Events 1 January – Australia's first Digital commercial free-to-air channel, Tasmanian Digital Television begins broadcasting in Hobart as a supplementary broadcaster to existing broadcasters Southern Cross Tasmania & WIN Television. On the same day, WIN TEN goes on air in the Mount Gambier & Riverland regions of South Australia as a supplementary broadcaster to existing solus broadcaster WIN Television. February – Nine launches a new afternoon news service to complete against Seven's 4:30 pm news, which was launched the previous year to provide viewers with up-to-date information on the War on Iraq. 1 February – Deal or No Deal debuts its 5.30pm timeslot on Seven which would last until 2015. This proves to be a massive ratings hit, leading into Seven's 6pm news bulletin. Its success proves too much for the Nine Network, with reworked game shows including The Price is Right, Bert's Family Feud and Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune all failing in the 5:30pm timeslot until Hot Seat's arrival in 2009. 2 February – Wheel of Fortune makes a rebranding and a new-look over to continue its long-run. Also, Steve Oemcke takes over from Rob Elliott as the show's final original main host. 14 March – Foxtel launches its new digital service, Foxtel Digital. 23 March – American animated science fiction sitcom Futurama created by Matt Groening the creator of The Simpsons airs on the Seven Network for one last time. The show would move to Network Ten on 30 November the following year. 5 April – Neighbours returns to air on American television with Oxygen broadcasting the series. 12 April – The Australian television series New MacDonald's Farm premieres on the Nine Network 18 April - Rove McManus wins the 2004 TV WEEK Gold Logie. 21 April - A live episode of Blue Heelers goes to air on the Seven Network, titled "Reasonable Doubt". Although this particular episode earned reasonable ratings, peaking with 693,000 viewers in Melbourne, the rest of the season is a failure ratings-wise. 1 May – Network Ten breaks with years of tradition and abandons the Sunday night movie after poor ratings. Instead, it screens some episodes of Law and Order: Criminal Intent.Idato, Michael: Aches and gains, The Age, 30 December 2004. Most other networks follow suit later on. 12 May – After 18 years at SBS, Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton resign from the station to move to the ABC to present a new program, At the Movies. Four younger presenters replace them on The Movie Show: Megan Spencer, Fenella Kernebone and Jaimie Leonarder, with Marc Fennell presenting a segment on newly released DVDs. 17 June, 5:58pm – Dean Cartechini becomes the first person to win Deal or No Deal'''s top prize, winning $200,000. 28 June – The Price is Right moves to the 5:00 pm timeslot on the Nine Network. The show extends to one hour. 26 July – Broken Hill resident Trevor Butler proposes to his girlfriend immediately after winning A$1,000,000 on Big Brother. 13 August – After a short-lived return at its new 11:30 am timeslot, Ten axes vintage Neighbours episodes again after bad ratings. 16 August – Ten extends its morning news into a one-hour format. 29 August – The Nine Network launches a new look version of the colour-coded days ident will be shown, again placing focus on the slogan “Still the One”. 30 August – Immediately after the closing ceremony of the Athens Olympics, the first ever Sunrise is broadcast from the Seven Network's new Martin Place studios. On the same night, Seven News relaunches nationwide with a complete overhaul of graphics, a new musical theme (unchanged until 1 February 2016) and a new set in Sydney. Nine News counters by introducing live CBD backdrops on its Sydney and Brisbane bulletins. 7 September – The American drama series Cold Case premieres on the Nine Network. 12 September – The 2001 war film Behind Enemy Lines starring Owen Wilson and Gene Hackman premieres on the Seven Network. 4 October – British long running children's animated series Peppa Pig debuts on ABC. 5 October – After a five-year absence, Daryl Somers returns to television to host a brand new series on Seven Network called Dancing with the Stars based on the American light entertainment reality series of the same name. 13 October – The Australian version of Border Security premieres on the Seven Network and is shown every Wednesday at 9:30 pm. 21 November – 16-year-old Casey Donovan wins the second series of Australian Idol defeating 21-year-old favourite, Anthony Callea. Her debut single "Listen with Your Heart" reaches number one in the ARIA Charts in December 2004. 23 November – Home and Away actress Bec Cartwright and her partner Michael Miziner are crowned season champions as the first season of Dancing with the Stars reaches its grand final. 11 December – The Network Ten is the next Australian television network to introduce a watermark on its programs, although the watermark is now broadcast on Ten News. It was located on the bottom left of the screens before switching to bottom right in 2006. 14 December – The final episode of Stingers goes to air on the Nine Network after a 6-year run. December – Seven, Nine & TEN withdrawn their opening to movies - movie openers are replaced by classification boards instead.Wheel of Fortune's attempt for a major revamp backfires and is quietly cancelled due to low ratings - leaving Deal or No Deal the absolute only game show remaining, leading into Seven's 6pm news bulletin. December – The Nine Network claims the ratings season for the fourth consecutive year, winning 38 out of 40 weeks, while Network Ten (which wins the other two weeks) finishes ahead of the Seven Network nationally for the first time.
Debuts Program Channel Debut date Fergus McPhail Network Ten Surfing the Menu ABC My Restaurant Rules Seven Network 1 February Deal Or No Deal Seven Network ttn Network Ten Fireflies ABC The Einstein Factor ABC 8 February Strictly Dancing ABC The Resort Network Ten February The Hot House Network Ten February The New Inventors ABC New MacDonald's Farm Nine Network Coxy's Big Break Seven Network At the Movies ABC Wicked Science Network Ten Parallax Nine Network John Safran vs God SBS Dancing with the Stars Seven Network The Cooks Network Ten Foreign Exchange Nine Network
Pay TV Program Channel Debut date Cooking for Kids with Luis Nick Jr. Love My Way FOX8
New international programming Program Channel Debut date Stanley Seven Network Hamtaro Network Ten // ¡Mucha Lucha! Nine Network Death in Holy Orders ABC Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law SBS Freaky ABC The Way Things Work ABC The Fairly OddParents ABC Boohbah ABC Fillmore! Seven Network The Basil Brush Show ABC Dragon Ball GT Network Ten Max and Ruby ABC // Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks ABC Wide-Eye ABC Two and a Half Men Nine Network Lilo & Stitch: The Series Seven Network Boo! ABC Astro Boy (2003) ABC // Franny's Feet ABC Metalheads ABC He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002) Network Ten NCIS Network Ten Pigeon Boy ABC Grim and Evil Nine Network The Proud Family Seven Network / Potatoes and Dragons ABC Play With Me Sesame ABC Zoids: Fuzors Network Ten New Tricks ABC Transformers: Energon Network Ten Bob the Builder: The Knights of Can-a-Lot ABC Tutenstein ABC Cold Case Nine Network / Sonic X Network Ten Duel Masters Network Ten Hustle ABC Peppa Pig ABC Atomic Betty ABC Postman Pat (2002) ABC Little Britain ABC Kenny the Shark ABC Time Squad Nine Network Himalaya with Michael Palin ABC Firefly Seven Network Powers ABC Creature Comforts ABC French Leave ABC Rose and Maloney ABC Beyblade G-Revolution Network Ten Any Time Now ABC / The Eggs Nine Network 2004 Road Wars Seven Network 2004 Scare Tactics Nine Network 2004 The Handler Network Ten 2004 Threat Matrix Seven Network 2004 There's Something About Miriam Network Ten 2004 Tru Calling Seven Network 2004 Jay Jay the Jet Plane Nine Network 2004 Survivor: Vanuatu Nine Network 2004
Subscription television Program Channel Debut date All Grown Up! All Grown Up! Nickelodeon ChalkZone ChalkZone Nickelodeon Stuart Little: The Animated Series Stuart Little: The Animated Series Nickelodeon Duck Dodgers Cartoon Network Cassidys, The The Cassidys UKTV My Dad the Rock Star My Dad the Rock Star Nickelodeon Romeo! Romeo! Nickelodeon Pimp My Ride MTV Australia Drake & Josh Drake & Josh Nickelodeon Martin Mystery / Martin Mystery Nickelodeon Ashlee Simpson Show, The The Ashlee Simpson Show MTV Australia Dr. 90210 E! Phil of the Future Disney Channel Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends Cartoon Network Assistant, The The Assistant MTV Australia Maybe It's Me Nickelodeon Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County MTV Australia
Specials Program Channel Debut date Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo Seven Network 2004 Kids' Choice Awards / 2004 Kids' Choice Awards Nickelodeon
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.
International Program New network Previous network Date The O.C. Network Ten Nine Network Garfield and Friends FOX8 Nickelodeon 2004 Sailor Moon FOX8 Fox Kids 2004 The Flintstones Boomerang Cartoon Network 2004 Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids Boomerang Cartoon Network 2004
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 Operation Good Guys Operation Good Guys UKTV SBS TV
Television shows ABC Four Corners (1961–present) The Fat (2000–2003) Kath & Kim (2002–2005, 2007) The Glass House (2001–2006)
Seven Network Wheel of Fortune (1981–1996, 1996–2003, 2004–present) Sunrise (1991–1998, 2003–present) Home and Away (1988–2005, 2005–present) Blue Heelers (1994–2006) Today Tonight (1995–present) All Saints (1998–present) Ground Force (1999–2004) AMV (2000–present) The Big Arvo (2001–2004) Deal or No Deal (2003, 2004–present)
Nine Network Sale of the Century (1980–2001) A Current Affair (1971–1978, 1988–2005, 2006–present) Today (1982–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) Burgo's Catch Phrase (1997–2003) Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (1999–2006, 2007–present) Backyard Blitz (2000–2007) McLeod's Daughters (2001–present) Merrick & Rosso Unplanned (2003–2004) The Block (2003–2004)
Network Ten Neighbours (1985–1989, 1989–present) Good Morning Australia (1991–2005) Rove Live (2000–2006) Australian Idol'' (2003–present)
Ending / resting this year Date Show Channel Debut (2004 – the whole year) Behind The News ABC 1969 5 February Burgo's Catch Phrase Nine Network 1997 28 July Skithouse Network Ten 2003 24 November The Panel Network Ten 1998 26 November Burke's Backyard Nine Network 1987 14 December Stingers Nine Network 1998
Revamping this year Date Show Channel February Wheel of Fortune Seven Network
See also 2004 in Australia List of Australian films of 2004
References