ABC Upfronts 2025 | 2025 Content Slate – The ABC has today revealed its 2025 content slate, delivering Australian audiences compelling programming across broadcast and digital platforms that is always on, always entertaining and always free.
The ABC achieved strong results across platforms in 2024, including:
- ABC iview was #1 BVOD choice for on-demand programming
- ABC NEWS was Australia’s #1 digital news brand in September
- ABC Radio is Australia’s #1 digital live streaming network
In 2025 Australian audiences can look forward to even more innovative world class content across ABC TV, ABC NEWS, ABC iview and ABC listen with a line-up unparalleled in its breadth and diversity.
Chief Content Officer Chris Oliver-Taylor:
“As the largest commissioner of Australian content we’re thrilled to share our 2025 slate, including 23 new titles across all genres. Audiences will see original premium homegrown drama, a comedy slate that delivers some of our country’s biggest hits, children’s content that connects with kids not only in Australia but all over the world, impactful factual programming and documentaries that resonate with Australians in the city and country. Our unrivalled arts coverage includes six primetime series in 2025 complementing live music events, Mardi Gras and New Year’s Eve celebrations that bring Australians together. The ABC is the home of Australian content in 2025.”
Director, Audio Ben Latimer:
“In 2025 ABC Local Radio stations will remain the true pulse of the cities they serve. With a mix of new hosts and returning favourites, our Local Network will continue to connect deeply with the unique character and personality of each city, reflecting what matters most to their communities. ABC Radio National is reaffirming its role as Australia’s premier audio gateway, offering audiences a window into the rich tapestry of intellectual and creative life in this country. Next year, triple j will celebrate an extraordinary milestone — 50 years as Australia’s most influential and impactful music network. In the on-demand space, our market-leading podcast slate will continue to provide distinctive, high-quality audio content, while our ABC listen platform evolves to become more personalised — delivering the content our audiences want, whenever and wherever they want it.”
Director, News Justin Stevens:
“The role of ABC NEWS in delivering news and information people know they can trust is becoming increasingly important and will be vital in a federal election year. This year we saw huge audiences for our award-winning journalism and in 2025 we’ll offer even more to all Australians across all platforms, from returning flagship brands to fresh content initiatives, news breaking investigations and essential emergency broadcasting when people need us most.”
ABC 2025 Upfronts announce highlights include:
SCREEN – SCRIPTED
The ABC’s scripted slate continues to be broad, diverse and world class in 2025.
Based on bestselling Australian author Sally Hepworth’s novel of the same name, The Family Next Door tells the story of enigmatic Isabelle (Teresa Palmer), who moves into a small seaside cul-de-sac where her obsessive drive to solve a mystery casts suspicion on four neighbouring families.
Jenna Owen, Vic Zerbst and Charles Firth are the masters of spin in new six-part comedy series Optics which premieres Wednesday 29 January on ABC TV and ABC iview.
The critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning Mystery Road: Origin returns for a second season continuing to delve into the early years of Detective Jay Swan (Mark Coles Smith).
Unmissable favourites Bay of Fires, Austin and Mother and Son all return for second seasons in 2025, with Return to Paradise also in development and planned to return in 2025. The multi award winning The Newsreader will return for season three on Sunday 2 February on ABC TV and ABC iview.
SCREEN – ENTERTAINMENT
From satire to panel shows and stand-up comedy, a plethora of ABC favourites return for 2025.
Hands on buzzers for the return of crowd-drawing hits Spicks & Specks, Guy Montgomery’s Spelling Bee and Hard Quiz. The laughs and good times keep coming with more Gruen, The Weekly with Charlie Pickering and Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
2025 will see Costa and the team unearth more tips in Gardening Australia while Offsiders unpacks the sporting news of the week. New favourites Shaun Micallef’s Eve of Destruction and A Bite To Eat with Alice are in development to return.
ABC is proud to support emerging voices through the Fresh Blood initiative with Screen Australia which will see three debut projects hit screens in 2025 – Going Under, Urvi Went to an All Girls School and Westerners. Our joint initiative with Screen Australia continues to be the ABC’s launchpad for the careers of some of Australia’s best comedy writers, directors, and performers. People like Aunty Donna, Greta Lee, Adele Vuko, Nina Oyama and Angus Thompson to name a few.
SCREEN – DOCUMENTARY & SPECIALIST
In 2025, the ABC will continue to deliver compelling documentary, specialist, science and natural history content.
Groundbreaking series The Role of a Lifetime sees Amanda Keller and an ensemble of comedians explore parenting dilemmas alongside sketches featuring Kate Ritchie and Nazeem Hussain.
Dr Ann Jones gets up close and personal with some of the most reclusive creatures on the planet in Dr Ann Secret Lives. Explore Western Australia’s natural history in new documentaries Orca: Australia’s Megapod and The Kimberley, and Miriam Margolyes embarks on a long-awaited adventure to New Zealand in Miriam Margolyes: Made in NZ.
Curious minds will delight on Tuesday 7 January on ABC TV and ABC iview when Tony Armstrong explores a radical culinary solution to the invasive plants and animals attacking Australia’s unique biodiversity in Eat The Invaders and Dr Karl steps behind factory doors to see how products are made in Dr Karl’s How Things Work.
Tony Armstrong is on a mission to find global solutions to the rising tide of racism in Australian sport and inspire lasting change in End Game. And new ABC Indigenous original format, Hear Me Out will tackle the often contentious discussion surrounding Australia Day from a First Nations point of view.
On Sunday 2 February on ABC TV and ABC iview, audiences will fall in love with a new litter of puppies as Muster Dogs returns for season three. There will be a twist on the experiment to see who will be crowned Champion. This time both Kelpies and Collies put to the test.
Audience favourites I Was Actually There, The Assembly, Grand Designs Australia, Restoration Australia, Back Roads, Landline and Compass all return for new seasons.
And Annabel Crabb and the team that brought you Kitchen Cabinet and Ms Represented are in development, with a new series investigating the barely-believable true story of how Australia’s globally unique voting system came to be.
SCREEN – MUSIC, ARTS & EVENTS
The ABC continues to be the home of compelling Arts, Music and Live Events content in 2025.
Exciting new series The Piano sees everyday pianists take on the opportunity of a lifetime, guided by renowned expert musiciansHarry Connick Jr and Andrea Lam.
Acclaimed art lover and actor Rachel Griffiths will return to the ABC with When the War is Over to deep dive into how art has helped shape our attitude to wars.
In Portrait Artist Of The Year, artists from across Australia will compete in a battle of creative skill, as they complete portraits of famous sitters.
More artistic stories will be celebrated in new seasons of Creative Types with Virginia Trioli, The Art Of with Namila Benson, Take 5 with Zan Rowe and Rage.
Spend an enchanting Christmas with Australia’s finest musical theatre talent as they grace the stage with the sounds of the festive season for A (Very) Musical Christmas on Friday 20 December on ABC TV and ABC iview.
ABC is proud to again host the biggest events that unite the country with Australian of the Year, Australia Day Live Concert, ANZAC Day, New Year’s Eve, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, NAIDOC and the Classic 100 Concert.
SCREEN – CHILDREN and FAMILY
The ABC continues to be the #1 Network for Australian children.
Multi-talented Andy Lee brings his best-selling book series to life in the new animated series Do Not Watch This Show.
New preschool series, Knee High Spies combines live-action and puppetry and get ready to see our trusted Heeler family like you’ve never seen them before, as they’re brought to real life in a recording of their live show Bluey’s Big Play.
Summer holiday viewing kicks off with new Kangaroo Beach splashing onto screens on Boxing Day and Gardening Australia Junior on New Years Day. Beautiful and soothing animation Piki Lullaby with Christine Anu will be available from 13 January on ABC Family and ABC iview.
Returning favourites include Space Nova, Fizzy & Suds, Good Game Spawn Point and Good Game Spawn Squad, Hard Quiz Kids and Play School. Plus Teenage Boss: Next Level is in development to return.
SCREEN – ACQUISITIONS
The commissioned slate continues to be complemented by a suite of acquisitions in 2025.
We will farewell hit crime drama Vera as the series concludes with two epic films combining murderous intrigue with heart and soul.
Titles Walking with Dinosaurs, Bergerac, Douglas is Cancelled, Until I Kill You, The One That Got Away and Darby and Joan will also hit screens.
NEWS
Australia’s most trusted news organisation, ABC NEWS continues to bring viewers agenda-setting journalism and analysis, in-depth investigations, compelling storytelling and essential information across our digital and broadcast platforms. Returning flagship TV programs in 2025 include ABC News Breakfast, Insiders, 7.30, Australian Story – next year with six more episodes, Four Corners, Q+A, Foreign Correspondent – in a new timeslot of 8.00pm Tuesday, Planet America, BTN and Afternoon Briefing with new host Patricia Karvelas. Also returning are audio flagships AM, PM, Radio National Breakfast with new host Sally Sara and The World Today with new host Andy Park. And Fran Kelly will be presenting new program The Radio National Hour.
MEDIA WATCH
It’s the show everybody loves … until they’re on it. Media Watch returns next year with a new host and a new look. Sitting in the hot seat will be Linton Besser, an investigative reporter and former foreign correspondent who will be picking up the mantle from Paul Barry, who ends a stellar 11-year run.
AUDIO – triple j
Next year will see triple j celebrate an incredible 50 years as Australia’s most impactful music network. Like A Version is heading across international waters, with a special run of performances recorded overseas, and One Night Stand makes another regional town a live music capital for one unforgettable night.
AUDIO – Radio National
Wake up with award-winning journalist Sally Sara hosting Breakfast. Bookend your day with the return of Fran Kelly hosting a new daily 6pm program The Radio National Hour. Join Marc Fennell on an adventure through history with his new program complimented by a new umbrella feed for history content. Media hound Tim Burrowes will host a new program, MediaLand.
AUDIO – Local
Taking the wheel on 702 ABC Radio Sydney Drive is Chris Bath. In Melbourne, our new Breakfast duo of Bob Murphy and Sharnelle Vella are ready to hit the ground running and Brigitte Duclos is joining us to host Afternoons. Ellen Fanning will host Drive in Brisbane with legend of the airwaves Gary Adshead taking Drive in Perth. In Adelaide the beloved Spence Denny will return to host Evenings with Rory McLaren the new host of Mornings.
Sport lovers can expect more magic moments across our local radio network in 2025. After a successful return in 2023, the Australian Open will once again be heard on the ABC in January as part of a new five-year agreement for audio rights. The Australian Open 2025 will air on ABC local radio and ABC listen from the 12 – 26 January.
AUDIO – On Demand
When two campers vanished in Victoria’s high country, no one imagined the culprit would be a quiet, diligent pilot from the suburbs. The revelations took a darker turn when it emerged that he’d burned their bodies and concealed their remains. So how did an accomplished airline captain become a killer? Through exclusive interviews, Unravel: Huntsman tells the story of Greg Lynn, uncovering early indicators of a volatile temper and a disturbing capacity for cruelty. Those close to his first wife, Lisa, say the warning signs were there all along.
Also in 2025, Conversations turns 20 and Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski hit the road to celebrate.
Sources
OzTAM VPM data (On Demand), Jan-Oct 2024, ABC iview minutes are underrepresented in March 2024 due to measurement interruptions.
OzTAM Metro Panel
Ipsos iris Online Audience Measurement Service
GfK radio ratings
Media Release – ABC
Link to ABC iview HERE
TV Central ABC content HERE
ABC Upfronts 2025 | 2025 Content Slate
