See also: 1958 in television, other events of 1959, 1960 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

For the American network television schedule, please see 1959-60 American network television schedule.

Events

• January 26 - The science-fiction serial Quatermass and the Pit concludes on BBC Television in the UK with 11 million viewers for the final episode, a recent BBC record.
• April 24 - The Your Hit Parade television series, which has been on the air since 1935, airs its last episode.
• Hanna Barbera's first television cartoon, Huckleberry Hound premieres.
• Fall – Scandals involving rigged network quiz shows create havoc within the US television industry.

Debuts

• October 2 - Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone debuts on CBS (1959-1964, 1985-1988, 2002).
• October - Hawaiian Eye premieres on ABC (1959-1963).
• Bonanza premieres (1959-1973).
• Face to Face debuts on BBC Television.
• Juke Box Jury premieres (1959-1967, 1979, 1989-1990).
• The Bell Telephone Hour premieres (1959-1968).

Television shows

• Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (1946-1960).
• Howdy Doody (1947-1960).
• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971).
• The Voice of Firestone (1949-1963).
• The Jack Benny Show (1950-1965).
• Truth or Consequences (1950-1988).
• What's My Line (1950-1967).
• Love of Life (1951-1980).
• Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986).
• American Bandstand (1952-1989).
• The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952-1966).
• The Guiding Light (1952-present).
• The Honeymooners (1952-1970).
• The Today Show (1952-present).
• This Is Your Life (US) (1952-1961).
• Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
• The Good Old Days (UK) (1953-1983).
• Face the Nation (1954-present).
• The Brighter Day (1954-1962).
• The Milton Berle Show (1954-1967).
• The Secret Storm (1954-1974).
• The Tonight Show (1954-present).
• Zoo Quest (UK) (1954-1964).
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1962).
• Captain Kangaroo (1955-1984).
• Cheyenne (1955-1962).
• Dixon of Dock Green (UK) (1955-1976).
• Gunsmoke (1955-1975).
• The Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982).
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003).
• Armchair Theatre (UK) (1956-1968).
• As the World Turns (1956-present).
• Hancock's Half Hour (1956-1962).
• Opportunity Knocks (UK) (1956-1978).
• The Edge of Night (1956-1984).
• The Gale Storm Show, Oh! Susanna (1956-1960).
• The Price Is Right (1956-1965).
• The Steve Allen Show (1956-1960).
• What the Papers Say (UK) (1956-present).
• Leave It to Beaver (1957-1963).
• The Army Game (UK) (1957-1961).
• The Sky at Night (UK) (1957-present).
• Blue Peter (UK) (1958-present).
• Grandstand (UK) (1958-present).
• Peter Gunn (1959-1961).
• The Donna Reed Show (1958-1966).
• Walt Disney Presents (1958-1961).

Ending this year

• Your Hit Parade (1950-1959).
• Dragnet (1951-1959).
• Mickey Mouse Club (1955-1959).
• Quatermass and the Pit (UK) (1958-1959).

Births

• April 24 - Paula Yates, television presenter.
• August 16 - Laura Innes, actress.
• October 25 - Nancy Cartwright, voice actress ("Bart Simpson").
• December 30 - Tracey Ullman, actress and comedian.