1998 in American television

Events

• April 9 - The Price is Right airs its 5,000th episode on CBS.
• May 11 - ZDTV, a technology based cable channel (now G4TV), is launched in the United States.
• September 23 - BBC Choice, the UK's first digital-only TV station, launches.
• December 14 - After a world-record-breaking 75 consecutive victories, Ian Lygo makes his final appearance on the UK game show 100%, after being forced to retire by the show's producers.
• Former child star Gary Coleman is charged with assaulting a young female bus driver in a California shopping mall.
• Zee TV, a Hindi television channel is launched in the USA.
• The British Academy Television Awards are awarded in the separate ceremony to the British Academy Film Awards for the first time.

Debuts

• January 20 – Dawson's Creek premieres (1998-2003).
• May 11 - Call For Help premieres on ZDTV (1998-2004).
• June - The Sifl and Olly Show premieres (1998-1999).
• June - Forgive or Forget, hosted by Mother Love, premieres (1998-2000).
• August 23 - That '70s Show premieres on FOX (1998-present).
• August 29 - SMTV Live premieres on ITV (1998-2003).
• September 4 - Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (1998-present) premieres on ITV in the UK. A year later, Regis Philbin would host an American version.
• September - Will & Grace premieres on NBC (1998-present).
• October - Charmed premieres (1998-present).
• November 2 - Becker premieres (1998-2004).
• CatDog premieres on Nickelodeon (1998-2001).
• Oh Yeah! Cartoons premieres on Nickelodeon (1998-2001).
• Sex and the City premieres on HBO (1998-2004).
• The King of Queens premieres on CBS (1998-present).
• The Powerpuff Girls premieres on Cartoon Network (1998-2004).
• Let's Bowl airs in a few markets (1998, 2001-2002).

Television shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951-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).
• It's Academic (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).
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present).
• Arena (UK) (1975-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).
• Antiques Road Show (UK) (1979-present).
• Nightline (1979-present).
• This Old House (1979-present).
• Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
• What Now (1982-present)
• Timewatch (UK) (1982-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).
• Comic Relief (UK) (1986-present).
• Casualty (UK) (1986-present).
• Chucklevision (UK) (1987-present).
• Inspector Morse (1987-2000).
• The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-present).
• America's Most Wanted (1988-present).
• The American Experience (1988-present).
• Fair City (1988-present).
• Home and Away (1988-present).
• This Morning (1988-present).
• Red Dwarf (UK) (1988-1999).
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988-1999).
• The Ward (UK) (1988-2000).
• Baywatch (1989-2001).
• Cops (1989-present).
• The Simpsons (1989-present).
• Law & Order (1990-present).
• America's Funniest Home Videos (1990-present).
• One Foot in the Grave (UK) (1990-2000).
• Home Improvement (1991-1999).
• Rugrats (1991-2004).
• The Jerry Springer Show (1991-present).
• The Red Green Show (1991-present).
• Barney & Friends (1992-2002).
• Dateline NBC (1992-present).
• Mad About You (1992-1999).
• The Real World (1992-present).
• Frasier (1993-2004).
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-present).
• NYPD Blue (1993-2005).
• 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 RAW Is War/WWF War Zone (1993-present).
• ER (1994-present).
• Friends (1994-2004).
• Time Team (UK) (1994-present).
• 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).
• 7th Heaven (1996-present).
• Dexter's Laboratory (1996-present).
• Doug (1991-1994, 1996-1999).
• Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005).
• Hey Arnold! (1996-2004).
• Judge Judy (1996-present).
• Spin City (1996-2002).
• The Daily Show (1996-present).
• 100% (UK) (1997-2001).
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003).
• Cow and Chicken (1997-1999).
• Daria (1997-2001).
• Dharma & Greg (1997-2002).
• Disney's One Saturday Morning (1997-2001).
• Family Affairs (UK) (1997-2005).
• Johnny Bravo (1997-present).
• Just Shoot Me (1997-2003).
• King of the Hill (1997-present).
• South Park (1997-present).
• Stargate SG-1 (1997-present).
• Sunset Beach (1997-1999).
• The Practice (1997-2004).
• Teletubbies (UK) (1997-2001).
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1997-present).
• Match Game (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999).

Ending this year

• January 22 - The Demon Headmaster (UK) (1996-1998).
• May 14 - After nine years on the air, the series finale of the television sitcom Seinfeld airs on NBC (1989-1998).
• May 18 – Murphy Brown (1988-1998).
• June 26 – Step by Step (1991-1998)
• July 17 – Family Matters (1989-1998).
• Derrick (1974-1998).
• The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998).
• Timon and Pumbaa (1995-1998).

Changes of Network Affiliation

• Between Brothers, from FOX to UPN.
• For Your Love, from NBC to The WB.

Deaths

• January 21 - Jack Lord, star of Hawaii Five-O
• February 19 - Grandpa Jones, star of Hee Haw,comedian and musician.
• May 28 - Phil Hartman, star of Newsradio
• September 23 - Mary Frann, actress (Joanna on Newhart).
• September 28 - Eric Malling, Canadian television journalist.
• October 17 - Joan Hickson, actress, Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.
• November 17 - Esther Rolle, actress (Florida on Maude and Good Times).
• December 22 - Michelle Thomas, actress (Myra on Family Matters, Justine on The Cosby Show)