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2011 in Australian television

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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. 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.
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 while Seven News airs on the primary channel. This practice has continued in subsequent years.
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 April – Seven picks up the rights to televise Wimbledon, and in doing so, promises viewers live coverage of most matches including the men's and women's singles semi-finals, and championship matches.
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. 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.
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). The Seven Network will broadcast four games each round, three of them live, as well as all finals live. 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. Foxtel will also relaunch a dedicated AFL channel after its previous attempt, the Fox Footy Channel, ceased broadcasting in 2006.
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.
26 June – Heather Foord presents her final Nine News Queensland bulletin before retiring from television permanently; she is replaced the following weekend by Eva Milic.
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 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.
20 and 21 August – The Nine Network's most-watched Queensland news bulletin conducts two crosses to journalists in a helicopter claiming to be "near Beerwah, Queensland", where the remains of murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe had been found earlier that month. However, the crosses are revealed to be fake when, on the second night, rival station Channel Seven filmed footage of the Nine helicopter sitting on the helipad outside their studios at Mount Coot-tha at the time of the broadcast. Radar footage also revealed that, on the first night, the helicopter was actually hovering over Chapel Hill, 70 km away from Beerwah. Two journalists, Melissa Mallet and Cameron Price, as well as news producer Aaron Wakeley, are all sacked by the Nine Network following the incident, while Lee Anderson resigned in protest over the sackings.
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.
9 September – The eleventh season of the popular British children's television series Thomas & Friends finally airs on ABC2 at 1:05pm starting with Hide and Peep.
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.
22 October – Nine News Sydney overtakes Seven News Sydney as the news ratings leader in Sydney for the first time since 2004.
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 – Comedian 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.
27 November – The Seven Network wins its 40th (out of a possible 40) week of ratings for the 2011 calendar year, and becomes the first Australian television network to achieve a clean sweep of a ratings calendar year.

Celebrity deaths

4 January – Geoff Raymond (aged 89), news presenter.{{cite web|website=TV Tonight|first=David|last=Knox|title=Vale: Geoff Raymond
21 May – Bill Hunter (aged 71), actor
11 June, James Elliot (aged 82) Scottish-born Australian actor, best known as Alf Sutcliffe Number 96

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

Main article: List of Australian television series premieres in 2011

International series

Main article: List of international television series premieres on Australian television in 2011

Telemovies

Telemovie	Original airdate(s)	Network	Ref	Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer was Here	Underbelly Files: Infiltration	Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away	Blood Brothers
	Nine Network
	Nine Network
	Nine Network
	Nine Network

Miniseries

; Domestic

Program	Channel	Debut date	Reference/s
Cloudstreet]]''	Showcase		website=TV Tonight	first=David	last=Knox	title=Foxtel: 2011 slate	url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/12/foxtel-2011-slate.html	date=14 December 2010	accessdate=25 January 2011}}

; International

Program	Channel	Debut date	Reference/s
UK}} Collision	ABC1
UK}} Murderland	ABC1
USA}} The Kennedys	ABC1

Documentaries

; Domestic

Program	Channel	Debut date	Reference/s
Living the End Living the End	SBS One
Irish in Australia, The The Irish in Australia	The History Channel
Secret History of Eurovision, The The Secret History of Eurovision	SBS One

; International

Program	Channel	Debut date	Reference/s
US}} Despicable Me TV Show	Seven Network
UK}} Madagascar	Nine Network
UK}} Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice	Nine Network		website=TV Tonight	first=David	last=Knox	title=Airdate: Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice	url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/06/airdate-polar-bear-spy-on-the-ice.html	date=7 June 2011	accessdate=8 June 2011}}
UK}} The Shadow of the Moon	SBS One	TBA	website=TV Tonight	first=David	last=Knox	title=SBS handpicks from across the globe	url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/01/sbs-handpicks-from-across-the-globe.html	date=28 January 2011	accessdate=29 January 2011}}
USA}} Teenage Paparazzo	ABC2

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

Program	New network	Previous network
Neighbours Neighbours	Eleven	Network Ten
Animation Fixation Animation Fixation	Eleven	Network Ten
The Chaser's War on Everything The Chaser's War on Everything	7mate	ABC1

International

Program	New network	Previous network	Date
USA}} Diagnosis: Murder	Eleven	Nine Network	11 January
USA}} JAG	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
USA}} MacGyver	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
USA}} Cheers	Eleven	Nine Network	11 January
USA}} Roseanne	Eleven	Seven Network	11 January
USA}} Sabrina, the Teenage Witch	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
USA}} Happy Days	Eleven	Nine Network	11 January
USA}} Mork and Mindy	Eleven	Nine Network	11 January
USA}} The Brady Bunch	Eleven	Nine Network	11 January
USA}} Family Ties	Eleven	Nine Network	11 January
USA}} Everybody Loves Raymond	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
USA}} The Simpsons	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
USA}} Futurama	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
USA}} The Office	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
USA}} Nurse Jackie	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
USA}} Californication	Eleven	Network Ten	11 January
USA}} The Love Boat	Eleven	Nine Network	12 January
USA}} Touched by an Angel	Eleven	Nine Network	12 January
USA}} 7th Heaven	Eleven	Network Ten	12 January
USA}} The Cleveland Show	Eleven	Network Ten	12 January
USA}} King of the Hill	Eleven	Seven Network	12 January
USA}} Stargate Universe	Eleven	Network Ten	13 January
USA}} 90210	Eleven	Network Ten	14 January
USA}} So You Think You Can Dance	Eleven	Network Ten	14 January
USA}} Get Smart Axed after 3 episodes	Eleven	GO!	15 January
USA}} Hogan's Heroes Axed after 2 episodes	Eleven	GO!	15 January
USA}} Smallville	Eleven	Network Ten	16 January
USA}} Angel	Eleven	Network Ten	16 January
USA}} Supernatural	Eleven	Network Ten	17 January
USA}} Dexter	Eleven	Network Ten	17 January
USA}} Star Trek: The Next Generation	Eleven	GO!	20 January
USA}} The Golden Girls	GEM	Seven Network	3 February
USA}} MegaStructures	7mate	Ten HD (now defunct)	3 February
USA}} Malcolm in the Middle	Eleven	Network Ten	4 February
USA}} Sex and the City	Eleven	Network Ten	4 February
USA}} Frasier	Eleven	GO!	5 February
USA}} The Nanny	GO! (second run)	GEM
USA}} Spin City	GO!	Nine Network
FRA}}/AUS Sally Bollywood	ABC3	Seven Network
USA}} 24	One	Seven Network
USA}} The King of Queens	Eleven	GO!
USA}} Buffy the Vampire Slayer	Eleven	Network Ten
UK}} / Ireland I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!	GO!	Nine Network
USA}} Mad About You	7Two	Network Ten
USA}} Who's The Boss?	7Two	Nine Network
USA}} Step By Step	7Two	Nine Network
USA}} Get Smart	One	Eleven
USA}} Hogan's Heroes	One	Eleven
USA}} MASH*	One	Seven Network

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.

Program	Free-to-air network	Subscription network	Reference/s
GBR}} The Gadget Show	Network Ten	LifeStyle	website=TV Tonight	first=David	last=Knox	title=Week 3	url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/01/week-3-4.html	date=January 2011	accessdate=20 January 2011}}
USA}} Jersey Shore	7mate	MTV
USA}} Sons of Anarchy	One	Showcase	website=TV Tonight	first=David	last=Knox	title=Sons of Anarchy coming (later) to ELEVEN	url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/01/sons-of-anarchy-coming-later-to-eleven.html	date=14 January 2011	accessdate=17 January 2011}}
USA}} The Penguins of Madagascar	Network Ten	Nickelodeon
USA}} Power Rangers Samurai	GO!	Nickelodeon
USA}} Teen Mom	GO!	MTV
USA}} Jeopardy!	One	W
UK}} Britain's Next Top Model	Eleven	Fox8
JPN}} Beyblade: Medal Masters	Network Ten	Cartoon Network
USA}} The Glades	Network Ten	W
JPN}} Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge	Network Ten	Cartoon 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.

Program	Subscription network	Free-to-air network	Date
USA}} The Cleveland Show	Fox8	Network Ten / Eleven
JPN}} Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors	Cartoon Network	Network Ten
UK}} In the Night Garden...	CBeebies	ABC4 Kids	November
UK}} Merlin	UKTV	Network Ten
USA}} The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!	KidsCo	Nine Network / ABC Kids Channel (now defunct)	December

Ended this year

Program	Network	Debut date	Reference/s
Puzzle Play	Network Ten
Ben Elton Live From Planet Earth Ben Elton Live From Planet Earth	Nine Network
The 7.30 Report	ABC1
Stateline	ABC1
City Homicide	Seven Network
Conviction Kitchen	Seven Network
The New Adventures of Winnie The Pooh	Playhouse Disney
East West 101	SBS One
Between the Lines]]''	Nine Network		website=TV Tonight	first=David	last=Knox	title=Axed: Between the Lines	url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/05/axed-between-the-lines.html	date=27 May 2011	accessdate=27 May 2011}}
In Their Footsteps	Nine Network
Angry Boys	ABC1
Video Hits]]''	Network Ten		title=Channel 10 stars face chop in major restructure	first=Colin	last=Vickery	url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/tv-radio/channel-10-stars-face-chop-in-major-restructure/story-e6frf9ho-1226087496883	newspaper=Herald Sun	date=5 July 2011	accessdate=10 July 2011	archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025032426/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/tv-radio/channel-10-stars-face-chop-in-major-restructure/story-e6frf9ho-1226087496883	archivedate=25 October 2012	url-status=live}}
Rescue: Special Ops	Nine Network
Top Design Australia	Nine Network		website=TV Tonight	first=David	last=Knox	title=Top Design picks its winner, but...	url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/09/top-design-picks-its-winner-but.html	date=8 September 2011	accessdate=23 February 2012}}
Top Gear Australia Top Gear Australia	Nine Network	(on SBS)
Collectors	ABC1
Sports Tonight]]''	Network Ten / One
Ten Late News]]''	Network Ten
Spit It Out	Seven Network
6.30 with George Negus 6.30 with George Negus (previously 6pm With George Negus)	Network Ten
Wild Boys	Seven Network
Spicks and Specks]]''	ABC1
Kerri-Anne Kerri-Anne (previously Mornings With Kerri-Anne)	Nine Network
RPM	One	(second run)
Hi-5	Nine Network

Returning this year

Program	New Network	Previous network	Debut date	End date
Good Chef Bad Chef	Network Ten	Seven Network	2006	2007
This Is Your Life	Same	Nine Network	1995	2008
RPM	One	Network Ten	1997	2008
It's a Knockout	Same	Network Ten	April 1985	September 1987

Notes

References

Knox, David. (11 January 2011). "ELEVEN is on the air".
Knox, David. (10 January 2011). "Week 3".
Chessell, James. (13 January 2011). "Conroy agrees to extra air time for Australian Open". The Australian.
Knox, David. (19 January 2011). "TEN takes time for News".
[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/tv-radio/seven-snatches-wimbledon-tennis-coverage/story-e6frf9ho-1226033315376 Seven snatches Wimbledon tennis coverage. Herald Sun]
Knox, David. (28 April 2011). "Not amused. Chaser’s Royal Wedding commentary cancelled".
Witham, Jennifer. (28 April 2011). "AFL seals broadcast deal". AFL BigPond Network.
(28 April 2011). "AFL secures TV rights deal for next five years worth $1.253 billion".
Knox, David. (28 April 2011). "NONE to relaunch with entertainment in May".
Feeney, Katherine. (27 June 2011). "Heather Foord's final sign-off". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
(26 August 2011). "Channel 9 sacks three, news director resigns over 'Choppergate' scandal". News.com.au.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20131212214219/http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2011/10/22/nine-news-sydney-takes-ratings-crown-from-seven/ Nine News Sydney takes ratings crown from Seven], Media Spy, 22 October 2011
(2011-11-27). "40 weeks makes a clean sweep for Seven". [[TV Tonight]].
(21 May 2015). "Australian acting legend Bill Hunter dies from cancer at 71". The Australian.
"Web: Obituary: James Elliot".
Knox, David. (28 January 2011). "Airdate: Underbelly Files: Lucifer / Infiltration / Man Who Got Away".
Knox, David. (28 April 2011). "Airdate: Blood Brothers".
Knox, David. (14 December 2010). "Foxtel: 2011 slate".
Knox, David. (17 March 2011). "Airdate: Cloudstreet".
Knox, David. (3 January 2011). "Airdate: Collision".
Knox, David. (16 January 2011). "Airdate: Murderland".
Knox, David. (29 April 2011). "Airdate: The Kennedys".
Knox, David. (21 January 2011). "Airdate: Living the End".
Knox, David. (23 February 2011). "Airdate: The Irish in Australia".
Knox, David. "Airdate: The Secret History of Eurovision".
Knox, David. (April 2019). "Airdate: Despicable Me". [[TV Morning]].
Knox, David. "Airdate: Madagascar".
Knox, David. (7 June 2011). "Airdate: Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice".
Knox, David. (28 January 2011). "SBS handpicks from across the globe".
Knox, David. (19 October 2011). "Airdate: Teenage Paparazzo".
Knox, David. (January 2011). "Week 3".
Knox, David. (28 April 2011). "Airdate: Jersey Shore".
Knox, David. (14 January 2011). "Sons of Anarchy coming (later) to ELEVEN".
Knox, David. (3 May 2011). "Airdate: Penguins of Madagascar".
Knox, David. (23 February 2011). "Axed: Ben Elton Live from Planet Earth".
Knox, David. (30 March 2011). "City Homicide... it’s a crime".
Knox, David. (30 December 2011). "Axed in 2011".
Knox, David. (31 March 2011). "The end for East West 101".
Knox, David. (28 May 2011). "Gallery: Farewell to East West 101".
Knox, David. (27 May 2011). "Axed: Between the Lines".
Vickery, Colin. (3 June 2011). "Final episode of Eddie McGuire's Between The Lines to be aired". [[Herald Sun]].
Vickery, Colin. (5 July 2011). "Channel 10 stars face chop in major restructure". [[Herald Sun]].
(8 July 2011). "Fuzzy shrugs off Video Hits axing". [[Herald Sun]].
Knox, David. (31 July 2011). "Axed: Rescue Special Ops won’t be renewed".
Knox, David. (5 September 2011). "Farewell: Rescue Special Ops".
Knox, David. (8 September 2011). "Top Design picks its winner, but...".
(14 September 2011). "Top Gear Australia axed".
(15 September 2011). "Top Gear Australia hits the skids". Adelaide Now.
[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sandra-sully-replaces-deborah-knight-and-joins-bill-woods-in-ten-news-revamp-at-5pm-late-news-cancelled/story-e6frewyr-1226142493272 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.
Knox, David. (8 November 2011). "Seven not renewing Wild Boys".
Byrnes, Holly. (8 November 2011). "Wild Boys won't return to Channel Seven in 2012". [[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney).
Knox, David. (25 May 2011). "Spicks and Specks to end in November".
Knox, David. (25 November 2011). "Kerri-Anne: "I sincerely believe I will see you in the future, Thankyou..."".
(17 February 2012). "Network Ten axes RPM program". SpeedCafe.
Knox, David. (17 February 2012). "Axed: RPM".

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