When was the last time ‘The Wizard of Oz’ was seen on broadcast TV?

Once a regular of the airwaves, the 1939 classic film The Wizard of Oz hasn’t appeared on broadcast television in nearly three decades. The last time it was shown on free broadcast TV was on May 9, 1998.

MeTV intends to end that streak this year though. The network has exclusive broadcast rights for the movie and has scheduled it as part of its 2026 Halloween programming. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the movie will air multiple times in October as part of the network’s Halloween BOO-Nanza event, “a monthlong celebration of classic horror, sci-fi and family-friendly favorite films.”

Neal Sabin, vice chairman of MeTV owner Weigel Broadcasting, said the film “will be presented without any edits ... [as] the centerpiece of our expanded annual MeTV Halloween BOO-Nanza programming event, which has become hugely popular with our audience.”