The1955–56 United States network television schedulewas for the period that began in September 1955 and ran through March 1956.

The $64,000 Questionhad debuted on CBS during summer 1955 and became the #1 program on U.S. television. The three networks “rushed to copy this la hit format, quickly filling prime time with similar cons”.^[1](It would not be until fall 1958 that it would be confirmed that several of these new quiz shows were rigged.)^[1]

For years,ABChad “struggled to cobble together a TV schedule”,^[2]but following the network’s major success with Disney-produced seriesDisneylandin 1954, other Hollywood film companies began embracing television. MGM assembled clips forMGM Paradeon ABC; ABC also hiredWarner Bros.for a Tuesday night program calledWarner Brothers Presents. The hour-long umbrella series featured TV adaptations of three Warner Brothers movies:Cheyenne,Casablanca, andKings Row. Of the three new series, onlyCheyennewas a hit with viewers, and ABC began contracting with other Hollywood studios for Westerns.^[1]Immediately followingWarner Brothers Presents, ABC scheduledThe Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. This Western was also produced in conjunction with a Hollywood studio: Desilu Productions.

CBS had its own Western hit withGunsmoke, which also debuted in fall 1955. Over the next few years, “the rush to Westerns had become a virtual stampede so that, by the fall of 1959, viewers had their choice from a staggering twenty-eight different Western-based prime time series.”^[1]Around 1955, live drama anthologies, the staple of early television programming, were being phased out by the networks in favor of filmed fare: Westerns, police dramas, quiz shows, and adventure series.^[1]

The struggling DuMont Television Network offered little during the 1955–56 television season. DuMont’s final program line-up consisted ofWhat’s the Storyon Wednesday nights at 9:30 andBoxing From St. Nicholas Arenaon Monday nights at 9:00.^[1]By September 23,What’s the Storywas off the air.^[3]DuMont honored its few remaining network commitments until August 6, 1956, when it ceased operations as a major television network.^[4]DuMont hoped to go into independent television production; the company’s studio facilities and Electronicam system were used to produce CBS’sThe Honeymoonersduring the 1955–1956 season. DuMont’s loss was ABC’s gain, as some of DuMont’s most popular programs, includingLife Is Worth Living,Chance of a Lifetime,Life Begins at Eighty, andDown You Go, found their way onto ABC’s 1955–1956 prime time schedule.

The crumbling and eventual death of the old DuMont Network meant the 1955–1956 television season would be the first year in which the three major remaining U.S. television networks would be the only full-time commercial participants in prime time, a situation that was to remain for the next 30 years untilFoxbegan network operations in October 1986, although Fox would not enter prime time until Sunday, April 5, 1987.

New series are highlighted inbold.

All times areU.S. EasternandPacific time(except for some live sports or events). Subtract one hour forCentraland Mountain times.

Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.^[5]

• The Ed Sullivan Showwas formerlyToast of the Town. ** formerlyThe Colgate Comedy Hour.

Note: On NBC,Producers’ Showcaseaired as a monthly series 8–9:30 p.m. No longer a network operation, DuMont continued airing itsBoxing From St. Nicholas Arenaon an occasional basis over individual stations until August 6, 1956. On CBS, in most areas,Douglas Edwards With the Newsaired at 6:45 p.m., while some cities (including New York) aired the 7:15 p.m. edition.

Note:The Martha Raye ShowandThe Chevy Showappeared monthly. As of November 1,You’ll Never Get Richofficially becameThe Phil Silvers Show, swapping time periods withNavy Log.

• FormerlyPabst Blue Ribbon Boutson CBS.

*** What’s the Story* aired only until September 23, before being cancelled.

Notes: