1948–49 United States network television schedule

The 1948–49 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1948 through March 1949. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1947–48 season. This was the first season in which all four networks then in operation in the United States offered nightly prime time schedules Monday through Friday.

The schedule below reflects the fall lineup as it all settled into place throughout October 1948, before any subsequent time changes were made and additional new series appeared in November.

New fall series are highlighted in bold. A number of ABC's new fall shows began as early as mid-August when the network first began broadcasting a seven-night schedule. CBS and DuMont also had some new shows begin in the latter half of August. These shows are noted as such by (Aug.). NBC began airing Saturday Night Jamboree in December.

Several notable programs debuted during the season and within the preceding summer. The preservation of these telecasts on kinescope film vary. The Texaco Star Theater proved to be one of the most notable hits of the year with its host, Milton Berle, credited with encouraging consumers to purchase their first television set. The 1948 episodes of the Berle show are missing, but many of the 1949 episodes still exist. A short-lived series, The Laytons, was the first network television sitcom to feature an African-American in a regular supporting role, albeit a stereotypical one. No episodes have survived. The Morey Amsterdam Show, which debuted on CBS in December, introduced television audiences to Art Carney as a lead cast member. In the David Weinstein book, The Forgotten Network, similarities between Carney's role as "Charlie the Doorman" and his later Ed Norton from Cavalcade of Stars and The Honeymooners are noted. The Morey Amsterdam Show was not a ratings success. Four episodes are held by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Toast of the Town, debuting in June 1948 and re-titled The Ed Sullivan Show in 1955 and a mainstay of Sunday night viewing, became one of the most successful and long-running programs in American television history. It would remain on the air until 1971. The premiere episode with composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and the comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis are among the few missing telecasts.

Legend

  •   Light blue indicates local programming.
  •   Dark blue indicates news programming.
  •   Light green indicates sporting events.
  •   Light purple indicates movies.

Sunday

Network 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m. 10:30 p.m.
ABC Local programming The Southernaires Quartet Hollywood Screen Test Actors Studio Local programming
CBS (7:00 p.m.) The Week in Review
(7:15 p.m.) Local programming
Ford Television Theatre Hour (monthly) Local programming Toast of the Town (10:00 p.m.) America Speaks
(10:15 p.m.) Local programming
Local programming
DMN The Original Amateur Hour Local programming
NBC (7:00 p.m.) Mary Kay and Johnny
(7:20 p.m.) Review of the Week
Admiral Presents the Five Star Revue — Welcome Aboard Author Meets the Critics Meet the Press The Philco Television Playhouse Local programming

Notes: Toast of the Town, later known as The Ed Sullivan Show, premiered June 20, 1948, at 9:00 p.m. on CBS.

On DuMont, King Cole's Birthday Party, also known as simply Birthday Party, aired from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time from March to May 1949.

Monday

Network 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m. 10:30 p.m.
ABC (7:00 p.m.) News and Views
(7:15 p.m.) Local Programming
Kiernan's Corner Quizzing the News Local Programming
CBS (7:00 p.m.) Local Programming
(7:15 p.m.) Places Please
(7:30 p.m.) CBS Television News
(7:45 p.m.) Face the Music
Local programming
DMN Doorway to Fame (7:30 p.m.) Camera Headlines
(7:45 p.m.) Local programming
(8:00 p.m.) Champagne and Orchids
(8:15 p.m.) Local programming
Local programming Court of Current Issues Local programming
NBC Local programming (7:30 p.m.) America Song
(7:50 p.m.) Camel Newsreel Theatre
The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre Americana (9:00 p.m.) Local programming
(9:10 p.m.) Boxing From St. Nicholas Arena

Note: Beginning July 18, 1949, The Magic Cottage aired on DuMont Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Tuesday

Network 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m. 10:30 p.m.
ABC (7:00 p.m.) News and Views
(7:15 p.m.) Local programming
Movieland Quiz Local programming America's Town Meeting Local programming
CBS (7:00 p.m.) The Roar of the Rails
(7:15 p.m.) Local programming
(7:30 p.m.) CBS Television News
(7:45 p.m.) Face the Music
Local programming We the People People's Platform Local programming
DMN (7:00 p.m.) The Alan Dale Show
(7:15 p.m.) Local programming
(7:30 p.m.) Camera Headlines
(7:45 p.m.) I.N.S. Telenews
Operation Success Local programming Boxing From Jamaica Arena
NBC Local programming (7:30) Musical Miniatures
(7:50 p.m.) Camel Newsreel Theatre
Texaco Star Theater Mary Margaret McBride Local programming Wrestling From St. Nicholas Arena

Note: Beginning July 18, 1949, The Magic Cottage aired on DuMont Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Wednesday

Network 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m. 10:30 p.m.
ABC (7:00 p.m.) News and Views
(7:15 p.m.) Local programming
Critic at Large The Gay Nineties Revue (8:30 p.m.) Candid Microphone
(8:45 p.m.) Three About Town
Local programming Wrestling From Washington, D.C.
CBS (7:00 p.m.) Local programming
(7:15 p.m.) Places Please
(7:30 p.m.) CBS Television News
(7:45 p.m.) Face the Music
Kobbs' Korner Winner Take All Tournament of Champions
DMN Fall King Cole's Birthday Party (7:30 p.m.) Camera Headlines
(7:45 p.m.) Local programming
The Laytons (Aug.) The Growing Paynes Boxing From Jamaica Arena
Mid-fall
Spring
NBC Fall Local programming (7:30 p.m.) You Are an Artist
(7:50 p.m.) Camel Newsreel Theatre
Girl About Town (8:30 p.m.) The Ted Steele Show
(8:45 p.m.) Story of the Week
Kraft Television Theatre (10:00 p.m.) Local programming
(10:10 p.m.) Village Barn
Mid-fall Picture This
Summer The Black Robe

Notes: On DuMont, King Cole's Birthday Party also was known as simply Birthday Party. The Laytons only lasted 10 episodes, from August 11 to October 13, 1948. Beginning July 18, 1949, The Magic Cottage aired on DuMont Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

On NBC, Picture This, hosted by Wendy Barrie, aired November 17, 1948, to February 9, 1949. The Black Robe debuted on May 18, 1949, and ran from 8:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday until it began to air at various times on Mondays during August 1949.

Thursday

Network 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m. 10:30 p.m.
ABC Fall (7:00 p.m.) News and Views
(7:15 p.m.) Local programming
Local programming Club Seven ABC Feature Film Local programming
Summer Blind Date Local programming
Mid-summer Blind Date
CBS Local programming (7:30 p.m.) CBS Television News
(7:45 p.m.) Face the Music
To the Queen's Taste Local programming
DMN Fall The Adventures of Oky Doky (7:30 p.m.) Camera Headlines
(7:45 p.m.) The Jack Eigen Show
Local programming Charade Quiz Wrestling From Columbia Park Arena
Summer King Cole's Birthday Party
NBC Local programming (7:30 p.m.) NBC Presents
(7:45 p.m.) Girl of the Week
(7:50 p.m.) Camel Newsreel Theatre
(8:00 p.m.) Princess Sagaphi
(8:15 p.m.) The Nature of Things
The Swift Show The Gulf Road Show Starring Bob Smith The Bigelow Show Local programming

Notes: On ABC, Blind Date debuted on May 5, 1949, airing from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. It moved to 9:30 p.m. during July 1949 and aired in that time slot into September 1949.

On DuMont, King Cole's Birthday Party also was known as simply Birthday Party. Beginning July 18, 1949, The Magic Cottage aired on DuMont Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Friday

Network 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m. 10:30 p.m.
ABC (7:00 p.m.) News and Views
(7:15 p.m.) Local programming
(7:30 p.m.) Tales of the Red Caboose
(7:45 p.m.) Local programming
Teenage Book Club That Reminds Me Break the Bank Local programming
CBS (7:00 p.m.) Local programming
(7:15 p.m.) Places Please
(7:30 p.m.) CBS Television News
(7:45 p.m.) Face the Music
(8:00 p.m.) Sportsman's Quiz
(8:05 p.m.) What's It Worth
Captain Billy's Mississippi Music Hall Local programming
DMN Key to the Missing (7:30 p.m.) Camera Headlines
(7:45 p.m.) Local programming
Fashions on Parade Local programming Wrestling From Jamaica Arena
NBC Fall Local programming (7:30 p.m.) Musical Merry-Go-Round
(7:50 p.m.) Camel Newsreel Theatre
Musical Miniatures Stop Me If You've Heard This One (9:00 p.m.) The Ted Steele Show
(9:15 p.m.) Local programming
(9:30 p.m.) Gillette Cavalcade of Sports
(10:45 p.m.) Greatest Fights of the Century
Winter Your Show Time
Summer Hopalong Cassidy

Notes: From April 14, 1948, to April 22, 1949, Russ Hodges' Scoreboard aired Fridays from 6:30pm to 6:45pm ET on DuMont. Beginning July 18, 1949, The Magic Cottage aired on DuMont Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

On NBC, Your Show Time replaced Musical Miniatures on January 21, 1949. Your Show Time had premiered on NBC's East Coast stations in September 1948, and began to include NBC's Midwest stations on January 21.

Saturday

Network 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m. 10:30 p.m.
ABC (7:00 p.m.) News and Views
(7:15 p.m.) Local programming
(7:30 p.m.) Sports with Joe Hasel
(7:45 p.m.) Local programming
Local programming
CBS Fall Local programming
Spring Local programming (7:30 p.m.) Local programming/
(7:45–8:00 p.m.) Blues by Bargy
Local programming
Summer (7:30 p.m.) Local programming/
(7:45–7:55 p.m.) Blues by Bargy
NBC Fall Local programming Television Screen Magazine Local programming
Late fall Local programming Saturday Night Jamboree
Winter Saturday Night Jamboree Television Screen Magazine
Spring Local programming Local programming Saturday Night Jamboree Local programming
Summer Local programming Meet Your Congress Local programming

By network

ABC

CBS

DuMont

NBC

Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.

References

  • Bergmann, Ted; Skutch, Ira (2002). The DuMont Television Network: What Happened?. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-4270-X.
  • Castleman, H. & Podrazik, W. (1982). Watching TV: Four Decades of American Television. New York: McGraw-Hill. 314 pp.
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