1999 in Australian television

The year 1999 in Australian television involved many events.

Events 11 January – The ABC moves its long running children's series Play School from its long standing time-slot of 4pm weekdays, to 3:30pm. 1 February – QSTV becomes an affiliate of the Seven Network, becoming known as Seven Central. 13 February – A new Australian science fiction drama series for children Crash Zone produced by the Australian Children's Television Foundation in association with the Disney Channel begins its air on Seven Network. 19 February - Neighbours airs the famous Full Monty strip scene involving Karl Kennedy, Joel Samuels, Drew Kirk, Toadie Rebecchi and Billy Kennedy. March – WIN Television WA commences broadcasting to regional & remote Western Australia, ending the long-time monopoly held by Golden West Network. April – Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? begins on Channel Nine and Adriana Xenides retires from Seven's Wheel of Fortune after 18 years as letter turner. She will be replaced by former model Sophie Falkiner. Xenides died from bowel cancer in 2010. 7 April – The famous Toyota Hilux Bugger TV commercial that originally aired in New Zealand goes to air for the first time on Australian television during a commercial break of an episode of The Panel on Network Ten. 9 April – American animated sitcom Family Guy debuts on the Seven Network. 19 April – Final episode of Australian talk show Strassman airs on Nine Network. 21 April - In Neighbours, Hannah Martin returns from France; Philip Martin's birthday 6 May – Musical director Geoff Harvey is sacked from the Nine Network after 38 years. 28 May – Final episode of the Australian National morning program 11AM airs on the Seven Network. The show was axed after 24 years. May – The Seven Network becomes the first Australian television network to introduce a watermark on its on-air programs. 21 June - In Neighbours, Toadie Rebecchi loses his famous ponytail. 28 June – Australian drama series SeaChange returns to the ABC for a second season achieving recording ratings for the network. 1 July – Australian children's longest running series Mr. Squiggle celebrates its 40th year. 9 July – Australian children's longest running series Mr. Squiggle airs its final episode on the ABC. 13 July - In Neighbours, it was Sarah Beaumont and Peter Hannay's wedding. 19 August – A brand new Australian political satire sketch comedy television series called BackBerner presented by standup comic Peter Berner and noted Australian character actor Louise Siversen screens on the ABC. 31 August – American sitcom The King of Queens starring Kevin James premieres on the Nine Network. 20 September – British children's animated series Bob the Builder debuts on the ABC. 17 October – British six-part documentary series Walking with Dinosaurs debuts on the ABC. 20 October - In Neighbours, Philip and Hannah Martin and Ruth Wilkinson leave; Joe, Lyn, Steph, Flick and Michelle Scully arrive. 24 October – American crime drama series The Sopranos begins on the Nine Network. 19 November – Studio 9 Unplugged, a tribute special dedicated the famous studio rooms at GTV9 presented by Don Lane, goes to air on the Nine Network, ending a 40-year era of live television in that studio. 20 November – The final episode of Hey Hey It's Saturday airs on Nine Network. Before retiring, the creator, host and producer of the series Daryl Somers leaves Nine Network after 28 years. 23 November – The 1996 slasher film Scream starring David Arquette, Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox premieres on the Nine Network at 9:30pm. 26 November – British cooking programme The Naked Chef starring Jamie Oliver screens on the ABC. In Neighbours, the 1999 season final features the Millennium party plus the Scully house burns! 2 December – American animated science fiction sitcom Futurama created by Matt Groening the creator of The Simpsons debuts on the Seven Network. 13 December – Australian children's educational TV series Lift Off airs on ABC for the very last time at 10:00am. 31 December – ABC is the host Australian broadcaster of the international TV event 2000 Today, a 26-hour live telecast of new year celebrations around the world, commencing at 8:30pm (AEDST) on 31 December. Jana Wendt becomes presenter of the Australian television public affairs program Dateline.

Channels

New channels 4 April – Australian Christian Channel 1 October – Oh!

Debuts Free-to-air Domestic Program Network Debut dateThe Adventures of SamABC TVThunderstoneNetwork TenCrash Zone Seven Network Wipeout Seven Network Hi-5Nine NetworkWho Wants to Be a Millionaire? Nine NetworkThe $1,000,000 Chance of a LifetimeSeven NetworkSee How They RunABC TVPig's BreakfastNine NetworkThe Mick Molloy ShowNine NetworkSunday SunriseSeven NetworkThe Big BreakfastSeven NetworkDog's Head BayABC TVBackBernerABC TVThe 10:30 SlotABC TVHigh FlyersNetwork TenUnreal TVNetwork TenFlipper & LopakaSeven NetworkRove Nine NetworkChuck FinnSeven Network Bananas in Pyjamas: Surprise PartyABC TVY?Nine NetworkGround ForceSeven Network1999

International Program Channel Debut date Percy the Park Keeper Nine Network / WildC.A.T.S. Network Ten Aquila ABC TV Chicago Sons Nine Network Daria ABC TV Dawson's Creek Network Ten / The New Adventures of Robin Hood Network Ten Gulliver's Travels Nine Network World's Wildest Police Videos Network Ten Vanity Fair (1998) ABC TV Maggie Network Ten Godzilla: The Series Network Ten Jesse Nine Network The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star ABC TV The Hello Girls ABC TV Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Network Ten Celebrity Deathmatch Network Ten Big Train ABC TV CatDog ABC TV Power Rangers in Space Seven Network The Magnificent Seven Seven Network Rude Awakening Network Ten Is It Legal? Seven Network Faces in Contemporary Greece Song SBS / Animal Crackers ABC TV Lesley Garrett Tonight ABC TV / Titanic Nine Network The Jamie Foxx Show Nine Network Ted Sieger's Wildlife ABC TV Family Guy Seven Network Rocky and the Dodos ABC TV Echo ABC TV World's Most... Nine Network Animorphs ABC TV / Dumb Bunnies Seven Network Zoo Olympics ABC TV Eye of the Storm ABC TV League of Gentlemen ABC TV Psychos ABC TV Sir Bernard's Stately Homes ABC TV Fantasy Island (1998) Network Ten Claude's Crib Seven Network / Croc Files Network Ten The Treasure Seekers ABC TV Bimble's Bucket Nine Network Charmed Network Ten Histeria! Nine Network Supernatural: The Unseen Powers of Animals ABC TV Brother's Keeper Network Ten Rick Stein's Seafood Odyssey ABC TV Bodyguards Network Ten The Planets ABC TV Becker Network Ten Will & Grace Seven Network // Albert the Fifth Musketeer ABC TV Stanley's Dragon ABC TV L.A. Doctors Network Ten The Fantastic Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor Nine Network The Wild Thornberrys ABC TV Maisy ABC TV The Worst Witch ABC TV Births, Marriages and Deaths ABC TV The New Woody Woodpecker Show Network Ten The Prince and the Pauper (1996) ABC TV For Your Love Nine Network Looking for Miracles Nine Network Raging Planet Seven Network Lisa ABC TV The First Snow of Winter ABC TV / George and Martha ABC TV The King of Queens Nine Network Inspector Rex SBS Blue's Clues Nine Network Sex and the City Nine Network Brimstone Nine Network Dinnerladies ABC TV Dilbert Network Ten Voltron: The Third Dimension Seven Network Push Network Ten Red Shoe Diaries Network Ten Hallo Aus Berlin ABC TV The Powerpuff Girls Seven Network Police Academy: The Series Nine Network The Martin Short Show Nine Network The Wombles (1997) ABC TV Bob the Builder ABC TV / Martial Law Seven Network Significant Others Network Ten Crusade Nine Network Walking with Dinosaurs ABC TV Eureka Street ABC TV Feds Network Ten / Gogwana ABC TV Sopranos, The The Sopranos Nine Network Boiling Point Nine Network The Mrs Bradley Mysteries ABC TV / Archibald the Koala ABC TV Blood on the Carpet ABC TV Shingalana the Little Hunter Network Ten Robot Wars Nine Network Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island SBS The Naked Chef ABC TV Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane Seven Network It's Like, You Know... Nine Network Turks Network Ten Hyperion Bay Nine Network Providence Seven Network Futurama Seven Network / Fly Tales ABC TV The Norm Show Nine Network Project G.e.e.K.e.R. Network Ten That '70s Show Seven Network Maggie Winters Nine Network Eye of the Wolf ABC TV Wing Commander Academy Network Ten Hiller and Diller Seven Network Michael Hayes Nine Network Voyage SBS Vengeance Unlimited Nine Network // Catherine the Great Nine Network Sonic Underground Seven Network 1999 Basket Fever Seven Network 1999 Costello Seven Network 1999 Celebrity Drug Disasters Getting Better Unknown 1999

Film debuts

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.

Domestic Program New network(s) Previous network(s) Date Good News Week Network Ten ABC TV

International Program New network(s) Previous network(s) Date Brambly Hedge ABC TV Nine Network Adventures in Rainbow Country Nine Network ABC TV The Mary Tyler Moore Show Seven Network Nine Network / Monster Maker ABC TV Network Ten

Subscription television

International Program Channel Debut date Oh Yeah! Cartoons Oh Yeah! Cartoons Nickelodeon Animorphs Animorphs Nickelodeon Brothers Flub The Brothers Flub Nickelodeon Wimzie's House Wimzie's House Nickelodeon Birdz Birdz Nickelodeon Rocket Power Rocket Power Nickelodeon The Powerpuff Girls Cartoon Network 1999 I am Weasel Cartoon Network 1999 / Ed, Edd n Eddy Cartoon Network 1999 / Bob and Margaret The Comedy Channel 1999 The Mr. Potato Head Show Fox Kids 1999 Bruno the Kid Fox Kids 1999 The Worst Witch Nickelodeon 1999 Big Wolf on Campus Fox Kids 1999 Stressed Eric The Comedy Channel 1999 Billy Nickelodeon 1999 Wiggly Park Nickelodeon 1999

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.

Domestic Program New network Previous network Date Lift Off Disney Channel Fox Kids

International Program New network Previous network Date EastEnders UKTV ABC TV Student Bodies Fox Kids Disney Channel 1999

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 Driven Crazy Nickelodeon Network Ten Minty / Minty Nickelodeon ABC TV

International Program Subscription network Free-to-air network Date The Forgotten Toys Nickelodeon ABC TV 3rd Rock from the Sun Fox8 Seven Network Family Guy Fox8 Seven Network

Specials Program Channel Debut date 1999 Kids' Choice Awards 1999 Kids' Choice Awards Nickelodeon Wayne's Best Dares Wayne's Best Dares Nickelodeon

Television shows

ABC