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).
• 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).
• 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).
• 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).
• 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.