This is a list of the longest-running television shows by category. The criterion for being the longest-running show is by the number of years the show has been on the air and not the number of episodes produced.
| Category | Show Name | Country | Duration | No. of episodes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award Ceremony | Academy Award (The Oscars) | United States | (1929-1952, not aired) NBC:1953-1960,1971-1975 ABC:1961-1970,1976–present | 85 Ceremonies |
| Animated | Sazae-san | Japan | Fuji Television:1969–present | 6,429+ |
| Automotive | Top Gear | United Kingdom | BBC Two:1977–2001, 2002–present | 515; 133+6 specials |
| Children's show | Blue Peter | United Kingdom | BBC One, BBC Two:1958–present CBBC:2002–present | 4,578+ |
| Comedy | Radio Rochela | Venezuela | RCTV:1960–2010 | 2,652 |
| Cooking show | Hasta La Cocina | Mexico | 1960–present | 11,232+ |
| Current affairs series | Panorama | United Kingdom | BBC One:1953–present | |
| Educational Show | Teleclub | Costa Rica | 1963–present | |
| Espionage thriller | Spooks | United Kingdom | BBC One, BBC Three:2002–2011 | 86 |
| Fantasy | Touched By An Angel | United States | CBS:1994-2003 | 211 |
| Finance show | The Money Programme | United Kingdom | BBC Two:1966–present | |
| Game show | The Price Is Right | United States | CBS1956–1965, 1972–present | 7,302 as of 19 August 2010 |
| Historical drama | Zenigata Heiji | Japan | 1952–present | |
| History series | Timewatch | United Kingdom | BBC Two:1963–present | |
| Medical drama | General Hospital | United States | ABC:1963–present | |
| Music show | NHK Nodo Jiman | Japan | NHK:1953–present | ~2,900 as of 2012 |
| Music video show | Rage | Australia | ABC1:1987–present ABC2:2005-2009 Fly TV:2001-2003 | |
| News show | Meet the Press | United States | NBC:1947–present | 4,946+ |
| Newscast | Tagesschau | Germany | Das Erste:1952–present | ~20,000 by late 2009 |
| Noontime Show | Eat Bulaga | Philippines | GMA 7:1979–present | 9,797 |
| Police drama | Tatort | Germany | Das Erste:1970–present | |
| Police Procedural | The Bill | United Kingdom | Talkback Thames:1984–2010 | |
| Reality show | COPS | United States | Fox: 1989–present | 435+ |
| Religious program | It Is Written | United States | 1956–present | |
| Rural documentary | Country Calendar | New Zealand | TV One:1966–present | |
| Science fiction series | Doctor Who | United Kingdom | BBC One:1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present | 790 as of 25 December 2012 |
| Science show | The Sky at Night | United Kingdom | BBC One:1957–present | 705+ |
| Sitcom | Last of the Summer Wine | United Kingdom | BBC One:1973–2010 | 295 |
| Soap opera | Guiding Light | United States | 1952–2009 | 15,762 |
| Song Contest | Sanremo Music Festival | Italy | 1951–present | |
| Sports show | Hockey Night in Canada | Canada | 1952–present | |
| Talk / chat show | The Tonight Show | United States | 1954–present | ~10,680 as of 9 March 2012 |
| Teen drama | Grange Hill | United Kingdom | 1978–2008 | 605 |
| Telenovela | Mundo de juguete | Mexico | 1974–1977 | 605 |
| Travel show | Holiday | United Kingdom | 1969–2007 | |
| TV feedback show | Points of View | United Kingdom | 1961–present | Unknown |
| Variety show | Royal Variety Performance | United Kingdom | 1957–present | 84 |
| Western | Gunsmoke | United States | 1955–1975 | 635 |
| Quiz Show | University Challenge | United Kingdom | ITV:1962–1987, BBC:1994–present |
Famous quotes containing the words list of, list, shows and/or category:
“I made a list of things I have
to remember and a list
of things I want to forget,
but I see they are the same list.”
—Linda Pastan (b. 1932)
“Love’s boat has been shattered against the life of everyday. You and I are quits, and it’s useless to draw up a list of mutual hurts, sorrows, and pains.”
—Vladimir Mayakovsky (1893–1930)
“That which shows God in me, fortifies me. That which shows God out of me, makes me a wart and a wen.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“The truth is, no matter how trying they become, babies two and under don’t have the ability to make moral choices, so they can’t be “bad.” That category only exists in the adult mind.”
—Anne Cassidy (20th century)