1969 in television

For the American network television schedule, please see 1969-70 American network television schedule.

Events

February 5 - ABC runs the one and only airing of the notorious flop, Turn On.
March 9 - After a long series of conflicts between the network and the stars of the show over network censorship, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour is canceled by CBS.
June 3 - The science fiction television series Star Trek airs its final new episode after being canceled by NBC. Its subsequent sale into rerun syndication soon after leads to a rise in popularity that transforms Star Trek into one of the century's most successful entertainment franchises.
June 8 - After CBS cancels the program, the last Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour airs.
June 21 - Actor Patrick Troughton makes his last regular appearance as the Second Doctor in the concluding moments of Episode 10 of the Doctor Who serial The War Games.
July 20 - A live transmission from the moon is viewed by 720 million people around the world when Neil Armstrong walks in the moon.
November 15 - Color introduced to BBC1 and ITV in the UK.
Der Kommissar (1969-1976) premieres on German and Austrian television.
Tiny Tim gets married on Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show.

Debuts

June - Hee Haw premieres on CBS (1969-1993).
September 8 - Where the Heart Is premieres on CBS daytime (1969-1973).
September 13 - Scooby-Doo, Where are You! (1969-1972) premieres on CBS Saturday Morning. The animated show, about a cowardly Great Dane and his four teenage friends who travel around the country in a multi-colored van solving mysteries, would go on to become a major pop cultural icon, with numerous spin-offs, direct to video movies, and two live action films.
September 29
- Bright Promise, the latter of the soap operas created by Frank and Doris Hursley, debuts on NBC daytime (1969-1972).
- Love, American Style debuts on ABC (1969-1974).
October 5
- Monty Python's Flying Circus premieres on BBC1 (1969-1974).
- Sazae-san premieres as a kids' comedy on Fuji Television in Japan. The show is still airing as of 2005.
November 10 - National Educational Television (the predecessor to the Public Broadcasting Service) in the United States debuts the children's television program Sesame Street (1969-present).
November 16 - The first episode of The Clangers (a British stop motion animated television program for children) is broadcast by the BBC (1969-1972).
Marcus Welby, M.D. premieres (1969-1976).
Room 222 premieres (1969-1974).
The Benny Hill Show premieres on Thames Television (1969-1989) (UK).
The Brady Bunch premieres (1969-1974).
The Johnny Cash Show premieres (1969-1971).

Television shows

Meet the Press (1947-present).
Candid Camera (1948-present).
The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971).
Bozo the Clown (1949-present).
Come Dancing (UK) (1949-1995).
Truth or Consequences (1950-1988).
Love of Life (1951-1980).
Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986).
Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951-present).
American Bandstand (1952-1989).
The Guiding Light (1952-present).
The Honeymooners (1952-1970).
The Today Show (1952-present).
Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
The Good Old Days (UK) (1953-1983).
Face the Nation (1954-present).
The Secret Storm (1954-1974).
The Tonight Show (1954-present).
Captain Kangaroo (1955-1984).
Dixon of Dock Green (UK) (1955-1976).
Gunsmoke (1955-1975).
The Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982).
This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003).
As the World Turns (1956-present).
Opportunity Knocks (UK) (1956-1978).
The Edge of Night (1956-1984).
What the Papers Say (UK) (1956-present).
The Sky at Night (UK) (1957-present).
Blue Peter (UK) (1958-present).
Grandstand (UK) (1958-present).
Bonanza (1959-1973).
Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present).
My Three Sons (1960-1972).
Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
It's Academic (1961-present).
The Mike Douglas Show (1961-1981).
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1961-1969) ends on September 7 to resume on September 14 as The Wonderful World of Disney (1969-1979).
The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971).
The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
Z-Cars (UK) (1962-1978).
Doctor Who (UK) (1963-1989, 1996, 2005-present).
General Hospital (1963-present).
Petticoat Junction (1963-1970).
The Doctors (1963-1982).
Another World (1964-1999).
Bewitched (1964-1972).
Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003).
Daniel Boone (1964-1970).
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964-1970).
Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present).
The Wednesday Play (UK) (1964-1970).
Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present).
Days of Our Lives (1965-present).
Get Smart (1965-1970).
Green Acres (1965-1971).
Hogan's Heroes (1965-1971).
I Dream of Jeannie (1965-1970).
The Dean Martin Show (1965-1974).
Tom and Jerry (1965-1972, 1975-1977, 1980-1982).
World of Sport (UK) (1965-1985).
Dark Shadows (1966-1971).
Family Affair (1966-1971).
Play School (1966-present).
That Girl (1966-1971).
The Money Programme (UK) (1966-present).
The Newlywed Game (1966-1974).
Ironside (1967-1975).
Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (1967-1973).
Mannix (1967-1975).
The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978).
The Flying Nun (1967-1970).
60 Minutes (1968-present).
Dad's Army (UK) (1968-1977).
Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980).
Here Come the Brides (1968-1970).
Here's Lucy (1968-1974).
Julia (1968-1971).
Laugh-In (1968-1973).
Magpie (UK) (1968-1980).
Mayberry R.F.D. (1968-1971).
One Life to Live (1968-present).
The Doris Day Show (1968-1973).
The Mod Squad (1968-1973).

Ending this year

The Avengers (UK) (1961-1969).
February - The Saint (1962-1969).
Match Game (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999).
Peyton Place (1964-1969).
Star Trek (1966-1969).
Do Not Adjust Your Set (1967-1969).
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-1969).

Changes of Network Affiliation

Get Smart moves from NBC to CBS.

Births

January 14 - Jason Bateman, actor.
August 19 - Matthew Perry, actor, Friends.