# 2006 in Australian television

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

## 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 $2.6 million by Channel Nine for the right to talk to them.
* 4 June – After 12 years and a record-breaking 510 episodes, the last episode of the Seven Network show Blue Heelers goes to air.
* 30 June – Australian soap opera Neighbours Broadcasts its 5000th episode, which sees Paul Robinson trapped in a mineshaft by his son Robert.
* 7 July – Children's fantasy drama series H$_2$O: 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.

## New channels

* 1 October – Fox Sports 3
* 1 October – Fox Sports News
* 15 November – Al Jazeera English
* 1 December – Sci Fi Channel

## 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 | Network Ten | 13 February |
| Bert's Family Feud | Nine Network | 13 February |
| Bondi Rescue | Network Ten | 15 February |
| The Chaser's War on Everything | ABC TV | 17 February |
| Head 2 Head | 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 | Nine Network | 21 June |
| Mortified | Nine Network | 30 June |
| H$_2$O: 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 | 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 | 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 | ABC2 | 19 September |
| What a Year | Nine Network | 2 October |
| The Real Seachange | Seven Network | 8 October |
| Operatunity Oz | ABC TV | 8 October |
| Big Questions | Nine Network | 19 October |
| Tripping Over | 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 | FOX8 | 5 January |
| An Aussie Goes Barmy | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | ABC TV | 15 September |
| Jericho | Network Ten | 21 September |
| The Batman | Nine Network | 23 September |
| IT Crowd, The The IT Crowd | 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 | 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 | Arena | 1 January |
| Hannah Montana | Disney Channel | 21 April |
| Surreal Life, The The Surreal Life (Beginning with season 3, seasons 1 and 2 aired later) | VH1 | June |
| Kept | VH1 | June |
| Emmerdale | UKTV | 2 July |
| Strange Love | VH1 | 5 September |
| Supergroup | VH1 | 6 September |
| So NoTORIous | VH1 | 2 October |
| House of Carters | E! | 4 November |
| Celebrity Fit Club Celebrity Fit Club | 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 | 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)

#### 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 |