2020 in American television


The following is a list of events affecting American television in 2020. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, and cancellations; channel launches, closures, and re-brandings; stations changing or adding their network affiliations; and information about controversies and carriage disputes.

Notable events

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

Ongoing events

March–TBD

Future events

August

September

November

TBD

Television shows

Shows debuting in 2020

Shows changing networks

ShowMoved fromMoved toSource
Dirty JohnBravoUSA Network
ViceHBOShowtime
Vice News TonightHBOVice on TV
NAACP Image AwardsTV OneBET
Thomas & FriendsNick Jr.Netflix
One Day at a TimeNetflixPop & TV Land /CBS
The Rich Eisen ShowAudienceNBCSN
Doom PatrolDC UniverseDC Universe/HBO Max
Sesame StreetHBO/PBSHBO Max/PBS
Esme & RoyHBO/PBSHBO Max/PBS
Search PartyTBSHBO Max
Rooster TeethHBO Max
Summer Camp IslandCartoon NetworkHBO Max
Infinity TrainCartoon NetworkHBO Max
Where's Waldo?Universal KidsPeacock
A.P. BioNBCPeacock
Curious GeorgePBS KidsPeacock
Disney's Fairy Tale WeddingsFreeformDisney+
The OrvilleFoxHulu

Milestone episodes and anniversaries

Shows returning in 2020

The following shows will return with new episodes after being canceled or ended their run previously:
ShowLast airedType of ReturnPrevious channelNew/returning/same channelReturn dateSource
Supernanny2011RevivalABCLifetimeJanuary 1
Steve
2019RevivalFirst-run syndicationFacebook WatchJanuary 6
Party of Five2000RebootFoxFreeformJanuary 8
The Biggest Loser2016RebootNBCUSA NetworkJanuary 28
Manhunt2017RevivalDiscovery ChannelSpectrum OriginalsFebruary 3
XFL2001RebootNBC/TNN/UPNESPN/ABC/Fox/FS1February 8
The Soup2015RevivalE!sameFebruary 12
Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings2018New seasonFreeformDisney+February 14
'2012RevivalABCHGTVFebruary 16
'2014New seasonNetflixDisney+February 21
Forensic Files
2011RevivalCourt TV/TruTVHLNFebruary 23
Bride & Prejudice
2016RevivalFYILifetimeFebruary 26
Opry2009New seasonGACCircleFebruary 26
Vice News Tonight2019RevivalHBOVice on TVMarch 4
Amazing Stories1987RebootNBCApple TV+March 6

2014New seasonFox/National GeographicsameMarch 9
The Wall2018New seasonNBCsameMarch 15
One Day at a Time2019New seasonNetflixPop/TV Land/CBSMarch 24
Vice2018New seasonHBOShowtimeMarch 29
12 oz. Mouse2018New seasonAdult SwimsameApril 1
Singled Out2019RebootMTV/YouTubeQuibiApril 6
Punk'd2015RebootBETQuibiApril 6
Celebrity Ghost Stories2014RevivalLMNA&EApril 8
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire2019New seasonFirst-run syndicationABCApril 8
Club MTV
1992SpecialMTVsameApril 25
Parks and Recreation
2015SpecialNBCsameApril 30
Reno 911!2009RevivalComedy CentralQuibiMay 4
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt2019SpecialNetflixsameMay 12
Sell This House2011RevivalA&EFYIMay 18
True Life
2017SpecialMTVsameJune 9
Search Party2017New seasonTBSHBO MaxJune 25
Adventure Time
2018SpecialsCartoon NetworkHBO MaxJune 25
Nick News2015RevivalNickelodeonsameJune 29
Unsolved Mysteries2010RevivalSpikeNetflixJuly 1
The Baby-Sitters Club1990RebootHBONetflixJuly 3
30 Rock
2013SpecialNBCsameJuly 16
The Fugitive2001RebootCBSQuibiAugust 3
Eco-Challenge
2002RevivalUSA NetworkAmazon Prime VideoAugust 14
A.P. Bio2019New seasonNBCPeacockSeptember 3
Saved by the Bell1993RevivalNBCPeacockSummer
Punky Brewster1988RevivalFirst-run syndicationPeacockSummer
Tyler Perry's House of Payne2012RevivalTBSBETSummer
Dr. 902102008RevivalE!sameFall
The Equalizer1989RebootCBSsameFall
The Boondocks2014RebootAdult SwimHBO MaxFall
Supermarket Sweep2003RevivalPAXABCFall
The Chase2015RevivalGame Show NetworkABCFall
Animaniacs1998RevivalKids' WBHuluTBA
Lizzie McGuire2004RevivalDisney ChannelDisney+TBA
Monster Garage2006RevivalDiscovery ChannelTLCTBA
Making the Band2009RevivalMTVsameTBA
What Not to Wear2013RevivalTLCsameTBA
Wipeout2014RevivalABCTBSTBA
Legends of the Hidden Temple1995RebootNickelodeonQuibiTBA
Top Gear America2017RebootBBC AmericaMotor TrendTBA

Shows ending in 2020

Entering syndication in 2020

A list of programs that have accumulated enough episodes or seasons to be eligible for off-network syndication and/or basic cable runs.
ShowSeasonsIn ProductionNotesSource
Schitt's Creek6No

Networks and services

Launches

Conversions and rebrandings

Closures

Television stations

Subchannel launches

DateMarketStationChannelAffiliationSource
January 1Birmingham, AlabamaWBRC6.5Grit
January 1Huntsville, AlabamaWAFF48.5Grit
January 1Montgomery, AlabamaWSFA12.3Circle
January 1Anchorage, AlaskaKTUU-TV2.3Circle
January 1Tucson, ArizonaKOLD-TV13.3Circle
January 1Los Angeles, CaliforniaKCAL-TV9.3Circle
January 1Sacramento, CaliforniaKMAX-TV31.5Circle
January 1San Francisco, CaliforniaKBCW44.5Circle
January 1Dover, Delaware WMDE36.4Circle
January 1Gainesville/Ocala, FloridaWCJB-TV20.4Circle
January 1Miami/Fort Lauderdale, FloridaWBFS-TV33.5Circle
January 1Panama City, FloridaWECP-LD18.4Heroes & Icons
January 1Sarasota, FloridaWWSB40.2Circle
January 1St. Petersburg/Tampa, FloridaWTOG44.5Circle
January 1West Palm Beach, FloridaWFLX29.3Circle
January 1Albany, GeorgiaWALB10.5Circle
January 1Albany, GeorgiaWGCW-LD36.2Circle
January 1Augusta, GeorgiaWRDW-TV12.4Circle
January 1Columbus, GeorgiaWTVM9.3Circle
January 1Savannah, GeorgiaWTOC-TV11.3Circle
January 1Thomasville, Georgia
WCTV6.3Circle
January 1Honolulu, HawaiiKGMB5.2Circle
January 1Caldwell/Boise, IdahoKNIN-TV9.4Circle
January 1Evansville, IndianaWFIE14.4Grit
January 1South Bend, IndianaWNDU-TV16.3Circle
January 1Cedar Rapids, IowaKCRG-TV9.6Circle
January 1Ottumwa, Iowa/Kirksville, MissouriKYOU-TV15.5Grit
January 1Topeka, KansasWIBW-TV13.3Circle
January 1Hutchinson/Wichita, KansasKWCH-DT12.4Circle
January 1Hazard, KentuckyWYMT-TV57.3Circle
January 1Lexington, KentuckyWKYT-TV27.3Circle
January 1Louisville, KentuckyWAVE3.3Circle
January 1Baton Rouge, LouisianaWAFB9.3Circle
January 1New Orleans, LouisianaWVUE-DT8.5Grit
January 1Shreveport, LouisianaKSLA12.2Grit
January 1Bangor, MaineWABI-TV5.4Circle
January 1Boston, MassachusettsWSBK-TV38.5Circle
January 1Detroit, MichiganWKBD-TV50.5Circle
January 1Flint/Saginaw/
Bay City, Michigan		WJRT-TV12.6WeatherNation TV
January 1Onondaga/Lansing, MichiganWILX-TV10.3Circle
January 1Jackson, MississippiWLBT3.3Circle
January 1Cape Girardeau, Missouri/
Paducah, Kentucky		KFVS-TV12.3Circle
January 1Springfield, MissouriKYTV3.5Circle
January 1Grand Island/Hastings, NebraskaKGIN11.5Circle
January 1Lincoln, NebraskaKOLN10.5Circle
January 1Reno, NevadaKOLO-TV8.4Circle
January 1Secaucus, New Jersey
WWOR-TV48.2Circle
January 1Riverhead, New York
WLNY-TV55.5Circle
January 1Charlotte, North CarolinaWBTV3.3Circle
January 1Greenville/New Bern/
Washington, North Carolina		WITN-TV7.6Circle
January 1Wilmington, North CarolinaWECT6.3Circle
January 1Bismarck, North DakotaKFYR-TV5.4Circle
January 1Dickinson, North DakotaKQCD-TV7.4Circle
January 1Minot, North DakotaKMOT10.4Circle
January 1Williston, North DakotaKUMV-TV8.4Circle
January 1Cincinnati, OhioWCPO-TV9.5Laff
January 1Cincinnati, OhioWXIX-TV19.5Ion Television
January 1Shaker Heights/Cleveland, OhioWOIO43.2Circle
January 1Toledo, OhioWTVG13.4Circle
January 1Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaWPSG57.5Circle
January 1Jeannette/Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaWPCW19.5Circle
January 1Ponce, Puerto RicoWTIN-TV2.11Telemundo
January 1Mayaguez, Puerto RicoWNJX-TV2.12Telemundo
January 1San Juan, Puerto RicoWAPA-TV4.3Local weather
January 1Charleston, South CarolinaWCSC-TV5.4Grit
January 1Columbia, South CarolinaWIS10.3Circle
January 1Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaWMBF-TV32.5Grit
January 1Lead, South DakotaKHSD-TV11.2Circle
January 1Rapid City, South DakotaKOTA-TV3.2Circle
January 1Knoxville, TennesseeWVLT-TVCircle-
January 1Memphis, TennesseeWMC-TV5.4Grit
January 1Borger/Amarillo, TexasKEYU31.3Circle
January 1Fort Worth/Dallas, TexasKTXA21.4Circle
January 1Lubbock, TexasKCBD11.2Circle
January 1Tyler/Longview, TexasKLTV7.2Circle
January 1Burlington, VermontWCAX-TV3.5Ion Television
January 1Harrisonburg, VirginiaWSVW-LD30.3Circle
January 1Richmond, VirginiaWWBT12.4Court TV Mystery
January 1Roanoke, VirginiaWDBJ7.3Heroes & Icons
January 1Tacoma/Seattle, WashingtonKSTW11.5Circle
January 1Huntington/Charleston, West VirginiaWSAZ-TV3.3Circle
January 1Weston/Clarksburg, West VirginiaWDTV5.4Circle
January 1Green Bay, WisconsinWBAY-TV2.6Ion Television
January 6Colorado Springs, ColoradoKKTV11.3Circle
January 7Fort Kent, Maine WWPI-LD16.1NBC
January 13Lake Charles, LouisianaKVHP29.4Ion Television
January 13Wichita Falls, Texas/Lawton, OklahomaKAUZ-TV6.3Circle
April 1Lafayette, LouisianaKLWB50.3Telemundo
May 1Kennewick/Pasco/
Richland, Washington		KVEW42.6QVC
May 1Kennewick/Pasco/
Richland, Washington		KVEW42.7HSN
May 1Yakima, WashingtonKAPP35.6QVC
May 1Yakima, WashingtonKAPP35.7HSN
TBALos AngelesKWHY-TV22.8Spanish News

Stations changing network affiliation

Major affiliation changes

DateMarketStationChannelPrior affiliationNew affiliationNotesSource
January 1Mayagüez, Puerto RicoWORA5.1TelemundoABCOn June 27, 2019, WORA-TV announced that it will end an affiliation agreement with WKAQ-TV by December 31, leaving Telemundo without a western affiliate after more than four years. Later, Hemisphere Media Group, the owners of WAPA-TV, announced that Telemundo would air on a subchannel of WNJX-TV by January 1, 2020. On December 18, WORA-TV announced that it will move ABC programming to channel 5.1 on January 1, with the Televisión Española news channel 24H airing on 5.2 from that date on.
January 28Harlingen/McAllen/
Brownsville, Texas		KGBT4.1CBSTemporarily silentWith Nexstar Media Group acquiring the non-license assets of KGBT from Sinclair Broadcast Group through the settlement of Tribune Media's 2018 lawsuit against Sinclair, Nexstar—which assumed the rights to KGBT's programming and news operation—decides to move KGBT's CBS schedule to a subchannel on the KVEO spectrum; the move results in KGBT ending its affiliation with CBS after 66 years and its main channel going temporarily silent until replacement programming is added. KVEO's former subchannel affiliations with Estrella TV, Court TV Mystery and Grit also move to the KGBT spectrum to accommodate additional bandwidth needed for KVEO to transmit the former KGBT CBS programming feed on its DT2 subchannel.
January 28Harlingen/McAllen/
Brownsville, Texas		KGBT4.4New subchannelEstrella TVWith Nexstar Media Group acquiring the non-license assets of KGBT from Sinclair Broadcast Group through the settlement of Tribune Media's 2018 lawsuit against Sinclair, Nexstar—which assumed the rights to KGBT's programming and news operation—decides to move KGBT's CBS schedule to a subchannel on the KVEO spectrum; the move results in KGBT ending its affiliation with CBS after 66 years and its main channel going temporarily silent until replacement programming is added. KVEO's former subchannel affiliations with Estrella TV, Court TV Mystery and Grit also move to the KGBT spectrum to accommodate additional bandwidth needed for KVEO to transmit the former KGBT CBS programming feed on its DT2 subchannel.
January 28Harlingen/McAllen/
Brownsville, Texas		KGBT4.5New subchannelGritWith Nexstar Media Group acquiring the non-license assets of KGBT from Sinclair Broadcast Group through the settlement of Tribune Media's 2018 lawsuit against Sinclair, Nexstar—which assumed the rights to KGBT's programming and news operation—decides to move KGBT's CBS schedule to a subchannel on the KVEO spectrum; the move results in KGBT ending its affiliation with CBS after 66 years and its main channel going temporarily silent until replacement programming is added. KVEO's former subchannel affiliations with Estrella TV, Court TV Mystery and Grit also move to the KGBT spectrum to accommodate additional bandwidth needed for KVEO to transmit the former KGBT CBS programming feed on its DT2 subchannel.
January 28Harlingen/McAllen/
Brownsville, Texas		KGBT4.6New subchannelCourt TV MysteryWith Nexstar Media Group acquiring the non-license assets of KGBT from Sinclair Broadcast Group through the settlement of Tribune Media's 2018 lawsuit against Sinclair, Nexstar—which assumed the rights to KGBT's programming and news operation—decides to move KGBT's CBS schedule to a subchannel on the KVEO spectrum; the move results in KGBT ending its affiliation with CBS after 66 years and its main channel going temporarily silent until replacement programming is added. KVEO's former subchannel affiliations with Estrella TV, Court TV Mystery and Grit also move to the KGBT spectrum to accommodate additional bandwidth needed for KVEO to transmit the former KGBT CBS programming feed on its DT2 subchannel.
January 28Harlingen/McAllen/
Brownsville, Texas		KVEO23.2Estrella TVCBSWith Nexstar Media Group acquiring the non-license assets of KGBT from Sinclair Broadcast Group through the settlement of Tribune Media's 2018 lawsuit against Sinclair, Nexstar—which assumed the rights to KGBT's programming and news operation—decides to move KGBT's CBS schedule to a subchannel on the KVEO spectrum; the move results in KGBT ending its affiliation with CBS after 66 years and its main channel going temporarily silent until replacement programming is added. KVEO's former subchannel affiliations with Estrella TV, Court TV Mystery and Grit also move to the KGBT spectrum to accommodate additional bandwidth needed for KVEO to transmit the former KGBT CBS programming feed on its DT2 subchannel.

Subchannel affiliation

DateMarketStationChannelPrior affiliationNew affiliationSource
January 1Birmingham, AlabamaWBRC6.3Grit Circle
January 1Huntsville, AlabamaWAFF48.3Grit Circle
January 1Panama City, FloridaWECP-LD18.3Heroes & Icons Circle
January 1Evansville, IndianaWFIE14.3Grit Circle
January 1Ottumwa, Iowa/Kirksville, MissouriKYOU-TV15.3Grit Circle
January 1New Orleans, LouisianaWVUE-DT8.3Grit Circle
January 1Shreveport, LouisianaKSLA12.2Grit Circle
January 1Flint/Saginaw/
Bay City, Michigan		WJRT-TV12.3WeatherNation TV
Circle
January 1Cincinnati, OhioWCPO-TV9.3LaffBounce TV
January 1Cincinnati, OhioWXIX-TV19.2Bounce TV Heroes & Icons
January 1Cincinnati, OhioWXIX-TV19.3GritCircle
January 1Cincinnati, OhioWXIX-TV19.4Ion Television Grit
January 1Cincinnati, OhioWBQC-LD25.9Heroes & IconsStart TV
January 1Charleston, South CarolinaWCSC-TV5.3Grit Circle
January 1Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaWMBF-TV32.3Grit Circle
January 1Memphis, TennesseeWMC-TV5.3Grit Circle
January 1Belton, Texas
KNCT46.2MeTV Circle
January 1Burlington, VermontWCAX-TV3.5Ion Television Circle
January 1Richmond, VirginiaWWBT12.2Court TV Mystery Circle
January 1Roanoke, VirginiaWDBJ7.2Heroes & Icons Circle
January 1Green Bay, WisconsinWBAY-TV2.3Ion Television Circle
January 13Lake Charles, LouisianaKVHP29.3Ion Television Circle

Station closures

Deaths

January

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
January 1David Stern77Commissioner of the National Basketball Association from 1984–2014 who oversaw the launches of NBA TV and NBA League Pass.
January 1Barry ZeVan82American television weathercaster at Minneapolis–St. Paul stations KARE and KSTP-TV and Washington, D.C. station WJLA-TV
January 3Robert Blanche57American film and television actor best known as Patrick Bonanno on Leverage
January 7Silvio Horta45American film and television writer
January 8Buck Henry89American actor, comedian, producer, writer, and director
January 8Edd Byrnes87American actor/singer, best known for playing Kookie on 77 Sunset Strip
January 12William Bogert83American actor, best known for his semi-regular role as Brandon Brindle on Small Wonder, Kent Wallace from Chappelle's Shows Frontline spoofs, William Bellamy in Centennial, and the "Confessions of a Republican" ad for Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1964 U.S. Presidential election
January 15Rocky Johnson75WWE Hall of Fame professional wrestler; father of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
January 18Jack Van Impe88American televangelist, host of Jack Van Impe Presents
January 19Gene London88American children's show host and puppeteer at WCAU/Philadelphia, New York City stations WABD and WABC-TV, and NBC
January 20Len Goorian100Longtime producer and Hall of Fame broadcaster at WCPO-TV in Cincinnati
January 23Jim Lehrer85American television journalist
January 23Tyler Gwozdz29American entrepreneur and contestant on season 15 of The Bachelorette
January 26Leo Fernández III60Puerto Rican reporter and paparazzo, worked at WKAQ-TV, WAPA-TV, WLII and WJPX
January 26Kobe Bryant41American Oscar-winning and Olympic Gold medalist basketball player, author, producer, and documentarian.
January 27Jack Burns86American actor, comedian, writer, and voice actor ; founder of The Fred Silverman Company. Also producer on Scooby-Doo, The Waltons, Charlie's Angels, Rich Man, Poor Man, Roots, and Shōgun.
January 31Anne Cox Chambers100American media proprietor, daughter of James M. Cox

February

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
February 3Bob Griffin85Longtime Ark-La-Tex television sports and news anchor
February 4Gene Reynolds96Longtime television producer and director
February 5Kirk Douglas103American actor
February 7Orson Bean91American actor, comedian, panelist, and activist
February 8Robert Conrad84American actor best known as James T. West in The Wild Wild West and Tom Lopaka on Hawaiian Eye. Also starred on The D.A., Assignment Vienna, Centennial, and Baa Baa Black Sheep.
February 14Lynn Cohen86American actress best known as Magda on Sex and the City and Judge Elizabeth Mizener on Law & Order
February 16Jason Davis35American actor best known as the voice of Mikey Blumberg on Recess
February 17Ja'Net DuBois87Actress best known as Willona Woods on Good Times, Florence Avery on The PJs, and Grandma Ellington on The Wayans Bros. Also sang The Jeffersons theme song.
February 19Bob Cobert95American composer
February 20Sy Sperling78American consumer products executive, founder and spokesman of Hair Club
February 22B. Smith70American model, publisher, author, lifestyle designer, chef, and television personality
February 25Lee Phillip Bell91American television producer

March

April

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
April 1Adam Schlesinger52American musician and songwriter. Three-time Emmy-winner, and Grammy-winner.
April 6James Drury85Actor best known as the title character of The Virginian
April 6Al Kaline85American Hall of Fame baseball player, broadcaster, and executive. Served as the Detroit Tigers TV color commentator from 1975–2002.
April 7Hal Willner64Music producer
April 7Herb Stempel93Game show contestant most famous for blowing the whistle on the scripted game show Twenty One, beginning the 1950s quiz show scandals. Was portrayed by John Turturro in Quiz Show.
April 14Gary Drapcho63Longtime sports anchor at WICU-TV and WSEE-TV in Erie
April 15Willie Davis85Professional football player, broadcaster, and color commentator for NFL on NBC; father of actor Duane Davis
April 15Brian Dennehy81Actor. Golden Globe winner for his role as Willy Loman in the 2000 television film Death of a Salesman.
April 16Mike Buchanan78Longtime television journalist at WUSA and WJLA-TV in Washington, DC
April 16Gene Deitch95American expatriate animator
April 16Howard Finkel69Longtime WWE Hall of Fame ring announcer
April 16Eugene Kane63American journalist and commentator
April 20Tom Lester81American actor, businessman, and evangelist, best known for his role as Eb Dawson on Green Acres, and was the last original surviving cast member of the 1965-71 sitcom.
April 21Mike Anderson67Anchorman, reporter, and commentator for WISN-TV Milwaukee from 1981 to 2017; also an alumnus of KIRO-TV Seattle and an R&B singer.
April 21Jerry Bishop84Longtime announcer of Judge Judy
April 22Shirley Knight83Actress
April 23Dimitri Diatchenko52Character actor.
April 24Mark Farrell55News director at KTEN in Ada-Sherman
April 25Willie Dixon52Photojournalist at KTRK-TV in Houston
April 27Ashley Ross34American reality show contestant
April 28Ed Carter81Longtime television journalist at WIS in Columbia, SC
April 28John Mercer56News anchor/reporter at WDEF-TV in Chattanooga
April 30Sam Lloyd56American actor, singer, and musician

May

DateNameAgeNotabilitySource
May 9Little Richard87American musician and actor
May 10Betty Wright66Grammy-award winning American singer/songwriter, and producer
May 11Jerry Stiller92American comedian and actor best known as Frank Costanza on Seinfeld and Arthur Spooner on The King of Queens. Also recurring roles on Joe and Sons, Tattingers, Fish Hooks, and Teacher's Pet. Father of Ben Stiller and husband of Anne Meara.
May 15Fred Willard86American comedian, actor, presenter, and writer
May 16Frank Bielec72Home renovation designer
May 16Phyllis George70American businesswoman, actress, presenter/host and sportscaster
May 16Lynn Shelton54American actress, writer, director and producer
May 17Shad Gaspard39American wrestler, novelist, and actor, who was part of the WWE tag team duo Cryme Tyme
May 18Ken Osmond76American actor, author, and officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, best known for playing Eddie Haskell on Leave It to Beaver and The New Leave It to Beaver; his near-fatal attack from a carjacker he helped convict in 1980 was recreated for an episode of Top Cops
May 19Hagen Mills34American actor
May 26Richard Herd87American actor
May 28Marge Redmond95American actress, notable for her role/narration as Sister Jacqueline on The Flying Nun and Sarah Tucker in the Cool Whip commercials.
May 29Rob Andringa51Former Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey player and hockey analyst for Wisconsin Public Television and Big Ten Network

June

July

August