April 30 – In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approves the National Television System Committee (NTSC) standards of 525 lines and 30 frames per second, and authorizes commercial television broadcasting to begin on July 1.
May 2 – In the United States, 10 television stations are granted commercial TV licenses (effective July 1). These stations are required to broadcast 15 hours per week. Bulova Watch Co., Sun Oil Co., Lever Bros. Co. and Procter & Gamble sponsor the first commercial telecasts from WNBT (now WNBC-TV) in New York.
July 1
Commercial television is authorized by the FCC.
NBC television begins commercial operation by its affiliate WNBT New York using channel 1. The world's first legal television commercial advertisement,[1] for Bulova watches, airs at 2:29 PM on WNBT before a baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. An announcement for Bulova watches, for which the company pays anywhere from $4.00 to $9.00 (reports vary), displays a WNBT test pattern modified to look like a clock with the hands showing the time, and the Bulova logo, with the phrase "Bulova Watch Time" shown in the lower right-hand quadrant of the test pattern while the second hand sweeps around the dial for one minute [2][3] On July 1, Ray Forrest reads the first formal on-camera TV announcement, followed on July 4 by the first live commercial, for Adam Hats.
As a one-off special, the first quiz show called "Uncle Bee" is telecast on WNBT's inaugural broadcast day, followed later the same day by Ralph Edwards hosting the second game show broadcast on United States television, Truth or Consequences, as simulcast by radio and TV and sponsored by Ivory soap. Weekly broadcasts of the show commence during 1956, with Bob Barker.
CBS television begins commercial operation on New York station WCBW (now WCBS-TV) using channel 2.
September 1 — WPTZ (now KYW-TV) signs on in Philadelphia, the third television station in America.
December 7 – Ray Forrest of WNBT broadcasts special news bulletin regarding the Pearl Harbor attack, interrupting regular programming, the film Millionaire Playboy. WNBT later broadcasts special news reports through the evening, pre-empting a scheduled New York Rangers hockey telecast. WCBW also broadcasts a special that evening, from their Grand Central Terminal studios to the few thousand television set owners in the New York area.
July 1 - Girl About Town with Joan Edwards debuts on CBS (1941-1942).[7][8]
July 1 - Sports with Bob Edge debuts on CBS (1941-1942).[9]
July 2 - CBS Television Quiz premieres as television's first regular game show (1941–1943). .
July 2 - Table Talk with Helen Sioussat, the first televised talk show, debuts on CBS (1941-1942).[10][11]
July 7 - Men At Work, an early variety show, debuts on CBS (1941-1942).[12]
July 8 - The Boys in the Back Room, a half-hour series that took a behind-the-scenes look at the WCBW television studios, equipment, and staff, debuts on CBS (1941).[13][14]
July 16 - Stars of Tomorrow debuts on NBC (1941-1942).[15]
July 18 - The Face of the War, an early news show hosted by Sam Cuff, debuts on NBC (1941-1945).[16][17]
July 18 - Songs by Harvey Harding debuts on NBC (1941-1942).[18]
August 27 - Thrills and Chills Everywhere debuts on NBC (1941-1946).[19]
September 4 - Radio City Matinee debuts on NBC (1941-1942).[20]
September 18 - Fashion Discoveries in Television debuts on NBC (1941).[21]
October 18 - Saturday Night Jamboree debuts on NBC (1941).[22]
October 21 - The Adam Hats Sports Parade: Wrestling at Ridgewood Grove, debuts on NBC (1941–42).[23][24]