This is a list of the longest-running television shows by category. The criterion for being the longest-running show is by the number of years the show has been on the air and not the number of episodes produced.
| Category | Show Name | Country | Duration | No. of episodes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animated | Sazae-san | Japan | 1969–present | 6,429+ |
| Automotive | Top Gear | United Kingdom | 1977–2001; 2002–present | 515; 133+6 specials |
| Children's show | Blue Peter | United Kingdom | 1958–present | 4,578+ |
| Comedy | Radio Rochela | Venezuela | 1960–2010 | 2,652 |
| Cooking show | Hasta La Cocina | Mexico | 1960–present | 11,232+ [1] |
| Current affairs series | Panorama | United Kingdom | 1953–present | |
| Espionage thriller | Spooks | United Kingdom | 2002–2011 | 86 |
| Finance show | The Money Programme | United Kingdom | 1966–present | |
| Game show | The Price is Right | United States | 1956-65, 1972–present | 7,302 as of 19 August 2010 |
| Historical drama | Zenigata Heiji | Japan | 1952–present | |
| History series | Timewatch | United Kingdom | 1963–present | |
| Legal drama | Law & Order | United States | 1990–2010 | 456 |
| Medical drama | Casualty | United Kingdom | 1986–present | 778 (as of end of Series 25) |
| Murder/mystery series | Columbo | United States | 1968–2004 | 69 |
| Music show | Eurovision Song Contest | Europe | 1956–present | Once every year since it started |
| Music video show | Rage | Australia | 1987–present | |
| News show | Meet the Press | United States | 1947–present | 4,946+ |
| Newscast | Tagesschau | Germany | 1952–present | ~20,000 by late 2009 |
| Panel show | Front Page Challenge | Canada | 1957–1995 | |
| Police drama | Tatort | Germany | 1970–present | |
| Reality show | The Real World | United States | 1992–present | 436 |
| Religious program | It Is Written | United States | 1956–present | |
| Rural documentary | Country Calendar | New Zealand | 1966–present | |
| Science fiction series | Doctor Who | United Kingdom | 1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present | 784 as of 25 December 2011 |
| Science show | The Sky at Night | United Kingdom | 1957–present | 700 |
| Situation comedy | Last of the Summer Wine[2] | United Kingdom | 1973–2010 | 295 |
| Soap opera | Guiding Light | United States | 1952–2009 | 15,762 |
| Sports show | Hockey Night in Canada | Canada | 1952–present | |
| Talk / chat show | The Tonight Show | United States | 1954–present | ~10,300 as of 29 May 2009 |
| Telenovela | Mundo de juguete | Mexico | 1974-1977 | 605 |
| Travel show | Holiday | United Kingdom | 1969–2007 | |
| TV feedback show | Points of View | United Kingdom | 1961–present | Unknown |
| Variety show | Sábado Gigante | Chile - United States | 1962–present | ~2,000+ [3] |
| Western | Gunsmoke | United States | 1955–1975 | 635 |