This weekend we celebrated World Television Day, a holiday created by the United Nations in 1996 to recognize the growing impact television has had on the world. From news coverage that influences decision making, to engrossing TV shows, television has continued to influence culture in the past decade. This list includes 10 of the most memorable moments on television from 2011 to 2021.
2011: Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
The marriage between Prince William and Catherine Middleton received a plethora of media attention and coverage. Millions of viewers around the world watched the fairytale wedding, with American viewers tuning in to watch the live broadcast in the early hours of the morning.
2011: The Death of Osama bin Laden is Announced
On May 1, 2011, Americans turned on their TVs to see President Barrack Obama confirm the death of Osama bin Laden in a live, televised speech.
2013: First Netflix Original Series is Released
The 2013 release of House of Cards marked Netflix’s transition from a rental DVD service to one of the forerunners of the digital streaming revolution. The series produced by David Fincher marked a new era for television.
2014: Germany beats Brazil at the World Cup
Germany overtook Brazil as the highest-scoring team in World Cup history at the semi-final game on July 8, 2014. In a devastating loss, Germany beat Brazil with a final score of 1-7.
2015: Wrong Miss Universe is Crowned
The 2015 Miss Universe pageant ended in confusion when host, Steve Harvey, mistakenly read the name of the runner-up, Miss Colombia, instead of the winner, Miss Philippines. 6.2 million viewers watched as an embarrassed Steve Harvey corrected himself minutes later and the crown was given to the correct winner.
2016: Beyonce Performs at the 50th Super Bowl
The Super Bowl Halftime Show is always an event to remember, and Beyonce Knowles did not disappoint in her now-iconic 2016 performance. Featuring imagery that celebrated Black figures, Beyonce’s performance was meaningful as well as entertaining.
2017: 89th Academy Awards Best Picture Mishap
The 89th Academy Awards was remembered for a mistake during the final award of the night. The presenters of the Best Picture Award, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, were handed the wrong envelope, leading to them mistakenly declaring La La Land as the best picture winner. The mistake was corrected live as representatives from Moonlight hastily came onstage to receive the award before a shocked audience.
2018: Brett Kavanaugh Senate Hearings
In September 2018, the country tuned in to watch the televised Senate hearings regarding sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. The testimonies from both Kavanaugh and primary accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, were highly scrutinized.
2019: Game of Thrones Finale
Game of Thrones, one of the most widely discussed and beloved TV shows, fell from grace after a particularly disappointing final season and series finale. Despite low ratings from fans and critics, a record-breaking 19.3 million people tuned in for the finale.
2020: Black Lives Matter Protests
After the murder of George Floyd on May 25th, protests supporting the Black Lives Matter movement rose across the United States and throughout the world. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic stay-at-home orders, many people experienced the protests through television coverage.