1980 in Australian television
This article is a summary of 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 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
New international programming
- 1 January - The Duke
- 2 January - / Zoom the White Dolphin
- 13 January - Quark
- 27 January - 240 Robert
- 3 February - Rebecca
- 5 February - The Omega Factor
- 7 February - Telford's Change
- 11 February - The All-New Popeye Show
- 21 February - Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
- 21 February - The Dukes of Hazzard
- 3 March - Grange Hill
- 4 April - A Connecticut Rabbit in King Arthur's Court
- 22 April - Beggarman, Thief
- 26 May - Fangface
- 27 May - Minder
- 31 May - California Fever
- 4 June - Jason of Star Command
- 22 June - Scooby and Scrappy-Doo
- 2 July – The Paper Lads
- 5 July - Godzilla
- 16 July - Hagen
- 2 August - Space Sentinels
- 4 August - Thunder
- 25 August - Ballet Shoes
- 9 September - The Moon Stallion
- 25 September - Hawkmoor
- 20 October - Huntingtower
- 3 November - Pinocchio
- 16 November - A New Kind of Family
- 17 November - Beyond Westworld
- 18 November - Big Shamus, Little Shamus
- 19 November - Me and Maxx
- 25 November - Flo
- 26 November - The Ropers
- 2 December - Mrs. Columbo
- 3 December - B.A.D. Cats
- 4 December - The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show
- 9 December - Flambards
- 22 December - The New Fred and Barney Show
- 23 December - Texas
- 25 December - Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales
- 26 December - ''Struck by Lightning''
Television shows
1950s
1960s
- ''Four Corners''
1970s
Hey Hey It's Saturday Young Talent Time Countdown The Don Lane Show 60 Minutes Prisoner1980s
Kingswood Country Sale of the Century- ''Arcade''