2002 in Australian television
Events
- 4 February – Nine cast members from All Saints participate in The Weakest Link: All Saints Special to mark the first and only anniversary of The Weakest Link in Australia. Erik Thomson wins the special, but his winnings are unknown.
- 11 February - The Nine Network's post-Sale Of The Century replacement, Shafted hosted by former Hey Hey It's Saturday member Red Symons premieres. After dismal ratings the show is cancelled in April the same year. On the same day the network's post-Burgo's Catch Phrase replacement Pass the Buck, a new game show based on the UK game show containing a word association premieres leading into Nine's most-watched 6pm news bulletin, After dismal ratings the show is cancelled in May the same year.
- 11 March – The Seven Network's Docklands studios in Melbourne open, with the first Seven News Melbourne news bulletin being broadcast from the centre. This leads to a national relaunch of the Seven News brand with new sets and graphics in most cities. Also on that day, the nine remaining contestants from the third season of The Mole take part in a special episode of The Weakest Link for a chance to add $100,000 to the prize kitty. Against expectations, they only achieve $14,100, which is touted as the lowest amount ever won on the Australian version of the show. On The Mole, this figure is rounded up to $15,000. The Weakest Link was cancelled in one month later after dismal ratings.
- 6 March – Foxtel introduces a new sports channel called Fox Footy Channel. It runs until 1 October 2006.
- 20 March – Tim Lane resigns from the Nine Network following a disagreement in regards to commentating AFL matches with Eddie McGuire involving the Collingwood Football Club. Lane defects to rival Network Ten in 2003, where he has remained since.
- 24 April – Crystal-Rose Cluff wins the third season of The Mole, taking home $108,000 in prize money. Alaina Taylor is revealed as the Mole, and Marc Jongebloed is the runner-up.
- 16 May – Kath & Kim premieres on the ABC and is a surprise hit. It was picked up by the Seven Network in 2007.
- 1 July - Peter Corbett wins the second season of Big Brother.
- 26 July - Mixy ends after 4-year run and it will be replaced by children's weekday morning and afternoon blocks on the ABC.
- 12 August – After being cancelled in 2001, Burgo's Catch Phrase relaunches on the Nine Network and is a surprise hit, with new graphics, new theme music and new prizes with the contestant backdrop increased to three people with the game show been produced by Grundy Television, leading into Nine's most-watched 6pm news bulletin.
- September – SBS launches its first Digital channel, the SBS World News Channel.
- 29 November – Brian Henderson retires from reading Sydney's National Nine News after 4 decades.
Channels
New channels
Defunct channels
Premieres
Domestic series
International series
| Program |
Channel |
Debut date |
 Vampires, Pirates and Aliens |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
30 January |
| Merlin the Magical Puppy |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
4 February |
| Busy Buses |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
4 February |
| The Hoobs |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
4 February |
| Black Books |
ABC TV |
14 February |
| North Square[2] |
ABC TV |
2002-02-20 !20 February |
 Digimon Tamers |
Network Ten |
26 February |
 The Zack Files |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
27 February |
| Don't Eat the Neighbours |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
7 March |
| Rescue Heroes |
Network Ten |
6 May |
 The Legend of Tarzan |
Seven Network |
18 May |
| Angelina Ballerina |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
27 May |
| Transformers: Robots in Disguise |
Network Ten |
9 June |
| Teacher's Pet |
Seven Network |
22 June |
| Queer as Folk |
ABC TV |
1 July |
| Cyberchase |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
15 July |
| SpongeBob SquarePants |
Network Ten |
12 August |
| Caillou |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
15 August |
| Baby Blues |
Nine Network |
31 August |
| Band of Brothers [3] |
Nine Network |
2002-09-02 !2 September |
| Medabots |
Network Ten |
14 September |
| The Ripping Friends |
Fly TV |
14 September |
| Pongwiffy |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
16 September |
| Olliver's Adventures |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
16 September |
| Engie Benjy |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
16 September |
| Zoids: Chaotic Century |
Network Ten |
17 September |
| Curb Your Enthusiasm[4] |
Nine Network |
2002-09-23 !23 September |
| Beyblade |
Network Ten |
14 October |
| Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series |
Network Ten |
12 October |
| The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius |
Network Ten |
18 October |
| Ace Lightning |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
22 October |
| Bounty Hamster |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
4 November |
| Andy Pandy (2002) |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
7 November |
| Mr. Bean: The Animated Series |
ABC TV |
3 December |
| Archie's Weird Mysteries |
Seven Network |
7 December |
 Funny Little Bugs |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
9 December |
| Teletubbies Everywhere |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
9 December |
| X-DuckX |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
23 December |
| Anthony Ant |
ABC Kids (digital only) |
1 April |
| Upstairs, Downstairs Bears |
ABC Kids (digital only) |
11 September |
| Blazing Dragons |
ABC Kids (digital only) |
7 November |
 Buzz and Poppy |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
11 December |
| Oscar Charlie |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
11 December |
 Connie the Cow |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
17 April |
| Fourways Farm |
ABC Kids (digital only) |
6 June |
| Binka |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
29 July |
| Snailsbury Tales |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
29 July |
| Oswald |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
3 June |
| Slim Pig |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
15 May |
 George Shrinks |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
1 April |
| Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings (2002) |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
11 September |
| Henry's World |
ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only) |
21 October |
Domestic
| Program |
Channel |
Debut date |
| A Day in the Life[5] |
Arena |
20 February |
International
Specials
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.
International
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
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
Ending / Resting this year
| Date | Show | Channel | Debut |
| 26 July |
Mixy |
ABC TV |
16 February 1998 |
References
- ↑ Hassall, Greg (9 September 2002). "Review of Creature Features". The Sydney Morning Herald's The Guide: 14–15.
- ↑ Courtis, Brian (20 February 2002). "Silky briefs and stolen Y-fronts". The Age. Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 12. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ↑ Molitorisz, Sacha (28 August 2002). "The best war series ever made". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 14 December 2002. Retrieved 28 December 2002.
- ↑ Schembri, Jim (17 October 2002). "The man behind Seinfeld is back with a new side-splitter". The Age. Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 20. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- ↑ "Day in the life reveals sweet surprises". Herald Sun. Melbourne, Australia: News Limited. 17 February 2002. p. X03.
- ↑ Adams, Cameron (14 March 2002). "Last Word All the News That Fits". Herald Sun. Melbourne, Australia: News Limited. p. 64.
The Osbournes starts on MTV Australia from April 4 at 7pm.
- 1 2 "Toon Watch". Toon HQ. Cartoon Network (Australia) (1): 6. 2002.
- ↑ "What's New On Nick? – July / August 2002". Nickelodeon (Australia). 2002. Archived from the original on 4 August 2002. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
- ↑ "Toon Watch". Toon HQ. Cartoon Network (Australia) (2): 5. 2002.
- 1 2 3 "What's New On Nick? – July / August 2002". Nickelodeon (Australia). 2002. Archived from the original on 4 December 2002. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
- ↑ "UKTV Highlights". UKTV (Australia and New Zealand). 2002. Archived from the original on 19 October 2002. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
- ↑ Miller, Kylie (30 October 2003). "NETWORKING". The Age Green Guide. Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 12. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
- 1 2 "FOXTEL Highlights (General Entertainment)". Foxtel. Archived from the original on 6 November 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
- ↑ Melloy, Neil (22 June 2002). "Ozzy-speak defies bleeper". Courier Mail. Brisbane, Australia: News Limited. p. 18.
- ↑ Farrer, Gordon (28 June 2002). "Unholy and mundane". The Age. Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Limited. p. 17. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
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