List of longest-running American cable television series explained

This is a list of the longest-running United States cable television series, ordered by number of broadcast seasons.

To qualify for this list, the programming must originate in North America and shown nationally in the United States and be first-run (as opposed to a repackaging of previously aired material or material released in other media). For the purposes of this list, series that were available only on a local or regional basis will be excluded, along with hybrid broadcast/cable networks such as The WB 100+/The CW Plus. For series that originated on U.S. broadcast networks (or broadcast syndication) and then was picked up by a national cable network, only the amount aired nationally on cable as original programming is represented here.

A season for the purpose of this article is defined as a given year, not a production cycle (as in America's Next Top Model) which is defined as a season by the network or the program's distributor; for instance, multiple series on Food Network (e.g. Chopped) count each production cycle as a season rather than classing them by year.

List

Series shaded in light blue are currently in production.

25 or more seasons

Number of
seasons 		Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
Inside the NFLHBO
Showtime
Paramount+
The CWpresent
SportsCenter ESPNpresent
Washington Journal[1] C-SPANpresent
NASCAR on ESPNESPN / ESPN2
Gilad's Bodies in Motion ESPN
Discovery Health
present
[2] MTVpresent
National Geographic Explorer[3]
WTBS / TBS
MSNBC[4]
National Geographicpresent
Grand Ole Opry Live[5] TNN
CMT
GAC[6]
Sunday NFL Countdown[7] ESPNpresent
College GameDayESPNpresent
NFL Primetime ESPNpresent
Biography[8] A&E[9]
Biography Channelpresent[10]
35Bobby Jones GospelBET
NBA on TNTTNTpresent
[11] MTV
Facebook Watch
WWE RawUSA
TNN/Spike TV
USApresent
Spike TV
FX
Fox Sports 1present
Baseball Tonight ESPNpresent
Outside the Lines ESPNpresent
30Power RangersFox Kids973
ABC Kids
Jetix (ABC Family)
Jetix (Toon Disney)
Jetix (ABC Family)
Jetix (Toon Disney)
Jetix (ABC Family)
Jetix (Toon Disney)
ABC Kids
Nickelodeon
Netflix
30Moneyline[12] CNN
Real Sports with Bryant GumbelHBO
Barefoot ContessaFood Network
28ESPN[13]
Your World with Neil Cavuto Fox News Channelpresent
26ESPN SpeedWorldESPN
South ParkComedy Centralpresent
Fox & FriendsFox News Channelpresent
25Larry King Live CNN
25Nick News[14] Nickelodeon
June 29, 2020present

20–24 seasons

Number of
seasons 		Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
24ESPN Major League Baseball[15] ESPN / ESPN2[16] present
24Comedy Centralpresent
24WCW Saturday Night[17] WTCG/WTBS/TBS[18]
23Crossfire CNN
Inside the Actors Studio Bravo
Ovation
22E! News[19] News LiveE!present
Real Time with Bill MaherHBOpresent
22Pawn StarsHistorypresent 646
21Reliable Sources CNN
Modern Marvels History
[20] Fox News Channel5,321
Around the HornESPNNovember 4, 2002present
21Style with Elsa Klensch CNN
20NFL Matchup ESPN / ESPN2[21] present
20Monday Night Countdown ESPNpresent
20Evans and Novak[22] CNN
Deadliest CatchDiscovery Channelpresent
Keeping Up with the KardashiansE!
20Total Request LiveMTV2,254
2019

15–19 seasons

Number of
seasons 		Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
19Squawk Box CNBCpresent
19ESPN Sunday Night Football[23] ESPN[24]
19NASCAR on TBSTBS
18Golf Central Golf Channelpresent
The Real Housewives of Orange CountyBravopresent
18 Showbiz Today[25]
17E! True Hollywood Story E!501
17Fox News Live Fox News
present
17WNBA on ESPNESPNpresent
17MythBustersDiscovery Channel
Science Channel
17USA Tuesday Night Fights USA
17Capital Gang CNN
16NFL Films Game of the Week[26] ESPN
16Hardball with Chris Matthews[27] America's Talking
CNBC
MSNBC
16Booknotes C-SPAN801
16MTV Unplugged MTVpresent
Good EatsFood Network
Cooking Channel
Food Network
Discovery+
It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaFX
FXXpresent
Ghost HuntersSci Fi Channel / Syfy
A&E
Discovery+
Travel Channelpresent
15Monday Night Countdown ESPNpresent
The Real Housewives of AtlantaBravopresent
Ninjago[28] Cartoon NetworkJanuary 14, 2011October 25, 2020
NetflixMarch 7, 2021October 1, 2022

12–14 seasons

Number of
seasons 		Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
SpongeBob SquarePantsNickelodeon[29] present
Forensic Files[30] TLC
Court TV
TruTV[31]
Gold RushDiscovery Channelpresent
14 An Evening at the Improv
14SpeedWeekESPN
14Video SoulBET
14Road Rules MTV[32]
14Xplay[33] ZDTV / TechTV
G4techTV
G4
14NASCAR on TNTTNT
13Tim Russert CNBC
13Private Screenings TCM
13Hannity & Colmes[34] Fox News Channel
13Gardening by the YardHGTV
Mystery Science Theater 3000KTMA-TV
The Comedy Channel
Comedy Central
Sci Fi Channel
Netflix
Gizmoplex[35] present
12Monday Night BaseballESPNpresent
1230 Minute MealsFood Network445+
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
(alternate titles)		Adult Swim[36]
present
12BET's Top 25BET
12NASCAR on SpeedSpeed
12American Sports CavalcadeTNN
Intimate PortraitLifetime

10–11 seasons

Number of
seasons 		Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
11Closing BellCNBCFebruary 4, 2002present
ShamelessShowtimeJanuary 9, 2011April 11, 2021
11Shepard Smith ReportingFox News ChannelAugust 12, 2002January 15, 2021
11House of Style MTVMay 1989 2000
October 18, 2012
11Talk Soup E!December 26, 1991 May 17, 2002
11E!June 18, 1994 July 8, 2005 1,550+
11All That NickelodeonJanuary 21, 1995[37] October 22, 2005210
June 15, 2019December 17, 2020
11 Imus in the Morning[38] MSNBCSeptember 2, 1996 April 11, 2007
11Paula's Home CookingFood Network2002 2013 135+
Impractical JokersTruTVDecember 15, 2011February 9, 2023
TBSApril 6, 2024present
When Calls the HeartHallmark ChannelOctober 19, 2013present
11On the RecordFox News ChannelFebruary 4, 2002November 11, 2016
10NFL Total AccessNFL Network2003May 17, 2024
10American MorningCNNSeptember 12, 2001December 30, 2011
10Emeril LiveFood NetworkOctober 6, 1997December 11, 2007
Fine LivingJuly 7, 2008December 14, 2010
The Fairly OddParentsNickelodeonMarch 30, 2001November 25, 2006172
February 18, 2008September 16, 2016
NicktoonsJanuary 18, 2017July 26, 2017
10 Nashville Now TNN March 7, 1983 October 15, 1993
PAW PatrolNickelodeonAugust 12, 2013present
10NASCAR on TNNTNNMarch 3, 1991November 5, 2000
10Stargate SG-1[39] ShowtimeJuly 27, 1997May 17, 2002215[40]
Sci Fi ChannelJune 7, 2002June 22, 2007[41]
10USA Up All NightUSA NetworkJanuary 7, 1989March 7, 1998900+
10Weather CenterThe Weather ChannelMarch 10, 1998March 1, 2009
10Adventure TimeCartoon NetworkApril 5, 2010September 3, 2018283

See also

Notes and References

  1. Weekend editions are simulcast on the BBC Parliament channel with the name America This Week
  2. Originally Road Rules: All Stars
  3. Host: Tom Chapin (1985–1988), Robert Urich (1988–1995), Bob Ballard (1988–1995), Boyd Matson (1995–2003), Michael Fay (2001), Lisa Ling (2003-)
  4. Show renamed National Geographic Ultimate Explorer 2003–2005
  5. Oldest continuously running radio program, airing on WSM radio, Nashville, Tennessee; has aired on the digital over-the-air network Circle since January 4, 2020.
  6. As Grand Ole Opry Live!
  7. (not counting current Sunday evening version airing on ESPN+
  8. Originated on CBS
  9. Reran CBS originals, 1984–1987
  10. Rebroadcast A&E originals, 1999–2006
  11. Future seasons have aired on Paramount+
  12. Became Lou Dobbs Moneyline in 2001, Lou Dobbs Tonight in 2003
  13. Program rebroadcast later the same day on ESPNEWS
  14. Originally Nick News W/5 and later Nick News with Linda Ellerbee
  15. Includes Sunday Night Baseball, Wednesday Night Baseball, etc.
  16. ESPN2 started broadcasting major league baseball games in 2002 in addition to those offered by ESPN
  17. Previously Georgia Championship Wrestling (1972–1984), World Championship Wrestling (1984–1992)
  18. Date when WTCG was distributed nationally via cable (WTCG evolved into TBS). Broadcast on WTCG started January 1972.
  19. Previously E! News Daily and E
  20. Originally The O'Reilly Report
  21. Presently, each episode first airs on ESPN2 on Fridays, then is repeated on ESPN two days later
  22. Other names: Evans, Novak, Hunt, and Shields (1998–2001), Novak, Hunt, and Shields (2001–2002)
  23. Moved to NBC in 2006, at which time Monday Night Football moves from ABC to ESPN
  24. Sunday Night Football shared with TNT, with TNT getting the first half of the season, ESPN the second half, 1990–1997
  25. Also known as CNN Showbiz Today
  26. First-run syndication 1965–1997
  27. Originally Politics with Chris Matthews
  28. Originally Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu
  29. Sneak peek airing May 1, 1999
  30. Originally Medical Detectives
  31. Show is on hiatus and may return on a different network under the original title of "Medical Detectives". Old episodes were airing on Lifetime as of August 2011.
  32. The start of Season 15 has been announced for January 2008
  33. Previously GameSpot TV, Extended Play, and X-Play
  34. Successor series Hannity debuted January 12, 2009.
  35. Pre-release date, March 4, 2022
  36. Sneak peek airing December 30, 2000 on Cartoon Network
  37. Sneak peek airing April 16, 1994
  38. Simulcast of live program at WFAN New York
  39. Longest-running science fiction series in the United States.
  40. http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=2&id=37607 According to Sci Fi Wire
  41. Cancellation announced by Sci Fi Channel, August 21, 2006

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