See also: 1995 in television, other events of 1996, 1997 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

For the American network television schedule, please see 1996-97 American network television schedule.

Events

• January 28 - Christopher Isaak makes a guest appearance on the television show Friends.
• February 7 - Dragon Ball GT premieres as being the third of its Dragon Ball series aired on Fuji TV, almost after 10 years.
• May 14 - Doctor Who, an American TV movie continuation of the famous British series of the same name, airs on the Fox Network in the Tuesday Night Movie slot. This TV movie is regarded as being a part of the same story as the original series and is an unsuccessful pilot for a new, American co-produced series. A new weekly series was launched and was debuted in the UK during 2005. Ironically, Jon Pertwee, one of the stars of the original series, dies only a couple of days after the telefilm's US premiere.
• July - When it becomes evident that Anna Stuart will be next to die in a serial killer storyline on Another World, many fans start letter-writing campaigns to save the actress; the NBC studios in New York City also report a high number of switchboard calls regarding Stuart's imminent demise. Executive producer Jill Farren Phelps decides that actress Alice Barrett will be killed off the show instead.
• December 29 - Time On Our Hands, the final episode of a Christmas trilogy of the popular sitcom Only Fools and Horses, airs on BBC One. Publicised as the last ever episode, it draws a massive 24.3 million viewers, reportedly the largest ever audience for a sitcom in the UK. In the event, however, the show returns for three subsequent specials, one shown each Christmas from 2001.
• The O. J. Simpson civil trial begins.
• Zenith introduces the first HDTV-compatible front projection TV in the U.S. Broadcasters, TV & PC manufacturers set industry standards for digital HDTV.
• Over a billion households worldwide now own television sets.
• News Corporation gets into the cable news fray with the launch of Fox News Channel.
• Main version of Dragon Ball Z ends (1989-1996).

Debuts

• September 13 - Everybody Loves Raymond premieres (1996-2005).
• September - Spin City premieres on ABC (1996-2002).
• October - Hey Arnold! premieres (1996-2004).
• 7th Heaven premieres on the WB (1996-present).
• Dexter's Laboratory premieres (1996-present).
• Judge Judy premieres (1996-present).
• The Daily Show premieres (1996-present).
• The Newsroom premieres on CBC (first limited run series aired in 1996-1997, second series aired in 2003-2004).

Television shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• Guiding Light (1952-present).
• The Today Show (1952-present).
• Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
• Face the Nation (1954-present).
• The Tonight Show (1954-present).
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003).
• As the World Turns (1956-present).
• What the Papers Say (UK) (1956-present).
• The Sky at Night (UK) (1957-present).
• Blue Peter (UK) (1958-present).
• Grandstand (UK) (1958-present).
• Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present).
• Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
• The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
• General Hospital (1963-present).
• Another World (1964-1999).
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present).
• Days of Our Lives (1965-present).
• Play School (1966-present).
• The Money Programme (UK) (1966-present).
• 60 Minutes (1968-present).
• One Life to Live (1968-present).
• Sesame Street (1969-present).
• All My Children (1970-present).
• Monday Night Football (1970-present).
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present).
• Soul Train (1971-present).
• Emmerdale (UK) (1972-present).
• Newsround (UK) (1972-present).
• The Price Is Right (1972-present).
• Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973-present).
• The Young and the Restless (1973-present).
• Derrick (1974-1998).
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present).
• Good Morning America (1975-present).
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present).
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
• 20/20 (1978-present).
• Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present).
• Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
• Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present).
• The Bill (UK) (1984-present).
• EastEnders (UK) (1985-present).
• Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present).
• Sally (1985-2002).
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-present).
• Inspector Morse (1987-2000).
• Married... with Children (1987-1997).
• The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-present).
• Murphy Brown (1988-1998).
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988-1999).
• Roseanne (1988-1997).
• The Ward (UK) (1988-2000).
• Baywatch (1989-2001).
• Cops (1989-present).
• Family Matters (1989-1998).
• Seinfeld (1989-1998).
• The Simpsons (1989-present).
• Law & Order (1990-present).
• One Foot in the Grave (UK) (1990-2000).
• Home Improvement (1991-1999).
• Rugrats (1991-2004).
• The Jerry Springer Show (1991-present).
• Absolutely Fabulous (UK) (1992-1996, 2001-2003).
• Barney & Friends (1992-2002).
• Dateline NBC (1992-present).
• Mad About You (1992-1999).
• The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998).
• The Real World (1992-present).
• Beavis and Butt-head (1993-1997).
• Frasier (1993-2004).
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-present).
• NYPD Blue (1993-present).
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999).
• The Late Show with David Letterman (1993-present).
• The Nanny (1993-1999).
• The X-Files (1993-2002).
• WWF Monday Night RAW (1993-present).
• ER (1994-present).
• Friends (1994-2004).
• Touched by an Angel (1994-2003).
• JAG (1995-present).
• Pamela Wallin Live (Canada) (1995-1999).
• Sesame Park (Canada) (1995-2002).
• Sliders (1995-2000).
• Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001).
• The Drew Carey Show (1995-2004).
• The Wheezer Bros. (1995-2001).
• Timon and Pumbaa (1995-1998).
• Doctor Who (UK) (1963-1989, 1996, 2005-present).
• Doug (1991-1994, 1996-1999).
• Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003).
• Postman Pat (UK) (1981, 1996, 2003-present).

Ending this year

• Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996).
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996).
• Tales from the Crypt (1989-1996).
• Road to Avonlea (Canada) (1990-1996).
• Sisters (1991-1996).
• The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991-1996).
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993-1996).

Deaths

• June 2 - Ray Combs, 40, former host of Family Feud.
• September 13 - Tupac Shakur, 25, actor/songwriter.