain: Our Universe Within | SBS | 28 July |
| Cardiac Arrest | ABC | 29 July |
| / Father Ted | Nine Network | 30 July |
| The Langoliers | Network Ten | 31 July |
| The Jeff Foxworthy Show | Network Ten | 3 August |
| My Good Friend | ABC | 3 August |
| Friends | Seven Network | 4 August |
| The Swine | SBS | 5 August |
| Almost Perfect | Seven Network | 5 August |
| Mot | ABC | 5 August |
| The Final Cut | ABC | 16 August |
| Tom Clancy's Op Center | Seven Network | 18 August |
| Kirk | Nine Network | 20 August |
| The Women of Brewster Place | Seven Network | 25 August |
| What-a-Mess (USA) | ABC | 29 August |
| Jim Henson's Animal Show | Seven Network | 31 August |
| JFK: Reckless Youth | Seven Network | 31 August |
| Black Hearts in Battersea | ABC | 1 September |
| / Operavox: The Animated Operas | ABC | 1 September |
| VR Troopers | Network Ten | 2 September |
| Postman Pat and the Barometer | ABC | 12 September |
| Something Wilder | Nine Network | 16 September |
| Double Rush | Seven Network | 25 September |
| Malibu Shores | Network Ten | 29 September |
| Court TV: Inside America's Courts | Nine Network | 30 September |
| Savannah | Network Ten | 8 October |
| William's Wish Wellingtons | ABC | 22 October |
| New York Daze | Nine Network | 30 October |
| Bump in the Night | ABC | 5 November |
| M.A.N.T.I.S. | Network Ten | 20 November |
| Silent Witness | ABC | 22 November |
| Lonesome Dove: The Series | Nine Network | 25 November |
| Taxicab Confessions | Network Ten | 26 November |
| Earthworm Jim | Network Ten | 29 November |
| 7th Heaven | Network Ten | 30 November |
| Nash Bridges | Seven Network | 2 December |
| The Drew Carey Show | Nine Network | 3 December |
| Kindred: The Embraced | Network Ten | 4 December |
| / The Sentinel | Network Ten | 4 December |
| Boston Common | Network Ten | 5 December |
| The Wright Verdicts | Network Ten | 5 December |
| Bramwell | Nine Network | 6 December |
| Pointman | Nine Network | 6 December |
| Muppets Tonight | Seven Network | 6 December |
| Brotherly Love | Seven Network | 6 December |
| / Iznogoud | Seven Network | 7 December |
| The Wind in the Willows (1995) | Nine Network | 7 December |
| / Xena: Warrior Princess | Network Ten | 7 December |
| Caroline in the City | Nine Network | 9 December |
| Earth Star Voyager | Seven Network | 9 December |
| The Great Defender | Seven Network | 16 December |
| Santo Bugito | ABC | 19 December |
| Fire from the Earth | SBS | 20 December |
| Wishbone | Nine Network | 23 December |
| Duckman | Seven Network | 23 December |
| Space Precinct | Seven Network | 23 December |
| Scooby-Doo! in Arabian Nights | Seven Network | 24 December |
| The Forgotten Toys (TV special) | ABC | 25 December |
| Spot's Magical Christmas | ABC | 25 December |
| Thunder in Paradise | Seven Network | 27 December |
| Dexter's Laboratory | Seven Network | 28 December |
| / Ballykissangel | ABC | 31 December |
| The Shnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show | Seven Network | 1996 |
| / Jin Jin and the Panda Patrol | Seven Network | 1996 |
| / The Bots Master | Seven Network | 1996 |
| Freakazoid! | Nine Network | 12 February to 3 June |
| Pinky and the Brain | Nine Network | 1996 |

### 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.

#### Domestic

| Program | New network(s) | Previous network(s) | Date |
| Hey Dad..! | Network Ten | Seven Network | 23 September |

#### International

| Program | New network(s) | Previous network(s) | Date |
| Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Nine Network | Seven Network | 20 February |
| Fawlty Towers | ABC | Seven Network | 17 June |
| Count Duckula | Network Ten | ABC | 22 August |
| Friends | Nine Network | Seven Network | 9 December |
| Danger Mouse | Network Ten | ABC | 1996 |

### 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 Adventures of Blinky Bill | Fox Kids | ABC | 3 June |
| Blinky Bill's Extraordinary Excursion | Fox Kids | ABC | 1996 |
| Fast Forward | The Comedy Channel | Seven Network | 1996 |
| The Big Gig | The Comedy Channel | ABC | 1996 |
| The Comedy Company | The Comedy Channel | Network Ten | 1996 |
| Let the Blood Run Free | The Comedy Channel | Network Ten | 1996 |
| Alvin Purple | The Comedy Channel | ABC | 1996 |
| Fox Kids Klubhouse | Fox Kids | | 1996 |

#### International

| Program | Subscription network | Free-to-air network | Date |
| Droopy Dog | Cartoon Network | Seven Network | 1 January |
| Wisdom of the Gnomes | Nickelodeon | ABC | 5 February |
| See How They Grow | Nickelodeon | ABC | 5 February |
| H.R. Pufnstuf | Nickelodeon | Nine Network Network Ten | March |
| Yogi the Easter Bear | Cartoon Network | Seven Network | April |
| Mother Goose and Grimm | Nickelodeon | | 14 April |
| / Where's Wally? | Nickelodeon | ABC | 20 April |
| / Dr. Zitbag's Transylvania Pet Shop | Nickelodeon | | 5 May |
| Mickey Mouse and Friends | Disney Channel | | June |
| Donald's Quack Attack | Disney Channel | | June |
| The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh | Disney Channel | Seven Network | June |
| / The Muppet Show | Disney Channel | Seven Network Nine Network Network Ten | June |
| Muppet Babies | Disney Channel | Network Ten | June |
| Dumbo's Circus | Disney Channel | | June |
| DuckTales | Disney Channel | Seven Network | June |
| TaleSpin | Disney Channel | Seven Network | June |
| Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers | Disney Channel | Seven Network | June |
| Gargoyles | Disney Channel | Seven Network | June |
| Bill Nye the Science Guy | Disney Channel | | June |
| Mousercise | Disney Channel | | June |
| Welcome to Pooh Corner | Disney Channel | | June |
| Doctor Who (1963) | UKTV | ABC | 1 August |
| Rockliffe's Babies | UKTV | | 5 August |
| Big Bag | Cartoon Network | | 7 September |
| Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous | TV1 | Nine Network | 4 November |
| Captain Planet and the Planeteers | Cartoon Network | ABC | |
| Groundling Marsh | Fox Kids | | |
| The Tracey Ullman Show | Fox8 | ABC | |
| Mom P.I. | Disney Channel | | |
| Huckleberry Hound | Cartoon Network | Nine Network Seven Network | |
| 2 Stupid Dogs | Cartoon Network | Seven Network | |
| Crazy Like a Fox | Disney Channel | Network Ten | |
| The What-a-Cartoon! Show | Cartoon Network | | |
| Polka Dot Door | Horizon Learning Channel | | |
| Bookmice | Horizon Learning Channel | | |
| Girls on Top | The Comedy Channel | ABC | |
| Simon | The Comedy Channel | | |
| EastEnders | UKTV | ABC | |
| The Good Life | UKTV | ABC Seven Network Network Ten | |
| The New Statesman | The Comedy Channel | Seven Network | |
| Beavis and Butt-head | The Comedy Channel | | |
| Hi-de-Hi! | UKTV | ABC | |
| Shortland Street | UKTV | SBS | |
| Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics | Cartoon Network | Nine Network Seven Network | |
| Boy Meets World | Disney Channel | Nine Network | |
| Dinosaurs | Disney Channel | Seven Network | |
| // White Fang | Disney Channel | | |
| Dallas | Fox8 | Network Ten | |
| The Goodies | UKTV | ABC Seven Network Network Ten | |
| All Creatures Great and Small | UKTV | ABC | |
| The Two Ronnies | UKTV | ABC Seven Network | |
| The Piglet Files | The Comedy Channel | Seven Network | |
| Top of the Pops | UKTV | | |
| Adventures in Wonderland | Disney Channel | | |
| Join In! | Horizon Learning Channel | | |
| Mister Rogers' Neighborhood | Horizon Learning Channel | | |
| Danger UXB | UKTV | ABC | |
| Hannay | UKTV | ABC | |
| The Critic | Arena | Network Ten | |
| Minder | UKTV | ABC Seven Network Network Ten | |
| The Spooks of Bottle Bay | Nickelodeon | | |
| Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders | Fox Kids | | |
| / Sky Dancers | Fox Kids | | |
| The 5 Mrs. Buchanans | Fox8 | | |
| Four on the Floor | The Comedy Channel | | |
| African Skies | Disney Channel | | |
| Fawlty Towers | UKTV | ABC Seven Network | |

### 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.

#### International

| Program | New network(s) | Previous network(s) | Date |
| Tom and Jerry | Cartoon Network | Max | 1 January |
| Quick Draw McGraw | Cartoon Network | Max | 21 January |
| / ReBoot | Nickelodeon | Max | 3 February |
| Eye of the Storm | Nickelodeon | Max | 3 February |
| Tales from Fat Tulip's Garden | Nickelodeon | Max | 8 February |
| The Baby Huey Show | Nickelodeon | Max | 9 March |
| Eerie, Indiana | Nickelodeon | Max | 10 March |
| Astro Boy | Nickelodeon | Max | 27 July |
| Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons | Nickelodeon | Max | 1996 |

## Television shows

ABC TV
* Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959–1999)
* Four Corners (1961–present)
* Rage (1987–beyond)
* G.P. (1989–1996)
* Foreign Correspondent (1992–present)
* Frontline (1994–1997)
Seven Network
* Wheel of Fortune (1981–1996, 1996–2003, 2004-beyond)
* A Country Practice (1981–1994)
* Home and Away (1988–present)
* Family Feud (1988–1996)
* The Great Outdoors (1993–2006, 2007)
* Full Frontal (1993–present)
* Blue Heelers (1994–2006)
Nine Network
* Sunday (1981–2008)
* Today (1982–present)
* Sale of the Century (1980–2001)
* A Current Affair (1971–1978, 1988–2005, 2006–present)
* Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971–1999)
* The Midday Show (1973–1998)
* 60 Minutes (1979–present)
* The Flying Doctors (1986–1991)
* Australia's Funniest Home Video Show (1990–2000, 2000–2004, 2005–present)
* Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971–1999)
* Getaway (1992–present)
* Our House (1993–2001)
* Money (1993–2000)
Network Ten
* Neighbours (1985–present)
* E Street (1989–1993)
* Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton (1991–2005)
* Sports Tonight (1993–2011)

## Ending this year

| Date | Show | Channel | Debut |
| 28 January | House of Fun | Network Ten | 1993 |
| 25 March | Blinky Bill's Extraordinary Excursion | ABC | 19 February 1996 |
| 7 April | Naked: Stories of Men | ABC | 3 March 1996 |
| 9 May | Fire | Seven Network | 1995 |
| 28 June | Mulligrubs | Network Ten | 1988 |
| 25 July | Mercury | ABC | 2 May 1996 |
| 30 August | First Edition | ABC | 1993 |
| 19 November | Sweat | Network Ten | 20 April 1996 |
| 22 November | Police Rescue | ABC | 1989 |
| 22 November | Ship to Shore | ABC Nine Network | 1993 |
| 27 November | Talk to the Animals | Seven Network | 1993 |
| 10 December | G.P. | ABC | 1989 |