2006 in Australian Television - Events

Events

  • 1 January – Mildura Digital Television, a joint venture between WIN Television Mildura and Prime Television, goes on air in the Mildura area of Victoria as a Network Ten digital-only affiliate.
  • 2 January – The Seven and Ten Networks outbid Channel Nine and are awarded the rights to broadcast the AFL from 2007–2011 for a record $780 million. Also around this time, Seven announce that they have won the rights to broadcast the V8 Supercars from 2007 onwards.
  • 30 January – Channel Nine launches a new logo and major revamp, dropping the famous dots and replacing it with a stand-alone nine in a blue box.
  • 9 February – The Nine Network announces Eddie McGuire in his new role as the network's new CEO.
  • 20 February – Television Sydney formally launches after three months of testing, giving Sydney community television for the first time in almost two years.
  • 1 April - The final season of Blue Heelers goes to air, pitting it against ABC's The Bill and Network Ten's AFL coverage.
  • 3 April - After weeks of poor ratings Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? airs for the final time on Monday Nights. It returns for a short period following an 18-month break due to McGuire's role as CEO for the Nine Network.
  • 21 May – Brant Webb and Todd Russell speak to A Current Affairs host Tracy Grimshaw about their time underground in Beaconsfield in a 2 hour special called The Great Escape. They are paid a reported $2.6 million by Channel Nine for the right to talk to them.
  • 4 June – After 12 years and a record-breaking 510 episodes, the last episode of the Seven Network show Blue Heelers goes to air.
  • 30 June – Australian soap opera Neighbours Broadcasts its 5000th episode, which sees Paul Robinson trapped in a mineshaft by his son Robert.
  • 14 September – Today Tonight host Naomi Robson is deported from Indonesia after doing a story on a West Papuan boy called Wa Wa who, supposedly, was going to be eaten by cannibals. This sparks a war of words between Seven and Nine, who ran the original story on Wa Wa in May on 60 Minutes. Naomi presents her final edition of Today Tonight on 1 December.
  • 16 September – Television in Australia turns 50. The next day, this is commemorated with a live TV special from Star City, Sydney on the Seven Network.
  • 29 September Backyard Blitz finishes its 6 year run on the Nine Network. Jamie Durie leaves Nine and signs up with the Seven Network, the next year, he dances his way on Dancing with the Stars.
  • 30 September – The Fox Footy Channel ceases broadcasting. It is replaced by Fox Sports 3 and Fox Sports News on 1 October.
  • 18 October – PBL announces the sale of 50% of the Nine Network, including its 50% stake in ninemsn and ACP to CVC Asia Pacific for $4.5 billion.
  • 26 November – Irishman Damien Leith defeats 17 year old Jessica Mauboy to be based only on Sony BMG after being crowned the title of Australian Idol 2006 at the Sydney Opera House.
  • 10 December - Network Ten broadcasts V8 Supercars for the final-ever time, before handing the television rights to the Seven Network.

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