The Ten Network has confirmed that Australia's longest-running drama, Neighbours, will move to its new digital multichannel, Eleven.

As previously reported in TSR, the program will take-up its new home from early next year, when Eleven is scheduled to launch.

[Also in TSR: Ten announces launch of Eleven]

Neighbours will become the centrepiece of the channel's programming, described as the "unrivalled destination for fun and bold programming with particular appeal to the 'distinctly youthful' market".

Ten's chief programming officer, David Mott, said that Neighbours would continue its long history by entering a new era complete with a new home.

"Neighbours is an important and cherished member of the Network Ten family.

“We believe Neighbours is perfectly suited to Eleven’s audience strategy and will find a successful and enduring home on Eleven.

"We will round out the first twenty-five years with a bang, and give Australia’s most successful drama a new home to keep it vibrant in the schedule for the next twenty-five."

Ian Hogg, the chief executive of producer FremantleMedia Australia, said the move would ensure the program's future, as well as establish Eleven as a new alternative in the growing television market.

"Just as Neighbours forged new territory for Ten in 1986, so we will again for Eleven in 2011.

"We are very proud of the faith being placed in Neighbours and the key role we will be playing in Eleven's launch and line-up. Our storyline plans for 2011 are both bold and dramatic.

"Neighbours fans have much to look forward to for many years to come.

Despite the move to a new channel, there will be no change to its current timeslot. Neighbours will remain at 6:30pm weeknights on Eleven in 2011, and will be the "leading Australian series on Eleven, in prime-time".

Media Spy discussion: Neighbours

Also in TSR: Ten announces launch of Eleven, Ten News throwing down the gauntlet