2017 in Australian television

This is a list of Australian television-related events, debuts, finales, and cancellations that are scheduled to occur in 2017, the 62nd year of continuous operation of television in Australia.

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Events

January

Date	Event	Source
1	The ABC's coverage of Sydney New Year's Eve is mostly panned for the fourth consecutive year, described as "dull" and "tedious," with presenters Ella Hooper and Jeremy Fernandez forgetting to start the countdown.	[1][2]
12	Leaked video of Nine News Now presenter Amber Sherlock goes internationally viral after she insists colleague Julie Snook change to a different coloured outfit ahead of a segment.	[3]
27	It is announced that American soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful will film episodes in Australia.	[4]
29	The Seven Network airs the 2017 Australian Open – Men's singles final recording the highest ratings of a Men's final in 11 years, with 2.67 million metro viewers and 3.62 million total viewers. Channel Seven earned a 54.5% primetime viewing share.	[5][6]

February

Date	Event	Source
12	The official 2017 OzTam television ratings period begins	[7]

March

Date	Event	Source
13	Casey Donovan wins the third season of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!	[8]
23	Justin Milne is appointed new ABC chairman.	[9]

April

Date	Event	Source
9	A two-week suspension in OzTam television ratings begins for the Easter break.	[7]
23	Official OzTam ratings resume after a two-week non-ratings period over Easter.	[7]
	The 59th Annual TV Week Logie Awards were held in Melbourne.	[10]

August

Date	Event	Source
13	The Seven Network claims the television ratings season for the eleventh consecutive year.	[11]
24	MTV Australia and its sister channels, MTV Music, MTV Dance and MTV Classic, suspend broadcasting for a 12-hour period to get the channels' core audience to vote for marriage equality. During the suspension, MTV's test pattern displayed the Moonman holding the pride flag.	[12]
28	CBS Corporation announces its intent to purchase Network Ten, pending approval of the Foreign Investment Review Board. This comes two-and-a-half months after it went into voluntary administration. CBS had already maintained a long-term program and news-sharing agreement with Ten involving its namesake U.S. broadcast network, and was cited as a major creditor for Ten in the administration filing. In conjunction with the purchase, CBS Corporation also announces plans to launch an Australian version of its CBS All Access over-the-top service.	[13]

October

Date	Event	Source
27	The Seven Network will broadcast the 2017 Rugby League World Cup	[14]

December

Date	Event	Source
2	The last day of the official 2017 OzTam television ratings period.	[7]
11	SBS announces that established singer Jessica Mauboy, the first indigenous Australian to have a number one in the ARIA Charts, will represent Australia at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest.	[15]
15	Tim McMillan and Emmy Kubainski are sacked as the newsreaders of Nine's Perth news bulletin.	[16]

Television channels

Channel closures

• 23 January – Sky News Election Channel
• 28 February – 31 Digital; succeeded by online streaming service Hitchhike TV

Renamed channels

• 4 December – ABC2 to ABC Comedy

Premieres

Domestic series

List of domestic television series premieres

Program	Original airdate	Network	Source
Bride & Prejudice	30 January	Seven Network	[17]
Murder Uncovered	8 February	Seven Network	[18]
Newton's Law	9 February	ABC	[19]
The Real Housewives of Sydney	26 February	Arena	[20]
Million Dollar Cold Case	15 March	Seven Network	[18]
Seven Types of Ambiguity	13 April	ABC	[21]
The Aussie Property Flippers	26 April	Seven Network	[18]
True Story with Hamish & Andy	5 June	Nine Network	[22]
Australian Ninja Warrior	9 July	Nine Network	[23]
Yummy Mummies	9 July	Seven Network	[18]
Little Big Shots	27 August	Seven Network	[24]
Blue Water Empire	TBA	ABC	[25]
The A List	TBA	Nine Network	[26]
Cosmetic Coffee	October	Seven Network	[27][28]

International series

List of international television series premieres

Program	Original airdate	Network	Country of origin	Source
Revenge Body with Khloé Kardashian	13 January	E!	United States	[29]
Beyond	17 January	FOX8	United States	[30]
Let it Shine	22 January	BBC UKTV	United Kingdom	[30]
Lethal Weapon	29 January	Nine Network	United States	[31]
Rillington Place	8 February	BBC First	United Kingdom	[32]
Legion	9 February	FX	United States	[33][32]
Detroiters	13 February	The Comedy Channel	United States	[34]
So Cosmo	14 February	E!	United States	[34]
APB	16 February	FOX8	United States	[35]
On Thin Ice	18 February	BBC Knowledge	United Kingdom	[34]
Training Day	26 February	Seven Network	United States	[36]
First Family of Hip Hop	27 February	Arena	United States	[37]
The Moonstone	3 March	BBC First	United Kingdom	[37]
Married to Medicine: Houston	4 March	Arena	United States	[37]
Bull	5 March	Network Ten	United States	[38]
Crime Watch Daily	6 March	FOX8	United States	[39]
The Collection	14 March	BBC First	United Kingdom	[40]
Under Arrest	December	Crime + Investigation	Canada	[41]
Mighty Magiswords	TBA	Cartoon Network	United States	[42]
Training Day	TBA	Seven Network	United States	[18]
Trial & Error	TBA	Seven Network	United States	[18]

Telemovies and miniseries

List of domestic telemovie and miniseries premieres

Program	Original airdate(s)	Network	Source
Hoges: The Paul Hogan Story	12 February	Seven Network	[43]
House of Bond	24 April	Nine Network	[44]

List of international telemovie and miniseries premieres

Program	Original airdate(s)	Network	Country of origin	Source

Documentaries

List of domestic television documentary premieres

Program	Original airdate(s)	Network	Source

List of international television documentary premieres

Program	Original airdate(s)	Network	Country of origin	Source

Specials

List of domestic television special premieres

Program	Original airdate(s)	Network(s)	Source

List of international television special premieres

Program	Original airdate(s)	Network(s)	Country of origin	Source
Random and Whacky	4 June	Eleven	Australia	[45][46]
Fanshaw and Crudnut: Attack Of the Slug Santas	16 December	9Go!	Australia	[45][46]

Programming changes

Changes to network affiliation

Criteria 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 criteria 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	Source

List of international television programs which changed network affiliation

Program	Date	New network	Previous network	Country of origin	Source
Bottersnikes and Gumbles	25 September	ABC Me	7TWO	United Kingdom

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 programs which premiered on free-to-air television for the first time

Program	Date	Free-to-air network	Subscription network(s)	Country of origin	Source

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 programs which premiered on subscription television for the first time

Program	Date	Free-to-air network	Subscription network(s)	Source
Long Lost Family	6 March	Network Ten	LifeStyle You	[39]

List of international television programs which premiered on subscription television for the first time

Program	Date	Free-to-air network	Subscription network(s)	Country of origin	Source
State of Affairs	26 January	Seven Network	Universal Channel	United States	[47]

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	Source
The Biggest Loser	14 March	Network Ten	2006–2015	[48]
Hi-5	15 May	9Go!	1999–2011	[49][50]

Endings

List of domestic television series endings

Program	End date	Network	Start date	Source
House Husbands	17 April	Nine Network	2 September 2012	[51]
Love Child	4 July	Nine Network	17 February 2014	[52]

Deaths

• 2 January — Auriel Andrew -(age 69), Indigenous Australian county music singer, appeared on numerous television shows including The Reg Lindsay show, as well as guest roles on Australian soaps like A Country Practice and Blue Heelers[53]
• 15 January — Richard Divall (aged 71), Australian conductor, composer, scholar and Knight to Malta, known for his association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation , as a music director[54]
• 28 January — Sandy Gandhi, (age 58) Indian Australian comedian and newspaper columnist[55]
• 6 February — Ritchie Yorke (age 73), Music journalist, author, historian and broadcaster, contributed to numerous television documentary films, including John and Yoko's Year of Peace and wrote The Real Patsy Kline[56]
• 21 February — Joy Hruby (aged 89), actress, comedian, TV presenter, filmmaker, author and celebrity agent, with a career spanning over 50 years, best known as the hostess and interviewer on show Joys World on Community Television[57]
• 26 January — Fred Parslow (aged 84) Australian actor of television, film and theatre, appeared in The Sullivans, best known for film role in Alvin Purple and his long association with the Melbourne Theatre Company.[58]
• 3 March — Frances Hargreaves (age 62), South African born Australian actress, best known as comedy character of wayward teenager Marilyn McDonald, the daughter of Reg and Edie in Number 96.[59]
• 5 April – Chelsea Brown (aged 74), American-born star, best known for native production comedy Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, of the latter Australian actress who appeared in Graham Kennedys hit, Blankety Blanks, Number 96 and E Street[60]
• 9 April – John Clarke (aged 68), New Zealand-born entertainer, portrayed character Fred Dagg, best known as an actor, comedian, writer and satirist in Australia[61]
• 6 May – Val Jellay, (aged 89), Australian actress of stage, television and film best known for role as Nancy Buckley in The Flying Doctors, and also appeared in Prisoner and Neighbours as Connie O'Rourke.[62]
• 8 May – Lou Richards, (aged 94), AFL player and coach who transitioned to a successful media career, with appearances on The Footy Show and The Sunday Footy Show[63]
• 31 May – Lyn James (aged 87), Welsh-born actress, who started her career in Britain, before emigrating to Australia and becoming best known for her role as Helen Gordon in The Young Doctors[64]
• 3 June- John K. Watts (aged 80) Australian Rules Footballer, radio and television presenter and personality[65]
• 8 June – Jill Singer – (aged 60) Melbourne-based journalist and current affairs personality, hostess of The 7.30 Report and Today Tonight[66]
• 31 July – Les Murray – (aged 71) Hungarian-Australian sports broadcaster (The World Game).[67]
• 13 August – Harry Beitzel – (aged 90) Australian football umpire and broadcaster.[68]
• 25 August – Drew Morphett – (aged 69) Australian sports broadcaster (ABC).[69]
• 30 August – Alan Cassell – (aged 85) Australian actor (Special Squad).[70]
• 6 September – Peter Luck – (aged 73) Australian journalist and television presenter (This Day Tonight).[71]
• 20 October – Judith McGrath, (aged 70) Actress of theatre and television, best known for her roles in Prisoner, A Country Practice and All Saints as Von Ryan.

See also

• 2017 in Australia
• List of Australian films of 2017

References

1. McMahon, Neil (1 January 2017). "ABC New Year's Eve coverage: Not terrible, just tedious". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
2. "ABC's New Year's Eve coverage divides viewers". news.com.au. 1 January 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
3. Weir, James (13 January 2017). "'Go and grab a jacket!': Nine newsreader Amber Sherlock blasts colleague for wearing similar outfit". news.com.au. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
4. "The Bold and The Beautiful to shoot in Australia". If.com.au. 27 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
5. Knox, David (30 January 2017). "2.67m highest Men's Final in a decade". TV Tonight. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
6. Byrnes, Holly (30 January 2017). "Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal pull 2.7 million viewers in monster ratings start for Channel 7". news.com.au. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
7. "OzTam Survey Calendar 2017" (PDF). OzTam (PDF). Retrieved 6 September 2016.
8. Moran, Jonathon (14 March 2017). "Casey Donovan is the first woman to win I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!". news.com.au. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
9. "NBN board member appointed ABC chairman". Yahoo!7 News. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
10. Dunk, Tiffany (20 November 2016). "Peter Helliar, Lisa Wilkison, Jessica Marias expected to get push for Gold nominations". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
11. @MrTVAus (13 August 2017). "SEVEN WIN 2017 RATINGS 🎉 21 weeks won of the 40 week survey, unbeatable position. Lead by #MKR, #HouseRules & the @AFL. Congratulations!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
13. Ryan, Peter (28 August 2017). "US TV giant CBS to buy troubled Ten Network, creating potential streaming rival to Netflix, Stan". ABC News. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
14. Knox, David (18 July 2016). "Seven confirms Rugby League World Cup 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
15. Savage, Mark (11 December 2017). "Australia ups the ante for Eurovision". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
16. Knox, David (16 December 2017). "Nine News dumps Perth anchors". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
17. Knox, David (15 December 2016). "Seven confirms Bride and Prejudice for 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
18. Knox, David (26 October 2016). "Upfronts 2017: Seven highlights". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
19. Byrnes, Holly (28 August 2016). "Claudia Karvan admits girl crush on barrister Josephine Newton in exciting new ABC drama series". The Sunday Telegraph. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
20. Skelly, Katie (22 July 2016). "The Real Housewives of Sydney cast has been revealed!". Woman's Day. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
21. Knox, David (1 September 2016). "ABC delays Seven Types of Ambiguity to 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
22. Knox, David (14 June 2016). "Hamish & Andy returning to Nine in 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
23. Knox, David (22 June 2017). "It's Australian Ninja Warrior premiere v House Rules finale". TV Tonight. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
24. Barraclough, Leo (3 April 2017). "MipTV: 'Little Big Shots' Acquired by Australia's Channel Seven". Variety. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
25. Knox, David (8 July 2016). "Filming to begin on ABC docudrama Blue Water Empire". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
26. "Richard Wilkins to host A-List interview series". Australia News Today. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
27. Siobhan Taylor (15 September 2017). "BRISBANE'S BEST IN THE BIZ FOR COSMETIC SURGERY". Style Magazine.
28. "Cosmetic Coffee". Yahoo!.
29. Purcell, Charles (10 January 2017). "New This Week (Jan 9): Golden Globes, Coast Australia, Close To The Enemy, cricket and live sport". The Green Room. Foxtel. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
30. Purcell, Charles (12 January 2017). "New This Week (Jan 16): Great British Bake Off, Bear Grylls, Teen Wolf, cricket and live sport". The Green Room. Foxtel. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
31. Knox, David (24 January 2017). "Airdate: Lethal Weapon". TV Tonight. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
32. Purcell, Charles (2 February 2017). "New This Week (Feb 6): Legion, Nashville, Black Sails, Big Cat Week, Super Bowl and live sport". The Green Room. Foxtel. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
33. Knox, David (29 July 2016). "FX to fast-track Legion in 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
34. Purcell, Charles (9 February 2017). "New This Week (Feb 13): The Walking Dead, Girls, Gogglebox, Grammy Awards and live sport". The Green Room. Foxtel. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
35. Knox, David (21 January 2017). "Airdate: APB". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
36. Knox, David (20 February 2017). "Airdate: Training Day". TV Tonight. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
37. Purcell, Charles (23 February 2017). "New This Week (Feb 27): Selling Houses Australia, The Missing, FOX LEAGUE launch and live sport". The Green Room. Foxtel. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
38. Knox, David (22 February 2017). "Airdate: Bull. Bumped: 24: Legacy". TV Tonight. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
39. Purcell, Charles (2 March 2017). "New This Week (March 6): Feud: Bette And Joan, Shades Of Blue, India v Australia and live sport". The Green Room. Foxtel. Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
40. Purcell, Charles (9 March 2017). "New This Week (March 13): Top Gear, The Collectors, Kardashians, India v Australia and live sport". The Green Room. Foxtel. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
41. "Airdate: Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders". TV Tonight. 25 September 2017.
42. Knox, David (11 July 2016). "Mighty Magiswords coming to Cartoon Network". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
43. "Hoges Airdate Revealed". fremantlemedia. 1 February 2017. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
44. Knox, David (21 August 2016). "Nine delays House Husbands until 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
45. Knox, David (6 May 2016). "More Home and Away specials for Presto". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
46. Knox, David (29 November 2016). "Home and Away events on Foxtel Play, Presto". TV Tonight. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
47. Purcell, Charles (19 January 2017). "New This Week (Jan 23): Call The Midwife, Suits, Baskets, World Rugby Sevens Series and live sport". The Green Room. Foxtel. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
48. "Renewed: The Biggest Loser will return in 2017 on Ten but with a new look, and weightloss focus". TV Tonight. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
49. Knox, David (16 December 2016). "New-look Hi-5 cast". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
50. Knox, David (27 April 2017). "Returning: Hi-5". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
51. Knox, David (4 February 2018). "Axed: House Husbands". TV Tonight. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
52. "Axed: Love Child". TV Tonight. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
53. "R.I.P. Auriel Andrew (1947–2017)".
54. "Richard Divall has died".
55. "Northern Rivers comedian dies suddenly".
56. "Ritchie Yorke, Brisbane music writer, dies at 73".
57. "Vale: Joy Hruby".
58. "Media Release".
59. David Knox. "Vale:Frances Hargreaves".
60. Paul Cashmere. "R.I.P. Laugh-In Star Chelsea Brown 1947–2017".
61. "John Clarke, satirist and comedian dies, aged 68".
62. "Val Jellay: The Flying Doctors actor dies of pneumonia aged 89".
63. "Lou Richards: Collingwood legend and AFL pioneer dies at 94".
64. "The Young Doctors star Lyn James has died in Sydney, at the age of 87". The Daily Telegraph.
65. "WA football and broadcasting legend John K. Watts dies aged 80". Perth Now.
66. "Jill Singer, Melbourne journalist and broadcaster, dies aged 60".
67. Les Murray dies: Iconic broadcaster passes away aged 71
68. Giant of Australian Rules media, Harry Beitzel, dies
69. Sports broadcaster Drew Morphett dies aged 69
70. Alan Louis Cassell
71. Journalist and TV presenter Peter Luck dead, aged 73