2016 in Australian television


This is a list of Australian television related events, debuts, finales, and cancellations that are scheduled to occur in 2016, the 61st year of continuous operation of television in Australia.

Events

August

Television channels

New channels

Channel closures

  • 25 March – Channel V Australia|Channel
  • 1 April – MTV Classic
  • 30 April – 4ME
  • 4 October – SoHo

Affiliation changes

Premieres

Telemovies and miniseries

ProgramOriginal airdateNetworkCountry of originSource
Stakes18 JanuaryCartoon NetworkUnited States
Long Live the Royals26 JanuaryCartoon NetworkUnited States
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar6 FebruaryDisney JuniorUnited States
11.22.63StanUnited States
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of DestinyNetflixUnited States/China
Pee-wee's Big HolidayNetflixUnited States
The Night ManagerBBC FirstUnited Kingdom
MurderBBC FirstUnited Kingdom
And Then There Were NoneBBC FirstUnited Kingdom/United States
Special CorrespondentsNetflixUnited States
ConfirmationShowcaseUnited States
The Do-OverNetflixUnited States
All the WayShowcaseUnited States
MaigretBBC FirstUnited Kingdom
Looking: The MovieShowcaseUnited States
Sharknado: The 4th AwakensSyfyUnited States

Documentaries

ProgramOriginal airdateNetworkCountry of originSource
Hollywood CensoredFoxtel ArtsUnited States
Women He's UndressedShowcaseUnited States
Back on Board: Greg LouganisShowcaseUnited States
The Paedophile HuntersCIUnited Kingdom
Only the DeadShowcaseUnited States
Steven Avery: Innocent or Guilty?Discovery ChannelUnited States
Springsteen & IMaxUnited States
HistoryUnited States

Specials

ProgramOriginal airdateNetworkCountry of originSource
LEGO Scooby-Doo: Knight Time Terror26 JanuaryBoomerangUnited States
Grease: LiveNine NetworkUnited States
69th British Academy Film AwardsUKTVUnited Kingdom
58th Annual Grammy AwardsFox8United States
Liza Minnelli Plays the AVO SessionFoxtel ArtsUnited States
2016 Brit AwardsUKTVUnited Kingdom
Jethro Tull: Live AVO SessionFoxtel ArtsUnited States
Nashville: On The Record 3SoHoUnited States
2016 Kids' Choice AwardsNickelodeonUnited States
The PassionFoxtel ArtsUnited States
Game of Thrones: The Story so FarShowcaseUnited States
2016 MTV Movie AwardsMTVUnited States
2016 Billboard Music AwardsV HitsUnited States
Sinatra 100: An All Star Grammy ConcertFoxtel ArtsUnited States
Linguini Brothers Tarantella 20009Go!Canada
Kid Bass featuring Sincere Goodgirls Love RudeboysNine NetworkSouth Africa

Programming changes

Changes to network affiliation

Criterion for inclusion in the following list is that Australian premiere episodes will air in Australia for the first time on a new channel. This includes when a program is moved from a free-to-air network's primary channel to a digital multi-channel, as well as when a program moves between subscription television channels – provided the preceding criterion is met. Ended television series which change networks for repeat broadcasts are not included in the list.
ProgramDateNew networkPrevious networkSource
Saturday Disney7flix7TWO
The Bolt ReportSky NewsNetwork Ten
Australian SurvivorNetwork TenNine Network
Seven Network
The Great Australian Spelling BeeElevenNetwork Ten-

ProgramDateNew networkPrevious networkCountry of originSource
American IdolFOX8ElevenUnited States
PokémonBoomerangCartoon NetworkJapan
Once Upon a Time7flix7TWOUnited States
The Muppets7flixSeven NetworkUnited States
The Mindy Project7flixSeven NetworkUnited States
The Amazing Race7flixSeven NetworkUnited States
Grey's Anatomy7flixSeven NetworkUnited States
How To Get Away With Murder7flixSeven NetworkUnited States
The Mindy ProjectPresto7flixUnited States
Sparkle Friends9Go!ABC3New Zealand
Pocket Protectors7TWOABC3New Zealand
Sonic BoomBoomerangCartoon NetworkUnited States, France

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.
ProgramDateFree-to-air networkSubscription networkCountry of originSource
Ultimate Airport DubaiNine NetworkNational Geographic ChannelUnited Arab Emirates
CristelaElevenFox8United States
Fresh Off the BoatElevenFox8United States
Scandal7flixPrestoUnited States
PJ Masks9Go!Disney JuniorFrance

Subscription premieres

This is a list of programs which made their debut on Australian subscription television, having previously premiered on Australian free-to-air television. Programs may still air on the original free-to-air television network.
ProgramDateFree-to-air networkSubscription networkSource
WinterSeven Network13th Street
Bringing Sexy BackSeven NetworkStyle Network

ProgramDateFree-to-air networkSubscription networkCountry of originSource
The BlacklistSeven NetworkFXUnited States
The Mysteries of LauraNine NetworkUniversal ChannelUnited States
BlindspotSeven NetworkUniversal ChannelUnited States

Returning programs

Australian produced programs which are returning with a new season after being absent from television from the previous calendar year.
ProgramReturn dateNetworkOriginal runSource
Australia's Got TalentNine Network2007–2013; intermittently
Saturday LiveSky News Live2013
20 to 1Nine Network2005–2011
OffspringNetwork Ten2010–2014
Australian SurvivorNetwork Ten2002–2006; intermittently