2002 in Australian television

Overview of the events of 2002 in Australian television

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## Events

[edit]

* 25 January – Richard Morecroft reads his last ABC News bulletin. He is replaced the following Monday by Tony Eastley.
* 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.
* 20 February – American science fiction fantasy series Star Trek: Enterprise premieres on the Nine Network.
* 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. The team performed well against expectations, winning only $14,100, the lowest amount ever won on the Australian version of the show. On The Mole, this figure is rounded up to $15,000. The show was cancelled 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 remained until Ten lost the rights at the end of 2011.
* 28 March – The Nine Network televises its first AFL game until Nine lost the TV rights at the end of 2006.
* 30 March – The Western Front premieres on Network Ten in Perth and was hosted by Tim Gossage and Lachy Reid.
* 30 March – Network Ten televises its first AFL game until Ten lost the TV rights at the end of 2011.
* 8 April – Frasier returns to the Nine Network and the show debuts its 7:00 pm weeknight timeslot.
* 8 April – Australian media analysis television program Media Watch returns to air on the ABC several months after the broadcaster had removed its former managing director Jonathan Shier with David Marr taking over as host as Paul Barry had been sacked by Shier in 2000 following its cancellation.
* 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.
* 2 May – Final episode of the Australian drama series (which is the very first television series in Australia to be filmed in widescreen) Something in the Air airs on ABC.
* 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.
* 2 July – American science fiction fantasy series Smallville premieres on the Nine Network.
* 26 July – Mixy ends after 4-year run and it will be replaced by children's weekday morning and afternoon blocks on the ABC.
* 6 August – Eddie McGuire and Catriona Rowntree present an all new IQ test television series called Test Australia: The National IQ Test which is airing on Nine Network. It has also been ranked as the most watched television show for 2002 in Australia.
* 8 August – The American action drama series 24 premieres on the Seven Network.
* 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 Southern Star Endemol, leading into Nine's most-watched 6pm news bulletin.
* TV and radio personality Dylan Lewis is voted winner of Celebrity Big Brother.
* The Australian drama White Collar Blue premieres on Network Ten.
* September – SBS launches its first Digital channel, the SBS World News Channel.
* 1 September – The Nine Network undergoes a revamp to change their on-air graphics, including changing their dots back to spears as well as the numeral becoming 3D for the colour-coded days.
* 30 September – The Wiggles return to television with a brand new television series called Lights, Camera, Action, Wiggles! airing for the first time ever on ABC.
* 4 October – Beyblade premieres on Fox Kids and two weeks later on Network Ten as part of Cheez TV. Also that day, David Koch takes over from Chris Reason as co-host of Sunrise, a role which he still holds as of today.[1]
* 29 November – Brian Henderson retires from reading Sydney's National Nine News after four decades. He is replaced the following Monday by Jim Waley, who manages to keep the bulletin on top of the ratings in Sydney for the next two years.[2]

## Channels

[edit]

### New channels

[edit]

* 6 March – Fox Footy Channel

### Defunct channels

[edit]

* 30 November – Oh! (replaced by FOX8 on Optus Television)

## Premieres

[edit]

### Domestic series

[edit]

Program  | Channel  | Debut date

|
|

The Garden Gurus | Nine Network | 2 February
Shafted | Nine Network | 11 February
Pass the Buck | Nine Network | 11 February
Auction Squad | Seven Network | 13 February
Australian Survivor | Nine Network | 13 February
Fear Factor | Nine Network | 19 February
Saturday Night Footy | Network Ten | 30 March
Kath & Kim | ABC TV | 16 May
Old Tom | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 6 June
Young Lions | Nine Network | 17 July
Celebrity Big Brother | Network Ten | 21 July
MDA | ABC TV | 23 July
Test Australia: The National IQ Test | Nine Network | 6 August
White Collar Blue | Network Ten | 12 August
Creature Features[3] | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 9 September
CNNNN | ABC TV | 19 September
Lights, Camera, Action, Wiggles! | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 30 September
Don't Blame Me | Nine Network | 6 October
Fairy Tale Police Department | Seven Network | 18 October
Mornings with Kerri-Anne | Nine Network | 28 October
Bad Cop, Bad Cop | ABC TV | 18 November

### International series

[edit]

Program  | Channel  | Debut date

|
|

Level 9 | Nine Network | 4 January
Yizo Yizo | SBS TV | 5 January
Two Thousand Acres of Sky | Seven Network | 6 January
The Strip | Nine Network | 7 January
Hitler's Holocaust | SBS TV | 10 January
/ Secrets of the Dead | SBS TV | 13 January
The Cindy Margolis Show | Nine Network | 14 January
Vampires, Pirates and Aliens | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 30 January
Atlantis High | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 4 February
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
Eddy and the Bear | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 4 February
Little Ghosts | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 4 February
The Famous Five (1995) | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 5 February
The Adventures of Dawdle the Donkey | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 9 February
Black Books | ABC TV | 14 February
The Six Wives of Henry VIII | ABC TV | 17 February
North Square[4] | ABC TV | 20 February
Star Trek: Enterprise | Nine Network | 20 February
Digimon Tamers | Network Ten | 26 February
/ Don't Eat the Neighbours | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 7 March
The Kumars at No. 42 | ABC TV | 21 March
Connie the Cow | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 17 April
/ Guinevere Jones | Network Ten | 4 May
Rescue Heroes | Network Ten | 6 May
Night and Day | ABC TV | 7 May
The Legend of Tarzan | Seven Network | 18 May
Angelina Ballerina | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 27 May
Fourways Farm | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 6 June
/ Starhill Ponies | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 6 June
/ Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001) | Network Ten | 9 June
Sir Gadabout: The Worst Knight in the Land | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 10 June
Molly's Gang | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 10 June
Dog and Duck | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 10 June
Construction Site | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 12 June
Teacher's Pet | Seven Network | 22 June
/ Queer as Folk | SBS TV | 1 July
Smallville | Nine Network | 2 July
The Way We Live Now (2001) | ABC TV | 7 July
The Book Group | ABC TV | 12 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[5] | Nine Network | 2 September
Medabots | Network Ten | 14 September
The Ripping Friends | Fly TV (digital only)  | 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[6] | Nine Network | 23 September
Small Potatoes (1999) | ABC TV | 3 October
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
Dr. Phil | Nine Network | 21 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
Foyle's War | ABC TV | 8 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
The Adventures of Mole | Seven Network | 26 December
The Adventures of Toad | Seven Network | 27 December
Animal Ark | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
// Anthony Ant | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
/// Upstairs, Downstairs Bears | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
// Blazing Dragons | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
Buzz and Poppy | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
Oscar Charlie | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
Binka | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
Snailsbury Tales | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
Oswald | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
/ Slim Pig | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
The Wheels on the Bus | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
/ Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings (2002) | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
/ Henry's World | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
The Fantastic Flying Journey | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
Mopatop's Shop | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
Skipper & Skeeto | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
Microscopic Milton | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
Letters from Felix | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
Coupling | ABC TV | 2002
Scrubs | Seven Network | 2002
24 | Seven Network | 2002
Sheena | Network Ten | 2002
The Queen's Nose | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
/ Clifford the Big Red Dog | Nine Network | 2002
/ The Dead Zone | Nine Network | 2002
Footballers' Wives | Network Ten | 2002
Amazon | Nine Network | 2002
Dog Eat Dog | Seven Network | 2002
Really Wild Animals | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
Freakylinks | Nine Network | 2002
// Dark Realm | Nine Network | 2002
Hollywood 7 | Seven Network | 2002
/ The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002
Hype | Nine Network | 2002
Big Bag | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 2002

#### Subscription television

[edit]

##### Domestic

[edit]

Program  | Channel  | Debut date

|
|

A Day in the Life[7] | Arena | 20 February

##### International

[edit]

Program  | Channel  | Debut date

|
|

Osbournes, The The Osbournes[8] | MTV | 4 April
Shinzo | Fox Kids  | 8 April
Time Squad Time Squad[9] | Cartoon Network | 3 May
Justice League Justice League[9] | Cartoon Network | 8 June
// The Cramp Twins | Cartoon Network | 1 July
The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius[10] | Nickelodeon | 26 July
Zoids: Chaotic Century Zoids: Chaotic Century[11] | Cartoon Network | 2 September
Beyblade | Fox Kids  | 4 October
Story of Tracy Beaker, The The Story of Tracy Beaker[12] | Nickelodeon | 18 October
Fun at the Funeral Parlor[13] | UKTV | 22 October
Anna Nicole Show, The The Anna Nicole Show[14] | Arena | 5 November
Lenny Henry in Pieces[15] | UKTV | 9 November
Yu-Gi-Oh! | Nickelodeon | 2002
The Fairly OddParents! | Nickelodeon | 2002
Invader Zim | Nickelodeon | 2002
Kim Possible | Disney Channel | 2002

## Specials

[edit]

Program  | Channel  | Debut date

|
|

2002 Country Music Association Awards[15] | Main Event | 7 November

### Free-to-air premieres

[edit]

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

[edit]

Program  | Free-to-air network  | Subscription network  | Date

|
|
|

The Osbournes[16][17] | Network Ten | MTV | 1 July

### Subscription premieres

[edit]

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

[edit]

Program  | Subscription network  | Free-to-air network  | Date

|
|
|

Li'l Horrors | Fox Kids  | Seven Network | 2002

#### International

[edit]

Program  | Subscription network  | Free-to-air network  | Date

|
|
|

/ The Saddle Club | Fox Kids  | ABC TV | 2002
Saved by the Bell: The College Years Saved by the Bell: The College Years[12] | Nickelodeon | Seven Network | 5 October
Mary-Kate and Ashley in Action! Mary-Kate and Ashley in Action![12] | Nickelodeon | [citation needed] | 14 October

### Changes to network affiliation

[edit]

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

[edit]

Program  | New network(s)  | Previous network(s)  | Date

|
|
|

Elly & Jools | ABC Kids (digital only)  | Nine Network | 23 February
Lizzie's Library | ABC Kids (digital only)  | ABC TV | 2002

#### International

[edit]

Program  | New network(s)  | Previous network(s)  | Date

|
|
|

The Zack Files | ABC TV | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 27 February
/ George Shrinks | ABC TV | ABC Kids (digital only)  | 1 April
Sailor Moon | Network Ten | Seven Network | 12 April
Percy the Park Keeper | ABC TV, ABC Kids (digital only)  | Nine Network | 1 August
The Forgotten Toys (TV special)  | Seven Network | ABC TV | 21 December
The New Adventures of Madeline | Seven Network | ABC TV | 22 December
The First Snow of Winter | Seven Network | ABC TV | 24 December
Harry and the Hendersons | Network Ten | ABC TV | 2002
The Kids of Degrassi Street | ABC Kids (digital only)  | ABC TV | 2002
Katie and Orbie | ABC Kids (digital only)  | ABC TV | 2002
/ The Animals of Farthing Wood | ABC Kids (digital only)  | ABC TV | 2002
/ Babar | ABC Kids (digital only)  | ABC TV | 2002
Koki | ABC Kids (digital only)  | ABC TV | 2002
Barney & Friends | ABC Kids (digital only)  | Nine Network | 2002
Bananaman | ABC Kids (digital only)  | ABC TV | 2002
Byker Grove | ABC Kids (digital only)  | ABC TV | 2002
Bump in the Night | ABC Kids (digital only)  | ABC TV | 2002
The Greedysaurus Gang | ABC Kids (digital only)  | ABC TV | 2002
Degrassi Junior High | ABC Kids (digital only)  | ABC TV | 2002
Monty | ABC Kids (digital only)  | ABC TV | 2002
True Tilda | ABC Kids (digital only)  | ABC TV | 2002

## Ending / resting this year

[edit]

Date | Show | Channel | Debut

|
|
|

11 January  | Cybergirl | Network Ten | 21 July 2001
22 April  | The Weakest Link | Seven Network | 5 February 2001
2 May  | Something in the Air | ABC TV | 17 January 2000
7 July  | Halifax f.p. | Seven Network | 9 October 1994
26 July  | Mixy | ABC TV | 16 February 1998
29 September  | All Aussie Adventures | Network Ten | 5 August 2001
14 November  | BackBerner | ABC TV | 19 August 1999
18 December  | Young Lions | Nine Network | 17 July 2002

## See also

[edit]

* 2002 in Australia
* List of Australian films of 2002

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Coy, Bronte (6 November 2017). "Why Kochie was almost fired from Sunrise". Coffs Coast Advocate. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
2. ^ Peatling, Stephanie (3 December 2002). "The Waley it is ..." The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2007.
3. ^ Hassall, Greg (9 September 2002). "Review of Creature Features". The Sydney Morning Herald's The Guide: 14–15.
4. ^ Courtis, Brian (20 February 2002). "Silky briefs and stolen Y-fronts". The Age. Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 12. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
5. ^ 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.
6. ^ 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.
7. ^ "Day in the life reveals sweet surprises". Herald Sun. Melbourne, Australia: News Limited. 17 February 2002. p. X03.
8. ^ 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 4 April at 7pm."
9. ^ a b "Toon Watch". Toon HQ (1). Cartoon Network (Australia): 6. 2002.
10. ^ "What's New On Nick? – July / August 2002". Nickelodeon (Australia). 2002. Archived from the original on 4 August 2002. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
11. ^ "Toon Watch". Toon HQ (2). Cartoon Network (Australia): 5. 2002.
12. ^ a b c "What's New On Nick? – July / August 2002". Nickelodeon (Australia). 2002. Archived from the original on 4 December 2002. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
13. ^ "UKTV Highlights". UKTV (Australia and New Zealand). 2002. Archived from the original on 19 October 2002. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
14. ^ Miller, Kylie (30 October 2003). "NETWORKING". The Age Green Guide. Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 12. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
15. ^ a b "FOXTEL Highlights (General Entertainment)". Foxtel. Archived from the original on 6 November 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
16. ^ Melloy, Neil (22 June 2002). "Ozzy-speak defies bleeper". Courier Mail. Brisbane, Australia: News Limited. p. 18.
17. ^ Farrer, Gordon (28 June 2002). "Unholy and mundane". The Age. Melbourne, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 17. Retrieved 17 December 2009.

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2002 in television

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Years in Australian television

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