1973 in television

See also: 1972 in television, other events of 1973, 1974 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

For the American network television schedule, please see 1973–74 American network television schedule.

Events

• January 14 – Elvis Presley's Aloha From Hawaii television special is seen around the world by more than 1 billion viewers.
• March 13 – The Bait, a television crime thriller movie starring Donna Mills as hero police officer Tracy Fleming, airs on the US television.
• March 21 – Are You Being Served? begins first regular series (pilot aired September 8, 1972).
• April 16 – Paul McCartney's first television special, James Paul McCartney airs. The special includes performances by McCartney and Wings.
• August 6 – James Beck, who stars as Private Joe Walker in the popular UK sitcom Dad's Army, dies of a burst pancreas at the age of just 44. Although the series continues until 1977, the part of Walker is not recast and the show carries on without him.
• October 8 – Patricia Phoenix leaves the role of Elsie Tanner on Coronation Street after thirteen years, when she felt that specific length of time was enough to play one character continuously.
• November – Julie on Sesame Street airs.
• Opening of CBGB's.
• Large-screen projection color TVs hit the market.

Debuts

• January 4 – Last of the Summer Wine pilot episode, first series begins on November 12 (1973-present).
• January 6 – Schoolhouse Rock! premieres (1973-1986).
• January 28 – Barnaby Jones premieres on CBS (1973-1980).
• March 26 – The Young and the Restless premieres on CBS (1973-present).
• July 2 – Match Game is revived by CBS with the significantly changed rules (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999).
• October – Kojak premieres (1973-1978, 2005-present).
• The Six Million Dollar Man (1973–1978).
• The Tomorrow Show (1973-1982).
• An animated revival of Star Trek premieres on NBC (1973-1974).

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).
• 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).
• World of Sport (UK) (1965-1985).
• Play School (1966-present).
• The Money Programme (UK) (1966-present).
• The Newlywed Game (1966–1974).
• Ironside (1967-1975).
• 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).
• Magpie (UK) (1968–1980).
• One Life to Live (1968-present).
• Hee Haw (1969-1993).
• Love, American Style (1969–1974).
• Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969–1976).
• Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974).
• Room 222 (1969–1974).
• Sesame Street (1969-present).
• The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1969–1989).
• The Brady Bunch (1969–1974).
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1969-1979).
• 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).
• Are You Being Served? (UK) (1972–1985).
• Emergency! (1972–1977).
• Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972-present).
• Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972–1984).
• John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972-present).
• Kung Fu (1972–1975).
• Maude (1972–1978).
• M*A*S*H (1972–1983).
• Sanford and Son (1972–1977).
• The Bob Newhart Show (1972–1978).
• The Price Is Right (1972-present).
• The Waltons (1972–1981).

Ending this year

• January 16 – Bonanza (1959–1973).
• March 23 – Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (1967–1973).
• March 23 – Where the Heart Is (1969–1973).
• May – Laugh-In (1968–1973).
• August – The Mod Squad (1968–1973).
• September – The Doris Day Show (1968–1973).
• September – Bridget Loves Bernie (1972–1973).
• September – Runaround (1972–1973).

Births

• January 31 – Portia de Rossi, actress.
• October 3 – Neve Campbell, actress.
• November 5 – Danniella Westbrook, actress.