# 1988 in Canadian television

This is a list of Canadian television related events from 1988.

## Events

| Date | Event |
| February 20 | 9th Genie Awards. |
| February 20 | 1988 Gemini Awards. |
| February 20 | The 1988 Winter Olympics which were hosted in Calgary aired on all the CTV stations for two weeks. |
| May 1 | Peter Mansbridge takes over as anchor and chief correspondent for The National. He replaces Knowlton Nash who had held the job since 1978. |
| August 6 | The Raccoons begins airing on RTÉ in Ireland for the very first time. The series was starting transmitting on RTÉ One. |
| September 1 | A number of new channels launch including Family Channel, MétéoMédia, TV5, VisionTV, VRAK.TV, The Weather Network, and YTV. |
| September 5 | CIHF-TV launches. It launched as an independent station and would remain that until 1997 when it would join the Global system and be branded Global Maritimes, then renamed to Global Halifax in 2013. |

### Debuts

| Show | Station | Premiere Date |
| Adrienne Clarkson Presents | CBC Television | January 3 |
| Just for Laughs | CBC Television | January 3 |
| Mount Royal | CTV | January 3 |
| My Secret Identity | CTV | September 1 |
| Tickle on the Tum | YTV | September 1 |
| Maple Town | YTV | September 1 |
| Zardip's Search for Healthy Wellness | TVOntario | September 1 |
| Learning The Ropes | September 16 | CTV |
| Electric Circus | Citytv | September 18 |
| MovieTelevision | Citytv | unknown date |
| La Course destination monde | Télévision de Radio-Canada | unknown date |

### Ending this year

| Show | Station | Cancelled |
| Adderly | Global | March 9 |
| Check it Out! | CTV | April 1 |
| Mount Royal | CTV | May 24 |
| City Lights | Citytv | Unknown |
| Blizzard Island | CBC Television | Unknown |

### Changes of network affiliation

| Show | Moved From | Moved To |
| Five Times Dizzy | Knowledge Network | YTV |

## Television shows
### 1950s

* Country Canada (1954–2007)
* Hockey Night in Canada (1952–present)
* The National (1954–present)
* Front Page Challenge (1957–1995)
* Wayne and Shuster Show (1958–1989)

### 1960s

* CTV National News (1961–present)
* Land and Sea (1964–present)
* Man Alive (1967–2000)
* Mr. Dressup (1967–1996)
* The Nature of Things (1960–present, scientific documentary series)
* Question Period (1967–present, news program)
* The Tommy Hunter Show (1965–1992)
* W-FIVE (1966–present, newsmagazine program)

### 1970s

* The Beachcombers (1972–1990)
* Canada AM (1972–2016, news program)
* Definition (1974–1989)
* the fifth estate (1975–present, newsmagazine program)
* Live It Up! (1978–1990)
* Marketplace (1972–present, newsmagazine program)
* Polka Dot Door (1971-1993)
* You Can't Do That on Television (1979–1990)
* 100 Huntley Street (1977–present, religious program)

### 1980s

* Bumper Stumpers (1987–1990)
* The Campbells (1986–1990)
* CityLine (1987–present, news program)
* CODCO (1987–1993)
* The Comedy Mill (1986–1991)
* Danger Bay (1984–1990)
* Degrassi Junior High (1987–1989)
* The Journal (1982–1992)
* Midday (1985–2000)
* Night Heat (1985–1989)
* On the Road Again (1987–2007)
* The Raccoons (1985–1992)
* Street Legal (1987–1994)
* Super Dave (1987–1991)
* Switchback (1981–1990)
* Talkabout (1988-1990)
* T. and T. (1987–1990)
* Under the Umbrella Tree (1986–1993)
* Venture (1985–2007)
* Video Hits (1984–1993)

## TV movies

* Care Bears Nutcracker Suite
* The King Chronicle
* Mama's Going to Buy You a Mockingbird
* The Squamish Five
* Two Men

## Television stations
### Debuts

| Date | Market | Station | Channel | Affiliation | Notes/References |
| June 28 | Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec | CFTF-TV | | TQS | |
| September 5 | Saint John, New Brunswick | CIHT-TV-2 | 12 | Independent | |