Sign in / up

back to article Broadcast television is 75 years old today

Television celebrates a monumental anniversary today: it has been exactly 75 years since the first public service broadcast was transmitted. On 2 November 1936, the BBC began filling the airwaves, broadcasting from its Alexandra Palace facility in North London. The one station started with just two hours of programming a day …

COMMENTS

House rules Send corrections
This topic is closed for new posts.
  1. Gene Cash Silver badge
    Thumb Up

    My TV turned 25 in August

    19" Sony Trinitron. Sony doesn't make 'em like they used to!

    6 0
  2. defiler

    "just two hours of programming a day"

    Not much has changed. Now they just stick the 2 hourse on a loop, and if they're not the BBC they stick in adverts that are too loud.

    I'M BARRY SCOTT!!

    5 1
    1. dogged
      Reply Icon
      Unhappy

      Barry Scott

      I was disappointed to hear that Barry Scott does not exist. It was an actor, shouting about being somebody he isn't.

      2 0
      1. dogged
        Reply Icon

        http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1244209/

        Neil Burgess. Shouty git.

        0 0
  3. David Robinson 1

    Another TV birthday

    Today marks the 29th anniversary of Channel 4.

    2 0
  4. haroldo

    Chickens and Eggs

    Am I the only on wondering about how it ever got off the ground initially? I'm guessing they must have been broadcasting before anyone had a TV (the other way round is even more implausible..)

    0 0
  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    I'd have thought it was obvious. People needed the tv to play their xbox - the broadcasting thing was just an unintentioned bonus.

    0 0
  6. Graham Bartlett
    Pint

    London calling

    to the zombies of chav, quit X-Factor, Big Brother and Pop Idol naff...

    0 0
  7. Christian Berger

    Actually

    Well first of all back then people didn't care about 'market acceptance'. TV was just a technical benchmark. Just like flying to the moon.

    In fact, German television, which started in March 22, 1935, even spawned a whole industry. For decades, stations all over PAL Land got German equipment.

    0 0
  8. Chad H.
    Joke

    First nights programming

    1: BBC television service Opening

    2: Top Gear (Rpt)

    3 0
  9. Blubster
    Meh

    Broadcast television is 75 years old today

    So are most of the programmes

    1 0
  10. N2
    Happy

    And

    A parent of a child in my wifes class insisted it was invented by Yogi Bear

    1 0
  11. Christian Berger

    Radar could actually be a reason

    Stricktly speaking radar and television shared the same technology. And it's not just the CRT, but also the wide band technology behind it. You cannot have radar, without having vacuum tubes which can amplify signals in the megahertz range.

    1 0
  12. skeptical i
    Pirate

    *sigh* Another tool with such potential for Good turned to the Dark Side.

    Pass me some more "reality" shows and beer adverts, please.

    0 0
This topic is closed for new posts.

Other stories you might like