6 January – Rob Elliott takes over from Tony Barber as host of Wheel of Fortune. The programme starts 1997 without Adriana Xenides as she takes long term leave as letter turner due to a cancerous breakdown, she returns the puzzleboard in July. Her place is filled by ex-Perfect Match hostess Kerrie Friend. After a notable absence throughout 1996 due in part to hosting Family Feud for the last remainder of the year, John Deeks returns to the booth as announcer – the position had been held by David Day in Adelaide, and Ron E Sparkes in Sydney.3 February – Australian drama serial Heartbreak High switches over to air on ABC at 6:00 pm from Monday to Thursdays.31 March – A brand new Australian game show called Burgo's Catch Phrase hosted by former Wheel of Fortune presenter John Burgess starts screening on Nine Network.1 July – Prime Television comes to Mildura, ending a monopoly on commercial television held by STV-8 since 1965.11 July – American-Canadian children's animated series Arthur debuts on ABC.4 August – Judge Judy makes it debut on Network Ten.September – Jo Beth Taylor resigns as host of Australia's Funniest Home Video Show as part of the show's biggest hosts in history – she is replaced by Getaway reporter, Catriona Rowntree, and then axed.22 September – A reboot of the classic Australian 1980s sitcom Kingswood Country called Bullpitt! once again starring Ross Higgins as Ted Bullpitt airs on Seven Network.11 October – In Neighbours, Helen Daniels dies in her sleep at a family get together. The last ever of the original 1985 cast members Anne Haddy departs the series, she died two years later after a long illness.12 October – American sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond debuts on Seven Network.1 November – TCN-9 stages the first trial of digital television in the Southern Hemisphere.23 November – American animated comedy series King of the Hill screens on Seven Network at 7:30 pm.3 December – American supernatural fiction, fantasy, action, horror series Buffy the Vampire Slayer debuts on Seven Network.20 December – American animated comedy series South Park airs on SBS. It also became the network's highest rating series to date.The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales is broadcast live on all ABC and commercial free-to-air television channels.1 June – Ovation Channel1 July – Odyssey Channel1 September – The LifeStyle Channel7 September – Movie ExtraRebranded channels
20 March – MTV Australia (was ARC Music Channel)18 April – Channel V Australia (was Red)7 September – Movie One (was The Movie Network)This is a list of programs which made their premiere on an Australian television network that had 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 having premieed 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.
ABC
Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959–1999)Four Corners (1961–present)Seven Network
Wheel of Fortune (1981–1996, 1996–2003, 2004–2008)Home and Away (1988–present)Blue Heelers (1994–2006)The Great Outdoors (1993–present)Today Tonight (1995–present)Nine Network
Today (1982–present)Sale of the Century (1980–2001)A Current Affair (1971–1978, 1988–present)Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971–1999)Midday (1973–1998)60 Minutes (1979–present)Australia's Funniest Home Video Show (1990–2000, 2000–2004, 2005–present)The AFL Footy Show (1994–present)The NRL Footy Show (1994–present)Water Rats (1996–2001)Burgo's Catch Phrase (1997–2001, 2002–2003)The Price is Right (1993–1998, 2003–2005, 2012)Network Ten
Neighbours (Seven Network 1985, Network Ten 1986–present)GMA with Bert Newton (1991–2005) 