Years in Television - 1980s

1980s

• 1980: First broadcast of Berlin Alexanderplatz, Nightline, Strumpet City and Yes Minister; Cable News Network launched
• 1981: First broadcast of The Smurfs, Hill Street Blues, Dynasty, Only Fools and Horses and Brideshead Revisited; MTV launched
• 1982: First broadcast of Cheers, Family Ties, The Mysterious Cities of Gold, Chiquilladas, Boys from the Blackstuff, Family Ties and St. Elsewhere; Channel 4 launches in the UK
• 1983: First broadcast of Oshin, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, An Englishman Abroad, Blackadder and Terrahawks
• 1984: First broadcast of Murder, She Wrote, Miami Vice, The Cosby Show, Nightcourt, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, La piovra, Heimat and The Jewel in the Crown
• 1985: First broadcast of MacGyver, Edge of Darkness, The Oprah Winfrey Show, EastEnders and The Golden Girls; the Discovery Channel is established
• 1986: First broadcast of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dragon Ball, Vasko de Gama from Rupcha Village, Casualty, Saint Seiya, The Singing Detective and Pingu; the Fox Broadcasting Company is launched
• 1987: First broadcast of Full House, Thirtysomething, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ramayan, Inspector Morse, Married... with Children and Star Trek: The Next Generation
• 1988: First broadcast of Roseanne, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Murphy Brown America's Most Wanted and Mahabharat
• 1989: First broadcast of Baywatch, Seinfeld, Dekalog, Wallace and Gromit, Hey Dude,Quantum Leap, Saved by the Bell, COPS, Shining Time Station, Family Matters, The Simpsons; Eurosport launched and TUGS