1969 in television

See also: 1968 in television, other events of 1969, 1970 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

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

Events

• 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. The show premiered on September 8, 1966. 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 the CBS cancels the program, the last Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour airs.
• July 20 – A live transmission from the moon is viewed by 720 million people around the world when Neil Armstrong walks in the moon.
• October 5 – Sazae-san premieres as a kids' comedy on Fuji Television. The show is still airing as of 2004.
• 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 (1969-1993).
• September 8 – Where the Heart Is premieres on CBS daytime (1969-1973).
• September 29 – Bright Promise, the latter of the soap operas created by Frank and Doris Hursley, debuts on NBC daytime (1969-1972).
• September 29 – Love, American Style debuts on ABC (1969-1974).
• October 5 – Monty Python's Flying Circus premieres on BBC1 (1969–1974).
• November 10 – The 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).
• Come Dancing (UK) (1949-1995).
• Truth or Consequences (1950-1988).
• Love of Life (1951-1980).
• Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986).
• 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).
• 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

• February – The Saint (1962–1969).
• The Avengers (UK) (1961–1969).
• Match Game (1962–1969, 1973–1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999).
• Peyton Place (1964–1969).
• Star Trek (1966–1969).
• 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.