The new year kicks off with the US premieres of five brand new TV series and seasons from Australia and New Zealand.
For updates about shows from Australia and New Zealand added to US linear TV and streaming channels throughout the month, see the Down Under TV Viewing Guide.
Programs and dates are subject to change without prior notice.
Videos below may contain content that is not suitable for everyone.
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NATIONAL PREMIERES
Koala Man (AU-US)
This animated series follows Kevin, a middle-aged dad with the not-so-secret identity of Koala Man, whose only superpower is a burning passion for following rules and snuffing out petty crime in the town of Dapto. Though it may seem like any other Australian suburb, forces of evil, both man-made and cosmic, lie in wait to pounce on unsuspecting Daptonians. On a quest to clean up his hometown, and often roping his frustrated family into his adventures, Koala Man stands at the ready! He’ll do whatever it takes to defeat villainous masterminds, supernatural horrors, or worse: jerks who don’t take their rubbish bins down on the proper days.
The eight-episode series features the voice talents of Sarah Snook (Succession), show creator Michael Cusack (Smiling Friends) and Natalie Tran (Mr Inbetween), as well as guest stars Hugh Jackman (“X-Men” films), Miranda Otto (The Daughter), and Hugo Weaving (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy”), amongst others.
Koala Man, a Hulu Original, premieres in the US on Monday, January 9, exclusively on Hulu.
Chasing Waves (US-AU)
In the wake of surfing’s Olympic debut in Tokyo, this character-driven docuseries shines a spotlight on the people and places that are defining Japan’s reach in the global surf culture. It follows multicultural athletes in pursuit of their dreams, paints a captivating picture of Japanese life, and showcases what it takes to succeed in the international surf industry.
Chasing Waves, a Disney+ Original, premieres in the US in its eight-episode entirety on Wednesday, January 11, exclusively on Disney+.
One Lane Bridge: Season 3 (NZ)
The new season of this supernatural crime drama opens two months after the Season 2 finale, when Detective Sergeant Ariki Davis (Dominic Ona-Ariki, The Commons, Filthy Rich) used police work and his second sight to uncover who killed his best friend, Joe Turner, on One Lane Bridge. Now it’s all changed at Queenstown CIB, as a big gun has been sent in to clean up the mess Stephen Tremaine (Joel Tobeck, The Luminaries) left behind. (Video is from Season 2)
One Lane Bridge: Season 3 premieres in its entirety on Thursday, January 12, exclusively on Sundance Now and its digital channels, including Sundance Now on Amazon, the AMC+ streaming bundle, and AMC+ on Amazon.
The Test: Season 2 (AU)
This sports docuseries offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look into the lives of the Australian men’s cricket team. Following the action on and off the pitch in Season 1, the new season follows the team after the exit of former captain Tim Paine and the subsequent departure of former coach Justin Langer. As the players navigate their way through disruptive leadership changes and an uncertain world, they pull back the curtain and give viewers behind-the-scenes insight into the inner workings of the team as they strive to be the best in the world.
The four-part series goes behind closed doors and follows the 2021-22 Test Season, where the players face off against archrival England, play cricket in Pakistan for the first time in more than two decades, and duel with Sri Lanka in the middle of anti-government protests.
The Test: Season 2, an Amazon Original, premieres globally on Friday January 13, 2023, exclusively on Prime Video.
Under the Vines: Season 2 (NZ)
Following on from the events in Season 1, the new season of this charming romantic comedy-drama finds Sydney socialite Daisy Monroe (Rebecca Gibney, Wanted, Packed to the Rafters) and ex-London lawyer Louis Oakley (Charles Edwards, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Crown) still trying to run their struggling vineyard in southern New Zealand.
As Daisy comes to terms with her new life, Louis tries to repair his old one before returning to England. But ultimately, his marriage fails and he stays on to help Daisy run Oakley Wines. The two unlikely business partners continue to navigate life in Peak View and its population of quirky locals and Machiavellian rivals, but any chance of a romance between them is muddied when Daisy meets David (Kirk Torrance, The Dead Lands), the handsome local doctor. Meanwhile, Oakley’s young vintner, Tippy (Trae Te Wiki, Shortland Street), has her world shaken by the arrival of popular French vintner, Philippe Bidois — her cousin.
Under the Vines: Season 2, an Acorn TV Original, premieres in the US with its first two episodes on Monday, January 23, exclusively on Acorn TV and its digital channels, including Acorn TV on Amazon. New episodes will debut in pairs each Monday through February 6.
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Did you miss any of the new shows from previous days, weeks, or months? Check the Down Under TV Viewing Guide and Archives to find out.
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For details about the January premieres of shows from the UK, Canada, and Ireland, visit The British TV Place. For info about the debuts of original-language, English-subtitled programs from Europe, visit The Euro TV Place. And for that of a select list of titles from other countries, visit The Global TV Place.
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