Countdown
Series Overview
Countdown was a long-running popular weekly Australian music television show broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 8 November 1974 until 19 July 1987. It was created by Executive Producer Michael Shrimpton, producer/director Robbie Weekes and record producer and music journalist Ian "Molly" Meldrum. Countdown was produced at the studios of the ABC in the Melbourne suburb of Ripponlea. Countdown was the most popular music program in Australian TV history. It was broadcast nationwide on Australia's government-owned broadcaster, the ABC and commanded a huge and loyal audience. It soon exerted a strong influence on radio programmers because of its audience and the amount of Australian content it featured. For most of the time it was on air, it also gained double exposure throughout the country by screening a new episode each Sunday evening, and then repeating it the following Saturday evening. The majority of performances on the show were lip synched.
Broadcast Schedule & Network Information
Airing status, episode counts, upcoming schedule, and network syndication.
14 Seasons • 37 Episodes
30–55 min per episode
1974 – Present
Premiered: Fri, Nov 8, 1974
Ian 'Molly' MeldrumLatest Aired Episode
Season 14, Episode 23: “19 July 1987 - Show #563”
Final episode of Countdown.
Seasons & Episodes Breakdown
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Countdown Promos- What Is Countdown? 1974, B/W
Type: Behind the Scenes • Published 2024-05-17
Cast & Creators
Explore Star Directory →Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ian 'Molly' Meldrum, Robbie Weekes, Michael Shrimpton
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General — Suitable for all audiences.
International Certification Matrix
General — Suitable for all audiences.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Countdown.
More Series Like Countdown
Shows sharing similar genres, audiences, and storylines.
Frequently Asked Questions About Countdown
Key facts, seasons breakdown, and credits for search engines and AI assistants.
What is Countdown about?
Countdown was a long-running popular weekly Australian music television show broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 8 November 1974 until 19 July 1987. It was created by Executive Producer Michael Shrimpton, producer/director Robbie Weekes and record producer and music journalist Ian "Molly" Meldrum. Countdown was produced at the studios of the ABC in the Melbourne suburb of Ripponlea. Countdown was the most popular music program in Australian TV history. It was broadcast nationwide on Australia's government-owned broadcaster, the ABC and commanded a huge and loyal audience. It soon exerted a strong influence on radio programmers because of its audience and the amount of Australian content it featured. For most of the time it was on air, it also gained double exposure throughout the country by screening a new episode each Sunday evening, and then repeating it the following Saturday evening. The majority of performances on the show were lip synched.
How many seasons does Countdown have?
Countdown comprises 14 seasons available to explore.
Who stars in Countdown?
Key cast members in Countdown include Ian 'Molly' Meldrum.
Who created or directed Countdown?
Countdown was developed and directed by Ian 'Molly' Meldrum, Robbie Weekes, Michael Shrimpton.