The following is a list of events affecting Canadian television in 1961. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches.

Events

* ''

Reach for the Top ''Reach for the Top'' (also known simply as ''Reach'') is a Canadian academic quiz competition for high school students. In the past, it has also been a game show nationally broadcast on the CBC. Matches are currently aired online through Reach ...

'' broadcasts for the first time on

CBUT CBUT-DT (channel 2) is a television station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, serving as the West Coast flagship of CBC Television. It is part of a twinstick with Ici Radio-Canada Télé station CBUFT-DT (channel 26). Both stations sh ...

. Four years later the show launches nationally on CBC. *

CHCH Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River ...

becomes an independent station after seven years of CBC network affiliation. * October 1 - The Canadian Television Network launches as Canada's second national television network. The original affiliates are CFCN, CHAN, CJAY,

CFTO CFTO-DT (channel 9) is a television station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, serving as the flagship station of the CTV Television Network. It is owned and operated by network parent Bell Media alongside Barrie-based CTV 2 outlet CKVR-DT, channel 3 ...

, CJCH, CFCF,

CJOH CJOH-DT (channel 13) is a television station in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, part of the CTV Television Network. It is owned and operated by network parent Bell Media alongside Pembroke-licensed CTV 2 outlet CHRO-TV (channel 5). Both stations share ...

, and CFRN which was a former CBC affiliate. * The CTV National News airs its first broadcast not long after the launch of CTN. The original anchors are

Peter Jennings Peter Charles Archibald Ewart Jennings (July 29, 1938August 7, 2005) was a Canadian-born American television journalist who served as the sole anchor of ''ABC World News Tonight'' from 1983 until his death from lung cancer in 2005. He dropped o ...

, Charles Lynch and Peter Stursberg. The show gets off to a slow start but soon becomes the network's highest rated program.

Debuts

Ending this year

Births

*February 24 - Lynette Gillis, Actress, voice actress and singer *September 16 - Jen Tolley, Actress, voice actress and singer

Television shows

1950s

* '' Country Canada'' (1954–2007) * ''

CBC News Magazine ''CBC News Magazine'' (later known as ''Newsmagazine'') was a weekly Canadian news television series which debuted on CBC Television on September 8, 1952. The series presented the week's international news highlights and documentaries from CBC cor ...

'' (1952–1981) * ''

Chez Hélène ''Chez Hélène'' is a children's television series produced by and broadcast on CBC Television. The 15-minute weekday program was broadcast on the English television network to provide viewers with exposure to the French language. The program ...

'' (1959–1973) * ''

Circle 8 Ranch From 1955 until 1978, ''Circle 8 Ranch'' was a weekly country and western television program broadcast each Tuesday night on Wingham, Ontario's CKNX, Channel 8. It began as a radio program called the ''CKNX Barn Dance'' on CKNX's AM sister statio ...

'' (1955–1978) * ''

Don Messer's Jubilee ''Don Messer's Jubilee'' was a folk musical TV variety show produced at station CBHT in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was broadcast by CBC Television nationwide from 1957 until 1969, after almost two decades in various formats on CBC radio. T ...

'' (1957–1969) * ''

The Friendly Giant ''The Friendly Giant'' was a children's television program that aired on CBC Television from September 30, 1958 through to March 1985. It featured three main characters: a giant (mythology), giant named Friendly (played by Bob Homme), who lived in ...

'' (1958–1985) * ''

Front Page Challenge ''Front Page Challenge'' was a Canadian panel game about current events and history. Created by comedy writer/performer John Aylesworth (of the comedy team of Frank Peppiatt and John Aylesworth) and produced and aired by CBC Television, the se ...

'' (1957–1995) * ''

Hockey Night in Canada CBC Television has aired National Hockey League (NHL) broadcasts under the ''Hockey Night in Canada'' (often abbreviated ''Hockey Night'' or ''HNiC'') brand that is primarily associated with its Saturday night NHL broadcasts throughout its hi ...

'' (1952–present) * ''

Maggie Muggins ''Maggie Muggins'' was a Canadian children's radio and television series which began on-air live as a fifteen-minute program on CBC Radio on New Year's Day, 1947. The highly popular radio program engaged children's imaginations, with its continu ...

'' (1955–1962) * '' The National'' (1954–present) * '' Open House'' (1952–1962) * '' Wayne and Shuster Show'' (1958–1989)

1960s

* '' A Case for the Court'' (1960–1962) * '' Club 6'' (1960–1962) * ''

The Nature of Things ''The Nature of Things'' (also, ''The Nature of Things with David Suzuki'') is a Canadian television series of documentary programs. It debuted on CBC Television on 6 November 1960. Many of the programs document nature and the effect that hu ...

'' (1960–present, scientific documentary series)

Television stations

Debuts

Network affiliation changes

References

External links

CBC Directory of Television Series at Queen’s University
(Archived March 4, 2016) {{Canada-tv-stub

Events

Debuts

Ending this year

Births

Television shows

1950s

1960s

Television stations

Debuts

Network affiliation changes

See also

References

External links