1989 in New Zealand television

Events

• October – Network Two is renamed to Channel 2.
• 26 November – TV3 is launched in New Zealand.
• 27 November – American children's animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles based on the comic book series by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird begins airing on TV3.
• 2 December – American sitcom Family Matters begins premiering on New Zealand television on TV3 three months after its US television debut.
• 5 December – Australian soap Home and Away makes its ever debut in New Zealand with the series transmitting on TV3.
• 8 December – The final editions of Top Half (Auckland) and Today Tonight (Wellington) were broadcast on Channel 2 at 5.45pm.

Debuts

Domestic

• 13 February – After 2 (Network Two) (1989-1991)
• 13 February – 3:45 Live (Network Two) (1989-1990)
• 3 April – Holmes (TV One) (1989-2004)
• 3 April – Sale of the Century (Network Two) (1989-1993)
• 5 April – Shark in the Park (TV One) (1989-1991)
• 18 June – Strangers (Network Two) (1989)
• 9 July – The Shadow Trader (Network Two) (1989)
• 30 October – Blind Date (Channel 2) (1989-1991)
• 27 November – The Early Bird Show (TV3) (1989-1992)
• Betty's Bunch (1989)
• 14 Days on Trial (Channel 2) (1989-1990)
• Your Choice (Channel 2) (1989)
• Space Knights (Channel 2) (1989-1990)
• Night of the Red Hunter (1989)

International

• 8 January – USA Probe (Network Two)
• 13 January – UK The Survival Factor (Network Two)
• 12 February – CAN The Adventures of Snelgrove Snail (TV One)
• 12 February – UK TUGS (TV One)
• 1 April – USA TV 101 (Network Two)
• 1 April – USA AlfTales (TV One)
• 5 April – USA Dear John (USA) (Network Two)
• 5 April – UK No Frills (TV One)
• 6 April – UK Stoppit and Tidyup (TV One)
• 7 April – USA Mission: Impossible (1988) (Network Two)
• 27 April – UK Count Duckula (Channel 2)
• 29 April – UK Saturday Night Clive (TV One)
• 7 May – UK Tube Mice (TV One)
• 7 May – UK Tumbledown Farm (TV One)
• 16 May – UK Charlie Chalk (TV One)
• 2 July – UK Gran (TV One)
• 1 September – USA Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater (TV One)
• 3 September – USA A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (TV One)
• 27 November – USA Garfield and Friends (TV3)
• 27 November – USA The Mickey Mouse Club (1989) (TV3)
• 27 November – USA Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) (TV3)
• 27 November – AUS The Shiralee (TV3)
• 28 November – USA The Nutt House (TV3)
• 1 December – USA In the Heat of the Night (TV3)
• 2 December – USA Mighty Mouse and Friends (TV3)
• 2 December – USA Family Matters (TV3)
• 2 December – USA Midnight Caller (TV3)
• 2 December – USA High Mountain Rangers (TV3)
• 3 December – USA Murphy Brown (TV3)
• 5 December – AUS Home and Away (TV3)
• 7 December – USA Houston Knights (TV3)
• 8 December – USA Empty Nest (TV3)
• 8 December – AUS Hey Dad..! (TV3)
• 8 December – AUS Rafferty's Rules (TV3)
• USA Nightingales (Channel 2)
• UK Surgical Spirit (TV One)
• USA Island Son (Channel 2)
• UK A Bit of a Do (TV One)
• UK Colin's Sandwich (TV One)
• USA China Beach (Channel 2)
• UK Streets Apart (TV One)
• USA Doctor Doctor (Channel 2)
• UK Gruey (Channel 2)
• USA Unsub (Channel 2)
• UK Joint Account (TV One)
• USA Day by Day (Channel 2)
• USA Annie McGuire (Channel 2)
• UK Rockliffe's Folly (TV One)
• USA Paradise (Channel 2)
• UK Hannay (TV One)
• AUS Dadah Is Death (Channel 2)
• USA Baby Boom (Channel 2)
• AUS The Comedy Company (Channel 2)
• USA/FRA Denver, the Last Dinosaur (Channel 2)
• UK Round the Bend (Channel 2)
• USA Hothouse (Channel 2)
• UK/USA Jim Henson's Mother Goose Stories (Channel 2)

New channels

• 26 November – TV3

Changes to network affiliation

This is a list of programs which made their premiere on a New Zealand television network that had previously premiered on another New Zealand 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

Television shows

• Play School (1972–1990)
• University Challenge (1976–1989, 2014–present)
• What Now (1981–present)
• Gloss (1987–1990)
• Betty's Bunch (1989)
• Blind Date (1989–1991)
• The Early Bird Show (1989–1992)
• Shark in the Park (1989–1992)
• After 2 (1989–1991)
• 3:45 Live (1989–1990)

Ending this year

• 16 April – Worzel Gummidge Down Under (also United Kingdom) (1987–1989)
• 5 November – University Challenge (1976–1989, 2014–present)
• Betty's Bunch (1989)

References

References

1. "'Run out of money before we got on air': Mark Jennings on Three's first day".