# 2016 in Australian television

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
This is a list of Australian television related events, debuts, finales, and cancellations that are scheduled to occur in 2016, the 61st year of continuous operation of television in Australia.

## Events
### January

| Date | Event |
| 1 | The ABC's coverage of Sydney New Year's Eve is widely panned for the third consecutive year, with criticism of lame skits and pre-recorded performances. |
| 24 | The Seven Network controversially broadcasts close up shots of Daria Gavrilova's training notes multiple times during its broadcast of the 2016 Australian Open. |
| 28 | Stan signs an exclusive rights agreement with CBS Corporation and Showtime Networks. |

### February

| Date | Event |
| 1 | Seven Network's breakfast show Sunrise gets a new on-air presentation and studio set, replacing the unchanged package which has been introduced in January 2010. |
| 1 | Samantha Jade is announced as the inaugural TV Week Logie Awards Ambassador |
| 1 | Mark Labbett is "unleashed" as the fifth Chaser on The Chase Australia. |
| 7 | The official 2016 OzTam television ratings period begins. |
| 10 | Weekend Today co-host Cameron Williams quits the Nine Network after stalled contract negotiations. However, he would return to the network less than twelve months later to replace the retiring Ken Sutcliffe as the sports presenter on Nine News Sydney. |
| 11 | WIN Television launch legal action against Nine Network for streaming its metropolitan channels into WIN's regional markets via its 9Now app. |
| 12 | Samantha Armytage is dumped from hosting a UNHCR event in Sydney, following an awkward skit on Sunrise a day earlier involving UNHCR spokesperson Kristin Davis. |
| 14 | Garry Lyon quits The AFL Footy Show citing mental health issues. |
| 15 | OzTAM release the first Video Player Measurement (VPM) ratings, which measure viewership of catch up platforms. |
| 17 | Seven West Media report a first half net profit of $135.2 million, despite a 2% decrease in total television revenue (equating to $14.3 million). |
| 19 | Foxtel launches legal action to block access to four torrent websites, it accuses of illegally distributing its programs, under recently introduced legislation which can force Australian ISPs to block website access with a Federal Court order. |
| 19 | The Seven and Nine Networks reach a settlement in the Federal Court over a copyright claim on Nine's program The Hot Plate. The settlement sees Nine agree not to produce any further seasons of the program, and to never rebroadcast or distribute the first season. |
| 23 | The Turnbull Cabinet approve media reforms proposed by Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield which would see the removal of the 'reach rule' and the 'two out of three' rule from the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. The reforms need to pass the Senate before being enacted. |
| 25 | A blackout at TCN causes Nine Network failing to broadcast the national Nine News Now bulletin, while the Sydney Nine Afternoon News bulletin had to be broadcast from the QTQ Brisbane studio. |
| 26 | Actor Sam Johnson, best known for The Secret Life of Us and Molly, announces his retirement from acting to focus on fundraising for cancer research. |
| 29 | Fetch TV secures exclusive rights to Viacom (VIMN), by confirming plans to launch the Australian version of Comedy Central. |

### March

| Date | Event |
| 1 | The Coalition partyroom pass Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield's proposed media reforms. In addition to the removal of the 'two out of three' rule and 'reach rule', it is proposed that a quota system be introduced for regional content after a merger event. |
| 1 | A 60 Minutes cameraman and producer are assaulted and injured while filming a story in Sweden on the European refugee crisis. |
| 2 | Its announced that 14 months after being let go by Nine Network as a result of cost-cutting measures, Emma Freedman who formerly appeared on Weekend Today would return to the network as a presenter on Wide World of Sports. |
| 3 | NRL legend Johnathan Thurston signs a five-year deal with Nine Network, which will see him co-host The Footy Show as well as provide commentary on NRL games and stories. |
| 7 | Seven West Media sign a content deal with Google to stream their content internationally via YouTube. |
| 10 | Billy Brownless reveals on The AFL Footy Show his ex-wife had an affair with his fellow co-host Garry Lyon. |
| 13 | Four Corners reporter Linton Besser and camera operator Louie Eroglu are arrested in Kuching, Malaysia after approaching Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak for comment on his corruption scandal. |
| 14 | 14-year-old singer/guitarist Fletcher Pilon wins the eighth season of Australia's Got Talent. |
| 15 | Ian Cook, a Melbourne pilot, and Quoc Huong Vu, a Sydney-based cameraman, are killed in an ultralight aircraft crash in northern Victoria while filming The Amazing Race Vietnam. |
| 18 | Nine Entertainment Co. purchase a 9.9% stake in regional broadcaster Southern Cross Media from Macquarie Group for $1.15 a share, ahead of expected media reforms which will see the removal of the 'reach rule'. |
| 20 | A two-week Easter break in OzTam television ratings begins. |
| 22 | New streaming service hayu launches in Australia. The service, owned by NBCUniversal, is dedicated to reality programming, featuring titles from NBCUniversal's library – with titles including Keeping Up with the Kardashians, as well as The Real Housewives and Top Chef franchises. |
| 30 | OzTam extend consolidated ratings from 7 days to 28 days. |
| 30 | Network Ten enter regional affiliation discussions with WIN Television, which if are successful would see in June 2016 the end of a 27-year affiliation agreement between Nine Network and WIN Television. |

### April

| Date | Event |
| 1 | TV historian Ken McKay is honoured for his work to the field and presented with the WA Heritage Award. |
| 3 | Former Network Ten sports reporter Mel McLaughlin makes her debut appearance on Seven News Sydney. As a result, Jim Wilson moves to the Friday & Saturday role on the bulletin, and Ryan Phelan is removed. |
| 3 | Television presenter Daryl Somers makes a television comeback on the Nine Network as host of You're Back in the Room. |
| 3 | Official OzTam ratings resume after a two-week non-ratings period over Easter. |
| 5 | Nine Network report an 11% drop in revenue for their third quarter, which saw their share price drop 24.7% to $1.14. |
| 6 | A power outage in Mackay, Queensland caused by bamboo touching the high voltage power lines saw the area lose TV reception as the lines affected serviced the local TV transmitters and the back up generators failed to work. |
| 7 | Former Seven News presenter Rebecca Maddern debuts as the first permanent female co-host on The AFL Footy Show. |
| 7 | A 60 Minutes crew, including co-host Tara Brown, are detained in Beirut while filming a story on a custody battle. |
| 13 | The four 60 Minutes crew members (reporter Tara Brown, senior producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson and sound recordist David Ballment) who had been detained in Beirut, Lebanon (see 7 April) are charged with four separate charges, including kidnapping, causing harm and not respecting local authority. If pleaded guilty, they could each face a maximum of over 20 years in jail. |
| 13 | Seven Network's Commercial Manager of Programming John Fitzgerald is charged with falsifying invoices to steal company funds. |
| 13 | Former At the Movies presenters Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton receive honorary doctorates from Macquarie University for their contribution to the film industry. |
| 13 | Australian actor Jack Charles is racially discriminated against in Melbourne, where he is refused taxi admittance twice in a single day. Charles had experienced this same form of racial prejudice in October 2015. |
| 16 | Journalist and broadcaster Stan Grant is appointed to the federal government's Referendum Council. |
| 20 | The 60 Minutes crew are released from Lebanese custody, with the personal charges against them dropped and Nine Network paying compensation for their release. However, they still face criminal charges. |
| 21 | Network Ten report a first half profit of $13.4 million – the first time in four years they have reported a rise in profit. |
| 22 | Commercial broadcasters Network Ten, Nine Network and Seven Network announce the launch of a new joint venture marketing company called Think TV which aims to persuade advertisers to continue to invest in free-to-air television. |
| 22 | Legendary Australian broadcaster David Hill is honoured at the New York Festival, presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. |
| 27 | Senior Constable Aaron Minns, who formerly appeared on Gold Coast Cops, pleads not guilty to four counts of common assault. |
| 28 | In a landmark decision, the NSW Supreme Court ruled in favor of Nine Network over WIN Network in relation to Nine's online streaming of its metropolitan stations into WIN regions. The judge found streaming to not fall under the definition of broadcasting. |
| 28 | A number of WIN Network Tasmania personnel are recognised at the Tasmanian Media Awards – namely sports reporter Brent Costelloe and cameraman Steve Fisher who won in the Best Sports Journalist and Best News Image categories respectively. |
| 29 | Nine Entertainment Co. ends a 27-year affiliation agreement with WIN Corporation, instead partnering with Southern Cross Austereo in parts of regional Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, after securing a 50% revenue sharing deal with Southern Cross, higher than its 39% deal with WIN. |

### May

| Date | Event |
| 3 | The 2016 Australian federal budget gives commercial broadcasters receive a 25% reduction in licence fees, while renewed tri-annual funding arrangements will see the ABC receive $3.1 billion and SBS $814 million over the next three years. |
| 6 | Home and Away director Geoffrey Nottage is awarded the Australian Directors Guild Awards' The Michael Carson Award. |
| 8 | The Logie Awards of 2016 are held, with Waleed Aly winning the Gold Logie and Noni Hazlehurst inducted into the Hall of Fame. |
| 15 | Former The X Factor winner Dami Im comes second in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. |
| 20 | Network Ten renew their affiliation agreement with Southern Cross Ten for Northern New South Wales for an additional five years. The new agreement begins 1 July 2016. |
| 29 | For the first time in the history of the Australian Directors Guild Awards the ceremony is broadcast on television, airing on Aurora. |

### June

| Date | Event |
| 1 | Studio 10 is found to have breached its PG classification in a January episode. |
| 2 | Former ABC boss Mark Scott accepts role as head of the NSW Department of Education. |
| 2 | 7flix changes from broadcasting in MPEG4 format to MPEG2, increasing its availability on older television sets. |
| 15 | Seven decides not to proceed with program The Day the Cash Came, just a week before similar format The Briefcase premiered on Nine. |
| 21 | SBS closes its internal international sales division |
| 28 | Seven News US bureau chief Mike Amor is named television journalist of the year at the 58th Southern California Journalism Awards |
| 30 | A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw marks 35 years at the Nine Network. |

### July

| Date | Event |
| 3 | Luke and Cody are named winners of the fourth season of House Rules. |
| 4 | Seven News launch a Gold Coast bulletin. Its debut wins its timeslot with 49,000 viewers, defeating long-standing rival bulletin Nine Gold Coast News with 34,000 viewers. |
| 6 | Catalyst presenter Maryanne Demasi is suspended, following an internal review of a February episode of the program found it breached impartiality standards. |
| 10 | Alfie Arcuri wins the fifth season of The Voice. |

### August

| Date | Event |
| 2 | Seven West Media announces a $207.3 million profit for the 2015–16 financial year, a fall of 0.9%. |
| 6 | The Seven Network will broadcast the 2016 Summer Olympics. |
| 9 | Former 60 Minutes reporter Michael Usher leaves the Nine Network and joins the Seven Network. He will present Seven News Investigates. |
| 22 | Australia Plus, operated by the ABC, announce international partnerships with Monash University, the Victoria State Government and commercial company Swisse. |
| 23 | Prime Media Group announce a $93.5 million loss for the 2015–16 financial year. |
| 25 | Southern Cross Austereo announce a $77.2 million profit for the 2015–16 financial year, a rise of 19%. |
| 25 | Nine Entertainment Co. announce a $324.8 million profit for the 2015–16 financial year. |
| 29 | Edwin Daly wins $1 million on Millionaire Hot Seat, becoming the first contestant to do so in the program's seven-year history. |

### September

| Date | Event |
| 2 | Southern Cross Television in Tasmania is found to have breached election advertising rules |
| 13 | The Seven and Nine Networks agree to share aerial visions in capital city markets, saving helicopter operating expenses |
| 16 | Television in Australia turns 60. |
| 19 | ABC's kids channel ABC3 is rebranded as ABC ME. |
| 21 | Matt Eagles wins the second season of The Recruit |
| 24 | Saturday Disney ends after a 26-year run on the Seven Network. |
| 27 | Kate wins the inaugural season of Zumbo's Just Desserts |
| 28 | A power outage affecting the entire state of South Australia for several hours sees dramatically low viewership figures from Adelaide viewers, including ratings of zero for many programs. |

### November

| Date | Event | Source |
| 26 | The last day of the official 2016 OzTam television ratings period. | |
| 26 | The Seven Network wins the ratings season for the tenth consecutive year. | |

### December

| Date | Event | Source |
| 1 | News Corp Australia becomes sole owner of Sky News Australia's parent company. Former co-owners Seven West Media, Nine Entertainment Co. and Sky plc will continue to supply content to Sky News and its sister channels. | |

## Television channels
### New channels

* 19 January – Sky News Business HD (high definition simulcast of Sky News Business)
* 28 February – 7flix
* 1 March — WIN HD (high definition simulcast of WIN)
* 2 March – Ten HD (high definition simulcast of Ten)
* 25 March – [V] Hits +2
* 1 April – Comedy Central
* 1 April – Sky Thoroughbred Central HD (high definition simulcast of Sky Thoroughbred Central)
* 1 May – Sky News Election Channel
* 10 May – 7HD (high definition simulcast of Seven in Melbourne and Adelaide, 7mate in other markets)
* 14 May – beIN Sports 1 HD (high definition simulcast of beIN Sports 1), beIN Sports 2, beIN Sports 2 HD (high definition simulcast of beIN Sports 2), beIN Sports 3, beIN Sports 3 HD (high definition simulcast of beIN Sports 3)
* 15 May – Sky News Election HD (high definition simulcast of Sky News Election Channel)
* 1 July – Foxtel Movies More, Foxtel Movies More HD (high definition simulcast of Foxtel Movies More), MUTV, MUTV HD (high definition simulcast of MUTV), Chelsea TV, Chelsea TV HD (high definition simulcast of Chelsea TV), LFC TV, LFC TV HD (high definition simulcast of LFC TV), Spike
* 24 July – Hillsong Channel
* 5 October – Binge, A&E + 2 (2 hour timeshift channel of A&E)
* 13 October – SonLife

### Channel closures

* 25 March – Channel [V]
* 1 April – MTV Classic
* 30 April – 4ME
* 4 October – SoHo

### Affiliation changes

* 1 July – Nine Network programming to air on the current Southern Cross Ten regional network in Queensland, Southern NSW and Victoria, joining existing South Australian services. Nine programming on Southern Cross will be branded with Nine's mainstream branding.
* 1 July – Network Ten programming to air on the current WIN Television regional network in Queensland, Southern NSW, Victoria, Mildura, Tasmania, Western Australia and Griffith.

## Celebrity deaths

| Name | Date | Age | Broadcasting notability |
| Lois Ramsey | 21 January | aged 93 | Australian character actress best known for roles in soap operas Prisoner and The Box as Mrs. Hopkins |
| Alethea McGrath | 3 February | aged 95, | Australian actress and voice artist, best known for film Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and TV series Prisoner as Dot Farrer |
| Peter Hudson | | | Television executive, most notable for managing the TV1 General Entertainment Partnership which was responsible for TV1 and SF. |
| Don Battye | 28 February | aged 77 | Writer and producer most famous for his work on Neighbours, Sons and Daughters, and Homicide. |
| Sonia Borg | 2 March | aged 85 | Screenwriter most famous for Women of the Sun. |
| Jon English | 10 March | aged 66, | British-born Australian singer, performer of stage and screen, whose most notable productions included theatre roles in Jesus Christ Superstar and Pirates of Penzance and television roles including the miniseries Against the Wind and sitcom All Together Now |
| Bob Ellis | 3 April | aged 73, | Australian writer whose credits include Number 96, Dynasty Australia, and Glenview High. |
| Barbara Jungwirth | 13 April | ? | Australian actress who appeared in series such as Neighbours, and The Box, as well as being the longest serving background cast member on soap opera Prisoner. |
| Bruce Mansfield | 17 April | aged 71, | Radio and television personality. |
| Robert Greenberg | 29 April | aged 57, | Australian screenwriter who most notably worked on children's shows such as Round the Twist and Get Ace. |
| Reg Grundy (AC, OBE) | 6 May | aged 92, | Television producer, creator of the Australian version of Wheel Of Fortune and numerous soap opera dramas including Neighbours and Prisoner, founder of the Reg Grundy Organisation |
| Scott Burgess | 10 April | aged 56, | Australian actor best known for his roles in Water Rats and 1915. |
| Lewis Fiander | 24 May | aged 78 | Australian actor best known for his roles in Pride and Prejudice and Bangkok Hilton. |
| Vivean Gray | 28 July | aged (92), | British-born Australian actress best known for her roles in Neighbours as Nell Mangel, in The Sullivans as Ida Jessup and Prisoner as Edna Pearson. |
| Norman "Nugget" May (AM) | 11 September | aged 88 | Radio and television sport commentator, best known as an Olympic commentator |
| Ken Sparkes | 11 September | aged 76, | Australian radio and television personality, and voice over artist |
| Peter Collingwood | 23 September | aged 96 | English Australian actor, Home and Away as Bert King |
| Max Walker (AM) | 28 September | age 68 | Australian rules footballer, cricketer and media commentator |
| Rebecca Wilson | 2 October | aged 54 | Australian sports commentator and panelist on Sunrise and SportsNight with James Bracey and television presenter of The Fat |
| Ross Higgins | 7 October | aged 86, | Australian actor and voice-over, best known as the voice of Louie the Fly and Ted Bullpitt in Kingswood Country |
| Anne Deveson | 12 December | (aged 86) | Journalist, writer and broadcaster |

## Premieres
### Domestic series

List of domestic television series premieres :
| Program | Original airdate | Network |
| The Shapes | 4 January | ABC ME |
| Tiny House Australia | 4 January | LifeStyle Home |
| Food Safari Fire | 7 January | SBS |
| The Family Law | 14 January | SBS |
| The Latest with Laura Jayes | 18 January | Sky News Live |
| Speers Tonight | 28 January | Sky News Live |
| I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Now! | 31 January | Eleven |
| First Dates | 3 February | Seven Network |
| Pyne & Marles | 6 February | Sky News Live |
| Karvelas | 7 February | Sky News Live |
| Here Come the Habibs | 9 February | Nine Network |
| Wanted | 9 February | Seven Network |
| The Point with Stan Grant | 29 February | NITV |
| All Star Family Feud | 14 March | Network Ten |
| Seven Year Switch | 15 March | Seven Network |
| Best Bits | 15 March | Seven Network |
| Long Lost Family | 16 March | Network Ten |
| Inside Heston's World | 31 March | SBS |
| You're Back in the Room | 3 April | Nine Network |
| Airlock | 16 April | Syfy |
| Tomorrow When the War Began | 23 April | ABC ME |
| MTV Upload | 5 May | MTV Music |
| Trendy | 6 May | Comedy Central |
| Stage & Screen | 11 May | Foxtel Arts |
| Wolf Creek | 12 May | Stan |
| Tweet the Beat | 16 May | V Hits |
| Surfing the Menu: The Next Generation | 22 May | ABC |
| DNA Nation | 17 May | SBS |
| Kiss Bang Love | 24 May | Seven Network |
| Donna Hay: Basics to Brilliance | 24 May | LifeStyle Food |
| The NRL Rookie | 31 May | 9Go! |
| Cleverman | 2 June | ABC |
| Melbourne Comedy Festival's Big Three-Oh! | 3 June | The Comedy Channel |
| Secret City | 5 June | Showcase |
| The Briefcase | 20 June | Nine Network |
| Slime Cup | 1 July | Nickelodeon |
| The Kettering Incident | 4 July | Showcase |
| Saturday Edition | 9 July | Sky News Live |
| Sunday Edition | 10 July | Sky News Live |
| The B Team with Peter Berner | 16 July | Sky News Live |
| Zumbo's Just Desserts | 22 August | Seven Network |
| Anh's Brush with Fame | 24 August | ABC |
| Doctor Doctor | 14 September | Nine Network |
| Unreal Estate | 27 September | Nine Network |
| I Own Australia's Best Home | 28 September | LifeStyle Home |
| The Wrong Girl | 28 September | Network Ten |
| The Secret Daughter | 3 October | Seven Network |
| Hyde & Seek | 3 October | Nine Network |
| Deep Water | 5 October | SBS |
| Martin Clunes: Islands of Australia | 7 October | Seven Network |
| Deadline Design with Shaynna Blaze | 19 October | LifeStyle Home |
| Say Yes to the Dress: Australia | 26 October | TLC |
| Sydney Harbour Patrol | 30 October | Discovery Channel |
| Credlin & Keneally | 16 November | Sky News Live |
| Pacific Heat | 27 November | The Comedy Channel |
| Whose Line is it Anyway? Australia | 27 November | The Comedy Channel |
| Prison: First & Last 24 Hours | Planned for 2016 but did not air | Nine Network |
| Sex Ed | Planned for 2016 but did not air | Nine Network |
| Sunday Night Takeaway | Planned for 2016 but did not air | Seven Network |
| The Day the Cash Came | Production cancelled | Seven Network |
| This Time Next Year | Delayed to 2017 | Nine Network |
| Travel Guides | Delayed to 2017 | Nine Network |
| Bride of Jaws | TBA | Discovery Channel |
| Question Everything | TBA | Discovery Channel |

### International series

List of international television series premieres :
| Program | Original airdate | Network | Country of origin |
| Men, Women, Wild | 5 January | Discovery Channel | United States |
| Brainstormers | 6 January | Discovery Science | United States |
| Midwinter of the Spirit | 6 January | BBC First | United Kingdom |
| What Could Possibly Go Wrong? | 7 January | Discovery Science | United States |
| Sweets Made Simple | 8 January | LifeStyle Food | United Kingdom |
| Family Guns | 9 January | A&E | United States |
| My Big Redneck Vacation | 9 January | A&E | United States |
| The Getaway | 9 January | Nat Geo People | United States |
| Shadowhunters | 13 January | Netflix | United States |
| Kate & Mim-Mim | 14 January | Disney Junior | Canada |
| Bunk'd | 14 January | Disney Channel | United States |
| Mighty Magiswords | 16 January | Cartoon Network | United States |
| The Shannara Chronicles | 16 January | Syfy | United States |
| Idiot Sitter | 18 January | The Comedy Channel | United States |
| The Real Housewives of Potomac | 18 January | Arena | United States |
| Grossbusters | 20 January | MTV | United States |
| Just Jillian | 20 January | E! | United States |
| DC's Legends of Tomorrow | 22 January | FOX8 | United States |
| Recipe for Deception | 22 January | Arena | United States |
| Life on Marbs | 24 January | Arena | United Kingdom |
| PJ Masks | 25 January | 9Go! | France |
| Earth to Luna! | 25 January | Discovery Kids | Brazil |
| Billions | 25 January | Stan | United States |
| Baskets | 26 January | The Comedy Channel | United States |
| The Brokenwood Mysteries | 27 January | 13th Street | New Zealand |
| Killjoys | 30 January | Syfy | United States |
| The X-Files | 31 January | Network Ten | United States |
| War & Peace | 31 January | BBC First | United Kingdom |
| Fresh Beat Band of Spies | 1 February | Nick Jr. | United States |
| Jay Leno's Garage | 1 February | Discovery Turbo | United States |
| Supernoobs | 1 February | Cartoon Network | Canada |
| Angel from Hell | 2 February | Eleven | United States |
| Hollywood Medium | 2 February | E! | United States |
| Next Step Realty: NYC | 2 February | Arena | United States |
| Bordertown | 3 February | Eleven | United States |
| Ellen's Design Challenge | 3 February | Style | United States |
| Black Gold | 4 February | A&E | United States |
| Crazy Ex-Girlfriend | 4 February | Eleven | United States |
| Food Porn | 5 February | LifeStyle Food | United States |
| LEGO Nexo Knights | 6 February | Cartoon Network | Denmark |
| Dickensian | 7 February | BBC First | United Kingdom |
| Game Shakers | 8 February | Nickelodeon | United States |
| Cuffs | 13 February | ABC | United Kingdom |
| Vinyl | 15 February | showcase | United States |
| WITS Academy | 15 February | Nickelodeon | United States |
| Impossible Engineering | 16 February | Discovery Science | United States |
| Animals. | 17 February | The Comedy Channel | United States |
| The Frankenstein Chronicles | 18 February | BBC First | United Kingdom |
| Love | 19 February | Netflix | United States |
| Her Story: The Female Revolution | 20 February | BBC World News | United Kingdom |
| Judge Rinder | 22 February | LifeStyle You | United Kingdom |
| Fuller House | 26 February | Netflix | United States |
| The Lion Guard | 28 February | Disney Junior | United States |
| The Hunt | 2 March | Nine Network | United Kingdom |
| Happyish | 3 March | Stan | United States |
| American Crime Story | 6 March | Network Ten | United States |
| Flaked | 11 March | Netflix | United States |
| Gigolos | 11 March | Stan | United States |
| Queens of Pop | 12 March | Foxtel Arts | United States |
| Capital | 15 March | BBC First | United Kingdom |
| Odyssey | 20 March | Seven Network | United States |
| Hemsley & Hemsley: Healthy & Delicious | 21 March | LifeStyle Food | United Kingdom |
| Galavant | 22 March | 7flix | United States |
| Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce | 23 March | Presto | United States |
| Lost & Found Music Studio | 1 April | Netflix | United States |
| The Ranch | 1 April | Netflix | United States |
| Car Crash Couples | 5 April | MTV | United Kingdom |
| Heartbeat | 7 April | Universal Channel | United States |
| The Powerpuff Girls | 9 April | Cartoon Network | United States |
| Dice | 10 April | Stan | United States |
| Once Upon a Time in Wonderland | 10 April | 7flix | United States |
| The Girlfriend Experience | 11 April | Stan | United States |
| Kong: King of the Apes | 15 April | Netflix | United States |
| Containment | 20 April | Stan | United States |
| Mad Dogs | 22 April | Stan | United States |
| Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders | 25 April | Seven Network | United States |
| Hoff the Record | 27 April | The Comedy Channel | United Kingdom |
| Bugging Out | 28 April | MTV | United States |
| Lucifer | 4 May | FX | United States |
| Hap and Leonard | 5 May | Showcase | United States |
| Marseille | 5 May | Netflix | France |
| The Unexplained Files | 8 May | Discovery Science | United States |
| Coast New Zealand | 9 May | History | New Zealand |
| 60 Days In | 11 May | CI | United States |
| Chelsea | 11 May | Netflix | United States |
| The Magicians | 13 May | Syfy | United States |
| Blunt Talk | 19 May | Stan | United States |
| Great Wild North | 25 May | A&E | United States |
| Agent Carter | June | 7flix | United States |
| Guitar Star | 2 June | Foxtel Arts | United Kingdom |
| Word Party | 3 June | Netflix | United States |
| Outcast | 4 June | FX | United States |
| Rush Hour | 9 June | Seven Network | United States |
| Famously Single | 16 June | E! | United States |
| Undercover | 19 June | BBC First | United Kingdom |
| The Grinder | July | Eleven | United States |
| Stranger Things | 15 July | Netflix | United States |
| Life in Pieces | 27 July | Network Ten | United States |
| Shades of Blue | 2 August | Universal Channel | United States |
| Queen of the South | 4 August | showcase | United States |
| Botched by Nature | 11 August | E! | United States |
| The Get Down | 12 August | Netflix | United States |
| Code Black | 25 August | Seven Network | United States |
| Rob & Chyna | 12 September | E! | United States |
| Million Dollar Listing New York | 25 September | Arena | United States |
| Quarry | 3 October | showcase | United States |
| Race for the White House | 3 October | History | United States |
| WAGS Miami | 5 October | E! | United States |
| Total Bellas | 6 October | E! | United States |
| The Catch | 10 October | Seven Network | United States |
| Catching Kelce | 11 October | E! | United States |
| Mum | 11 October | BBC First | United Kingdom |
| The American West | 11 October | History | United States |
| Divorce | 12 October | showcase | United States |
| Teachers | 24 October | The Comedy Channel | United States |
| Love, Nina | 1 November | BBC First | United Kingdom |
| High Maintenance | 3 November | showcase | United States |
| Insert Name Here | 8 November | UKTV | United Kingdom |
| Mars | 13 November | National Geographic Channel | United States |
| The Exorcist | 4 December | showcase | United States |
| Mariah's World | 5 December | E! | United States |
| Paranormal Lockdown | 24 December | TLC | United States |
| Grandfathered | TBA | 7flix | United States |
| The Family | TBA | Seven Network | United States |
| Weather Gone Viral | TBA | Nine Network | United Kingdom |
| Westworld | TBA | showcase | United States |
| The Loud House | TBA | ABC Me | United States |

### Telemovies and miniseries

List of domestic telemovie and miniseries premieres :
| Program | Original airdate(s) | Network | Source |
| Molly | 7 February | Seven Network | |
| The Second | TBA | Stan | |
List of international telemovie and miniseries premieres :
| Program | Original airdate(s) | Network | Country of origin |
| Stakes | 18 January | Cartoon Network | United States |
| Long Live the Royals | 26 January | Cartoon Network | United States |
| The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar | 6 February | Disney Junior | United States |
| 11.22.63 | 16 February | Stan | United States |
| Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny | 26 February | Netflix | United States/China |
| Pee-wee's Big Holiday | 18 March | Netflix | United States |
| The Night Manager | 20 March | BBC First | United Kingdom |
| Murder | 23 March | BBC First | United Kingdom |
| And Then There Were None | 23 April | BBC First | United Kingdom/United States |
| Special Correspondents | 29 April | Netflix | United States |
| Confirmation | 22 May | Showcase | United States |
| The Do-Over | 27 May | Netflix | United States |
| All the Way | 29 May | Showcase | United States |
| Maigret | 12 June | BBC First | United Kingdom |
| Looking: The Movie | 28 July | Showcase | United States |
| Sharknado: The 4th Awakens | 1 August | Syfy | United States |

### Documentaries

List of domestic television documentary premieres :
| Program | Original airdate(s) | Network | Source |
| Rod Taylor: Pulling No Punches | 11 February | Foxtel Arts | |
List of international television documentary premieres :
| Program | Original airdate(s) | Network | Country of origin |
| Hollywood Censored | 18 February | Foxtel Arts | United States |
| Women He's Undressed | 28 February | Showcase | United States |
| Back on Board: Greg Louganis | 6 March | Showcase | United States |
| The Paedophile Hunters | 23 March | CI | United Kingdom |
| Only the Dead | 3 April | Showcase | United States |
| Steven Avery: Innocent or Guilty? | 8 April | Discovery Channel | United States |
| Springsteen & I | 19 April | Max | United States |
| In Their Own Words: Muhammad Ali | 4 June | History | United States |

### Specials

List of domestic television special premieres :
| Program | Original airdate(s) | Network(s) |
| Australia Day 2016: Live at Sydney Opera House | 26 January | Network Ten |
| What Really Happens on the Gold Coast | 26 January | Seven Network |
| 5th AACTA International Awards | 31 January | Foxtel Arts |
| An Audience with the Cast of Wentworth | 3 May | SoHo |
| The People's Forum with Malcolm Turnbull & Bill Shorten | 13 May | Sky News |
| Peter Garrett: A Version of Now – The Full Story | 12 July | Max |
| Home and Away: Revenge | 19 December | Presto/Foxtel Play |
| Home and Away: All or Nothing | Delayed to 26 January 2017 | Presto/Foxtel Play |
List of international television special premieres :
| Program | Original airdate(s) | Network(s) | Country of origin |
| LEGO Scooby-Doo: Knight Time Terror | 26 January | Boomerang | United States |
| Grease: Live | 2 February | Nine Network | United States |
| 69th British Academy Film Awards | 15 February | UKTV | United Kingdom |
| 58th Annual Grammy Awards | 16 February | Fox8 | United States |
| Liza Minnelli Plays the AVO Session | 19 February | Foxtel Arts | United States |
| 2016 Brit Awards | 25 February | UKTV | United Kingdom |
| Jethro Tull: Live AVO Session | 27 February | Foxtel Arts | United States |
| Nashville: On The Record 3 | 3 March | SoHo | United States |
| 2016 Kids' Choice Awards | 13 March | Nickelodeon | United States |
| The Passion | 25 March | Foxtel Arts | United States |
| Game of Thrones: The Story so Far | 6 April | Showcase | United States |
| 2016 MTV Movie Awards | 11 April | MTV | United States |
| 2016 Billboard Music Awards | 23 May | V Hits | United States |
| Sinatra 100: An All Star Grammy Concert | 29 May | Foxtel Arts | United States |
| Linguini Brothers Tarantella 2000 | 25 December | 9Go! | Canada |
| Kid Bass featuring Sincere Goodgirls Love Rudeboys | 25 December | Nine Network | South Africa |

## 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(s) |
| Saturday Disney | 19 March | 7flix | 7TWO |
| The Bolt Report | 25 April | Sky News | Network Ten |
| Australian Survivor | 21 August | Network Ten | Nine Network Seven Network |
| The Great Australian Spelling Bee | 27 August | Eleven | Network Ten |
List of international television series which changed network affiliation :
| Program | Date | New network | Previous network | Country of origin |
| American Idol | 7 January | FOX8 | Eleven | United States |
| Pokémon | 1 February | Boomerang | Cartoon Network | Japan |
| Once Upon a Time | 29 February | 7flix | 7TWO | United States |
| The Muppets | 1 March | 7flix | Seven Network | United States |
| The Mindy Project | 2 March | 7flix | Seven Network | United States |
| The Amazing Race | 3 March | 7flix | Seven Network | United States |
| Grey's Anatomy | 21 March | 7flix | Seven Network | United States |
| How To Get Away With Murder | 21 March | 7flix | Seven Network | United States |
| The Mindy Project | 1 April | Presto | 7flix | United States |
| Sparkle Friends | 30 April | 9Go! | ABC3 | New Zealand |
| Pocket Protectors | 30 April | 7TWO | ABC3 | New Zealand |
| Sonic Boom | 20 June | Boomerang | Cartoon Network | United States, France |

### 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 series which premiered on free-to-air television for the first time :
| Program | Date | Free-to-air network | Subscription network(s) | Country of origin |
| Ultimate Airport Dubai | 5 February | Nine Network | National Geographic Channel | United Arab Emirates |
| Cristela | 6 February | Eleven | Fox8 | United States |
| Fresh Off the Boat | 7 March | Eleven | Fox8 | United States |
| Scandal | 21 March | 7flix | Presto | United States |
| PJ Masks | 4 April | 9Go! | Disney Junior | France |

### 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 series which premiered on subscription television for the first time :
| Program | Date | Free-to-air network | Subscription network(s) | Source |
| Winter | 31 May | Seven Network | 13th Street | |
| Bringing Sexy Back | 31 May | Seven Network | Style Network | |
List of international television series which premiered on subscription television for the first time :
| Program | Date | Free-to-air network | Subscription network(s) | Country of origin |
| The Blacklist | 22 March | Seven Network | FX | United States |
| The Mysteries of Laura | 19 September | Nine Network | Universal Channel | United States |
| Blindspot | 18 October | Seven Network | Universal Channel | United States |

### Returning programs

Australian produced programs which are returning with a new season after being absent from television from the previous calendar year.
List of returning domestic television series :
| Program | Return date | Network | Original run |
| Australia's Got Talent | 1 February | Nine Network | 2007–2013; intermittently |
| Saturday Live | 30 April | Sky News Live | 2013 |
| 20 to 1 | 31 May | Nine Network | 2005–2011 |
| Offspring | 29 June | Network Ten | 2010–2014 |
| Australian Survivor | 21 August | Network Ten | 2002–2006; intermittently |

### Endings

List of domestic television series endings :
| Program | End date | Network | Start date |
| Reporting Live | 21 April | Sky News Live | 28 January 2016 |
| Richo | April | Sky News Live | 23 February 2011 |
| Kiss Bang Love | 5 July | Seven Network | 24 May |
| Saturday Disney | 24 September | Seven Network 7TWO 7flix | 27 January 1990 |
| Good Game | 6 December | ABC2 | 19 September 2006 |
| SportsNight with James Bracey | 16 December | Sky News Live | 27 January 2013 |