1949 in television
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See also: 1948 in television, other events of 1949, 1950 in television and the list of 'years in television'.
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Events
- January 3 - Colgate Theatre premieres on NBC.
- January 11 - A 2 hour special on all networks celebrates the linking of the eastern and midwestern networks via coaxial cable.
- January 22 - The first commercial television station west of the Mississippi River, KTLA, begins operation in Hollywood, California.
- January 31 - The first Emmy Awards are presented and broadcasted on television from Los Angeles.
- May - The first telethon, benefitting the Damon Runyon Cancer Fund, is hosted by Milton Berle and lasts for 24 hours.
- August 25 - RCA announces the development of a compatible color TV system.
- December 29 - KC2XAK of Bridgeport, Connecticut becomes the first Ultra high frequency (UHF) television station to operate a daily schedule.
- First television broadcasts begin in Cuba.
- For the first time, the Sears & Roebuck catalog includes televisions.
Debuts
- January 17 - The Goldbergs, the first sitcom on American television, debuts (1949-1955).
- September 29 - BBC Television first broadcasts Come Dancing, a TV ballroom dancing competition show (1949-1995).
- Martin Kane, Private Eye premieres on NBC, becoming the first detective series on television (1949-1954).
- The Voice of Firestone premieres (1949-1963).
- Bozo the Clown premieres (1949-present).
Television shows
- Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (1946-1960)
- Picture Page (UK) (1936-1939; 1946-1952)
- You Are an Artist (1946-1950).
- Muffin the Mule (1946-1955).
- Cafe Continental (1947-1953).
- Juvenile Jury (1947-1954).
- Author Meets the Critics (1947-1954).
- Kukla, Fran and Ollie (1947-1957).
- Howdy Doody (1947-1960)
- Kraft Television Theater (1947-1958)
- Mary Kay and Johnny (1947-1950)
- Meet the Press (1947-present)
- Candid Camera (1948-present)
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971)
- The Texaco Star Theater (1948-1953)
Ending this year
- Television Screen Magazine (1946-1949).
- Musical Merry-Go-Round (1947-1949).
- Americana (1947-1949).
- Birthday Party (1947-1949).
- Charade Quiz (1947-1949).
- Doorway to Fame (1947-1949).
Births
- January 10 - Teresa Graves, actress, comedienne (d. 2002)
- January 13 - Brandon Tartikoff, television executive (d. 1997)
- January 24 - John Belushi, actor, Saturday Night Live
- February 2 - Brent Spiner, actor
- February 9 - Judith Light, actress
- March 16 - Erik Estrada, actor, CHiPs
- March 17 - Patrick Duffy, actor, Dallas
- March 26 - Vicki Lawrence, actress, comedienne The Carol Burnett Show, Mama's Family, etc.
- June 22 - Lindsay Wagner, actress
- July 3 - Jan Smithers, actress, WKRP in Cincinnati
- August 23 - Shelley Long, actress
- September 3 - James Marcus, UK actor
- September 10 - Bill O'Reilly, political commentator
- September 16 - Ed Begley, Jr., actor
- October 6 - Les Moonves, head of CBS
- November 6 - Arturo Sandoval, songwriter
- November 28 - Paul Shaffer, bandleader, The Late Show with David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, The Blues Brothers, etc.