2010 in Australian television
# 2010 in Australian television

This is a list of Australian television events and premieres which occurred, or are scheduled to occur, in 2010. The year 2010 will be the 55th year of continuous operation of television in Australia.

## Events

* 25 January – Sunrise launches its new analogue-styled on-air package, which is used until January 2016.
* 8 February – Seven News launches its new look in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. Seven News has a block mark which carries the big red 7 with the word "NEWS" written on it – these are still unchanged to this indefinite date.
* 9 February – The Circle begins broadcasting on Network Ten. The program is joined by Denise Drysdale, Chrissie Swan, Yumi Stynes and Gorgi Coghlan broadcasts live between 10 am and 12 pm. As a result, Ten's Morning Newshour is moved to 9 am weekdays.
* 15 February – Seven News launches its new look in Melbourne and Adelaide.
* 19 February – Weekend Sunrise begins airing on Saturdays.
* 2 March – Nine's Mornings with Kerri-Anne relaunches as Kerri-Anne, then begins airing on Saturdays with highlights during the week.
* 27–30 March – Hey Dad sexual abuse scandal (the sitcom previously screened on the Seven Network) takes place on Channel Nine's A Current Affair. ACA suddenly launched its new graphics on the Monday the story happened.
* 14 April – Hey Hey It's Saturday launches on Channel Nine. It also starts 2010 without Ian "Molly" Meldrum, as he is contracted to the Seven Network and Foxtel.
* 2 May – Long-time Home and Away star Ray Meagher wins the 2010 TV Week Gold Logie.
* 2 June – Leanne Benbow becomes the third person (and the first woman ever to do so) to win the top prize of $200,000 on Deal or No Deal.
* 14 June – Paul Wolfenden becomes the third person to miss the final question on Millionaire Hot Seat.
* 15 June – Dance troupe Justice Crew win the fourth season of Australia's Got Talent.
* 24 June – The Seven Network announces they failed to complete negotiations with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for a new carriage deal for their films, and would ultimately replace it with another film studio once Seven's carriage deal with MGM had expired.
* 30 June – Analogue television broadcasts are switched off in the Mildura/Sunraysia area, becoming the first region in Australia to do so.
* 2 July – Nightline is axed by Nine Network for the second time since 2008, with presenter Kellie Connolly (now Kellie Sloane) being suspended from the network the same day.
* 16 July – After over 40 years, Nine drops its coverage of Wimbledon, citing declining ratings. Seven subsequently picks up the rights.
* 22 July – ABC News 24 launches. The same day, ABC News launches its graphics, which are still in use to today.
* 25 July – 31-year-old Adam Liaw wins the second series of MasterChef Australia, beating 20-year-old Callum Hann, with the Grand Final recorded the ratings over 3.5 million people tuning in.
* 27 August – The six-thousandth episode of Australian soap opera Neighbours premieres to 512,000 viewers.
* 29 August – The DIY section presenter from Better Homes and Gardens Rob Palmer and his partner Alana Patience win the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars.
* 25 September – The Seven Network launches its new HD digital multichannel 7mate, replacing Seven HD, the first program broadcast was the drawn 2010 AFL Grand Final, on the same timeslot 7TWO relaunches format as a 'Best-of-British'-focused multichannel targeting people over 55.
* 26 September – The Nine Network launches its new HD digital multichannel GEM after failing to soft-launch two days earlier because of technical issues. Their on-air presentation and package are used until the on air theme relaunch in late 2015.
* 28 September – 17-year-old Amanda Ware wins the sixth cycle of Australia's Next Top Model, beating 19-year-old Kelsey Martinovich after Martinovich was initially announced the wrong winner by host and supermodel Sarah Murdoch.
* 8 October – Hi-5 celebrates its 500th episode.
* 28 October – Seven announces they will have a carriage output deal with Sony Pictures for channels 7TWO & 7mate, replacing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's carriage contract.
* 15 November – 12-year-old Queenslander, Isabella wins the first season of Junior MasterChef Australia
* 22 November – Altiyan Childs wins the second series of The X Factor.
* 30 November – Michael Venus resigns as news director of Nine News Melbourne.

## Celebrity Deaths

| Name | Age | Date of death | Occupation |
| - | - | - | - |
| Maughan, Monica Monica Maughan | 76 | 8 January | Actress (The Box, Prisoner, The Damnation of Harvey McHugh) |
| Grant, Dave Dave Grant | 50 | 24 January | Stand-up comedian |
| Bayonas, Lynn Lynn Bayonas | 66 | 25 January | Producer and writer |
| McCallum, John John McCallum | 91 | 3 February (death recorded) | Actor and producer |
| Xenides, Adriana Adriana Xenides | 54 | 7 June | Actress and host |
| Meagher, Michael Michael Meagher | 55 | 8 August | Journalist |
| Walters, Eric Eric Walters | 73 | 19 August | News presenter |
| Longley, Victoria Victoria Longley | 49 | 29 August | Actress |
| Douglas, Malcolm Malcolm Douglas | 69 | 23 September | Presenter and Documentary Maker |
| Hetherington, Norman Norman Hetherington | 89 | 6 December | Cartoonist, Presenter and Puppeteer |
| Mercurio, Gus Gus Mercurio | 82 | 7 December | Actor and Boxer |
| James, Dibble James Dibble | 87 | 14 December | Newsreader and Presenter |

## Channels

### New channels

* 2010 – STVDIO
* 1 May 2010 – MTV Classic (replaced VH1)
* 10 June 2010 – Ten West (Regional Western Australia)
* 22 July 2010 – ABC News 24 (replaced ABC HD)
* 25 September 2010 – 7mate (replaces Seven HD)
* 26 September 2010 – GEM (replaces Nine HD)
* 1 November 2010 – Speed (HD)
* 1 November 2010 – MTV Hits
* 1 November 2010 – MTVN Live (HD)
* 1 November 2010 – BBC Knowledge HD
* 1 November 2010 – National Geographic Wild (HD)
* 1 November 2010 – Foxtel 3D

**Shutdown channels**

* 1 May 2010 – VH1 (replaced by MTV Classic)
* 2010 – Ovation (replaced by STVDIO)
* 22 July 2010 – ABC HD (replaced by ABC News 24)
* 25 September 2010 – Seven HD (replaced by 7mate)
* 26 September 2010 – Nine HD (replaced by GEM)
* 15 December 2010 – One SD

## 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 |
| - | - | - | - |
| Australia's Greatest Athlete | Seven Network | Nine Network | 6 February |
| The Great Australian Doorstep | 7Two | HOW TO Channel | 6 February |
| Blinky Bill's Around the World Adventures | ABC2 | Seven Network | 23 February |
| Eclipse Music TV | Nine Network | Seven Network | 8 April |
| Hot Property | Nine Network | Seven Network | 28 July |
| Top Gear Australia | Nine Network | SBS One | 19 October |
| The Adventures of Blinky Bill | ABC2 | ABC1 | 15 November |
| Blinky Bill's Extraordinary Excursion | ABC2 | ABC1 | 11 December |

**International**

| Program | New network(s) | Previous network(s) | Date |
| - | - | - | - |
| ER ER | Go! | Nine Network | 7 January |
| That Mitchell and Webb Look | UKTV | ABC1 | 7 January |
| Don't Tell the Bride Don't Tell the Bride | LifeStyle You | The LifeStyle Channel | 8 January |
| Jonathon Ross Show, The The Jonathan Ross Show | UKTV | Seven Network | 10 January |
| King of the Hill King of the Hill | 7Two | Seven Network | 24 January |
| Gok's Fashion Fix | LifeStyle You | The LifeStyle Channel | 28 January |
| Shortland Street | ABC1 | SBS One | 28 January |
| Flavor of Love | MTV | VH1 | 6 February |
| Top Gear Top Gear | Nine Network | SBS One | 16 February |
| Mercy Mercy | 7Two | Seven Network | 17 February |
| Sopranos, The The Sopranos | 7Two | Nine Network | 24 January |
| Sopranos, The The Sopranos | 7mate | 7Two | 27 September |
| Gavin & Stacey Gavin & Stacey | ABC2 | Seven Network | 25 February |
| The Legends of Treasure Island | 7Two | ABC1 | 21 March |
| Woof! | 7Two | Nine Network ABC1 | 4 April |
| Zero Hour Zero Hour | Network Ten | Seven Network | 1 May |
| Celebrity Fit Club | LifeStyle You | VH1 | 18 August |
| Friends | GEM | Nine Network | 26 September |
| Life Begins Mighty Ships | 7mate | Seven Network | 2 October |
| Two and a Half Men | FOX8 | Arena | October |
| The Nanny | GEM | GO! | 23 October |
| Murder, She Wrote | GEM | Go! | 8 November |
| Family, The The Family | SBS One | Network Ten | Still to debut |
| Life Begins Life Begins | SBS One | Seven Network | Still to debut |

### Free-to-air premieres

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

**International**

| Program | Free-to-air network | Subscription network | Date |
| - | - | - | - |
| Colbert Report, The The Colbert Report | ABC2 | The Comedy Channel | 5 January |
| Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King | GO! | Movie Extra | 6 January |
| Seven Ages of Rock Seven Ages of Rock | ABC1 | BBC Knowledge | 7 January |
| Children of Earth Children of Earth | ABC2 | UK.TV and BBC HD | 8 January |
| I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story | Nine Network | UK.TV | 17 January |
| Breaking Bad Breaking Bad | ABC2 | showcase | 22 January |
| Why Ancient Egypt Fell Why Ancient Egypt Fell | ABC1 | Discovery Channel | 26 January |
| Durham County Durham County | ABC2 | showcase | 2 February |
| James May's Big Ideas James May's Big Ideas | SBS One | BBC Knowledge | 5 February |
| I'm From Rolling Stone | ABC2 | MTV | 15 February |
| The Neanderthal Code | ABC1 | National Geographic Channel | 25 February and 4 March |
| Sanctuary Sanctuary | ABC2 | Sci-Fi Channel | 1 March |
| Saving Grace Saving Grace | Network Ten | showcase | 2 March |
| Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens | ABC2 | Movie Extra | 2 May |
| Pokémon DP: Galactic Battles Pokémon DP: Galactic Battles | Network Ten | Cartoon Network | 16 December |
| Benidorm Benidorm | 7Two | UK.TV | Still to debut |
| Hung Hung | 7Two | showcase | Still to debut |
| City, The The City | Go! | MTV | Still to debut |

### Subscription premieres

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

**Domestic**

| Program | Subscription network | Free-to-air network | Date |
| - | - | - | - |
| Who Do You Think You Are? | BBC Knowledge | SBS One | 20 January |

**International**

| Program | Subscription network | Free-to-air network | Date |
| - | - | - | - |
| Around the World in 80 Gardens Around the World in 80 Gardens | BBC Knowledge | ABC1 | 5 January |
| Top Dogs: Adventures In War, Sea and Ice Top Dogs: Adventures In War, Sea and Ice | BBC Knowledge | SBS One | 6 January |
| Casper's Scare School Casper's Scare School | Cartoon Network | ABC1 | 25 January |
| Moving Wallpaper | UKTV | ABC2 | 29 January |
| Echo Beach Echo Beach | UKTV | ABC2 | 29 January |
| Ashes to Ashes Ashes to Ashes | UKTV | ABC1 | 10 February |
| World's Strictest Parents | The LifeStyle Channel | Seven Network | 16 February |
| Mistresses | UK.TV | Seven Network | 25 February |
| In Plain Sight | 13th Street | Network Ten | 12 March |
| Stanley Kubrick's Boxes Stanley Kubrick's Boxes | Bio. | ABC2 | 16 March |
| Big Love Big Love | showcase | SBS One | 25 March |
| Eli Stone Eli Stone | Arena | Seven Network | 5 May |
| Life Life | 13th Street | Network Ten | 7 May |
| George Gently | UKTV | ABC1 | 16 May |
| Dirty Sexy Money Dirty Sexy Money | Universal Channel | Seven Network | 6 July |
| Keeping Up With The Kardashians Keeping Up with the Kardashians | E! | Seven Network | 10 August |
| Lilies Lilies | BBC Knowledge | ABC1 | Still to debut |

### Ending this year

| Program | Date | Channel | Debut |
| - | - | - | - |
| 9am with David & Kim 9am with David & Kim | 29 January | Network Ten | 30 January 2006 |
| Maggie With... Maggie With... | January | Bio. | 2001 |
| Wilfred Wilfred | 26 March | SBS One | 19 March 2007 |
| Shak, The The Shak | 20 April 2010 | Nine Network | 27 March 2006 |

### Returning this year

| Program | Network | Debut date | Return date |
| - | - | - | - |
| Hey Hey It's Saturday | Nine Network | 9 October 1971 | 14 April |
