2001 in Australian television

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Events

• 1 January – Digital Television arrives in the major state capitals of Australia, with the ABC and SBS permitted to operate multi-channel services.
• 1 February – The Network Ten undergoes a major revamp in its production and circle logo and on air graphics as a part of a new network re-launch, with the launch of its motto Seriously Ten, which are both currently in use to the 2012 revamp.
• 5 February – The Weakest Link premieres on the Seven Network, airing twice a week, Mondays and Fridays. After the AFL season concludes with Seven broadcasting for the last time, the latter show is bumped to only on Thursdays.
• 22 February – The voice actors behind the Funimation dubbed version of Dragon Ball Z Sean Schemmel (Goku, Nails and King Kai) and Christopher Sabat (Piccolo, Vegeta and Yamcha) appear on Cheez TV for an interview on Network Ten.
• 24 April – The Australian version of Big Brother premieres on Network Ten.
• 25 April – Brooke Marshall wins the second season of The Mole, taking home $100,000 in prize money. Michael Laffy is revealed as the Mole, and Hal Pritchard is the runner-up.
• 2 June – The ABBA Tribute Show goes to air live on the Nine Network.
• 24 June – Australian children's Sunday morning wrapper programme Couch Potato airs its final episode on ABC hosted by Abby Coleman and David Heinrich and finishing up with a rerun of SimsalaGrimm.
• 16 July –
  • Network Ten's Melbourne-based drama series The Secret Life of Us makes its first screening debut.
  • The first season of Big Brother was won by Ben Williams.
• 1 August – The ABC launches its very first digital multi-channel service ABC Kids. The channel airs programmes aimed at children and runs from 6:00am to 6:00pm.
• 11 September – Television networks relay coverage from CNN, NBC, ABC America and the BBC for up to 48 hours in the wake of the 11 September attacks. Ten News made the record books as the first Australian Television News Service to ever cover the Coverage on its Late News bulletin with Sandra Sully.
• November – After Prime Television axes Regional television news bulletins in Newcastle, Wollongong and Canberra, and Southern Cross Ten axes regional bulletins in Canberra and North Queensland, the ABA holds an inquiry into the adequacy of regional news services. Bulletins eventually return to those areas in 2004, albeit in the form of two-minute updates during weekdays in the ratings season.
• 1 November – The ABC launches another digital multi-channel service called Fly TV. Airing from 6:00pm to 6:00am, the channel broadcasts music videos, reviews, comedy, drama, news programming, sport programmes, cartoons and current affairs for teenagers and young adults.
• December – After 21 years, Sale of the Century is "rested". It later returns to the Nine Network as Temptation in 2005 and runs until 2007. Also another Nine Network game show Burgo's Catch Phrase has given the axe after 4 years.
• December – The Nine Network will introduce a watermark on its programs. Until now, the Channel Nine watermark will now be broadcast on all news (until 2008 for the major revamp of its news bulletins, but reinstated in late 2009), current affairs and Live programs.
• December – A record $72,900 is won on The Weakest Link's special titled The Best of the Best.

Debuts

Free-to-air

Domestic

Program	Channel	Debut date
The Big Arvo	Seven Network	1 February
The Weakest Link	Seven Network	5 February
Cash Bonanza	Nine Network	3 March
Big Brother	Network Ten	23 April
Insiders	ABC	15 July
Cybergirl	Network Ten	21 July
All Aussie Adventures	Network Ten	5 August
McLeod's Daughters	Nine Network	8 August
The Glass House	ABC	10 August
Always Greener	Seven Network	9 September
Catalyst	ABC	2001
Fishing Australia	WIN Television	2001
The Great South East	Seven Network (Queensland)	2001
Hook, Line and Sinker	Southern Cross Tasmania	2001
The World Game	SBS TV	2001
Greed	Network Ten	2001

International

Program	Channel	Debut date
State of the Planet	ABC TV	10 January
Four Fathers	ABC TV	12 January
Dad	ABC TV	15 January
Savage Dragon	Network Ten	24 January
Passions	Seven Network	29 January
The Big Knights	ABC TV	30 January
The Wacky World of Tex Avery	Seven Network	3 February
Soupe Opera	ABC TV	4 February
Malcolm in the Middle	Nine Network	5 February
Payne	Network Ten	5 February
Hero to Zero	ABC TV	12 February
Shadow Raiders	ABC TV	13 February
Big Kids	ABC TV	14 February
The Baskervilles	ABC TV	26 February
Angela Anaconda	ABC TV	27 February
Takács Quartet	SBS TV	24 March
Life Force	ABC TV	26 March
Love in a Cold Climate	ABC TV	1 April
Spider-Man Unlimited	Network Ten	9 April
Sabrina: The Animated Series	Seven Network	28 April
Sheep in the Big City	Nine Network	14 May
The Zeta Project	Nine Network	16 May
Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040	SBS TV	19 May
X-Men: Evolution	Nine Network	25 May
House of Mouse	Seven Network	2 June
Jackie Chan Adventures	Network Ten	1 July
Cubeez	ABC TV	2 July
Aaagh! It's the Mr. Hell Show!	SBS TV	14 July
Titch	ABC TV	16 July
Maggie and the Ferocious Beast	ABC Kids (digital only)	1 August
Rosie and Jim	ABC Kids (digital only)	1 August
Cardcaptors	Network Ten	6 August
Preston Pig	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	7 August
Rocket Power	Network Ten	31 August
Sylvanian Families	Network Ten	1 September
Courage the Cowardly Dog	Nine Network	5 September
Ethelbert the Tiger	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	24 September
Beverly Hills Teens	Network Ten	30 September
Butt-Ugly Martians	Network Ten	1 October
Bill and Ben	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	3 October
Tiny Planets	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	30 October
The Kids from Room 402	Network Ten	18 November
El Nombre	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	19 November
Sitting Ducks	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	19 November
Albie	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	6 December
The Fugitive (2000)	Nine Network	6 December
The Invisible Man	Network Ten	6 December
The Oblongs	Nine Network	8 December
Horrible Histories (2001 cartoon)	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	17 December
Eckhart	ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)	24 December
Animated Tales of the World	SBS TV	24 December
Oggy and the Cockroaches	ABC Kids (digital only)	25 December
Space Goofs	ABC Kids (digital only)	25 December
Mike, Lu and Og	Nine Network	2001
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command	Seven Network	2001
Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue	Seven Network	2001
Dora the Explorer	Nine Network	2001

Subscription television

Domestic

Program	Channel	Debut date
Kate & Julia[1]	Arena	8 August

International

Program	Channel	Debut date
Fat Dog Mendoza	Nickelodeon	2 January
Yvon of the Yukon	Nickelodeon	2 January
Maury[2]	Arena	March
Custer's Last Stand Up[3]	Nickelodeon	16 March
As Told by Ginger[3][4]	Nickelodeon	6 April
The Oblongs	Oh!	17 July
Being Eve[5]	Nickelodeon	24 August
Invader Zim[6]	Nickelodeon	Q3/Q4
Samurai Jack	Cartoon Network	2001
Cardcaptors	Cartoon Network	2001
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing	Cartoon Network	2001
Rainbow Fish	Disney Channel	2001
Theodore Tugboat	Disney Channel	2001
Dinozaurs	Fox Kids	2001
Wunschpunsch	Fox Kids	2001
Generation O!	Nickelodeon	2001
Kong: The Animated Series	Fox Kids	2001
Dora the Explorer	Nickelodeon	2001

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
Eugénie Sandler P.I.[6]	Nickelodeon	ABC TV	3 August

International

Program	Subscription network	Free-to-air network	Date
Dumb Bunnies	Nickelodeon	Seven Network	2 January
An Actor's Life For Me[7][8]	UKTV	ABC TV	10 April
Angel[9]	Fox8	Seven Network	24 April
Full Wax[10][11]	UKTV	ABC TV	1 June
The Brittas Empire[10][12]	UKTV	ABC TV	6 June
Friends[13]	Oh!	Nine Network	3 July
The Drew Carey Show[13]	Oh!	Nine Network	July
ER[13]	Oh!	Nine Network	August
Futurama	Fox8	Seven Network	November
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends	Nickelodeon	ABC TV	2001
Insektors	Fox Kids	ABC TV	2001
Budgie the Little Helicopter	Fox Kids	ABC TV	2001
Freaky Stories	Nickelodeon	ABC TV	2001
Oscar and Friends	Nickelodeon	ABC TV	2001

Specials

Program	Channel	Debut date
2001 Kids' Choice Awards[3]	Nickelodeon	12 May

Television shows

ABC

• Four Corners (1961–present)
• The Fat (2000–2003)

Seven Network

• Wheel of Fortune (1981–1996, 1996–2003, 2004–present)
• Home and Away (1988–present)
• Blue Heelers (1994–2006)
• Today Tonight (1995–present)
• All Saints (1998–present)
• Ground Force (1999–2004)
• AMV (2000–present)

Nine Network

• Today (1982–present)
• Sale of the Century (1980–2001)
• A Current Affair (1971–1978, 1988–2005, 2006–present)
• Australia's Funniest Home Video Show (1990–2000, 2000–2004, 2005–present)
• The AFL Footy Show (1994–present)
• The NRL Footy Show (1994–present)
• Water Rats (1996–2001)
• Burgo's Catch Phrase (1997–2001, 2002–2003)
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (1999–2006, 2007–2010)
• Surprise Surprise (2000–2001)
• Backyard Blitz (2000–2007)

Network Ten

• Neighbours (1985–1989, 1989–present)
• GMA With Bert Newton (1991–2005)
• Rove Live (2000–2006)

Ending / Resting this year

Date	Show	Channel	Debut
24 June	Couch Potato	ABC	1991
6 August	Water Rats	Channel Nine	1996
September	Burgo's Catch Phrase	Channel Nine	1997
29 November	Sale of the Century	Channel Nine	1980

References

1. "Funnygirls pairing up". Herald Sun. Melbourne, Australia: News Limited. 8 August 2001. p. H02.
2. Murphy, Kerrie (19 April 2001). "ScreenWatch – Pep talk for kids". The Australian. Sydney, Australia: News Limited. p. M26.
3. Nick Nooze. Nickelodeon (Australia). Autumn. 2001.
4. "What's New On Nick? – April 2001". Nickelodeon (Australia). 2001. Archived from the original on 11 April 2001. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
5. "What's New On Nick? – August 2001". Nickelodeon (Australia). 2001. Archived from the original on 5 August 2001. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
6. Nick Nooze. Nickelodeon (Australia). October. 2001.
7. "UKTV Highlights". UKTV (Australia and New Zealand). 2001. Archived from the original on 28 April 2001. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
8. Hughes, Simon (16 January 1995). "A state of being – gag after gag". The Age. Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 15. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
9. Englund, Vicki (24 April 2001). "TV Reviews". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Australia: News Limited. p. 22.
10. "UKTV Highlights". UKTV (Australia and New Zealand). 2001. Archived from the original on 16 June 2001. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
11. Gill, Raymond (31 March 1993). "Ruby is a comic gem". The Age. Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 2. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
12. Stewart, Alison (21 December 1992). "THE BRITTAS EMPIRE". The Sydney Morning Herald. Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 2. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
13. Idato, Michael (17 June 2001). "Briefs". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 3. Retrieved 27 December 2009. Friends, makes its long overdue cable premiere in Australia on July 3. The cable channel Oh! will also premiere The Drew Carey Show in July and E.R. in August.