1972 in television
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See also: 1971 in television, other events of 1972, 1973 in television and the list of 'years in television'.
For the American network television schedule, please see 1972-73 American network television schedule.
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Events
- Beginning in fall 1972, all three US television networks discontinued "in color" notices at the beginning of each broadcast, as they all felt that their programming was not only 100% in color, but that all televisions viewing the programming would be able to see the color and know the difference.
- Mid-February - John Lennon and Yoko Ono cohost an entire week on The Mike Douglas Show.
- February 19 - Sammy Davis Jr. makes a guest appearance on All in the Family.
- July 21 - Victoria Wyndham makes her first appearance as vixen (and later, good girl) Rachel Davis on the soap opera Another World.
- September 4 - The Edge of Night moves timeslots from 4 PM to 2 PM, and subsequently loses nearly half of its viewing audience.
- November - Beatrice Arthur's character, Maude Findlay, on the television sitcom Maude, decides to go through with an abortion, in a move that shocked CBS executives and Maude advertisers.
- Kathryn Hays debuts as Kimberly Sullivan on As the World Turns.
- Anne Kirkbride debuts as Deirdre Hunt on Coronation Street.
Debuts
- January 14 - Sanford and Son premieres on NBC (1972-1977).
- January 15 - Emergency! premieres on NBC (1972-1977).
- April 4 - John Craven's Newsround premieres (1972-present, now titled Newsround) on BBC1.
- September 4 - The Price Is Right premieres on CBS (1972-present).
- September 8 - Are You Being Served? premieres (1972-1985) on BBC1.
- September 12 - Maude, a spinoff of All in the Family premieres on CBS (1972-1978).
- September - Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids premieres on CBS (1972-1984).
- September - Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space premieres. The cartoon is cancelled in December.
- September - Runaround premieres on NBC (1972-1973).
- October 16 - Emmerdale Farm starts transmissions in the daytime on ITV (1972-present).
- Bridget Loves Bernie premieres on CBS (1972-1973).
- Kung Fu premieres (1972-1975).
- M*A*S*H premieres (1972-1983).
- The Bob Newhart Show premieres (1972-1978) on CBS.
- The Waltons premieres (1972-1981).
Television shows
- Meet the Press (1947-present).
- Candid Camera (1948-present).
- Bozo the Clown (1949-present).
- Come Dancing (UK) (1949-1995).
- Truth or Consequences (1950-1988).
- Love of Life (1951-1980).
- Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986).
- American Bandstand (1952-1989).
- The Guiding Light (1952-present).
- 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 (1954-present).
- 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-present).
- 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-present).
- Bonanza (1959-1973).
- Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present).
- Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961-1981).
- 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).
- Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003).
- Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present).
- Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present).
- Days of Our Lives (1965-present).
- The Dean Martin Show (1965-1974).
- Tom and Jerry (1965-1972, 1975-1977, 1980-1982)
- World of Sport (UK) (1965-1985).
- Play School (1966-present).
- 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).
- Laugh-In (1968-1973).
- Magpie (UK) (1968-1980).
- One Life to Live (1968-present).
- The Doris Day Show (1968-1973).
- The Mod Squad (1968-1973).
- 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 (1969-1989).
- The Brady Bunch (1969-1974).
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1969-1979).
- Where the Heart Is (1969-1973).
- All My Children (1970-present).
- Mary Tyler Moore (1970-1977).
- McCloud (1970-1977).
- Monday Night Football (1970-present).
- Play for Today (UK) (1970-1984).
- The Flip Wilson Show (1970-1974).
- The Odd Couple (1970-1975).
- The Partridge Family (1970-1974).
- All in the Family (1971-1979).
- Columbo (1971-1978).
- Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present).
- McMillan and Wife (1971-1977).
- Soul Train (1971-present).
- The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971-1974).
- Old Grey Whistle Test (UK) (1971-1987).
- The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (1971-1974).
Ending this year
- My Three Sons (1960-1972).
- Bewitched (1964-1972).
- Bright Promise (1969-1972).
- The Clangers (UK) (1969-1972) (with one final episode broadcast on October 10, 1974).
- Doomwatch (UK) (1970-1972).