1991 in television

For the United States network television schedule, see 1991-92 United States network television schedule.

Events

February 15 - The COW ident is seen for the final time on BBC1, after six years in use, and the BBC2 'TWO' ident is seen for the final time after five years in use.
February 16 - BBC1 and BBC2 receive new idents, both generated from laserdisc and featuring the BBC corporate logo introduced in 1986. BBC1 features a '1' encased in a globe, and BBC2 features eleven idents based around a numeral '2'.
March 3 - 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.
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 14 - BBC World Service Television begins broadcasting via satellite to Asia.
October 16 - The ITV 1993 results are announced and take effect starting midnight GMT on January 1, 1993.
October - Cigar and pipe tobacco adverts are banned from UK television.
December 25 - In an unusual move, the Royal Christmas Message is integrated into the first of the day's episodes of Coronation Street on ITV. Character Alf Roberts sat down in front of his television, 'watched' the speech in its entirety, and the episode resumed.
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 built-in closed-caption display are introduced in the United States.
Britney Spears appears on Star Search.
Minnie Pearl makes her final appearance on Hee Haw.

Debuts

January 3 - The Brittas Empire'' premieres (1991-1997).
January 5- Blossom premieres on NBC (1991-1995)
January 12 - Joking Apart premieres (1991, 1993).
May 11 - Sisters premieres (1991-1996).
April 20 - Dinosaurs. premieres on ABC (1991-1994)
August 11 - Doug premieres (1991-1994, 1996-1999).
August 11 - Rugrats premieres (1991-2005)
August 11 - The Ren & Stimpy Show premieres (1991-1996).
August 31 - The House of Eliott premieres in the UK (1991-1994).
September 17- Home Improvement premieres (1991-1999).
September 20- Step by Step premieres (1991-1997).
September 30- The Jerry Springer Show premieres (1991-present).
23 November - Noel's House Party premieres on BBC1 (1991-1999)
The Red Green Show premieres in Canada (1991-2006).
Lampsis premieres in Greece on ANT1 (1991-2006).

Television shows

1940s

Meet the Press (1947-present).
Candid Camera (1948-present).
Come Dancing (UK) (1949-1995).

1950s

Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951-present).
Guiding Light (1952-present).
The Today Show (1952-present).
Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
Face the Nation (1954-present).
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-1992).
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).

1960s

Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present).
Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
It's Academic (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).

1970s

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).
Arena (UK) (1975–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).
Antiques Roadshow (UK) (1979-present).
Nightline (1979-present).
This Old House (1979-present).

1980s

Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
What Now (1982-present)
Timewatch (UK) (1982-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).
T-Bag and the Rings of Olympus and T-Bag's Christmas Turkey (There were various T-Bag series between 1985 and 1992)
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).
Comic Relief (UK) (1986-present).
Casualty (UK) (1986-present).
Beadle's About (UK) (1987-1996).
Chucklevision (UK) (1987-present).
A Different World (1987-1993).
Full House (1987-1995).
Going Live! (UK) (1987-1993).
Inspector Morse (1987-2000).
Knightmare (UK) (1987-1994).
Married... with Children (1987-1997).
The Next Generation (1987-1994).
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996).
The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-present).
Fair City (1988-present).
Home and Away (1988-present).
This Morning (1988-present).
America's Most Wanted (1988-present).
The American Experience (1988-present).
Red Dwarf (UK) (1988-1999).
Children's Ward (UK) (1988-2000).
Electric Circus (1988-2003).
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).
48 Hours (1988-present).
The Adventures of Superboy (1988-1992).
Acropolis Now (Australia) (1989-1992).
Baywatch (1989-2001).
Cops (1989-present).
Family Matters (1989-1998).
Fast Forward (Australia) (1989-1992).
Inside Edition (1989-present).
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).

1990s

In Living Color (1990-1994).
Law & Order (1990-present).
America's Funniest Home Videos (1990-present).
America's Funniest People (1990-1994)
Blossom (1991-1995)
Match Game (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999).
One Foot in the Grave (UK) (1990-2000).
Road to Avonlea (Canada) (1990-1996).
The Crystal Maze (UK) (1990-1995).
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (UK) (1984-1988, 1991-1994).

Miniseries

G.B.H. (UK)
Switched at Birth

Ending this year

February 11 - About Face (1989-1991).
May 3 - Dallas airs its final original episode on CBS. In the two-hour finale, J.R. is confronted by his guardian angel, who turns into the devil and tells him to kill himself. A gunshot rings out and the viewers don't know if he lived or died. (1978-1991).
July 27 - Amen (1986-1991).
July 27 - Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986-1991).
May 28 - 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.