The 1975–76 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers the primetime hours from September 1975 through August 1976. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 1974–75 season.
This was the first season since 1971 in which a four-hour Sunday night schedule was implemented.
This was also the first season for the 22-hour weekly prime-time schedule (four hours on Sunday, three hours each on Monday through Saturday). It remains in effect to this day.
PBS is not included as member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules, and broadcast times for network shows may vary.
Each of the 30 highest-rated shows released in May 1976 is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.[1]
Note: As of the 2022–23 television season, since December 1975, 60 Minutes has continually aired at the same 7:00 PM ET (or after sporting event overrun) time slot on CBS.
Note:The Best of Sanford and Son consisted of reruns of Sanford and Son from earlier seasons; Sanford and Son continued to air in its normal Friday 8:00-8:30 time slot during The Best of Sanford and Son's run. Hawk consisted of reruns of the 1966 ABC television series.
Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.
References
^Highest-rated series is based on the annual top-rated programs list compiled by Nielsen Media Research and reported in: Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (9th ed.). New York: Ballantine. ISBN978-0-345-49773-4.
Additional sources
Castleman, H. & Podrazik, W. (1982). Watching TV: Four Decades of American Television. New York: McGraw-Hill. 314 pp.
McNeil, Alex. Total Television. Fourth edition. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN0-14-024916-8.
Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1985). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (3rd ed.). New York: Ballantine. ISBN0-345-31864-1.