1994 in Australian television

none March 2026 February 2026 March 2016 July 2015 1994 Australian television 1994 in Australian television lists notable events and debuts in Australian television in 1994 in chronological order as well as ongoing television series which aired that year. Events 18 January – Australian police drama series Blue Heelers premieres on Seven Network.Lawrence Mark New cops should win hearts https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age/193305239/ 13 March 2026 The Age 13 January 1994 28 January – American animated series Rugrats makes its debut on ABC at 5:30 pm. 31 January – American children's action TV series Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers debuts on Seven Network. 31 January – A sequel to the Australian family film Clowning Around called Clowning Around II airs on Seven Network. February – Derryn Hinch has taken over Ray Martin's place as host of the Australian award-winning daytime talk program Midday. 7 February – Nicky Buckley replaces Jo Bailey as Glenn Ridge's co-host on Sale Of The Century, where she would remain for the next 6 years. 10 February – American science fiction television series The X-Files makes it debut on Network Ten. 11 February – The ABC has signed a deal to sell its children's TV series Bananas in Pyjamas to various countries around the world. The series has been sold for broadcasting in the UK, Cyprus, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Portugal, Iceland, Canada, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, South Africa, Namibia and Ireland. A deal is about to be signed with a Japanese network to air the series and ABC Enterprises executives will fly over to the USA for the New York Toy Fair and talks on how to crack the lucrative US market. 27 February – Network Ten launches Heartbreak High, a brand new schoolroom drama which was a spinoff of the 1993 Australian romantic comedy feature film The Heartbreak Kid. 28 February – Australian long running children's TV series Mr Squiggle returns to ABC for a brand new series at 3:55 pm. 3 March – British long running science fiction series Doctor Who airs on ABC for the last time in its original run at 4:30 am with the fourth and final part of the sixth and final serial of Season 22 Revelation of the Daleks. 5 March – American animated series Animaniacs premieres on the Nine Network as part of their What's Up Doc? block. 21 March – Final episode of the Australian comedy series Mother and Son airs on ABC. 24 March – American sitcom Frasier starring Kelsey Grammer premieres on the Nine Network. 27 March – The Animals of Farthing Wood, a British children's animated series based on the books by Colin Dann premieres on ABC at 8:00 am as part of Couch Potato. 31 March – Australia's iconic and long running soap Home and Away begins premiering on NBC in Namibia. 10 April – Australian children's TV series Lift Off has spawned into a game show titled EC Plays Lift Off with Mr. Fish as the host and only running for 13 episodes. It will air on ABC on every Sunday morning as part of Couch Potato. 11 April – Australian children's comedy series The Ferals premieres on ABC. 11 April – Michael Tunn, the host of the ABC's Afternoon Show returns with a brand new music series called Loud as a replacement for the weekday afternoon magazine show that was axed in late 1993. The show includes music videos as well as reviews on movies and video games, feature stories on youth culture, musicians talking about their favourite music videos and on location interviews with bands and will be shown from Monday to Thursday at 5:30 pm. 13 April – A Country Practice switches over to air on Network Ten following its final air on Seven Network in 1993. 16 April – American children's TV series Barney & Friends premieres on Nine Network. 30 April – The Tasmanian television market is aggregated, with TasTV (now WIN Television) taking a Nine Network affiliation & Southern Cross taking a dual Seven and Ten affiliation. 9 May – Frontline a satirical look at current affairs television from Australian comedy group The D-Generation and starring Rob Sitch as anchor Mike Moore starts airing on the ABC. 16 May – A brand new Australian game show for children called A*mazing debuts on Seven Network. Hosted by James Sherry and airing at 4:30 pm, the show pitted teams from two different primary schools against each other during the course of a week. Points gained by each contestant during the week would be totalled up to decide the winning school at the end of each week. 20 May – SBS commences transmission in Darwin. 23 May – Australia's favourite koala Blinky Bill returns to television with a brand new animated series on ABC at 4:30 pm. The series had previously aired in Germany, Hong Kong, the UK, Singapore, Ireland and on UK forces television before airing in its homeland. 1 June - Australian soap opera Home and Away airs on television in the United States for the first time on the country's newly launched cable television channel FX. It would take years to bring the soap opera to America. 16 June – Final episode of the Australian music series Loud airs on ABC. 20 June – Australian teen game show Vidiot returns to the ABC for a brand new series with Scott McRae taking over as presenter. 30 June – ABC has expired the rights to the long running British science fiction series Doctor Who. The series itself will no longer continue to air on the Australian free for air public broadcaster until 2003, but will soon air on cable television on UKTV in 1996. The ABC will also broadcast the television movie of the series in July of the same year. 1 August – Melbourne's ATV10 celebrates 30 years of transmission. 17 August – Australian comedy series Hey Dad..! hosts its final original episode on Seven Network. 18–28 August – The Commonwealth Games are televised live on Network Ten from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 8 September – ABC debuts The Human Animal, a six-part British nature documentary series written and presented by Desmond Morris described as "a study of human behaviour from a zoological perspective", travels the world to filming the diverse customs and habits of various regions while suggesting common roots. 23 September – Iconic Australian drama series Banjo Paterson's The Man From Snowy River: The McGregor Saga starring Andrew Clarke and Wendy Hughes premieres on the Nine Network. 29 September – The fourth episode of ABC's The Human Animal includes sexually explicit scenes when it depicted a couple making love by using tiny endoscopic cameras placed inside both bodies to show intimate orifices. It also depicts the insertion of a man's erect penis into a woman's vagina and the subsequent orgasm. October – In Neighbours, the Kennedy family (Susan, Karl, Libby, Billy, Mal) arrive at No. 28, Doug and Pam Willis leave for Darwin, Julie Martin is killed in the Murder Mystery Weekend. 16 October – The Nine Network rebrands its on-air graphics. 19 October – A television special known as The Very Best of the Don Lane Show airs on Nine Network at 8:30 pm. It features Don Lane introducing some of the memorable segments to have come from the popular variety show that ran from 1975 to 1983, including footage of guest stars Mel Brooks, Billy Connolly, James Randi, Charlton Heston, Bob Hope, Liza Minnelli, Robin Williams, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Allen, John Farnham, Peter Sellers and Johnny O'Keefe. This special was remastered for a DVD release in 2004. 5 November – A Country Practice (1981–1993 on Channel 7) revival attempt on Network Ten backfires and is swiftly cancelled due to low ratings. 26 November – The popular television character Ossie Ostrich leaves Hey Hey It's Saturday after 23 years as Daryl Somers' co-host. When the show returns in 1995, Somers will host solo. The infamous TAC Nightshift commercial depicting A Volkswagen Kombi goes to air on television for the very first time. The 1994 FIFA World Cup is broadcast live from the United States and is shown on SBS and Prime Television. Community Television starts with long-term trials of stations in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. The ABC purchases an Australian children's television program from the creators of Johnson and Friends called Boffins about tiny alien like creatures called Boffins who spent their days in kitchen cupboards and surrounding areas, trying to discover science behind how the world works. The series was never broadcast in Australia but it did air in several other countries such as Singapore, Israel, Malaysia, Brunei, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Canada, Africa and the Middle East. The complete series will be released on VHS in Australia the following year by ABC Video and Roadshow Entertainment featuring all thirteen episodes. American children's animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles changes it schedule to mornings as part of Agro's Cartoon Connection on Seven Network. Debuts Program Network Debut date Kate Ceberano and Friends ABC TV 1994-01-17 17 January Blue Heelers Seven Network 1994-01-18 18 January Level 23 Network Ten 1994-01-24 24 January Alan Jones Live Network Ten 1996-01-31 31 January Man O Man Seven Network 1994-02-05 5 February Under the Skin SBS TV 1994-02-16 16 February The Bob Morrison Show Nine Network 1994-02-22 22 February Heartbreak High Network Ten 1994-02-27 27 February The Times Seven Network 1994-03-14 14 March Denton Seven Network 1994-03-15 15 March Ballzup! ABC TV 1994-03-20 20 March Heartland ABC TV 1994-03-23 23 March The AFL Footy Show Nine Network 1994-03-24 24 March The Big Byte SBS TV 1994-03-24 24 March EC Plays Lift Off ABC TV 1994-04-10 10 April The Reading, Writing Roadshow ABC TV 1994-04-11 11 April The Ferals ABC TV 1994-04-11 11 April Loud ABC TV 1994-04-11 11 April Consumer Power ABC TV 1994-04-13 13 April The Zone Nine Network 1994-04-30 30 April Frontline ABC TV 1994-05-09 9 May Sydney Weekender Seven Network 1994-05-14 14 May A*mazing Seven Network 1994-05-16 16 May The Damnation of Harvey McHugh ABC TV 1994-06-02 2 June Stampede ABC TV 1994-06-10 10 June Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left Seven Network 1994-06-19 19 June Strike It Lucky Nine Network 1994-07-11 11 July The Battlers Seven Network 1994-07-13 13 July Total Recall Seven Network 1994-08-15 15 August Ocean Girl Network Ten 1994-08-29 29 August The NRL Footy Show Nine Network 1994-09-01 1 September Janus ABC TV 1994-09-01 1 September Living in the 90s ABC TV 1994-09-01 1 September Wedlocked Seven Network 1994-09-07 7 SeptemberBanjo Paterson's The Man From Snowy River: The McGregor Saga Nine Network 1994-09-23 23 September The Liberals: 50 Years of the Federal Party ABC TV 1994-10-12 12 October Big Girl's Blouse Seven Network 1994-10-13 13 October Halifax f.p. Nine Network 1994-11-09 9 November Escape from Jupiter ABC TV 1994-11-26 26 November International Programming Program Network Debut date USA States of Mind SBS TV 1994-01-02 2 January USA The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 Nine Network 1994-01-03 3 January UK Great Crimes and Trials of the 20th Century ABC TV 1994-01-07 7 January SPA Sandino SBS TV 1994-01-08 8 January USA The Late Show with David Letterman Nine Network 1994-01-12 12 January DEN Kings Without Crowns SBS TV 1994-01-16 16 January UK Coast of Dreams SBS TV 1994-01-19 19 January GRE A Very Merry Widow SBS TV 1994-01-19 19 January USA Super Mario World Nine Network 1994-01-20 20 January UK Grace & Favour Network Ten 1994-01-28 28 January USA Rugrats ABC TV 1994-01-28 28 January USA/JPN Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Seven Network 1994-01-31 31 January USA Biker Mice from Mars Network Ten 1994-01-31 31 January AUS/FRA/USA Clowning Around II Seven Network 1994-01-31 31 January USA Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog Network Ten 1994-01-31 31 January UK/WAL Funnybones ABC TV 1994-02-01 1 February USA/UK Where's Wally? ABC TV 1994-02-02 2 February USA Missing Persons Nine Network 1994-02-02 2 February USA NYPD Blue Network Ten 1994-02-03 3 February UK Calling the Shots ABC TV 1994-02-03 3 February USA/CAN Eek! The Cat Network Ten 1994-02-03 3 February UK Anglo-Saxon Attitudes ABC TV 1993-02-06 6 February USA The X-Files Network Ten 1993-02-10 10 February USA Flesh 'n' Blood Seven Network 1993-02-13 13 February USA Doug Network Ten 1994-02-13 13 February USA Davis Rules Nine Network 1994-02-17 17 February CAN Tooth Fairy, Where Are You? ABC TV 1994-02-18 18 February USA A Child's Garden of Verses ABC TV 1994-02-18 18 February CAN Here's How! ABC TV 1994-02-22 22 February UK To Play the King ABC TV 1994-02-24 24 February UK Gallowglass ABC TV 1994-02-27 27 February UK Body & Soul Nine Network 1994-03-01 1 March USA Sightings Seven Network 1994-03-01 1 March UK Tracey Ullman: A Class Act ABC TV 1994-03-02 2 March USA Animaniacs Nine Network 1994-03-05 5 March CAN Forever Knight Nine Network 1994-03-09 9 March UK Italianissimo ABC TV 1994-03-12 12 March UK Ashenden ABC TV 1994-03-20 20 March USA Boy Meets World Seven Network 1994-03-23 23 March USA Dave's World Nine Network 1994-03-24 24 March USA Frasier Nine Network 1994-03-24 24 March UK/FRA The Animals of Farthing Wood ABC TV 1994-03-27 27 March USA Almost Home Seven Network 1994-03-29 29 March USA Here and Now Seven Network 1994-03-30 30 March UK Kevin's Cousins ABC TV 1994-04-01 1 April USA Ferris Bueller Nine Network 1994-04-01 1 April USA Out All Night Nine Network 1994-04-02 2 April UK Blood and Honey ABC TV 1994-04-03 3 April CAN Northwood ABC TV 1994-04-11 11 April USA The Hat Squad Nine Network 1994-04-15 15 April USA Barney & Friends Nine Network 1994-04-16 16 April UK Old Bear Stories ABC TV 1994-04-18 18 April UK Rat-a-Tat-Tat ABC TV 1994-04-20 20 April CAN Mathica's Mathshop ABC TV 1994-04-20 20 April USA Walker, Texas Ranger Nine Network 1994-04-28 28 April USA Today's Gourmet SBS TV 1994-04-30 30 April UK In Suspicious Circumstances Seven Network 1994-05-04 4 May UK The Full Wax ABC TV 1994-05-07 7 May UK Hit and Run SBS TV 1994-05-11 11 May USA Grace Under Fire Seven Network 1994-05-15 15 May NLD Miffy ABC TV 1994-05-16 16 May USA His and Hers (USA) Seven Network 1994-05-17 17 May UK The Greedysaurus Gang ABC TV 1994-05-23 23 May USA Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Seven Network 1994-05-25 25 May UK Kinsey ABC TV 1994-05-30 30 May USA Discover America: The West SBS TV 1994-05-31 31 May USA Where I Live Seven Network 1994-06-03 3 June CAN Ready or Not ABC TV 1994-06-17 17 June AUS/NZ/FRA Deepwater Haven Network Ten 1994-06-19 19 June USA Beakman's World Network Ten 1994-06-19 19 June USA Key West Seven Network 1994-06-22 22 June USA Great Scott! Nine Network 1994-06-24 24 June UK Kevin and Co. ABC TV 1994-06-27 27 June UK Between the Lines Seven Network 1994-06-28 28 June USA/CAN/FRA Madeline (TV series) ABC TV 1994-06-28 28 June UK Philbert Frog ABC TV 1994-06-28 28 June UK Behaving Badly ABC TV 1994-07-03 3 July USA/CAN/FRA Conan the Adventurer Network Ten 1994-07-04 4 July UK A Touch of Frost Seven Network 1994-07-08 8 July UK Murder Most Horrid ABC TV 1994-07-11 11 July CAN The Admiral and the Princess ABC TV 1994-07-15 15 July UK Teddy Trucks ABC TV 1994-07-15 15 July IRE Glenroe SBS TV 1994-07-18 18 July FRA Supercities SBS TV 1994-07-19 19 July UK Jo Brand Through the Cakehole Seven Network 1994-07-21 21 July GER Dolphin Stories SBS TV 1994-07-21 21 July CAN Ooh La La SBS TV 1994-07-22 22 July USA Great Chefs of San Francisco SBS TV 1994-07-23 23 July GER Switch SBS TV 1994-07-26 26 July WAL/UK Thicker than Water ABC TV 1994-07-31 31 July UK Do-It-Yourself Mr. Bean ABC TV 1994-08-05 5 August UK As Time Goes By ABC TV 1994-08-08 8 August USA Knight Rider 2000 Network Ten 1994-08-10 10 August FRA/CAN Highlander: The Series Seven Network 1994-08-11 11 August UK Back to School Mr. Bean ABC TV 1994-08-12 12 August UK Underbelly (UK) ABC TV 1994-08-14 14 August FRA/ITA Orson and Olivia ABC TV 1994-08-19 19 August USA Space Age: The Quest for Planet Mars SBS TV 1994-08-21 21 August USA SeaQuest DSV Network Ten 1994-08-28 28 August USA Models Inc. Network Ten 1994-08-30 30 August USA Mad About You Network Ten 1994-08-30 30 August CAN/FRA Counterstrike Network Ten 1994-09-01 1 September USA Burke's Law (1994) Network Ten 1994-09-02 2 September UK The Human Animal ABC TV 1994-09-08 8 September USA Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Nine Network 1994-09-10 10 September UK/USA Tales of the City ABC TV 1994-09-11 11 September USA Café Americain Seven Network 1994-09-14 14 September UK Ben Elton: The Man from Auntie ABC TV 1994-09-17 17 September USA Good Advice Nine Network 1994-09-19 19 September CRO Countess Dora SBS TV 1994-09-21 21 September UK So Haunt Me ABC TV 1994-09-22 22 September UK The Lodge ABC TV 1994-09-26 26 September UK Sea Dragon ABC TV 1994-09-26 26 September SPA Seven Signs SBS TV 1994-12-27 27 September UK Wallace and Gromit ABC TV 1994-09-30 30 September UK Noel's House Party Nine Network 1994-09-30 30 September USA Exosquad Network Ten 1994-10-15 15 October UK Mansion: Great Houses of Europe SBS TV 1994-10-18 18 October UK Discovering Japan ABC TV 1994-10-19 19 October NZ Shortland Street SBS TV 1994-10-24 24 October UK Side by Side ABC TV 1994-10-29 29 October USA The Sinbad Show Seven Network 1994-11-01 1 November UK The Dreamstone ABC TV 1994-11-06 6 November UK The Riff Raff Element ABC TV 1994-11-12 12 November UK Budgie the Little Helicopter ABC TV 1994-11-18 18 November UK Tumbledown Farm ABC TV 1994-11-18 18 November USA Scarlett Nine Network 1994-11-20 20 November UK Bottom ABC TV 1994-11-22 22 November USA Ricki Lake Network Ten 1994-11-28 28 November USA The John Larroquette Show Nine Network 1994-11-28 28 November USA Byrds of Paradise Network Ten 1994-11-28 28 November USA Real Stories of the Highway Patrol Nine Network 1994-11-30 30 November USA The Mommies Seven Network 1994-12-01 1 December USA Renegade Nine Network 1994-12-01 1 December USA Diagnosis: Murder Nine Network 1994-12-01 1 December USA The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Nine Network 1994-12-03 3 December USA Cobra Seven Network 1994-12-03 3 December USA Babylon 5 Seven Network 1994-12-03 3 December USA/CAN Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Nine Network 1994-12-05 5 December UK Sea Trek ABC TV 1994-12-08 8 December UK Open a Door ABC TV 1994-12-11 11 December USA/WAL/UK The Little Engine That Could ABC TV 1994-12-11 11 December UK Prince Cinders ABC TV 1994-12-11 11 December USA The Nightmare Years Seven Network 1994-12-12 12 December UK Byker Grove ABC TV 1991-12-13 13 December SPA Three Stars SBS TV 1994-12-16 16 December UK Rubbish, King of the Jumble ABC TV 1994-12-18 18 December USA Wild Palms Nine Network 1994-12-19 19 December GER Success SBS TV 1994-12-23 23 December UK Mole's Christmas Seven Network 1994-12-24 24 December USA Jolly Old St. Nicholas Seven Network 1994-12-24 24 December UK Noddy and Father Christmas ABC TV 1994-12-25 25 December UK The Mousehole Cat ABC TV 1994-12-25 25 December USA Brains & Brawn (1993) Seven Network 1994-12-26 26 December FRA Twins of Destiny ABC TV 1994-12-27 27 December USA What's Up Doc?: A Salute to Bugs Bunny ABC TV 1994-12-28 28 December UK See How They Grow ABC TV 1994-12-29 29 December UK The World of Hammer SBS TV 1994-12-31 31 December USA Mighty Max Seven Network 1994 USA/CAN Tales from the Cryptkeeper Network Ten 1994 USA Bonkers Seven Network 1994 USA Marsupilami Seven Network 1994 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(s) Previous network(s) Date A Country Practice Network Ten Seven Network 1994-04-13 13 April Kaboodle ABC TV Seven Network 1994-06-27 27 June Ship to Shore ABC TV Nine Network 1994-10-02 2 October International Program New network(s) Previous network(s) Date USA Unsolved Mysteries Network Ten Seven Network 1994-01-15 15 January UK The Black Adder ABC TV Seven Network 1994-04-08 8 April UK Fawlty Towers Seven Network ABC TV 1994-04-14 14 April UK Executive Stress Network Ten ABC TV 1994-04-22 22 April UK Blackadder II ABC TV Seven Network 1994-05-13 13 May USA The Wonderful World of Disney Network Ten Nine Network, Seven Network 1994-06-05 5 June UK Blackadder the Third ABC TV Seven Network 1994-06-10 10 June UK Blackadder Goes Forth ABC TV Seven Network 1994-06-24 24 June UK Woof! ABC TV Nine Network 1994-10-09 9 October CAN The Woman Who Raised a Bear as Her Son ABC TV SBS TV 1994-12-11 11 December UK Blackadder's Christmas Carol ABC TV Seven Network 1994-12-24 24 December Specials Program Channel Debut date No Cure for Cancer USA No Cure for Cancer Nine Network 1994-04-06 6 April Television ABC TV Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959–1999) Four Corners (1961–present) Rage (1987–beyond) G.P. (1989–1996) Foreign Correspondent (1992–present) The Damnation of Harvey McHugh (1994) Seven Network Wheel of Fortune (1981–1996, 1996–2003, 2004-beyond) A Country Practice (1981–1994) Home and Away (1988–present) Family Feud (1988–1996) Real Life (1992–1994) The Great Outdoors (1993–2006, 2007) Full Frontal (1993–present) Nine Network Sunday (1981–2008) Today (1982 – present) Sale of the Century (1980–2001) A Current Affair (1971–1978, 1988–2005, 2006–present) Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971–1999) The Midday Show (1973–1998) 60 Minutes (1979–present) The Flying Doctors (1986–1991) Australia's Funniest Home Video Show (1990–2000, 2000–2004, 2005–present) Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971–1999) Getaway (1992–present) Our House (1993–2001) Money (1993–2000) Network Ten Neighbours (1985 – present) E Street (1989–1993) Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton (1991–2005) Sports Tonight (1993–2011) Ending this year Date Show Channel Debut 22 January Let the Blood Run Free Channel Ten 1990 4 February Supermarket Sweep Channel Nine 1992 16 March Newlyweds Channel Seven 1993 20 March Kideo ABC 1993 21 March Mother and Son ABC 1984 28 April Alan Jones Live Channel Ten 31 January 1994 4 May Under the Skin SBS 16 February 1994 13 May Blockbusters Channel Seven 1991 27 May All in a Day's Work ABC 1992 1 June Heartland ABC 23 March 1994 16 June Loud ABC 11 April 1994 27 June The Adventures of Blinky Bill ABC 23 May 1994 3 July EC Plays Lift Off ABC 10 April 1994 8 July Paradise Beach Channel Nine 1993 16 August The Bob Morrison Show Channel Nine 22 February 1994 17 August Hey Dad...! Channel Seven 1987 18 August The Damnation of Harvey McHugh ABC 2 June 1994 14 October Strike It Lucky Channel Nine 11 July 1994 5 November A Country Practice Channel Ten (Channel Seven, 1981–1993) 18 April 1994 25 November Man O Man Channel Seven 5 February 1994 1 December Real Life Channel Seven 1992 9 December Stampede ABC 10 June 1994 14 December Live and Sweaty ABC 1991 24 December Video Smash Hits Channel Seven 1990 See also 1994 in Australia List of Australian films of 1994 References 1994