The eclipse of the sun was telecast on all four channels. And with the public told that to avoid eye damage the best way to watch the eclipse was on TV, ratings for the afternoon telecasts were huge.
Source: TV Times, 23 October 1976. The Age Green Guide, 21 October 1976
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| 6AM | 6am Thunderbirds | |||
| 7AM | 7am Gene Autry (B&W) | |||
| 8AM | 8am Movie: The Green Helmet. 1961 (B&W) [IMDB] | 8am Hey Hey It’s Saturday. Includes King Leonardo, Rocky And His Friends, Shazzan, The Go Go Gopher Show, The Barkleys, Quick Draw McGraw | 8am Cartoon Carnival | |
| 9AM | 9.30 Rocket Robin Hood | 9.30 Movie: War Arrow. 1954 [IMDB] | ||
| 10AM | 10am Sound Unlimited. Donnie Sutherland | |||
| 11AM | 11am Daktari | 11am The Rock Show. Lee Cornell 11.30 Please Don’t Eat The Daisies |
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| 12PM | 12pm Golf: 1976 West Lakes Classic. Live from Adelaide | 12pm Movies: Kimberley Jim. 1965 [IMDB]; Battle Beneath The Earth. 1967 [IMDB] | 12pm World Championship Wrestling | 12pm Soccer: West German Soccer |
| 1PM | 1pm Wide World Of Sport | 1pm Special: Voyage To The End Of The Sea 1.55 Movie: Five Pennies. 1959 [IMDB] |
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| 2PM | 2pm Movie: GI Blues. 1960 [IMDB] | |||
| 3PM | 3.30 Special: Australasian Air Race Start. Highlights | 3pm Opportunity Knocks. Johnny Farnham | ||
| 4PM | 4.30 Special: Eclipse Of The Sun. Ralphe Neill. Live from Ballarat | 4pm This Week Has Seven Days. David Johnston, Honor Walters. Includes live coverage of the eclipse of the sun | 4pm Look Listen Laugh And Learn 4.30 Special: Eclipse Of The Sun. Brian Bury, Kevin Arnett. Live from Ballarat. |
4pm Junior Jury. Noel O’Connor 4.30 Special: Eclipse Of The Sun. Phil de Montignie |
| 5PM | 5pm Climb When You Are Ready 5.35 Pot Black |
5pm Born Free | 5pm The Pink Panther 5.30 The Lost Islands |
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| 6PM | 6pm Countdown (Rpt) 6.57 Weather |
6pm Seven National News. David Johnston, Bill Collins, Peter Landy 6.30 Movie: Kissin’ Cousins. 1964 [IMDB] |
6pm National Nine News. Peter Hitchener, Ted Ryan, Bert Bryant 6.30 Bandstand 76. Daryl Somers |
6pm Eyewitness News. Brad Smart, Clem Dimsey, Tony Doherty 6.30 Young Talent Time |
| 7PM | 7pm ABC News. John Amies 7.15 Today’s Sport 7.30 Quest 76. Peter Regan |
7.30 Cannon | 7.30 MASH | |
| 8PM | 8.20 Four Corners | 8.20 Penthouse Club. Mary Hardy, Michael Williamson. Includes Tattslotto | 8.30 Police Story | 8.30 Movie: Ulysses. 1954 [IMDB] |
| 9PM | 9.15 ABC News, Weather 9.25 Movie: The Band Wagon. 1953 [IMDB] |
9.30 Movie: Zulu. 1964 [IMDB] | ||
| 10PM | 10.30 Tennis: Custom Credit Indoor Championships. Live from Hordern Pavilion, Sydney | |||
| 11PM | 11.15 Close | 11pm Star Soccer: Match Of The Day (UK) | ||
| 12AM | 12.15am UFO | 12am Special: The Presidential Debate | ||
| 1AM | 1.15 Close | 1.30 Movie: The Fountainhead (B&W) [IMDB] | 1.30am Close | |
| 2AM | ||||
| 3AM | 3.10 Movie: Desire (B&W) [IMDB] | |||
| 4AM | 4.40 Movie: Peter Ibbetson (B&W) [IMDB] (Continues to 6am) |
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| 5AM |
