This lists 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.

Years Category Show name CountryDurationChannel/networkNo. ofepisodes 88 Sports outside broadcast The Championships, Wimbledon United Kingdom 1937, 1939,1946–present (not played during World War II, nor in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns) BBC Television Service, BBC One/Two 88 Outside broadcast Lord Mayor's Show United Kingdom 1937–1938, 1946–present (not broadcast during WW2 1939–1945) BBC Television Service, BBC One 88 Outside broadcast Remembrance Sunday: The Cenotaph United Kingdom 1937–1938, 1946–present (not broadcast during WW2, 1939–1945) BBC Television Service, BBC One 78 News show Meet the Press United States 1947–present NBC 4,946+ 77 Newscast CBS Evening News United States 1948–present CBS 16,400+ 76 Religious program Music & the Spoken Word United States 1949–present KSL (Television since 1949, radio since 1929) 3,900+ 76 Religious program Le Jour du Seigneur France 1949–present TF1 (1949–87)France 2 (since 1987) 73 Sports show Hockey Night in Canada Canada 1952–present CBC (since 1952),City/Sportsnet (2014–2026),CTV (1965–1975) Music talent show NHK Nodo Jiman Japan 1953–present NHK 2,900 ()72 Sports magazine show La Domenica Sportiva Italy 1953–present RAI 3,318 () Current affairs series Panorama United Kingdom 1953–present BBC One 72 Talk show The Tonight Show United States 1954–present NBC 70 Annual live international beauty pageant Miss Universe United States 1955–present CBS, NBC, FOX 72 Song contest Sanremo Music Festival Italy 1955–present RAI (radio broadcast since 1951, TV broadcast since 1955) Annual live national beauty pageant Miss America United States 1955–present ABC, NBC, CBS 96 (102) Annual live song contest Eurovision Song Contest Europe 1956–2019, 2021-present EBU 104 69 Science show The Sky at Night United Kingdom 1957–present BBC One, BBC Four 825 (as of Oct 2022)67 Children's show Blue Peter United Kingdom 1958–present BBC One, CBBC 5,294 (as of 13 October 2023)67 Agriculture information Plodovi zemlje Croatia 1958–present HRT 1 1,900 (as of 14 March 2017) 66 Animated Sandmännchen Germany 1959–present Deutscher Fernsehfunk, Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg 22,200+ 65 Soap opera Coronation Street United Kingdom 1960–present ITV 10,000+ Documentary Four Corners Australia 1961–present Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV feedback show Points of View United Kingdom 1961–present BBC One, BBC Two64 Comedy KVN Soviet Union (1961–1991) Russia (1991–present) 1961–present Channel One Russia, KVN TV Quiz show It's Academic United States 1961–present63 Medicine talk show Trupi dhe Shëndeti Albania 1962–present RTSH 1,000+ Variety show Programa Silvio Santos Brazil 1963–present SBT 3,000+ 62 Science fiction Doctor Who United Kingdom 1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present BBC One 892 (as of 31 May 2025) 61 Music chart show Top of the Pops United Kingdom 1964–2006; Christmas shows only 2006–present BBC One, BBC Two 2,219 61 Nature documentary Belgium 1965–present RTBF 2,400+60Agricultural programmeCountry Calendar New Zealand1966- present TVNZ 1,500+ 60 Children's stories Vecernicek Czech Republic 1965–Present Czech Television Programs: ČT1, ČT2, ČT Déčko59 Children's show (preschool) Play School Australia 1966–present Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) 4,500+ Comedy special Áramótaskaupið Iceland 1966–present Ríkisútvarpið 5658 Game show Des chiffres et des lettres France 1965–2024 France 2 (1965–2006)France 3 (2006–2024) 20,000 ()56 Anime Sazae-san Japan 1969–present Fuji Television 8,880+55Police proceduralTatort Germany1970–presentDas Erste1,340 () 54 Superhero fiction Kamen Rider Japan 1971–1989, 2000–present MBS/NET (1971–1975), MBS/TBS (1975–1989), TV Asahi (2000–) 1,649 54 Sketch comedy show Sábados Felices Colombia 1972–present Caracol Televisión 2,600+ 50 Political satire Extra 3 Germany 1976–present Das Erste 49 Talk show - hosted continuously by the same host Tetsuko's Room Japan 1976–present TV Asahi 12,100 (as of 12 September 2023)48 Charity show The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon United States 1966–2014 Various 48 Sports variety Grandstand United Kingdom 1958–2007 BBC One, BBC Two 3,50047 Film review Film United Kingdom 1971–2018 BBC One Noontime Variety show Eat Bulaga! Philippines 1979–present RPN (1979-89), ABS-CBN (1989-95), GMA (1995-2024), TV5 (since 2024) 14,500+ (and counting) Reality show Antiques Roadshow United Kingdom 1979–present BBC One 866+41 Glove puppetry show Pili Taiwan 1984–present Pili TV 2,000+39Comedy dramaKopi kade Sri Lanka1987–presentITN2,000+38 Music video show Rage Australia 1987–present Australian Broadcasting Corporation 36Adult animationThe Simpsons United States1989–presentFox Broadcasting Company850+36Television magazineItyadi Bangladesh1989–presentBangladesh Television400+40Medical dramaCasualty United Kingdom1986 –presentBBC1,40115Fantasy televisionSupernatural United States2005–2020The CW327+

Notes

See also List of longest-running radio programmes List of longest-running American television series List of longest-running British television programmes List of longest-running Indian television series List of longest-running Australian television series List of longest-running Philippine television series List of longest-running Spanish television series List of longest-running American cable television series List of longest-running American primetime television series List of longest-running American first-run syndicated television series List of television series canceled after one episode List of television programs by episode count

References