1947–48 United States network television schedule

none March 2025 1947 The 1947–48 United States network television schedule was nominally from September 1947 to March 1948, but scheduling ideas were still being developed and did not conform to modern standards. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1946–47 season. Only NBC and DuMont had networks until ABC launched in April 1948 and CBS joined in May 1948. Coaxial cable connections were only available for a few cities on the East Coast. Most other parts of the United States created local shows or broadcast film programs. Although fewer than twenty television stations were in operation at the end of 1947, more than 30 began broadcasting in 1948. New series and those making their network debuts are highlighted in bold, while series that ended during the season are highlighted in italics. However, as network programming was still in its infancy and in a state of flux, all the new fall series below for this season began in November and December. A midseason replacement, DuMont's The Original Amateur Hour, first aired Sunday, January 18, 1948, was the most popular series of the 1947–48 television season.Jajkowski, S. (2001). Chicago Television: And Then There Was... DuMont. Retrieved on September 25, 2009. Although television was still in its infancy, several notable series debuted during this season, particularly Mary Kay and Johnny (first sitcom to be broadcast on network television in the US, and likely the world's second television sitcom after British series Pinwright's Progress), Texaco Star Theatre (the variety show that made Milton Berle TV's first star) and The Ed Sullivan Show (which would run until 1971, with performances by Elvis Presley and The Beatles being among the highest-viewed moments in American television history). Few recordings of live television from this season were preserved. Among the surviving kinescopes are six episodes of Kraft Television Theatre from 1948 (March 3, March 17, March 24, March 31, April 21, and May 5) held by the Library of Congress,http://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=66&ti=1,66&Search%5FArg=Kraft%20Television%20Theatre&Search%5FCode=GKEY%5E%2A&CNT=100&type=quick&PID=HSn7JRrDeCjLCLAgs-3xwSKm68ZE&SEQ=20120707070829&SID=1 LC Catalog - Legacy Catalog Retiredhttp://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=5&ti=1,5&Search%5FArg=Kraft%20Television%20Theatre&Search%5FCode=GKEY%5E%2A&CNT=100&type=quick&PID=-_9DAIK2YqeSvpu8v4MjsOgq0qbS&SEQ=20120707070538&SID=1 LC Catalog - Legacy Catalog Retiredhttp://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=13&ti=1,13&Search%5FArg=Kraft%20Television%20Theatre&Search%5FCode=GKEY%5E%2A&CNT=100&type=quick&PID=-_9DAIK2YqeSvpu8v4MjsOgq0qbS&SEQ=20120707070538&SID=1 LC Catalog - Legacy Catalog Retiredhttp://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=26&ti=1,26&Search%5FArg=Kraft%20Television%20Theatre&Search%5FCode=GKEY%5E%2A&CNT=100&type=quick&PID=-_9DAIK2YqeSvpu8v4MjsOgq0qbS&SEQ=20120707070538&SID=1 LC Catalog - Legacy Catalog Retiredhttp://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=131&ti=101,131&Search%5FArg=Kraft%20Television%20Theatre&Search%5FCode=GKEY%5E%2A&CNT=100&type=quick&PID=4haqv2gAB_21DWqFoxWvShkgvdmu&SEQ=20120707070621&SID=1 LC Catalog - Legacy Catalog Retired an episode of Eye Witness from February 26, 1948, two episodes of The Swift Show from 1948 (May 13 and May 27) held by the UCLA Film and Television Archive,http://cinema.library.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=18&ti=1,18&Search%5FArg=eye%20witness&SL=None&Search%5FCode=GKEY%5E&CNT=50&PID=h-juoBdy2Cjcu3GDnaJ-zUid-Dzw_&SEQ=20120707051216&SID=1August 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes http://cinema.library.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=189&ti=151,189&Search%5FArg=the%20swift%20show&SL=None&Search%5FCode=GKEY%5E&CNT=50&PID=h-1p4JJdwzRgz_MVCnIZ6XRtXGJ&SEQ=20130210011438&SID=1August 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes http://cinema.library.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=190&ti=151,190&Search%5FArg=the%20swift%20show&SL=None&Search%5FCode=GKEY%5E&CNT=50&PID=h-1p4JJdwzRgz_MVCnIZ6XRtXGJ&SEQ=20130210011438&SID=1August 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes and an episode of NBC Symphony Orchestra with Arturo Toscanini from March 20, 1948, held by the Paley Center for Media.http://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=nbc+symphony+orchestra+with+arturo+toscanini&p=3&item=T77:0540 Nbc Symphony Orchestra With Arturo Toscanini {Series Premiere} (Tv) Paleycenter.org 1948-03-20 2022-08-29 One series that debuted during this season, Meet the Press, continues to air on NBC celebrating its seventy years as of 2017. Legend #abbfff darkgray Light blue indicates local programming. #77AACC darkgray Blue-gray indicates news programming. lightgreen darkgray Light green indicates sporting events. #bf8fef darkgray Light purple indicates movies. Schedule Sunday Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC Spring Local programming Hollywood Screen Test Local programming CBS Summer Local programming Toast of the Town Local programming DMN Fall Local programming Winter The Original Amateur Hour Local programming NBC Local programming Television Playhouse / Various specials Local programming Notes: The Original Amateur Hour ran Sundays on DuMont beginning on January 18, 1948. ABC began regular broadcasting in April 1948, with Hollywood Screen Test as its first network series.Brooks Tim Marsh Earle F. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present 2009 Random House Publishing Group 978-0-307-48320-1 624 https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&dq=%22Hollywood+Screen+Test%22+ABC&pg=PA624 March 15, 2022 en CBS began broadcasting as a network in May 1948 and premiered Toast of the Town, better known as The Ed Sullivan Show, on June 20, 1948. Monday Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC August News and Views (7:00) / Local Programming (7:15) Kiernan's Corner Quizzing the News Local Programming CBS Late Spring Local programming CBS Television News (7:30) / Face the Music (7:45) Local Programming August Local programming (7:00) / Places Please (7:15) DMN Fall Small Fry Club Doorway to Fame Local programmingBoxing from Jamaica Arena Winter Camera Headlines (7:30) / Local programming (7:45) NBC Fall Local programming Local programming (8:00) / Americana (8:10) / Local programming (8:40) The Esso Newsreel (9:00) / Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena (9:10) Spring Local programming America Song * The Walter Compton News aired on DuMont Monday through Friday from 6:45 to 7pm ET beginning on June 16 on WTTG and on August 25 on the DuMont network. In January 1948, Camera Headlines replaced The Walter Compton News and Look Upon a Star, airing Monday through Friday at 7:30pm ET, with I.N.S. Telenews following at 7:45pm ET on Tuesdays only. ** During the winter of 1948, The Esso Newsreel was replaced by the NBC Television Newsreel, which ran from Monday to Friday at 7:50, soon becoming the Camel Newsreel Theatre. America Song aired Mondays from 7:30 to 7:50 beginning in April. *** During the late spring of 1948, CBS premiered the CBS Television News, running weekdays at 7:30, followed by Face the Music from 7:45 to 8:00. **** Village Barn aired from 9:10 to 10:00 on NBC beginning in May. Tuesday Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC August News and Views (7:00) / Local programming (7:15) Movieland Quiz Local programming CBS Late Spring Local programming CBS Television News (7:30) / Face the Music (7:45) Local programming Early Summer Local programming We the People Local programming August People's Platform Local programming DMN Fall Small Fry Club Highway to the Stars Western movie Mary Kay and Johnny (9:00) / Local programming (9:15) Local programming October Look Upon a Star Winter Camera Headlines (7:30) / I.N.S. Telenews (7:45) NBC Fall Local programming SummerMLB on NBCMajor League Baseball (continued to game completion) Wednesday Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC August News and Views (7:00) / Local Programming (7:15) Critic at Large The Gay Nineties Revue Candid Microphone (8:30) / Three About Town (8:45) Local Programming Wrestling From Washington, D.C. CBS Late Spring Local programming CBS Television News (7:30) / Face the Music (7:45) Local programming July Local programming Winner Take All Local programming DMN Fall Small Fry Club Local programmingWinter Local programming Court of Current Issues Local programming NBC Local programming Kraft Television Theatre In the Kelvinator Kitchen (8:30) / Local programming (8:45) Local programming * Winner Take All premiered on CBS in July. Thursday Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC August News and Views (7:00) / Local Programming (7:15) Local Programming Club Seven Local Programming CBS Late Spring Local programming CBS Television News (7:30) / Face the Music (7:45) Local programming Early Summer To the Queen's Taste Local programming DMN Fall Small Fry Club King Cole's Birthday Party Local programming Charade Quiz Local programming Winter King Cole's Birthday Party NBC Local programming Local programming (7:30) / The Esso Newsreel (7:50) Meet the Press Musical Merry-Go-Round You Are an Artist (9:00) / Local programming (9:15) Juvenile Jury Local programming Notes: On CBS, To the Queen's Taste began airing during the late spring or early summer of 1948. On DuMont, King Cole's Birthday Party also was known simply as Birthday Party. It debuted on May 15, 1947, on DuMont's New York City station, WABD and by early 1948 was carried by the entire network. The date on which it switched from a New York-only broadcast to a network-wide one is unclear. Friday Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC August News and Views (7:00) / Local Programming (7:15) Local Programming Teenage Book Club That Reminds Me Local Programming CBS Late Spring Local programming CBS Television News (7:30) / Face the Music (7:45) Sportsman's Quiz (8:00) / What's It Worth (8:05) Local programming August Local Programming (7:00) / Places Please (7:15) DMN Small Fry Club Local programmingNBC Fall Local programming Campus Hoopla (8:00) / The World in Your Home (8:15) Local programming Boxing from Madison Square Garden Spring Stop Me If You've Heard This One Local programming * Sportsman's Quiz and What's It Worth premiered on CBS during the late spring. Saturday Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC August News and Views (7:00) / Local programming (7:15) Sports with Joe Hasel (7:30) / Local programming (7:45) Local programming NBC Local programming Television Screen Magazine Local programming By network ABC New Series Candid Microphone Club Seven Critic at Large The Gay Nineties Revue Hollywood Screen Test Kiernan's Corner Movieland Quiz News and Views Sports with Joe Hasel Teenage Book Club That Reminds Me Three About Town Quizzing the News Wrestling from Washington D.C. CBS New Series CBS Television News Face the Music The Fred Waring Show Sportsman's Quiz To the Queen's Taste Toast of the Town We the People What's It Worth Winner Take All DuMont Returning series The Adventures of Oky Doky Boxing from Jamaica Arena Camera Headlines Doorway to Fame Highway to the Stars The Jack Eigen Show Key to the Missing King Cole's Birthday Party The Original Amateur Hour Small Fry Club Western movie New series Camera Headlines * Charade Quiz Court of Current Issues * I.N.S. Telenews * Look Upon a Star * Mary Kay and Johnny The Original Amateur Hour * Playroom * The Walter Compton News * NBC Returning Series America Song Americana Author Meets the Critics The Bigelow Show Boxing from Madison Square Garden Camel Newsreel Theatre Campus Hoopla Duffy's Tavern Gillette Cavalcade of Sports Hour Glass Juvenile Jury Kraft Television Theatre Mary Kay and Johnny Meet the Press Musical Miniatures The Nature of Things Story of the Week The Swift Show Television Screen Magazine The Texaco Star Theater You Are an Artist New Series Admiral Presents Five Star Revue — Welcome Aboard The Black Robe The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre Girl Anour Town Greatest Fight of the Century The Gulf Road Show Starring Bob Smith Mary Margaret McBride NBC Presents NBC Television Newsreel * The Philco Television Playhouse Picture This Princess Sagaphi Stop Me If You've Heard This One * The Swift Show * The Ted Steele Show Television Playhouse * Village Barn * Wrestling From St. Nicholas Arena Your Show Time Not returning from 1946–47: The Borden Show Bristol-Myers Tele-Varieties Broadway Previews Face to Face Famous Fights Geographically Speaking Hour Glass I Love to Eat In Town Today Let's Rhumba NBC Television Theatre Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason. References Bergmann, Ted; Skutch, Ira (2002). The DuMont Television Network: What Happened?. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. 0-8108-4270-X. Castleman, H. & Podrazik, W. (1982). Watching TV: Four Decades of American Television. New York: McGraw-Hill. 314 pp. Category:United States primetime network television schedules Category:1947 in American television Category:1948 in American television