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Big year for exclusive TV on Freeview
2012 is shaping up as a top year in TV with first-run drama, exclusive and local productions debuting in February – and it’s all for free.
ABC1 premieres two fascinating new Australian dramas in February including The Straits and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. Set among the turquoise waters and lethal wildlife of Australia’s Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait, The Straits is an exotic, darkly humorous crime drama, based on a family business transporting drugs and guns into Australia. While Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries is a new 13-part series starring Essie Davis as a thoroughly modern woman in the 1920s who sleuths her way through the jazz clubs of Melbourne.
Seven’s much talked-about US series Revenge begins this month. Set in the Hamptons a place where wealth, beauty and status define the people in the town. And Ten presents acclaimed series Homeland, starring Clare Danes as Carrie, a CIA agent dedicated to ensuring the safety of her country.
And of course favourite dramas return for new and first-run seasons. Eleven has serial-killer-with-a-conscience, Dexter and ONE has hot new series Psych, the smash hit, quick-witted drama starring James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young police consultant who solves crimes with powers of observation so acute the precinct detectives think he’s psychic.
Beloved dramas such as The Closer GEM, Inspector Rex on SBS TWO and Hamish MacBeth and Seachange on 7Two all make a return to our screens.
There’s plenty of emotion on offer in comedy and reality with new a new series of My Kitchen Rules on Seven. Manu Feildel and Pete Evans return to host and judge this ultimate home cooking battle, as do guest judges Guy Grossi, Tobie Puttock, Karen Martini and Liz Egan.
Excess Baggage on Nine combines celebrities and ordinary folk in their quest to shed physical and emotional baggage. The celebrities taking part are American dancer Kevin Federline, AFL legend Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico, singer Christine Anu, international paparazzo Darryn Lyons, Beaconsfield miner Brant Webb, comedian and actress Gabby Millgate, Australian Idol winner Kate DeAraugo and TV presenter Ajay Rochester.
The variety show that launched names such as Dannii and Kylie Minogue and Tina Arena, Young Talent Time makes its return to Ten. And each week in Kitchen Cabinet respected political commentator Annabel Crabb takes us into the home and hearts of some of our most notable politicians to talk food, recipes and carbon tax.
Join Ash London and Scott Tweedie as they count down the hottest downloads each week on The Loop on Eleven.
If comedy is more your speed, check out Danger 5 set in a bizarre, 1960s-inspired version of World War II. It follows a team of five international, super skilled, super good-looking spies on a mission to kill Adolf Hitler, on SBS ONE.
ABC1 has new locally produced unashamedly romantic comedy Woodley, starring popular comedian Frank Woodley. Plus the hilarious Outland about a gay science fiction fan club.
And there are some great new and returning sitcoms to choose from. New Girl on Ten follows the “adorkable” adventures of Jess Day as she moves in with three guys. While GO! has the exclusive first run of Suburgatory where 16-year-old Tessa Altman and her young, handsome father George move from New York City to the suburbs, with some culture shocking consequences. International hit The Big Bang Theory is back on Nine.
Keep the pre-schoolers entertained while the big kids go back to school with Giggle and Hoot on ABC2, while the new series of My Great Big Adventure on ABC3 takes on family friction. Unsurprisingly, family issues are the number one reason for the majority of calls at Kids Helpline – it’s clearly one of the most significant issues affecting them today.
There’s plenty to get your teeth into with some intriguing documentaries this month like Tall Man, delving into the death and subsequent investigation of Cameron Doomadgee on Palm Island on SBS ONE. While Hardcore Pawn on 7Mate takes a look at the day-to-day operations of American Jewellery and Loan, a family-owned pawn shop.
Stay informed every day with ABC News 24 and its new Weekend Breakfast, hosted by Andrew Geoghegan and Miriam Corowa, covering the latest news from around the globe, with in-depth analysis and lively interviews. Also, keep up-to-date with the latest in entertainment, music and fashion with Nine’s new program MORNINGS with Sonia Kruger and David Campbell.
And don’t miss all the action from the UEFA Champions League Hour on SBS TWO, Thursday at 8.30pm. Hosted by Les Murray with expert analysis from Craig Foster, the UEFA Champions League Hour features all the highlights from the weeks UEFA Champions League matches.
* Please check freeview.com.au/tvguide for up-to-date scheduling information.
** Live sport is subject to change. Please check local guides for up-to-date scheduling information.
About Freeview
Launched in 2008, Freeview is the free digital television service in Australia. It comprises all the channels from Australia’s free-to-view broadcasters. Freeview encourages Australians to switch to free-to-view digital television by promoting its benefits including more channels, more moments, better picture and superior sound, for free. Freeview is not-for-profit and owned by ABC, SBS, Seven Network, Nine Network, Network Ten, PRIME7, Southern Cross and WIN Television.
Follow Freeview on Twitter: @FreeviewAust