Events
- March 29 - BBC America launches in the United States.
- April 9 - The Price is Right airs its 5,000th episode on CBS.
- April 18 - Toon Disney, a United States cable network devoted to playing Disney cartoons 24 hours a day, launches.
- May 11 - ZDTV, a technology based cable channel (now G4TV), is launched in the U.S.
- May 18 - The British Academy Television Awards are awarded in the separate ceremony to the British Academy Film Awards for the first time.
- July 15 - Zee TV, a Hindi television channel is launched in the U.S.
- July 31 - Former child star Gary Coleman is charged with assaulting a young female bus driver in a California shopping mall.
- September 23 - BBC Choice, the UK's first digital-only TV station, launches. BBC Parliament also launches on the same day.
- October 1 - Digital satellite television launches in the UK, operated by Sky Digital. This sees the start of UK channels transmitting in 16:9 widescreen.
- November 1 - FilmFour launches in the UK. The opening night is simulcast on Channel 4.
- November 15 - Digital terrestrial television launches in the UK, operated by ONdigital.
- November 22 - Rear Window a remake of the classic 1954 film is shown in the US.
- December 7 - ITV2 launches in the UK.
- December 14 - After a world-record-breaking 75 consecutive victories, Ian Lygo makes his final appearance on the UK game show 100%, after being forced to retire by the show's producers.
Debuts
- January 20 – Dawson's Creek premieres on The WB (1998-2003).
- May 11 - Call For Help premieres on ZDTV (1998-2004).
- June 6 - Sex and the City premieres on HBO (1998-2004).
- June - Forgive or Forget, hosted by Mother Love, premieres on syndication (1998-2000).
- July 13 - The Sifl and Olly Show premieres on MTV (1998-1999).
- July 19 - Oh Yeah! Cartoons premieres on Nickelodeon (1998-2001).
- August 23 - That '70s Show premieres on FOX (1998-2006).
- August 26 - Oh Baby debuts on Lifetime (1998-2000).
- August 29 - SMTV Live premieres on ITV in the UK (1998-2003).
- September 4 - Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (1998-present) premieres on ITV. A year later, an American version will premiere.
- September 8 - Pokémon premieres in syndication.
- September 10 - PB&J Otter premieres on Playhouse Disney (1998-2000).
- September 21 - The King of Queens premieres on CBS (1998-present).
- September 21 - Will & Grace premieres on NBC (1998-2006).
- September 21- Felicity premieres on The WB
- October 5 - CatDog premieres on Nickelodeon (1998-2001).
- October 7 - Charmed premieres on The WB (1998-2006).
- November 2 - Becker premieres on CBS (1998-2004).
- November 18 - The Powerpuff Girls premieres on Cartoon Network (1998-2004).
- Let's Bowl airs in a few markets (1998, 2001-2002).
Television shows
1940s
- Meet the Press (1947-present).
- Candid Camera (1948-present).
1950s
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951-present).
- Guiding Light (1952-present).
- The Today Show (1952-present).
- Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
- Face the Nation (1954-present).
- The National (Canada) (1954-present)
- The Tonight Show (1954-present).
- This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003).
- As the World Turns (1956-present).
- What the Papers Say (UK) (1956-present).
- The Sky at Night (UK) (1957-present).
- Blue Peter (UK) (1958-present).
- Grandstand (UK) (1958-present).
1960s
- Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present).
- Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
- It's Academic (1961-present).
- The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
- General Hospital (1963-present).
- Another World (1964-1999).
- Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present).
- Days of Our Lives (1965-present).
- Play School (Australia) (1966-present).
- The Money Programme (UK) (1966-present).
- 60 Minutes (1968-present).
- One Life to Live (1968-present).
- Sesame Street (1969-present).
1970s
- All My Children (1970-present).
- Monday Night Football (1970-present).
- Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present).
- Soul Train (1971-present).
- Emmerdale (UK) (1972-present).
- Newsround (UK) (1972-present).
- The Price Is Right (1972-present).
- Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973-present).
- The Young and the Restless (1973-present).
- Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present).
- Arena (UK) (1975-present).
- Good Morning America (1975-present).
- Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
- the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present).
- Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
- 20/20 (1978-present).
- Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present).
- Antiques Roadshow (UK) (1979-present).
- Nightline (1979-present).
- This Old House (1979-present).
1980s
- Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
- What Now (1982-present)
- Timewatch (UK) (1982-present)
- Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present).
- The Bill (UK) (1984-present).
- EastEnders (UK) (1985-present).
- Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present).
- Sally (1985-2002).
- The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-present).
- Comic Relief (UK) (1986-present).
- Casualty (UK) (1986-present).
- ChuckleVision (UK) (1987-present).
- Inspector Morse (UK) (1987-2000).
- The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-present).
- America's Most Wanted (1988-present).
- The American Experience (1988-present).
- Fair City (1988-present).
- Home and Away (Australia) (1988-present).
- Inside Edition (1988-present)
- This Morning (UK) (1988-present).
- Red Dwarf (UK) (1988-1999).
- Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988-1999).
- The Ward (UK) (1988-2000).
- Electric Circus (Canada) (1988-2003).
- Baywatch (1989-2001).
- COPS (1989-present).
- The Simpsons (1989-present).
1990s
- Law & Order (1990-present).
- America's Funniest Home Videos (1990-present).
- One Foot in the Grave (UK) (1990-2000).
- Home Improvement (1991-1999).
- Rugrats (1991-2004).
- The Jerry Springer Show (1991-present).
- The Red Green Show (1991-2006).
- Barney & Friends (1992-2002).
- Dateline NBC (1992-present).
- Mad About You (1992-1999).
- The Real World (1992-present).
- Frasier (1993-2004).
- Ricki Lake (1993-2004).
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-present).
- NYPD Blue (1993-2005).
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999).
- The Late Show with David Letterman (1993-present).
- The Nanny (1993-1999).
- The X-Files (1993-2002).
- WWF RAW Is War/WWF War Zone (1993-present).
- ER (1994-present).
- Friends (1994-2004).
- Time Team (UK) (1994-present).
- Touched by an Angel (1994-2003).
- JAG (1995-present).
- Pamela Wallin Live (Canada) (1995-1999).
- Pokémon (Japan, US) (1997,1998-present).
- Sesame Park (Canada) (1995-2002).
- Sliders (1995-2000).
- Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001).
- The Drew Carey Show (1995-2004).
- The Wheezer Bros. (1995-2001).
- WCW Monday Nitro (1995-2001).
- 7th Heaven (1996-2006).
- Access Hollywood (1996-present).
- Dexter's Laboratory (1996-2003).
- Doug (1991-1994, 1996-1999).
- Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005).
- Hey Arnold! (1996-2004).
- Judge Judy (1996-present).
- Spin City (1996-2002).
- The Daily Show (1996-present).
- 100% (game show) (UK) (1997-2001).
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003).
- Cow and Chicken (1997-1999).
- Daria (1997-2001).
- Dharma & Greg (1997-2002).
- Disney's One Saturday Morning (1997-2001).
- Family Affairs (UK) (1997-2005).
- Johnny Bravo (1997-2003).
- Just Shoot Me! (1997-2003).
- King of the Hill (1997-2006).
- South Park (1997-present).
- Stargate SG-1 (1997-present).
- Sunset Beach (1997-1999).
- The Practice (1997-2004).
- Teletubbies (UK) (1997-2001).
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1997-present).
- Match Game (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999).
Ending this year
- January 22 - The Demon Headmaster (UK) (1996-1998).
- January 25 - The NFL on NBC (1939-1998, with numerous interuptions)
- May 14 - Seinfeld (1989-1998).
- May 18 – Murphy Brown (1988-1998).
- May 31 - The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998).
- June 26 – Step by Step (1991-1998).
- July 17 – Family Matters (1989-1998).
- October 16 - Derrick (Germany) (1974-1998).
- Timon and Pumbaa (1995-1998).
- Dexter's Laboratory (1996-1998 2001-2003)
Changes of Network Affiliation
- Between Brothers, from FOX to UPN.
- For Your Love, from NBC to The WB.
- Sailor Moon, from USA Network to Cartoon Network.
Deaths
- January 21 - Jack Lord, 77, star of Hawaii Five-O.
- February 19 - Grandpa Jones, 84, star of Hee Haw, comedian and musician.
- February 28 - Dermot Morgan, 45, star of Father Ted.
- May 28 - Phil Hartman, 49, star of Newsradio.
- September 23 - Mary Frann, 55, actress (Joanna on Newhart).
- September 28 - Eric Malling, 52, Canadian television journalist.
- October 17 - Joan Hickson, 92, actress, Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.
- November 17 - Esther Rolle, 78, actress (Florida on Maude and Good Times).
- December 22 - Michelle Thomas, 29, actress (Myra on Family Matters, Justine on The Cosby Show).