List of longest-running United States television series

This is a list of the longest-running United States television series, ordered by number of years the show has aired. This list includes only first-run series originating in North America and available throughout the U.S. via national broadcast networks, U.S. cable networks, or through television syndication. Series continuations (with name changes and/or changes in network) are noted, but revivals are treated as separate from the originals (e.g., The People's Court and Jeopardy!). Series broadcast within the U.S. but produced in other countries, such as Coronation Street and Doctor Who, are not included.

Programs

Series Network Actively
broadcast		 First
broadcast		 Last
broadcast		 Number of
episodes
Meet the Press [note 1] NBC &1000000000000006400000064 years 01947-11-06 November 6, 1947 — 4,946+
CBS Evening News [note 2] CBS &1000000000000006300000063 years 01948-08-14 August 14, 1948 — Over 9000!!!
Music and the Spoken Word Syndication &1000000000000006200000062 years 01949-10 October 1949 — 4,275+
Hallmark Hall of Fame [note 3] ABC &1000000000000006000000060 years 01951-12-24 December 24, 1951 — 350+
Today NBC &1000000000000006000000060 years 01952-01-14 January 14, 1952 — Over 9000!!!
Guiding Light [note 4] CBS &1000000000000005700000057 years 01952-06-30 June 30, 1952 02009-09-18 September 18, 2009 Over 9000!!!
Face the Nation CBS &1000000000000005700000057 years 01954-11-07 November 7, 1954 —
It Is Written Syndication &1000000000000005500000055 years 01956-03 March 1956 —
The Open Mind Syndication &1000000000000005500000055 years 01956-05 May 1956 —
Candid Camera [note 5] CBS &1000000000000005500000055 years 01948-08-10 August 10, 1948 02004-05-23 May 23, 2004 1,000+
As the World Turns CBS &1000000000000005400000054 years 01956-04-02 April 2, 1956 02010-09-17 September 17, 2010 Over 9000!!!
The Wonderful World of Disney [note 6] ABC &1000000000000005400000054 years 01954-10-27 October 27, 1954 02008-12-24 December 24, 2008 1,224
NFL on CBS [note 7][1] CBS &1000000000000005500000055 years 01956-09-30 September 30, 1956 — 5,000+
Notes
  1. ^ Meet the Press is the longest-running television show.
  2. ^ CBS Evening News is the longest-running network newscast.
  3. ^ Hallmark Hall of Fame has aired episodes on ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS. Although not broadcast on a regular schedule, a limited number of episodes air per year.
  4. ^ Guiding Light is the longest-running dramatic series in any genre. Although the program first aired on CBS television in 1952, Guiding Light was originally a radio-based drama, airing on NBC Radio from 1937–1946 and on CBS Radio from 1947–1956.
  5. ^ Although not broadcast on a regular schedule, a limited number of episodes aired per year.
  6. ^ Although the program first aired on ABC television in 1954, The Wonderful World of Disney moved to NBC in 1961, CBS in 1981, ABC in 1986, NBC in 1988, Disney Channel in 1990, and then back to ABC in 1997. Although not broadcast on a regular schedule, a limited number of episodes aired per year.
  7. ^ On December 18, 1993, CBS (which had been home to NFL games for 38 years) lost its rights to the then-fledging Fox Network. Fox offered a then-record $1.58 billion to the NFL over four years for the rights, significantly more than the $290 million per year CBS was willing to pay. On January 12, 1998, CBS agreed to air American Football Conference games (taking over for NBC as previously mentioned), paying $4 billion over eight years ($500 million per season).

See also

References

General
Specific
  1. ^ Out Foxed: Rupert Murdoch's upstart network snatched the NFL from CBS in a coup that will change the face of televised sports