ABC TV - Programs and Schedules

The ABC has had a good chunk of Factual Reality shows over the years. Like Muster Dogs, Old People’s Homes for Teenagers Restoration Australia, Grand Designs etc.

But in recent weeks, it’s only been The Kimberly and The Piano (i think). As well as their Current Affairs nights on Mondays and Entertainment Nights on Wednesdays - with Hard Quiz, Gruen, The Weekly etc.

But do agree that there should be more scripted content. Every Sunday night should be a Drama (6-8 weeks each), plus a scripted comedy or two on Wednesday nights for most of the year. I know that Mother and Son Season Two is returning soon though.

sigh

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Are those really reality shows, though? :thinking:

Would’ve thought most of those titles were either ob-doc series or lifestyle.

When I think of reality, I’m thinking MAFS, Farmer, Survivor etc.

Still challenge the notion originally stated that ABC are obsessed with reality.

Fair point. They are more Factual / Documentary-Series, than Factual Reality as I mentioned.

I just realised that the Logies had an award titled “Best Structured Reality Program” (which i made a mistake thinking it was titled Factual Reality. Sorry) and “Best Competition Reality Program”.

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The Piano and Muster Dogs are definitely reality shows. Competitions with members of the public. The attraction for ABC is that they are cheaper than drama!

Let’s not forget that ABC started the reality TV obsession with Sylvania Waters in 1992 :smiley:

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Do you plan on providing examples?

As I’ve already mentioned I was using the term reality to refer to everything that is not scripted.

As you mentioned, the ABC is making more and more shows like Muster Dogs and The Piano. And then there’s shows like Guy Montgomery’s Spelling Bee, Claire Hooper’s House Of Games, A Bite to Eat with Alice etc.

I’m not here to get into arguments with people, quibble over semantics or deal with the attitude.

Bold to suggest it’s semantics when you use a catch all term like reality that most people would not use to describe most of the ABC’s non-scripted productions.

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Well, excuse me. :roll_eyes:

:slightly_smiling_face:

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As a moderator, you should be above that…but here we are again.

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Jane Austen: Rise Of A Genius

Monday 16 June 9:35 PM

The story of a how a self-taught young woman from a small English village became one of the greatest novelists who ever lived.

Review

COMPASS - STAN GRANT ON COUNTRY WITH INDIRA NAIDOO

SUNDAY 22 JUNE 6.30 PM

An intimate conversation with Stan Grant, speaking out for the first time since leaving the media
nearly two years ago.

Stan talks to Indira Naidoo about his deepening faith, indigenous spirituality, his response to the
Voice referendum, and the pivotal relationship with his father, a Wiradjuri elder.

Filmed on Stan Grant’s property on Wiradjuri country in the Snowy Mountains, NSW.

Little Disasters Episode 2

Sunday 22 June 9:00 PM

Police and Social Services jointly investigate the Carrisfords, and Liz agonises over her decision.

The friendship group begins to fracture on a holiday to Provence the previous summer. Differing
attitudes to parenting cause divides amongst the friends.

Liz’s drinking escalates, two children go missing, and Jess and Liz are caught in an explosive
altercation.

In the present, Liz fails to slow procedure, and drastic new measures are introduced.

WALKING WITH DINOSAURS Episode 4

TUESDAY 24 JUNE 8.00 PM

71 million years ago lived a teenage Albertosaurus, a faster, nimbler relative of T.rex. She must earn her place in a deadly, ferocious pack or risk starvation.

Today, paleontologists in Western Canada are unearthing her remains, allowing us to imagine her story.

Based on real-world evidence, stunning VFX recreate her encounters, from hunting pterosaurs, to fighting the dominant matriarch and battling for survival in the brutal late Cretaceous world.

JOANNA LUMLEY’S DANUBE Episode 2

THURSDAY 26 JUNE 8.00 PM

Joanna’s Danube adventure continues crossing into Eastern Europe to discover Slovakia for the first time.

In the charming Austrian Wachau Valley, Joanna discovers beautiful wineries that date back to the Romans before heading to the stunning Donau-Auen National Park where a pioneering conservation programme is saving the European Pond Turtle from extinction.

Then Joanna crosses into Eastern Europe for the first time before heading high into the Danube watershed and the Tatras mountains.

Here Joanna discovers how delicate the Danube water system is.

The One That Got Away Episode 6 FINAL

FRIDAY 27 JUNE 8.30 PM

Helen is missing as the countdown to day seven nears. Will Helen be the next victim?

Rick arrives home, and panics when Helen is nowhere to be found. The search for Helen begins, with the clock ticking, fear gripping the team.

Ffion follows her gut, back to the bunkers near woods, where she’s shocked to discover a man she knows, but still no sign of Helen.

Rick is convinced his wife has been killed until he follows his own intuition with devastating consequences.

GRANTCHESTER Season 10

SATURDAY 28 JUNE 7.30 PM Double Episode

Geordie and Alphy return for more crime-solving in the picturesque village. Alphy feels like he’s found home, until he’s forced to confront secrets, he’s kept close to his chest.

It’s 1962. Grantchester is on the edge of the swinging sixties, and hope is in the air. Alphy feels like he’s really found a home. But the truth is, he loves feeling part of a family because it’s something he’s never had before…

This series will let us into the secrets Alphy holds close to his heart. Secrets that have defined him. No one knows who Alphy really is. But all of that is about to change.

Will the community accept him for who he is? Will Geordie? And, more importantly, does he think he’s worthy of love?

New documentary Forged is coming to the ABC in late 2025 or 2026. It was revealed as part of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s 2025-2026 line-up overnight.

In FORGED, a new six-part series from CBC and ABC Australia, host Adrian Stimson, an artist from the Siksika Nation, tells the unfolding story of legendary Anishinaabe artist Norval Morrisseau and how criminal fraudsters copied his work in a scheme that has become the largest art fraud in the world.

That Blackfella Show

Celebrate NAIDOC Week with ABC’s

That Blackfella Show

Saturday 5 July at 7.30pm

The ABC is thrilled to announce Australia’s first First Nations variety program, That Blackfella Show will premiere Saturday 5 July at 7.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.

Broadcasting live in front of a studio audience, celebrate an hour of laughs, yarns and music this NAIDOC week.

Hosted by Australian icon Ernie Dingo, ABC News Breakfast host Bridget Brennan and introducing Isaac Compton as their studio sidekick, it’s set to be a big, blak night of entertainment.

The showcase will feature a stellar line up of guests and First Nation stars including Steph Tisdell, Dane Simpson, Abbie Chatfield, Jimmy Barnes, Outback Tom, Barkaa, Kevin Kropinyeri and many more.

Featuring performances of iconic black anthems from the award winning Aboriginal Australian music duo Electric Fields, Maningrida all-female rock band The Ripple Effect Band and ARIA-nominated singer, songwriter, rapper Miss Kaninna.

It’s loud, it’s proud, it’s a variety hour not to be missed.

Always free and always entertaining, discover and celebrate Indigenous stories and features on ABC iview now.

PRODUCTION CREDIT: An Australian Broadcasting Corporation Production.
Executive Producer: Rowdie Walden. ABC Head of Indigenous: Kelrick Martin.

Week commencing 15 June 2025


Sunday 15 June
7:30pm Spicks And Specks Season 12 Premiere
8:00pm Bay Of Fires: Collective Responsibility Season 2 Premiere


8:55pm Little Disasters Series Premiere
9:40pm Movie: Slim & I Premiere
11:30pm Take 5 With Zan Rowe: Natalie Imbruglia Rpt
12:00am rage

Monday 16 June
7:30pm 7.30
8:00pm Australian Story
8:30pm Four Corners
9:15pm Media Watch
9:35pm Jane Austen: Rise Of A Genius Series Premiere
10:35pm ABC Late News
10:50pm The Business Rpt
11:05pm Planet America Rpt
11:40pm Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery: Gillian Armstrong Rpt
12:10am Love Your Garden: Tonbridge, Kent - The Webb Family Rpt

Tuesday 17 June
7:30pm 7.30
8:00pm Walking With Dinosaurs S01 E03
8:50pm David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef: Builders Rpt
9:50pm I Was Actually There: Nicky Winmar’s Stand Against Racism Rpt
10:25pm ABC Late News
10:40pm The Business Rpt
10:55pm Four Corners Rpt
11:40pm Media Watch Rpt
12:00am Evacuation: We Should Have Gone Earlier Rpt

Wednesday 18 June
7:30pm 7.30
8:00pm Gruen
8:35pm Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee S02 E03
9:25pm Planet America
9:55pm Spicks And Specks Rpt
10:25pm QI SV E05
10:55pm ABC Late News
11:10pm The Business Rpt
11:30pm You Can’t Ask That: Suicide Attempt Survivors Rpt
12:00am You Can’t Ask That: Recent War Veterans Rpt
12:30am Love Your Garden: Manchester - The Chan Family Rpt

Thursday 19 June
7:30pm 7.30
8:00pm Joanna Lumley’s Danube Series Premiere
8:45pm Grand Designs Australia: Surry Hills Rpt
9:45pm Griff’s Great Australian Rail Trip: Perth to Kalgoorlie - Find a Sandgroper Rpt
10:35pm ABC Late News
10:50pm The Business Rpt
11:05pm Love Your Garden: Cambridge - The Estick Family Rpt
11:55pm Long Lost Family Rpt
12:40am rage

Friday 20 June
7:30pm Gardening Australia
8:30pm The One That Got Away
9:25pm Gruen Rpt
9:55pm Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee Rpt
10:45pm Spicks And Specks Rpt
11:15pm ABC Late News
11:30pm Silent Witness: Redemption - Part One Rpt
12:30am rage New Music

Tasmania
07:40PM Gardening Australia
08:40PM The One That Got Away
09:30PM Gruen
10:05PM Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee
10:55PM Spicks And Specks
11:25PM ABC Late News
11:40PM Silent Witness
12:40AM rage New Music

Saturday 21 June
7:30pm Classic 100 Concert 2025 Premiere
9:00pm Bay Of Fires: Collective Responsibility Rpt
9:55pm Little Disasters Rpt
10:40pm David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef: Builders Rpt
11:40pm rage Guest Programmer: Death From Above 1979

The show will now air on ABC Entertains. Also based on the schedule above that the 8pm timeslot has now been taken up by Bay of Fires season 2.

Interesting to see the bay Of Fires starting at 8pm on Sunday, whereas all the other Dramas start at 8.30pm. Something slightly different.

Who Remembers Back In 1999 When The Original Walking With Dinosaurs Produced By The BBC Scored Massive Ratings For The ABC, Thus Making It The Third Most Watched Regular Program Of That Year?

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Not sure where to put this but ABC talks all things programming:

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