1986 in Australian television

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Events

Television

• 5 January - SBS ceases VHF transmissions on Channel 0 in Sydney and Melbourne.
• 20 January - Neighbours makes its debut on Network Ten and comes to dominate the 7:00pm weeknight timeslot.
• 25 January - American sitcom starring Soleil Moon Frye and George Gaynes Punky Brewster receives its Australian television debut on Seven Network.
• 28 January - Australian news and current affairs program The 7.30 Report debuts on ABC.
• 30 January - Debut of Australian soap opera Prime Time on Nine Network. It was the very last soap opera from Australia ever produced with exterior location scenes shot on film and interior scenes shot on videotape.
• 10 February - Australian soap opera Return to Eden premieres on Network Ten.
• 13 March - Australia's popular and influential TV sketch comedy The D-Generation which was created and written by a group of students from Melbourne University who had gained local notoriety for their stage work such as Marg Downey, Michael Veitch and Tom Gleisner debuts on ABC.
• 16 March - SBS expands into Perth and Hobart.
• 31 March - ABC airs extra morning programs for children for the first time due to school term breaks from 10:00am to 12:00pm.
• 7 July - Last and final episode of the Australian soap opera Return to Eden airs on Network Ten.
• 23 July - The Royal Wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson is broadcast on all television stations except for SBS.
• 5 August - British police procedural television series The Bill premieres on ABC.
• 19 September - Nine Network celebrates 30 years of television with a two-hour special featuring footage from some of TV's most popular and most remembered programs and personalities.
• 27 October - Neighbours airs on the BBC in the UK for the first time.
• 30 October - The Movie Show begins on SBS.
• November - Pbl Mini series Cyclone Tracy + The Great Bookie Robbery air on Channel Nine
• 11 December - Final episode of the Australian soap opera Prisoner airs on Network Ten.
• 15 December - ABC airs extra morning programs for children during the Summer Holidays from 10:00am to 12:00pm until February where School Term 1 will begin.
• December - The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd, owners of HSV-7 & ADS-7 are sold to Rupert Murdoch's News Limited for $1.8 billion. As News Limited owned ATV-10 at this time, HSV-7 is sold to Fairfax (already owners of ATN-7 & BTQ-7) in February 1987 for $320 million.
• Australian children's series Mr. Squiggle returns with a brand new series with Roxanne Kimmorley taking over as presenter.
• AUSSAT satellites are launched, bringing television to remote areas for the first time.
• The 1986 Commonwealth Games are telecast live on ABC from Edinburgh, Scotland.

Debuts

• 20 January - Off the Dish (Network Ten)
• 28 January - The 7.30 Report (ABC-TV)
• 30 January - Prime Time (Nine Network)
• 10 February - C'mon Kids (Nine Network)
• 10 February - Return to Eden (Network Ten)
• 9 March - A Fortunate Life (Nine Network)
• 13 March - The D-Generation (ABC-TV)
• 20 March - The Girl from Steel City (SBS)
• 31 March - Edge of the Wedge (ABC-TV)
• 3 April - Game of Life (ABC-TV)
• 6 May - The Video Comedy Show (ABC-TV)
• 9 May - Saturdee (Channel Seven)
• 15 May - Fame and Misfortune (ABC-TV)
• 26 May - The Flying Doctors (Nine Network)
• 15 June - Don Spencer's Feathers, Furs or Fins (ABC-TV)
• 19 July - The Cartoon Company (Nine Network)
• 29 July - The Noise (SBS)
• 22 September - My Brother Tom (Network Ten)
• 28 September/30 September - Whose Baby? (28 September: Channel Seven - Melbourne, 30 September: Channel Seven - Sydney)
• 30 September - Studio 86 (ABC-TV)
• 30 September - Filmstruck (ABC-TV)
• 2 October - The Haunted School (ABC-TV)
• 14 October - The Challenge (Nine Network)
• 20 October - Sword of Honour (Channel Seven)
• 30 October - The Movie Show (SBS)
• 10 November - Professor Poopsnagle's Steam Zeppelin (Nine Network)

New international programming

• 2 January - Template:Flagicon Malibu (Nine Network)
• 4 January - Template:Flagicon La Linea (ABC TV)
• 4 January - Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Amigo and Friends (SBS)
• 5 January - Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon The Mighty Orbots (Channel Seven)
• 5 January - Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Snorks (Channel Seven - Sydney)
• 6 January - Template:Flagicon Eye to Eye (Nine Network)
• 7 January - Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Kennedy (Nine Network)
• 8 January - Template:Flagicon The Return (SBS)
• 11 January - Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon The Transformers (Network Ten)
• 23 January - Template:Flagicon The Jockey School (ABC TV)
• 25 January - Template:Flagicon Punky Brewster (Channel Seven)
• 30 January - Template:Flagicon The Happy Apple (ABC TV)
• 31 January - Template:Flagicon Submarine (ABC TV)
• 31 January - Template:Flagicon Highway to Heaven (Network Ten)
• 3 February - Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Lucky Luke (ABC TV)
• 10 February - Template:Flagicon Kane and Abel (Network Ten)
• 11 February - Template:Flagicon Tales from the Darkside (Network Ten)
• 12 February - Template:Flagicon Growing Pains (Nine Network)
• 12 February - Template:Flagicon Who's the Boss? (Nine Network)
• 24 February - Template:Flagicon Inside China (SBS)
• 27 February - Template:Flagicon The Twilight Zone (1985) (Nine Network)
• 4 March - Template:Flagicon A Death in California (Seven Network)
• 5 March - Template:Flagicon Cold Warrior (ABC TV)
• 20 March - Template:Flagicon Office Gossip (SBS)
• 31 March - Template:Flagicon The Bunjee Venture (ABC TV)
• 2 April - Template:Flagicon The Return of Bunjee (ABC TV)
• 2 April - Template:Flagicon Stories from Next Door (SBS)
• 2 April - Template:Flagicon Spooky (ABC TV)
• 3 April - Template:Flagicon Paddington Goes to School (ABC TV)
• 3 April - Template:Flagicon Cuckoo Land (ABC TV)
• 4 April - Template:Flagicon Nobody's Hero (ABC TV)
• 4 April - Template:Flagicon It's Punky Brewster (Channel Seven)
• 6 April - Template:Flagicon Turbo Teen (Network Ten)
• 12 April - Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Star Wars: Ewoks (Network Ten)
• 12 April - Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Star Wars: Droids (Network Ten)
• 12 April - Template:Flagicon Robotech (Network Ten)
• 15 April - Template:Flagicon Moonlighting (Nine Network)
• 27 April - Template:Flagicon The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries (Channel Seven)
• 28 April - Template:Flagicon The Challenge of the Machine Men (Channel Seven)
• 30 April - Template:Flagicon Bits and Bytes (ABC TV)
• 3 May - Template:Flagicon SuperTed (ABC TV)
• 3 May - Template:Flagicon Do It (ABC TV)
• 5 May - Template:Flagicon The Colbys (Nine Network)
• 8 May - Template:Flagicon Sunday Blues (SBS)
• 12 May - Template:Flagicon Longing to Fly (SBS)
• 23 May - Template:Flagicon Smiley's People (ABC TV)
• 23 May - Template:Flagicon Letty (ABC TV)
• 31 May - Template:Flagicon Berrenger's (Channel Seven)
• 5 June - Template:Flagicon Wil Cwac Cwac (ABC TV)
• 5 June - Template:Flagicon The Bear, the Tiger and the Others (ABC TV)
• 10 June - Template:Flagicon Edge of Darkness (ABC TV)
• 14 June - Template:Flagicon Treffpunkt: Deutschland (ABC TV)
• 24 June - Template:Flagicon 'Allo 'Allo! (Channel Seven)
• 30 June - Template:Flagicon Fast Forward (ABC TV)
• 10 July - Template:Flagicon Vayia's Treasure (SBS)
• 15 July - Template:Flagicon Floyd on Fish (SBS)
• 17 July - Template:Flagicon The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ (ABC TV)
• 20 July - Template:Flagicon Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (Channel Seven)
• 24 July - Template:Flagicon The Voyage of the Mimi (ABC TV)
• 27 July - Template:Flagicon The Wuzzles (Channel Seven)
• 2 August - Template:Flagicon T-Bag (ABC TV)
• 3 August - Template:Flagicon The Beiderbecke Affair (ABC TV)
• 5 August - Template:Flagicon The Bill (ABC TV)
• 7 August - Template:Flagicon Quaq Quao (ABC TV)
• 10 August - Template:Flagicon Me and My Girl (Channel Seven)
• 11 August - Template:Flagicon Yes Prime Minister (ABC TV)
• 12 August - Template:Flagicon Terry and the Gunrunners (ABC TV)
• 13 August - Template:Flagicon The Morca Mystery (SBS)
• 13 August - Template:Flagicon Fiery Skies (SBS)
• 13 August - Template:Flagicon Doubletake (Network Ten)
• 13 August - Template:Flagicon The Haunting of Cassie Palmer (ABC TV)
• 16 August - Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon The Irish R.M. (ABC TV)
• 17 August - Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Spearfield's Daughter (Channel Seven)
• 21 August - Template:Flagicon Victoria Wood as Seen on TV (ABC TV)
• 23 August - Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon M.A.S.K. (Nine Network)
• 24 August - Template:Flagicon The Centurions (Network Ten)
• 26 August - Template:Flagicon Street Hawk (Network Ten)
• 6 September - Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon ThunderCats (Channel Seven)
• 11 September - Template:Flagicon Anna of the Five Towns (ABC TV)
• 11 September - Template:Flagicon The Comic Strip Presents... (ABC TV)
• 14 September - Template:Flagicon Mansfield Park (ABC TV)
• 17 September - Template:Flagicon Finnegan Begin Again (Channel Seven)
• 18 September - Template:Flagicon Spenser: For Hire (Nine Network)
• 19 September - Template:Flagicon Stookie (ABC TV)
• 22 September - Template:Flagicon Going Bananas (ABC TV)
• 23 September - Template:Flagicon The Croc-Note Show (ABC TV)
• 25 September - Template:Flagicon I Had Three Wives (Nine Network)
• 29 September - Template:Flagicon Small Wonder (Nine Network)
• 30 September - Template:Flagicon Chessgame (Nine Network)
• 6 October - Template:Flagicon All at No 20 (ABC TV)
• 15 October - Template:Flagicon The Last Precinct (Network Ten)
• 26 October - Template:Flagicon Galtar and the Golden Lance (Channel Seven)
• 27 October - Template:Flagicon On Wings of Eagles (Network Ten)
• 4 November - Template:Flagicon Lady Blue (Channel Seven)
• 7 November - Template:Flagicon Airwolf (Channel Seven)
• 10 November - Template:Flagicon 227 (Network Ten)
• 10 November - Template:Flagicon Call to Glory (Network Ten)
• 10 November - Template:Flagicon The Magical World of Gigi (Network Ten)
• 11 November - Template:Flagicon The Best Times (Channel Seven)
• 11 November - Template:Flagicon Foley Square (Nine Network)
• 11 November - Template:Flagicon Mary (Nine Network)
• 11 November - Template:Flagicon Lime Street (Channel Seven)
• 12 November - Template:Flagicon Our Family Honor (Channel Seven)
• 12 November - Template:Flagicon Detective in the House (Channel Seven)
• 13 November - Template:Flagicon Call to Glory (Network Ten)
• 14 November - Template:Flagicon Riptide (Network Ten)
• 17 November - Template:Flagicon Relative Strangers (ABC TV)
• 23 November - Template:Flagicon Jem (Network Ten)
• 25 November - Template:Flagicon MacGruder and Loud (Nine Network)
• 27 November - Template:Flagicon Hawaiian Heat (Nine Network)
• 12 December - Template:Flagicon Aspel and Co. (ABC TV)
• 15 December - Template:Flagicon Roland Rat (ABC TV)
• 15 December - Template:Flagicon Country GP (ABC TV)
• 15 December - Template:Flagicon Let's Read with Basil Brush (ABC TV)
• 18 December - Template:Flagicon You Again? (Network Ten)
• 21 December - Template:Flagicon Freud (ABC TV)
• 21 December - Template:Flagicon He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special (Channel Seven)
• 22 December - Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon The Care Bears (Network Ten)
• 28 December - Template:Flagicon The Flintstones' 25th Anniversary Celebration (Channel Seven)
• 29 December - Template:Flagicon The Hot Shoe Show (ABC TV)
• 29 December - Template:Flagicon Television Parts (ABC TV)
• 31 December - Template:Flagicon An Audience with Billy Connolly (ABC TV)

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

Program	New network(s)	Previous network(s)	Date
Neighbours	Network Ten	Seven Network
The Maestro's Company	ABC TV	SBS

Television shows

1950s

• Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959 – 1999)

1960s

• Four Corners (1961 – present)

1970s

• Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971 – 1999, 2009 – 2010)
• Young Talent Time (1971 – 1989)
• Countdown (1974 – 1987)
• 60 Minutes (1979 – present)
• Prisoner (1979 – 1986)

1980s

• Sale of the Century (1980 – 2001)
• Wheel of Fortune (1981 – 2008)
• Sunday (1981 – 2008)
• Today (1982 – present)
• Perfect Match (1984 – 1989)
• Neighbours (1985 – present)
• The Flying Doctors (1986 – 1993)

Ending this year

Date	Show	Channel	Debut
24 January	The National	ABC TV	4 March 1985
7 July	Return to Eden	Network Ten	10 February 1986
11 July	Saturdee	Channel Seven	9 May 1986
29 September (Melbourne)/1 October (Sydney)	Whose Baby?	Channel Seven	28 September 1986 (Melbourne)/30 September 1986 (Sydney)
16 October	The Challenge	Nine Network	14 October 1986
23 October	Sword of Honour	Channel Seven	20 October 1986
11 December	Prisoner	Network Ten	27 February 1979

See also

• 1986 in Australia
• List of Australian films of 1986