- August 7
- Tama-chan, a bearded seal native to the Arctic, is first spotted in Tama River in Tokyo, Japan. The seal subsequently becomes a national celebrity with TV stations tracking its every move. [23]
- September 14
- The ABC TV network begins airing the show Fillmore on ABC Kids. [6]
- October 30
- British digital terrestrial television (DTT) service Freeview starts transmitting throughout parts of the United Kingdom. [5]
2003
- April 7
- The National Association of Broadcasters holds a luncheon honoring the Disney franchise. Company chairman Michael Eisner announces Disney will begin testing a new video-on-demand service called Movie Beam later in the year. A television set-top box will download new film releases over regular television broadcast signal to a local storage device for later playback. [6]
- May 9
- Disney announces negotiations for a second Lizzie McGuire movie and extension of the television series had ended unsuccessfully. [6]
- August 26
- ESPN debuts the Playmakers television show. [6]
- September 11
- Actor John Ritter is stricken by a previously undiagnosed heart problem during the taping of the TV sitcom 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, dying in hospital at age 54. [24] [467]
- September 29
- Disney subsidiary Buena Vista Datacasting introduces the video-on-demand service MovieBeam in three cities in the United States: Spokane, Washington, Jacksonville, Florida, and Salt Lake City, Utah. The service lets users download and store films for up to 24 hours on a television set-top device. Rental of the device costs US$6.99 per month, with film costs of US$1.99-3.99 per title. [6]
- November 3
- Belgium issues five postage stamps marking the 50th anniversary of Belgian Television. [700.856]
2004
- April 28
- Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse in Iraq is revealed on the US television show 60 Minutes II. [25]
- May 4
- A WNBC helicopter crashes in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York. This event is covered by rival station WABC-TV. [25]
- September 8
- In the "Rathergate" affair, the first Internet posts appear pointing out that documents claimed by CBS News to be typewritten memos from the early 1970s appear instead to have been produced using modern word processing systems. [25]
- September 22
- In the USA, ABC airs the premiere of the TV series Lost. [50.90]
- November 30
- Longtime Jeopardy! (TV show) champion Ken Jennings finally loses, leaving him with $2,520,700, television's all-time biggest game show haul. [5]
2005
- April 29
- JAG ends its ten-season run on CBS TV with a flip of a coin, frozen in mid air, leaving viewers wondering if it was Harm, or was it Mac (Sara), who gave up their career in order for the couple to be together. [457]
- August 7
- Death of Peter Jennings, Canadian-born news anchor (former host of World News Tonight on ABC) (born 1938). [26]
- October 12
- In San Jose, California, Disney Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger announces the availability of Disney- and ABC-owned TV show episodes through Apple Computer's online iTunes store. Certain TV shows will be available for download for US$1.99 one day after initial airing on broadcast TV. [6]
- November 22
- Ted Koppel steps down as host of TV show Nightline after 25 years with the program. [26]
2006
- March 13
- Death of Peter Tomarken, American game show host (born 1942). [27]
- April 10
- Disney says it will begin allowing the download of television shows from Web site abc.com, for a two month trial period. [6]
- May 2
- Death of Louis Rukeyser, American television host (born 1933). [27]
- June 23
- Death of Aaron Spelling, American television producer (born 1923). [27]
- July 30
- The world's longest running music show, Top of the Pops, broadcasts for the last time on BBC Two. [27]
- September 4
- Death of Steve Irwin, Australian environmentalist and television personality (born 1962). [27]
- September 19
- A memorial service for recently deceased Australian personality Steve Irwin takes place at Australia Zoo, Queensland, Australia. The service is broadcast across Australia and other parts of the world. [27]
- September 20
- In the USA, the CW Television Network (a merger of The WB and UPN) officially begins operations. [27]
- December 3
- Death of James Kim, American television personality (born 1971). [27]
2007
- January 16
- Death of Benny Parsons, American race car driver and television personality (born 1941). [38]
- January 17
- Protests occur in India and the United Kingdom against the British television series Celebrity Big Brother after Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara are alleged to have been racially abusive towards Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty. [38]
- January 31
- The Mooninite scare occurs in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, when devices used in a guerrilla marketing campaign for the animated television series Aqua Teen Hunger Force are mistaken for improvised explosive devices. [38]
- April 17
- Death of Kitty Carlisle Hart, American singer, actress and talk show panelist (born 1910). [38]
- May 12
- The Walt Disney Company debuts a new kids' TV show, My Friends Tigger & Pooh. The show introduces a new character, Darby, a six-year-old girl. [6]
- May 27
- Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) is taken off the air after the government of Venezuela refuses to renew its license. This action results in protests. On July 16, RCTV resumes broadcasting via cable and satellite. [38]
- June 15
- In the USA, Bob Barker makes his last appearance on TV show The Price is Right. [38]
- August 17
- Disney film High School Musical 2 is shown on TV in the USA, becoming the single most-watched basic cable telecast, with about 17.2 million viewers. [6]
- September 1
- Finland switches off all of its analogue terrestrial television signals as part of the digital switchover. [38]
- October 15
- Fox Television Stations Group launches a new business television cable channel in the USA. [189.70]
- October 17
- Whitehaven, England becomes the first place in the United Kingdom to have one of its analog terrestrial television signals switched off as part of digital switchover. [38]
- December 25
- Queen Elizabeth II broadcasts her 50th televised Royal Christmas Message to the Commonwealth. [38]
2008
- January 6
- In the USA, Home Box Office airs the first episode of the fifth and final season of The Wire. [47.4]
- January 8
- In the USA, CBS airs the 34th Annual People's Choice Awards. [47.43]
- January 13
- In the USA, Fox airs the debut of the TV show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. [48.29]
- January 15
- In the USA, Fox airs the 7th season premiere of the TV show American Idol. [48.43]
- January 25
- In the USA, Spike TV debuts the GameTrailers TV series, airing trailers, industry news, interviews, and more. [49.60]
- January 31
- In the USA, ABC airs the season four premiere of series Lost. [50.60]
- February 7
- In the USA, CBS airs the premiere of the reality TV show Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites. [51.60]
- February 12
- In the USA, CBS airs the premiere of the reality TV show Big Brother 9. [52.47]
- In Los Angeles and New York, film and television writers vote to lift their 100-day-old strike against major studios and return to work. Writers Guild of America members voted 92.5 percent in favor of ending the strike, with a new three-year contract approved in principle. [35]
- February 27
- Death of William F. Buckley, at age 82 in Stamford, Connecticut; American writer, commentator, host of Firing Line TV show from 1966-99, credited with founding the modern conservative movement in U.S. politics, founded National Review magazine. [35] [109.38] [310]
- February 29
- American TV show The Young and the Restless has now been the number one rated daytime drama for 1000 consecutive weeks in the US, since December 1988. [156.13]
- March 8
- Debut of The Spectacular Spider-Man on TV in the US and Canada. [155.23]
- April 6
- In Canada, CTV airs the 2008 Juno Awards. [156.31]
- April 11
- NBC airs the Miss USA 2008 show from Las Vegas. [156.62]
- April 20
- In London, England, the British Academy Television Awards ceremony is held. Some winners:
- Best actor: Andrew Garfield for Boy A,
- Best actress: Eileen Atkins for Cranford,
- Best entertainment performance: Harry Hill for Harry Hill's TV Burp,
- Best comedy performance: James Corden for Gavin and Stacey,
- Best single drama: The Mark Of Cain,
- Best drama serial: Britz,
- Best entertainment programme: Harry Hill's TV Burp,
- Best situation comedy: Peep Show,
- Best feature: Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares.
[57]
- May 21
- In the final episode of TV's American Idol, rock singer David Cook is declared the winner. [35]
- August 9
- American actor/comedian Bernie Mac (The Bernie Mac Show, Ocean's Eleven, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Transformers) dies in a Chicago hospital from complications due to pneumonia, at age 50. [105] [310]
- September 3
- The CW network in the USA debuts the new 90210 TV Show. [35] [293.43]
- September 24
- TV series Knight Rider debuts in the US. [294.70]
- October 5
- Animated TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars debuts in the USA. [296.31]
- December 7
- In Canada, the final episode of Trailer Park Boys airs, after seven seasons. [297.4]
2009
- April 26
- In London, England, the British Academy Television Awards ceremony is held.
- Best actor: Stephen Dillane for The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall
- Best actress: Anna Maxwell Martin for Poppy Shakespeare
- Best entertainment performance: Harry Hill for Harry Hill's TV Burp
- Best comedy performance: David Mitchell for Peep Show
- Best single drama: White Girl
- Best drama serial: Criminal Justice
- Best drama series: Wallander
- Best continuing drama: The Bill
- Best factual series: Amazon with Bruce Parry
- Best entertainment programme: The X Factor
- Best situation comedy: The IT Crowd
- Best comedy programme: Harry and Paul
- Best single documentary: Chosen
- Best feature: The Choir: Boys Don't Sing
- Best international show: Mad Men
- Best specialist factual: Life in Cold Blood
- Best current affairs: Saving Africa's Witch Children - Dispatches
- Best news coverage: News at Ten - Chinese Earthquake
- Best sport: ITV1 F1: Brazilian Grand Prix
- Best interactivity: Embarrassing Bodies Online
- Audience award: Skins
- Special Award: Jane Tranter
- Bafta Fellowship: French and Saunders.
[57]
- May 29
- Jay Leno ends 17 years hosting NBC's The Tonight Show. [35]
- August 11
- The US Postal Service issues 20 postage stamps depicting early US TV memories. [612.40]
2010
- January 20
- The National TV Awards are presented in London, England.
- Best Drama: Doctor Who
- Outstanding Drama Performance: David Tennant in Doctor Who
- Best Entertainment Presenter: Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly
- Special Recognition Award: Stephen Fry
- Best Serial: Coronation Street
- Most Popular TV Talent Show: X Factor
- Best Entertainment Programme: Saturday Night Takeaway
- Best Documentary: Stephen Fry: In America
- Most Popular Comedy programme: Gavin and Stacey
- Best Serial Drama Performance: Lacey Turner in EastEnders
- Best Newcomer: Craig Gazey in Coronation Street
- Most Popular Factual Programme: Loose Women. [57]
- January 22
- Conan O'Brien signs a US$45 million "exit" deal with NBC to cease hosting The Tonight Show after only seven months, allowing Jay Leno to return as regular host. [35]
- February 2
- The final season of TV's Lost series begins. [537.52]
- February 7
- The NFL Super Bowl is watched by more than 106 million people in the U.S., surpassing the 1983 finale of M*A*S*H to become the most-watched program in U.S. television history, according to the Neilsen Company. [105]
- May 23
- The ABC network airs the 2.5 hour final episode of the six-season TV mystery adverture series Lost, with about 13.5 million Americans watching. [35]
- May 25
- Pussycat Dolls' singer Nicole Scherzinger wins the final episode of the 10th season of Dancing With the Stars. Second is Olympic gold medalist skater Evan Lysacek, and third is sports reporter Erin Andrews. [35]
- May 26
- The finale of the 9th season for the US TV show American Idol is watched by an estimated 24.2 million viewers, as Lee DeWyze beats Crystal Bowersox. The show also marks the last regular appearance of British judge Simon Cowell. [35]
- June 6
- The 2010 British Academy Television Awards (Bafta) are presented in London, England.
- Best actor: Kenneth Branagh - Wallander
- Best actress: Julie Walters - Mo
- Best supporting actor: Matthew Macfadyen - Criminal Justice
- Best supporting actress: Rebecca Hall - Red Riding
- Best entertainment performance: Ant and Dec - I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
- Best male comedy performance: Peter Capaldi - The Thick of It
- Best female comedy performance: Rebecca Front - The Thick of It
- Best single drama: The Unloved
- Best drama serial: Occupation
- Best drama series: Misfits
- Best continuing drama: EastEnders
- Best factual series: One Born Every Minute
- Best entertainment programme: Britain's Got Talent
- Best situation comedy: The Thick of It
- Best comedy programme: The Armstrong & Miller Show
- Audience award: The Inbetweeners
- Best single documentary: Wounded
- Best feature: Masterchef: The Professionals
- Best international show: Mad Men
- Best specialist factual: Inside Nature's Giants
- Best current affairs: Terror in Mumbai - Dispatches
- Best news coverage: The Haiti Earthquake
- Best sport: World Athletics Championships
- New Media: Virtual Revolution
- Special Award: Simon Cowell
- Bafta Fellowship: Melvyn Bragg
- July 1
- China's state news agency Xinhua launches the CNC World 24-hour global news television channel in English. [57]
- August 2
- Netherlands Antilles issues three postage stamps marking the 50th anniversary of TeleCuraçao television broadcasting. [631.75]
- August 20
- Norway issues four postage stamps marking the 50th anniversary of television in Norway. [613.71]
- (month unknown)
- Amos Hobby Publishing releases the 2009 Linn's U.S. Stamp Yearbook with front cover showing frame of TV show The Lone Ranger. [610.3]
2011
- September 18
- The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presents the 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards.
- Best Drama Series: Mad Men,
- Actor in a Drama Series: Kyle Chandler in Friday Night Lights,
- Actress in a Drama Series: Julianna Margulies in The Good Wife,
- Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Peter Dinklage in Game of Thrones,
- Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Margo Martindale in Justified,
- Directing for a Drama Series: Martin Scorsese for Boardwalk Empire,
- Writing for a Drama Series: Jason Katims for Friday Night Lights,
- Best Comedy Series: Modern Family,
- Actor in a Comedy Series: Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory,
- Actress in a Comedy Series: Melissa McCarthy in Mike & Molly,
- Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Ty Burrell in Modern Family,
- Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Julie Bowen in Modern Family,
- Directing for a Comedy Series: Michael Spiller for Modern Family,
- Writing for a Comedy Series: Steve Levitan and Jeffrey Richman for Modern Family,
- Best Miniseries or TV Movie: Downton Abbey,
- Actor in a Miniseries or Movie: Barry Pepper in The Kennedys,
- Actress in a Miniseries of Movie: Kate Winslet in Mildred Pierce,
- Supporting Actor in a Miniseries of Movie: Guy Pearce in Mildred Pierce,
- Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie: Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey,
- Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Brian Percival for Downton Abbey,
- Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Julian Fellowes for Downton Abbey,
- Best Reality Competition Program: The Amazing Race,
- Best Variety, Music or Comedy Series: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,
- Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series: Don Roy King for Saturday Night Live,
- Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series: Steve Bodow, Tim Carvell, Rory Albanese, Kevin Bleyer, Rich Blomquist, Wyatt Cenac, Hallie Haglund, JR Havlan, Elliott Kalan, Josh Lieb, Sam Means, Jo Miller, John Oliver, Daniel Radosh, Jason Ross, Jon Stewart for: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.
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