List of television show franchises

The following is a list of television series franchises. Some of these franchises are formats that are adapted internationally; others are a series of connected programs set within the same fictional universe.

Reality shows

Game shows

Sitcoms

All in the Family/Till Death Us Do Part

Original name: Till Death Us Do Part
Origin: United Kingdom
Date started: 1965
Date ended: 1975
Creator: Johnny Speight (Norman Lear is credited as "creator" in U.S. adaptation and most U.S. spinoffs)
First network to broadcast: BBC One
First network to adapt: United States
Related series (UK): The Thoughts of Chairman Alf
Related series (US): Maude, The Jeffersons, Gloria, 704 Hauser
Second-generation related series (US): Good Times, Checking In

Region/Country Local name Network Dates aired Starring
 United Kingdom Till Death Us Do Part BBC One 1965–1968, 1970, 1972–1975 Warren Mitchell as Alf Garnett
Till Death... ITV 1981
In Sickness and in Health BBC One 1985–1992
 United States All in the Family CBS 1971–1979 Carroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker
Archie Bunker's Place 1979–1983
 Germany Ein Herz und eine Seele WDR, ARD 1973–1976 Heinz Schubert as Alfred Tetzlaff
 Netherlands In voor en tegenspoed VARA 1991–1997 Rijk de Gooyer as Fred Schuit

Bewitched

Original name: Bewitched
Origin: United States
Date started: 1964
Date ended: 1972
Creator: Sol Saks
First network to broadcast: ABC
First country to adapt: India (2002)

Region/Country Local name Network Starring Date premiered Notes
 Argentina Hechizada Telefé Florencia Peña, Gustavo Garzón, Georgina Barbarrosa 2007 Cancelled after three episodes
 Chile La Hechizada Mega In production; Airdate TBD
 India Meri Biwi Wonderful SET 2002
 Japan Oku-sama wa majo (My Wife is a Witch) Tokyo Broadcasting System Ryōko Yonekura 2004 The Japanese title was also title used for the US series when it aired in Japan
 Russia Моя любимая ведьма (My Favourite Witch) TV3 Anna Zdor as Nadia (Samantha), Ivan Grishanov, as Ivan (Darrin) and Marina Esepenko as Nadia's mother 2009
 United Kingdom Bewitched BBC Sheridan Smith, Tom Price, Frances de la Tour 2008 Pilot was made, but has not been commissioned or greenlighted yet
 United States Bewitched ABC Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York (1964–1969), Dick Sargent (1969–1972), Agnes Moorehead 1964–1972

Cheers

Original name: Cheers
Origin: United States
Date started: September 30, 1982
Date ended: May 20, 1993
Creator(s): James Burrows, Glen Charles, Les Charles
First network to broadcast: NBC
Related series: The Tortellis, Frasier

The Cosby Show

Original name: The Cosby Show
Origin: United States
Date started: September 20, 1984
Date ended: July 9, 1992
Creator(s): Ed. Weinberger, Michael Leeson, Bill Cosby
First network to broadcast: NBC
Related series: A Different World

Easy Aces

Original name: Easy Aces
Origin: United States
Date started: 1930
Date ended: 1945
Creator: Goodman Ace
First network to broadcast: CBS Radio Network
First network to adapt: Canada

Region/Country Local name Network Dates aired
 United States mr. ace and JANE CBS, DuMont 1948–50
 Canada The Trouble with Tracy CTV 1970–71

Free Agents

Original name: Free Agents
Origin: United Kingdom
Date started: 2007
Creator: Chris Niel
First network to broadcast: Channel 4
First country to adapt: United States (2011)

Region/Country Local name Network Starring Date premiered Notes
 United Kingdom Free Agents Channel 4 Stephen Mangan and Sharon Horgan 2007–2010
 United States Free Agents NBC Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn 2011 Niel is also co-producer on this version

The Golden Girls

Original name: The Golden Girls
Origin: United States
Date started: 1985
Date ended: 1993
Creator: Susan Harris
First network to broadcast: NBC
First network to adapt: United Kingdom
Related series: Empty Nest, Nurses

Region/Country Local name Network Starring Date premiered Notes
 United States The Golden Girls NBC Beatrice Arthur, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Betty White 1985–1992
The Golden Palace CBS 1992–1993 Picked up by CBS after Bea Arthur left the show and retooled
 United Kingdom Brighton Belles ITV Sheila Hancock, Wendy Craig, Sheila Gish, Jean Boht 9 March 1993 Only lasted 11 episodes
 Russia Большие Девочки
Bolshie Devochki		 Galina Petrova, Olga Ostroumova, Valentina Telechkina, Elena Milloti 2006
 Greece Χρυσα Κοριτσια
Chrysa Koritsia		 ET1 Mirka Papakonsantinoy, Dina Konsta, Eleni Gerasimidou, Ivonni Maltezoy 2008–2009
 Spain Las chicas de oro TVE Concha Velasco, Carmen Maura, Lola Herrera, Alicia Hermida 2010
 Israel בנות הזהב
Banot Hazahav		 Channel 10 Hanna Laslo, Miki Kam 2011
 The Netherlands Golden Girls RTL4 Loes Luca, Beppie Melissen, Pleuni Touw, Cecile Heuer 2012

Happy Days

Original name: Love, American Style
Origin: United States
Date started: January 15, 1974
Date ended: September 24, 1984
Creator: Garry Marshall
First network to broadcast: ABC
Related series: Love, American Style, Laverne & Shirley, Blansky's Beauties, Mork & Mindy, Out of the Blue, Joanie Loves Chachi

Kath & Kim

Original name: Kath & Kim
Origin: Australia
Date started: 2002
Creator: Jane Turner and Gina Riley
First network to broadcast: ABC (Australia)
First country to adapt: United States (2008)

Region/Country Local name Network Starring Date premiered Notes
 Australia Kath & Kim ABC Jane Turner and Gina Riley 2002–2004
Seven Network 2007–2008 Picked up by Seven after ABC refused to renew the show
 United States Kath & Kim NBC Molly Shannon and Selma Blair 2008 Turner and Riley are also co-producers on this version

Sit Down, Shut Up

Original name: Sit Down, Shut Up
Origin: Australia
Date started: 2001
Date ended: 2001
Creator: Tim McLoughlan and Brendan Reed
First network to broadcast: Ten Network
First country to adapt: United States (2009)

Region/Country Local name Network Starring Date premiered Notes
 Australia Sit Down, Shut Up Ten Network Marg Downey, Stephen Curry, Jacqueline Brennan, Christopher Brown, Jodie Dry, Paul Gleeson, Taylor Kane, Tim Mcloughlan, Brendan Reed 2001
 USA Sit Down, Shut Up Fox Will Arnett, Maria Bamford, Jason Bateman, Will Forte, Tom Kenny, Nick Kroll, Cheri Oteri, Kenan Thompson, Henry Winkler 2009 This one is animated

The Nanny

Original name: The Nanny
Origin: United States
Date started: 1993
Date ended: 1999
Creator: Fran Drescher
First network to broadcast: CBS
First country to adapt: Turkey (2001)

Region/Country Local name Network Star (as "Fran Fine" counterpart) Date premiered
 Argentina La Niñera Telefé Florencia Peña as Florencia Finkel 2004
 Chile La Nany Mega Alejandra Herrera as Eliana Tapia Cárdenas "Nany" 2005
 Ecuador La Niñera Ecuavisa Paola Farías as María "Mary" 2005
 Greece Η Νταντά Mega Channel Maria Lekaki (Μαρία Λεκάκη) as Mary 2003–2005
 Indonesia De Neny Indosiar 2005
 Mexico La Niñera TV Azteca Lisset as Francisca Flores 2007
 Poland Niania TVN Agnieszka Dygant as Frania Maj 2005
 Russia Моя прекрасная няня ("My Fair Nanny") STS Anastasia Zavorotnyuk (Анастасия Заворотнюк) as Vicka 2004
 Turkey Dadı Show TV Gülben Ergen as Melek 2001
 United States The Nanny CBS Fran Drescher as Fran Fine 1993–1999

Married... with Children

Original name: Married... with Children
Origin: United States
Date started: 1987
Date ended: 1997
Creator: Michael G. Moye and Ron Leavitt
First network to broadcast: Fox
First country to adapt: Germany (1993)

White Van Man

Original name: White Van Man
Origin: United Kingdom
Date started: 2010
Date ended: 2012
Creator: Adrian Poynton
First network to broadcast: BBC Three
First country to adapt: United States (2012)

Region/Country Local name Network Starring Date premiered Notes
 UK White Van Man BBC Three Will Mellor, Joel Fry, Georgia Moffett, Naomi Bentley, Clive Mantle 2010-2012
 USA Family Tools ABC Kyle Bornheimer, J.K. Simmons, Leah Remini 2012 Poynton is also a co-creator on this version

Soap operas

As the World Turns

All My Children

Betty La Fea

Region/Country Local name Network Main protagonist Date premiered Date ended
 Belgium Sara vtm Veerle Baetens September 25, 2007
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Croatia
 Serbia		 Ne daj se, Nina FTV
RTL
Fox Televizija		 Lana Gojak
 Brazil Bela, a Feia Rede Record Giselle Itié August 4, 2009
 China Chou Nu Wu Di Hunan Satellite TV Li Xinru September 2008
 Colombia Yo soy Betty, la fea RCN TV Ana María Orozco October 25, 1999
 Czech Republic Ošklivka Katka TV Prima Kateřina Janečková March 3, 2008
 Georgia გოგონა გარეუბნიდან (Gogona Gareubnidan) Imedi TV Tiko Makharadze May 24, 2010
 Germany Verliebt in Berlin Sat.1 Alexandra Neldel February 28, 2005
 Greece Μαρία, η Άσχημη Mega Channel Aggeliki Daliani January 1, 2006
 India Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin SET Mona Singh
 Israel אסתי המכוערת Channel 2 Riki Blich 2003
 Mexico La Fea Más Bella Televisa Angélica Vale 2005 2006
 Netherlands Lotte Talpa Nyncke Beekhuyzen
 Philippines i ♥ Betty la fea ABS-CBN Bea Alonzo September 2008 May 2009
 Poland BrzydUla TVN Julia Kamińska Autumn 2008
 Russia Ne Rodis' Krasivoy STS Nelly Uvarova
 Spain Yo Soy Bea Telecinco Ruth Núñez 2006 2008
 Turkey Sensiz Olmuyor Show TV, Kanal D Özlem Conker, Yeliz Şar
 United States Ugly Betty ABC America Ferrera September 28, 2006 April 14, 2010
 Vietnam Cô Gái Xấu Xí VTV3 Nguyễn Ngọc Hiệp February 11, 2008

Ellas son...la Alegría del Hogar

Juana la virgen

Region/Country Local name Network Main protagonist Date premiered Date ended
 Mexico/ United States La Virgen de la Calle Televisa
UniMas		 María Gabriela de Faría 2013 2013
 United States Jane the Virgin The CW Gina Rodriguez To Debut 2014
 Venezuela Juana la virgen Radio Caracas Televisión Daniela Alvarado 2002 2003

Mi Gorda Bella

Region/Country Local name Network Main protagonist Date premiered Date ended
 India Dekho Magar Pyaar Se STAR Plus Shweta Agarwal, Shraddha Nigam 2004 2005
 Malaysia Manjalara TV3 Emelda Rosmila 2007 2008
 Mexico Llena de amor Televisa Ariadne Díaz May 3, 2010 February 13, 2011
 Venezuela Mi Gorda Bella Radio Caracas Televisión Natalia Streignard 2002 2003

My Lovely Sam Soon

La indomable

Primetime drama

Doctor Who

Original name: Doctor Who
Origin: United Kingdom
Date started: 23 November 1963
Date ended: ongoing
Creator: Sydney Newman, C.E. Webber (and others)
First network to broadcast: BBC
First country to adapt: United States (1996; considered part of continuing series because Sylvester McCoy passed the role to Paul McGann in the TV pilot)
Related series: K-9 & Company, Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, two films produced in the 1960s. Big Finish audio dramas

Star Trek

Original name: Star Trek
Origin: United States
Date started: 1966 (TV series); 1979 (film series)
Date ended: 2005 (TV); ongoing (film)
Creator: Gene Roddenberry
First network to broadcast: NBC
Related series: Star Trek: The Animated Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, plus a film series (12 films as of 2013)

Hawaii Five-O

Original name: Hawaii Five-O
Origin: United States
Date started: 1968
Date ended: 1980
Creator: Leonard Freeman
First network to broadcast: CBS
Second generation related series: Hawaii Five-0 (2010 reboot; acknowledges ties to the original)
Other franchise ties: NCIS: Los Angeles (Hawaii Five-0 reboot)

Battlestar Galactica

Original name: Battlestar Galactica
Origin: United States
Date started: September 17, 1978
Date ended: April 29, 1979
Creator: Glen A. Larson
First network to broadcast: ABC
Related series: Galactica 1980, Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series), Caprica, three TV films

Dallas

Original name: Dallas
Origin: United States
Date started: 1978
Creator: David Jacobs
First network to broadcast: CBS
Related series: Knots Landing, Dallas (2012 TV series), two TV films

L.A. Law

Original name: L.A. Law
Origin: United States
Date started: 1986
Creator: '
 First network to broadcast: NBC
Other franchise ties: Civil Wars & L.A. Law: The Movie

Matlock

Original name: Matlock
Origin: United States
Date started: September 23, 1986
Date ended: April 26, 2002
Creator(s): Dean Hargrove, Joel Steiger, Joyce Burditt
First network to broadcast: NBC
Related series: Jake and the Fatman & Diagnosis: Murder

Law & Order

Original name: Law & Order
Origin: United States
Date started: September 13, 1990
Date ended: May 24, 2010
Creator: Dick Wolf
First network to broadcast: NBC
Other franchise ties: The X-Files, Chicago Fire
First country to adapt: France (Paris enquêtes criminelles, 2007)
Related series: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: LA, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: UK, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Law & Order, Crime & Punishment, Conviction, Homicide: Life on the Streets

Babylon 5

Original name: Babylon 5
Origin: United States
Date started: February 22, 1993
Date ended: November 25, 1998
Creator: J. Michael Straczynski
First network to broadcast: PTEN
Related series: Crusade, plus six TV films

Walker, Texas Ranger

Original name: Walker, Texas Ranger
Origin: United States
Date started: April 21, 1993
Creator(s): Christopher Canaan, Albert S. Ruddy, Leslie Greif, Paul Haggis, Aaron Norris, Chuck Norris
First network to broadcast: CBS
Related series: Sons of Thunder, Martial Law, Early Edition

The X-Files

Original name: The X-Files
Origin: United States
Date started: September 10, 1993
Creator: Chris Carter
First network to broadcast: Fox
Related series: The Lone Gunmen, Millennium
Other franchise ties: Law & Order

NYPD Blue

Original name: NYPD Blue
Origin: United States
Date started: September 21, 1993
Date ended: March 1, 2005
Creator(s): Steven Bochco, David Milch
First network to broadcast: ABC
Related series: Public Morals

ER

Original name: ER
Origin: United States
Date started: September 19, 1994
Date ended: April 2, 2009
Creator: Michael Crichton
First network to broadcast: NBC
Other franchise ties: Third Watch & Medical Investigation

NCIS

Original name: JAG
Origin: United States
Date started: September 23, 1995
Creator(s): Donald P. Bellisario
 First network to broadcast: NBC
Related series: First Monday, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, Hawaii Five-0 NCIS: New Orleans & Scorpion

The Practice

Original name: The Practice
Origin: United States
Date started: March 4, 1997
Date ended: December 8, 2008
Creator: David E. Kelley
First network to broadcast: ABC
Related series: Boston Legal & Boston Public
Other franchise ties: Ally McBeal

Stargate: SG-1

Original name: Stargate SG-1
Origin: United States
Date started: 1997
Date ended: 2007
Creator: Brad Wright & Jonathan Glassner
First network to broadcast: Showtime
Related series: Stargate Infinity, Stargate Atlantis & Stargate Universe

CSI

Original name: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Origin: United States
Date started: October 6, 2000
Creator: Anthony Zuiker
First network to broadcast: CBS
Related series: CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Without A Trace, Cold Case & CSI: Cyber

Medical Investigation

Original name: Medical Investigation
Origin: United States
Date started: September 9, 2004
Date ended: March 25, 2005
Creator: Jason Horwitch
First network to broadcast: NBC
Other franchise ties: Third Watch

Grey's Anatomy

Original name: Grey's Anatomy
Origin: United States
Date started: March 27, 2005
Creator: Shonda Rhimes
First network to broadcast: ABC
Related series: Private Practice

Criminal Minds

Original name: Criminal Minds
Origin: United States
Date started: September 22, 2005
Creator(s): Jeff Davis
First network to broadcast: CBS
Related series: Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders

Breaking Bad

Original name: Breaking Bad
Origin: United States
Date started: January 20, 2008
Creator: Vince Gilligan
First network to broadcast: AMC
Related series: Talking Bad, Better Call Saul
First country to adapt: Colombia (Metástasis, 2014)
Other franchise ties: The X-Files, The Walking Dead

Once Upon a Time

Original name: Once Upon a Time
Origin:United States
Date started: 2011
Creator: Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz
First network to broadcast: ABC (United States, as they are the co-producers), although CTV in Canada aired it an hour before the US telecast during its first three seasons, which would make them the first international network to air the series
Related series: Once Upon a Time in Wonderland
Other franchise ties: Lost and Disney-related franchises

Chicago Fire

Original name: Chicago Fire
Origin: United States
 Date started: 2012
Date ended: Present
Creator: Michael Brandt and Derek Haas
First network to broadcast: CBS
Other franchise ties: Law & Order
Related series: Chicago PD

Children's television

Barney

Original name: Barney & Friends
Origin: United States
Date started: 1988 (character and video series Barney and the Backyard Gang), 1992 (TV)
Creators: Sheryl Leach and Kathy Parker
First network to broadcast: Public Broadcasting Service
First country to adapt: Israel

Region/Country Local name Network Date premiered Notes
 United States Barney & Friends PBS April 6, 1992
 Israel החברים של ברני
Hachaverim Shel Barney		 Channel 2, Hop! Channel September 1, 1997
 South Korea 바니와 친구들
Baniwa Chingudeul		 Korean Broadcasting System June 4, 2001 Title also used for later Korean dub of the US series

Bozo the Clown

Original name: Bozo's Circus
Origin: United States
Date started: 1946 (character), 1949 (TV)
Date ended: early 1970s (most markets), 2001 (as WGN-TV's The Bozo Super Sunday Show)
Creator: Alan W. Livingston
First station to broadcast: KTTV/Los Angeles, California

Romper Room

Original name: Romper Room
Origin: United States
Date started: 1953
Date ended: 1981 (US Franchised/local versions); 1994 (US Syndicated version)
Creator: Nancy Claster
First station to broadcast: WBAL-TV/Baltimore, Maryland
First country to adapt: Canada (local version at CKLW-TV/Windsor, Ontario, 1954)

Sesame Street

Original name: Sesame Street
Origin: United States
Date started: 1969
Creators: Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett
First network to broadcast: National Educational Television
First country to adapt: Brazil

Talk shows

AM

Original name: Ralph Story's AM
Origin: United States
Date started: 1971
Creator: Ralph Story
First network to broadcast: KABC-TV
Related series: AM America, AM Los Angeles/Live with Regis and Kathie Lee/Live! with Kelly, AM Chicago/The Oprah Winfrey Show, AM Buffalo
Second-generation related series: Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, The Gayle King Show, The Nate Berkus Show, PM Buffalo
Third-generation related series: The Doctors

Note: Canada AM is unrelated to this franchise and predates it.

Ricki Lake

Original name: Ricki Lake
Origin: United States
Date started: 1993
Date ended: 2004
Creator: Garth Ancier, Gail Steinberg, Ricki Lake
First station to broadcast: US syndication
Related series: Jane (1992), Tempestt, Carnie!, Life & Style
Second-generation related series: The Ricki Lake Show

The Maury Povich Show

Original name: The Maury Povich Show
Origin: United States
Date started: 1990
Date ended: 1998
Creator: Maury Povich
First station to broadcast: US syndication
Related series: The Montel Williams Show, Maury
Second-generation related series: Trisha
Franchise ties: Sally Jessy Raphaël/Sally, The Jerry Springer Show, The Steve Wilkos Show

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

Original name: The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Origin: United States
Date started: 1996
Date ended: 2002
Creator: Rosie O'Donnell
First station to broadcast: US syndication
Related series: The Caroline Rhea Show, The Bonnie Hunt Show
Second-generation related series: The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Second-generation spin-off related series: Bethenny
Third-generation related series: The Rosie Show

The Jerry Springer Show

Original name: The Jerry Springer Show
Origin: United States
Date started: 1991
Creator: Jerry Springer
First station to broadcast: WLWT/Cincinnati, Ohio
First country to adapt: United Kingdom (as The Springer Show)
Related series (UK): The Jeremy Kyle Show
Related series (US): The Steve Wilkos Show
Second-generation related series (US): The Jeremy Kyle Show

Newscasts

60 Minutes

Original name: 60 Minutes
Origin: United States
Date started: 1968
Creator: Don Hewitt
First network to broadcast: CBS
First country to adapt: Australia 60 Minutes (Australian TV program)

Adaptations include 60 Minutes (New Zealand) and versions in Germany, Mexico, Peru and Portugal. The series has also been franchised in re-versioned cable episodes in the U.S. and even on CBS itself (see 60 Minutes II).

Meet the Press

Original name: American Mercury Presents Meet the Press
Origin: United States
Date started: 1945
Creators: Martha Rountree and Lawrence E. Spivak
First network to broadcast: Mutual
First country to adapt: Australia (Meet the Press (Australian TV program))

SportsCenter

Original name: SportsCenter
Origin: United States
Date started: 1979
Creator: John A. Walsh
First station to broadcast: ESPN

Adaptations include SportsCenter Asia and Canada's SportsCentre.

Eyewitness News

Original name: Eyewitness News
Origin: United States
Date started: 1970
Creator: Al Primo
First station to broadcast: WABC-TV
First country to adapt: Australia

Action News

Original name: Rock 'n' Roll Radio News
Origin: United States
Date started: under current name: 1972; original format: 1958
Creators: Irv Weinstein (original format), Mel Kampmann (franchise)
First station to broadcast: WKBW-AM
First country to adapt: Australia

NewsCenter/NotiCentro

Original name: NotiCentro (Latin America), The Sixth/Eleventh Hour (United States)
Origin: Puerto Rico
Date started: 1967 (original usage), 1974 (NBC franchise)
First station to broadcast: WAPA-TV
First country to adapt: United States
Related series: NewsChannel, News 4 New York, Channel # News (with local variants)

Name was also used in Canada, Brazil, Australia, Italy and Japan.

News Central

Origin: United States
Date started: 2003
Date ended: 2006
Creator: Sinclair Broadcast Group
First station to broadcast (flagship station): WBFF
Related series: The Point, Washington Newsroom

Variety shows

Eat Bulaga!

Original name: Eat Bulaga!
Origin: Philippines
Date started: 1979
Creator: TAPE Inc.
First network to broadcast: Radio Philippines Network
First country to adapt: Indonesia
Related spin-off series: The Ryzza Mae Show (2013)

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

Original name: Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Origin: United States
Date started: January 22, 1968
Date ended: March 12, 1973
Creator: Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, and George Schlatter
First network to broadcast: NBC
First country to adapt: Philippines as Super Laff-In (1971)
Related series: Hee Haw, Turn-On, Real People, You Can't Do That On Television, Saturday Night Live
Spin-off series: Letters to Laugh-In, Baggy Pants and the Nitwits

See also

References