Station record 04
Retro TV guides
Practical guides for watching vintage television online, browsing retro TV by decade, and understanding the history behind the commercials, cartoons, music videos and game shows in the archive.
Open the TV console or browse the guides below.
Watching retro TV online
Everything you need to know about watching vintage television in your browser, including how retro TV simulators work, where to find content by decade, and how to use the Channel Surf Time Machine player.
A tour of 1980s television, from cable-era commercials and MTV music videos to Saturday morning cartoons, iconic sitcoms and the broadcast landscape that defined the decade.
Relive the 1990s television experience, including must-watch sitcoms, memorable ad campaigns, music video blocks, and the transition from broadcast to early internet-era media.
A decade-by-decade guide to watching old TV commercials online, from 1950s product demonstrations and jingles to 1990s retail spots and early 2000s web-era advertising.
Discover the golden age of television game shows, iconic hosts, popular formats by decade, and where to watch classic quiz shows, panel shows and competition clips online.
The cultural history of Saturday morning cartoon blocks, iconic animated series by decade, the decline of broadcast animation, and where to revisit vintage cartoons today.
Explore the archive by channel
Retro TV commercials
Retro music video channel
Saturday morning cartoons
Vintage movie trailers
Classic game shows
Classic TV sitcoms
1950s TV simulator
1960s TV simulator
1970s TV simulator
1980s TV simulator
1990s TV simulator
2000s TV simulator