See also: 1972 in television, other events of 1973, 1974 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

For the American network television schedule, please see 1973-74 American network television schedule.

Events

• January 14 - Elvis Presley's Aloha From Hawaii television special is seen around the world by more than 1 billion viewers.
• March 13 - The Bait, a television crime thriller movie starring Donna Mills as hero police officer Tracy Fleming, airs on the US television.
• March 21 - Are You Being Served? begins first regular series (pilot aired September 8, 1972).
• April 16 - Paul McCartney's first television special, James Paul McCartney airs. The special includes performances by McCartney and Wings.
• August 6 - James Beck, who stars as Private Joe Walker in the popular UK sitcom Dad's Army, dies of a burst pancreas at the age of just 44. Although the series continues until 1977, the part of Walker is not recast and the show carries on without him.
• October 8 - Patricia Phoenix leaves the role of Elsie Tanner on Coronation Street after thirteen years, when she felt that specific length of time was enough to play one character continuously.
• November - Julie on Sesame Street airs.
• Opening of CBGB's.
• Large-screen projection color TVs hit the market.

Debuts

• January 4 - Last of the Summer Wine pilot episode, first series begins on November 12 (1973-present).
• January 6 - Schoolhouse Rock! premieres (1973-1986).
• January 28 - Barnaby Jones premieres on CBS (1973-1980).
• March 26 - The Young and the Restless premieres on CBS (1973-present).
• July 2 - Match Game is revived by CBS with the significantly changed rules (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999).
• October - Kojak premieres (1973-1978, 2005-present).
• The Six Million Dollar Man (1973-1978).
• The Tomorrow Show (1973-1982).
• An animated revival of Star Trek premieres on NBC (1973-1974).

Television shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• 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).
• 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).
• World of Sport (UK) (1965-1985).
• Play School (1966-present).
• The Money Programme (UK) (1966-present).
• The Newlywed Game (1966-1974).
• Ironside (1967-1975).
• 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).
• Magpie (UK) (1968-1980).
• One Life to Live (1968-present).
• Hee Haw (1969-1993).
• Love, American Style (1969-1974).
• Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969-1976).
• Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969-1974).
• Room 222 (1969-1974).
• Sesame Street (1969-present).
• The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1969-1989).
• The Brady Bunch (1969-1974).
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1969-1979).
• All My Children (1970-present).
• Mary Tyler Moore Show (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).
• Are You Being Served? (UK) (1972-1985).
• Emergency! (1972-1977).
• Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972-present).
• Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972-1984).
• John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972-present).
• Kung Fu (1972-1975).
• Maude (1972-1978).
• M*A*S*H (1972-1983).
• Sanford and Son (1972-1977).
• The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978).
• The Price Is Right (1972-present).
• The Waltons (1972-1981).

Ending this year

• January 16 - Bonanza (1959-1973).
• March 23 - Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (1967-1973).
• March 23 - Where the Heart Is (1969-1973).
• May - Laugh-In (1968-1973).
• August - The Mod Squad (1968-1973).
• September - The Doris Day Show (1968-1973).
• September - Bridget Loves Bernie (1972-1973).
• September - Runaround (1972-1973).

Births

• January 31 - Portia de Rossi, actress.
• October 3 - Neve Campbell, actress.
• November 5 - Danniella Westbrook , actress.