1980 in Australian television

Events

• 20 January - The 0/10 Network became known as Network Ten to reflect ATV moving from Channel 0 to channel 10.
• 30 January - Australian sitcom Kingswood Country (a spinoff of the Australian comedy sketch series The Naked Vicar Show) starring Ross Higgins premieres on Seven Network.
• 10 May - Seven Network airs the final episode of the Australian comedy series Doctor Down Under.
• 27 May - British comedy drama series Minder premieres on ABC.
• 14 July - A remake of the 1970s Australian game show Great Temptation called Sale of the Century premieres on Nine Network and becomes the biggest hit of the year. Tony Barber who has previously hosted Great Temptation will return to host this remake along with new co-host Victoria Nicolls.
• August - TV Times and TV Guide magazines are amalgamated into TV Week.
• 11 August - Canadian sceptic James Randi was interviewed by Don Lane which ended with a fight about elderly psychic Doris Stokes. As he went to a commercial break he fired Randi from the show, telling him to p**s off.
• 4 September - Australian drama miniseries The Timeless Land debuts on ABC.
• September - The Australian Broadcasting Tribunal refuses the takeover of ATV10 by Rupert Murdoch's News Limited.
• 24 October - Special Broadcasting Service was launched as Channel 0/28.
• 12 November - In the 1980 season finale for Prisoner, Meg Jackson and Bob Morris marry, the Christmas performance and the mineshaft disaster.
• The 1980 Moscow Olympics are televised on Seven Network via satellite.

Television

• 24 October - Channel 0/28

Debuts

New international programming

• 1 January - USA The Duke (Seven Network)
• 2 January - FRA/JPN Zoom the White Dolphin (ABC TV)
• 13 January - USA Quark (ABC TV)
• 27 January - USA 240 Robert (Network Ten)
• 3 February - UK Rebecca (ABC TV)
• 5 February - UK The Omega Factor (ABC TV)
• 7 February - UK Telford's Change (ABC TV)
• 11 February - USA The All-New Popeye Show (Seven Network)
• 21 February - USA Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels (Seven Network)
• 21 February - USA The Dukes of Hazzard (Network Ten)
• 3 March - UK Grange Hill (ABC TV)
• 4 April - USA A Connecticut Rabbit in King Arthur's Court (Network Ten - Sydney)
• 22 April - USA Beggarman, Thief (Seven Network)
• 26 May - USA Fangface (Network Ten)
• 27 May - UK Minder (ABC TV)
• 31 May - USA California Fever (Network Ten)
• 4 June - USA Jason of Star Command (Nine Network)
• 22 June - USA Scooby and Scrappy-Doo (Nine Network)
• 2 July – UK The Paper Lads (Nine Network)
• 5 July - USA Godzilla (Seven Network)
• 16 July - USA Hagen (Nine Network)
• 2 August - USA Space Sentinels (Network Ten)
• 4 August - USA Thunder (Network Ten)
• 25 August - UK Ballet Shoes (Nine Network)
• 9 September - UK The Moon Stallion (ABC TV)
• 25 September - UK Hawkmoor (ABC TV)
• 20 October - UK Huntingtower (ABC TV)
• 3 November - UK Pinocchio (ABC TV)
• 16 November - USA A New Kind of Family (Seven Network)
• 17 November - USA Beyond Westworld (Seven Network)
• 18 November - USA Big Shamus, Little Shamus (Seven Network)
• 19 November - USA Me and Maxx (Network Ten)
• 25 November - USA Flo (Network Ten)
• 26 November - USA The Ropers (Seven Network)
• 2 December - USA Mrs. Columbo (Nine Network)
• 3 December - USA B.A.D. Cats (Nine Network)
• 4 December - USA The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show (Network Ten)
• 9 December - UK Flambards (Nine Network)
• 22 December - USA The New Fred and Barney Show (Seven Network)
• 23 December - USA Texas (Network Ten)
• 25 December - USA Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales (Network Ten)
• 26 December - USA Struck by Lightning (Seven Network)

Television shows

1950s

• Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959–1999)

1960s

• Four Corners (1961–present)

1970s

• Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971–1999, 2009–2010)
• Young Talent Time (1971–1988)
• Countdown (1974–1987)
• The Don Lane Show (1975–1983)
• 60 Minutes (1979–present)
• Prisoner (1979–1986)
• Doctor Down Under (1979–1980)

1980s

• Kingswood Country (1980–1984)
• Sale of the Century (1980–2001)
• Arcade (1980)

Ending this year

References

References

1. "National Museum of Australia - SBS established".
2. "David Bowie on The Don Lane Show".