Channel Nine is gearing up for a hot summer, with a premiere lineup of exciting new series and more new episodes of summer favourites than ever – as well as standout specials, festive events and the very best in sport.
 
Nine Network Chief Executive, Mr David Gyngell, said today: “Unlike other networks, Channel Nine is committed to quality programming and entertaining viewers every day of the year.
 
“Based on this, our summer schedule features hot new programs including Gossip Girl, as well as premiere episodes of series like McLeod’s Daughters, ER, Fringe and The Big Bang Theory.
 
“We’ve also got a great summer of cricket to look forward to, with Australia’s Tests against New Zealand and South Africa and there’s also the One-Day Internationals and the increasingly popular Twenty20 matches.”
 
NEW PROGRAMS
 
GOSSIP GIRL
Premieres Wednesday, December 3 at 10.30pm
 
The most inappropriate show on television makes its Australian free-to-air debut on Nine.
 
Gossip Girl is a television phenomenon that has captured the attention of younger audiences around the world by delving into the scandalous lives of New York’s elite.
 
Stars: Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Chance Crawford, Kelly Rutherford and Matthew Settle
 
THE WAITING ROOM
Premieres Thursday, December 4 at 8.00pm
 
Find incredible and real stories of joy, grief, love, friendship, courage and strength from hospital waiting rooms in some of Australia’s busiest hospitals.
 
Presented by: Dr Andrew Rochford
 
SUDDEN IMPACT
Premieres Tuesday, December 9 at 8.00pm
 
Behind every car accident is a human story.
 
This is a groundbreaking series about hope that reveals how many crash victims go on to triumph over adversity.
 
Narrated by: Gary Sweet
 
THE HILLS
Premieres on Saturday, December 6 at 12.30pm
 
The world’s most popular scripted reality series makes its Australian free-to-air debut on Nine.
 
It's one thing to be young and beautiful in Laguna Beach. It's another to be young and beautiful in Los Angeles, the city that values looks most.
 
Lauren is about to discover that life in The Hills is no day at the beach as she chases her dream of entering the fashion business while balancing a full course load at college and a busy social calendar.
 
Will Lauren be able to handle it all when there are so many things pulling her in so many directions?
 
 
RETURNING PROGRAMS
 
FRINGE – NEW EPISODES
Mondays at 9.30pm from December 1
 
The US ratings hit drama that explores the blurring line between the possible and the impossible returns.
 
Stars: Joshua Jackson and Australia’s Anna Torv and John Noble
 
McLEOD’S DAUGHTERS – NEW EPISODES
Saturdays at 8.30pm from December 6
 
Begin a fond farewell to Australia’s most popular rural drama. The romance continues on McLeod’s Daughters but is tragedy just around the corner?
 
In an Australian drama first, this series features a special all-singing and dancing musical episode.
 
Stars: Simmone Jade MacKinnon, Aaron Jeffery, Michaela Banas, Abi Tucker, Matt Passmore, Rachael Coopes and Doris Younane
 
ER – NEW EPISODES
Wednesdays at 9.30pm from December 3
 
The popular medical drama ER returns with one of the most talked about episodes in the history of the Emmy Award-winning series.
 
Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker reprises his role as a vengeful former patient of Chicago’s County General Hospital.
 
Stars: Goran Visnjic, Maura Tierney, Mekhi Pfifer, Paraminder Nagra and John Stamos
 
THE CLOSER – NEW EPISODES
Thursdays at 9.30pm from December 4
 
Television’s top detective is back on the case when Emmy Award nominee and Golden Globe Award winner Kyra Sedgwick returns as the feminine yet forceful, offbeat yet indomitable Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, who has been trained by the CIA.
 
Stars: Kyra Sedgwick, J.K. Simmons, Corey Reynolds and Jon Tenney
 
THE BEST OF AUSTRALIA – NEW EPISODES
Fridays at 7.30pm from December 5
 
The Best of Australia is a passport to adventure that will give you a front-row seat and backstage pass to some of the most amazing locations right in our own backyard.
 
Presented by: Sorrel Wilby
 
CLOSE TO HOME – NEW EPISODES
Thursdays at 10.30pm from December 4
 
Monster hit producer Jerry Bruckheimer turns his focus from crime to punishment in the legal drama Close To Home, which tears away the façade of suburbia to reveal that quiet and tranquil suburban streets can hide the darkest of crimes.
 
Stars: Jennifer Finnigan, Kimberly Elise and David James Elliott
 
POLICE TEN 7 – NEW EPISODES
Tuesdays at 7.30pm from December 9
 
The reality series Police Ten 7 goes behind the scenes, giving viewers exclusive access to all aspects of the police force — from high-profile crimes to frontline policing.
 
EMERGENCY – NEW EPISODES
Thursdays at 7.30pm from December 4
 
The cutting-edge series that takes viewers behind the scenes at a busy hospital emergency department.
 
BATTLEFRONTS – NEW EPISODES
Sundays at 6.30pm from December 14
 
Television’s hottest makeover teams will battle the clock, and each other, in a race to transform neighbouring yards in new episodes.
 
Hosted by: Giaan Rooney
 
 
TEMPTATION – NEW EPISODES
Weeknights at 7.00pm from December 1
 
Ed Phillips and Livinia Nixon return to host a new series of Temptation.
 
Hosted by: Ed Phillips and Livinia Nixon
 
10 To 1
Wednesdays at 7.30pm from December 3
 
Join your host Bert Newton, for a different countdown each week.
 
Hosted by: Bert Newton
 
WIFE SWAP USA – NEW EPISODES
Saturdays at 7.30pm from December 6
 
Wife Swap is the ultimate real-life domestic drama in which two women trade places in each other’s family. The one-hour program is a fly-on-the-wall look into the intimate heart of the American home to reveal the extraordinarily different ways families live.
 
Each week two families with very different values are chosen to take part in Wife Swap. In a two-week test of domestic survival, the wives exchange husbands, children and lives. 
 
DEADLY SURF – NEW EPISODES
Wednesdays at 8.00pm from December 3
 
The most dangerous, unforgiving and the deadliest surf you’ve ever seen. Deadly Surf returns with new episodes.
 
CONTINUING PROGRAMS
 
TWO AND A HALF MEN
Sunday and Monday nights at 7.30pm
 
Australia’s number one comedy will continue to entertain throughout summer.
 
Stars: Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones
 
THE BIG BANG THEORY – NEW EPISODES
Sunday and Monday nights at 8.00pm
 
From the creator of Two And A Half Men, America’s fastest growing comedy is chock full of laughs when a hot chick moves in next door to a group of geeky scientists.
 
Stars: Sara Gilbert, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco and Jim Parsons
 
CSI: MIAMI
Wednesdays at 8.30pm from December 3
 
Part of the world’s number one TV drama franchise, CSI: Miami follows the hot cases of the Miami police department’s Crime Scene Investigation Unit continue, led by Lieutenant Horatio Caine (David Caruso).
 
Stars: David Caruso, Adam Rodriguez, Khandi Alexander and Emily Procter
 
SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA – NEW EPISODES
Monday and Tuesday nights at 10.30pm
 
The ever popular reality series continues as we count down to the ultimate survivor in the contest between the Fans versus Favourites.
 
COLD CASE
Thursdays at 8.30pm from December 4
 
A viewer favourite, this drama delves into old “cold case” crimes that have never been solved.
 
Stars: Kathryn Morris, John Finn and Danny Pino
 
CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
Mondays at 8.30pm
 
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is the world’s number one drama series and a longtime favourite with Australian viewers.
 
Stars: William Petersen, Marg Helgenberger, Jorja Fox and George Eads
 
AUSTRALIA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS – SUMMER SERIES
Saturdays at 6.30pm
 
Laugh your way through summer with Shelley Craft as she presents a show filled with side-splitting laughs. Over summer, viewers will relive the funniest and the best videos of 2008.
 
FESTIVE SPECIALS
 
THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Sunday, December 7 at 6.30pm
 
The ultimate survival guide to a stress-free Christmas, this special will help you to plan the perfect Christmas Day feast. Margaret Fulton prepares a delicious glazed ham, there are fantastic seafood recipes and discover what happens at a Bush Christmas.
 
Hosted by: Deborah Hutton
 
CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT
Wednesday, December 24 at 8.00pm
 
Experience the magic of Christmas as the Nine Network, in association with the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, broadcasts Carols By Candlelight, to be broadcast live from the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne.
 
Hosted by: Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson
 
SPORT
 
CRICKET – 3 MOBILE TEST SERIES AND ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS
 
Pad up for another summer of the best international cricket coverage as Australia’s Test series between Australia and New Zealand continues.
 
Australia then play three Tests against South Africa before taking on the New Zealand Black Caps and South Africa in the Commonwealth Bank One-Day International Series.
 
Australia will also play three KFC Twenty20 internationals this season, one against New Zealand and two against South Africa.
 
REXONA AUSTRALIA’S GREATEST ATHLETE
January 2009
 
The most comprehensive sports celebrity series ever staged in Australia, it pits seven of the nation’s greatest professional athletes and one leading amateur in a competition to determine Australia’s best all-round athlete.