Being the wily businessman that he was, Hitchcock had seen the possibilities of television and as ususal rose to the challenge. As one of the most public faces of cinema ever, Hitchcock was a natural for television, and withhis two series he conquered the medium.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955~1961)

There were 260 half-hour episodes, aired between 1955 and 1961, of which Hitchcock only actually directed around 15.
The material was drawn from a wide range and included adaptations of stories by such authors as Dorothy L.Sayers, John Mortimer, ray Bradbury, Nicholas Monsarrat, Saki and A A Milne. writers working on the shows included Robert Bloch, Cornell Woolrich, Philip Roth and Roald Dahl.
The series also gave valuable experience to new directors like Robert Altman and Arthur Hiller.

Hitchcock's shows lent a certain dignity and style to the airwaves. The Format never varied, Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette" played against Hitchcock's pencil drawing of his own portly profile which ushered in the all-too-recognizable figure of the genial host. Hitchcock's lugubrious introductions were memorable:* Hitchcock seen in in a torture chamber demonstrating the rack; Hitchcock in a cinema box office talking about Pay TV; Hitchcock tied to railway lines advising viewers about plane travel...etc!*
Hitchcock's accent remained remarkably English after all his years in America, classless and rather sinister.

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962~1964)

The new series ran between 1962 and 1964 and there were 93 episodes,but Hitchcock directed only one episode in 1962.
Format and contributors were the same as the previous series and the actor for both series included established names such as Raymond Massey, Claude Rains, Bette Davis, Joseph Cotten and Fay Wray and rising new stars like Steve McQueen, Richard Chamberlain, Robert Duvall, James Coburn and Charles Bronson received early breaks on the shows.

The Two Hitchcock's series are stillbeing repeated on Television right now. I just saw last night the episode of the salesman.... and it was still entertaining. Naturally what one does not want to miss is the introduction (THE BEST PART OF EACH SHOW)