See also: 1935 in television, other events of 1936, 1937 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• July 7 - NBC's first attempt at actual programming is a 30-minute variety show featuring speeches, dance ensembles, monologues, vocal numbers, and film clips.
• August - High-definition television broadcasts of the Berlin Olympic Games are seen by approximately 150,000 people in public viewing rooms in Berlin.
• November 2 - The first regular high-definition (then defined as at least 200 lines) television service from BBC studios at Alexandra Palace officially begins broadcasting (after test transmissions began in August). The service alternates on a weekly basis between Baird's 240-line mechanical system and the Marconi-EMI's 405-line all-electronic system. Programmes are broadcast daily, Monday to Saturday, at 15:00-16:00 and 21:00-22:00.

Debuts

• October 8 - The first edition of Picture Page is broadcast as part of the BBC's test transmissions in the run-up to launch (1936-1939; 1946-1952)

Births

• January 28 - Alan Alda, actor, star of M*A*S*H
• February 11 - Burt Reynolds, US actor
• February 20 - Larry Hovis, actor
• February 20 - Marj Dusay, actress
• February 29 - Alex Rocco , actor
• March 5 - Dean Stockwell, actor
• April 14 - Kenneth Mars, actor
• May 12 - Tom Snyder, talk show host
• May 14 - Bobby Darin, singer
• May 27 - Louis Gossett, Jr., actor
• June 11 - Chad Everett , actor
• June 30 - Nancy Dussault , actress
• July 24 - Ruth Buzzi, actress
• September 14 - Walter Koenig, actor, Ensign Chekhov on Star Trek
• September 24 - Jim Henson, puppeteer, creator of Muppets
• October 31 - Michael Landon, actor, producer
• November 19 - Dick Cavett, talk show host
• December 8 - David Carradine, actor