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

• February 5 - ABC runs the one and only airing of the notorious flop, Turn-On.
• 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. 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 CBS cancels the program, the last Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour airs.
• June 21 - Actor Patrick Troughton makes his last regular appearance as the Second Doctor in the concluding moments of Episode 10 of the Doctor Who serial The War Games.
• July 3 - Lulu the elephant runs amok on Blue Peter. The clip is subsequently repeated many times, becoming the archetypal British TV "blooper".
• July 20 - A live transmission from the moon is viewed by 720 million people around the world when Neil Armstrong walks in the moon.
• November 15 - Colour 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.
• CBC's The National News is renamed The National.

Debuts

• June - Hee Haw premieres on CBS (1969-1993).
• September 8 - Where the Heart Is premieres on CBS daytime (1969-1973).
• September 13 - Scooby-Doo, Where are You! (1969-1972) premieres on CBS Saturday Morning. The animated show, about a cowardly Great Dane and his four teenage friends who travel around the country in a multi-colored van solving mysteries, would go on to become a major pop cultural icon, with numerous spin-offs, direct to video movies, and two live action films.
• September 29
  • Bright Promise, the latter of the soap operas created by Frank and Doris Hursley, debuts on NBC daytime (1969-1972).
  • Love, American Style debuts on ABC (1969-1974).
• October 5
  • Monty Python's Flying Circus premieres on BBC1 (1969-1974).
  • Sazae-san premieres as a kids' comedy on Fuji Television in Japan. The show is still airing as of 2005.
• November 10 - 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

1940s

• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971).
• Bozo the Clown (1949-present).
• Come Dancing (UK) (1949-1995).

1950s

• Truth or Consequences (1950-1988).
• Love of Life (1951-1980).
• Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986).
• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951-present).
• 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).

1960s

• Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present).
• My Three Sons (1960-1972).
• Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
• It's Academic (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

• The Avengers (UK) (1961-1969).
• February - The Saint (1962-1969).
• Match Game (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999).
• Peyton Place (1964-1969).
• Star Trek (1966-1969).
• Do Not Adjust Your Set (1967-1969).
• 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.

Deaths

• February 2 - Boris Karloff, actor
• February 9 - Gabby Hayes, actor
• February 19 - Madge Blake, actress
• May 3 - Karl Freund, cinematographer, who as director of photography on I Love Lucy, developed the practical use of the three-camera TV sitcom production.
• June 22 - Judy Garland, singer/actress
• July 18 - Barbara Pepper, actress (Doris Ziffel #1 on Green Acres)
• August 9 - Sharon Tate, actress, murdered by followers of Charles Manson
• September 8 - Bud Collyer, game show host (Beat the Clock)
• September 19 - Rex Ingram, actor
• December 22 - Wilbur Hatch, musical director for many TV shows including I Love Lucy

1969 | Years in television

1969 à la télévision | TV-året 1969