The 1948–49 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1948 through March 1949. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1947–48 season. This was the first season in which all four networks then in operation in the United States offered nightly prime time schedules Monday through Friday.[1] [2]
The schedule below reflects the fall lineup as it all settled into place throughout October 1948, before any subsequent time changes were made and additional new series appeared in November.
New fall series are highlighted in bold. A number of ABC's new fall shows began as early as mid-August when the network first began broadcasting a seven-night schedule. CBS and DuMont also had some new shows begin in the latter half of August. These shows are noted as such by (Aug.). NBC began airing Saturday Night Jamboree in December.[3] [4]
Several notable programs debuted during the season and within the preceding summer. The preservation of these telecasts on kinescope film vary. The Texaco Star Theater proved to be one of the most notable hits of the year with its host, Milton Berle, credited with encouraging consumers to purchase their first television set. The 1948 episodes of the Berle show are missing, but many of the 1949 episodes still exist. A short-lived series, The Laytons, was the first network television sitcom to feature an African-American in a regular supporting role, albeit a stereotypical one. No episodes have survived. The Morey Amsterdam Show, which debuted on CBS in December, introduced television audiences to Art Carney as a lead cast member. In the David Weinstein book, The Forgotten Network, similarities between Carney's role as "Charlie the Doorman" and his later Ed Norton from Cavalcade of Stars and The Honeymooners are noted. The Morey Amsterdam Show was not a ratings success. Four episodes are held by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Toast of the Town, debuting in June 1948 and re-titled The Ed Sullivan Show in 1955 and a mainstay of Sunday night viewing, became one of the most successful and long-running programs in American television history. It would remain on the air until 1971. The premiere episode with composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and the comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis are among the few missing telecasts.
| Network | 7:00 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 | Local programming | The Southernaires Quartet | Hollywood Screen Test | Actors Studio | Local programming | ||||
| CBS | The Week in Review Local programming | Ford Television Theatre Hour (monthly) | Local programming | Toast of the Town | America Speaks Local programming | Local programming | |||
| DMN | The Original Amateur Hour | Local programming | |||||||
| NBC | Mary Kay and Johnny Review of the Week | Admiral Presents the Five Star Revue — Welcome Aboard | Author Meets the Critics | Meet the Press | The Philco Television Playhouse | Local programming | |||
Notes: Toast of the Town, later known as The Ed Sullivan Show, premiered June 20, 1948, at 9:00 p.m. on CBS.
On DuMont, King Cole's Birthday Party, also known as simply Birthday Party, aired from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time from March to May 1949.
| Network | 7:00 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. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| News and Views Local Programming | Kiernan's Corner | Quizzing the News | Local Programming | ||||||
| CBS | Local Programming Places Please | CBS Television News Face the Music | Local programming | ||||||
| DMN | Doorway to Fame | Camera Headlines Local programming | Champagne and Orchids Local programming | Local programming | Court of Current Issues | Local programming | |||
| NBC | Fall | Local programming | America Song Camel Newsreel Theatre | The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre | Americana | Local programming Boxing From St. Nicholas Arena | |||
| Winter | Colgate Theatre | ||||||||
| Network | 7:00 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 | News and Views Local programming | Movieland Quiz | Local programming | America's Town Meeting | Local programming | ||||
| CBS | The Roar of the Rails Local programming | CBS Television News Face the Music | Local programming | We the People | People's Platform | Local programming | |||
| DMN | The Alan Dale Show Local programming | Camera Headlines I.N.S. Telenews | Operation Success | Local programming | Boxing From Jamaica Arena | ||||
| NBC | Local programming | Musical Miniatures Camel Newsreel Theatre | Texaco Star Theater | Mary Margaret McBride | Local programming | Wrestling From St. Nicholas Arena | |||
| Network | 7:00 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 | News and Views Local programming | Critic at Large | The Gay Nineties Revue | Candid Microphone Three About Town | Local programming | Wrestling From Washington, D.C. | |||
| CBS | Local programming Places Please | CBS Television News Face the Music | Kobbs' Korner | Winner Take All | Tournament of Champions | ||||
| DMN | Fall | King Cole's Birthday Party | Camera Headlines Local programming | The Laytons | The Growing Paynes | Boxing From Jamaica Arena | |||
| Mid-fall | |||||||||
| Spring | |||||||||
| NBC | Fall | Local programming | You Are an Artist Camel Newsreel Theatre | Girl About Town | The Ted Steele Show Story of the Week | Kraft Television Theatre | Local programming Village Barn | ||
| Mid-fall | Picture This | ||||||||
| Summer | The Black Robe | ||||||||
On NBC, Picture This, hosted by Wendy Barrie, aired November 17, 1948, to February 9, 1949. The Black Robe debuted on May 18, 1949, and ran from 8:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday until it began to air at various times on Mondays during August 1949.
| Network | 7:00 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 | Fall | News and Views Local programming | Local programming | Club Seven | ABC Feature Film | Local programming | ||||
| Summer | Blind Date | Local programming | ||||||||
| Mid-summer | Blind Date | |||||||||
| CBS | Local programming | CBS Television News Face the Music | To the Queen's Taste | Local programming | ||||||
| DMN | Fall | The Adventures of Oky Doky | Camera Headlines The Jack Eigen Show | Local programming | Charade Quiz | Wrestling From Columbia Park Arena | ||||
| Summer | King Cole's Birthday Party | |||||||||
| NBC | Local programming | NBC Presents Girl of the Week Camel Newsreel Theatre | Princess Sagaphi The Nature of Things | The Swift Show | The Gulf Road Show Starring Bob Smith | The Bigelow Show | Local programming | |||
On DuMont, King Cole's Birthday Party also was known as simply Birthday Party. Beginning July 18, 1949, The Magic Cottage aired on DuMont Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
| Network | 7:00 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 | News and Views Local programming | Tales of the Red Caboose Local programming | Teenage Book Club | That Reminds Me | Break the Bank | Local programming | |||
| CBS | Local programming Places Please | CBS Television News Face the Music | Sportsman's Quiz What's It Worth | Captain Billy's Mississippi Music Hall | Local programming | ||||
| DMN | Key to the Missing | (7:30 p.m.) Camera Headlines Local programming | Fashions on Parade | Local programming | Wrestling From Jamaica Arena | ||||
| NBC | Fall | Local programming | Musical Merry-Go-Round Camel Newsreel Theatre | Musical Miniatures | Stop Me If You've Heard This One | The Ted Steele Show Local programming | Gillette Cavalcade of Sports Greatest Fights of the Century | ||
| Winter | Your Show Time | ||||||||
| Summer | Hopalong Cassidy | ||||||||
On NBC, Your Show Time replaced Musical Miniatures on January 21, 1949. Your Show Time had premiered on NBC's East Coast stations in September 1948, and began to include NBC's Midwest stations on January 21.
| Network | 7:00 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 | News and Views Local programming | Sports with Joe Hasel Local programming | Local programming | ||||||
| CBS | Fall | Local programming | |||||||
| Spring | Local programming | Local programming/ Blues by Bargy | Local programming | ||||||
| Summer | Local programming/ Blues by Bargy | ||||||||
| NBC | Fall | Local programming | Television Screen Magazine | Local programming | |||||
| Late fall | Local programming | Saturday Night Jamboree | |||||||
| Winter | Saturday Night Jamboree | Television Screen Magazine | |||||||
| Spring | Local programming | Local programming | Saturday Night Jamboree | Local programming | |||||
| Summer | Local programming | Meet Your Congress | Local programming | ||||||
Returning Series
New Series
Returning Series
New Series
Returning series
New series
Not returning from 1947–48:
Returning Series
New Series
Not returning from 1947–48:
Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.