# 1981 in Canadian television

This is a list of Canadian television related events from 1981.

## Events

| Date | Event |
| January 12 | A brand new, publicly funded educational cable television network, called Knowledge Network, is launched in British Columbia. |
| February 5 | NABET employees working at CBC Television go on strike. The strike lasts for months, disrupting programming. |
| February 5 | Juno Awards of 1981. |
| March 12 | 2nd Genie Awards. |
| June 28 | Full coverage on the death of Terry Fox airs on all the main television networks. |
| July 29 | The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer airs live on all the main television networks. |

### Debuts

| Show | Station | Premiere Date |
| Canada: The Great Experiment | TVOntario | January 7 |
| Thrill of a Lifetime | CTV | January 7 |
| The Frantics | CBC Television | January 7 |
| Switchback | CBC Television | January 7 |
| Hangin' In | CBC Television | January 7 |
| Leo and Me | CBC Television | May 29 |
| Pitfall | Global | September 14 |
| Seeing Things | CBC Television | September 15 |

### Ending this year

| Show | Station | Cancelled |
| The Watson Report | CBC Television | May 25 |
| Flappers | CBC Television | November 30 |
| CBC News Magazine | CBC Television | Unknown |
| Leo and Me | CBC Television | Unknown |
| Grand Old Country | CTV | Unknown |
| North America: Growth of a Continent | 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)
* Take 30 (1962–1983)
* The Tommy Hunter Show (1965–1992)
* University of the Air (1966–1983)
* 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)
* The Great Detective (1979–1982)
* Headline Hunters (1972–1983)
* 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)
* Read All About It! (1979–1983)
* Second City Television (1976–1984)
* Smith & Smith (1979–1985)
* This Land (1970–1982)
* You Can't Do That on Television (1979–1990)
* V.I.P. (1973–1983)
* 100 Huntley Street (1977–present, religious program)

### 1980s

* The Alan Thicke Show (1980–1983)
* Bizarre (1980–1985)
* Home Fires (1980–1983)

## TV movies

* A Far Cry from Home
* Cop
* Final Edition
* The Olden Days Coat
* The Plouffe Family (Les Plouffe)
* The Running Man
* Snowbird
* You've Come a Long Way, Katie

## Television stations
### Debuts

| Date | Market | Station | Channel | Affiliation | Notes/References |
| October 6 | Trois-Rivières, Quebec | CIVC-TV | 45 | Télé-Québec | |
| November 3 | Rimouski, Quebec | CIVB-TV | 22 | Télé-Québec | |