This is a list of events in Scottish television from 1971.

Events

• 8 February – The Colour Strike ends after three months.
• 1 September – Border Television celebrates ten years on air.. It marks the anniversary by beginning colour transmissions, albeit initially only from the Caldbeck.^[1]
• 30 September – Grampian Television celebrates ten years on air and to mark the anniversary, it begins broadcasting in colour.
• Unknown – BBC Scotland presents Sunset Song, a television adaptation of Lewis Grassic Gibbon's novel

Debuts

ITV

• 29 July - Top Club on Grampian (1971–1998)

• 18 September - Beagan Gaidhlig^[2]

Television series

• Scotsport (1957–2008)
• Reporting Scotland (1968–1983; 1984–present)

Ending this year

• 3 January - Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1962–1971)

Births

• 23 March - Gail Porter, television presenter
• 18 April - David Tennant, actor^[3]
• Unknown - Kate Dickie, actress
• Unknown - Martin Geissler, actor
• Unknown - Sanjeev Kohli, writer, comedian and actor