The term network change refers to the phenomenon in which a television series moves from one network to another. Generally this term only refers to original episodes of a series; repeats of a long-running series will usually be picked up by other channels in syndication, often before the series ends production.
Network changes are uncommon occurrences; in most cases, pickup by a network is made conditional on giving that network the first opportunity to order additional seasons. Generally a network change will only occur if either the original network cancels the series, or the show's producers choose to move to another network for financial reasons. The latter circumstance is rare, partly because the producers would typically have to wait out an exclusive negotiation window with the original network, and—especially in the 21st century—partly because of vertical integration (specifically, major networks ordering most of their series from companies under the same corporate umbrella).
Only 4% of US television shows changed network between 2000 and 2012, excluding the one-off merger of UPN and The WB to form The CW.
A Country Practice (1981–1993 on Seven Network; 1994 on Network Ten)
Neighbours (1985 on Seven Network; 1986–present on Network Ten)
Full Frontal (1993–1997 on Seven Network; 1998 on Network Ten)
Rove Live (1999 on Nine Network; 2000–2009 on Network Ten)
Good News Week (1996–1998 on ABC1; 1998–2000, 2008–2012 on Network Ten)
Big Brother (2001–2008 on Network Ten; 2012–2014 on Nine Network)
Kath & Kim (2002–2005 on ABC; 2007–2008 on Seven Network)
Australian Survivor (2002 on Nine Network; 2006 on Seven Network; 2016 on Network Ten)
The X Factor (2005 on Network Ten; 2009–present on Seven Network)
Thank God You're Here (2007–2009 on Network Ten; 2010 on Seven Network)
Australia's Got Talent (2007–2012 on Seven Network; 2013, 2016 on Nine Network)
The Bolt Report (2011–2015 on Network Ten; 2016 on Sky News Live)
A Place to Call Home (2013–2014 on Seven Network; 2015–present on SoHo)
The Great Australian Bake Off (2013 on Nine Network; 2015–present on LifeStyle Food)
Fashion Bloggers (2014 on Style Network; 2015 on E!)
Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–2010 on CTV; 2010–2013 on MuchMusic; 2013–2015 on MTV)
Kenny vs. Spenny (2003–2004 on CBC; 2005–2010 on Showcase)
Murdoch Mysteries (2008–2012 on Citytv; 2013–present on CBC)
The Red Green Show (1991–1992 on CHCH; 1993 on CFPL; 1994–1996 on Global; 1997–2006 on CBC)
SCTV (1976–1979 on Global, 1980–1983 on CBC, 1983–1984 on SuperChannel; see also United States)
Trailer Park Boys (2001–2007 on Showcase; 2014–present on Netflix)
This Is Your Life (UK TV series) (1955–1969 on BBC 1; 1969–1993 on ITV; 1993–2003 on BBC 1)
What the Papers Say (1956–1982 on ITV; 1982–1989 on Channel 4; 1989–2010 on BBC 2; 2010–present BBC Radio 4)
University Challenge (1962–1987 on ITV; 1994–present on BBC 2)
Candid Camera (1960–1967 on BBC 1; 1974 on ITV)
The Goodies (1970–1980 on BBC 2; 1981–1982 on ITV)
The Comic Strip Presents... (1982–1988 on Channel 4, 1992–1993 on BBC 1, 1998–2000 on Channel 4)
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983–1986 on ITV; 2002–2004 on BBC 1)
Men Behaving Badly (1992 on ITV; 1994–1998 on BBC 1)
Doomwatch (1970–1972 on BBC 1; 1999 on Five)
Quatermass (1953–1959 on BBC 1; 1979 on ITV; 2005 on BBC Four)
Robot Wars (1998–2003 on BBC 2; 2003–2004 on Five)
Red Dwarf (1988–1999 on BBC2; 2009, 2012–present on Dave)
The Voice UK (2012–2016 on BBC1; 2017–present on ITV)
9 to 5 (1982–1983 on ABC; 1986–1988 in first-run syndication)
21 Jump Street (1987–1990 on Fox; 1990–1991 in first-run syndication)
Airwolf (1984–1986 on CBS; 1987 on USA)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Original: 1955–1960, 1962–1964 on CBS; 1960–1962, 1964–1965 on NBC; New: 1985–1986 on NBC; 1987–1989 on USA)
American Dad! (2005–2014 on Fox; 2014–present on TBS)
American High (2000 on Fox; 2001 on PBS)
America's Most Wanted (1988–2012 on Fox; 2011–12 on Lifetime)
America's Next Top Model (2003-2006 on UPN; 2006-2015 on The CW; 2016-present on VH1)
Animaniacs (1993–1995 on Fox Kids; 1995–1999 on The WB)
Arrested Development (2003–2006 on Fox; 2013 on Netflix)
Babylon 5 (1994–1997 on PTEN; 1997–1998 on TNT)
Bachelor Father (1957–1959 on CBS; 1959–1961 on NBC; 1961–1962 on ABC)
BattleBots (2000–2002 on Comedy Central; 2015–present on ABC)
Baywatch (1989–1990 on NBC; 1991–2001 in first-run syndication)
Beetlejuice (1989–1991 on ABC; 1991 on Fox, with different sets of episodes airing on both networks simultaneously early in 1991 season)
Betty White's Off Their Rockers (2012–13 on NBC; 2013–present on Lifetime)
Between Brothers (1997–1998 on Fox; 1999 on UPN)
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures (1990–1991 on CBS; 1991–1992 on Fox Kids)
The Bionic Woman (1976–1977 on ABC; 1977–1978 on NBC)
Bob the Builder (2001–2005 on Nickelodeon; 2005–present on PBS)
Brotherly Love (1995–1996 on NBC; 1996–1997 on The WB)
The Bugs Bunny Show (1960–1967; 1973–1975; 1985–2000 on ABC; 1967–1973; 1975–1985 on CBS)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2001 on The WB; 2001–2003 on UPN)
Camera Three (1956–1979 on CBS; 1979–1980 on PBS)
Candid Camera (1996–2001 on CBS; 2001–2004 on PAX)
Community (2009–2014 on NBC; 2015 on Yahoo! Screen)
Cops (1989–2013 on Fox; 2013–present on Spike)
Charles in Charge (1984–85 on CBS; 1987–1990 in first-run syndication)
Clueless (1996–1997 on ABC; 1997–1999 on UPN)
The Contender (2005 on NBC; 2006–2008 on ESPN; 2008–2009 on Versus)
Cougar Town (2009–2012 on ABC; 2013–2015 on TBS)
The Critic (1994 on ABC; 1995 on Fox)
The Danny Thomas Show (1953–1957 on ABC; 1957–1964 on CBS)
Davis Rules (1991 on ABC; 1992 on CBS)
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (1987–1988 on NBC; 1988–1991 on Lifetime)
The Detectives (1959–1961 on ABC; 1961–1962 on NBC)
Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1985 on NBC; 1985–1986 on ABC)
Digimon: Digital Monsters (1999–2002 on Fox Kids; 2002–2003 on ABC Family; 2013 on Nicktoons)
Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985–1989 on NBC; 1989–1990 on ABC)
Doug (TV series) (1991–1994 on Nickelodeon; 1996–1999 on ABC, as "Brand Spanking New! Doug" and "Disney's Doug")
The Edge of Night (1956–1975 on CBS; 1975–1984 on ABC; repeats syndicated in the 1980s, almost uniquely for an American soap opera)
Ethel and Albert (NBC 1953–1954; CBS 1955; ABC 1955–1956)
Fame (1982–1983 on NBC; 1983–1987 in first-run syndication)
Family Matters (1989–1997 on ABC; 1997–1998 on CBS)
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972–1984 on CBS; 1984 in first-run syndication; 1989 on NBC)
Father Dowling Mysteries (1989 on NBC; 1990–1991 on ABC)
Father Knows Best (1954–1955; 1958–1960 on CBS; 1955–1958 on NBC; prime-time repeats aired on CBS from 1960–1962 and ABC from 1962–1963)
Flashpoint (2007–2011 on CBS; 2011–2013 on ION)
Flipper (1995–1998 in syndication; 1998–2000 on PAX)
For Your Love (1998 on NBC; 1998–2002 on The WB)
Franklin (1997–1999 on CBS; 1999–2003 on Nickelodeon)
Futurama (1999–2003 on Fox; 2008–2013 on Comedy Central)
The Game (2006–2009 on The CW; 2011–2015 on BET)
Get Smart (1965–1969 on NBC; 1969–1970 on CBS)
Getting By (early 1993 on ABC; 1993–1994 on NBC)
The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (1968–1969 on NBC; 1969–1970 on ABC)
Grounded for Life (2001–2002 on Fox; 2002–2005 on The WB)
Hazel (1961–1965 on NBC; 1965–66 on CBS)
Hee Haw (1969–1971 on CBS; 1971–1993 in first-run syndication)
The Hitchhiker (1983–1987 on HBO; 1989–1991 on USA)
The Hogan Family (1986–1990 on NBC; 1990–1991 on CBS)
Home Movies (1999 on UPN; 2001–2004 on Adult Swim)
The Hughleys (1998–2000 on ABC; 2000–2002 on UPN)
In the Heat of the Night (1988–1992 on NBC; 1992–1994 on CBS)
In the House (1995–1996 on NBC; 1996–1999 on UPN)
It's a Living (1980–1982 on ABC; 1985–1989 in first-run syndication)
JAG (1995–1996 on NBC; 1996–2005 on CBS)
The Jeff Foxworthy Show (1995–1996 on ABC; 1996–1997 on NBC)
The Jetsons (1962–63 on ABC; 1985–1987 in first-run syndication)
Lassie (1954–1971 on CBS; 1971–1973 in first-run syndication)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001–2007 on NBC; 2007–2011 on USA Network)
The Lawrence Welk Show (1955–1971 on ABC; 1971–1982 in first-run syndication)
Leave it to Beaver (1957–1958 on CBS; 1958–1963 on ABC)
The Legend of Korra (2012–2014 on Nickelodeon; 2014 on Nick Video)
Let's Make a Deal (1963–1968 on NBC; 1968–1976 on ABC; 1971–1977, 1980–1981 and 1984–1986 in first-run syndication; 2003 on NBC; 2009–present on CBS)
Mad TV (1995–2009 on Fox; 2016–current on The CW)
Making the Band (2000–2001 on ABC; 2002 on MTV)
Major League Baseball Game of the Week (1954–1965 on CBS; 1966–1989 on NBC; 1990–1993 on CBS; 1996–present on Fox)
Mama's Family (1983–1985 on NBC; 1986–1990 in first-run syndication)
Matlock (1986–1992 on NBC; 1992–1995 on ABC)
Medabots (2001–2002 on Fox Kids; 2002–2004 on ABC Family)
Medium (2005–2009 on NBC; 2009–2011 on CBS)
The Mindy Project (2012–2015 on Fox; 2015–present on Hulu)
Mister Ed (early 1961 in first-run syndication; 1961–1966 on CBS)
Monday Night Football (1971–2005 on ABC; 2006–present on ESPN; per NFL Broadcasting mandates, in select markets where the teams that compete on a MNF game, the game is syndicated locally)
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988–1989 on KTMA (Minneapolis-St. Paul), 1989–1997 on The Comedy Channel/Comedy Central, 1997–1999 on Sci Fi Channel, 2017-present on Netflix)
My Three Sons (1960–1965 on ABC; 1965–1972 on CBS)
The Naked Truth (1995–1996 on ABC; 1997–1998 on NBC)
Nashville (2012-2016 on ABC; 2016-present on CMT)
NBA Inside Stuff (1990-2002 on NBC; 2002-2005 on ABC; 2013-present on NBA TV)
National Geographic Explorer (Nickelodeon from 1985–1986, TBS from 1986–1999, CNBC from 1999–2001, MSNBC from 2001–2004, National Geographic Channel from 2004–present)
The News with Brian Williams (1996–2002 on MSNBC; 2002–2004 on CNBC)
The New Leave It to Beaver (1983 television movie/pilot CBS; 1984–1985 Disney Channel; 1986–1989 TBS)
Night Flight (1981–1988 on USA Network; 1990–1996 in first-run syndication)
The Outer Limits (1995) (1995–2000 on Showtime; 2001–2002 on Sci-Fi Channel)
The Paper Chase (1978–79 on CBS; 1983–1986 on Showtime; additionally, repeats of the CBS season were fed nationally by PBS in early 1980s)
Peter Gunn (1958–1960 on NBC; 1960–1961 on ABC)
The PJs (1999–2000 on Fox; 2000–2001 on The WB)
Pokemon (1998–1999 in first-run syndication; 1999–2006 on Kids' WB!; 2006–2016 on Cartoon Network; moving to Disney XD on 2017)
Politically Incorrect (1993–1997 on Comedy Central; 1997–2002 on ABC)
Power Rangers (1993–2002 on Fox; 2002–2010 on ABC; 2011–present on Nickelodeon. One notable example is Power Rangers Wild Force which aired the first 26 episodes on Fox with the remainder of the season airing on ABC due to Disney's acquisition of Saban Entertainment a year earlier)
Project Greenlight (2001–2003 on HBO; 2004–2008 on Bravo)
Project Runway (2004–2008 on Bravo; 2009–present on Lifetime)
Punky Brewster (1984–1986 on NBC; 1987–1988 in first-run syndication)
The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985–1986 on HBO; 1988–1992 on USA)
The Real McCoys (1957–1962 on ABC; 1962–1963 on CBS)
Ren and Stimpy (1991–1996 on Nickelodeon; 2003–2005 on Spike TV)
Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1957–1959 on CBS; 1959–1960 on NBC)
Rocky and His Friends (1959–1961 on ABC; essentially the same show aired as The Bullwinkle Show, 1961–1964 on NBC; repeats aired 1964–1973 on ABC and 1981–1982 on NBC)
Roswell (1999–2001 on The WB; 2001–2002 on UPN)
Rupert (Unknown-1998 on Nickelodeon, 1999 on CBS)
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996–2000 on ABC; 2000–2003 on The WB)
Scrubs (2001–2008 on NBC; 2009–2010 on ABC)
Search for Tomorrow (1951–1982 on CBS; 1982–1986 on NBC)
SCTV (1976–1981 in first-run syndication; 1981–1983 on NBC; 1983–1984 on Cinemax; NBC repeats with occasional new-to-US footage, 2004; see also Canada)
Sesame Street (1969–1970 on NET; 1970–2016 on PBS; 2016–present on HBO; repeats air 2016–present on PBS)
Silk Stalkings (1991–1993 on CBS; 1993–1999 on USA)
Silver Spoons (1982–1986 on NBC; 1986–1987 in first-run syndication)
The Simple Life (2003–2005 on FOX; 2006–2007 on E!)
Sirens (1993 on ABC; 1994–1995 in first-run syndication)
Sister, Sister (1994–1995 on ABC; 1995–1999 on The WB)
Sliders (1995–1997 on Fox; 1998–2000 on Sci Fi Channel)
Southland (2009–2010 on NBC; 2011–2013 on TNT)
The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008 on Kids' WB via The CW, later The CW4Kids via The CW, 2009 on Disney XD; Disney's acquisition of the series' production company Marvel Studios caused the series to be cancelled and unable to continue due to Sony Pictures Television's sole ownership of the series, reruns continued to air on Toonzai's successor Vortexx)
Stargate SG-1 (1997–2002 on Showtime; 2002–2007 on Sci Fi Channel)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2013 on Cartoon Network, 2014 on Netflix; Disney's acquisition of the series' production company Lucasfilm caused the series to be cancelled)
The State (1994–1995 on MTV; 1995 one-off special on CBS)
Step by Step (1991–1997 on ABC; 1997–1998 on CBS)
Supergirl (2015–2016 on CBS; 2016–Present on The CW)
The Surreal Life (2003–2004 on WB; 2004–2006 on VH1)
Sweet Valley High (1994–1997 in first-run syndication; 1997 on UPN)
TekWar (1994 movies in first-run syndication; 1994–1995 on USA Network; 1996 Sci-Fi Channel)
T.J. Hooker (1982–1985 on ABC; 1985–1986 on CBS late night)
Taxi (1978–1982 on ABC; 1982–1983 on NBC)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) (1987–1991 in first-run syndication; 1990–1997 on CBS)
This Week in Baseball (1977–1998 in syndication; 2000–2011 on FOX)
TNA Impact Wrestling (2004–2005 on Fox Sports; 2005–2014 on Spike TV; 2015 on Destination America, 2016–present on Pop)
The Tony Randall Show (1976–1977 on ABC; 1977–1978 on CBS)
Too Close for Comfort (1980–1983 on ABC; 1984–1986 in first-run syndication)
TV Nation (1994 on NBC; 1995 on Fox)
TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes (1984–1998 on NBC; 1998–2007 on ABC; 2012–2013 in first-run syndication)
The Twilight Zone (1985) (1985–1987 on CBS; 1988–1989 in first-run syndication)
Unforgettable (2011–2014 on CBS; 2015–2016 on A&E)
The United States Steel Hour (1953–1955 on ABC; 1955–1963 on CBS)
Unsolved Mysteries (1988–1997 on NBC; 1997–1999 on CBS; 2001–2002 on Lufetime; 2008–2010 on Spike)
Wagon Train (1957–1962 on NBC; 1962–1965 on ABC)
We Got It Made (1983–1984 on NBC; 1987–1988 in first-run syndication)
Webster (1983–1987 on ABC; 1987–1989 in first-run syndication)
Wheel of Fortune (daytime version) (1975–1989, 1991 on NBC, 1989–1991 on CBS)
Wonder Woman (1975–1977 on ABC; 1977–1979 on CBS)
The Wonderful World of Disney; broadcast under various titles, the format remained basically the same throughout (1954–1961, 1986–1988, and 1997–2008 on ABC; 1961–1981 and 1988–1990 on NBC; 1981–1983 on CBS; 1990–1996 on The Disney Channel)
Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1998–2004 on ABC; 2005–2007 on ABC Family; 2013–current on The CW)
WWE Friday Night SmackDown! (1999–2006 on UPN; 2006–2008 on The CW; 2008–2010 on MyNetworkTV; 2010–2015 on SyFy; 2016–present on USA Network)
WWE Raw (1993–2000 on USA Network; 2000–2005 on TNN/Spike TV; 2005–present on USA Network)
WWE Sunday Night HEAT (1998–2000 on USA Network; 2000–2003 on MTV; 2003–2006 on TNN/Spike TV)
The WB and UPN networks effectively merged into a new network called The CW at the start of the 2006–2007 seasons, with The CW's lineup featuring a mixture of programming that originated on both UPN and The WB along with its own original programming. Due to the unusual circumstances, these shows are listed separately.
7th Heaven (1996–2006 on The WB; 2006–2007 on The CW)
All of Us (2003–2006 on UPN; 2006–2007 on The CW)
America's Next Top Model (2003–2006 on UPN; 2006–2015 on The CW; 2016-present on VH1)
Everybody Hates Chris (2005–2006 on UPN; 2006–2009 on The CW)
Gilmore Girls (2000–2006 on The WB; 2006–2007 on The CW)
Girlfriends (2000–2006 on UPN; 2006–2007 on The CW)
One Tree Hill (2003–2006 on The WB; 2006–2012 on The CW)
Smallville (2001–2006 on The WB; 2006–2011 on The CW)
Supernatural (2005–2006 on The WB; 2006–present on The CW)
Veronica Mars (2004–2006 on UPN; 2006–2007 on The CW)
WWE Friday Night SmackDown! (1999–2006 on UPN; 2006–2008 on The CW; 2008–2010 on MyNetworkTV; 2010–2015 on SyFy; 2016–present on USA Network)
