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The year 1997 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1997.

Events

• January 1 – The U.S. television networks adopt ratings systems for their programming, similar to those used for motion pictures.
• January 3 – NBC's The Today Show Bryant Gumbel signs off for the last time.
• January 6 – The UK's Channel 4 closes down for the last time. From 6am, the channel broadcasts 24 hours a day.
• January 12- Animated series King of the Hill premieres
• February 3 – UK channels Bravo And Trouble changed identity
• February 3 – The Family Channel relaunches as Challenge TV.
• February 9 – The Simpsons surpasses The Flintstones as the longest-running prime-time animated series in terms of episodes aired.
• March 10 – Dave Spikey becomes the 6th host of the final series of ITV weekday morning game show Chain Letters.
• March 17 – Toonami debuts on Cartoon Network.
• March 30 – Five, the UK's fifth & last terrestrial channel, launches at 6.00pm. The first faces seen are the Spice Girls, who perform 1-2-3-4-5, a rewritten version of the Manfred Mann song 5-4-3-2-1.
• April 20 – World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Superstar Bret Hart appeared on The Simpsons, the first wrestler to appear on this longest running cartoon.
• April 30 – The Puppy Episode of the Ellen (TV series) airs, showing for the first time the coming out of a main character.
• May 1 – UK General Election night: for the first time, the brothers David Dimbleby and Jonathan Dimbleby anchor rival results programmes on BBC1 and ITV respectively. The same arrangement will occur for the general elections in 2001 and 2005.
• June 6 – Actress Farrah Fawcett makes a bizarre appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. Fawcett tells long, rambling stories without a point, fails to understand simple questions, and gets easily distracted by things like blinking lights on the set.
• June 21 – ABC Sports's Professional Bowlers Tour ends after 36 years.
• July 3 – Peter Snow presents Newsnight for the last time, though he will continue to make occasional appearances as a political analyst until 2005.
• July 15 – A tribute episode is aired on Another World in honor of core cast member Victoria Wyndham's 25 years with the program.
• August 13 – South Park is aired for the first time on Comedy Central.
• August 23 – Rugrats returns with new regular episodes on Nickelodeon after being canceled in 1994. Note: four special episodes were aired during the hiatus between cancellation and revival, but are not counted as part of the show's normal run.
• August 31 – Two UK channels, Sky 2, and Granada Talk TV cease broadcasting. BBC1 continues to air through the whole night in the UK for the first time (apart from general elections), simulcasting with BBC World News to bring news updates of Diana, Princess of Wales's car accident. The live broadcast of her funeral was watched by 2.5 billion viewers worldwide. The ceremony's footage went down in the Guinness World Records as the biggest TV audience for a live broadcast.^[1] In the UK, 32.10 million viewers watched the broadcast. It is the UK's second most-watched broadcast of all time, behind 1966's World Cup final.^[2]
• September 1 – 101 Dalmatians: The Series debuts in syndication.
• September – After several years of anchoring ABC's successful "TGIF" Friday night situation comedy programming block, Family Matters and Step by Step switch networks to CBS. Both shows, which were in their waning years (and would be canceled in 1998), anchor CBS's new Friday night lineup of family-friendly programming.
• October 3 – The 'Cow II' ident is seen for the final time on BBC One after six years in use.
• October 4 – BBC One adopts new "hot air balloon" globe identifications to coincide with the introduction of the network's new corporate logo. See BBC One 'Balloon' idents.
• October 13 – Canadian cable channels like The Comedy Network, Food Network, HGTV, Prime, Teletoon began launching, Speedvision was introduced there.
• October 27 – UK Living changes its name to Living TV, to distance itself from the forthcoming UKTV network.
• November 1 – The UKTV network is launched in the UK. Existing channel UK Gold is joined by UK Horizons, UK Arena and UK Style.
• November 2 – A third production of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II's version of Cinderella airs on ABC. This version, starring Brandy Norwood and Whitney Houston, is produced by The Walt Disney Company, who made their own version of the story as an animated film in 1950.
• November 8 – BBC One closes down for the last time, making BBC Two England's last terrestrial channel to still close down at night. From the next day, BBC News 24 broadcasts on BBC1 through the night.
• November 9 – BBC News 24 launched, the BBC's first new UK channel since BBC Two in 1964.
• November 9 – Bret Hart lost his last match in the WWF (World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)) via submission to Shawn Michaels, however Hart never tapped out. see Montreal Screwjob.
• December 1 – The 25 Days of Christmas Special started on The Family Channel, starting one of the longest running Christmas Specials.
• December 1 – The original 4 Sky Box Office channels launch.
• December 1 – Konnie Huq presents her first episode of the UK children's programme Blue Peter. She would go on to be the longest running female presenter and third longest overall in the shows' history, presenting for over ten years before leaving in January 2008.
• December 16 – An episode of Pokémon (called Dennō Senshi Porygon) in Japan causes 685 children to have epileptic seizures.

Debuts

• January 4 – Lost on Earth premieres on USA Network. (1997)
• January 6 – Sunset Beach premieres on NBC (1997–1999).
• January 12 – King of the Hill premieres on Fox (1997–2009).
• January 13 – La Femme Nikita premieres on USA Network. (1997–2001)
• February 20 – Chalk premieres on BBC1 (1997)
• March 3 – Daria premieres on MTV (1997–2001).
• March 4 – Just Shoot Me! premieres on NBC (1997–2003).
• March 4 – The Practice premieres (1997–2004).
• March 10 – Buffy the Vampire Slayer premieres on the The WB (1997–2003).
• March 10 – It Takes Two (game show) returns to the Family Channel for 12 weeks host Dick Clark (entertainer)
• March 26 – Smart Guy premieres on The WB (1997–1999)
• March 30 – Family Affairs premieres on Channel 5 (1997–2005).
• March 31 – 100% (game show) premieres on Channel 5 (1997–2001)
• March 31 – Teletubbies premieres on BBC1 (1997–2001).
• April 5 – The Crocodile Hunter premieres on Animal Planet (1997–2004)
• April 7 – 50/50 premieres on BBC1 (1997–2005).
• April 18 – Lexx premieres in Canada (1997–2002).
• April 19 – Angry Beavers premieres on Nickelodeon (1997–2001)
• April 19 – Power Rangers: Turbo premieres on Fox (1997)
• June 1 – Port Charles premieres on ABC.
• July 14 – Johnny Bravo premieres on Cartoon Network (1997–2004).
• July 15 – Cow and Chicken premieres on Cartoon Network (1997–1999).
• July 27 – Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007).
• July 29 – I Am Weasel premieres on Cartoon Network (1997–1999).
• August 13 – South Park premieres on Comedy Central (1997–present).
• September 1 – Pensacola: Wings of Gold premieres on USA (1997–2000)
• September 1 – Studio Disney UK premieres on Disney Channel UK (1997–2005)
• September 6 – Ultraman Dyna premieres on TBS in Japan (1997–1998).
• September 6 – City Guys premieres on NBC (1997–2001)
• September 8 – Ally McBeal premieres on Fox (1997–2002).
• September 8 – The Crayon Box premieres on (1997–1998)
• September 13 – Disney's One Saturday Morning premieres on ABC (1997–2002) featuring Recess and Pepper Ann.
• September 15 – George & Leo premieres on CBS (1997–1997)
• September 19 – Family Matters premieres on CBS after ABC from 1989–1997.
• September 19 – Step by Step premieres on CBS after ABC from 1991–1997.
• September 19 – The Visitor premieres on Fox.
• September 22 – Brooklyn South premieres on CBS (1997–1998)
• September 23 – Dharma & Greg premieres on ABC (1997–2002).
• September 23 – Clueless premieres on UPN after acquiring from ABC
• September 28 – The Wonderful World of Disney returns on ABC after a seven year break from that network (1954–present)
• October 1 – Ned's Newt (1997–1998).
• October 14 – Dream Team debuts on Sky One (1997–2007).
• October 20 – Bear In The Big Blue House premieres on Disney Channel (1997–2007).

Dates not known

• Y Clwb Rygbi debuts on S4C (1997–present).

Miniseries

• Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac, a reunion of the 1979–93 series
• The Last Don
• Lexx: The Dark Zone Stories
• Blockbusters (UK) with Michael Aspel

Television shows

1940s

• Meet the Press (1947–present).
• Candid Camera (1948–present)

1950s

• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present).
• Guiding Light (1952–present)
• Hockey Night in Canada (1952–present)
• The Today Show (1952–present)
• Panorama (UK) (1953–present).
• Face the Nation (1954–present).
• The Tonight Show (1954–present).
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1954–present under various titles)
• 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) (1958–2007).

1960s

• Coronation Street, UK (1960–present)
• Four Corners, Australia (1961–present)
• It's Academic (1961–present)
• The Late Late Show, Ireland (1962–present)
• Professional Bowlers Tour (1962–1997)
• General Hospital (1963–present)
• Another World (1964–1999)
• Top of the Pops, UK (1964–2006)
• Days of our Lives (1965–present)
• Play School, UK (1966–present)
• The Money Programme (1966–present)
• 60 Minutes (1968–present)
• One Life to Live (1968–present)
• Sesame Street (1969–present)

1970s

• All My Children (1970–present).
• Monday Night Football (1970–present).
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971–present)
• Soul Train (1971–2006)
• 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).
• 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).
• Antiques Roadshow (UK) (1979–present).
• Nightline (1979–present)
• SportsCenter (1979–present)
• This Old House (1979–present).

1980s

• Family Fortunes, UK (1980–2002, 2005 special, 2007–present)
• Moneyline (1980–present)
• Entertainment Tonight (1981–present).
• What Now (1982–present)
• Timewatch (UK) (1982–present)
• Brookside, UK (1982–2003)
• Taggart, UK (1983–present)
• The Bill (UK) (1984–present).
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984–present).
• SportsDesk, Canada (1984–present)
• EastEnders (UK) (1985–present).
• Neighbours (Australia) (1985–present).
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986–present).
• Sally (1985–2002).
• Comic Relief (UK) (1986–present).
• Casualty (UK) (1986–present).
• The Bold and the Beautiful (1987–present).
• ChuckleVision (UK) (1987–present).
• Inspector Morse (1987–2000).
• Unsolved Mysteries (1987–1998, 2001–2002, 2008–present)
• The American Experience (1988–present)
• America's Most Wanted (1988–present)
• Fair City, Ireland (1988–present)
• Les Guignols de l'info, France (1988–present)
• Home and Away, Australia (1988–present)
• This Morning (1988–present)
• Red Dwarf, UK (1988–1999).
• Murphy Brown (1988–1998)
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988–1999)
• The Ward, UK (1988–2000)
• Electric Circus, Canada (1988–2003)
• Baywatch (1989–2001)
• COPS (1989–present)
• Family Matters (1989–1998)
• Seinfeld (1989–1998)
• The Simpsons (1989–present)

1990s

• Law & Order (1990–present)
• America's Funniest Home Videos (1990–present)
• Beverly Hills 90210 (1990–2000)
• One Foot in the Grave (UK) (1990–2000)
• Home Improvement (1991–1999)
• Doug (1991–1999)
• Rugrats (1991–2004)
• The Jerry Springer Show (1991–present)
• The Red Green Show (1991–present)
• Barney & Friends (1992–present)
• Dateline NBC (1992–present)
• Mad About You (1992–1999)
• The Larry Sanders Show (1992–1998)
• Melrose Place (1992–1999)
• The Real World (1992–present)
• Frasier (1993–2004)
• Iron Chef (Japan) (1993–1999)
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993–2009)
• NYPD Blue (1993–2005)
• Ricki Lake (1993–2004)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)
• The Late Show with David Letterman (1993–present)
• The Nanny (1993–1999)
• The X-Files (1993–2002)
• WWF RAW Is War/WWF War Zone (1993–present)
• All That (1994–2005)
• ER (1994–2009)
• Friends (1994–2004)
• KaBlam! (1995–2000)
• Party of Five (1994–2000)
• Pokémon (Japan) (1997–2002)
• Time Team (UK) (1994–present)
• Touched by an Angel (1994–2003)
• JAG (1995–2005)
• Pamela Wallin Live (Canada) (1995–1999)
• Sesame Park (Canada) (1995–2002)
• Sliders (1995–2000)
• Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001)
• The Drew Carey Show (1995–2004)
• Timon and Pumbaa (1995–1998)
• 7th Heaven (1996–2007)
• Arthur (1996–present)
• Dexter's Laboratory (1996–2003)
• Everybody Loves Raymond (1996–2005)
• Hannity & Colmes (1996–2009)
• Hey Arnold! (1996–2004)
• Judge Judy (1996–present)
• Nash Bridges (1996–2001)
• Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981–1983, 1985–1993, 1996–1997, 2001–2003) (the only episode aired this year was a 10-minute special appeal Comic Relief 1997 Sketch).
• Spin City (1996–2002)
• The Daily Show (1996–present)
• The Demon Headmaster (UK) (1996–1998)
• The Newsroom (Canada) (1996–1997, 2003–2004)
• 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001)

Ending this year

Changes of network affiliation

Deaths

• January 16 – Ennis Cosby, 27, Bill Cosby's son is murdered.
• February 6 – Ernie Anderson, 74, voice actor and announcer, (lung cancer).
• February 26 – David Doyle, 67, actor.
• April 15 – Donald Bexley, 87, actor (Bubba on Sanford and Son).
• May 4 – Alvy Moore, 75, actor on (Hank Kimball on Green Acres).
• May 11 – Howard Morton, 71, character actor (Officer Ralph Simpson on Gimme a Break!).
• June 8 – Reid Shelton, 72, actor.
• June 24 – Brian Keith, 75, actor (Uncle Bill on Family Affair), (suicide).
• July 4 – Charles Kuralt, 63, journalist.
• August 27 – Brandon Tartikoff, 48, former president of NBC.
• September 9 – Burgess Meredith, 88, actor.
• September 17 – Red Skelton, 84, comedian.
• October 16 – Audra Lindley, 79, actress (Mrs. Roper on Three's Company).
• October 24 – Don Messick, 71, voice actor who voiced Scooby-Doo among others.
• October 30 – Sydney Newman, 80, producer.
• December 18 – Chris Farley, 33, accidental overdose of cocaine and morphine.
• December 25 – Denver Pyle, 77, actor (Uncle Jesse on The Dukes of Hazzard).

References