TV: Then & Now The way in which we watch TV has changed more in the last decade than it did in the first 60 years of household viewing. Faster internet speeds, the popularity of mobile devices and the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu have steered us toward online video and farther away from the physical box, while social media now plays a key role in how we consume. Here's a look at the complete evolution of television.

The 1940s

1948: Four television networks (NBC, CBS, ABC, and DuMont), broadcasting over 128 stations, POPULAR SHOWS begin a full prime-time schedule, seven days a week.

The Ed Sullivan Show

Candid Camera

Howdy Doody

The 1950s

1950: During the first year of the Nielsen POPULAR SHOWS ratings, the "Milton Berle Show" is watched by by sample Nielsen rating during their peak 62% of consumers owning TV sets, making Berle the first bona fide television star. I Love lucy 67.3

Texaco Star Theater 61.6

Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts 1954: The first national color broadcast takes place with the 1954 53.8 Tournament of Roses Parade.

The 1960s

1960: 70 million U.S. viewers tune in to watch Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Vice POPULAR SHOWS President Richard Nixon in the first-ever televised by sample Nielsen rating during their peak presidential debate. Bonanza 1967: CBS and NBC both 36.3 broadcast Super Bowl I in color.

The Beverly Hillbillies 36.0

Wagon Train 32.1

1969: A worldwide audience witnesses Apollo 11's moon landing.

The 1970s

1974: A Roper poll finds that the majority of POPULAR SHOWS Americans rely more on television than on by sample Nielsen rating during their peak newspapers for their news.

All in the Family 34.0

Laverne & Shirley 31.6

Happy Days 1976: Barbara Walters makes history 31.5 by becoming the first female co-anchor of an evening news program.

The 1980s

1980: CNN launches, ushering in the era of 24-hour news. POPULAR SHOWS by sample Nielsen rating during their peak

1984: The groundbreaking "1984" Macintosh television commercial airs during Dallas Super Bowl XVIII, signaling the beginning of 34.5 the personal computer revolution.

The Cosby Show 33.7

60 Minutes 28.4

1989: By the end of the decade, nearly 60% of American households have cable.

The 1990s

1992: The first reality TV show, MTV's POPULAR SHOWS "The Real World," debuts. by sample Nielsen rating during their peak

Roseanne 23.1

Cheers 21.3

ER 22.0 1999: The DVR is brought to market, providing TV viewers with a way to watch what they want, when they want.

The 2000s

2005: YouTube launches and is purchased by Google for $1.65 billion the next year. POPULAR SHOWS by sample Nielsen rating during their peak

2007: Broadband internet Who Wants to penetration in the U.S. hits 50%, Be a Millionaire?

A B 18.6 and Netflix launches its online C D streaming movie service.

American Idol 17.6

Survivor: The Australian Outback 17.4

2008: Hulu launches, introducing streaming network TV. Roku announces the first Netflix streaming receiver box

TV Today

2012: Americans spend more time on their POPULAR SHOWS phones than watching TV. by sample Nielsen rating during their peak

NFL Sunday 2013: Netflix premieres Night Football its first original series, 8.0 “House of Cards."

The Big Bang Theory 7.1

NCIS 7.1 2015: 87% of consumers use a second screen device while watching TV, Netflix hits 60 million subscribers and 16% of viewers post on social media about the shows they watch. 2016: Streaming reigns supreme. According to late 2015 research, 19-to 25-year-olds spend 39% of their TV time streaming content and only 29% of it on live programming.

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