Television · 1972
Irreverent Comedies and the Dawn of Cable
In 1972, television shifted toward sharper social satire and poignant realism while pay-cable made its historic debut. From groundbreaking sitcoms to dramatic live news events, the small screen redefined how audiences experienced culture and world affairs.
- CBS | USA | Comedy-Drama
M*A*S*H Premieres on CBS
Adapted from the hit film, this dark comedy-drama following Korean War medical staff debuts and becomes one of television's most celebrated series.
- HBO | USA | Cable Network Launch
HBO Launches Pay Television
Home Box Office premieres in Pennsylvania with a live NHL game and a movie, inaugurating the era of premium pay-cable broadcasting.
- NBC | USA | Sitcom
Sanford and Son Debuts
Redd Foxx stars as a quick-tempered junk dealer in Norman Lear's groundbreaking sitcom, bringing working-class African American humor to prime time.
- CBS | USA | Game Show
The Price Is Right Returns
Host Bob Barker welcomes contestants to 'come on down' as the modern daytime game show format premieres on CBS.
- CBS | USA | Sitcom
Maude Tackles Social Issues
Bea Arthur stars in Norman Lear's audacious spin-off, featuring an uncompromising feminist protagonist and bold prime-time storytelling.
- ITV | UK | Soap Opera
Emmerdale Farm Debuts in the UK
ITV launches a rustic afternoon serial focused on rural Yorkshire life, which grows into one of British television's longest-running soap operas.
- ABC / Global | Live News Broadcast
Live Tragedy at the Munich Olympics
Jim McKay and ABC Sports pivot to uninterrupted, gripping live news coverage as hostage tragedy unfolds at the Summer Games.
- CBS | USA | Drama
The Waltons Premieres
CBS airs the beloved family drama following a close-knit Virginia family struggling through the Great Depression and World War II.
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