I remember this was used quite frequently on the ABC
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not related to Australian TV, but in the late 1990s and 2000s, there was an arrangement on VTV3 in that extra series would be broadcast after midnight (which was their usual closedown time) if the channel had to broadcast soccer events during overnight timeslots (this is to avoid technicians had to switch off then switch on the feed continuously and simplifying the process. As such, during the soccer seasons of the year, VTV3 would de facto extended timeslot.
During 1998 World Cup (and possibly 1996 Euro), there were proposals to broadcast VFC-produced series between two matches to fill the airtime rather than closedown. As many Vietnamese were staying up late to enjoy the soccer, they chose to broadcast comedic serials (actually, made-for-TV movies) to prevent viewers from sleeping, as the funny and happiness side of the series would entice viewers to keep watching. A few movies produced at that time would gain sort-of cult status because of this, example includes “Chuyện nhà mộc”, since the movies were dealing with pressure of “graduation exams”, which, coincidentally, happened at around the same month as the WC98.
During 2000s (and possibly continued as late as mid-2011), VTV3 would often run music videos during soccer half-time periods, since the so-called “halftime commentary” programming were rarely exist at that time. During that part, music videos from “Bài hát tôi yêu” (a sort-of Vietnamese “Video Hits”, but very short-lived, only ran for two years) were often broadcast repeatedly until return to 2nd half. This practice was believed to be ended after the end of 2010-11 season because beginning from 2011-12, VTV would add a “halftime commentary” program (VTV would stop carrying Champions League overnight in May 2017, after its sibling VTVCab was stripped from carrying ít because its signal we’re repeatedly pirated)
For a few years after VTV3 switched to 24-hour format in September 2006, there were rumors that channel would often carry music videos during overnight (between two programs) because when the programs were repeated overnight, all commercial break parts were edited out, leaving a really big hole in timing for VTV3. The music that were broadcast during that slots were also sourced from Bài hát tôi yêu as well. One comment on YouTube even said that music videos were often broadcast prior to 6am (when VTV3 entered a new broadcast day). Also, until 2010s, filler videos about arts and landscape often dominates the continuity of VTV channels during daytime, and also for VTV2 for most of the time (since in those aforementioned situations, advertisement was, and still is, hard to sell because most of the active population are either working or in the school until late afternoon). In recent years, however, promo loops and segments from “VTV Connects” are used as filler in any aforementioned cases or during technical difficulties instead.
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I’m assuming it wasn’t shown in WA, SA, NT, TAS?
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Not until 1987, according to the book Hey Hey It’s Saturday Volume III (1988)
In Canberra I believe it didn’t appear until aggregation and WIN’s arrival there in 1989.
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NEN0 Moonbi? I was always under the impression that it was Tamworth and not Moonbi.
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Quite a few typos in that list
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I can understand STW & NTD not initially carrying the program due to limited microwave links with the eastern states. Things would have changed in the coming years with Aussat making live programming readily available to the affiliates and regional stations.
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Sure was. There was a period when Seven used Tom and Jerry as 10-minute filler. Sometimes it was listed in tv guides.
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I used to like it when a Bugs Bunny cartoon randomly popped up into the schedule. This happened quite a bit on regional television stations pre-aggregation, particularly on DDQ10-4-5a, NEN98 and NRTV11-8 when stations weren’t so aggressively chasing advertisers dollars. This is most likely a similar mentality that exists in the Mildura/Sunraysia region today given the suggested laxity of the two broadcasters in chasing advertisers dollars
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Yes The Bugs Bunny Show was a regular on regional TV in the 70s and 80s as a five minute filler. As well as those (badly) colorised (in 1968) Porky Pig Looney Tunes from 1936-42 (originally in black and white) with Warner Bros’ then “W7” logo plastered over the original titles.
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And again in the early 90s when Sophie Lee hosted a 30 minute version at 5pm on Nine. Rated well for a while too.
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Possibly due to Sophie Lee’s questionable outfits, which reportedly brought in a disproportionately large number of adult male viewers
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Didn’t they extend The Bugs Bunny Show with Sophie Lee to 1 hour for a brief period too?
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Speaking of The Bugs Bunny Show, I found this
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_bmGu9lSBG/
Doesn’t look like the Anne-Marie Cooksley version lasted long. Can’t find any infomation about it, even on Wikipedia
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Something i miss is when classic TV shows getting used as filler content.
Remember in 1992 Channel 7 showed episodes of Kingswood Country at 3pm. Would start just as i got home from School. Then fast forward 2 years they got another run at 10:30 in the morning.
Also in the late 90s early 2000s Channel 9 put episodes of All Together Now at 5:30 in the morning before Today started.
Dare say these were more things that are now taken up by infomercials
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The weird thing is that Nine doesn’t put any of the older programs on Nine main channel except Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. Similarly, Seven for a while showed Sons And Daughters (the iconic 1980s series not to be confused with any other program of a similar name).
There is a lot of Australian content that could be shown still, and I think if networks are worried about shows using insulting and derogatory language, all they have to do is put a warning up that it may offend some viewers like they do with nudity and foul language.
If the had warnings at the front of these older shows, it would open up a whole library of shows that could be used early morning on secondary channels- this would allow comedies such a Mind Your Language, Love Thy Neighbour and even It Ain’t Half Hot Mum to get another airing.
But back the the idea of classic programs being used as fillers, the following shows I remember being used by regionals (and sometimes metros)
MAS*H
Happy Days
Get Smart
Barney Miller
Good Times
Diff’rent Strokes
Sanford And Son
WRKP In Cincinnati
Hogans Heroes
McHales Navy
Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In
Bewitched
I Dream of Jeannie
Dukes Of Hazzard
BJ And The Bear
Fantasy Island
Bonanza
High Chapparrel
Im sure others can think of more
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Gilligan’s Island
The Brady Bunch
It’s About Time
Petticoat Junction
Green Acres
Here’s Lucy
My Three Sons
The Beverly Hillbillies
That Girl
The Andy Griffith Show
Gomer Pyle
F Troop
Family Affair
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Leave it to Beaver
Gidget
The Flying Nun
The Addams Family
The Munsters
I could go on. 
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The only one there I don’t recognise is It’s About Time
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