This is a list of German television related events from 1997.

Events

• 15 February - Tammy Eckhardt, performing as Alanis Morissette wins the second and final season of Soundmix Show.
• 27 February - Bianca Shomburg is selected to represent Germany at the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest with her song "Zeit". She is selected to be the forty-second German Eurovision entry during Der Countdown läuft held at the Musik-und-Kongresshalle in Lübeck.

Debuts

International

• 20 January - L.A. Heat (1999) (RTL II)
• 4 February - / The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo (1996) (KiKA)
• 17 March - // Billy the Cat (1996–2001) (ZDF)
• 5 April - Little Bear (1995–2003) (ZDF)
• 4 October - / Tabaluga (1994–2004) (ZDF)
• 17 October - // Magic Adventures of Mumfie (1994–1999) (Kinderkanal)
• / Potsworth & Co (1990) (RTL II)

BFBS

• 7 June - / The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo (1996)
• 10 June - // Gadget Boy & Heather (1995–1998)
• 11 June - / Arthur (1996–present)
• 6 September - Plasmo (1997)
• 26 November - Enid Blyton's Enchanted Lands (1997–1998)
• 1 December - // The Adventures of Paddington Bear (1997–2000)
• The Prince of Atlantis (1997)
• Sooty's Amazing Adventures (1997–1998)
• The Wild House (1997–1999)
• Zot the Dog (1996–1997)
• Teletubbies (1997-2001, 2015–present)
• Dr. Xargle (1997–1998)

Changes of network affiliation

Military broadcasting

Title	Original Country	Former Network	New Network	Date
Arthur	United States, Canada	BFBS	American Forces Network	1997

Television shows

1950s

• Tagesschau (1952–present)

1960s

• heute (1963-present)

1970s

• heute-journal (1978-present)
• Tagesthemen (1978-present)

1980s

• Wetten, dass..? (1981-2014)
• Lindenstraße (1985–present)

1990s

• Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten (1992–present)
• Marienhof (1992–2011)
• Unter uns (1994-present)
• Verbotene Liebe (1995-2015)

Ending this year

• Gottschalks Hausparty (1995-1997)
• Soundmix Show (1995-1997)

Networks and services

Launches

Conversions and rebrandings

Closures

Births

Deaths