THE TV YEARS

The Years.   Related Articles.

The Years

1935 The basic 30- and 60-line mechanical televisions were quickly replaced with higher-definition electronic television, with Germany very much leading the way. Meantime, in England, the Selsdon Report paves the way for the introduction of British television as we know it.
1936 The end of the year sees the B.B.C. commence the worlds first regular high-definition television service.
1937 A year of many firsts, including the first outside broadcast which also covered the corronation of King George VI.
1938 Whilst little change was seen in commercially available televisions, Baird was able to successfully demonstrate large screen colour television.
1939 Television was really beginning to take off, with a wealth of new televisions on display at that year's Radiolympia - which closed early due to the outbreak of war and the end of British television for the duration.
1939-1945 British television had shut down for the duration of the war, but it still continued in both Europe and the United States.
1946 The middle of the year sees Britsh television recommence.
1947 The first range of B8A-based valves introduced, including the EF42 which would in time replace the immensly popular EF50.
1948 Televising of the U.K. Olympics (oh no, not _more_ sport on TV!!!) whilst purchase tax peaks at a stargering 66.6% !
1949 The big news is the opening of the first provincial television transmitter in Birmingham, just in time for Christmas.
1950 The year of the C.R.T, from the rectangular C.R.T.'s in America to the darkened anti-reflection screens of the U.K. You could also include the U.K.'s change in picture aspect ratio too.
1951 The first U.K. cable television service opens in Gloucester.
1952 Brimar introduce wide (ish) screen 17" C.R.T. With television sales really building up the Government decide to impose restrictions on hire purchase agreements just in time to knobble the opening of the Scottish transmitter. Nice one lads !?
1953 The biggest event of the year was the televising of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. Often quoted as the event that really put television on the map I'm not yet convinced that it's true.
1954 Worlds first regular colour broadcasts begin in America whilst in France a television using printed circuits is produced.
1955 The start of commercial television and the introduction of the first truely portable (battery powered) television.
1956 The BBC now reach over 90% of the U.K. population, whilst on the other side of the world regular television broadcasts begin in Australia just in time for the Olympics that were being held there.
1957 This year sees the start of regular school's television broadcasts whilst the first of the big-name mergers start as Thorn (Ferguson) swallow up the HMV and Marconiphone brands.
1958 The appearance of the 110-degree C.R.T. Thats wider than any modern C.R.T. you'll find in the shops today ! We also get to see the first experimental British transistor televisions.
1959 Technically things evolve slowly. But with the 60's all but here we get the first female news reader.

Associated Articals

LINK YEAR DESCRIPTION
 * 1935 The "Selsdon" Television Comittee's Report that was to ultimately lead to the start of a high definition television service.
 * 1936 Details of the 180-line transmissions from the Eiffel Tower, January 1936.
 * 1936 Synchronising signal from the Eiffel Tower, mid-1936
 * 1936 Technical details of Alexandra Palace on the eve of the launch of the BBC high definition service.
 * 1937 An overview of Baird recievers, 1926 - 1937
 * 1937 A brief review of Marconi's achievements, published as an obituary following the death of Marconi on the 20th July 1937.
 * 1938 An account of a colour television demonstration made by Baird at the Dominion Theatre in London at the start of 1938.
 * 1948 The principles behind the design of test card 'C'.
 * 1949 Report of a Press preview of the London-to-Birmingham TV link from early November 1949.
 * 1949 Two articals covering the opening of the first provincial transmitter at Sutton Coldfield in Decemver 1949. At the time it was the world's most powerful television transmitter.
 * 1951 An artical on the opening of the Holme Moss transmitter in October 1951.
 * 1953 Four articals on giving a lot of information on the work involved in broadcasting the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Includes details on the cameras used, how the broadcast was distributed throughout Great Britain and Europe, including the standards convertors required for Europe.

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6th February 2007