Australia’s ABC TV Lines Up 2014 Highlights

SYDNEY: The 2014 schedule of ABC TV in Australia features new homegrown dramas such as ANZAC Girls, The Code and Old School.

ANZAC Girls tells the story of a group of young women who witness the brutality of war. The Code features a story that stretches from the Australian outback to the corridors of power in Canberra. Bryan Brown and Sam Neill star in the new Aussie drama Old School.

ABC also has some new entertainment and comedy series headlining the 2014 grid. This includes the return of Spicks and Specks, with comedian Josh Earl as the new host. Chris Lilley's Jonah Takalua is also coming back. The satirical comedy Utopia is getting another season. The comedy group The Chaser brings ABC TV We'll Have to Leave It There. Lawrence Leung stars in the kung fu comedy Maximum Choppage. The YouTube sensations the Bondi Hipsters make their TV debut with Soul Mates.

There's also a wealth of new documentary, factual and arts programs for 2014. Among them are Afghanistan: The Australian War; Brilliant Creatures, which looks at Aussies who shook up the world; The Flying Miners, telling the story of a unique Australian work lifestyle; and Save Your Life Tonight!, a live studio show spotlighting health issues.

Children's programming highlights include the drama Blue Zoo; MY24, which chronicles life-changing experiences; and Hoopla Doopla, about six characters with extraordinary physical skills.

The ABC iview catch-up service is growing as well. For the first time, iview will premiere two programs created specifically for the online service. These are Fresh Blood, a sketch comedy initiative to uncover Australia's brightest young talent, and Wastelander Panda, an epic story of loyalty and betrayal.

“2013 has been another fantastic year for ABC TV. We’ve experienced the greatest increase in share across all networks, with growth in all five city markets,” said Richard Finlayson, the network's director of television.
 
“ABC TV continues to be highly valued and trusted by the Australian public. We tell stories other broadcasters can’t; we innovate, take risks and nurture new talent. We serve broad and niche audiences by providing high quality content across a range of genres.
 
“Our vision for 2014 is clear. We want to set a path to enable us to lay claim to being Australia’s most impactful, contemporary and relevant media organisation.”