The year 1948 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events during 1948.
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Events (undated) - The Ziv Company creates Ziv Television Programs as a subsidiary specializing in the production of original television programs for syndication. February 9 - WLWT, Cincinnati, Ohio, begins commercial broadcasting, changing its call letters from experimental station W8XCT. March 4 - First American television ratings are released by C. E. Hooper.(8 March 1948). [www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-03-08-BC.pdf TV 'Amateur Hour' Gets 46.8 Rating], Broadcasting, p. 42Von Schilling, Jim. The Magic Window: American Television, 1939-53, p. 100 (2013) March 20 – Renowned Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini makes his television debut, conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra in the U.S. in a program featuring the works of Richard Wagner. April 3 – Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 is played on television in its entirety for the first time in a concert featuring Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra. The chorus is conducted by Robert Shaw. May 3 – The first network nightly newscast, CBS Television News, debuts on CBS with Douglas Edwards as journalist. June 21 - The first network telecasts of political conventions from Philadelphia. July 29 – The BBC Television Service begins its coverage of the 1948 Olympic Games in London by broadcasting the opening ceremony. From now until the closing ceremony on August 14 the BBC will broadcast an average three and a half hours a day of live coverage from the games, using a special coaxial cable linking the main venue at Wembley Stadium to the television service's base at Alexandra Palace. This is the most ambitious sustained outside broadcast yet attempted by the BBC and is completed without serious problems. August 10 - ABC establishes its first television station in New York. August 25 – First-ever congressional hearing is televised: "Confrontation Day" between Alger Hiss and Whittaker Chambers before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) November 4 - Moscow TV facility adopted a new 625 line PAL television standard. November 25 - The earliest known national telecast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is broadcast by CBS. November 29 Roller Derby is broadcast from NY on the CBS television network. The television puppet show series Kukla, Fran and Ollie is transferred to the NBC Midwest Network. December 18 — WDSU TV channel 6, NBC affiliate, becomes the first station in the Deep South in New Orleans, Louisiana CBS begins network programming. Television manufacturing begins in Canada. Telecasts of the NBC Symphony Orchestra, begin until 1954. The number of homes in the U.S. that own a television set reaches one million.
Debuts January 5 – Television Newsreel (UK) is first shown on the BBC Television Service (1948–1954). April 15 - For Your Pleasure debuts on NBC. April 18 - The ABC television network begins operation. April 22 - WTVR-TV, Richmond, Virginia, begins broadcasting on Channel 6. WTVR is the first TV station south of Washington, D.C., giving it the nickname "The South's first Television Station." April 27 - KSTP-TV, Saint Paul, Minnesota, signs on the air as an NBC affiliate, the first TV station in Minnesota. June 8 – Milton Berle becomes the first United States television star with the debut of Texaco Star Theater (later The Milton Berle Show) broadcast by NBC (1948–1953). June 9 - WBZ-TV, Boston, Massachusetts, begins broadcasting on Channel 4. WBZ is New England's first television station. June 20 – Toast of the Town, a variety series hosted by Ed Sullivan, premieres on CBS, with guests Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis (later renamed, The Ed Sullivan Show) (1948–1971). July 1 – Mark Goodson's first game series Winner Take All premieres on CBS (1948–1952). August 10 – Candid Microphone (renamed Candid Camera in 1949) debuts on ABC (1948 – present). September 8 - Girl About Town debuts on NBC. September 29 - WSB-TV, Atlanta, Georgia, begins broadcasting on Channel 8. October 12 - Vanity Fair debuts (1948-1951). November 15 - The Adventures of Oky Doky premieres (1948–1949). November 24 - The Arrow Show premieres (1948-1949). November - Super Circus premieres (1948-49 locally on WENR, 1949-1956 nationwide) Amanda (1948–1949). The Bigelow Show premieres (1948–1949). Champagne and Orchids (1948–1949). Child's World debuts (1948–1949). Actors Studio (1948–1950). Cartoon Teletales (1948–1950). The Alan Dale Show premieres (1948–1951). Club Seven (1948–1951).
Television programs Series Debut EndedNetworkThe Original Amateur HourJanuary 18, 1948September 27, 1970CBSCourt of Current IssuesFebruary 9, 1948June 26, 1951DumontStop Me If You've Heard This OneMarch 4, 1948April 22, 1949NBCAuthor Meets the CriticsApril 1948October 10, 1954NBCHollywood Screen TestApril 15, 19481953ABCTexaco Star TheaterJune 8, 19481953NBCThe Ed Sullivan ShowJune 20, 1948June 6, 1971CBSCandid CameraAugust 10, 19482014ABCCBS Evening NewsAugust 15, 1948CBSFoodini the GreatAugust 23, 1948June 23, 1951CBSActors StudioSeptember 1948June 1950ABCChampagne and OrchidsSeptember 6, 1948January 10, 1949DumontFord TheatreOctober 17, 1948July 10, 1957NBCThe Growing PaynesOctober 20, 1948August 3, 1949DumontThe Adventures of Oky DokyNovember 4, 1948May 26, 1949DumontThe Morey Amsterdam ShowDecember 17, 1948October 12, 1950CBSThe Alan Dale Show19481951DumontAmanda19481949DumontArthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts1948January 1, 1958CBSThe Bigelow Show19481949Break the Bank19481957ABCCartoon Teletales19481950ABCCelebrity Time1948September 1952CBSChild's World19481949Club Seven19481951ABCThe Philco Television Playhouse19481955NBCWinner Take All19481952CBS
Programs ending during 1948 Date Show DebutJune 30In the Kelvinator Kitchen1947 UnknownEye WitnessThe World in Your Home 1944
Births January 2 - Judith Miller, American journalist January 5 - Ted Lange, actor, director (The Love Boat) January 12 - Martha Teichner, American television news correspondent January 14 - Carl Weathers, actor (Tour of Duty, Arrested Development) (died 2024) January 16 - John Carpenter, actor January 18 - M. C. Gainey, actor (Against the Law, Lost) January 22 - Velton Ray Bunch, composer January 29 Cristina Saralegui, Cuban-American talk show host and actress Marc Singer, Canadian actor February 4 - Alice Cooper, actor and singer February 5 Christopher Guest, actor Barbara Hershey, actress Tom Wilkinson, actor (died 2023) February 14 - Pat O'Brien, American author and radio host February 15 - Tino Insana, actor (died 2017) February 18 - Peter Lance, American journalist February 20 - Jennifer O'Neill, actress February 22 John Ashton, actor Joe Cortese, actor February 24 - Dennis Waterman, actor (died 2022) February 28 Bernadette Peters, actress and singer Mercedes Ruehl, actress February 29 Ken Foree, actor Gérard Darmon, actor Kerry Walker, actress March 3 - Brian Cummings, actor March 6 - Anna Maria Horsford, actress (Amen, The Wayans Bros.) March 13 - Robert S. Woods, actor (One Life to Live) March 14 - Billy Crystal, actor, comedian (Soap, Saturday Night Live) March 20 - John de Lancie, actor (Star Trek: The Next Generation) March 22 - Wolf Blitzer, American journalist March 24 - Adrian Shergold, director March 25 - Bonnie Bedelia, actress (Love of Life) March 26 - Steven Tyler, actor March 28 - Dianne Wiest, actress (Law & Order) March 30 - Justin Deas, actor (As the World Turns, Santa Barbara, Guiding Light) March 31 Al Gore, American politician Rhea Perlman, actress (Cheers) April 6 - Patrika Darbo, actress (Step by Step) April 7 - Michael Hirsh, Canadian producer April 12 Jeremy Beadle, English presenter (died 2008) Rita Braver, American television news correspondent April 13 - Bob Kur, American television journalist April 19 - Andrew Scheinman, American film and television producer April 20 - Gregory Itzin, actor (24) (died 2022) April 25 - Freda Foh Shen, actress (Elementary, Silk Stalkings, Gideon's Crossing) April 27 Kate Pierson, singer Si Robertson, American television personality April 30 Perry King, actor (Riptide) Allan Arkush, producer May 3 Chris Mulkey, actor Peter Oosterhuis, golfer May 6 - Paul Linke, actor (CHiPs) May 8 Stephen Stohn, American-Canadian lawyer and producer Gale Tattersall, producer May 10 - Meg Foster, actress May 11 Joe Bodolai, writer (died 2011) Pam Ferris, actress May 12 - Lindsay Crouse, actress May 14 Walter Olkewicz, actor (died 2021) Rich Correll, actor May 17 - Jim Gardner, broadcaster May 19 - Grace Jones, actress May 21 Carol Potter, actress (Beverly Hills, 90210) Jonathan Hyde, actor May 23 - Gary McCord, golfer May 26 - Stevie Nicks, singer May 27 - Ken Lerner, actor June 1 - Powers Boothe, actor (Philip Marlowe, Private Eye, Deadwood, 24, Nashville, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Justice League, Justice League Unlimited), (died 2017) June 2 - Jerry Mathers, actor (Leave It to Beaver) June 11 - Stephen Schnetzer, actor (Another World) June 19 - Phylicia Rashad, actress (The Cosby Show) June 20 - Tina Sinatra, businesswoman June 25 - Jesse Frederick, singer June 28 - Kathy Bates, actress June 29 - Fred Grandy, actor (The Love Boat) July 2 - Saul Rubinek, actor July 12 Jay Thomas, actor (died 2017) Richard Simmons, American fitness personality (died 2024) July 13 - Daphne Maxwell Reid, actress (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) July 15 - Anne Sinclair, French television and radio interviewer July 16 - Rubén Blades, actor July 19 - Beverly Archer, actress (Mama's Family, Major Dad) July 22 - Neil Hardwick, British-born Finnish theatre and TV director July 25 - Eren Ozker, American puppeteer (died 1993) July 28 - Georgia Engel, actress (The Mary Tyler Moore Show) (died 2019) July 30 - Jean Reno, actor August 2 - Dennis Prager, talk show host August 5 - Carole Laure, actress August 8 - Wincey Willis, British broadcaster (Good Morning Britain, Treasure Hunt) (died 2024) August 13 - Merrill Markoe, writer August 14 - Joseph Marcell, English actor (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) August 18 Maureen Garrett, actress (Guiding Light, Ryan's Hope) Sean Scanlan, actor Grainger Hines, actor August 19 - Deana Martin, actress August 20 - John Noble, Australian actor (Fringe, Sleepy Hollow) August 23 - Steve Edwards, American talk show host August 24 - John Beard, American news anchor August 27 - Sgt. Slaughter, actor and pro wrestler August 30 - Lewis Black, American actor September 7 Susan Blakely, actress (Rich Man, Poor Man) Roz Abrams, American television news journalist September 13 Nell Carter, actress, singer (Gimme a Break!) (died 2003) Clyde Kusatsu, actor September 16 - Susan Ruttan, actress (L.A. Law) September 17 - John Ritter, actor, comedian (Three's Company) (died 2003) September 19 - Jeremy Irons, actor September 20 Joanna Cameron, actress (died 2021) George R. R. Martin, author September 24 Phil Hartman, Canadian actor, comedian (Saturday Night Live) (died 1998) Gordon Clapp, actor (NYPD Blue) September 25 - Mimi Kennedy, actress (Homefront) September 26 - Bruce Sudano, songwriter September 27 Michele Dotrice, English actress Tom Braidwood, actor A Martinez, soap opera actor and singer September 29 - Bryant Gumbel, journalist and sportscaster October 2 - Avery Brooks, actor (Spenser: For Hire, A Man Called Hawk, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) October 4 - Linda McMahon, politician and businesswoman (WWE) October 5 - Sal Viscuso, actor (M*A*S*H) October 6 - Frances Tomelty, actress October 10 - Carol Marin, journalist October 12 - Eli Danker, actor October 17 - George Wendt, actor (Cheers) (died 2025) October 19 Pat Klous, actress (The Love Boat, Flying High) Dave Mallow, actor October 21 Dick Christie, actor (Small Wonder) Tom Everett, actor October 23 - Brian Ross, journalist October 24 - James Whitmore, Jr., actor