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2016 in Australian television

This is a list of Australian television related events, debuts, finales, and cancellations that are scheduled to occur in 2016, the 61st year of continuous operation of television in Australia.

Date	Event	Source
1	The ABC's coverage of Sydney New Year's Eve is widely panned for the third consecutive year, with criticism of lame skits and pre-recorded performances.
24	The Seven Network controversially broadcasts close up shots of Daria Gavrilova's training notes multiple times during its broadcast of the 2016 Australian Open.
28	Stan signs an exclusive rights agreement with CBS Corporation and Showtime Networks.

Date	Event	Source
1	Seven Network's breakfast show Sunrise gets a new on-air presentation and studio set, replacing the unchanged package which has been introduced in January 2010.
Samantha Jade is announced as the inaugural TV Week Logie Awards Ambassador
Mark Labbett is "unleashed" as the fifth Chaser on The Chase Australia.
7	The official 2016 OzTam television ratings period begins.
10	Weekend Today co-host Cameron Williams quits the Nine Network after stalled contract negotiations. However, he would return to the network less than twelve months later to replace the retiring Ken Sutcliffe as the sports presenter on Nine News Sydney.
11	WIN Television launch legal action against Nine Network for streaming its metropolitan channels into WIN's regional markets via its 9Now app.
12	Samantha Armytage is dumped from hosting a UNHCR event in Sydney, following an awkward skit on Sunrise a day earlier involving UNHCR spokesperson Kristin Davis.
14	Garry Lyon quits The AFL Footy Show citing mental health issues.
15	OzTAM release the first Video Player Measurement (VPM) ratings, which measure viewership of catch up platforms.
17	Seven West Media report a first half net profit of $135.2 million, despite a 2% decrease in total television revenue (equating to $14.3 million).
19	Foxtel launches legal action to block access to four torrent websites, it accuses of illegally distributing its programs, under recently introduced legislation which can force Australian Internet service providers to block website access with a Federal Court order.
The Seven and Nine Networks reach a settlement in the Federal Court over a copyright claim on Nine's program The Hotplate. The settlement sees Nine agree not to produce any further seasons of the program, and to never rebroadcast or distribute the first season.
23	The Turnbull Cabinet approve media reforms proposed by Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield which would see the removal of the 'reach rule' and the 'two out of three' rule from the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. The reforms need to pass the Senate before being enacted.
25	A blackout at TCN causes Nine Network failing to broadcast the national Nine News Now bulletin, while the Sydney Nine Afternoon News bulletin had to be broadcast from the QTQ Brisbane studio.
26	Actor Sam Johnson, best known for The Secret Life of Us and Molly, announces his retirement from acting to focus on fundraising for cancer research.
29	Fetch TV secures exclusive rights to Viacom (VIMN), by confirming plans to launch the Australian version of Comedy Central.

Date	Event	Source
1	The Coalition partyroom pass Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield's proposed media reforms. In addition to the removal of the 'two out of three' rule and 'reach rule', it is proposed that a quota system be introduced for regional content after a merger event.
A 60 Minutes cameraman and producer are assaulted and injured while filming a story in Sweden on the European refugee crisis.
2	Its announced that 14 months after being let go by Nine Network as a result of cost-cutting measures, Emma Freedman who formerly appeared on Weekend Today would return to the network as a presenter on Wide World of Sports.
3	NRL legend Johnathan Thurston signs a five-year deal with Nine Network, which will see him co-host The Footy Show as well as provide commentary on NRL games and stories.
7	Seven West Media sign a content deal with Google to stream their content internationally via YouTube.
10	Billy Brownless reveals on The AFL Footy Show his ex-wife had an affair with his fellow co-host Garry Lyon.
13	Four Corners reporter Linton Besser and camera operator Louie Eroglu are arrested in Kuching, Malaysia after approaching Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak for comment on his corruption scandal.
14	14-year-old singer/guitarist Fletcher Pilon wins the eighth season of Australia's Got Talent.
15	Ian Cook, a Melbourne pilot, and Quoc Huong Vu, a Sydney-based cameraman, are killed in an ultralight aircraft crash in northern Victoria while filming The Amazing Race Vietnam.
18	Nine Entertainment Co. purchase a 9.9% stake in regional broadcaster Southern Cross Media from Macquarie Group for $1.15 a share, ahead of expected media reforms which will see the removal of the 'reach rule'.
20	A two-week Easter break in OzTam television ratings begins.
22	New streaming service hayu launches in Australia. The service, owned by NBCUniversal, is dedicated to reality programming, featuring titles from NBCUniversal's library – with titles including Keeping Up with the Kardashians, as well as The Real Housewives and Top Chef franchises.
30	OzTam extend consolidated ratings from 7 days to 28 days.
Network Ten enter regional affiliation discussions with WIN Television, which if are successful would see in June 2016 the end of a 27-year affiliation agreement between Nine Network and WIN Television.

Date	Event	Source
1	TV historian Ken McKay is honoured for his work to the field and presented with the WA Heritage Award.
3	Former Network Ten sports reporter Mel McLaughlin makes her debut appearance on Seven News Sydney. As a result, Jim Wilson moves to the Friday & Saturday role on the bulletin, and Ryan Phelan is removed.
Television presenter Daryl Somers makes a television comeback on the Nine Network as host of You're Back in the Room.
Official OzTam ratings resume after a two-week non-ratings period over Easter.
5	Nine Network report an 11% drop in revenue for their third quarter, which saw their share price drop 24.7% to $1.14.
6	A power outage in Mackay, Queensland caused by bamboo touching the high voltage power lines saw the area lose TV reception as the lines affected serviced the local TV transmitters and the back up generators failed to work.
7	Former Seven News presenter Rebecca Maddern debuts as the first permanent female co-host on The AFL Footy Show.
A 60 Minutes crew, including co-host Tara Brown, are detained in Beirut while filming a story on a custody battle.
13	The four 60 Minutes crew members (reporter Tara Brown, senior producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson and sound recordist David Ballment) who had been detained in Beirut, Lebanon (see 7 April) are charged with four separate charges, including kidnapping, causing harm and not respecting local authority. If pleaded guilty, they could each face a maximum of over 20 years in jail.
Seven Network's Commercial Manager of Programming John Fitzgerald is charged with falsifying invoices to steal company funds.
Former At the Movies presenters Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton receive honorary doctorates from Macquarie University for their contribution to the film industry.
Australian actor Jack Charles is racially discriminated against in Melbourne, where he is refused taxi admittance twice in a single day. Charles had experienced this same form of racial prejudice in October 2015.
16	Journalist and broadcaster Stan Grant is appointed to the federal government's Referendum Council.
20	The 60 Minutes crew are released from Lebanese custody, with the personal charges against them dropped and Nine Network paying compensation for their release. However, they still face criminal charges.
21	Network Ten report a first half profit of $13.4 million – the first time in four years they have reported a rise in profit.
22	Commercial broadcasters Network Ten, Nine Network and Seven Network announce the launch of a new joint venture marketing company called Think TV which aims to persuade advertisers to continue to invest in free-to-air television.
Legendary Australian broadcaster David Hill is honoured at the New York Festival, presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
27	Senior Constable Aaron Minns, who formerly appeared on Gold Coast Cops, pleads not guilty to four counts of common assault.
28	In a landmark decision, the NSW Supreme Court ruled in favor of Nine Network over WIN Network in relation to Nine's online streaming of its metropolitan stations into WIN regions. The judge found streaming to not fall under the definition of broadcasting.
A number of WIN Network Tasmania personnel are recognised at the Tasmanian Media Awards – namely sports reporter Brent Costelloe and cameraman Steve Fisher who won in the Best Sports Journalist and Best News Image categories respectively.
29	Nine Entertainment Co. ends a 27-year affiliation agreement with WIN Corporation, instead partnering with Southern Cross Austereo in parts of regional Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, after securing a 50% revenue sharing deal with Southern Cross, higher than its 39% deal with WIN.

Date	Event	Source
3	The 2016 Australian federal budget gives commercial broadcasters receive a 25% reduction in licence fees, while renewed tri-annual funding arrangements will see the ABC receive $3.1 billion and SBS $814 million over the next three years.
6	Home and Away director Geoffrey Nottage is awarded the Australian Directors Guild Awards' The Michael Carson Award.
8	The Logie Awards of 2016 are held, with Waleed Aly winning the Gold Logie and Noni Hazlehurst inducted into the Hall of Fame.
15	Former The X Factor winner Dami Im comes second in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.
20	Network Ten renew their affiliation agreement with Southern Cross Ten for Northern New South Wales for an additional five years. The new agreement begins 1 July 2016.
29	For the first time in the history of the Australian Directors Guild Awards the ceremony is broadcast on television, airing on Aurora.

Date	Event	Source
1	Studio 10 is found to have breached its PG classification in a January episode.
2	Former ABC boss Mark Scott accepts role as head of the NSW Department of Education.
7flix changes from broadcasting in MPEG4 format to MPEG2, increasing its availability on older television sets.
15	Seven decides not to proceed with program The Day the Cash Came, just a week before similar format The Briefcase premiered on Nine.
21	SBS closes its internal international sales division
28	Seven News US bureau chief Mike Amor is named television journalist of the year at the 58th Southern California Journalism Awards
30	A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw marks 35 years at the Nine Network.

Date	Event	Source
3	Luke and Cody are named winners of the fourth season of House Rules.
4	Seven News launch a Gold Coast bulletin. Its debut wins its timeslot with 49,000 viewers, defeating long-standing rival bulletin Nine Gold Coast News with 34,000 viewers.
6	Catalyst presenter Maryanne Demasi is suspended, following an internal review of a February episode of the program found it breached impartiality standards.
10	Alfie Arcuri wins the fifth season of The Voice.

Date	Event	Source
2	Seven West Media announces a $207.3 million profit for the 2015–16 financial year, a fall of 0.9%.
6	The Seven Network will broadcast the 2016 Summer Olympics.
9	Former 60 Minutes reporter Michael Usher leaves the Nine Network and joins the Seven Network. He will present Seven News Investigates.
22	Australia Plus, operated by the ABC, announce international partnerships with Monash University, the Victoria State Government and commercial company Swisse.
23	Prime Media Group announce a $93.5 million loss for the 2015–16 financial year.
25	Southern Cross Austereo announce a $77.2 million profit for the 2015–16 financial year, a rise of 19%.
Nine Entertainment Co. announce a $324.8 million profit for the 2015–16 financial year.
29	Edwin Daly wins $1 million on Millionaire Hot Seat, becoming the first contestant to do so in the program's seven-year history.

Date	Event	Source
2	Southern Cross Television in Tasmania is found to have breached election advertising rules
13	The Seven and Nine Networks agree to share aerial visions in capital city markets, saving helicopter operating expenses
16	Television in Australia turns 60.
19	ABC's kids channel ABC3 is rebranded as ABC ME.
21	Matt Eagles wins the second season of The Recruit
24	Saturday Disney ends after a 26-year run on the Seven Network.
27	Kate wins the inaugural season of Zumbo's Just Desserts
28	A power outage affecting the entire state of South Australia for several hours sees dramatically low viewership figures from Adelaide viewers, including ratings of zero for many programs.

Date	Event	Source
26	The last day of the official 2016 OzTam television ratings period.
The Seven Network wins the ratings season for the tenth consecutive year.

Date	Event	Source
1	News Corp Australia becomes sole owner of Sky News Australia's parent company. Former co-owners Seven West Media, Nine Entertainment Co. and Sky plc will continue to supply content to Sky News and its sister channels.

19 January – Sky News Business HD (high definition simulcast of Sky News Business)
28 February – 7flix
1 March — WIN HD (high definition simulcast of WIN)
2 March – Ten HD (high definition simulcast of Ten)
25 March – [V] Hits +2
1 April – Comedy Central
1 April – Sky Thoroughbred Central HD (high definition simulcast of Sky Thoroughbred Central)
1 May – Sky News Election Channel
10 May – 7HD (high definition simulcast of Seven in Melbourne and Adelaide, 7mate in other markets)
14 May – beIN Sports 1 HD (high definition simulcast of beIN Sports 1), beIN Sports 2, beIN Sports 2 HD (high definition simulcast of beIN Sports 2), beIN Sports 3, beIN Sports 3 HD (high definition simulcast of beIN Sports 3)
15 May – Sky News Election HD (high definition simulcast of Sky News Election Channel)
1 July – Foxtel Movies More, Foxtel Movies More HD (high definition simulcast of Foxtel Movies More), MUTV, MUTV HD (high definition simulcast of MUTV), Chelsea TV, Chelsea TV HD (high definition simulcast of Chelsea TV), LFC TV, LFC TV HD (high definition simulcast of LFC TV), Spike
24 July – Hillsong Channel
5 October – Binge, A&E + 2 (2 hour timeshift channel of A&E)
13 October – SonLife
25 March – Channel [V]
1 April – MTV Classic
30 April – 4ME
4 October – SoHo
1 July – Nine Network programming to air on the current Southern Cross Ten regional network in Queensland, Southern NSW and Victoria, joining existing South Australian services. Nine programming on Southern Cross will be branded with Nine's mainstream branding.
1 July – Network Ten programming to air on the current WIN Television regional network in Queensland, Southern NSW, Victoria, Mildura, Tasmania, Western Australia and Griffith.

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5
Name	Date	Age	Broadcasting notability	Reference Section
Lois Ramsey	21 January	aged 93	Australian character actress best known for roles in soap operas Prisoner and The Box as Mrs. Hopkins
Alethea McGrath	3 February	aged 95,	Australian actress and voice artist, best known for film Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and TV series Prisoner as Dot Farrer
Peter Hudson			Television executive, most notable for managing the TV1 General Entertainment Partnership which was responsible for TV1 and SF.
Don Battye	28 February	aged 77	Writer and producer most famous for his work on Neighbours, Sons and Daughters, and Homicide.
Sonia Borg	2 March	aged 85	Screenwriter most famous for Women of the Sun.
Jon English	10 March	aged 66,	British-born Australian singer, performer of stage and screen, whose most notable productions included theatre roles in Jesus Christ Superstar and Pirates of Penzance and television roles including the miniseries Against the Wind and sitcom All Together Now
Bob Ellis	3 April	aged 73,	Australian writer whose credits include Number 96, Dynasty Australia, and Glenview High.
Barbara Jungwirth	13 April	?	Australian actress who appeared in series such as Neighbours, and The Box, as well as being the longest serving background cast member on soap opera Prisoner.
Bruce Mansfield	17 April	aged 71,	Radio and television personality.
Robert Greenberg	29 April	aged 57,	Australian screenwriter who most notably worked on children's shows such as Round the Twist and Get Ace.
Reg Grundy (AC, OBE)	6 May	aged 92,	Television producer, creator of the Australian version of Wheel Of Fortune and numerous soap opera dramas including Neighbours and Prisoner, founder of the Reg Grundy Organisation
Scott Burgess	10 April	aged 56,	Australian actor best known for his roles in Water Rats and 1915.
Lewis Fiander	24 May	aged 78	Australian actor best known for his roles in Pride and Prejudice and Bangkok Hilton.
Vivean Gray	28 July	aged (92),	British-born Australian actress best known for her roles in Neighbours as Nell Mangel, in The Sullivans as Ida Jessup and Prisoner as Edna Pearson.
Norman "Nugget" May (AM)	11 September	aged 88	Radio and television sport commentator, best known as an Olympic commentator
Ken Sparkes	11 September	aged 76,	Australian radio and television personality, and voice over artist
Peter Collingwood	23 September	aged 96	English Australian actor, Home and Away as Bert King
Max Walker (AM)	28 September	age 68	Australian rules footballer, cricketer and media commentator
Rebecca Wilson	2 October	aged 54	Australian sports commentator and panelist on Sunrise and SportsNight with James Bracey and television presenter of The Fat
Ross Higgins	7 October	aged 86,	Australian actor and voice-over, best known as the voice of Louie the Fly and Ted Bullpitt in Kingswood Country
Anne Deveson	12 December	(aged 86)	Journalist, writer and broadcaster

Program	Original airdate(s)	Network	Source
7 February	Seven Network
TBA	Stan

Program	Original airdate(s)	Network
18 January	Cartoon Network	United States
26 January	Cartoon Network	United States
6 February	Disney Junior	United States
16 February	Stan	United States
26 February	Netflix	United States/China
18 March	Netflix	United States
20 March	BBC First	United Kingdom
23 March	BBC First	United Kingdom
23 April	BBC First	United Kingdom/United States
29 April	Netflix	United States
22 May	Showcase	United States
27 May	Netflix	United States
29 May	Showcase	United States
12 June	BBC First	United Kingdom
28 July	Showcase	United States
1 August	Syfy	United States

Program	Original airdate(s)	Network	Source
11 February	Foxtel Arts

Program	Original airdate(s)	Network
18 February	Foxtel Arts	United States
28 February	Showcase	United States
6 March	Showcase	United States
23 March	CI	United Kingdom
3 April	Showcase	United States
8 April	Discovery Channel	United States
19 April	Max	United States
4 June	History	United States

Program	Original airdate(s)	Network(s)	Source
26 January	Network Ten
26 January	Seven Network
31 January	Foxtel Arts
3 May	SoHo
13 May	Sky News
12 July	Max
19 December	Presto/Foxtel Play
Delayed to 26 January 2017	Presto/Foxtel Play

Program	Original airdate(s)	Network(s)
26 January	Boomerang	United States
2 February	Nine Network	United States
15 February	UKTV	United Kingdom
16 February	Fox8	United States
19 February	Foxtel Arts	United States
25 February	UKTV	United Kingdom
27 February	Foxtel Arts	United States
3 March	SoHo	United States
13 March	Nickelodeon	United States
25 March	Foxtel Arts	United States
6 April	Showcase	United States
11 April	MTV	United States
23 May	V Hits	United States
29 May	Foxtel Arts	United States
25 December	9Go!	Canada
25 December	Nine Network	South Africa

Criterion for inclusion in the following list is that Australian premiere episodes will air in Australia for the first time on a new channel. This includes when a program is moved from a free-to-air network's primary channel to a digital multi-channel, as well as when a program moves between subscription television channels – provided the preceding criterion is met. Ended television series which change networks for repeat broadcasts are not included in the list.

Program	Date	New network
19 March	7flix	7TWO
25 April	Sky News	Network Ten
21 August	Network Ten	Nine NetworkSeven Network
27 August	Eleven	Network Ten

Program	Date	New network	Previous network
7 January	FOX8	Eleven	United States
1 February	Boomerang	Cartoon Network	Japan
29 February	7flix	7TWO	United States
1 March	7flix	Seven Network	United States
2 March	7flix	Seven Network	United States
3 March	7flix	Seven Network	United States
21 March	7flix	Seven Network	United States
21 March	7flix	Seven Network	United States
1 April	Presto	7flix	United States
30 April	9Go!	ABC3	New Zealand
30 April	7TWO	ABC3	New Zealand
20 June	Boomerang	Cartoon Network	United States, France

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	Date	Free-to-air network	Subscription network(s)
5 February	Nine Network	National Geographic Channel	United Arab Emirates
6 February	Eleven	Fox8	United States
7 March	Eleven	Fox8	United States
21 March	7flix	Presto	United States
4 April	9Go!	Disney Junior	France

This is a list of programs which made their debut on Australian subscription television, having previously premiered on Australian free-to-air television. Programs may still air (first or repeat) on the original free-to-air television network.

Program	Date	Free-to-air network	Subscription network(s)	Source
31 May	Seven Network	13th Street
31 May	Seven Network	Style Network

Program	Date	Free-to-air network	Subscription network(s)
22 March	Seven Network	FX	United States
19 September	Nine Network	Universal Channel	United States
18 October	Seven Network	Universal Channel	United States

Australian produced programs which are returning with a new season after being absent from television from the previous calendar year.

Program	Return date	Network
1 February	Nine Network	2007–2013; intermittently
30 April	Sky News Live	2013
31 May	Nine Network	2005–2011
29 June	Network Ten	2010–2014
21 August	Network Ten	2002–2006; intermittently

Program	End date	Network	Start date
Reporting Live	21 April	Sky News Live	28 January 2016
Richo	April	Sky News Live	23 February 2011
Kiss Bang Love	5 July	Seven Network	24 May
Saturday Disney	24 September	Seven Network 7TWO 7flix	27 January 1990
Good Game	6 December	ABC2	19 September 2006
SportsNight with James Bracey	16 December	Sky News Live	27 January 2013

2016 in Australia
List of Australian films of 2016

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