1972 in television

See also: 1971 in television, other events of 1972, 1973 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

For the American network television schedule, please see 1972–73 American network television schedule.

Events

• Mid-February – John Lennon and Yoko Ono cohost an entire week on The Mike Douglas Show.
• July 21 – Victoria Wyndham makes her first appearance as vixen (and later, good girl) Rachel Davis on the soap opera Another World.
• Sammy Davis Jr. makes a guest appearance on All in the Family.
• The Edge of Night moves timeslots from 4 PM to 2 PM, and subsequently loses nearly half of its viewing audience.
• Kathryn Hays debuts as Kimberly Sullivan on As the World Turns.
• Anne Kirkbride debuts as Deirdre Hunt on Coronation Street.

Debuts

• January 14 – Sanford and Son premieres on NBC (1972-1977).
• January 15 – Emergency! premieres on NBC (1972–1977).
• April 4 – John Craven's Newsround premieres (1972-present, now titled Newsround) on BBC1.
• September 4 – The Price Is Right premieres on CBS (1972-present).
• September 8 – Are You Being Served? premieres (1972-1985) on BBC1.
• September 12 – Maude, a spinoff of All in the Family premieres on CBS (1972-1978).
• September – Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids premieres on CBS (1972-1984).
• September – Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space premieres. The cartoon is cancelled in December.
• September – Runaround premieres on NBC (1972-1973).
• October 16 – Emmerdale Farm starts transmissions in the daytime on ITV (1972-present).
• Bridget Loves Bernie premieres on CBS (1972–1973).
• Kung Fu premieres (1972-1975).
• M*A*S*H premieres (1972-1983).
• The Bob Newhart Show premieres (1972–1978) on CBS.
• The Waltons premieres (1972-1981).

Television shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• 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 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).
• Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
• The Mike Douglas Show (1961–1981).
• The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
• Z-Cars (UK) (1962-1978).
• Doctor Who (UK) (1963-1989, 1996, 2005-present).
• General Hospital (1963-present).
• The Doctors (1963–1982).
• Another World (1964-1999).
• Crossroads (UK) (1964–1988, 2001-2003).
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984-present).
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present).
• Days of Our Lives (1965-present).
• The Dean Martin Show (1965–1974).
• Tom and Jerry (1965–1972, 1975–1977, 1980–1982)
• World of Sport (UK) (1965–1985).
• Play School (1966-present).
• 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).
• 60 Minutes (1968-present).
• Dad's Army (UK) (1968–1977).
• Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980).
• Here's Lucy (1968–1974).
• Laugh-In (1968–1973).
• Magpie (UK) (1968–1980).
• One Life to Live (1968-present).
• The Doris Day Show (1968–1973).
• The Mod Squad (1968–1973).
• Hee Haw (1969-1993).
• Love, American Style (1969–1974).
• Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969–1976).
• Monty Python's Flying Circus (UK) (1969–1974).
• Room 222 (1969–1974).
• Sesame Street (1969-present).
• The Benny Hill Show (1969–1989).
• The Brady Bunch (1969–1974).
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1969-1979).
• Where the Heart Is (1969–1973).
• All My Children (1970-present).
• Mary Tyler Moore (1970–1977).
• McCloud (1970–1977).
• Monday Night Football (1970-present).
• Play for Today (UK) (1970–1984).
• The Flip Wilson Show (1970–1974).
• The Odd Couple (1970–1975).
• The Partridge Family (1970–1974).
• All in the Family (1971–1979).
• Columbo (1971–1978).
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present).
• McMillan and Wife (1971–1977).
• Soul Train (1971-present).
• The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971–1974).
• Old Grey Whistle Test (UK) (1971-1987).
• The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (1971–1974).

Ending this year

• My Three Sons (1960–1972).
• Bewitched (1964–1972).
• Bright Promise (1969–1972).
• The Clangers (UK) (1969–1972) (with one final episode broadcast on October 10, 1974).
• Doomwatch (UK) (1970–1972).

Births

• January 1 – Felicity Montagu, actress.