Children's Programs - On March 11, 1947 the DuMont network aired MOVIES FOR SMALL FRY, network television's first successful children's program. It was hosted by a bespectacled Big Brother Bob Emery who began on radio in 1921 with a similar program that taught children manners and respect for their parents wishes. His television debut predated by a few months the arrival of the popular show KUKLA, FRAN & OLLIE originally called JUNIOR JAMBOREE when it aired locally on WBKB-TV in Chicago in 1947 and HOWDY DOODY/NBC/1947-60/SYN/1976 hosted by Buffalo Bob Smith. Eventually, MOVIES FOR SMALL FRY was changed to SMALL FRY CLUB which expanded to five days a week airing in the evening hours until 1951.

The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) was the first television network to begin Saturday morning programming for children beginning August 19, 1950 with the 30-minute informational program ANIMAL CLINIC/ABC/1950-51 with Dr. Wesley Young, and the western circus setting of ACROBAT RANCH/ABC/1950-51 an audience participation show hosted by Jack Stilwell where kids competed in games and stunts. Both programs originated from Chicago.

DING DONG SCHOOL/NBC/1952-56/SYN/1959 was the first educational children's program and starred Dr. Frances R. Horwich, the head of the Department of Education at Chicago's Roosevelt College. Ringing a bell at the beginning of each program, Miss Frances taught the alphabet, arts, crafts and other activities to thousands of baby boomer youngsters. The program was a precursor to later such children's shows as CAPTAIN KANGAROO, MR. ROGERS NEIGHBORHOOD, and SESAME STREET.

The first children's drama was CAPTAIN VIDEO AND HIS VIDEO RANGERS/DUM/1949-55. It starred Richard Coogan (and later Al Hodge) as Captain Video, the "Guardian of the Safety of the World" who operated from his secret mountaintop headquarters.

The 1979 television broadcast of the PBS's special "Springtime for Mr. Rogers" marked the first time the two veterans of children's educational programming Fred Rogers of MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD (PBS) and Bob Keeshan of CAPTAIN KANGAROO (CBS) appeared together in a television special. 

 The first African-American to host a children's TV show was Scoey Mitchlll who played Fireman Frank on "Let's Have Fun" aired on WPIX TV Channel 11 in New York City from September 10, 1967 to June 2, 1968.

On May 11, 2006, BabyFirst TV, the first 24-hour satellite channel aimed exclusively at children 6 months to 3 years old debuted on Direct TV for $9.99 a month. However, the caveat of The American Academy of Pediatrics warned that kids under the age of 2 should not watch TV.