See also: 1939 in television, other events of 1940, 1941 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• January - The FCC holds public hearings on television.
• February 25 - The first ice hockey game is televised, the New York Rangers vs Montreal Canadians, from Madison Square Garden.
• February 26 - The first quiz show, Spelling Bee, is televised.
• February 28 - The first basketball game is televised, from Madison Square Garden; Fordham vs the University of Pittsburgh.
• March 15 - RCA cuts the price of television sets.
• June - W2XBS (NBC) covers the Republican National Convention from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for 33 hours, over a five day period.
• August 29 - Peter Goldmark of CBS announces his invention of a color television system.
• September 3 - CBS resumes its television transmissions with the first demonstration of high definition color TV, by W2XAB, transmitting from the Chrysler Building.

Debuts

• February 20 - Tom and Jerry premieres on CBS (1940-1958, 1965-1972, 1975-1977, 1980-1982).

Births

• February 6, Tom Brokaw, journalist.
• February 8, Ted Koppel, journalist.
• February 27, Howard Hesseman, actor.
• March 7, Daniel J. Travanti , actor.
• March 8, Susan Clark , actress.
• August 9, Beverlee McKinsey, actress.