1970 in television

The year 1970 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1970.

For the American TV schedule, see: 1970-71 American network television schedule.

Events

• January 3 – Jon Pertwee makes his first appearance as the Third Doctor in the Doctor Who serial Spearhead from Space. It also marks the first time that the series was broadcast in colour.
• January 19 – CBS launches Operation 100, an all-out campaign to discredit NBC and all it stands for, using the slogan "The man can't bust our network."
• March 7 – The "eclipse of the century" is covered by all three American networks.
• March 16 – The FCC's "Miami channel 10 case" comes to a definite end as the station becomes WPLG.
• July 31 – Chet Huntley anchors his final newscast with David Brinkley and retires, bringing down the curtain on a 14-year career at NBC News and, thus, as chief anchor of The Huntley-Brinkley Report. The next Monday, August 3, the program is renamed NBC Nightly News, its title to this day.
• August 2 – NBC expands full-service newscasts to seven nights a week with NBC Sunday News; it replaces The Frank McGee Report.
• October 5 – The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) begins broadcasting and National Educational Television is shut down.
• December 25 – Pluto's Christmas Tree is broadcast on BBC1, the first complete Mickey Mouse cartoon to be shown on British television in colour.
• In a cliffhanger on the soap opera Search for Tomorrow, businessman Sam Reynolds is believed to be dead after he perished in Africa. One of the first "exotic" deaths for a soap opera character, it was in tune with actor Robert Mandan's wish to leave the show.
• "Country" comedian and Grand Ole Opry star Minnie Pearl makes her first appearance on Hee Haw.
• Lloyd Robertson replaces Warren Davis as anchor of CBC Television's The National.

Debuts

• January 6 - Kate debuts on ITV (1970–1972)
• January 5 – Soap opera All My Children premieres on ABC (1970–2011).
• February 17 – McCloud pilot airs on NBC (1970–1977). The series becomes a regular show the following fall as part of Four in One.
• March 30 – Soap opera Somerset premieres on NBC (1970–1976), while fellow soaps A World Apart (1970–1971) and The Best of Everything (1970) make their debut on ABC. It marks the last time multiple soaps premiere on the same day in the US.
• September 12 – Josie and the Pussycats, premieres on CBS Saturday morning (1970–1974).
• September 16 – UFO debuts on ITV (1970–1971).
• September 17 – The Flip Wilson Show premieres on NBC (1970–1974).
• September 19 – The Mary Tyler Moore Show premieres on CBS (1970–1977).
• September 21 – NFL Monday Night Football premieres on ABC (1970–Present); it moved to ESPN in 2006.
• September 24 – The Odd Couple premieres on ABC (1970–1975).
• September 24 – Barefoot in the Park premieres on ABC (1970–1971).
• September 25 – The Partridge Family premieres on ABC (1970–1974).
• Adventures in Rainbow Country premieres on CBC (1970–1971).
• Doomwatch debuts on BBC1 (1970–1972).
• Party Game premieres (1970–1980).
• Play for Today supersedes The Wednesday Play on BBC1. The anthology drama series lasts until 1984.
• November – Mr Benn premieres on BBC in syndication.

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 (1952–2009).
• 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 Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992).
• 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 (1956–2010).
• 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) (1958–2007).
• Bonanza (1959–1973).

1960s

• Coronation Street (1960–present).
• My Three Sons (1960–1972).
• Four Corners (Australia) (1961–present).
• It's Academic (1961–present).
• The Mike Douglas Show (1961–1981).
• 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).
• The Doctors (1963–1982).
• Another World (1964–1999).
• Bewitched (1964–1972).
• Crossroads (UK) (1964–1988, 2001–2003).
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984–present).
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964–2006).
• Days of our Lives (1965–present).
• Green Acres (1965–1971).
• Hogan's Heroes (1965–1971).
• The Dean Martin Show (1965–1974).
• Tom and Jerry (1965–1972, 1975–1977, 1980–1982).
• World of Sport (1965–1985).
• Dark Shadows (1966–1971).
• Family Affair (1966–1971).
• Play School (1966–present).
• That Girl (1966–1971).
• Mission: Impossible (1966–1973).
• 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).
• 60 Minutes (1968–present).
• Dad's Army (UK) (1968–1977)
• Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980).
• 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).
• Bright Promise (1969–1972).
• Hee Haw (1969–1993).
• Love, American Style (1969–1974).
• Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969–1976).
• Monty Python's Flying Circus (UK) (1969–1974).
• Room 222 (1969–1974).
• Sesame Street (1969–present).
• The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1969–1989).
• The Brady Bunch (1969–1974).
• Clangers (UK) (1969–1972).
• The Johnny Cash Show (1969–1971).
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1969–1979).
• Where the Heart Is (1969–1973).

Ending this year

• April 3 – Here Come the Brides (1968–1970).
  • The Flying Nun (1967–1970).
• April 4 – Petticoat Junction (1963–1970).
• May 7 – Daniel Boone (1964–1970).
• May 15 – Get Smart (1965–1970).
• May 26 – I Dream of Jeannie (1965–1970).
• May 27 – The Wednesday Play (UK) (1964–1970).
• June 14- Spider-Man (1967–1970).

Births

• January 20 – Skeet Ulrich, actor.
• January 29 – Heather Graham, actress.
• March 18 – Queen Latifah, actress, rapper
• March 28 – Vince Vaughn, actor.
• April 13 – Rick Schroder, actor.
• May 4 – Will Arnett, Canadian actor.
• May 17 – Jordan Knight, singer
• May 18 - Tina Fey, actress, comedian.
• May 22 – Naomi Campbell, fashion model.
• August 18 – Malcolm-Jamal Warner, actor
• August 23 – Jay Mohr, actor, comedian.
• August 23 – River Phoenix, actor (died 1993)
• August 31 – Debbie Gibson, singer.
• October 2 – Kelly Ripa, actress, television host.
• October 8 – Matt Damon, actor.
• October 12 – Kirk Cameron, actor.

Deaths

• April 23 – Herb Shriner, actor.
• April 30 – Inger Stevens, actress (Katy on The Farmer's Daughter), suicide.
• June 11 – Frank Silvera, actor
• September 29 – Edward Everett Horton, actor