The Sopranos is a show.
A television program ( programme ) is a segment of content intended for broadcast on over-the-air , cable television , or Internet television , other than a commercial , trailer , or any other segment of content not serving as attraction for viewership . The Sopranos . After the pilot was ordered in 1997 , the show premiered on the premium cable network HBO in the United States on January 10 , 1999 , and ran its six seasons with 86 episodes to June 10 , 2007 . A staple of 2000s American popular culture , the series has been the subject of critical analysis , controversy , and parody . In 2013 , the Writers Guild of America named The Sopranos the best-written TV series of all time , while TV Guide ranked it the best television series of all time .