List of longest-running television shows by category explained

This is a list of the longest-running television shows by category. The criterion for the longest-running show is the number of years the show has been on the air, and not the number of episodes produced.

The Brazilian show Programa Silvio Santos is the longest-running television show of all time hosted by the same person.

YearsCategoryShow nameCountrywidth=200Durationwidth=200Channel/networkdata-sort-type="number" No. of
episodes
87Outside broadcastLord Mayor's Show United Kingdom1937–1938, 1946–present (not broadcast during WW2 1939–1945)[1] BBC Television Service, BBC One
87Outside broadcastRemembrance Sunday: The Cenotaph United Kingdom1937–1938, 1946–present (not broadcast during WW2 1939–1945)BBC Television Service, BBC One
87Sports outside broadcastThe Championships, Wimbledon[2] United Kingdom1937,[3] 1939,1946–present (not played during World War II, nor in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns)BBC Television Service, BBC One/Two
77News showMeet the Press United States1947–presentNBC4,946+
76NewscastCBS Evening News United States1948–presentCBS16,400+
75Religious programMusic and the Spoken Word United States1949–presentKSL (Television since 1949, radio since 1929)3900+
75Religious programLe Jour du Seigneur France1949–presentTF1 (1949–87)
France 2 (since 1987)
73Song contestSanremo Music Festival Italy1951–presentRAI (radio broadcast since 1951, TV broadcast since 1955)
72Sports showHockey Night in Canada Canada1952–presentCBC, City/Sportsnet, CTV
71Sports magazine showLa Domenica Sportiva Italy1953–presentRAI3318
Music talent showNHK Nodo Jiman Japan1953–presentNHK2,900
Current affairs seriesPanorama United Kingdom1953–presentBBC One
70Talk showThe Tonight Show United States1954–presentNBC
69Annual live international beauty pageantMiss Universe United States1955–presentCBS, NBC, FOX72
Annual live national beauty pageantMiss America United States1955–presentABC, NBC, CBS96 (102)
68Annual live song contestEurovision Song Contest Europe1956–presentEBU104
67Science showThe Sky at Night United Kingdom1957–presentBBC One, BBC Four825 (as of Oct 2022)
66Children's showBlue Peter United Kingdom1958–presentBBC One, CBBC5,294 (as of 13 October 2023)
Historical dramaZenigata Heiji Japan1958–2006various
Agriculture informationPlodovi zemlje Croatia1958–presentHRT 11,900 (as of 14 March 2017)
65AnimatedSandmännchen Germany1959–presentDeutscher Fernsehfunk, Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg22,200
64Soap operaCoronation Street United Kingdom1960–presentITV10,000+
63ComedyKVN Soviet Union (1961–1991)
Russia (1991–present)		1961–presentChannel One Russia, KVN TV
TV feedback showPoints of View United Kingdom1961–presentBBC One, BBC Two
Quiz showIt's Academic United States1961–present[4]
DocumentaryFour Corners Australia1961–presentAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
62Song contestFestivali i Këngës Albania1962–presentRTSH
Medicine talk showTrupi dhe Shëndeti Albania1962–presentRTSH1000+
61Science fictionDoctor Who United Kingdom1963–1989, 1996,[5] 2005–presentBBC One881 (as of 6 June 2024)
61Variety showPrograma Silvio Santos Brazil1963–presentSBT3000+
60Music chart showTop of the Pops United Kingdom1964–2006; Christmas shows only 2006–presentBBC One, BBC Two2,219
59Nature documentaryLe Jardin extraordinaire Belgium1965–presentRTBF2400+
59Educational game showShell Quiz Thailand1965–2009TV4, MCOT HD, TV11, ETV, Nation TV
58Game showDes chiffres et des lettres France1965–2024France 2 (1965–2006)
France 3 (2006–2024)		20,000
Children's show (preschool)Play School Australia1966–presentAustralian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)4,500+
Comedy specialÁramótaskaupið Iceland1966–presentRíkisútvarpið56
55Anime for kidsSazae-san Japan1969–presentFuji Television7,000+[6]
Kids EducationalSesame Street United States1969–presentNET (1969–1970), PBS (1970–), HBO (2016–2020), HBO Max (2020–)4000+
54Police proceduralTatort Germany1970–presentDas Erste1,136 [7]
51Sketch comedy showRadio Rochela Venezuela1959–2010RCTV2,652
48 Charity showThe Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon United States1966–2014Various48
Talk show - hosted continuously by same hostBarbara and You United States1976–2024Various48
Sports varietyGrandstand United Kingdom1958–2007BBC One, BBC Two3500
Political satireExtra 3 Germany1976–presentDas Erste
AutomotiveTop Gear (relaunched in 2002) United Kingdom1976–2001, 2002–2023BBC Two, BBC One
47Film reviewFilm United Kingdom1971–2018BBC One
40Glove puppetry showPili Taiwan1984–present[8] Pili TV2,000+
37SitcomLast of the Summer Wine United Kingdom1973–2010BBC One295
37Music video showRage Australia1987–presentAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
37Comedy dramaKopi kade Sri Lanka1987–presentITN1,900+
35Reality showAmerica's Funniest Home Videos United States1989–presentAmerican Broadcasting Company
35Adult animationThe SimpsonsUnited States1989–presentFox Broadcasting Company700+

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Lord Mayor's Show dates . BBC Genome . 2018-09-10.
  2. Web site: Wimbledon. Genome Project. 9 October 2018.
  3. Web site: Wimbledon and the BBC 1927 to 2017. History of the BBC. 22 November 2018.
  4. News: Mac McGarry, 'It's Academic' host, dies at 87. . 5 October 2014.
  5. Web site: 2015-05-05 . BBC – Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide – Doctor Who: The TV Movie – Details . https://web.archive.org/web/20150505104045/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/tvmovie/detail.shtml . 2015-05-05 . 2022-09-22 .
  6. Web site: Sazae-san.
  7. Web site: Die Fälle – Tatort – ARD Das Erste.
  8. Web site: Pili Glove Puppetry. Taiwan Ministry of Culture. 2017-01-03.

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