2011 in Australian television
This is a list of Australian television events and premieres which occurred in 2011. This year will be the 56th year of continuous operation of television in Australia.
Events
- 11 January – Ten Network Holdings and CBS Studios International launch digital multi-channel Eleven, which replaces the standard definition simulcast of One HD.[1] Network Ten also permanently shifts its long-running soap opera Neighbours to the new channel after having aired the series for 24 years. The first episode on Eleven was its highest-rated program of the night, recording 254,000 metropolitan viewers.[2]
- 13 January – The Australian Government lifts restrictions on the anti-siphoning rule to allow the Seven Network to air parts of the Australian Open on its digital multichannel 7Two.[3]
- 16 January – Prime Television and GWN Television rebrand as Prime7 and GWN7 respectively, reaffirming their alignment with the Seven Network. The "Prime" on-screen watermark is also removed for Seven Network digital multichannels 7Two and 7mate.
- 24 January – The launch of 6PM with George Negus and Ten Evening News marks Network Ten's return to the regular broadcasting of news and current affairs programs in the 6:00–7:00 pm timeslot for the first time in 20 years. The new line-up is in direct competition with news and current affairs offerings on both the Seven and Nine networks.[4]
- 27 April – Two days before it was due to air, ABC Television is forced to cancel their planned coverage of the Wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton, which was to be a "satirical commentary" by The Chaser, due to restrictions imposed by Clarence House.[5] Set to air on ABC2, The Chaser’s Royal Wedding Commentary, was instead replaced by a simulcast of BBC's coverage and commentary of the wedding.[5]
- 28 April – The Australian Football League (AFL) television broadcast rights for the 2012 to 2016 seasons is awarded to the Seven Network and Foxtel in a record $1.253 billion deal (including mobile and internet coverage awarded to Telstra).[6][7] The Seven Network will broadcast four games each round, three of them live, as well as all finals live.[6][7] For the first time, Foxtel will broadcast all nine matches each round, as well as all finals except the Grand Final, live, simulcasting the Seven Network's coverage of its four games.[6][7] Foxtel will also relaunch a dedicated AFL channel after its previous attempt, the Fox Footy Channel, ceased broadcasting in 2006.[6][7]
- 2 May – Emma Duncan wins the sixth season of The Biggest Loser.
- 8 May – Network Ten shifts the focus of its high-definition digital multichannel One from purely sports coverage and programming, to a mix of general entertainment and sports, specifically targeting audiences in the male 24-to-54-year-old demographic.[8]
- 10 July – TV chef Manu Feildel, alongside professional dance partner Alana Patience, win the eleventh season of Dancing with the Stars.
- 28 July – 7TWO, 7mate, GEM, GO!, ONE & ELEVEN expand to South Western Australia.
- 1 August – Surfers and best friends Tyler Atkins and Nathan Jolliffe win the first season of The Amazing Race Australia.
- 2 August – Jack Vidgen wins the fifth season of Australia's Got Talent.
- 7 August – Kate Bracks wins the third season of MasterChef Australia.
- 21 August – Polly Porter and Warwick "Waz" Jones win the fourth season of The Block.
- 7 September – Robert Davidov wins the first series of Top Design Australia.
- 9 September – Nine Network confirmed that they were bringing back Big Brother Australia in 2012.
- 12 September – Dylan Cooper wins the third season of Project Runway Australia.
- 30 September – Ten Late News and Sports Tonight withdrawn their Broadcasts for the very last time.
- 12 October – Michael Lynch wins the first series of The Renovators.
- 25 October Montana Cox wins the seventh season of Australia's Next Top Model.
- 11 November – 7TWO, 7mate, GEM, GO!, ONE & ELEVEN expand to South Eastern South Australia.
- 21 November – Comedienne Julia Morris wins the first season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia.
- 22 November – Reece Mastin wins the third series of The X Factor.
- 23 November – Greta Yaxley wins the second season of Junior MasterChef Australia.
- 24 November – Sarah Lawther and Lachlan Cosgrove win the third season of Beauty and the Geek Australia.
- December – The Seven Network breaks the record of winning all 40 weeks of ratings.
Deaths
- 8 January – Geoff Raymond (aged 89), news presenter.[9]
- 21 May – Bill Hunter (aged 71), actor[10]
- June 11th, James Elliot (aged 82) Scottish-born Australian actor, best known as Alf Sutcliffe Number 96[11]
Channels
- New channels
- 11 January – Eleven
- 29 May – Disney Junior
- 28 July - 7TWO, GO!, GEM, ONE, ELEVEN & 7mate (Albany/Bunbury)
- 11 November - February 2012 - 7TWO, GO!, GEM, ONE, ELEVEN & 7mate (Mount Gambier/Riverland)
- Renamed channels
- 16 January – Prime7 (replacing Prime)
- 16 January – GWN7 (replacing GWN)
- 1 May – ABC4 Kids (replacing ABC For Kids on 2, but shared with ABC2)
- 8 May – One (replacing One HD)
Premieres
Domestic series
International series
Telemovies
Miniseries
- Domestic
- International
| Program |
Channel |
Debut date |
Reference/s |
Collision  Collision |
ABC1 |
2011-01-07 !7 January |
[16] |
| Murderland Murderland |
ABC1 |
2011-01-28 !28 January |
[17] |
Kennedys, The  The Kennedys |
ABC1 |
2011-05-22 !22 May |
[18] |
Documentaries
- Domestic
- International
Programming changes
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
International
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.
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.
Ended this year
Returning this year
Notes
- ↑ Originally, the fourth episode of Between the Lines was due to be the final episode broadcast on 2 June 2011;[35][36] the Nine Network then decided to air the sole remaining episode produced the following week on 9 June 2011,[36] however, they reversed this decision screening the first part of Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice.[23] The final episode is therefore yet to air.
References
- ↑ Knox, David (11 January 2011). "ELEVEN is on the air". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (10 January 2011). "Week 3". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ↑ Chessell, James (13 January 2011). "Conroy agrees to extra air time for Australian Open". The Australian. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (19 January 2011). "TEN takes time for News". TV Tonight. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Knox, David (28 April 2011). "Not amused. Chaser’s Royal Wedding commentary cancelled". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Witham, Jennifer (28 April 2011). "AFL seals broadcast deal". AFL BigPond Network. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "AFL secures TV rights deal for next five years worth $1.253 billion". 28 April 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (28 April 2011). "NONE to relaunch with entertainment in May". TV Tonight. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (8 January 2011). "Vale: Geoff Raymond". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ↑ "Australian acting legend Bill Hunter dies from cancer at 71". The Australian. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ↑ "Web: Obituary: James Elliot".
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Knox, David (28 January 2011). "Airdate: Underbelly Files: Lucifer / Infiltration / Man Who Got Away". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (28 April 2011). "Airdate: Blood Brothers". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (14 December 2010). "Foxtel: 2011 slate". TV Tonight. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (17 March 2011). "Airdate: Cloudstreet". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (3 January 2011). "Airdate: Collision". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (16 January 2011). "Airdate: Murderland". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (29 April 2011). "Airdate: The Kennedys". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (21 January 2011). "Airdate: Living the End". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (23 February 2011). "Airdate: The Irish in Australia". TV Tonight. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David. "Airdate: The Secret History of Eurovision". TV Tonight. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David. "Airdate: Madagascar". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Knox, David (7 June 2011). "Airdate: Madagascar". TV Tonight. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (28 January 2011). "SBS handpicks from across the globe". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (19 October 2011). "Airdate: Teenage Paparazzo". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (January 2011). "Week 3". TV Tonight. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (28 April 2011). "Airdate: Jersey Shore". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (14 January 2011). "Sons of Anarchy coming (later) to ELEVEN". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (3 May 2011). "Airdate: Penguins Of Madagascar". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (23 February 2011). "Axed: Ben Elton Live from Planet Earth". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (30 March 2011). "City Homicide... it’s a crime". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Knox, David (30 December 2011). "Axed in 2011". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ↑ Knox, David (31 March 2011). "The end for East West 101". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ↑ Knox, David (28 May 2011). "Gallery: Farewell to East West 101". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 Knox, David (27 May 2011). "Axed: Between the Lines". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 Vickery, Colin (3 June 2011). "Final episode of Eddie McGuire's Between The Lines to be aired". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
- ↑ Vickery, Colin (5 July 2011). "Channel 10 stars face chop in major restructure". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ↑ "Fuzzy shrugs off Video Hits axing". Herald Sun. 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (31 July 2011). "Axed: Rescue Special Ops won’t be renewed". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ↑ Knox, David (5 September 2011). "Farewell: Rescue Special Ops". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ↑ Knox, David (8 September 2011). "Top Design picks its winner, but...". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ↑ "Top Gear Australia axed". 14 September 2011.
- ↑ "Top Gear Australia hits the skids". Adelaide Now. 15 September 2011.
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 Sandra Sully replaces Deborah Knight and joins Bill Woods in Ten news revamp at 5pm, late news cancelled, The Daily Telegraph, 21 September 2011
- ↑ Devlyn, Darren (19 October 2011). "Ten dumps 6.30pm with George Negus, 7PM Project expanded to an hour". Herald Sun. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (8 November 2011). "Seven not renewing Wild Boys". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ↑ Byrnes, Holly (8 November 2011). "Wild Boys won't return to Channel Seven in 2012". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ↑ Knox, David (25 May 2011). "Spicks and Specks to end in November". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
- ↑ Knox, David (25 November 2011). "Kerri-Anne: “I sincerely believe I will see you in the future, Thankyou...”". TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ↑ "Network Ten axes RPM program". SpeedCafe. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ↑ Knox, David (17 February 2012). "Axed: RPM". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
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