| — | Force Five | 1980–1984 | 5 | — | Mecha | Go Nagai, Leiji Matsumoto |
| — | Independent Network News (US) | 1980–1990 | 10 | — | News | |
| Jan 7 | Play the Percentages | 1980 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Sep 13 | Solid Gold Countdown | 1980–1988 | 8 | 332 | Music chart | Al Masini |
| Oct 30 | It's a Living | 1980–1989 | 6 | 120 | Sitcom | Jenna McMahon, Stu Silver |
| — | The Great Space Coaster | 1981–1986 | 5 | 250 | Science fiction | Kermit Love |
| May 2 | The Baseball Bunch | 1981–1985 | 5 | — | Educational | |
| Jun 4 | The Gospel Bill Show | 1981–1993 | — | 65 | — | Willie George |
| Aug 7 | The Krypton Factor | 1981 | — | — | Game show | |
| Sep 12 | Spider-ManAnimated series | 1981–1982 | 1 | 26 | Superhero | Stan Lee |
| Sep 14 | Entertainment Tonight | 1981 | 36 | 10,415 | Entertainment journalism | Al Masini |
| Jan 1 | The McLaughlin GroupNews program | 1982–2020 | — | — | Talk show | John McLaughlin |
| Jan 7 | Fame | 1982–1987 | 6 | 136 | Drama | Christopher Gore |
| Sep 20 | Madame's Place | 1982–1983 | 1 | 150 | Sitcom | |
| Sep 25 | Silver Spoons | 1982–1987 | 5 | 116 | Sitcom | Martin Cohan, Howard Leeds |
| — | Star Search | 1983–2003 | — | — | Reality | Al Masini |
| Apr 4 | Live with Kelly and Mark | 1983–1988 | — | 7,580 | Talk show | WABC-TV |
| Apr 18 | Good Morning, Mickey!Animated series | 1983–1992 | — | 80 | — | |
| Sep 5 | He-Man and the Masters of the UniverseAnimated series | 1983–1985 | 2 | 130 | Children's | Lou Scheimer |
| Sep 5 | Inspector GadgetAnimated series | 1983–1985 | 4 | 86 | Crime | Jean Chalopin, Bruno Bianchi |
| Sep 5 | Thicke of the Night | 1983–1984 | 1 | 49 | Talk show | Alan Thicke |
| Sep 12 | GI Joe: A Real American HeroAnimated series | 1983–1986 | 2 | 95 | — | Hasbro |
| Oct 31 | SadatMiniseries | 1983 | — | 2 | — | |
| Jan 9 | TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes | 1984–2013 | — | — | Reality | |
| Mar 31 | Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous | 1984–1995 | — | — | Reality | Al Masini |
| Jun 27 | Rainbow BriteAnimated series | 1984–1986 | 1 | 13 | Fantasy | Jean Chalopin |
| Sep 1 | Kids Incorporated | 1984–1994 | 9 | 149 | Comedy | Thomas W. Lynch |
| Sep 10 | VoltronAnimated series | 1984–1985 | 3 | 128 | Mecha | World Events Productions |
| Sep 15 | Puttin' on the Hits | 1984–1988 | 4 | 134 | Reality | |
| Sep 17 | Anything For Money | 1984–1985 | 1 | 150 | — | |
| Sep 17 | The TransformersAnimated series | 1984–1987 | 4 | 98 | Comedy | Hasbro |
| Sep 30 | Tales from the Darkside | 1984 | 4 | 90 | Anthology | George A. Romero |
| Oct 29 | Challenge of the GoBotsAnimated series | 1984–1985 | 2 | 65 | Science fiction | |
| — | Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand YearsAnimated series | 1985–1986 | 1 | 65 | Science fiction | Harmony Gold USA |
| Jan 23 | ThundercatsAnimated series | 1985–1989 | 4 | 130 | Science fiction | Ted Wolf |
| Mar 4 | RobotechAnimated series | 1985 | 3 | 85 | Epic | Carl Macek |
| Sep 2 | Galtar and the Golden Lance | 1985–1986 | 1 | 21 | — | |
| Sep 6 | Yogi's Treasure HuntAnimated series | 1985–1988 | 3 | 27 | Children's | |
| Sep 7 | Small Wonder | 1985–1989 | 4 | 96 | Sitcom | |
| Sep 7 | What's Happening Now!! | 1985–1988 | 3 | 66 | Sitcom | Eric Monte |
| Sep 9 | She-RaAnimated series | 1985–1986 | 5 | 93 | Comedy | Lou Scheimer |
| Sep 16 | Break the Bank | 1985–1986 | 1 | 180 | Game show | |
| Sep 16 | Catch Phrase | 1985–1986 | — | 65 | — | |
| Oct 6 | JemAnimated series | 1985–1988 | 3 | 65 | Comedy | Christy Marx |
| Oct 28 | The Big Spin | 1985–2009 | 24 | 1,213 | Game show | |
| Oct 31 | Paw PawsAnimated series | 1985–1986 | — | 21 | Comedy | |
| — | Dancin' to the Hits | 1986–1987 | — | — | Dance competition | |
| — | You Write the Songs | 1986–1987 | 1 | 26 | — | Al Masini |
| Jan 6 | The $1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime | 1986–1987 | 2 | — | Game show | |
| Apr 7 | CenturionsAnimated series | 1986 | 2 | 65 | Science fiction | |
| Jun 21 | Canned Film Festival | 1986 | 1 | 13 | — | Young & Rubicam |
| Sep 1 | The Judge | 1986–1993 | 7 | 70 | — | |
| Sep 6 | WWF Superstars of Wrestling | 1986–2001 | 16 | 780 | — | Vince McMahon |
| Sep 7 | WWF Wrestling Challenge | 1986–1996 | 9 | 468 | Sports entertainment | Vince McMahon |
| Sep 8 | Defenders of the EarthAnimated series | 1986–1987 | 1 | 65 | Comedy | Gerry Conway |
| Sep 8 | GhostbustersAnimated series | 1986–1988 | 1 | 65 | Mystery | Marc Richards |
| Sep 8 | SilverhawksAnimated series | 1986 | 1 | 65 | Science fiction | Ted Wolf |
| Sep 14 | The Adventures of the Galaxy RangersAnimated series | 1986 | 1 | 65 | Science fiction | Robert Mandell |
| Sep 14 | The New Adventures of Jonny Quest | 1986–1987 | — | 13 | — | |
| Sep 15 | My Little PonyAnimated series | 1986–1987 | 2 | 65 | Comedy | Hasbro |
| Sep 15 | RamboAnimated series | 1986 | 1 | 65 | Comedy | David Morrell |
| Sep 15 | Strike It Rich | 1986–1987 | — | — | — | |
| Sep 15 | The New Gidget | 1986–1988 | 2 | 44 | Sitcom | |
| Sep 20 | Throb | 1986–1988 | 2 | 48 | Sitcom | |
| Sep 21 | Inhumanoids | 1986 | — | 13 | Science fiction | Flint Dille |
| Sep 22 | Dennis the MenaceAnimated series | 1986–1988 | 1 | 78 | Children's | Jean Chalopin |
| Sep 25 | MoonDreamers | 1986–1987 | — | 16 | — | |
| Sep 27 | One Big Family | 1986–1987 | 1 | 25 | Sitcom | |
| Sep 27 | What a Country! | 1986–1987 | 1 | 26 | Sitcom | |
| Dec 15 | Split Second | 1986–1987 | — | 1,025 | — | Monty Hall |
| Dec 25 | The Adventures of Teddy RuxpinAnimated series | 1986–1987 | 1 | 65 | Fantasy | Ken Forsse |
| — | Sky Commanders | 1987 | — | 13 | — | |
| — | The Wil Shriner Show | 1987–1988 | 1 | 162 | Talk show | |
| — | TigerSharksAnimated series | 1987 | 1 | 26 | Children's | Arthur Rankin Jr. |
| — | Win, Lose or Draw | 1987–2014 | 7 | 598 | Panel game | Burt Reynolds, Bert Convy |
| Feb 7 | Cash Explosion | 1987–2006 | — | 1,433 | Game show | |
| Jun 15 | Home Shopping Game | 1987 | 1 | 65 | — | Roy Speer |
| Sep 1 | Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future | 1987–1988 | 1 | 22 | Science fiction | |
| Sep 12 | Showtime at the Apollo | 1987–2008 | 21 | 1,093 | — | |
| Sep 14 | BravestarrAnimated series | 1987–1988 | 1 | 65 | Space western | |
| Sep 14 | DinosaucersAnimated series | 1987 | 1 | 65 | Children's | Michael Uslan |
| Sep 14 | Maxie's WorldAnimated series | 1987–1989 | 1 | 32 | Children's | |
| Sep 17 | Out of This World | 1987–1991 | 4 | 96 | Fantasy | |
| Sep 18 | DuckTalesAnimated series | 1987–1990 | 4 | 100 | Comedy | |
| Sep 18 | Sylvanian FamiliesAnimated series | 1987 | 1 | 13 | Fantasy | |
| Sep 19 | Bustin' Loose | 1987–1988 | 1 | 26 | Sitcom | |
| Sep 19 | Marblehead Manor | 1987–1988 | 1 | 24 | Sitcom | Bob Fraser |
| Sep 19 | She's the Sheriff | 1987–1989 | 2 | 44 | Sitcom | |
| Sep 19 | You Can't Take It with You | 1987–1988 | 1 | 24 | Sitcom | |
| Sep 20 | StarcomAnimated series | 1987 | 1 | 13 | Science fiction | |
| Sep 20 | Visionaries: Knights of the Magical LightAnimated series | 1987 | 1 | 13 | — | Flint Dille |
| Sep 21 | Beverly Hills TeensAnimated series | 1987 | 3 | 65 | Children's | |
| Sep 21 | Spiral ZoneAnimated series | 1987 | 1 | 65 | Science fiction | |
| Sep 28 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | 1987–1994 | 7 | 178 | Adventure | Gene Roddenberry |
| — | The Street | 1988 | — | — | — | John Mankiewicz |
| Jan 11 | T. and T. | 1988–1990 | 3 | 65 | Drama | |
| Sep 1 | Police AcademyAnimated series | 1988–1991 | 2 | 65 | Comedy | Paul Maslansky |
| Sep 11 | Fantastic MaxAnimated series | 1988–1990 | 2 | 26 | Science fiction | |
| Sep 12 | The New Yogi Bear ShowAnimated series | 1988 | 1 | 45 | Comedy | William Hanna |
| Sep 12 | Wipeout | 1988–1989 | — | 195 | Game show | Bob Fraser |
| Oct 1 | Dino-RidersAnimated series | 1988 | 1 | 14 | Science fiction | Gerry Conway |
| Oct 1 | Monsters | 1988–1991 | 3 | 72 | Anthology | Richard P. Rubinstein |
| Oct 1 | RoboCopAnimated series | 1988 | 1 | 12 | — | |
| Oct 8 | Freddy's Nightmares | 1988–1990 | 2 | 44 | Horror | Wes Craven |
| Oct 8 | Superboy | 1988–1992 | 4 | 100 | Superhero | |
| Oct 9 | The Munsters Today | 1988–1991 | 3 | 72 | Sitcom | |
| — | Trial by Jury | 1989–1991 | 1 | — | — | |
| Jan 3 | The Arsenio Hall Show | 1989–1994 | 6 | 1,406 | Variety show | Arsenio Hall |
| Jan 9 | Inside EditionNews program | 1989 | 30 | 11,257 | Entertainment journalism | |
| Jan 9 | Inside Edition WeekendNews program | 1989 | 34 | 11,257 | News magazine | |
| Jan 23 | Couch Potatoes | 1989 | — | 100 | — | |
| Jan 31 | The Further Adventures of SupertedAnimated series | 1989 | — | 13 | — | Mike Young |
| Mar 4 | Chip 'n Dale Rescue RangersAnimated series | 1989–1990 | 3 | 65 | Mystery | Alan Zaslove, Tad Stones |
| Sep 2 | GI Joe: A Real American HeroAnimated series | 1989–1992 | 2 | 44 | — | Hasbro |
| Sep 8 | The Legend of ZeldaAnimated series | 1989 | 1 | 13 | Children's | Shigeru Miyamoto |
| Sep 8 | The New Lassie | 1989–1992 | 2 | 48 | — | |
| Sep 9 | American Gladiators | 1989 | 7 | 139 | Game show | |
| Sep 11 | 3rd Degree | 1989–1990 | — | 195 | Panel game | |
| Sep 18 | Hard Copy | 1989–1999 | 9 | 2,159 | — | |
| Oct 24 | The New Dragnet | 1989–1990 | 2 | 39 | Detective | Jack Webb |
| Dec 2 | Paddington BearAnimated series | 1989–1990 | — | 13 | Children's | |