The1988–89 network television schedule for the four major English language commercialbroadcast networks in the United States coversprimetime hours from September 1988 through August 1989. The schedule is followed by alist per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the1987–88 season.

PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary.

New series are highlighted inbold.

All times areU.S. Eastern Time andPacific Time (except for some live sports or events). Subtract one hour forCentral,Mountain,Alaska andHawaii–Aleutian times.

Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined byNielsen Media Research.^[1]

The 1988 Writers Guild of America strike lasted between March 7 and August 7. During the strike, production on scripted television series across all of the major television networks was suspended. The writers' strike forced the networks to postpone the start of the fall 1988 schedule later than usual; rather than the traditional late-September/early-October start, new and returning series had their premieres delayed until late October and into November. In the interim, the networks had to rely on a hodgepodge of programming, including reruns, films, entertainment and news specials, program-lengthpolitical advertising, and unscripted original series (e.g. CBS'High Risk); NBC and ABC also benefited from sports programming (NBC relied on theSummer Olympics in September and theWorld Series in October, while ABC had postseasonbaseball coverage and moved up the start time for the early weeks ofMonday Night Football from 9 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET to replaceMacGyver, which was not yet ready with new episodes at the time). Even though previous strikes of Hollywood employees occurred in 1980 and 1981, those strikes only had a minor effect on the production of television programs that aired in the1980–81 and1981–82 seasons. The 1988–89 television season was thus the first of four television seasons to have its start delayed due to issues outside of the control of the major networks; further instances occurred in the2001–02 season (due to the networks' news coverage of theSeptember 11 attacks), the2020–21 season (due to the suspension of television productions as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemic), and the2023–24 season (due to the2023 Hollywood labor disputes).

Notes:

• Quantum Leap had a two-hour premiere Sunday, March 26, 1989, on NBC.
• On ABC,A Fine Romance was supposed to air 8-9 p.m., but production delays amidst the strike forced the move to Thursdays.^[2]

(*)B.L. Stryker,Columbo,Gideon Oliver

• Notes:Seinfeld premiered July 5, 1989 at 9:30 p.m. on NBC. On Fox,Fox Night at the Movies premiered on May 17, 1989 withThe Fly.

Note: OnCBS,Frank's Place consisted of reruns of the 1987-88 sitcom. OnABC,ABC Saturday Mystery Movie was supposed to air 9-11 p.m., but production delays amidst the strike force the move to Mondays.^[2]

Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.

+ These shows returned as "backup" programming in midseason.

@ Formerly known asValerie's Family.

• United States primetime network television schedules
• 1988 in American television
• 1989 in American television

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