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Events
Television
- 5 January - SBS ceases VHF transmissions on Channel 0 in Sydney and Melbourne.
- 20 January - Neighbours makes its debut on Network Ten and comes to dominate the 7:00pm weeknight timeslot.
- 25 January - American sitcom starring Soleil Moon Frye and George Gaynes Punky Brewster receives its Australian television debut on Seven Network.
- 28 January - Australian news and current affairs program The 7.30 Report debuts on ABC.
- 30 January - Debut of Australian soap opera Prime Time on Nine Network. It was the very last soap opera from Australia ever produced with exterior location scenes shot on film and interior scenes shot on videotape.
- 10 February - Australian soap opera Return to Eden premieres on Network Ten.
- 13 March - Australia's popular and influential TV sketch comedy The D-Generation which was created and written by a group of students from Melbourne University who had gained local notoriety for their stage work such as Marg Downey, Michael Veitch and Tom Gleisner debuts on ABC.
- 16 March - SBS expands into Perth and Hobart.
- 31 March - ABC airs extra morning programs for children for the first time due to school term breaks from 10:00am to 12:00pm.
- 7 July - Last and final episode of the Australian soap opera Return to Eden airs on Network Ten.
- 23 July - The Royal Wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson is broadcast on all television stations except for SBS.
- 5 August - British police procedural television series The Bill premieres on ABC.
- 19 September - Nine Network celebrates 30 years of television with a two-hour special featuring footage from some of TV's most popular and most remembered programs and personalities.
- 27 October - Neighbours airs on the BBC in the UK for the first time.
- 30 October - The Movie Show begins on SBS.
- November - Pbl Mini series Cyclone Tracy + The Great Bookie Robbery air on Channel Nine
- 11 December - Final episode of the Australian soap opera Prisoner airs on Network Ten.
- 15 December - ABC airs extra morning programs for children during the Summer Holidays from 10:00am to 12:00pm until February where School Term 1 will begin.
- December - The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd, owners of HSV-7 & ADS-7 are sold to Rupert Murdoch's News Limited for $1.8 billion. As News Limited owned ATV-10 at this time, HSV-7 is sold to Fairfax (already owners of ATN-7 & BTQ-7) in February 1987 for $320 million.
- Australian children's series Mr. Squiggle returns with a brand new series with Roxanne Kimmorley taking over as presenter.
- AUSSAT satellites are launched, bringing television to remote areas for the first time.
- The 1986 Commonwealth Games are telecast live on ABC from Edinburgh, Scotland.
Debuts
- 20 January - Off the Dish (Network Ten)
- 28 January - The 7.30 Report (ABC-TV)
- 30 January - Prime Time (Nine Network)
- 10 February - C'mon Kids (Nine Network)
- 10 February - Return to Eden (Network Ten)
- 9 March - A Fortunate Life (Nine Network)
- 13 March - The D-Generation (ABC-TV)
- 20 March - The Girl from Steel City (SBS)
- 31 March - Edge of the Wedge (ABC-TV)
- 3 April - Game of Life (ABC-TV)
- 6 May - The Video Comedy Show (ABC-TV)
- 9 May - Saturdee (Channel Seven)
- 15 May - Fame and Misfortune (ABC-TV)
- 26 May - The Flying Doctors (Nine Network)
- 15 June - Don Spencer's Feathers, Furs or Fins (ABC-TV)
- 19 July - The Cartoon Company (Nine Network)
- 29 July - The Noise (SBS)
- 22 September - My Brother Tom (Network Ten)
- 28 September/30 September - Whose Baby? (28 September: Channel Seven - Melbourne, 30 September: Channel Seven - Sydney)
- 30 September - Studio 86 (ABC-TV)
- 30 September - Filmstruck (ABC-TV)
- 2 October - The Haunted School (ABC-TV)
- 14 October - The Challenge (Nine Network)
- 20 October - Sword of Honour (Channel Seven)
- 30 October - The Movie Show (SBS)
- 10 November - Professor Poopsnagle's Steam Zeppelin (Nine Network)
New International Programming
- 2 January -  Malibu (Nine Network) Malibu (Nine Network)
- 4 January -  La Linea (ABC TV) La Linea (ABC TV)
- 4 January -  / / Amigo and Friends (SBS) Amigo and Friends (SBS)
- 5 January -  / / The Mighty Orbots (Channel Seven) The Mighty Orbots (Channel Seven)
- 5 January -  / /.svg.png.webp) Snorks (Channel Seven - Sydney) Snorks (Channel Seven - Sydney)
- 6 January -  Eye to Eye (Nine Network) Eye to Eye (Nine Network)
- 7 January -  / / Kennedy (Nine Network) Kennedy (Nine Network)
- 8 January -  The Return (SBS) The Return (SBS)
- 11 January -  / / The Transformers (Network Ten) The Transformers (Network Ten)
- 23 January -  The Jockey School (ABC TV) The Jockey School (ABC TV)
- 25 January -  Punky Brewster (Channel Seven) Punky Brewster (Channel Seven)
- 30 January -  The Happy Apple (ABC TV) The Happy Apple (ABC TV)
- 31 January -  Submarine (ABC TV) Submarine (ABC TV)
- 31 January -  Highway to Heaven (Network Ten) Highway to Heaven (Network Ten)
- 3 February -  / /.svg.png.webp) / / Lucky Luke (ABC TV) Lucky Luke (ABC TV)
- 10 February -  Kane and Abel (Network Ten) Kane and Abel (Network Ten)
- 11 February -  Tales from the Darkside (Network Ten) Tales from the Darkside (Network Ten)
- 12 February -  Growing Pains (Nine Network) Growing Pains (Nine Network)
- 12 February -  Who's the Boss? (Nine Network) Who's the Boss? (Nine Network)
- 24 February -  Inside China (SBS) Inside China (SBS)
- 27 February -  The Twilight Zone (1985) (Nine Network) The Twilight Zone (1985) (Nine Network)
- 4 March -  A Death in California (Seven Network) A Death in California (Seven Network)
- 5 March -  Cold Warrior (ABC TV) Cold Warrior (ABC TV)
- 20 March -  Office Gossip (SBS) Office Gossip (SBS)
- 31 March -  The Bunjee Venture (ABC TV) The Bunjee Venture (ABC TV)
- 2 April -  The Return of Bunjee (ABC TV) The Return of Bunjee (ABC TV)
- 2 April -  Stories from Next Door (SBS) Stories from Next Door (SBS)
- 2 April -  Spooky (ABC TV) Spooky (ABC TV)
- 3 April -  Paddington Goes to School (ABC TV) Paddington Goes to School (ABC TV)
- 3 April -  Cuckoo Land (ABC TV) Cuckoo Land (ABC TV)
- 4 April -  Nobody's Hero (ABC TV) Nobody's Hero (ABC TV)
- 4 April -  It's Punky Brewster (Channel Seven) It's Punky Brewster (Channel Seven)
- 6 April -  Turbo Teen (Network Ten) Turbo Teen (Network Ten)
- 12 April - .svg.png.webp) / / Star Wars: Ewoks (Network Ten) Star Wars: Ewoks (Network Ten)
- 12 April - .svg.png.webp) / / Star Wars: Droids (Network Ten) Star Wars: Droids (Network Ten)
- 12 April -  Robotech (Network Ten) Robotech (Network Ten)
- 15 April -  Moonlighting (Nine Network) Moonlighting (Nine Network)
- 27 April -  The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries (Channel Seven) The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries (Channel Seven)
- 28 April -  The Challenge of the Machine Men (Channel Seven) The Challenge of the Machine Men (Channel Seven)
- 30 April - .svg.png.webp) Bits and Bytes (ABC TV) Bits and Bytes (ABC TV)
- 3 May -  SuperTed (ABC TV) SuperTed (ABC TV)
- 3 May -  Do It (ABC TV) Do It (ABC TV)
- 5 May -  The Colbys (Nine Network) The Colbys (Nine Network)
- 8 May -  Sunday Blues (SBS) Sunday Blues (SBS)
- 12 May -  Longing to Fly (SBS) Longing to Fly (SBS)
- 23 May -  Smiley's People (ABC TV) Smiley's People (ABC TV)
- 23 May -  Letty (ABC TV) Letty (ABC TV)
- 31 May -  Berrenger's (Channel Seven) Berrenger's (Channel Seven)
- 5 June -  Wil Cwac Cwac (ABC TV) Wil Cwac Cwac (ABC TV)
- 5 June -  The Bear, the Tiger and the Others (ABC TV) The Bear, the Tiger and the Others (ABC TV)
- 10 June -  Edge of Darkness (ABC TV) Edge of Darkness (ABC TV)
- 14 June -  Treffpunkt: Deutschland (ABC TV) Treffpunkt: Deutschland (ABC TV)
- 24 June -  'Allo 'Allo! (Channel Seven) 'Allo 'Allo! (Channel Seven)
- 30 June -  Fast Forward (ABC TV) Fast Forward (ABC TV)
- 10 July -  Vayia's Treasure (SBS) Vayia's Treasure (SBS)
- 15 July -  Floyd on Fish (SBS) Floyd on Fish (SBS)
- 17 July -  The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ (ABC TV) The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ (ABC TV)
- 20 July -  Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (Channel Seven) Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (Channel Seven)
- 24 July -  The Voyage of the Mimi (ABC TV) The Voyage of the Mimi (ABC TV)
- 27 July -  The Wuzzles (Channel Seven) The Wuzzles (Channel Seven)
- 2 August -  T-Bag (ABC TV) T-Bag (ABC TV)
- 3 August -  The Beiderbecke Affair (ABC TV) The Beiderbecke Affair (ABC TV)
- 5 August -  The Bill (ABC TV) The Bill (ABC TV)
- 7 August -  Quaq Quao (ABC TV) Quaq Quao (ABC TV)
- 10 August -  Me and My Girl (Channel Seven) Me and My Girl (Channel Seven)
- 11 August -  Yes Prime Minister (ABC TV) Yes Prime Minister (ABC TV)
- 12 August -  Terry and the Gunrunners (ABC TV) Terry and the Gunrunners (ABC TV)
- 13 August -  The Morca Mystery (SBS) The Morca Mystery (SBS)
- 13 August -  Fiery Skies (SBS) Fiery Skies (SBS)
- 13 August -  Doubletake (Network Ten) Doubletake (Network Ten)
- 13 August -  The Haunting of Cassie Palmer (ABC TV) The Haunting of Cassie Palmer (ABC TV)
- 16 August -  / / The Irish R.M. (ABC TV) The Irish R.M. (ABC TV)
- 17 August - .svg.png.webp) / /.svg.png.webp) Spearfield's Daughter (Channel Seven) Spearfield's Daughter (Channel Seven)
- 21 August -  Victoria Wood as Seen on TV (ABC TV) Victoria Wood as Seen on TV (ABC TV)
- 23 August -  / / / /.svg.png.webp) M.A.S.K. (Nine Network) M.A.S.K. (Nine Network)
- 24 August -  The Centurions (Network Ten) The Centurions (Network Ten)
- 26 August -  Street Hawk (Network Ten) Street Hawk (Network Ten)
- 6 September -  / / ThunderCats (Channel Seven) ThunderCats (Channel Seven)
- 11 September -  Anna of the Five Towns (ABC TV) Anna of the Five Towns (ABC TV)
- 11 September -  The Comic Strip Presents... (ABC TV) The Comic Strip Presents... (ABC TV)
- 14 September -  Mansfield Park (ABC TV) Mansfield Park (ABC TV)
- 17 September -  Finnegan Begin Again (Channel Seven) Finnegan Begin Again (Channel Seven)
- 18 September -  Spenser: For Hire (Nine Network) Spenser: For Hire (Nine Network)
- 19 September -  Stookie (ABC TV) Stookie (ABC TV)
- 22 September -  Going Bananas (ABC TV) Going Bananas (ABC TV)
- 23 September -  The Croc-Note Show (ABC TV) The Croc-Note Show (ABC TV)
- 25 September -  I Had Three Wives (Nine Network) I Had Three Wives (Nine Network)
- 29 September -  Small Wonder (Nine Network) Small Wonder (Nine Network)
- 30 September -  Chessgame (Nine Network) Chessgame (Nine Network)
- 6 October -  All at No 20 (ABC TV) All at No 20 (ABC TV)
- 15 October -  The Last Precinct (Network Ten) The Last Precinct (Network Ten)
- 26 October -  Galtar and the Golden Lance (Channel Seven) Galtar and the Golden Lance (Channel Seven)
- 27 October -  On Wings of Eagles (Network Ten) On Wings of Eagles (Network Ten)
- 4 November -  Lady Blue (Channel Seven) Lady Blue (Channel Seven)
- 7 November -  Airwolf (Channel Seven) Airwolf (Channel Seven)
- 10 November -  227 (Network Ten) 227 (Network Ten)
- 10 November -  Call to Glory (Network Ten) Call to Glory (Network Ten)
- 10 November -  The Magical World of Gigi (Network Ten) The Magical World of Gigi (Network Ten)
- 11 November -  The Best Times (Channel Seven) The Best Times (Channel Seven)
- 11 November -  Foley Square (Nine Network) Foley Square (Nine Network)
- 11 November -  Mary (Nine Network) Mary (Nine Network)
- 11 November -  Lime Street (Channel Seven) Lime Street (Channel Seven)
- 12 November -  Our Family Honor (Channel Seven) Our Family Honor (Channel Seven)
- 12 November -  Detective in the House (Channel Seven) Detective in the House (Channel Seven)
- 13 November -  Call to Glory (Network Ten) Call to Glory (Network Ten)
- 14 November -  Riptide (Network Ten) Riptide (Network Ten)
- 17 November -  Relative Strangers (ABC TV) Relative Strangers (ABC TV)
- 23 November -  Jem (Network Ten) Jem (Network Ten)
- 25 November -  MacGruder and Loud (Nine Network) MacGruder and Loud (Nine Network)
- 27 November -  Hawaiian Heat (Nine Network) Hawaiian Heat (Nine Network)
- 12 December -  Aspel and Co. (ABC TV) Aspel and Co. (ABC TV)
- 15 December -  Roland Rat (ABC TV) Roland Rat (ABC TV)
- 15 December -  Country GP (ABC TV) Country GP (ABC TV)
- 15 December -  Let's Read with Basil Brush (ABC TV) Let's Read with Basil Brush (ABC TV)
- 18 December -  You Again? (Network Ten) You Again? (Network Ten)
- 21 December -  Freud (ABC TV) Freud (ABC TV)
- 21 December -  He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special (Channel Seven) He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special (Channel Seven)
- 22 December -  / / / /.svg.png.webp) The Care Bears (Network Ten) The Care Bears (Network Ten)
- 28 December -  The Flintstones' 25th Anniversary Celebration (Channel Seven) The Flintstones' 25th Anniversary Celebration (Channel Seven)
- 29 December -  The Hot Shoe Show (ABC TV) The Hot Shoe Show (ABC TV)
- 29 December -  Television Parts (ABC TV) Television Parts (ABC TV)
- 31 December -  An Audience with Billy Connolly (ABC TV) An Audience with Billy Connolly (ABC TV)
Changes to network affiliation
This is a list of programs which made their premiere on an Australian television network that had previously 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 previously premiering 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.
Domestic
| Program | New network(s) | Previous network(s) | Date | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Neighbours | Network Ten | Seven Network | 20 January | 
| Maestro's Company | ABC TV | SBS | 20 January | 
Television shows
1950s
- Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959 – 1999)
1960s
- Four Corners (1961 – present)
1970s
- Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971 – 1999, 2009 – 2010)
- Young Talent Time (1971 – 1989)
- Countdown (1974 – 1987)
- 60 Minutes (1979 – present)
- Prisoner (1979 – 1986)
1980s
- Sale of the Century (1980 – 2001)
- Wheel of Fortune (1981 – 2008)
- Sunday (1981 – 2008)
- Today (1982 – present)
- Perfect Match (1984 – 1989)
- Neighbours (1985 – present)
- The Flying Doctors (1986 – 1993)
Ending this year
| Date | Show | Channel | Debut | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 January | The National | ABC TV | 4 March 1985 | 
| 7 July | Return to Eden | Network Ten | 10 February 1986 | 
| 11 July | Saturdee | Channel Seven | 9 May 1986 | 
| 29 September (Melbourne)/1 October (Sydney) | Whose Baby? | Channel Seven | 28 September 1986 (Melbourne)/30 September 1986 (Sydney) | 
| 16 October | The Challenge | Nine Network | 14 October 1986 | 
| 23 October | Sword of Honour | Channel Seven | 20 October 1986 | 
| 11 December | Prisoner | Network Ten | 27 February 1979 | 
Returning this year
TV movies
See also
References
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