1994 in television

The year 1994 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1994.

For the American TV schedule, see: 1994-95 United States network television schedule.

Events

• January 23 - CBS, which had broadcast National Football League games since 1956, airs its final telecast, with the Dallas Cowboys defeating the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, 38-21. CBS lost their NFL broadcasting rights to the fledgling Fox Network. CBS however, would regain NFL rights (taking over the AFC package from NBC) in 1998.
• February 4 - The Days of our Lives nighttime special Winter Heat airs on NBC.
• February 19 - In the opening monologue of Saturday Night Live, host Martin Lawrence made sexually explicit jokes about female genitalia and feminine hygiene. In repeats of the episode, the offending section of the monologue is replaced by a title card read by an off-screen player, saying that although Saturday Night Live takes a neutral stand on the issues raised by Lawrence, network policy prevents his remarks from being re-broadcast, and that the incident almost cost the entire cast of SNL their jobs. Lawrence is banned from NBC for one year and is also banned from appearing on the show for life.
• March 31 - Madonna appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and makes headlines for going on a profanity-laden tirade. Robin Williams later describes the segment as a "battle of wits with an unarmed woman." This episode is the most censored in American network television talk-show history, and resulted in some of the highest ratings of Letterman's late-night career.
• April 16 - BBC2 celebrates its 30th birthday (four days early) with an evening of programmes selected and introduced by former controller David Attenborough. Among them are episodes of Elizabeth R and The Barry Humphries Show, a 1967 documentary about politics in India and a new episode of Call My Bluff.
• May 23 - Star Trek: The Next Generation concludes its seven-year run with the series finale, All Good Things... The two-hour finale was aired at 6 p.m. on most affiliates, rather than as part of the prime time lineup.
• June 1 - The US cable channel, FX is launched.
• June 11 - World Wrestling Federation superstar Hulk Hogan signs a deal with World Championship Wrestling on a live broadcast of WCW Saturday Night.
• June 17 - NFL star O.J. Simpson and his friend Al Cowlings flee from police in his white Ford Bronco. The low-speed chase, which unfolds live on U.S. television, ends up at Simpson's mansion in Brentwood, California, where he then surrenders to police.
• June 17 - In Jackson, Mississippi, DirecTV a DBS service launches.
• August 12 - The soap opera All My Children airs a memorial episode for original cast member Frances Heflin, who died in June. The memorial is in the form of a funeral service for Heflin's character, Mona Kane Tyler.
• August 16 - A new channel, Sky Sports 2, launches.
• September 12 - Original Family Feud host Richard Dawson returns to the show after 9 years, replacing his successor, Ray Combs.
• October 3 - Two more channels, Sky Soap and Sky Real Lives, then known as Sky Travel, launch.
• October 19 - The Goodnight Kiwi airs in New Zealand for the last time until 2007 as TV2 moves to 24-hour television 7 days a week.
• October 31 - FX spinoff, Fox Movie Channel, premiering movies 24 hours a day, launches. formerly known as fXM: Movies from Fox.
• December 1 - The Game Show Network, a network devoted to broadcasting classic game shows, is launched in the United States.

Debuts

• January 16 - The Puzzle Place premieres on PBS (1994-2000).
• January 16 - Time Team premieres on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom (1994-2009).
• January 18 - Blue Heelers premieres on Seven Network in Australia (1994-2006).
• January 19 - The Day Today premieres on BBC2 (1994).
• January 26- The Critic premieres on ABC (1994-1995).
• January 26 - Babylon 5 premiers on PTEN (1994-1998).
• March 5 - Duckman premieres on USA Network (1994-1997).
• March 29 - Ellen premieres on ABC (1994-1998).
• April 1 - Sister, Sister premieres on ABC (1994-1999).
• April 14 - Space Ghost Coast to Coast premieres on Cartoon Network (1994-2004).
• July 4 - Room 101 (UK) premieres on BBC Two. (1994-2007)
• July 12 - Allegra's Window premieres on Nick Jr. (1994-1996).
• August 14 - Inside the Actors Studio premiers on Bravo (1994-present).
• August 25 - My So Called Life premieres on ABC (1994-1995).
• September 3 - VR Troopers premieres on Fox (1994-1996).
• September 4 - The NFL on Fox (1994-present).
• September 5 - Extra premieres in syndication (1994-2009).
• September 5 - Aladdin: The Series premieres on CBS (1994-1996)
• September 8 - New York Undercover premieres on Fox (1994-1998).
• September 11 - The Magic School Bus premieres on PBS (1994-1997).
• September 12 - Party of Five premieres on Fox (1994-2000).
• September 12 - Young and the Restless star Doug Davidson hosts a short lived syndicated version of the game show The Price is Right (1994-1995).
• September 15 - Due South premieres on CTV and CBS (1994–1999).
• September 17 - TOTP2 premieres on BBC Two (1994-2008)
• September 18 - Chicago Hope premieres on CBS.
• September 19 - Working Lunch premieres on BBC Two (1994-2009)
• September 19 - ER premieres on NBC (1994-2009).
• September 21 - Touched by an Angel premieres on CBS (1994-2003).
• September 22 - Friends premieres on NBC (1994-2004).
• October 5 - SMart premieres on BBC One (1994-Present)
• October 8 - The Secret World of Alex Mack premieres on Nickelodeon (1994-1998).
• October 15 - My Brother and Me premieres on Nickelodeon (1994-1995).
• October 24 - Ready Steady Cook on BBC Two (1994-Present)
• October 29 - Aaahh!!! Real Monsters premieres on Nickelodeon (1994-1997).
• December 24 - All That premieres on Nickelodeon (1994-2005).

Miniseries

• Heaven & Hell: North & South, Book III 1994 television miniseries
• Scarlett, a sequel to Gone with the Wind

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)
• Hockey Night in Canada (1952–present)
• The Today Show (1952–present)
• Panorama (UK) (1953–present)
• Face the Nation (1954–present)
• The Magical World of Disney (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) (1958–2007)

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) (1964-2006).
• 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).
• 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).
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present).
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
• 20/20 (1978-present).
• Grange Hill (UK) (1978-2008).
• Antiques Roadshow (UK) (1979-present).
• Nightline (1979-present).
• This Old House (1979-present).
• Young and the Restless (1999-present).

1980s

• Moneyline (1980–present)
• Entertainment Tonight (1981–present)
• What Now, New Zealand (1982–present)
• Timewatch (UK) (1982-present)
• Taggart, UK (1983-present)
• Loving (1983-1995).
• The Bill (UK) (1984-present).
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984–present)
• Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996)
• SportsDesk, Canada (1984–present)
• EastEnders (UK) (1985-present).
• Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present).
• Sally (1985-2002).
• Casualty (UK) (1986-present).
• Comic Relief (UK) (1986-present).
• Matlock (1986–1996)
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-present).
• Beadle's About (UK) (1987-1996).
• The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-present).
• ChuckleVision (UK) (1987-present).
• Full House (1987–1995)
• Inspector Morse (1987-2000).
• Married... with Children (1987-1997).
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996).
• Unsolved Mysteries (1987-1998, 2001-2002, 2008-present).
• America's Most Wanted (1988-present).
• The American Experience (1988-present).
• Fair City (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).
• Children's Ward, UK (1988-2000).
• Electric Circus, Canada (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).
• Baywatch (1989-2001).
• COPS (1989-present).
• Family Matters (1989-1998).
• Seinfeld (1989-1998).
• The Simpsons (1989-present).
• Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994).
• Tales from the Crypt (1989-1996).

1990s

• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996)
• Law & Order (1990-present).
• America's Funniest Home Videos (1990-present).
• One Foot in the Grave (UK) (1990-2000).
• Road to Avonlea (Canada) (1990-1996).
• The Crystal Maze (UK) (1990-1995).
• Back to the Future: The Animated Series (1991-1993 CBS reruns)
• Doug (1991-1994, 1996-1999).
• Home Improvement (1991-1999).
• Rugrats (1991-1994, 1997-2004).
• California Dreams (1992-1996).
• Sisters (1991-1996).
• The Jerry Springer Show (1991-present).
• The Red Green Show (Canada) (1991-2006).
• The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991-1996).
• Absolutely Fabulous (UK) (1992-1996, 2001-2003).
• Barney & Friends (1992-present).
• Shortland Street (NZ) (1992-present)
• Dateline NBC (1992-present).
• Mad About You (1992-1999).
• Prime Time News (Canada) (1992-1995).
• The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998).
• The Real World (1992-present).
• Beavis and Butt-head (1993-1997).
• Biker Mice From Mars (1993-1996).
• Frasier (1993-2004).
• Iron Chef (Japan) (1993-1999).
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-2009).
• Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997).
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993-1996).
• NYPD Blue (1993-present).
• 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 Monday Night RAW (1993-present).
• All That (1994-2005).
• Takin' Over the Asylum (1994)
• The Day Today (1994)
• Martin (1992-1997).

Changes of network affiliation

Ending this year

• January 23 - The NFL on CBS (1956-1994; 1998-present)
• February 16 - Maid Marian and her Merry Men (UK) (1989-1994).
• March 6 - The House of Eliott (UK) (1991-1994).
• April 11 - The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (UK) (1984-1988, 1991-1994).
• May 19- In Living Color (1990-1994).
• May 19 - L.A. Law (1986-1994).
• May 22 - Rugrats ends its first run (1991-1994). It would air four special episodes until its return in 1997.
• May 23 - Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994).
• May 27 - The Arsenio Hall Show (1989-1994).
• June 19 - Doug airs its final regular episode on Nickelodeon (1991-1994). It would be revived in 1996 on ABC as Disney's Brand Spankin' New! Doug.
• July 21 - Mother and Son (Australia) (1984-1994).
• July 24 - Jim'll Fix It (UK) (1975-1994).
• July 26- Dinosaurs (1991-1994).
• August 17 - Hey Dad..! (Australia) (1987-1994).
• August 28 - America's Funniest People (1990-1994).
• October 15 - The New Mickey Mouse Club (1989-1994)
• October 22 - Cro (USA) (1993-1994).
• November 11 - Knightmare (UK) (1987-1994).
• December 20 - The Raggy Dolls (UK) (1987-1994).
• Romper Room (1953-1994).
• TaleSpin (1990-1994)

Births

• February 14 - Paul Butcher, actor
• February 23 - Dakota Fanning, actress
• March 12 - Tyler Patrick Jones, actor
• May 4 - Alexander Gould, actor
• December 3 - Jake T. Austin, actor

Deaths

• January 1 - Cesar Romero, actor (The Joker on Batman)
• January 8 - Pat Buttram, actor (Mr. Haney on Green Acres)
• January 22 - Telly Savalas, actor (Theo Kojak on Kojak)
• January 28 - Hal Smith, actor (Otis on The Andy Griffith Show)
• February 11 - William Conrad, actor (Cannon, Jake and the Fatman).
• February 11 - Sorrell Booke, actor (Boss Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard).
• February 24 - Dinah Shore, singer and talk show hostess.
• March 4 - John Candy, comedian and actor (SCTV).
• March 21 - Dack Rambo, actor (Jack Ewing on Dallas, from AIDS).
• March 22 - Walter Lantz, cartoonist, creator of Woody Woodpecker.
• April 2 - Betty Furness, consumer advocate and spokesperson.
• April 5 - Kurt Cobain, singer, songwriter, musician.
• April 18 - Don Fedderson, producer.
• April 22 - Richard M. Nixon, 37th President of the United States
• May 8 - George Peppard, actor (Banacek, Hannibal on The A-Team).
• May 22 - Jane Dulo, character actress (Get Smart, Gimme a Break!).
• June 1 - Frances Heflin, soap opera actress.
• June 7 - Dennis Potter, scriptwriter.
• June 7 - Rudolph Cartier, director.
• June 14 - Henry Mancini, composer
• July 8 - Dick Sargent, actor (Darren Stephens #2 on Bewitched)
• July 26 - Terry Scott, actor
• August 21 - Danitra Vance, comedian, the first African-American woman regular on Saturday Night Live, from breast cancer.
• September 3 - James T. Aubrey, former head of programming at CBS.
• October 2 - Harriet Nelson, singer and actress (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet)
• October 25 - Mildred Natwick, actress
• November 8 - Michael O'Donoghue, comedy writer (Saturday Night Live)
• November 9 - Priscilla Morrill, character actress (Mrs. Vanderkellen on Newhart).
• November 11 - Pedro Zamora, HIV-positive participant of The Real World