1 January – Digital Television arrives in the major state capitals of Australia and states in it, with the ABC and SBS permitted to operate multi-channel services.
5 February – The Weakest Link premieres on the Seven Network, airing twice a week, Mondays and Fridays, however, shortly before the commencement of the AFL season, the latter edition is moved forwards to Thursdays in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and then in Sydney and Brisbane after the conclusion of the AFL season.
11 February – The Network Ten undergoes a major revamp in its production and circle logo and on air graphics as a part of a new network re-launch, with the launch of its motto Seriously Ten, which are both currently in use to the 2012 revamp.
25 April – Brooke Marshall wins the second season of The Mole, taking home $100,000 in prize money. Michael Laffy is revealed as the Mole, and Hal Pritchard is the runner-up.
7 May – Nine players who were voted off The Weakest Link early in previous episodes were given a second chance to win up to $100,000.
27 May – Nine previous winners of The Weakest Link appear on the show again for another chance to win up to $100,000. In this episode, the $10,000 bank target is achieved again.
2 June – The ABBA Tribute Show goes to air live on the Nine Network.
Australian soap opera Home and Away has switched over to air on Channel 5 in the UK after ITV lost the rights to the series.
31 July – Australian miniseries Blue Murder finally screens in NSW and the ACT for the very first time on the ABC six years after its broadcast in other states and territories due to the life sentence of Neddy Smith.
1 August – The ABC launches its very first digital multi-channel service ABC Kids. The channel airs programmes aimed at children and runs from 6:00am to 6:00pm.
7 August – The final episode of Water Rats goes to air on the Nine Network and the show was axed after six years.
Long running Australian soap opera Neighbours begins airing on television stations in Ireland for the very first time on RTÉ.
11 September – Television networks relay coverage from CNN, NBC, ABC America and the BBC for up to 48 hours in the wake of 11 September attacks. Ten News made the record books as the first Australian Television News Service to ever cover the Coverage on its Late News bulletin with Sandra Sully.
29 September – The Seven Network televises its final game of AFL until March 2007.
1 November – The ABC launches another digital multi-channel service called Fly TV. Airing from 6:00pm to 6:00am, the channel broadcasts music videos, reviews, comedy, drama, news programming, sport programmes, cartoons and current affairs for teenagers and young adults.
29 November – After 21 years, Sale of the Century is "rested". It later returns to the Nine Network as Temptation in 2005 and runs until 2007, and again 2008 until 2009. Also another Nine Network game show Burgo's Catch Phrase has given the axe after 4 years.
December – The Nine Network will introduce a watermark on its programs. Until now, the Channel Nine watermark will now be broadcast on all news (until 2008 for the major revamp of its news bulletins, but reinstated in late 2009), current affairs and Live programs.
December – A record $72,900 is won on The Weakest Link's special titled The Best of the Best.
This is a list of programmes 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.
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.
^ abcIdato, Michael (17 June 2001). "Briefs". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 3. Retrieved 27 December 2009. Friends, makes its long overdue cable premiere in Australia on July 3. The cable channel Oh! will also premiere The Drew Carey Show in July and E.R. in August.
Fat Dog Mendoza
Yvon of the Yukon
Maury[2]
Custer's Last Stand Up[3]
Being Eve[5]
Cardcaptors
Rainbow Fish
/
Braceface
Meeow!
Dumb Bunnies