See also: 1977 in television, other events of 1978, 1979 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

For the American network television schedule, please see 1978-79 American network television schedule.

Events

• January 28 - The Doobie Brothers make a guest appearance on the television show What's Happening!!.
• February 22 - The Police appear in a television commercial for Wrigley's chewing gum.
• March 7–April 11 - Dennis Potter's groundbreaking drama serial Pennies From Heaven airs on BBC1.
• April 16–April 19 - Holocaust (miniseries), starring James Woods and Meryl Streep first aired on NBC.
• April 22 - The Blues Brothers make their first appearance on Saturday Night Live. The duo of Jake & Elwood Blues (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) was introduced by Paul Shaffer (as Don Kirschner ) and performed "Hey Bartender".
• April 26 - Ringo Starr's, Ringo, a musical version of The Prince and the Pauper airs on American television. Starr's fellow former Beatle George Harrison provides the narration.
• September - The soap opera As the World Turns is #1 in the daytime Nielsen ratings for the 20th and final consecutive year; no other serial has been at the top of the ratings for such an unbeaten yearly streak.
• November 17 - The Star Wars Holiday Special airs on CBS. The special gives fans their first glimpse of Boba Fett, a character from the upcoming Star Wars sequel.
• The Beatles spoof, The Rutles - All You Need Is Cash airs on television.
• Steve Martin performs the original "King Tut" on Saturday Night Live. The song is later released as a single and becomes a hit for the comedian.
• Abarembo Shogun premieres on the Asahi television network in Japan (1978-2003).

Debuts

• February 8 - Grange Hill premieres on BBC TV in the UK (1978-present).
• April 3 - Dallas premieres on CBS (1978-1991).
• June - 20/20 premieres (1978-present).
• September 12 - Taxi premieres on ABC (1978-1983).
• September 14 - Mork & Mindy premieres on ABC (1978-1982).
• September 17 - Battlestar Galactica premieres on ABC (1978-1979).
• September 18 - WKRP in Cincinnati premieres on CBS (1978-1982).
• September - Battle of the Planets premieres (1978-1985).
• November 3 - Diff'rent Strokes premieres on NBC (1978-1986).
• 3-2-1 starts on ITV in the United Kingdom (1978-1987).

Television shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• Truth or Consequences (1950-1988).
• Love of Life (1951-1980).
• Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986).
• American Bandstand (1952-1989).
• Guiding Light (1952-present).
• The Today Show (1952-present).
• Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
• The Good Old Days (UK) (1953-1983).
• Face the Nation (1954-present).
• The Tonight Show (1954-present).
• Captain Kangaroo (1955-1984).
• The Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982).
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003).
• As the World Turns (1956-present).
• The Edge of Night (1956-1984).
• 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 Mike Douglas Show (1961-1981).
• The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
• Doctor Who (UK) (1963-1989, 1996, 2005-present).
• General Hospital (1963-present).
• The Doctors (1963-1982).
• Another World (1964-1999).
• Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003).
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present).
• Days of Our Lives (1965-present).
• World of Sport (UK) (1965-1985).
• Play School (1966-present).
• The Money Programme (UK) (1966-present).
• 60 Minutes (1968-present).
• Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980).
• Magpie (UK) (1968-1980).
• One Life to Live (1968-present).
• Hee Haw (1969-1993).
• Sesame Street (1969-present).
• The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1969-1989).
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1969-1979).
• All My Children (1970-present).
• Monday Night Football (1970-present).
• Play for Today (UK) (1970-1984).
• All in the Family (1971-1979).
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present).
• Old Grey Whistle Test (UK) (1971-1987).
• Soul Train (1971-present).
• Are You Being Served? (UK) (1972-1985).
• Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972-present).
• Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972-1984).
• John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972-present).
• M*A*S*H (1972-1983).
• The Price Is Right (1972-present).
• The Waltons (1972-1981).
• Barnaby Jones (1973-1980).
• Kojak (1973-1978, 2005-present).
• Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973-present).
• Match Game '78 (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999).
• Schoolhouse Rock! (1973-1986).
• The Tomorrow Show (1973-1982).
• The Young and the Restless (1973-present).
• Countdown (Australia) (1974-1987).
• Derrick (1974-1998).
• Good Times (1974-1979).
• Happy Days (1974-1984).
• Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983).
• The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1974-1984).
• The Rockford Files (1974-1980).
• Tiswas (UK) (1974-1982).
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present).
• Barney Miller (1975-1982).
• Good Morning America (1975-present).
• Jim'll Fix It (UK) (1975-1994).
• King of Kensington (Canada) (1975-1980).
• Match Game PM (1975-1981).
• One Day at a Time (1975-1984).
• Runaround (UK) (1975-1981).
• Ryan's Hope (1975-1989).
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
• Superstars (UK) (1975-1985, 2003-present).
• The Don Lane Show (Australia) (1975-1983).
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present).
• The Jeffersons (1975-1985).
• Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-1979).
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
• Alice (1976-1985).
• Charlie's Angels (1976-1981).
• Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present).
• Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983).
• Quincy, M.E. (1976-1983).
• Second City Television (SCTV) (Canada) (1976-1984).
• The Muppet Show (UK) (1976-1981).
• The P.T.L. Club (1976-1987).
• What's Happening!! (1976-1979).
• Wonder Woman (1976-1979).
• CHiPs (1977-1983).
• Eight Is Enough (1977-1981).
• Fantasy Island (1977-1984).
• In Search of... (1977-1982).
• Lou Grant (1977-1982).
• Soap (1977-1981).
• The Love Boat (1977-1986).
• Three's Company (1977-1984).

Ending this year

• June - The Good Life (UK) (1975-1978).
• August - Police Woman (1974-1978).
• Opportunity Knocks (UK) (1956-1978).
• Z-Cars (UK) (1962-1978).
• The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978).
• Columbo (1971-1978).
• Maude (1972-1978).
• The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978).
• The Six Million Dollar Man (1973-1978).
• Chico and the Man (1974-1978).
• Rhoda (1974-1978).
• Tattletales (1974-1978, 1982-1984).
• Baretta (1975-1978).
• Pop Quest (UK) (1975-1978).
• The Sweeney (UK) (1975-1978).
• The Bionic Woman (1976-1978).
• The Naked Vicar Show (Australia) (1977-1978).

Births

• January 3 - Daryn Jones, entertainment personality in Canada.
• February 7 - Ashton Kutcher, US actor.
• April 13 - Kyle Howard , US actor.
• April 22 - Manu Intiraymi , US actor.
• June 2 - Nikki Cox, US actor.
• June 10 - Shane West, US actor.
• June 13 - Ethan Embry, US actor.
• June 27 - Anna Kumble , British television presenter.
• July 1 - Hillary Tuck , US actor.
• July 9 - Linda Park, US actor (born in Korea).
• July 19 - Topher Grace, US actor.
• August 7 - Cirroc Lofton, US actor.
• October 9 - Randy Spelling, US actor.
• December 18 - Katie Holmes, US actor.

Deaths

• February 28 - Zara Cully, US actor (Mother Olivia Jefferson) on The Jeffersons.
• March 18 - Peggy Wood, US actor.
• April 22 - Will Geer, US actor (Grandpa Walton) on The Waltons
• June 29 - Bob Crane, US actor, murdered.