# 1983 in Canadian television

This is a list of Canadian television related events from 1983.

## Events

| Date | Event |
| February 1 | The first pay television channels launch. They include Movie Central, The Movie Network, Super Écran. |
| March 23 | 4th Genie Awards. |
| April 5 | Juno Awards of 1983. |
| May 29 | The Atlantic Satellite Network launches in the Maritime provinces. |

### Debuts

| Show | Station | Premiere Date |
| The Joke's on Us | Global | January 10 |
| Fraggle Rock | CBC Television | January 10 |
| Guess What | CTV | January 10 |
| Snow Job | CTV | February 21 |

### Ending this year

| Show | Station | Cancelled |
| V.I.P. | CBC Television | April 8 |
| Home Fires | CBC Television | November 17 |
| The Alan Thicke Show | CTV | Unknown |
| Headline Hunters | CTV | Unknown |
| University of the Air | CTV | Unknown |
| Read All About It! | TVOntario | Unknown |

## Television shows
### 1950s

* Country Canada (1954–2007)
* The Friendly Giant (1958–1985)
* 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)
* Reach for the Top (1961–1985)
* The Tommy Hunter Show (1965–1992)
* W-FIVE (1966–present, newsmagazine program)

### 1970s

* The Beachcombers (1972–1990)
* Canada AM (1972–present, news program)
* Celebrity Cooks (1975–1984)
* City Lights (1973–1989)
* Definition (1974–1989)
* the fifth estate (1975–present, newsmagazine program)
* Let's Go (1976–1984)
* The Littlest Hobo (1979–1985)
* Live It Up! (1978–1990)
* The Mad Dash (1978–1985)
* Marketplace (1972–present, newsmagazine program)
* Polka Dot Door (1971-1993)
* Second City Television (1976–1984)
* Smith & Smith (1979–1985)
* You Can't Do That on Television (1979–1990)
* 100 Huntley Street (1977–present, religious program)

### 1980s

* Bizarre (1980–1985)
* The Edison Twins (1982–1986)
* The Frantics (1981–1984)
* Hangin' In (1981–1987)
* The Journal (1982–1992)
* Lorne Greene's New Wilderness (1982–1987)
* Seeing Things (1981–1987)
* Switchback (1981–1990)
* Today's Special (1982–1987)
* Thrill of a Lifetime (1981–1987)

## TV movies and miniseries

* Empire, Inc.
* I Am a Hotel
* Moving Targets
* Out of Sight, Out of Mind
* Ready for Slaughter
* Reasonable Force
* Stratasphere: Portrait of Teresa Stratas
* Rubberface
* The Undaunted

## Television stations
### Debuts

| Date | Market | Station | Channel | Affiliation | Notes/References |
| March | Regina, Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan Legislative Network | (cable-only) | Independent | |
| Unknown | Cardston, Alberta | CFSO-TV | 32 | Independent | |
| Unknown | Chéticamp, Nova Scotia | CHNE-TV | 36 | Independent | |
| Unknown | High Prairie, Alberta | CIRE-TV | 12 | Independent | |
| Unknown | Neepawa, Manitoba | CH5248 | 30 | Community channel | Over-the-air relaunch of NAC TV |
| Unknown | Teslin, Yukon | CFTS-TV | 6 | Independent | |
| Unknown | Valemount, British Columbia | CHVC-TV-1 | 7 | Independent | |

### Network affiliation changes

| Date | Market | Station | Channel | Old affiliation | New affiliation | References |
| December 18 | Carleton, Quebec | CHAU-TV | 5 | Radio-Canada | TVA | |