2006 in Australian television

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, Foxtel and Ten Networks outbid Channel Nine and are awarded the rights to broadcast the AFL from 2007 to 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 to 2014.
• 30 January, 6am – Channel Nine launches a new logo and a 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 now on Saturday Nights, 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.
• 9 May – Then Sunrise weather presenter and future Family Feud host Grant Denyer and his partner Amanda Garner win the fourth season of Dancing with the Stars.
• 21 May – Brant Webb and Todd Russell speak to new A Current Affair 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.
• 7 July – Children's fantasy drama series H₂O: Just Add Water starring Claire Holt, Phoebe Tonkin and Cariba Heine premieres on Network Ten.
• 9 July – BBC Nature Documentary series Planet Earth narrated by David Attenborough premieres on the ABC.
• 18 July – Australian kids program Play School celebrates 40 years on air.
• 31 July – Jamie Brooksby wins the sixth season of Big Brother.
• 29 August – Model Jake Wall and his professional skating partner Maria Filippov win the first season of Torvill and Dean's Dancing on Ice.
• 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 then later revived as Fox Footy in 2012. 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.
• 28 November – AFL player Anthony Koutoufides and his partner Natalie Lowe win the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars.
• 10 December – Network Ten and Fox Sports broadcasts V8 Supercars for the final-ever time, before handing the television rights to the Seven Network from 2007 to 2014. Ten and Fox Sports later revived the V8 Supercars coverage 9 years later.
• Voiceover artist Robbie McGregor leaves SBS after 17 years. He is replaced the next year by Lani John Tupu.

New channels

• 1 October – Fox Sports 3
• 1 October – Fox Sports News
• 15 November – Al Jazeera English
• 1 December – Sci Fi Channel

Programming changes

Changes to network affiliation

Program	New network	Previous network	Date
sort|2006-04-03|3 April 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. Television shows 1960s ''Four Corners'' 1980s Wheel of Fortune Neighbours Home and Away The Movie Show ''Rage'' 1990s Hotline ''Australia's Funniest Home Videos'' 2000s ;2001Big Brother ;2002 ;2003Australian Idol Deal or No Deal ;2004Border Security: Australia's Front Line Dancing with the Stars ;2005 ''Medical Emergency''