This is a list of American television-related events in 1951.
Events Date Event Ref. March 22 RCA introduces an eight-pound (3.6 kg) monochrome television camera with a 53-pound (24 kg) backpack transmitter, both operated by batteries. It is the first portable television camera. May 28 The Federal Communications Commission's approval of the Columbia Broadcasting System's color television system is upheld by the United States Supreme Court. June 25 CBS presents its first commercial color telecast, featuring Arthur Godfrey, Ed Sullivan, and Faye Emerson. August 11 A double-header between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves becomes the first baseball game to be televised in color. September 4 The first live transcontinental television broadcast occurs in San Francisco, California from the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference. September 29 CBS presents the first American football game to be presented in color, a college game between the University of California Bears and the University of Pennsylvania Quakers, taking place in Philadelphia NBC broadcasts the first live sporting event coast-to-coast, in all time zones. It was a college football game between the Duke University Blue Devils and the University of Pittsburgh Panthers. October 3 The first-ever color telecast of a World Series baseball game. October 20 CBS debuts its trademark eye logo. November 11 Bing Crosby Enterprises demonstrates black-and-white video recording through using a modified Ampex tape recorder. December 6 The National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (NARTB) establishes the Television Code, a set of ethical standards for television broadcasting in the public interest. It would be abolished in January 1983. Television History – The First 75 Years: Code of Practices for Television Broadcasters December 23 The 1951 NFL Championship Game becomes the first professional football game ever to be telecast on a live, coast-to-coast basis on the DuMont Television Network. DuMont purchased the rights to broadcast the championship game for the next five years. The game resulted in the Los Angeles Rams winning their second pre-Super Bowl era NFL championship by defeating the Cleveland Browns, 24-17.
Television programs Debuts Date Debut Network Notes/Ref. January 8 Say It with Acting NBC January 21 With This Ring DuMont February"Brewers Ogle TV As Spring Nears", Billboard, February 24, 1951, p. 6. Public Prosecutor NBC February 3 The Victor Borge Show NBC February 28 Ladies Before Gentlemen DuMont March 3 Watch Mr. Wizard NBC March 6 Once Upon a Tune DuMont March 12 Miss Susan NBC Later retitled as Martinsville, U.S.A. March 23 Beat the Clock CBS April 5 The Range Rider First-run syndication April 7 Major Dell Conway of the Flying Tigers DuMont April 12 DuMont Royal Theater DuMont April 15 The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok First-run syndication April 15 Music From Chicago DuMont April 19 Casey, Crime Photographer CBS April 29 Not for Publication DuMont May 2 Stage Entrance DuMont May 6 Pentagon DuMontMay 7 Jacqueline Susann's Open Door DuMont Strike It Rich CBS May 11 The Lawrence Welk Show KTLA May 22 Washington Report DuMontMay 30 Down You Go DuMont International Playhouse DuMont June At Home With Billie Burke DuMont June 2 A Date with Judy ABC June 6 Shadow of the Cloak DuMont June 7 Racket Squad CBS June 15 Midwestern Hayride NBC June 25 What's the Story? DuMont June 28 The Amos 'n Andy Show CBS July 3 Georgetown University Forum DuMont July 6Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1979). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows: 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. . P. 213. Front Page Detective DuMont July 13 Hollywood Opening Night CBS August 3 The Ad-Libbers CBS August 3 Tales of Tomorrow ABC August 11 The Adventures of Kit Carson First-run syndication August 27 The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong DuMont September Boston Blackie First-run syndication September 1 Kids and Company DuMont September 3 Search for Tomorrow CBS September 6 Crawford Mystery Theatre DuMont September 6 News Gal DuMont September 6 NFL on DuMont DuMont September 6 Take the Break DuMont September 16 Sky King NBC September 24 Love of Life CBS September 30 The Red Skelton Show NBC October 2 Cosmopolitan Theatre DuMont October 3 Celanese Theatre ABC October 5 ABC Mystery Theater ABC October 5 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars CBS October 9 Keep Posted DuMont October 11 Football This Week DuMont October 13 The Talent Shop DuMont October 14 Goodyear Television Playhouse NBC October 15 I Love Lucy CBS October 18 Foreign Intrigue First-run syndication October 28 Out There CBS November 3 City Hospital ABC November 18 See It Now CBS November 23 The RCA Victor Show NBC November 27 The Dinah Shore Show NBC November 29 This Is Music DuMont December 1 The Pet Shop DuMont December 5 The Name's the Same ABC December 14 Dragnet NBC December 24 Hallmark Hall of Fame NBC December 30 The Roy Rogers Show NBC
Changes of network affiliation Show Moved from Moved to Author Meets the Critics ABC NBC Candid Camera NBC First-run syndication Twenty QuestionsABCDumontPro Football HighlightsABCDumont
Ending this year Date Show Network Debut Notes January 7 Rhythm Rodeo DuMont August 6, 1950 January 16 The Alan Dale Show DuMont 1948 January 19 Time for Reflection DuMont June 27, 1949 January 22 Visit with the Armed Forces DuMont July 3, 1950 January 30 Buck Rogers ABC April 15, 1950 March 11 With This Ring DuMont January 21, 1951 March 15 The Nash Airflyte Theater CBS September 21, 1950March 27 The Billy Rose Show ABC October 3, 1950 Prudential Family Playhouse CBS October 10, 1950 March 31 Saturday Night at the Garden DuMont October 7, 1950 April Eloise Salutes the Stars DuMont October 1950 April 3 Sure as Fate CBS July 4, 1950 April 7 Dick Tracy ABC September 11, 1950 April 17 Our Secret Weapon: The Truth DuMont October 22, 1950 April 20 Manhattan Spotlight DuMont January 17, 1949 May 2 Ladies Before Gentlemen DuMont February 28, 1951 May 15 Once Upon a Tune DuMont March 6, 1951 June 17 Music from Chicago DuMont April 15, 1951 June 23 Small Fry Club DuMont March 11, 1947 (with the title "Movies for Small Fry") June 23 Foodini the Great CBS August 23, 1948 June 26 Court of Current Issues DuMont February 9, 1948 June 29 Jacqueline Susann's Open Door DuMont May 7, 1951 June 30 The Victor Borge Show NBC February 3, 1951 July 6 Okay, Mother DuMont November 6, 1948 (on WABD) July 18 Four Star Revue Unknown Unknown McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television. Penguin Books USA, Inc. . August 9 The Al Morgan Show DuMont September 2, 1949 August 24 Broadway Open House NBC May 29, 1950 August 29 Stars Over Hollywood NBC September 6, 1950 August 31 The Ad-Libbers CBS August 3, 1951 September 25 Cavalcade of Bands DuMont January 17, 1950 September 27 Crawford Mystery Theatre DuMont September 6, 1951 September 28 Club Seven ABC August 12, 1948 November 1 Washington Exclusive DuMont June 21, 1953 November 14 International Playhouse DuMont May 30, 1951 November 21 The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong DuMont August 27, 1951 November 23 Mohawk Showroom NBC May 2, 1949 December 6 Football This Week DuMont October 11, 1951 December 11 Hands of Murder DuMont August 24, 1949 December 10 Somerset Maugham TV Theatre CBSNBC October 18, 1950 December 25 Cosmopolitan Theatre DuMont October 2, 1951 December 27 The Bigelow Theatre CBSDuMont December 10, 1950 December 28 Miss Susan NBC March 12, 1951 Also known as Martinsville, U.S.A.
Television stations Station launches Date City of License/Market Station Channel Affiliation Notes/Ref. September 15 Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico XELD-TV 7 CBS (primary) ABC (secondary) First Mexican-licensed television station meant to serve an American-based audience September 30 Atlanta, Georgia WLTV 11 ABC now WXIA-TV, an NBC affiliate.
Network affiliation changes Date City of license/Market Station Channel Old affiliation New affiliation Notes/Ref. January 1 Los Angeles, California KTSL 2 DuMont CBS Now CBS O&O station KCBS-TV.
Births
Deaths
References
External links List of 1951 American television series at IMDb