2013 in American television
The following is a list of events affecting American television in 2013. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, and cancellations; channel launches, closures, and rebrandings; stations changing or adding their network affiliations; and information about changes of ownership of channels or stations, controversies and carriage disputes.
Events
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Television programs
See also: 2012–13 United States network television schedule and 2013–14 United States network television schedulePrograms debuting in 2013
Entering syndication in 2013
A list of programs that have accumulated enough episodes or seasons to be eligible for off-network syndication and/or basic cable runs.Show | Seasons | In Production | Source |
Bob's Burgers | 3 | Yes | |
Bridezillas | 10 | No | |
The Cleveland Show | 4 | No | |
Glee | 5 | Yes | |
The Middle | 4 | Yes | |
Modern Family | 4 | Yes | |
Sanctuary | 4 | No |
Network changes
The following shows will air new episodes on a different network than previous first-run episodes.Show | Moved from | Moved to | Source |
Mudcats | History | National Geographic Channel | |
Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse | TBS | OWN | |
UFC Tonight | Fox Sports 2 | Fox Sports 1 | |
The Ultimate Fighter | FX | Fox Sports 1 | |
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | FX | FXX | |
The League | FX | FXX | |
Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell | FX | FXX | |
MDA Show of Strength | First-run syndication | ABC | |
Wild 'n Out | MTV | MTV2 | |
SHO2 | TVGN | ||
Arrested Development | Fox | Netflix | |
Cops | Fox | Spike | |
Cougar Town | ABC | TBS | |
All My Children | ABC | The Online Network | |
One Life to Live | ABC | The Online Network | |
NBA Inside Stuff | ABC | NBA TV | |
Whose Line Is It Anyway? | ABC Family | The CW | |
Who Do You Think You Are? | NBC | TLC | |
Celebrity Ghost Stories | Bio | LMN | |
The Haunting of... | Bio | LMN | |
I Killed My BFF | Bio | LMN | |
Killer Kids | Bio | LMN |
Programs returning in 2013
The following shows will return with new episodes after being canceled or ended their run previously:Show | Last aired | Previous channel | New title | New/returning/same channel | Returning | Source |
The Joe Schmo Show | 2004 | Spike TV | Same | Same | January 8 | |
Teen Titans | 2006 | Cartoon Network | Teen Titans Go! | Same | April 23 | |
All My Children | 2011 | ABC | Same | The Online Network/Hulu | April 29 | |
Arrested Development | 2006 | Fox | Same | Netflix | May 26 | |
The Venture Bros | 2010 | Adult Swim | Same | Same | June 2 | |
Drop Dead Diva | 2012 | Lifetime | Same | Same | June 23 | |
One Life to Live | 2012 | ABC | Same | The Online Network/Hulu | July 15 | |
Whose Line Is It Anyway? | 2007 | ABC Family | Same | The CW | July 16 | |
Who Do You Think You Are? | 2012 | NBC | Same | TLC | July 23 | |
The Arsenio Hall Show | 1994 | Syndicated | Same | Same | September 9 | |
Crossfire | 2005 | CNN | Same | Same | September 9 | |
The Heart, She Holler | 2011 | Adult Swim | Same | Same | September 10 | |
Little People, Big World | 2010 | TLC | Same | Same | October 29 | |
NBA Inside Stuff | 2005 | ABC | Same | NBA TV | November 2 | |
The Sing-Off | 2011 | NBC | Same | Same | December 9 |
Milestone episodes
Show | Network | Episode# | Episode Title | Episode air date | Source |
Days of Our Lives | NBC | 12,000th | N/A | January 11 | |
Fringe | Fox | 100th | "An Enemy of Fate" | January 18 | |
Castle | ABC | 100th | "The Lives of Others" | April 1 | |
The Office | NBC | 200th | "Finale" | May 16 | |
Keeping Up with the Kardashians | E! | 100th | "Life's a Beach " | August 11 | |
The Soup | E! | 500th | N/A; 2 live broadcasts for Eastern & Pacific feeds | August 21 | |
Big Brother | CBS | 500th | N/A | September 5 | |
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | FXX | 100th | "The Gang Saves The Day" | October 9 | |
Modern Family | ABC | 100th | "Farm Strong" | October 9 | |
Grey's Anatomy | ABC | 200th | "Puttin' on the Ritz" | October 10 | |
The Middle | ABC | 100th | "The 100th" | October 23 | |
CBS | 300th | "Frame by Frame" | October 23 | ||
The Good Wife | CBS | 100th | "The Decision Tree" | December 1 | |
The Chew | ABC | 500th | "The Chew's 500th Episode" | December 3 |
Programs ending in 2013
Date | Show | Channel | Debut | Status | Source |
January 7 | Motorcity | Disney XD | 2012 | Canceled | |
January 7 | The Mob Doctor | Fox | 2012 | Canceled | |
January 15 | Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 | ABC | 2012 | Canceled | |
January 18 | Fringe | Fox | 2008 | Ended | |
January 22 | Ben and Kate | Fox | 2012 | Canceled | |
January 22 | Private Practice | ABC | 2007 | Ended | |
January 23 | X-Play | G4 | 2003 | Canceled | |
January 23 | Attack of the Show! | G4 | 2005 | Canceled | |
January 24 | Last Resort | ABC | 2012 | Canceled | |
January 31 | 30 Rock | NBC | 2006 | Ended | |
February 2 | Victorious | Nickelodeon | 2010 | Canceled | |
February 4 | Hoarders | A&E | 2009 | Canceled | |
February 5 | Emily Owens, M.D. | The CW | 2012 | Canceled | |
February 6 | Love You, Mean It with Whitney Cummings | E! | 2012 | Canceled | |
February 7 | Buckwild | MTV | 2012 | Canceled | |
February 7 | Do No Harm | NBC | 2013 | Canceled | |
February 15 | The Job | CBS | 2013 | Canceled | |
February 22 | CBS | 2004 | Canceled | ||
February 25 | Bunheads | ABC Family | 2012 | Canceled | |
February 27 | Guys with Kids | NBC | 2012 | Canceled | |
February 28 | Zero Hour | ABC | 2013 | Canceled | |
March 3 | Enlightened | HBO | 2011 | Canceled | |
March 18 | Deception | NBC | 2013 | Canceled | |
March 22 | Malibu Country | ABC | 2012 | Canceled | |
March 27 | Whitney | NBC | 2011 | Canceled | |
March 28 | 1600 Penn | NBC | 2013 | Canceled | |
March 31 | 190 North | WLS-TV/Chicago | 1998 | Canceled | |
April 2 | The New Normal | NBC | 2012 | Canceled | |
April 5 | Cult | The CW | 2013 | Canceled | |
April 8 | Monday Mornings | TNT | 2013 | Canceled | |
April 11 | Go On | NBC | 2012 | Canceled | |
April 17 | Southland | TNT | 2009 | Canceled | |
April 23 | Ready for Love | NBC | 2013 | Canceled | |
April 27 | Marvin Marvin | Nickelodeon | 2012 | Canceled | |
May 1 | Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures | TeenNick | 2011 | Canceled | |
May 3 | Happy Endings | ABC | 2011 | Canceled | |
May 5 | Red Widow | ABC | 2013 | Canceled | |
May 10 | Touch | Fox | 2012 | Canceled | |
May 10 | Vegas | CBS | 2012 | Canceled | |
May 13 | 90210 | The CW | 2008 | Canceled | |
May 14 | Golden Boy | CBS | 2013 | Canceled | |
May 16 | The Office | NBC | 2005 | Ended | |
May 19 | The Cleveland Show | Fox | 2009 | Canceled | |
May 20 | Rules of Engagement | CBS | 2007 | Canceled | |
May 20 | Anderson Live | Syndicated | 2011 | Canceled | |
May 22 | The Jeff Probst Show | Syndicated | 2013 | Canceled | |
May 26 | Smash | NBC | 2012 | Canceled | |
May 28 | Body of Proof | ABC | 2011 | Canceled | |
May 31 | Merlin | Syfy | 2010 | Ended | |
June 3 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | ABC Family | 2008 | Ended | |
June 9 | Army Wives | Lifetime | 2007 | Canceled | |
June 16 | The Client List | Lifetime | 2012 | Canceled | |
June 19 | The Ricki Lake Show | Syndicated | 2012 | Canceled | |
June 21 | Rock Center with Brian Williams | NBC | 2011 | Canceled | |
June 26 | How to Live with Your Parents | ABC | 2013 | Canceled | |
July 7 | Family Tree | HBO | 2013 | Canceled | |
July 9 | Betty White's Off Their Rockers | NBC | 2012 | Canceled | |
July 10 | Family Tools | ABC | 2013 | Canceled | |
July 13 | 666 Park Avenue | ABC | 2012 | Canceled | |
July 18 | Intervention | A&E | 2005 | Canceled | |
July 21 | The Chris Matthews Show | Syndicated | 2002 | Ended | |
August 31 | Fox News Watch | Fox News Channel | 1997 | Canceled | |
September 4 | Futurama | Comedy Central | 1999 | Canceled | |
September 6 | Judge Joe Brown | Syndicated | 1998 | Canceled | |
September 12 | Burn Notice | USA Network | 2007 | Ended | |
September 13 | The Jeremy Kyle Show | Syndicated | 2011 | Canceled | |
September 22 | Dexter | Showtime | 2006 | Ended | |
September 27 | America Live with Megyn Kelly | Fox News Channel | 2010 | Canceled | |
September 29 | Breaking Bad | AMC | 2008 | Ended | |
October 1 | Lucky 7 | ABC | 2013 | Canceled | |
October 6 | Low Winter Sun | AMC | 2013 | Canceled | |
October 7 | We Are Men | CBS | 2013 | Canceled | |
October 17 | Welcome to the Family | NBC | 2013 | Canceled | |
October 18 | What Not to Wear | TLC | 2003 | Canceled | |
October 23 | Ironside | NBC | 2013 | Canceled | |
October 29 | Nikki & Sara Live | MTV | 2013 | Canceled | |
November 8 | Up Late with Alec Baldwin | MSNBC | 2013 | Canceled | |
November 10 | Shake It Up | Disney Channel | 2010 | Canceled | |
November 14 | Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell | FXX | 2012 | Canceled | |
December 19 | The X Factor | Fox | 2011 | Canceled | |
December 27 | Nikita | The CW | 2010 | Ended |
Made-for-TV movies and miniseries
Premiere date | Title | Channel | Source |
February 26 | Parade's End | HBO | |
March 3 | The Bible | History | |
March 18 | Top of the Lake | Sundance | |
March 24 | Phil Spector | HBO | |
May 26 | Behind the Candelabra | HBO | |
June 1 | Deadly Spa | Lifetime | |
June 8 | The Good Mother | Lifetime | |
June 15 | Gone Missing | Lifetime | |
June 15 | Playing Father | Hallmark Channel | |
June 22 | ' | Lifetime | |
June 29 | Anna Nicole | Lifetime | |
June 29 | Star Spangled Banner | Hallmark Channel | |
July 11 | Sharknado | Syfy | |
July 19 | Teen Beach Movie | Disney Channel | |
August 1 | Our Nixon | CNN | |
August 8 | Invasion Roswell | Syfy | |
August 10 | Clear History | HBO | |
August 10 | Reading, Writing & Romance | Hallmark Channel | |
August 17 | This Magic Moment | Hallmark Movie Channel | |
August 17 | Baby Sellers | Lifetime Network | |
August 22 | Ghost Shark | Syfy | |
August 24 | Garage Sale Mystery | Hallmark Movie Channel | |
August 24 | Swindle | Nickelodeon | |
September 4 | The Flag | CNN | |
September 5 | Ragin Cajun Redneck Gators | SyFy | |
September 6 | Dear Dumb Diary | Hallmark Channel | |
September 7 | A Sister's Nightmare | Lifetime | |
September 14 | Sins of the Preacher | Lifetime | |
September 14 | Robocroc | Syfy | |
September 14 | Friend Request | Hallmark Movie Channel | |
September 20 | The Watsons Go to Birmingham | Hallmark Channel | |
September 21 | Taken: The Search For Sophie Parker | Lifetime | |
September 28 | The Cheating Pact | Lifetime | |
October 5 | House of Versace | Lifetime | |
October 5 | Dead Letters | Hallmark Channel | |
October 19 | The Mystery Cruise | Hallmark Channel | |
October 19 | Missing at 17 | Lifetime | |
October 21 | ' | VH1 | |
October 24 | Blackfish | CNN | |
October 25 | The Hunters | Hallmark | |
October 26 | The Husband She Met Online | Lifetime | |
November 8 | Pete's Christmas | Hallmark Channel | |
November 9 | Snow Bride | Hallmark Channel | |
November 10 | A Very Merry Mix-up | Hallmark Channel | |
November 16 | The Christmas Ornament | Hallmark Channel | |
November 17 | Catch a Christmas | Hallmark Channel | |
November 17 | Letters To Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy | TLC | |
November 22 | An Adventure in Space and Time | BBC America | |
November 23 | Window Wonderland | Hallmark Channel | |
November 24 | Fir Crazy | Hallmark Channel | |
November 29 | Jinxed | Nickelodeon | |
November 30 | Let It Snow | Hallmark Channel | |
December 1 | The Christmas Spirit | Hallmark Channel | |
December 1 | Christmas in Conway | ABC | |
December 5 | The Sound of Music Live! | NBC | |
December 7 | Santa Switch | Hallmark Channel | |
December 8 | Holidaze | ABC Family | |
December 8–9 | Bonnie and Clyde: Dead and Alive | A&E, History, Lifetime | |
December 14 | Hats Off to Christmas | Hallmark Channel | |
December 15 | Finding Christmas | Hallmark Channel |
Television stations
Launches
Network station changes
The following is a list of television stations that have made or will make noteworthy network affiliation changes in 2013.Date | Market | Station | Channel | Prior affiliation | New affiliation | Source |
January 31 | Evansville, Indiana | WTVW | 7.1 | Independent | The CW | |
February 25 | Knoxville, Tennessee | WMAK | 7.1 | Daystar | Independent | |
March 1 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | WISE-TV | 33.2 | Fox, MyNetworkTV | MyNetworkTV | |
March 1 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | WFFT-TV | 55.1 | Independent | Fox | |
March 4 | Burlington, Vermont | WPTZ | 5.2 | MeTV | The CW, MeTV | |
March 4 | Burlington, Vermont | WFFF-TV | 44.2 | The CW | Independent | |
March 11 | Indianapolis, Indiana | WDNI-CD | 19.1 | Independent | Telemundo | |
March 11 | Washington, D.C. | WJLA-TV | 7.2 | The Local AccuWeather Channel | MeTV | |
April 1 | Superior, Nebraska | KSNB-TV | 4.1 | Antenna TV | MyNetworkTV | |
April 17 | Boise, Idaho | KIVI-TV | 6.3 | Retro Television Network | The Nashville Network | |
May 24 | Jackson, Mississippi | WRBJ | 34.1 | The CW | TBN | |
June 12 | Columbus, Ohio | WBNS-TV | 10.2 | The Local AccuWeather Channel | Antenna TV | |
July 1 | Charlotte, North Carolina | WCCB | 18.1 | Fox | The CW | |
July 1 | Charlotte, North Carolina | WJZY | 46.1 | The CW | Fox | |
July 1 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | WDJT-TV | 58.4 | Shorewest TV | TouchVision | |
August 1 | Panama City, Florida | WMBB-TV | 13.2 | This TV | MeTV | |
August 1 | New Orleans | WLAE | 32.1 | PBS | Educational Independent | |
August 20 | New York, New York | WRNN-TV | 48.2 | Al Jazeera English | Blue Ocean Network | |
September 30 | Wilmington, North Carolina | WWAY | 3.2 | Retro Television Network | The CW | |
September 30 | Jackson, Mississippi | WJTV | 12.2 | Weather Radar | The CW | |
October 14 | Macon, Georgia | WMAZ-TV | 13.2 | Weather Radar | The CW | |
October 31 | Flint/Tri-Cities, Michigan | WJRT-TV | 12.3 | The Local AccuWeather Channel | WeatherNation TV | |
November 1 | Chicago, Illinois | WCIU-TV | 26.5 | This TV | Bounce TV |