1991 in television

See also: 1990 in television, other events of 1991, 1992 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

For the American network television schedule, please see 1991–92 American network television schedule.

Events

• August 31 – NICAM stereo sound introduced on BBC Television.
• September 20 – The daytime version of Wheel of Fortune airs its last episode after being on television for over 17 years.
• October 16 – The ITV franchise auction results are announced and take effect starting midnight GMT on January 1, 1993.
• October – BBC World Service Television begins broadcasting via satellite to Asia.
• Channel 5 begins broadcasting in Belize.
• The Museum of Broadcasting, now called the Museum of Television and Radio, moved into its new 17-story building, located a block from its previous location in New York City.
• First television sets with bulit-in closed-caption display are introduced in the United States.
• Lampsis premieres in Greece on ANT1 (1991-present).
• In Los Angeles, California, Rodney King is severely beaten by Police Officers after leading them on a high speed chase and resisting arrest. The beating is captured on video by observers and portions of the tape are aired repeatedly on television in the US.
• Britney Spears appears on Star Search.
• Minnie Pearl makes her final appearance on Hee Haw.

Debuts

• August 11 – Doug premieres (1991-1994, 1996-1999).
• August 11 – Rugrats premieres (1991-2004).
• August 11 – The Ren & Stimpy Show premieres (1991–1996).
• August 31 – The House of Eliott premieres in the UK (1991–1994).
• Home Improvement premieres (1991–1999).
• Joking Apart premieres (1991, 1993).
• Sisters premieres (1991–1996).
• The Jerry Springer Show premieres (1991-present).

Television shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• Come Dancing (UK) (1949-1995).
• Guiding Light (1952-present).
• The Today Show (1952-present).
• Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
• Face the Nation (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).
• Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present).
• Four Corners (Australia) (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 (1966-present).
• The Money Programme (UK) (1966-present).
• 60 Minutes (1968-present).
• One Life to Live (1968-present).
• Hee Haw (1969-1993).
• Sesame Street (1969-present).
• 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).
• Derrick (1974-1998).
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present).
• Good Morning America (1975-present).
• Jim'll Fix It (UK) (1975–1994).
• 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).
• Knots Landing (1979-1993).
• Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
• Cheers (1982-1993).
• Late Night with David Letterman (1982–1993).
• The Journal (Canada) (1982-1992).
• Loving (1983-1995).
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984-present).
• Mother and Son (Australia) (1984–1994).
• Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996).
• Night Court (1984–1992).
• Santa Barbara (1984–1993).
• The Bill (UK) (1984-present).
• The Cosby Show (1984–1992).
• Who's the Boss? (1984–1992).
• EastEnders (UK) (1985-present).
• Growing Pains (1985–1992).
• MacGyver (1985–1992).
• Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present).
• Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981–1983, 1985–1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003).
• Sally (1985-2002).
• The Golden Girls (1985–1992).
• Designing Women (1986-1993).
• Double Dare (1986–1993).
• Hey Dad...! (Australia) (1986–1994).
• L.A. Law (1986–1994).
• Matlock (1986–1995).
• Perfect Strangers (1986–1993).
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-present).
• A Different World (1987-1993).
• Full House (1987–1995).
• Inspector Morse (1987-2000).
• Knightmare (UK) (1987–1994).
• Married... with Children (1987–1997).
• Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994).
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987–1996).
• The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-present).
• Children's Ward (UK) (1988-2000).
• Empty Nest (1988–1995).
• Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988–1995, 1999-present).
• Garfield and Friends (1988–1995).
• Murphy Brown (1988–1998).
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988–1999).
• Roseanne (1988–1997).
• The Wonder Years (1988–1993).
• Acropolis Now (Australia) (1989-1992).
• Baywatch (1989–2001).
• Cops (1989-present).
• Family Matters (1989–1998).
• Fast Forward (Australia) (1989–1992).
• Life Goes On (1989–1993).
• Maid Marian and her Merry Men (UK) (1989–1994).
• Press Gang (UK) (1989–1993).
• Seinfeld (1989–1998).
• Tales from the Crypt (1989–1996).
• The Arsenio Hall Show (1989–1994).
• The Big Gig (Australia) (1989–1992).
• The Simpsons (1989-present).
• In Living Color (1990-1994).
• Law & Order (1990-present).
• America's Funniest Home Videos (1990-present).
• Match Game (1962–1969, 1973–1984, 1990–1991, 1998–1999).
• One Foot in the Grave (UK) (1990–2000).
• Road to Avonlea (Canada) (1990–1996).

Ending this year

• May 3 – After 13 years, one month, and one day and 357 episodes, the long-running prime-time soap opera Dallas airs its final original episode on CBS (1978–1991).
• Amen (1986–1991).
• Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986–1991).
• thirtysomething (1987–1991).

Changes of network affiliation

July 17 – The daytime version of Wheel of Fortune moves once again to NBC after two and a half years on CBS, eventually leading to its ultimate canning several months later.

Deaths

• February 3 – Nancy Kulp, actress on The Beverly Hillbillies.
• February 24 – George Gobel, comedian.
• July 1 – Michael Landon, actor, producer.
• July 15 – Bert Convy, game show host.
• August 6 – Harry Reasoner, news anchor.
• August 22 – Colleen Dewhurst, actress.
• October 11 – Redd Foxx, comedian, star of Sanford and Son.
• October 24 – Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek.
• November 5 – Fred MacMurray actor on My Three Sons.