List of longest-running American broadcast network television series

Last updated

This is a list of the longest-running U.S. broadcast network television series, ordered by the number of broadcast seasons.

Contents

To qualify for this list, the programming must originate in North America, be shown on a United States national (not regional) television network, and be first-run (as opposed to a repackaging of previously aired material or material released in other media). For this list, series that were available only on a local or regional basis are excluded. The "number of seasons" total does not include cable broadcasts or series in syndication.

Over 60 years

Series shaded in light blue are currently in production.
LengthNumber of
seasons		SeriesNetworkFirst broadcastLast broadcastNumber of
episodes		Notes
77 years77 Meet the Press (NBC News) [1] NBC November 6, 1947 [2] present3,600+Longest-running show.
76 years72 CBS Evening News (CBS News) [3] CBS May 3, 1948present16,400+Longest-running network newscast.
72 years69 Hallmark Hall of Fame [4] NBC December 24, 1951December 17, 1978260Not broadcast on a regular schedule, with only a limited number of productions per year.
CBS November 14, 1979April 30, 1980
PBS February 9, 1981May 6, 1981
CBS December 1, 1981January 29, 1989
ABC April 30, 1989April 23, 1995
CBS December 10, 1995April 13, 2011
ABC [5] November 27, 2011April 20, 2014
Hallmark Channel November 30, 2014present
72 years70 Today (NBC News) NBC January 14, 1952present18,000+
71 years71 ABC World News Tonight (ABC News) [6] ABC October 12, 1953 [7] present15,722+
70 years70 The Tonight Show [8] NBC September 27, 1954present13,347
70 years58 The Wonderful World of Disney [9] ABC October 27, 1954June 11, 19611,224
NBC September 24, 1961August 16, 1981
CBS September 26, 1981September 24, 1983
ABCFebruary 1, 1986May 21, 1988
NBC October 8, 1988August 26, 1990
CBSSeptember 23, 1990December 1, 1996
ABCSeptember 28, 1997December 24, 2008
December 12, 2015present
Disney+ May 20, 2020present
70 years64 Face the Nation (CBS News) CBS November 7, 1954present3,000+
68 years64 NFL on CBS CBS September 30, 1956January 23, 19946,133[ citation needed ]CBS originally broadcast NFL games from 1956 to its merger with the AFL in 1970. It continued to broadcast NFC regular and playoff games as well as the Super Bowl until 1994 when CBS lost the rights to broadcast these games to Fox. The network returned its football broadcasts by 1998 after CBS acquired the rights to broadcast AFC regular and playoff games from NBC. It also airs Super Bowl matches and between 2014 and 2017, Thursday Night Football alongside NBC in 2016 and 2017 and the NFL Network.
September 6, 1998present
61 years58 General Hospital (ABC Daytime) ABC April 1, 1963present15,000 [10] Television's longest-running drama series.

50–59 years

LengthNumber of
seasons		SeriesNetworkFirst broadcastLast broadcastNumber of
episodes		Notes
59 years50 Days of Our Lives (NBC Daytime) NBC November 8, 1965September 9, 202214,430 [11]
Peacock [12] September 12, 2022present
57 years57 Guiding Light (CBS Daytime) [13] CBS June 30, 1952September 18, 200915,762Longest-running dramatic series of any genre. Longest-running daytime drama. While its television debut was on June 30, 1952, The Guiding Light's first incarnation was as a radio show, which premiered on January 25, 1937.
57 years49 Washington Week [14] NET February 23, 1967October 19702,000+
PBS October 1970present
56 years56 60 Minutes (CBS News) CBS September 24, 1968present2500+
54 years54 As the World Turns (CBS Daytime) CBS April 2, 1956September 17, 201013,858
55 years54 Sesame Street NET November 10, 1969May 8, 19704701 [note 1] Longest-running children's show. [15] While Sesame Street remains on the PBS schedule with second-run rights, new episodes now premiere on HBO Max and become available to PBS nine months later. This formerly applied to HBO from 2016 until 2020, starting from Season 51 when the show moved to (HBO) Max.
PBS (PBS Kids)November 9, 1970present
HBO January 16, 2016November 1, 2020
(HBO) Max November 21, 2020present
54 years50 NBC Nightly News (NBC News) NBC August 3, 1970present NBC has had an evening broadcast since 1948, starting with Camel News Caravan , lasting until 1956, when it was replaced by Nightly News' predecessor, the Huntley-Brinkley Report .
54 years55 (NFL seasons) Monday Night Football ABC September 21, 1970December 26, 2005718 (games)Since 2016 and 2018 respectively, ABC has simulcast ESPN's coverage of its NFL Wild Card playoff game and the Pro Bowl. In 2020, ABC simulcasted three select ESPN Monday Night Football games. Starting in 2021, ABC will get expanded broadcast rights, including exclusive games, Week 18 Saturday doubleheader simulcasts, and Super Bowl rights. Per NFL Policy, all games that are broadcast via cable or satellite television on a Pay TV Network must also be made available on over-the-air television stations in each participating team's local market.
ESPN September 11, 2006present
ABCJanuary 9, 2016present
53 years53 Masterpiece [16] PBS January 10, 1971present
52 years53 The Price Is Right (CBS Daytime) [17] CBS September 4, 1972present9,000+Longest-running game show.
51 years49 The Young and the Restless (CBS Daytime) CBS March 26, 1973present12,500
52 years51 Great Performances PBS November 4, 1972present
50 years51 Nova PBS March 3, 1974present975

40–49 years

LengthNumber of
seasons		SeriesNetworkFirst broadcastLast broadcastNumber of
episodes		Notes
49 years50 Saturday Night Live [18] NBC October 11, 1975present975Longest-running sketch comedy show on American television.
49 years40 PBS NewsHour [19] PBS October 20, 1975present
49 years45 Good Morning America ABC November 3, 1975present9,914+
48 years50 Austin City Limits PBS January 3, 1976present(over) 1,000The 1st episode was a one-off filmed in 1974 and broadcast in 1975. It became a regular series in 1976.
46 years46 20/20 ABC June 6, 1978present500+
45 years45 CBS News Sunday Morning CBS January 28, 1979present
45 years45 Wide World of Sports (ABC Sports) ABC April 29, 1961August 2006 [20]
45 years46 This Old House PBS February 20, 1979present1,136
44 years38 Nightline [21] ABC March 24, 1980present
43 years35 Noticiero Univision [22] Univision June 1, 1981present
43 years43 One Life to Live (ABC Daytime) ABC July 15, 1968January 13, 201211,096
42 years43 Live from Lincoln Center PBS January 30, 19762019 [23] 251
42 years42 Nature PBS October 10, 1982present615
41 years41 All My Children (ABC Daytime) ABC January 5, 1970September 23, 201110,712While the show has ceased airing as a television series it is still in production. As of April 29, 2013 the show had resumed airing now as a web series on the internet. It can be seen through Hulu, iTunes, and YouTube.
41 years42 Frontline PBS January 17, 1983present813
41 yearssyndication: 42
Wheel 2000 : 1
Celebrity WoF: 4		 Wheel of Fortune (syndicated) Syndicated September 5, 1983present8,000+
40 years40 Nightly Business Report PBS January 22, 1979December 27, 201910,680
40 years41 Jeopardy! SyndicationSeptember 10, 1984present9,000+

30–39 years

LengthNumber of
seasons		SeriesNetworkFirst broadcastLast broadcastNumber of
episodes		Notes
37 years29 The Bold and the Beautiful CBS March 23, 1987present9,000 [24]
37 years36 The Woodwright's Shop [25] PBS 19792017481
38 years29 Hometime PBS November 1, 1986present
36 years36 48 Hours [26] CBS January 2, 1988present991 [27]
36 years36 American Experience PBS October 1, 1988present378
35 years36 Cops Fox March 11, 1989May 4, 20131,175
Spike / Paramount Network September 14, 2013May 11, 2020
Fox Nation October 1, 2021present
35 years27 Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito [28] PBS / National Educational Telecommunications Association syndicationOctober 1, 1989present
35 years35 Professional Bowlers Tour (ABC Sports) ABC January 6, 1962 [29] June 21, 1997
35 years35 Search for Tomorrow (CBS and NBC Daytime) CBS September 3, 1951March 29, 19829,130
NBC March 26, 1982December 26, 1986
35 years35 Another World (NBC Daytime) NBC May 4, 1964June 25, 19998,891Longest-running continuous title sequences on television
35 years41 The Victory Garden [30] PBS April 16, 19752010
34 years35 Wall Street Week with Louis Rukeyser [31] PBS November 20, 1970June 24, 2005
34 years35 Evening at Pops PBS July 12, 1970August 29, 2004Longest-running cooking program.
35 years35 America's Funniest Home Videos ABC November 26, 1989present790
34 years36 The Simpsons [32] Fox January 14, 1990 [33] present775Longest-running animated series, longest-running sitcom and longest-running scripted primetime series.
34 years24 Law & Order NBC September 13, 1990May 24, 2010509
February 24, 2022present
33 years33 Mister Rogers' Neighborhood NET February 19, 1968October 1970895
PBS October 1970August 31, 2001
32 years43 MotorWeek [34] PBS 1982present1,929
32 years32 Dateline NBC [35] NBC March 31, 1992present
31 years31 Lamp Unto My Feet CBS November 21, 1948January 21, 1979
30 years30 American Bandstand [36] ABC August 5, 1957November 5, 19874,134
30 years30 Live from the Met [37] PBS 19772007
30 years30 (through 2023 season ) Fox NFL Sunday Fox September 18, 1994present

20–29 years

LengthNumber of
seasons		SeriesNetworkFirst broadcastLast broadcastNumber of
episodes		Notes
29 years29 Love of Life CBS September 24, 1951February 1, 19807,316
29 years30 Sábado Gigante [38] Univision April 12, 1986September 19, 20152,800+Longest-running imported TV show.
29 years28 The Late Late Show [39] CBS January 9, 1995April 27, 20235,346
29 years29 Captain Kangaroo [40] CBS October 3, 1955December 8, 1984
28 years28 The Edge of Night CBS April 2, 1956November 28, 19757,420
ABC December 1, 1975December 28, 1984
28 years28 Mystery! [41] PBS February 5, 19802008
25 years25 Charlie Rose PBS September 30, 1991November 17, 2017
25 years26 WWE SmackDown UPN April 29, 1999September 15, 20061319
The CW September 22, 2006September 26, 2008
MyNetworkTV October 3, 2008September 24, 2010
Syfy October 1, 2010December 31, 2015
USA January 7, 2016September 24, 2019
FoxOctober 4, 2019present
24 years24 Camera Three CBS January 22, 1956January 21, 1979
PBS October 4, 1979July 1, 1980
24 years24 CBS Morning News [42] CBS September 2, 1963January 9, 1987
23 years23 The Ed Sullivan Show [43] CBS June 20, 1948June 6, 19711,087
23 years23 America's Most Wanted Fox February 1, 1988June 18, 2011940+
23 years23 Lilias, Yoga and You [44] PBS 19761999
23 years23 Reading Rainbow PBS June 6, 1983November 10, 2006155
22 years22 The Original Amateur Hour [45] DuMont January 18, 1948October 1949
NBC October 1949September 1954
ABC October 1955June 1957
NBC July 1957October 1958
CBS May 1959October 1959
ABC March 1960September 26, 1960
CBS October 2, 1960September 27, 1970
22 years22 NASCAR on CBS CBS February 18, 1979July 15, 2000
22 years22 NFL on NBC [46] NBC 19751997
21 years21 Issues and Answers [47] ABC 19601981
21 years21 Sneak Previews [48] PBS 19751996
21 years21 Cookin' Cheap PBS 19812002
21 years21 The New Yankee Workshop PBS January 1988June 27, 2009284
20 years20 The Doctors NBC April 1, 1963December 31, 19825,280
20 years20 The Secret Storm NBC February 1, 1954February 8, 19745,195
20 years20 The Red Skelton Show NBC September 30, 1951June 1953672
CBS September 1953June 1970
NBC September 1970August 1, 1971

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Season 44 (2013–2014) was the first time episodes were numbered in a seasonal order rather than the numerical and chronological fashion used since the show premiered. For example, episode 4401 means "the first episode of the 44th season", not "the 4401st episode" (it is in fact the 4328th episode).

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References

  1. ↑ Only its time on television is counted here; it began on radio (as American Mercury Presents: Meet the Press) in 1945
  2. ↑ NBC News
  3. ↑ CBS Television News 1948–51, Douglas Edwards with the News 1951–63
  4. ↑ Originally Hallmark Playhouse radio series, was Hallmark Television Playhouse (1951–54)
  5. ↑ "Hallmark Hall of Fame Has Rough Start on ABC". 28 November 2011.
  6. ↑ ABC Evening News 1953–65 and 1967–78; Peter Jennings and the News 1965–67; World News Tonight 1978–2006; World News with Charles Gibson 2000–09
  7. ↑ "Early TV Anchors | Poynter". Archived from the original on 2015-02-20. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  8. ↑ Includes the various permutations and re-brandings over the years, including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
  9. ↑ Disney anthology television series aired under a variety of titles, including Walt Disney's Disneyland, Walt Disney Presents, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, Disney's Wonderful World, Walt Disney, The Disney Sunday Movie, and The Magical World of Disney. The current title is The Wonderful World of Disney. See the main article for a complete broadcast history
  10. ↑ Various citations concerning the 15,000 episode of General Hospital:
  11. ↑ Fairman, Michael (September 9, 2022). "Days of our Lives Airs Last Episode of Its Historic Run on NBC; Heads Exclusively to Peacock Monday". michaelfairmantv.com. United States. Retrieved September 9, 2022. Friday marks the final airdate of Days of our Lives run on network television. For almost 57 years, and for 14,430 episodes.
  12. ↑ Clifford, Kambra (August 3, 2022). "NBC drops Days of our Lives; soap now available for streaming only, exclusively on Peacock". Soap Central . Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  13. ↑ Originally The Guiding Light. Only its time on television is counted here; it began on radio January 25, 1937.
  14. ↑ Originally Washington Week in Review
  15. ↑ This only applies to the time that a children's program has broadcast nationwide. Technically a few other children's programs may have run longer in years/seasons than Sesame Street. Its just that some of those programs' seasons/years don't count as said programs weren't broadcast nationwide for their entire run.
  16. ↑ Originally Masterpiece Theatre
  17. ↑ Originally The New Price Is Right; longest-running game show in American television history.
  18. ↑ Originally NBC Saturday Night
  19. ↑ Previously The Robert MacNeil Report (1975), The MacNeil/Lehrer Report (1975–83), The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour 1975–95, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer 1995–2009
  20. ↑ Weekly broadcasts ended January 1, 1997; irregular airings afterward; officially ended with the absorption of ABC Sports into ESPN
  21. ↑ Evolved from The Iran Crisis – America Held Hostage (1979–80)
  22. ↑ Originally titled "Noticiero SIN" when Univision was known as SIN (Spanish International Network).
  23. ↑ Not currently on a regular schedule
  24. ↑ SOD (April 17, 2023). "B&B Tune-In Alert". Soap Opera Digest . United States: American Media, Inc. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  25. ↑ Broadcast only in North Carolina, 1979–81
  26. ↑ Also called 48 Hours Investigates
  27. ↑ "48 Hours on CBS". TV Guide. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  28. ↑ America's longest-running cooking show, running consecutive episodes and consecutive seasons. While some believe Julia Child's series to have run longer, Child and other appeared in series with different names, hosts. Ciao Italia has been on the air since 1989.
  29. ↑ "Schenkel Going Out on a Roll". New York Daily News .
  30. ↑ Jim Crockett's Victory Garden, 1975–79
  31. ↑ Became Wall Street Week with Fortune after original host was fired in 2002
  32. ↑ Only its time as its own show is counted here; it began on The Tracey Ullman Show as animated shorts. It is currently the longest-running prime time entertainment program with a consistent setting and recurring characters. While other prime-time shows have run longer, they are all news, sports, anthology or variety programs.
  33. ↑ Sneak peek airing December 17, 1989
  34. ↑ Also syndicated, 1982–present
  35. ↑ Also known as Dateline (day of week it airs), Dateline with Stone Phillips
  36. ↑ Continuation of Bandstand, which aired on WFIL 1952–57
  37. ↑ Also known as The Metropolitan Opera Presents
  38. ↑ Continuation of series that aired 1962–85 on Chile's Canal 13
  39. ↑ Host: Tom Snyder 1995–99, Craig Kilborn 1999–2004, Craig Ferguson 2004–2014, James Corden 2015-2023
  40. ↑ Reruns aired in syndication, 1984–92
  41. ↑ Started in 2008, Mystery! was absorbed into Masterpiece (the former Masterpiece Theatre) and airs under the banner Masterpiece Mystery!
  42. ↑ Morning 1979–82
  43. ↑ Aired as Toast of the Town until 1955
  44. ↑ Local transmission only (WCET), 1972–96
  45. ↑ Originated on radio as Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour, 1934–46
  46. ↑ Originally GrandStand, then changed name to reflect year; was also NFL Live 1987–97
  47. ↑ Originally ABC Press Conference; succeeded in time slot by This Week
  48. ↑ Originally Opening Soon at a Theater Near You (1975–77); Sneak Previes Goes Video 1989–91
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