1979 in television (original) (raw)
See also: 1978 in television, other events of 1979, 1980 in television and the list of 'years in television'.
Events
- February 3 - Dead Man's Curve, a made-for-TV-movie about surf-rock singers Jan & Dean, airs on US television
- Over 300 million households worldwide now own television sets.
- February 3 - You Can't Do That on Television premieres on CTV affiliate CJOH-TV.
- February 11 - In the US, 43 million viewers watch "Elvis!" on ABC, a made for TV movie starring Kurt Russell as Elvis.
Debuts
- CFMT (now OMNI1) began launching Toronto's first multicultural channel.
- ESPN begins broadcasting sports 24/7 and was the first cable channel to be launched.
- Solid Gold premieres.
- Un Pecado del Amor premieres in Guatemala
- The Facts of Life (1979-1988)
- Knots Landing (1979-1993)
- Benson (1979-1986)
- Real People (1979-1984)
Popular Television Shows
- Alice (1976-1985)
- Angie (1979-1980)
- Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)
- ''Dallas (1978-1991)
- ''Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986)
- Disney's Wonderful World (1954-1983) (formerly The Wonderful World of Disney
- Dr Who (1963-1989)
- Happy Days (1974-1984)
- Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980)
- Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
- Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982)
- Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
- M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
- Mork & Mindy (1978-1982)
- The Muppet Show (1976-1981)
- Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
- Sesame Street (1969-present)
- Soap premieres (1977-1981)
- Taxi (1978-1983)
- Three's Company (1977-1984)
- The Tonight Show (1954-present)
- WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-1982)
- The Waltons (1972-1981)
- Wheel of Fortune (1975-present)
Ending this year
- All In The Family (1971-1979)
- Good Times (1974-1979)
- Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-1979)
- What's Happening (1976-1979)
Births
Deaths
- January 11 - Jack Soo, actor
- January 16 - Ted Cassidy, 6'9" actor on The Addams Family
- January 27 - Dick Wesson, actor, announcer on The Wonderful World of Disney
- February 28 - Mister Ed
- July 29 - Bill Todman, game show producer
- August 17 - Vivian Vance, actress