List of longest-running television shows by category explained

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.

The Brazilian show Programa Silvio Santos is the longest-running television show of all time hosted by the same person.

YearsCategoryShow nameCountryDurationChannel/networkdata-sort-type="number" Episodes
80Outside broadcastLord Mayor's Show United Kingdom1937–1938, 1946–present (not broadcast during WW2 1939–1945)[1] BBC Television Service, BBC One
80Outside broadcastRemembrance Sunday: The Cenotaph United Kingdom1937–1938, 1946–present (not broadcast during WW2 1939–1945)BBC Television Service, BBC One
77Sports outside broadcastThe Championships, Wimbledon[2] United Kingdom1937,[3] 1939,1946–present (not played during World War II, nor in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns)BBC Television Service, BBC One/Two
76News showMeet the Press United States1947–presentNBC4,946+
75NewscastCBS Evening News United States1948–presentCBS16,400+
74Religious programMusic and the Spoken Word United States1949–presentKSL (Television Since 1949)(Radio Since 1929)3900+
73Religious programLe Jour du Seigneur France1949–presentTF1 (1949–87)
France 2 (since 1987)
70Sports showHockey Night in Canada Canada1952–presentCBC, City/Sportsnet, CTV
68Sports magazine showLa Domenica Sportiva Italy1953–presentRAI3318
Music talent showNHK Nodo Jiman Japan1953–presentNHK2,900
Current affairs seriesPanorama United Kingdom1953–presentBBC One
67Talk showThe Tonight Show United States1954–presentNBC
66Song contestSanremo Music Festival Italy1951–presentRAI (radio broadcast since 1951, TV broadcast since 1955)
Annual live international beauty pageantMiss Universe United States1955–presentCBS, NBC, FOX72
Annual live national beauty pageantMiss America United States1955–presentABC, NBC, CBS96 (102)
65Science showThe Sky at Night United Kingdom1957–presentBBC One, BBC Four825 (as of Oct 2022)
Children's showBlue Peter United Kingdom1958–presentBBC One, CBBC5,294 (as of 13 October 2023)
63Historical dramaZenigata Heiji Japan1958–2006various
Agriculture informationPlodovi zemlje Croatia1958–presentHRT 11900 (as of 14 March 2017)
62AnimatedSandmännchen Germany1959–presentDeutscher Fernsehfunk, Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg22,200
Soap operaCoronation Street United Kingdom1960–presentITV10000+
60ComedyKVN Soviet Union (1961–1991)
Russia (1991–present)		1961–presentChannel One Russia, KVN TV
TV feedback showPoints of View United Kingdom1961–presentBBC One, BBC Two
Quiz showIt's Academic United States1961–present[4]
60Song contestFestivali i Këngës Albania1962–presentRTSH
60Medicine talk showTrupi dhe Shëndeti Albania1962–presentRTSH1000+
60Science fictionDoctor Who United Kingdom1963–1989, 1996,[5] 2005–presentBBC One881 (as of 6 June 2024)
58Variety showPrograma Silvio Santos Brazil1963–presentSBT3000+
59Music chart showTop of the Pops United Kingdom1964–2006; Christmas shows only 2006–presentBBC One, BBC Two2,219
DocumentaryFour Corners Australia1961–presentAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
56Game showDes chiffres et des lettres France1965–presentFrance 2 (1965–2006)
France 3 (since 2006)		20,000
56Children's show (preschool)Play School Australia1966–presentAustralian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)4,500+
56Comedy specialÁramótaskaupið Iceland1966–presentRíkisútvarpið56
53Anime for kidsSazae-san Japan1969–presentFuji Television7000+[6]
Kids EducationalSesame Street United States1969–presentNET (1969–1970), PBS (1970–), HBO (2016–2020), HBO Max (2020–)4000+
52Police proceduralTatort Germany1970–presentDas Erste1,136 [7]
51Sketch comedy showRadio Rochela Venezuela1959–2010RCTV2652
49Charity showThe Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon United States1966–2014Various48
Sports varietyGrandstand United Kingdom1958–2007BBC One, BBC Two3500
47Film reviewFilm United Kingdom1971–2018BBC One
45Political satireExtra 3 Germany1976–presentDas Erste
AutomotiveTop Gear (relaunched in 2002) United Kingdom1976–2001, 2002–2023BBC Two, BBC One
38Glove puppetry showPili Taiwan1984–present[8] Pili TV2,000+
37SitcomLast of the Summer Wine United Kingdom1973–2010BBC One295
35Music video showRage Australia1987–presentAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
34Comedy dramaKopi kade Sri Lanka1987–presentITN1,900+
33Reality showAmerica's Funniest Home Videos United States1989–presentAmerican Broadcasting Company
33Adult animationThe SimpsonsUnited States1989–presentFox Broadcasting Company700+
18Detective ActionArka Sokaklar Türkiye2006–presentKanal D674
15FantasySupernaturalUnited States2005–2020The WB327

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Lord Mayor's Show dates . BBC Genome . 2018-09-10.
  2. Web site: Wimbledon. Genome Project. 9 October 2018.
  3. Web site: Wimbledon and the BBC 1927 to 2017. History of the BBC. 22 November 2018.
  4. News: Mac McGarry, 'It's Academic' host, dies at 87. . 5 October 2014.
  5. Web site: 2015-05-05 . BBC – Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide – Doctor Who: The TV Movie – Details . https://web.archive.org/web/20150505104045/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/tvmovie/detail.shtml . 2015-05-05 . 2022-09-22 .
  6. Web site: Sazae-san.
  7. Web site: Die Fälle – Tatort – ARD Das Erste.
  8. Web site: Pili Glove Puppetry. Taiwan Ministry of Culture. 2017-01-03.

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