2009 in Australian television

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This is a list of Australian television events and premieres which occurred in 2009. The year 2009 is the 54th year of continuous operation of

Events

• 10 January –
  Mark Ferguson as the anchor of Nine's 6:00 pm news bulletin in Sydney.^[2][3]
• 31 January – After being pulled by the Nine Network in 2008, McLeod's Daughters airs its final episode to a total viewership of 576,000.
• 7–14 February – All three commercial networks in Australia take major expensive news coverage of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires, in which 181 people lost their lives, including former Nine newsreader Brian Naylor and actor Reg Evans.
• 9 February – The premiere of Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities sets the ratings record of the highest-rating Australian television series launch since the introduction of the OzTAM people meter system in 2001.^[4][5] The launch attracted 2.58 million viewers,^[4][5] and is also the highest rating non-sporting program in television history.^[4]
• 26 March –
  One HD
  launches.
• 20 April – After a mini-term absence, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? returns to Nine with the newly launched title Hot Seat which launches in its 5.30pm. A few years later, Hot Seat overtook Deal or No Deal's lead-in the 5:30pm quiz-show battle in the lead-in to the 6pm news with Nine News regaining the lead nationally.
• 22 April – 15-year-old opera singer
  the third season of Australia's Got Talent
  .
• 26 April –
  second season of So You Think You Can Dance Australia.^[6]
• 3 May –
  Logie Award for the Most Popular Personality on Australian Television at the 2009 Logie Awards.^[7][8]
• 10 May – After protest in very bad ratings, Australian Idol decides to cancel its Monday Night Live Verdict show. The show becomes a Sunday night staple. Later in the year the show has landed up a whole year of poor ratings. The year ended when 19-year-old Stan Walker taking the title as the final series winner with Sony Music Australia defeating Hayley Warner. Idol was axed in January the following year.
• 12 May – The
  ABC3),^[9] and increase its production of local drama to 90 hours a year,^[9] a similar level to the amount required by the commercial networks.^[9] The budget also allocated SBS an extra $20 million over the same period to produce up tp 50 hours of new Australian content each year.^[9] This figure is significantly below the extra $70 million SBS were seeking per year.^[9]
• 13 May – Former
  ABC1's current affairs program, Four Corners, on 11 May 2009.^[10]
• 18 May – It is revealed that
  third season, is believed to be one of the front-runners to be the new host.^[11]
• 3 June – A skit involving terminally ill children and the fictional 'Make a Realistic Wish Foundation' (a
  ABC1. The skit involved The Chaser members Chris Taylor (as the foundation spokesperson) and Andrew Hansen (as a doctor). The premise of the skit was that if the terminally ill children are only going to live for a few more months before dying, it is not worth spending money on lavish gifts for them. It portrayed the children asking for extravagant items such as a trip to Disneyland and the chance to meet Zac Efron, with Taylor and Hansen instead giving them a pencil case and a stick respectively. The skit concluded with Taylor stating "Why go to any trouble, when they're only gonna die anyway". Following public criticism of the skit, both The Chaser and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  issued statements of apology. The ABC subsequently suspended the series for two weeks following the controversy. The series will return on 24 June.
• 8 June –
  A Current Affair. Also on 8 June, Barry Soraghan becomes the first person to miss the final question on Millionaire Hot Seat
  .
• 10 June – The
  Underbelly: The Golden Mile,^[12] and would focus on Kings Cross in Sydney, beginning in 1989,^[12] and also include the Wood Royal Commission into police corruption.^[12]
• 20 June – After getting into big trouble about scrapping the rights to
  GEM
  launched the following year). GO! was officially launched 9 August to become "Australia No. 1 digital channel".
• 26 June –
  Extra presented by Heather Foord goes to air in Brisbane and Bruce Paige presents his final weeknight bulletin on Nine News Queensland; he is replaced the following Monday by Andrew Lofthouse, who along with Melissa Downes remain in their roles as of today.^[13]
• 19 July – A 38-year-old mother of three, Julie Goodwin wins the first series of MasterChef Australia, beating 35-year-old artist Poh Ling Yeow, with the Grand Final recorded the ratings over 3 million people tuning in.
• 6 September – Country singer
  the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars
  .
• 25 September – Mark Ferguson presents his final bulletin on the Nine Network before moving to the rival Seven Network, where he remains as of today.
• 28 September – Jeff Tarr becomes the second person to miss the final question on Millionaire Hot Seat.
• 30 September – 2.64 million people tuned into the first Hey Hey It's Saturday reunion special to see the return of Daryl Somers and the gang.
• 7 October – A "Red Faces" segment in the second of two
  Harry Connick, Jr. scores a O for the act while criticizes the segment as offensive and did not like the music of Michael Jackson. Hours later, Somers apologizes to him on air to say "sorry". During the replay of GO! broadcasts, when Act 1 finished, the show went to a commercial break and came back for Act 3, after Connick's 2nd performance from a number, it went to a final commercial break in time for the grand finale. Hours after the reunion show, Connick Jr. was fired and banned for life.^[14]
• 21 October – A giant seagull appears behind Nine News Melbourne newsreader Peter Hitchener during the 6:00 pm news.^[15]
• 25 October – Australian television legend Don Lane dies of long battle with illness, he was 75.
• 27 October – After 12 years on air, the multi-awarding winning medical drama All Saints aired its last episode to a total viewership of 1,512,000.
• 1 November –
  7TWO
  launches, after failing to soft launch two days earlier.
• 22 November –
  seventh and final season of Australian Idol
  .
• 25 November – Eamon Sullivan wins Celebrity MasterChef Australia.
• 26 November –
  2009 ARIA Awards
  .
• 27 November – Former Today and Seven News presenter Ian Ross retires after over half a century on air.
• 30 November – Nine News relaunches its graphics after its worst ratings year on record.
• 3 December –
  ABC3
  launches.
• 4 December – Federal Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy announces that Community television stations will receive $2.6 million in federal funding and the suitable spectrum to enable to begin digital simulcasts.^[16]

Notable celebrity deaths

Name	Age	Date of death	Occupation	Ref
Ernie Bourne	82	21 January	Actor (Adventure Island)	[17]
Reg Evans	80	7 February	Actor in numerous Australian films and TV series	[18]
Brian Naylor	78	8 February	Seven Network and later Nine Network newsreader	[19]
Penny Ramsey	61	11 February	Actor in numerous Australian films and TV series	[20]
Frank Gallacher	65	24 February	Actor in numerous Australian films and TV series	[21]
Peter Wherrett	72	23 March	Host of Torque	[22]
John Sorell	72	10 April	Former Nine News Melbourne director (1975–2003)	[23][24]
Rob Dickson	45	11 April	Documentary filmmaker; winner of Australian Survivor	[25]
Albert Asbury	69	1 May	Former ABC News Brisbane journalist and chief of staff (1976–2008)	[26][27]
Bud Tingwell	86	15 May	Actor in numerous Australian films and TV series	[28][29][30]
Matthew Krel	64	20 May	SBS Youth Orchestra Conductor	[31]
Ross Coleman	60	27 July	Choreographer and dancer on Bandstand and The Don Lane Show	[32]
Ray Barrett	82	8 September	Actor in numerous Australian films and TV series	[33]
Mike Leyland	68	14 September	Co-host Ask the Leyland Brothers	[34]
Gordon Boyd	86	8 October	Game show host, (showcase)	[35]
Paul Williams	?	11 October	SBS Football commentator	[36]
Don Lane	75	22 October	Host of The Don Lane Show	[37]
Su Cruickshank	63	8 December	Actress in numerous Australian films and TV series	[38]

Channels

New channels

20 January – A-PAC[39][40][41] 26 March – One[42][43][44] 1 June – SBS Two[45] 2 July – Southern Cross Ten ) 9 August – Go![46][47][48] 1 November – 7TWO[49] 15 November – 13th Street[50][51] 15 November – Lifestyle YOU[50][52] 15 November – Discovery Turbo MAX[50] 15 November – Style Network[50][53] 15 November – NAT GEO WILD[50][54] 15 November – Family Movie Channel[50] 15 November – KidsCo[50]

15 November – Showtime Drama (replacing Showtime Greats)[50] 15 November – Showtime Comedy (replacing Showtime Greats)[50] 15 November – Showtime Action (replacing Showtime Greats)[50] 15 November – STARPICS 1[50] 15 November – 111 Hits+2[50] 15 November – Discovery Channel+2[50] 15 November – Lifestyle YOU+2[50] 15 November – Discovery Turbo MAX+2[50] 15 November – Sci Fi+2[50] 15 November – STARPICS 2[50] 15 November – Showcase 2[50] 15 November – LifeStyle Food+2[50] 15 November – UKTV HD (replacing BBC HD)[50]

15 November – FOX8 HD[50] 15 November – W HD[50] 15 November – Showtime Premiere HD[50] 15 November – Showcase HD[50] 15 November – Showtime Action HD[50] 15 November – STARPICS 1 HD[50] 15 November – STARPICS 2 HD[50] 15 November – Fox Sports 1 HD (replacing Fox Sports HD)[50] 15 November – Fox Sports 2 HD (replacing Fox Sports HD)[50] 15 November – Fox Sports 3 HD (replacing Fox Sports HD)[50] 29 November – Southern Cross Tasmania ) 4 December – ABC3[55][56] 23 December – Prime Television )

Defunct channels

• 15 January – Interactive Sports Selector (Channel 500 on Foxtel)^[57]
• 26 March –
  Ten HD (replaced by ONE)^[42][43][44]
• 1 June – SBS World News Channel (replaced by SBS Two)^[45]
• 30 June – Gamesworld (Channel 555 on Foxtel)^[58]
• 2 August –
  Nine HD (replaced by Nine Network HD simulcast)^[59]
• 15 November – Fox Sports HD (replaced with Fox Sports 1 HD, Fox Sports 2 HD and Fox Sports 3 HD)^[50]
• 15 November – BBC HD (replaced with UKTV HD)^[50]
• 15 November –
  Showtime Greats (replaced with Showtime Drama, Showtime Comedy and Showtime Action)^[50]

Renamed channels

• 15 November –
  showtime premiere (formerly Showtime)^[50]
• 15 November –
  [V] Hits
  (formerly Channel [V]²)

Ratings

Main article: List of Australian television ratings for 2009

Premieres

Domestic series

Main article: List of Australian television series premieres in 2009

International series

Main article: List of international television series premieres on Australian television in 2009

Telemovies

Domestic telemovie premieres on Australian television in 2009

Telemovie	Network	Original airdate(s)	Ref
The Eternity Man	ABC1	18 January	[60][61][62]
The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce	ABC1	25 January	[63][64]
Chainsaw	SBS TV	27 January	[65][66]
One of the Lucky Ones	SBS TV	3 February	[65]
Rogue Nation	ABC1	15 March	[67][68]
Motorcycle Karma	Nat Geo Adventure	2 April	[69]
Saved	SBS TV	12 April	[70][71]
3 Acts of Murder	ABC1	14 June	[72][73]
A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne	Network Ten	4 November	[74]
Samson and Delilah	ABC1	22 November	[75][76]
Dungoona (formerly titled Wauchope)[77]	MTV	13 December	[78][79]

International telemovie premieres on Australian television in 2009

Program	Country of origin	Network	Original airdate(s)	Ref
Coming Down the Mountain	United Kingdom	ABC2	2 January	[80]
Magnificent 7	United Kingdom	ABC1	4 January	[60][81]
Lusitania: Murder on the Atlantic	United Kingdom,  Germany	ABC1	11 January	[82]
The Somme	United Kingdom	ABC1	18 January	[83]
The Trial of Tony Blair	United Kingdom	ABC1	18 January	[60][61]
Fanny Hill	United Kingdom	ABC1	25 January	[64]
The Cheetah Girls: One World	United States	Disney Channel	30 January	[84]
Gym Teacher: The Movie	United States	Nickelodeon	21 February	[85]
Dadnapped	United States	Disney Channel	28 February	[85]
Spectacular!	United States	Nickelodeon	16 May	[86][87][88]
		Network Ten	18 September	[89]
Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story	United Kingdom	ABC1	31 May	[90][91]
Short Stay in Switzerland	United Kingdom	BBC HD	17 September	[92]
Grey Gardens	United States	Showcase	19 September	[93]
The 39 Steps	United Kingdom	ABC1	18 October	[94][95]
Wuthering Heights	United Kingdom	ABC1	25 October	[94][96]
Ben 10: Alien Swarm	United States	Cartoon Network	28 November	[97]
Albert's Memorial	United Kingdom	ABC1	13 December	[98]
Clash of the Santas	United Kingdom	ABC1	24 December	[99][100]
The Man Who Lost His Head	United Kingdom,  New Zealand	ABC1	25 December	[99][101][102]
A Room with a View	United Kingdom	ABC1	Unknown	[60]

Miniseries

Domestic miniseries premieres on Australian television in 2009

Miniseries	Network(s)	Original airdate(s)	Ref
False Witness	UK.TV, BBC HD	11, 12 January	[103][104]

International miniseries premieres on Australian television in 2009

Miniseries	Country of origin	Network	Original airdate(s)	Ref
Messiah V: The Rapture	United Kingdom	UKTV	15, 22 March	[105]
Sunshine	United Kingdom	UKTV	13, 20, 27 April	[106]
House of Saddam	United Kingdom	Showcase	5, 12, 19, 26 May	[107]
Unforgiven	United Kingdom	UKTV	26 July, 2 and 9 August	[108]
Frank Herbert's Children of Dune	United States	Go!	2, 9 October	[109]
Red Dwarf: Back to Earth	United Kingdom	ABC2	30 November, 7 and 14 December	[99]
Oliver Twist	United Kingdom	ABC1	20, 27 December	[99][110]

Documentary specials

Domestic documentary premieres on Australian television in 2009

Documentary	Network(s)	Original airdate(s)	Ref
Destiny in Alice	ABC1	1 January	[60][111]
Courting with Justice	ABC1	8 January	[112]
Nigger Lovers	ABC1	15 January	[60][113]
The Spirit of Australian Sport: Tennis	The History Channel	17 January	[114][115][116]
The Safe House	SBS TV	20 January	[117]
When the Natives Get Restless	ABC1	22 January	[118]
Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts[a]	ABC1	26 January	[60][119]
Flour, Sugar and Tea	ABC1	29 January	[120]
Best Undressed	SBS TV	6 February	[121][122]
The Man Inside Dame Edna	ABC1	12 February	[123][124]
River of No Return	SBS TV	13 February	[125][126]
In Memory of Maia	Network Ten	15 February	[127]
Tibet: Murder in the Snow	SBS TV	19 February	[128]
The Stamp of Australia	The History Channel	23, 30 March	[114][129][130]
Bombora: The Story of Australian Surfing	ABC1	26 March, 2 April	[131][132]
Artscape: Anatomy	ABC1	14 April	[133]
Solo	ABC1	16 April	[131][134]
CMC Rocks the Snowys	Country Music Channel	17 April	[135]
For Valour	The History Channel	25 April	[136][137]
Rock + Roll Nerd: The Tim Minchin Story	ABC1	30 April	[138][139]
Forecast for Disaster: The Weather Behind Black Saturday	The Weather Channel	2 May	[140][141]
Bomb Harvest	Discovery HD	11 May	[142]
Trimbole: The Real Underbelly	Nine Network	11 May	[143]
Something in the Water	ABC2	13 May	[144]
Friday on My Mind	SBS TV	22 May	[145]
Ned Kelly Uncovered	ABC1	9 July	[146][147]
Liberal Rule: The Politics That Changed Australia	SBS TV	21 July	[148][149][150]
Cassowaries	ABC1	26 July	[131][151]
Community Cop	SBS One	13 September	[152]
Skippy: Australia's First Superstar	ABC1	17 September	[131][153]
Blank Canvas	Bio.	3 October	[154][155][156]
Dead Famous	ABC1	8 October	[157]
Whale Patrol	ABC1	15 October	[131][158]
The Great Escape: The Reckoning	ABC1	29 October	[159]
Rainforest: The Secret of Life	ABC1	1 November	[131][160]
Addicted to Money	ABC1	5, 12, 19 November	[154][161]
Darwin's Brave New World	ABC1	8, 15, 22 November	[131][162]
Ko Ho Nas (formerly known as Kill or Die)[154]	SBS One	9 November	[163]
The Tragedy of the Montevideo Maru	The History Channel	11 November	[164][165][166]
Surviving Mumbai	ABC1	26 November	[167][168]
World Champion Santa	ABC1	24 December	[99][169]
Operation Croc	Seven Network	27 December	[170]
Operation Jumbo	ABC1	27 December	[99][171]
Pieces of Me	ABC1	29 December	[172]
Lost Years: A Sea Turtle Odyssey (formerly known as Loggerheads: The Lost Years)[154]	SBS One	28 November 2010	[173]

International documentary premieres on Australian television in 2009

Program	Country of origin	Network	Original airdate(s)	Ref
Lunch with Madame Murat	France	SBS TV	1 January	[111]
The Story of 1	United Kingdom	ABC1	1 January	[111]
Evolve	United States	The History Channel	4 January	[114]
Journey to the Edge of the Universe	United Kingdom, United States	National Geographic Channel	4 January	[174]
The Lobotomist	United States	SBS TV	4 January	[175]
Nigel Marven's Ugly Animals	United Kingdom	ABC1	4 January	[176]
Gangland Graveyard	United States	ABC1	5 January	[177]
Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery	United Kingdom	SBS TV	6 January	[178]
Everest ER	United States	ABC1	8 January	[112]
Who Killed Stalin?	United Kingdom	ABC1	8 January	[179]
Hubble's Final Frontier	United Kingdom	National Geographic Channel	10 January	[180][181]
Penguins of the Antarctic	United Kingdom, United States	ABC1	11 January	[82]
Changing Climates, Changing Times	France,  Canada	SBS TV	11 January	[182]
The House of Windsor: A Royal Dynasty	United Kingdom	ABC1	12 January	[83]
Dreams of Obama	United States	ABC1	16 January	[183][184]
Martian Robots	United Kingdom	National Geographic Channel	17 January	[180][185]
An Eye for an Elephant	United Kingdom	ABC1	18 January	[186]
Made in Chicago: The Making of Barack Obama	United States	ABC1	19 January	[187][188]
Monster of the Milky Way	United States	National Geographic Channel	24 January	[180]
2050: How Soon Is Now?	Spain	ABC1	26 January	[189]
How to Live to 101 Without Trying	United Kingdom	SBS TV	27 January	[190]
Death of the Universe	United States	National Geographic Channel	31 January	[180][191]
Cherub of the Mist	India	ABC1	1 February	[192]
Born to be King: Prince Charles at 60	United States	ABC1	2 February	[193]
1983: The Brink of Apocalypse (a.k.a. Soviet War Scare 1983)	United States	ABC1	2 February	[193]
The Girl Who Lives in the Dark	United Kingdom	SBS TV	10 February	[194]
India Reborn	Canada,  Germany, United Kingdom, France	SBS TV	10 February	[195]
Wild Caribbean	United Kingdom	ABC1	15 February	[196][197]
Death of a Nation	United Kingdom	ABC1	16 February	[198]
How Does Your Memory Work?	United Kingdom	SBS TV	17 February	[199][200]
Bringing Up Baby	United Kingdom	ABC1	19 February	[201]
The Machine That Made Us	United Kingdom	SBS TV	20 February	[202][203]
A Lady's Guide to Brothels	United Kingdom	SBS TV	20 February	[204]
How Life Began	United States	The History Channel	February	[114]
All About Dung	United States	The History Channel	15 March	[205]
The Boyz Are Back in Town	United Kingdom	ABC2	10 April	[206]
Jade Goody	United Kingdom	Bio.	19 April	[207]
13 Kids & Wanting More	United Kingdom	The LifeStyle Channel	7 May	[208]
Ancient Ink	United States	The History Channel	8 May	[107]
In the Womb: Identical Twins	United Kingdom	National Geographic Channel HD	10 May	[142]
Earthquake: Panda Rescue	Unknown	Animal Planet	12 May	[209]
When Borat Came to Town	Netherlands,  Romania	SBS TV	12 May	[210]
Ben Stiller	United States	Bio.	13 May	[107]
China's Last Elephants	United Kingdom, Germany	Animal Planet	17 May	[209]
Stanley Kubrick's Boxes	United Kingdom	ABC2	17 May	[211]
Ice Vegas	United States	National Geographic Channel HD	20 May	[142]
The Perfect Vagina	United Kingdom	SBS One	22 May	[212]
Louis Theroux: Law and Disorder in Philadelphia	United Kingdom	Seven Network	25 May	[213]
The Road to Guantanamo	United Kingdom	SBS TV	26 May	[214]
The Journalist and the Jihadi: The Murder of Daniel Pearl	United States	Crime & Investigation Network	27 May	[107]
Kung Fu Inc.	Unknown	National Geographic Channel HD	27 May	[142]
Superstar on Trial: Mexico's Madonna	Mexico	Crime & Investigation Network	10 June	[215]
The Sci Fi Boys	United States	Sci-Fi	24 June, 1 July	[216]
Gok Wan: Too Fat Too Young	United Kingdom	The LifeStyle Channel	30 June	[217]
The Beckoning Silence	United Kingdom	The History Channel	16 July	[218]
We Are Wizards	United States	ABC2	22 July	[219]
Miracle of the Hudson Plane Crash	United States, United Kingdom	Seven Network	3 August	[220]
Josef Fritzl : Story of a Monster	United Kingdom	Crime & Investigation Network	19 August	[221]
Battle at Kruger Park (a.k.a. Caught on Safari: Battle at Kruger)	United States	Seven Network	31 August	[222]
Waltz with Bashir	Israel	SBS One	1 September	[223]
Pedigree Dogs Exposed	United Kingdom	ABC1	10 September	[224]
Inside the Wonders of the Muslim World	United States	SBS One	11 September	[225][226]
The Human Family Tree	United States	National Geographic Channel	11 October	[227]
Theater of War	United States	ABC2	8 November	[228]
Fergie: Duchess on a Mission	United Kingdom	Nine Network	12 November	[229][230]
Addicted to Boob Jobs	United Kingdom	LifeStyle You	15 November	[citation needed]
Britney: Speared by the Paps	United Kingdom	MTV	15 November	[citation needed]
The Magic of Audrey	United States	ABC2	15 November	[99][231][232]
What a Difference a Day Made: Doris Day Superstar	Germany	ABC2	22 November	[99][231][233]
Unlikely Animal Friends	Unknown	Seven Network	24 November	[234]
Louis Theroux: A Place for Pedophiles	United Kingdom	BBC Knowledge	28 November	[235]
Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights	United Kingdom	ABC1	29 November	[99][236]
Prince Charles' Other Mistress	United Kingdom	ABC1	1 December	[99][237]
Sex Positive	United States	SBS One	1 December	[238]
I Killed John Lennon	United Kingdom	Crime & Investigation Network	8 December	[239]
Snowdon and Margaret: Inside a Royal Marriage	United Kingdom	ABC1	8 December	[99][240]
Backstairs Billy: The Queen Mum's Butler	United Kingdom	ABC1	15 December	[99][241]
Hitler's Favourite Royal	United Kingdom	ABC1	22 December	[99][242]
The Legends of Santa	United Kingdom	SBS One	23 December	[243]
Final Chance to Save the Orangutans with Joanna Lumley	United Kingdom	ABC1	26 December	[244]
The Queen's Coronation : Behind Palace Doors	United Kingdom	ABC1	29 December	[245]
I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story	United Kingdom	UK.TV	30 December	[citation needed]

Date	Program	Channel
Domestic
Still to debut	Kokoda	ABC1	[131]
Still to debut	The Mission	ABC1	[131]
Still to debut	A Pacific Solution	SBS TV	[154]
Still to debut	Penguin Island	ABC1	[131][154]
Still to debut	Salam Father	SBS TV	[154]
Still to debut	Shintaro	SBS TV	[154]
Still to debut	Under Southern Seas	ABC1	[246]
Still to debut	Westall 1966: A Suburban UFO Mystery	TBA	[247]
Still to debut	The Conditions of Love	TBA	[247]
Still to debut	Immortal	TBA	[247]
Still to debut	Inside the Firestorm	ABC1	[248]
Still to debut	Murundak - Songs of Freedom	TBA	[248]
Still to debut	From the Ashes	ABC Television	[164]
Still to debut	Accentuate the Positive	ABC Television	[164]
Still to debut	Jandamarra	ABC Television	[164]
International
2008	Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections	National Geographic Channel	[249]
30 May		SBS TV
10 August	On Board Air Force One	Seven Network	[250]
June		National Geographic Channel
Still to debut	Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup	Foxtel	[251]
Still to debut	The Nomad Trail	ABC Television	[164]
Still to debut	Sales, Seduction and Sex	SBS Television	[164]
Still to debut	Skin Deep	SBS Television	[164]

Date	Program	Channel
Domestic
Still to debut	1606 and 1770: A Tale of Two Discoveries	TBA	[164]
Still to debut	Gallipoli's Deep Secrets	The History Channel	[252]
Still to debut	As Australian As	The History Channel	[252]
International
2008	Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections	National Geographic Channel	[249]
30 May		SBS TV
10 August	Air Force One	Seven Network	[250]
June		National Geographic Channel

Specials

Main article: List of television specials on Australian television in 2009

Date	Program	Channel
Domestic
25 January	Announcement of the 2009 Australian of the Year	Nine Network	[253]
1 February	2009 Country Music Awards of Australia	Network Ten	[254]
14 February		Country Music Channel	[254]
3 February	2009 Allan Border Medal	Nine Network	[255]
8 February	Marty Rhone: A Tribute to Cliff Richard and the Shadows	ABC1	[256]
12 February	Australia Unites (Bushfire telethon)	Nine Network	[257]
13 February	Geoffrey Robertson's Hypothetical Closing the Gap	NITV	[258]
13 February	After The Fire: An ABC News Special	ABC1	[259]
22 February	National Day of Mourning Service	ABC1	[260][261]
		SBS TV	[260][261]
		Seven Network	[260][261]
		Nine Network	[260][261]
		Network Ten	[260][261]
22 February	Tropfest 2009	Movie Extra	[262]
11 April		Nine Network	[263]
20 March	Essence of the Game	Seven Network	[264]
27 March	MTV Australia Awards 2009	MTV	[265]
18 April		Seven Network	[266]
30 March	2009 Melbourne International Comedy Gala	Network Ten	[267]
10 April	2009 Good Friday Appeal	Seven Network (Melbourne)	[268]
22 April	Firebird and Other Legends	ABC2	[269]
25 April	ABC's coverage of ANZAC Day	ABC HD	[270]
5 May	Christian the Lion special	Seven Network	[271]
27 June	Michael Jackson: The King of Pop	Nine Network	[272][273]
4 July	The Latest on Michael Jackson	Nine Network	[274]
6 July	Triple J TV presents Lily Allen	ABC2	[275]
13 July	2009 Melbourne International Comedy Debate	Network Ten	[276]
15 August	50 Years of Television	Nine Network (Brisbane)	[277]
22 August	Coming Home	Seven Network	[278]
29 August	ARIA Hall of Fame 2009	Nine Network	[279]
8 September	World Food Spectacular	Seven Network	[280]
10 September	Hamish & Andy's American Caravan of Courage	Network Ten	[281]
20 September	TV's Best of the Best	Nine Network	[282][283]
21 September	2009 Brownlow Medal	Seven Network	[284][285]
22 September	The Very Best of the Paul Hogan Show (Part 1)	Nine Network	[282]
30 September and 7 October	Hey Hey It's Saturday: Reunion specials	Nine Network	[286][287][288]
18 October	The 2009 Deadlys	SBS One	[289]
31 October and 7 November	2009 Rock Eisteddfod Challenge	ABC1	[290]
17 November	The Very Best of the Paul Hogan Show (Part 2)	Nine Network	[291]
17 November	Rove Presents Hamish & Andy Regifted, Another Very Early Christmas Special	Network Ten	[292]
19 November	2009 IF Awards	SBS One	[293]
20 November		showcase	[294]
8 November	2009 Andrew Olle Media Lecture	ABC1	[295][296]
12 December	2009 AFI Awards	Nine Network	[297]
26 November	2009 Aria Awards	Nine Network	[298][299][300][301]
27 November		MTV	[301]
26 November	2009 Walkley Awards	SBS One	[302]
10 December	The New Black	ABC1	[99][131][303]
11 December	John Safran: Media Tycoon	ABC1	[99][304]
13 December	Hulkamania (Was pulled from schedule two days before it was to air due to circumstances surrounding the Australian promoter of the event)	One	[305]
13 December	2009 Schools Spectacular	ABC1	[99][306]
19 December	2009 Carols in the Domain	Seven Network	[307]
24 December	2009 Carols by Candlelight	Nine Network	[308][309]
24 December	Carols from St George's Cathedral 2009	ABC1	[310][311]
25 December	2009 Australian Dancesport Championships	Seven Network	[312]
31 December	Sydney Symphony with Human Nature	ABC1	[313]
31 December	The Noughties: A Decade in Review	Nine Network	[314]
31 December	2009 New Year's Eve ARIA Countdown	Nine Network	[315]
31 December	Shaun Micallef's New Year's Rave	Network Ten	[314][316]
31 December	Sydney's New Year's Eve Fireworks	Nine Network	[317]
International
1 January	2009 Vienna New Year's Concert	SBS TV	[318]
3 January	30 Best and Worst Beach Bodies	Network Ten
4 January	119th Annual Rose Parade	Seven Network
10 January	40 Smokin' On-Set Hookups	Network Ten	[319]
21 January	Barack Obama 2009 presidential inauguration	ABC1	[187]
		SBS TV	[187][320]
		Seven Network	[321]
		Nine Network	[322]
		Network Ten	[320]
2 February	Lost: Destiny Calls	Seven Network	[323]
23 February	81st Academy Awards	Nine Network	[324][325]
		Movie Extra	[325][326]
?? February	Spielberg on Spielberg	Bio.	[327]
11 March	Stand Up: Muslim-American Comics Come of Age	ABC2	[328]
12 March	Status Quo: The Party Ain't Over Yet	ABC1	[329]
4 April	Sesame Street: Coming Home	ABC2	[327]
13 April	I Get That a Lot	Network Ten	[330]
13 April	Just for Laughs special	Network Ten	[330]
20 April	Celebrity Plastic Surgery: The Good, the Bags and the Ugly	Network Ten	[331]
10 May	Spielberg on Spielberg	ABC2	[327]
15, 16 and 17 May	Eurovision Song Contest 2009	SBS TV	[332]
1 May	2008 BBC Electric Proms	ABC2	[333]
11 May	Lost: The Story of the Oceanic 6	Seven Network	[334][335]
27 May	Lost: A Journey in Time	Seven Network	[336]
31 May	Planet of the Dead	ABC1	[337][338]
13 June	San Remo Song Festival	SBS One	[339]
26 June	The Life and Death of Michael Jackson	Network Ten	[340]
29 June	The Michael Jackson Story	Seven Network	[341]
1 July	Michael Jackson: What Really Happened?	Nine Network	[342]
1 July	Michael Jackson: Picking up the Pieces	Network Ten	[343]
3 July	Tigger and Pooh and A Musical Too	Seven Network	[344]
5 July	Secrets of Merlin	Network Ten	[345]
6 July	Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special (Retitled Michael Jackson: The Last Time and most likely a repeat)	Seven Network	[346]
20 July	Wire in the Blood (USA episode "Prayer of the Bone")	ABC2	[347]
5 August	Jamie Saves Our Bacon	Network Ten	[348]
13 August	Surviving Sextuplets and Twins	Network Ten	[349]
20 August	The 45 Stone Virgin	Network Ten	[349]
22 August	Pearl Jam: Live in Cornice, Italy	Nine Network	[350]
22 August	Hot August Night NYC	Nine Network	[351]
24 August	Miss Universe 2009	Seven Network	[352]
30 August	2009 Teen Choice Awards	Network Ten	[353]
5 September	Neil Diamond: Welcome Home Neil	Nine Network	[351]
10 September	The Beatles in the Studio	Nine Network	[354]
3 November	My Friend Michael Jackson: Uri's Story	Seven Network	[355]
22 November	2009 British Comedy Gala	Network Ten	[356]
22 November	Pet Shop Boys at the BBC	ABC2	[357]
6 December	The Waters of Mars	ABC2	[99][358]
15 December	Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special	Network Ten	[359]
21 December	The Making of Back to Earth	ABC2	[99]
22 December	Dannii Minogue: My Story	Seven Network	[360]
24 December	2009 Nobel Peace Prize Concert	ABC2	[361]
24 December	2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show	Network Ten	[362]
25 December	Prep & Landing	Seven Network	[363]
25 December	The Queen's Christmas Message 2009	UK.TV / Nine Network	[364]
31 December	U2 Equals BBC	ABC2	[99][313]
31 December	Seal Soul Live	ABC2	[99][313]
Still to debut	2008 Radio 1's Big Weekend	ABC2	[60]

Date	Program	Channel
Domestic
1 February	2009 Country Music Awards of Australia	Network Ten	[254]
14 February		Country Music Channel	[254]
13 February	Frozen in Time	FOX8	[365]
13 February	Geoffrey Robertson's Hypothetical Closing the Gap	NITV	[258]
22 February	Tropfest 2009	Movie Extra	[262]
11 April		Nine Network	[263]
7 March	Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras	Main Event	[366][367][368]
14 March	Sound Relief (Sydney concert)	MAX	[369][370][371]
27 September		Nine Network	[372]
14 March	Sound Relief (Melbourne concert)	Channel [V]	[369][370][371]
27 September		Nine Network	[372]
27 March	MTV Australia Awards 2009	MTV	[265]
18 April		Seven Network	[266]
21 April	2009 ASTRA Awards	Various Foxtel channels	[373]
22 April	Firebird and Other Legends	ABC2	[269]
2 May	An Audience with Tina Arena	Bio.	[374]
23 May	Cracker Night 2009	The Comedy Channel	[375]
27 June	Bernadette Peters in Concert: Live from the Adelaide Cabaret Festival	Bio.	[376]
5 July	2009 APRA Music Awards	MAX	[377]
27 July	2009 Helpmann Awards	Bio.	[378][379]
2 August	Live: Jet	Channel [V]	[380]
1 November	The Breast Darn Show in Town	The Comedy Channel	[381]
13 November	Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards 2009	Nickelodeon Australia	[382][383]
26 November	2009 Aria Awards	Nine Network	[298]
27 November		MTV
3 December	I Can't Believe It's Not Better	The Comedy Channel	[384][385][386][387][388]
20 December	An Evening with Michael Parkinson	UK.TV	[389]
Still to debut	Sydney Dance Company specials	Bio.	[154][155][156]
International
9 January	The Hairy Bikers Come Home	The LifeStyle Channel	[390]
12 January	66th Golden Globe Awards	Arena	[391][392]
18 January	The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!!	Cartoon Network	[393]
26 January	15th Screen Actors Guild Awards	Showcase	[394]
9 February	51st Grammy Awards	Arena	[395]
9 February	62nd British Academy Film Awards	Bio.	[396]
23 February	81st Academy Awards	Nine Network	[324][325]
		Movie Extra	[325][326]
26 February	2009 BRIT Awards	Channel [V]	[397]
?? February	Spielberg on Spielberg	Bio.	[327]
10 May		ABC2	[327]
4 April	2009 Kids' Choice Awards	Nickelodeon	[398]
12 April	WWE Diva Diaries	Arena	[399]
2 May	Glyndebourne Musical Month: 75th Birthday Season	BBC HD	[142]
25 May	Shaun Cassidy Biography	Bio.	[400]
8 June	63rd Tony Awards	Bio.	[376][401]
20 June	Barry Manilow Live From Las Vegas	Bio.	[376]
26 June	Barry Manilow Songs from the 1970s	Bio.	[376]
20 July	The Debbie Rowe Interview: The Missing Tapes	Arena	[402]
27 July	Jacko Madness	Arena	[403]
September	2009 MTV Video Music Awards	MTV
21 September	61st Primetime Emmy Awards	Arena	[404][405]
21 September		Network Ten	[406]
6 November	MTV Europe Music Awards 2009	MTV	[407]
7 November	2009 Scream Awards	Sci Fi Channel	[408]
12 November	2009 CMA Awards	Country Music Channel	[409]
23 November	2009 American Music Awards	FOX8	[410]
13 December	VH1 Divas 2009	MTV
27 December	2009: That Really Happened?	VH1	[411]
27 December	Bonnie Tyler's Top 50 1980s Power Ballads	VH1
31 December	Last Night of the Proms 2009	UK.TV	[412]
	20th GLAAD Media Awards	Arena	[413]

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	Date
Thank God You're Here[414][415][416]	Seven Network	Network Ten	29 April 2009
Football Stars of Tomorrow[417]	Nine Network / Fox Sports	SBS TV	28 June 2009
Flipper and Lopaka	ABC3	Seven Network	5 December 2009
Spellbinder	ABC3	Nine Network	7 December 2009

International

Program	New network	Previous network	Date
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles[418]	FOX8	Nine Network	March
Flight of the Conchords Flight of the Conchords[419]	SBS One	Network Ten	8 June 2009
Torchwood Torchwood[420]	ABC2	Ten HD	19 June 2009
Little Britain Little Britain [citation needed ]	Nine Network	ABC1	30 June 2009
Survivor Survivor[421]	Go!	Nine Network	11 August 2009
Bachelor, The The Bachelor[421]	Go!	Nine Network	11 August 2009
Bachelorette, The The Bachelorette[421]	Go!	Nine Network	11 August 2009
/ Babar	ABC2	ABC1	12 August 2009
Dance Your Ass Off Dance Your Ass Off[422]	Go!	Nine Network	15 August 2009
Wire, The The Wire[423][424]	ABC2	ABC2	1 September 2009
Bad Girls Club, The The Bad Girls Club[citation needed ]	MTV	Arena	16 September 2009
Gavin & Stacey[note 1][425]	UKTV / BBC HD	Seven Network	14 September
South Park South Park[426][427]	Go!	SBS One	4 October 2009
Curb Your Enthusiasm Curb Your Enthusiasm[427]	Go!	Nine Network	4 October 2009
Weeds Weeds[427]	Go!	Nine Network	4 October 2009
Nip/Tuck Nip/Tuck[427]	Go!	Nine Network	5 October 2009
Danger Mouse	7TWO	ABC1	8 November 2009
Avenger Penguins	7TWO	ABC1	8 November 2009
Count Duckula	7TWO	Network Ten	8 November 2009
The Wind in the Willows	7TWO	ABC1	8 November 2009
Victor and Hugo: Bunglers in Crime	7TWO	ABC1	29 November 2009
Style By Jury Style By Jury [citation needed]	7TWO	Seven Network	December 2009
Malcolm in the Middle Malcolm in the Middle[428]	Network Ten	Nine Network	7 December 2009
Wild at Heart Wild at Heart[99]	ABC2	ABC1	19 December 2009
Rita Rocks Rita Rocks	Arena	W. Channel	26 December 2009

Date	Program	To	From
March	Jerry Springer Show, The The Jerry Springer Show	Arena	FOX8	[429]
5 June	Charm School	MTV	VH1	[430][431]
19 March	Will & Grace	TV1	111 Hits	[432]
6 September	Leverage	W.	FOX8
24 October	Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew	Arena	Bio.	[1][permanent dead link]
15 November	Pelswick	KidsCo	Nickelodeon[citation needed ]	[433]
15 November	/ Donkey Kong Country	KidsCo	Fox Kids[citation needed]	[433]
15 November	Dress My Nest	Style Network	Arena	[434][435]
15 November	Fat Dog Mendoza	KidsCo	Nickelodeon
15 November	Dennis the Menace (1986)	KidsCo	Nickelodeon
15 November	Married Away	Style Network	Arena	[434][436]
15 November	Pantry Raid	Style Network	Lifestyle FOOD	[434][437]
15 November	Split Ends	Style Network	Arena	[434][438]
15 November	Style Her Famous	Style Network	Arena	[434][439]
15 November	Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?	Style Network	Arena	[434][440]
16 November	Rolie Polie Olie	KidsCo	Disney Channel[citation needed ]	[433] https://web.archive.org/web/20030621215718/http://www.disney.com.au/DisneyChannel/playhouse/shows/roliepolieolie/schedule.html
16 November	Instant Beauty Pageant	Style Network	Arena	[114]
16 November	What Not to Wear	LifeStyle You	The LifeStyle Channel	[2]
16 November	The House of Tiny Tearaways	LifeStyle You	The LifeStyle Channel	[3]
20 November	Don't Tell the Bride	LifeStyle You	The LifeStyle Channel	[4]
30 November	Two and a Half Men	Arena	FOX8	[441]
21 December	How to Look Good Naked	LifeStyle You	The LifeStyle Channel	[5][442]

Free-to-air premieres

Below is a list programs which made their premiere on free-to-air television that had previously premiered on Australian Pay TV, a program may still air on the original network.

Date	Program	FTA	Pay TV
1 January	Secret Millionaire	Nine Network	The LifeStyle Channel	[443][444][445]
12 January	Airtime!	Nine Network	Nickelodeon
12 January	Killing Hitler	Seven Network	?
15 January	The Unteachables	ABC1	UK.TV	[446]
21 January	Chandon Pictures	ABC1	Movie Extra	[447][448][449]
8 February	Cranford	ABC1	UK.TV	[450][451]
9 February	Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive	ABC1	?	[202][452]
22 February	E! True Hollywood Story: Heath Ledger	Network Ten	E!	[453]
5 March	Pulling	ABC2	UK.TV	[454]
8 March	Infamous Assassinations	Seven Network	The History Channel	[455]
17 March	Bridezillas	Nine Network	Arena	[456]
16 April	Mad Men	SBS TV	Movie Extra	[457][458]
10 June	Saved	Seven Network	?	[459]
5 August	Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends (Born Again Christians episode)	Seven Network	Arena	[460]
15 August	iCarly (Shown during Toasted TV)	Network Ten	Nickelodeon Australia
31 August	Entourage	SBS One	Arena	[461]
13 September	Rock of Love	Network Ten	VH1	[462]
13 September	Little Britain USA	Network Ten	Showcase	[463][464][465]
21 September (Syd/Bris) 25 September (Melb/Adel/Per)	The Andromeda Strain	Seven Network	Showcase	[466][467][468]
28 September	Style By Jury	Seven Network	Arena / Discovery Home & Health	[469]
5 October	Destroyed in Seconds	Seven Network	The Discovery Channel	[470][471]
5 October	Man vs. Wild	SBS One	The Discovery Channel	[468][472]
5 October	Afro Samurai	Go!	MTV	[473]
17 October	Reno 911!	Go!	The Comedy Channel	[474]
2 November	The Jay Leno Show	7TWO	The Comedy Channel	[49]
4 November	American Gladiators	7TWO	MTV	[49][475]
5 November	Fifth Gear	7TWO	The Lifestyle Channel	[49]
15 November	False Witness	Nine Network	UK.TV / BBC HD	[476]
30 November	Come Dine with Me	Seven Network	LifeStyle Food	[477]
6 December	Inside the Actors Studio	ABC2	Bio.	[478]
6 December	John Adams	SBS One	Showcase	[468][479][480]
6 December	Tool Academy	Go!	MTV	[481][482]
9 December	Willie's Wonky Chocolate Factory	ABC2	The LifeStyle Channel	[99][483]
14 December	Stargate Universe	Network Ten	Sci-Fi Channel	[484][485]

Subscription television premieres

This is a list programs which had their premiere on Australian subscription television that had previously premiered on free-to-air television. Programs may still air on the original network.

Domestic

Subscription television premieres on Australian television in 2009

Program	Subscription network	Free-to-air network	Date	Ref
Backyard Blitz	The LifeStyle Channel	Nine Network	23 March	[486]
Packed to the Rafters	Hallmark Channel	Seven Network	13 June 2009	[487]
Summer Heights High	The Comedy Channel	ABC TV	August 2009[citation needed]	[488]
The Chaser's War on Everything	The Comedy Channel	ABC TV	3 December 2009	[citation needed]
Rush	Hallmark Channel	Network Ten	December 2009	[487]

International

International subscription television premieres on Australian television in 2009

Program	Country of origin	Subscription network	Free-to-air network	Date	Ref
Psych	United States	TV1	TEN HD	3 January
Roots	United States	FOX Classics	Network Ten	19 January	[489]
Star Wars: The Clone Wars	United States	Cartoon Network	Network Ten	13 February	[490]
Damages	United States	W.	Nine Network	17 April	[491]
Eliot Kid	United Kingdom	Disney Channel	ABC1	15 May	[492][493]
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia	United States	The Comedy Channel	Seven Network	14 July	[494]
Gavin & Stacey[note 2]	United Kingdom	UKTV	Seven Network	3 August	[108]
Women's Murder Club	United States	W.	Network Ten	8 September[citation needed]	[495]
Batman: The Brave and the Bold	United States	Cartoon Network	Nine Network	22 September	[496]
Carnivàle	United States	Showcase	ABC TV	20 November	[497]
QI	United Kingdom	UKTV	ABC1	14 December	[498][499]
The Gil Mayo Mysteries	United Kingdom	13th Street	ABC1	16 December	[500][501]
Life on Mars	United States	W.	Network Ten	17 December	[502]

Ending this year

Domestic television series endings on Australian television in 2009

Telemovie	Network	End date	Start date	Ref
Temptation	Nine Network	23 January	30 May 2005	[503][504][505]
McLeod's Daughters	Nine Network	31 January	8 August 2001	[506][507]
The All in Call	Seven Network	1 March	8 February	[508]
Fresh	Nine Network	13 March	2000	[509][510]
Extra	Nine Network	26 June	9 February 1991	[511]
This Afternoon	Nine Network	14 July	29 June	[512]
The Chaser's War on Everything	ABC1	29 July	17 February 2006	[513]
The Cook and the Chef	ABC1	16 September	8 February 2006	[514]
All Saints	Seven Network	27 October	24 February 1998	[515][516][517]
Rove	Network Ten	15 November	22 September 1999	[518]
The Einstein Factor	ABC1	22 November	8 February 2004	[519]
Australian Idol	Network Ten	22 November	27 July 2003	[citation needed]
The Great Outdoors	Seven Network	15 August[citation needed]	5 February 1993	[520]
The Spearman Experiment	Network Ten	30 October[citation needed]	8 September	[521]

Returning this year

Date	Program	Channel	Debut
20 April	Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (returned under the title of Hot Seat)	Nine Network	18 April 1999	[522][523][524][525][526][527][528][529]

See also

• 2009 in Australia
• List of Australian films of 2009

Notes

• ^a Co-production with the  United States.

References