1997 in Australian television

Events

• January - Rob Elliott takes over as host of Wheel Of Fortune. The programme starts 1997 without Adriana Xenides as she takes long term leave as letter turner, she returns the puzzleboard in July 1997.
• 1 July - Prime Television comes to Mildura, ending a monopoly on commercial television held by STV-8 since 1965.
• 1 November - TCN-9 stages the first trial of digital television in the Southern Hemisphere.
• September - Jo Beth Taylor resigns as host of Australia's Funniest Home Video Show as part of the show's biggest hosts in history - she is replaced by Getaway reporter, Catriona Rowntree, and then axed.

Channels

New channels

• 1 June – Ovation Channel^[1]
• 1 July – Odyssey Channel^[2]
• 1 September – The LifeStyle Channel^[3]
• 7 September – Movie Extra^[3]

Rebranded channels

• 20 March – MTV Australia (was ARC Music Channel)^[4]
• 18 April – Channel V Australia (was Red)^[4]
• 7 September – Movie One (was The Movie Network)^[3]

Debuts

Subscription Television

International

Television shows

ABC

• Four Corners (1961–present)

Seven Network

• Wheel of Fortune (1981–1996, 1996–2003, 2004–2008)
• Home and Away (1988–present)
• Blue Heelers (1994–2006)
• The Great Outdoors (1993–present)
• Today Tonight (1995–present)

Nine Network

• Today (1982–present)
• Sale of the Century (1980–2001)
• A Current Affair (1971–1978, 1988–present)
• Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971–1999)
• Midday (1973–1998)
• 60 Minutes (1979–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)
• Water Rats (1996–2001)
• Burgo's Catch Phrase (1997–2001, 2002–2003)
• The Price is Right (1993–1998)

Network Ten

• Neighbours (Seven Network 1985, Network Ten 1986–present)
• GMA with Bert Newton (1991–2005)

Ending / Resting this year

References