Neighbours in the Euro Republics

Neighbours is an Australian soap opera which premiered on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985, later moving to Network Ten in 1986 and Eleven (now 10 Peach) in 2011. In the Euro Republics, Neighbours has been broadcast in the Euro Republics - on various channels - since September 1985.

ERTV
The Euro Republics was the first international country to purchase broadcast rights for Neighbours back in 1985, and it was first broadcast on Euroish television on Monday 2nd September 1985, where it was originally broadcast on ERTV 1 (now ETV1) where it initially ran on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons at 1.30pm. The episodes were then repeated in a late evening slot on ERTV 2 (now Network Two) at 11.30pm.

This was seen at the time to capitalise on the successes of follow Grundy-produced soap operas Sons and Daughters and Prisoner, which went out in afternoon and late evening slots respectively to high ratings on ERTV 1.

Despite it's later success, Neighbours only had minor success during it's time on ERTV, thanks to it's off peak time slots, and it was pulled after December 1986.

TV3
TV3 acquired the Euroish broadcast rights to Neighbours in 1988 where it would form part of the schedule for the new channel upon it's March 1989 launch. TV3 planned to give Neighbours a push in publicity not seen in the ERTV years and it would be screened in a teatime slot to attract younger audiences.

Initally, despite having the rights to broadcast the entire series, TV3 chose to begin the series from the episode 171, the first episode to air on Network Ten. It was broadcast at 6.30pm, five nights a week with an omnibus edition on Saturday afternoons.

Sponsorship
In the Euro Republics, Neighbours has been sponsored by many companies through the years. The logos of the sponsors usually appear at the end of the credits, over the theme music.