<P> The following is an episode list for the crime fiction television series Columbo . After two pilot episodes, the show originally aired on NBC from 1971 to 1978 as one of the rotating programs of The NBC Mystery Movie . Columbo then aired less frequently on ABC beginning in 1989 . The last installment was broadcast in 2003 . </P> <P> Because the Columbo episodes from 1989 to 2003 aired infrequently, different DVD sets have been released around the world . In Region 2 and 4, all episodes have now been released as 10 seasons, with the 10th season covering the last 14 shows from "Columbo Goes to College" (1990) to the most recent, "Columbo Likes the Nightlife" (2003). However, in France, and The Netherlands (also Region 2) the DVDs were released as 12 seasons . And in Region 1, all episodes from season 8 are grouped differently; all the episodes that are originally aired on ABC were released as the COLUMBO: The Mystery Movie Collections . For the sake of clarity, all episodes in this article are arranged as they appear in the UK release . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Season </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Episodes </Th> <Th_colspan="3"> Originally aired </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> First aired </Th> <Th> Last aired </Th> <Th> Network </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> Pilots </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> February 20, 1968 (1968 - 02 - 20) </Td> <Td> March 1, 1971 (1971 - 03 - 01) </Td> <Td> NBC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 7 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> September 15, 1971 (1971 - 09 - 15) </Td> <Td> February 9, 1972 (1972 - 02 - 09) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 8 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> September 17, 1972 (1972 - 09 - 17) </Td> <Td> March 25, 1973 (1973 - 03 - 25) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 8 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> September 23, 1973 (1973 - 09 - 23) </Td> <Td> May 5, 1974 (1974 - 05 - 05) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 6 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> September 15, 1974 (1974 - 09 - 15) </Td> <Td> April 27, 1975 (1975 - 04 - 27) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 5 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 6 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> September 14, 1975 (1975 - 09 - 14) </Td> <Td> May 2, 1976 (1976 - 05 - 02) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 6 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> October 10, 1976 (1976 - 10 - 10) </Td> <Td> May 22, 1977 (1977 - 05 - 22) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 7 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 5 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> November 21, 1977 (1977 - 11 - 21) </Td> <Td> May 13, 1978 (1978 - 05 - 13) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 8 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> February 6, 1989 (1989 - 02 - 06) </Td> <Td> May 1, 1989 (1989 - 05 - 01) </Td> <Td> ABC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 9 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 6 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> November 25, 1989 (1989 - 11 - 25) </Td> <Td> May 14, 1990 (1990 - 05 - 14) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 10 + specials </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 14 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> December 9, 1990 (1990 - 12 - 09) </Td> <Td> January 30, 2003 (2003 - 01 - 30) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Season </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Episodes </Th> <Th_colspan="3"> Originally aired </Th> </Tr>

When did the first episode of columbo air