# 2022 in Australian television

This is a list of Australian television-related events, debuts, finales, and cancellations that occurred in 2022, the 67th year of continuous operation of television in Australia.

## Events
### January

| Date | Event |
| 1 | The ABC's coverage of the annual midnight Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks is watched by 1.19 million viewers. |
| 8 | Rebecca Maddern rejoins the Seven News team as a co-anchor on Seven News Melbourne's weekend bulletins, after quitting her Channel Nine presenting roles on Weekend Today, Australian Ninja Warrior and The Footy Show in November 2021. |
| 17 | It is announced that the Seven Network have secured the rights to screen NFL coverage until 2024. |
| 25 | It is announced that the Logie Awards will move venues, from The Star Gold Coast, to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. |
| 29 | The 2022 Australian Open women's final, between Australian Ash Barty and American Danielle Collins attracted a peak audience of 4.261 million viewers, with an average of 3.577 million. It is the highest-rated Australian Open women's singles final in OzTAM history, and is the second highest-rating sport event in the past twelve months, behind the 2021 AFL Grand Final which averaged 4.11 million viewers. |
| 30 | Dylan Lewis wins the eighth season of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. |
| 31 | Seven News Perth anchors Rick Ardon and Sussanah Carr are declared the longest-serving TV news anchor duo by the Guinness World Records. They have presented the program since 24 January 1985, with a total duration of 36 years and 361 days. |

### February

| Date | Event | Source |
| 26 | Foxtel suspends broadcast distribution of the Russian television network RT in Australia. | |

### March

| Date | Event |
| 3 | Fremantle confirms that Neighbours will be axed after thirty-seven years on air, after being unable to find another broadcast partner. |
| 12 | On a rare occasion, the Seven Network, Nine Network and Network 10 co-produce a telethon, titled Australia Unites: Red Cross Flood Appeal, to raise funds for people affected by the floods in Queensland and New South Wales. |
| 20 | It is announced that the Seven Network have extended the rights to broadcast the Magic Millions horse racing event until 2027. |
| 31 | Ella Rossanis wins the sixth season of The Great Australian Bake Off. |

### April

| Date | Event | Source |
| 12 | Victoria is confirmed as the hosts of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, most likely, but not confirmed, to be broadcast on the Seven Network. | |

### May

| Date | Event |
| 16 | Brothers Joss and Henry Woodyard win the fourth season of Lego Masters. |
| 21 | ABC TV, the Seven Network, Sky News Australia, Network 10 and the Nine Network hosts their rolling coverage of the 2022 Australian federal election. The ABC dominated the coverage with a primary channel share of 27.9%, with ABC News also the top multichannel with a 15.2% share and a 44.3% share across the whole ABC network. |
| 23 | SBS WorldWatch launches on Channel 35. |
| 29 | Lachie Gill wins the eleventh season of The Voice. |

### June

| Date | Event |
| 1 | Ray Warren announces that he is retiring from sports commentary. |
| 13 | Dubbed as "Series 3, Part 2", Bluey airs a further eleven episodes as part of its third series. |
| 19 | The Logies are held on the Gold Coast, with Hamish Blake winning both his Second Gold Logie and the Inaugural Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter, while Bruce McAvaney becomes the First Sportscaster inducted into the Hall of Fame. |
| 21 | Benji Marshall wins the sixth season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia. |
| 30 | Leigh Sales presents her final report on current affairs program 7:30. She had hosted the program since its first episode in 2011. She is to be replaced by Sarah Ferguson. |
| 30 | The Australian Broadcasting Corporation celebrates ninety years on air with a live two-hour program, ABC 90 Celebrate!, ahead of its official anniversary the following day. |

### July

| Date | Event |
| 4 | The second episode of Network 10's news program 10 News First: Breakfast records the lowest-ever recorded viewer ratings in Australian television history, with an average of 44 Australian viewers. However, this record was later beaten on August 10, when the program recorded zero viewers in Perth. |
| 4 | Network 10's Pilot Showcase is released on 10Play. The series consists of six separate pilot episodes, and is similar to the network's previous series Pilot Week, which was broadcast on the network. Owing to poor ratings, none of the pilots are developed into full series. |
| 12 | Reggie Sorensen wins the fourteenth series of the Australian version of Big Brother. She is the only person to have won the series twice, having also won the third season in 2003. |
| 12 | Billie McKay wins the fourteenth series of MasterChef Australia. Like Sorensen, she is the only person to have won the series twice, having also won the seventh series in 2015. |
| 22 | Regional broadcasters Prime7 and GWN7 broadcast their final branded Prime7 News and GWN7 News bulletins before being rebadged as Seven News Local the following Monday. |
| 24 | Having last aired in 2011, the first episode of the revival series of This is Your Life is broadcast on Channel 7. In the first episode, host Melissa Doyle surprises Ian Thorpe with the big red book. |
| 28 | The final episode of Neighbours is broadcast in Australia on Network 10 and 10 Peach. The show was axed after thirty-seven years on air. |
| 29 | The Seven Network begins its coverage of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, broadcast live from Birmingham, England on Channel 7, 7mate and 7plus. |

### August

| Date | Event |
| 3 | Aaron Seeto and Karly Fisher win the eighth season of Beauty and the Geek Australia. |
| 16 | It is announced that Georgie Tunny is to join The Project as co-presenter permanently, having filled in as co-presenter in April when Carrie Bickmore took leave. |
| 24 | It is announced that Seven News is the most-watched news program in Australia for 2022. |
| 28 | Melody Thornton wins the fourth season of The Masked Singer. |
| 31 | Janelle Halil and Monzir Hamdin win the twelfth series of My Kitchen Rules. |

### September

| Date | Event | Source |
| 21 | After ten years, the final episode of Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell airs on ABC TV. | |

### November

| Date | Event |
| 6 | Omar Slaimankhel and Ozman "Oz" Abu Malik win the eighteenth season of The Block, selling their home for $5.666 million, and winning a profit of $1.586 million, the highest profit in the show's history. |
| 20 | Lisa Wilkinson leaves The Project, having co-presented the program since 2017. |
| 23 | After having left Studio 10, it is announced that Sarah Harris is to co-present The Project from Sunday to Thursday. |
| 24 | After sixteen years, Tracy Grimshaw presents her final A Current Affair bulletin. |
| 28 | The Seven Network wins the 2022 ratings year, with the AFL Grand Final being the most-watched program of the year. The final episode of The Block, which aired on the Nine Network, was the most-watched non-sports program in 2022. Second in the ratings were the Nine Network, followed by the ABC in third, Network 10 in fourth, and SBS in fifth place. |
| 30 | The Seven Network reconfigures their channel lineup in preparation for the launch of 7Bravo on channel 75/65, which results in 7flix becoming a MPEG-4 SD channel, 7two becoming a MPEG-4 HD only channel in regional Queensland, 7mate becoming a MPEG-4 HD only channel and ishop TV moving to channel 67 (in former Prime7/GWN7 areas only). |
| 30 | Carrie Bickmore leaves The Project, having co-presented the program since its first episode in 2009. |

### December

| Date | Event | Source |
| 7 | Peter Hellier leaves The Project, having co-presented the program since 2014. | |
| 19 | The Project confirms its new panel of hosts for 2023. Joining Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris, Hamish Macdonald and Georgie Tunny are Sam Taunton, who will co-host from Monday to Thursday, and Michael Hing, who will co-host on Friday and Sunday. | |

## Premieres
### Domestic series

List of domestic television series premieres :
| Program | Original airdate | Network(s) |
| The PM's Daughter | 1 January | ABC Me |
| The Tourist | 1 January (BBC One, BBC iPlayer), 2 January (Stan), 3 March (HBO Max) | BBC One, BBC iPlayer (UK), Stan (AUS), HBO Max (US) |
| Mates on a Mission | 13 January | Seven Network |
| Wolf Life Me | 13 January | StanPeacock |
| Muster Dogs | 23 January | ABC TV |
| The Voice Generations | 31 January | Seven Network |
| Troppo | 27 February | ABC TV |
| Would I Lie to You? | 28 February | Network 10 |
| More Than This | 4 March | Paramount+ |
| MaveriX | 1 April | ABC Me |
| Underbelly: Vanishing Act | 3 April | Nine Network |
| Barons | 24 April | ABC TV |
| Rock Island Mysteries | 2 May | 10 Shake |
| Surviving Summer | 3 June | Netflix |
| The Twelve | 21 June | Showcase |
| True Colours | 4 July | SBS, NITV |
| Hunted | 17 July | Network 10 |
| Darby and Joan | 8 August | Acorn TV |
| After the Verdict | 10 August | Nine Network |
| Soundtrack to Our Teenage Zombie Apocalypse | 15 August | ABC Me |
| Echoes | 19 August | Netflix |
| Summer Love | 31 August | ABC TV |
| Savage River | 4 September | ABC TV, iview |
| Heartbreak High | 14 September | Netflix |
| Bali 2002 | 25 September | Nine Network, Stan |
| The Real Love Boat | 5 October | Network 10 |
| The Traitors | 16 October | Network 10 |
| Stuff the British Stole | 1 November | ABC |
| Single, Out | 12 November (Film Festival), 11 August 2023 (Here TV) | Melbourne Queer Film Festival (AUS), Here TV (US) |
| The Challenge: Australia | 14 November | Network 10 |
| Barrumbi Kids | 18 November | NITV |
| Irreverent | 30 November (Peacock), 4 December (Netlfix) | Peacock (US), Netflix (AUS) |
| Colin from Accounts | 1 December | Binge, Foxtel |
| United | 7 December | Network Ten, Amazon Prime Video |
| Dream Big | 16 December | Network 10, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video |
| Riptide | 27 December (Channel 5), 28 June 2023 (Network 10) | Channel 5 (UK), Network 10 (AUS) |

## Television channels
### New channels

| Date | Name | Notes |
| 23 May | SBS WorldWatch | |
| 18 September | Gecko | |
| 2 December | 10play FAST | 10play launches thirteen free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels, specialising in single-show, franchise, genre, and multi-show television programs. |

### Closed channels

| Date | Name | Notes |
| 27 February | Spike | |
| 6 June–25 July | Prime7/GWN7 | From 6 June, these channels will be gradually phased out. By 25 July, the final removal of the Prime and GWN brands will be completed, to be replaced with the Seven Network brand. |
| 12 August | Spree TV | |

## Programming changes
### Changes to network affiliation

Criterion for inclusion in the following list is that Australian premiere episodes will air in Australia for the first time on a new channel. This includes when a program is moved from a free-to-air network's primary channel to a digital multi-channel, as well as when a program moves between subscription television channels – provided the preceding criterion is met. Ended television series which change networks for repeat broadcasts are not included in the list.
List of domestic television series which changed network affiliation :
| Program | Date | New network | Previous network | Source |
List of international television programs which changed network affiliation :
| Program | Date | New network | Previous network | Country of origin | Source |

### Free-to-air premieres

This is a list of programs which made their premiere on Australian free-to-air television that had previously premiered on Australian subscription television. Programs may still air on the original subscription television network.
List of international television programs which premiered on free-to-air television for the first time :
| Program | Date | Free-to-air network | Subscription network(s) | Country of origin | Source |

### Subscription premieres

This is a list of programs which made their debut on Australian subscription television, having previously premiered on Australian free-to-air television. Programs may still air (first or repeat) on the original free-to-air television network.
List of domestic television programs which premiered on subscription television for the first time :
| Program | Date | Free-to-air network | Subscription network(s) | Source |

### Returning programs

Australian produced programs which are returning with a new season after being absent from television from the previous calendar year.
| Program | Return date | Previous run | Type of return | Previous channel | New/same channel | Source |
| This Is Your Life | 24 July 2022 | 1975-19801995-200520082011 | Revival | Seven Network (1975-1980), Nine Network (1995-2005, 2008, 2011) | Seven Network | |
| Australian Idol | 30 January 2023 | 2003–2009 | Revival | Network Ten | Seven Network | |

### Endings

List of domestic television series endings :
| Program | End date | Network(s) | Start date |
| Mates on a Mission | 27 January 2022 | Seven Network | 13 January 2022 |
| The Weakest Link | 1 February 2022 | Nine Network | 25 May 2021 |
| Crikey! It's the Irwins | 5 February 2022 | Animal Planet, Discovery+ | 28 October 2018 |
| Frayed | 30 March 2022 | ABC TV, Sky One, Sky Max | 26 September 2019 |
| More Than This | 4 March 2022 | Paramount+ | 4 March 2022 |
| Underbelly: Vanishing Act | 4 April 2022 | Nine Network | 3 April 2022 |
| Barons | 24 April 2022 | ABC TV | 12 June 2022 |
| The Feed | 28 June 2022 | SBS | 20 May 2013 |
| Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery | 10 July 2022 | ABC TV | 18 September 2013 |
| Neighbours | 28 July 2022 | 10 Peach | 18 March 1985 |
| The Secrets She Keeps | 16 August 2022 | Network 10, Paramount+ | 22 April 2020 |
| Echoes | 19 August 2022 | Netflix | 19 August 2022 |
| Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell | 21 September 2022 | ABC TV | 25 May 2012 |
| Bali 2002 | 25 September 2022 | Nine Network, Stan | 25 September 2022 |
| Luxe Listings Sydney | 21 October 2022 | Amazon Prime Video | 9 July 2021 |
| The Real Love Boat | 17 November 2022 | Network 10 | 5 October 2022 |
| The Living Room | 25 November 2022 | Network 10 | 11 May 2012 |
| United | 7 December 2022 | Network 10, Amazon Prime Video | 7 December 2022 |
| Chris Smith Tonight | 11 December 2022 | Sky News Australia | 30 January 2020 |
| Dream Big | 16 December 2022 | Network 10, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video | 16 December 2022 |
| Snackmasters | 19 December 2022 | Nine Network | 29 November 2021 |
| Riptide | 30 December 2022 | Channel 5 (UK), Network 10 (AUS) | 27 December 2022 |

## Deaths

| Name | Date | Age | Broadcast notability |
| Illankovan Frank | 4 January | not given | Indian-born veteran cameraman, who worked for Nine News. |
| Miranda Fryer | 6 January | aged 34 | Former child actress, who, at eighteen months, starred in Neighbours for three years and was the first actress to play Sky Mangel. |
| Leon Lissek | 13 January | aged 82 | Actor best known for TV serial The Sullivans. Lissek also worked in Britain and appeared on television serial EastEnders and in several film roles. |
| Scot Palmer | 15 January | aged 84 | Australian rules football sports journalist, who regularly appeared on the Seven Network. |
| Judy Banks | 23 January | aged 86 | Banks, a former stage actress, was an early star on television in Brisbane, best known as a children's presenter of Fredd Bear's Breakfast-A-Go-Go. |
| Colin Stevenson | 14 February | aged 81 | Long-time audio department head with Melbourne television station GTV. |
| Neil Balnaves | 22 February | aged 77 | Veteran television executive and philanthropist, best known for founding the Southern Star Group. |
| Brian Davies | 7 March | aged 86 | Producer and journalist, who worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Patrician Films and the Seven Network. After television, he worked for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service as a journalist. |
| Alan Hopgood | 19 March | aged 87 | Actor and playwright, known for Bellbird, Prisoner and Neighbours. |
| Rob Readings | 19 March | aged 79 | Brisbane news reader who worked for the Nine Network |
| Max Walsh | 23 March | aged 84 | Political correspondent for Network 10, the Nine Network and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. |
| Ernie Carroll | 30 March | aged 92 | Creator of Hey Hey It's Saturday character Ossie Ostrich. |
| Christopher Muir | 2 May | aged 91 | Producer, radio announcer and director that worked at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Became the ABC's head of drama in 1982. |
| Richard Connolly | 4 May | aged 94 | Composer best known for writing the theme tune to Play School, There's a Bear in There. Started working with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1956 for religious broadcasts and retired in 1988. |
| Andrew Symonds | 14 May | aged 46 | Former cricketer and Fox Sports commentator |
| Caroline Jones | 20 May | aged 84 | TV current affairs presenter and journalist and social commentator of Four Corners and Australian Story. |
| Erin Jayne Plummer | 22 May | aged 42 | Television personality and infomercial host who appeared regularly on morning television shows, including Today Extra and Studio 10. |
| Tommy Dysart | 7 June | aged 86 | Actor in Prisoner and Neighbours. Also a television commercial spokesman. |
| Yvette Mooney | 11 June | aged 58 | Seven News Perth newsreader and Today Tonight presenter. |
| Carol Raye | 19 June | aged 99 | British-born actress, known for The Mavis Bramston Show, Blankety Blanks and Number 96. |
| Di Kershaw | 22 July | aged 76 | Married to Mick. They were Indigenous art dealers (Mick still is) and both appeared on Gogglebox Australia together. |
| Shirley Barrett | 3 August | aged 60 | Film director and screenwriter. TV credits include Packed to the Rafters, Wild Boys, 'House Husbands, 'Mr & Mrs Murder, Love Child, Winter, A Place to Call Home, Offspring (on which she was also a writer of), Home and Away and Five Bedrooms. Her debut feature Love Serenade was awarded the Caméra d'Or in 1996. |
| Philip Dalkin | 4 August | aged 67 | Prolific screenwriter, who wrote shows including All Together Now, Col'n Carpenter, Sea Patrol, Stingers and The Deep. |
| John Tingle | 6 August | aged 90 | Australian politician who started his career in journalism and the father of Laura Tingle. Before becoming a politician, founding the Shooters Party, he worked for television networks and stations including the Seven Network, WIN4 in Wollongong, the Nine Network, ABC TV Queensland and Northern Territory and SBS, presenting TV programs. |
| Hilary Linstead | 6 August | aged 83 | Trailblazing film and television agent, representing some of Australia's top film and television actors, directors and writers. |
| Marshall Napier | 14 August | aged 70 | New Zealand-born actor who starred in drama series All Saints and McLeod's Daughters. |
| Vincent Gil | 21 August | aged 83 | Character actor in numerous TV serials, including Homicide, A Country Practice, Prisoner and Neighbours. |
| John Tulloh | 21 August | aged 82 | Longtime international news editor for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, serving 16 years. |
| Terry McDermott | 1 September | not given | Lifeguard that appeared on Bondi Rescue. |
| Basia Bonkowski | 3 September | not given | Television presenter and producer, known for presenting Rock Around the World and Continental Drift and producing RBT. |
| Jack Charles | 13 September | aged 79 | Actor and Aboriginal elder. He acted in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Cleverman and numerous other television shows and films. |
| John Hamblin | 21 September | aged 87 | British-born host of Play School. |
| Pam Ellis | 29 September | aged 90 | Touch of Elegance co-host. |
| Peter Yeldham | September | aged 95 | Veteran screenwriter and novelist |
| John Westacott | 9 October | aged in his early 70s' | Former Nine News director, and executive producer of 60 Minutes |
| Peter de Visser | October | not given | Former Hey Hey It's Saturday musical director. |
| Martin Vaughan | October | aged 91 | Actor and musician, best known for starring in the 26-part miniseries Power Without Glory. |
| John F. Knight | 27 November | aged 94 | TV doctor, who appeared on The Mike Walsh Show and The Midday Show as "Dr. James Wright". |
| Tony Barry | 21 December | aged 81 | Appeared in numerous TV series, including The Box. |
| Joan Sydney | 28 December | aged 86 | Actress best known for soap opera roles including A Country Practice, E Street and Neighbours. |
| Bobby Driessen | 30 December | aged 56 | Young Talent Time cast member, who co-hosted The Cartoon Company with YTT co-star Karen Dunkerton. |
| Cary Young | 31 December | aged 83 | A quiz champion, best known for regularly competing on Sale of the Century. |