World Television Day History

World Television Day celebrates the integral role television plays in our lives. It recognizes the power of TV in shaping public opinion, fostering communication, informing and educating the public on diverse topics ranging from current events, environmental issues, to sports and entertainment. The day aims to promote international cooperation by encouraging major media broadcasters to exchange cultural, educational, and informational television programs globally.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed World Television Day on November 21st, 1996, in recognition of the first World Television Forum held that same year. The idea was to focus on the increasing influence of television and its potential for nurturing international understanding. For Americans, World Television Day encourages reflection on the vast cultural landscape that television provides. It is an opportunity to appreciate the numerous American-made television shows and programs that have become popular worldwide, while also acknowledging the richness of content visionaries from different countries have brought to the United States.

This day often includes various events, discussions, and broadcast showcases that celebrate the evolution and diversity of television. Some networks and TV stations in America may choose to air international programs or documentaries highlighting the impact of television on society, culture, and current affairs, underscoring the importance of this powerful medium that reaches millions of homes around the world. World Television Day is observed annually on November 21st.

Top 5 Facts for World Television Day in 2026

• TV stimulates the economy by providing countless avenues for jobs. Over 1.2 million people in the European Union alone are employed in the media sector
• In France, 63% of children between the age of 0 and 15 live in a household with 4 screens (TV, computer, tablet etc.).
• Television creates authority. When something is shown on TV it has a particular authority about it because you know that you and millions of other people are seeing it and that professionals have produced it.
• Collected data by U.S. News, shows that in 2020, adults in the United States spent about 3.1 hours per day watching television.
• Television is a medium because anything well done is rare. - Fred Allen, American comedian and radio show host.

In the News and Trending in the US for World Television Day

Top things to do in the US for World Television Day

• Spread awareness on social media by using the hashtags #WorldTelevisionDay, #TelevisionPhilosophy and #TVDay.
• Get together with friends and create your own short news segment as if it was on television. This will be a fun, creative experiment about what it feels like to read the news on TV, and you’ll also learn a lot along the way!
• Donate your TV if you have an extra one you can live without. You can donate it to Donation Town who will then pass it along to a family that does not have a TV. It is both helping a family in need and better for the environment because your TV is not ending up in a landfill.
• Watch a documentary on your TV. Documentaries educate the people on a variety of topics such as AIDS/HIV, Holocaust, Nuclear Accidents, Human Trafficking, Drug Rings and Diabetes complications.
• Read a book about television. Some suggestions are: Television Studies, A Companion to Television and A Study of Modern Television.