The first scheduled, high-definition (as then defined; meaning 240-line) television programmes were broadcast on 2 November 1936 by the British Broadcasting Corporation. They had been preceded by a number of low-definition BBC test broadcasts, as well as a 180-line Deutscher Fernseh Rundfunk service, from Berlin, since March 1935.
The British Broadcasting Corporation, already an established radio broadcaster, began making low definition (30-line) test television transmissions under government licence in August 1936. These included short ad-hoc performances by musicians, with the duration limited as "lookers in" (as viewers were called) were found to experience eye strain through looking at the small screens then in use.[1]
The BBC Television Service officially launched on 2 November 1936.[2][3] The BBC's official publication, The Radio Times, listed the opening one-hour schedule – the first ever, on a dedicated TV channel – starting at 3 pm, as:[2]
From 9 pm to 10 pm, pre-recorded films and more news were screened.[2] The films included Television Comes to London, a pre-made fifteen-minute documentary about the launch, shot on 35mm film.[1] It was the BBC's first television documentary.[1]
however, in the event The Lai Founs did not appear.[1]
Dixon performed a specially commissioned song, "Television", written by James Dyrenforth and Kenneth Leslie-Smith.[1] The event made Buck and Bubbles (Buck Washington and John W. Bubbles) the first black people to appear on television.[1]
BBC television initially used two systems on alternate weeks: the Baird system and the 405-line Marconi-EMI system. The decision to use the Baird system for the first week was made on a coin toss.[1] The use of the two formats made the BBC's service the world's first regular high-definition television service; it broadcast from Monday to Saturday between 15:00 and 16:00, and 21:00 and 22:00.[5]
Alexandra Palace housed two studios (one for each system), various scenery stores, make-up areas, dressing rooms, offices, and the transmitter itself.
References
^ abcdefghiTelevision's Opening Night: How the Box Was Born (Documentary). BBC Four. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
^ abcdefg"Variety". The Radio Times. No. 683. 30 October 193. p. 88. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
^"Variety". The Radio Times. No. 683. 30 October 1936. p. 88. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
^Burns, R.W. (1998). Television: An International History of the Formative Years. London: The Institution of Electrical Engineers. p. ix. ISBN978-0-85296-914-4.
External links
First regular hi-definition television service – BBC page.
March 29, 2023
first, television, first, scheduled, high, definition, then, defined, meaning, line, television, programmes, were, broadcast, november, 1936, british, broadcasting, corporation, they, been, preceded, number, definition, test, broadcasts, well, line, deutscher,. The first scheduled high definition as then defined meaning 240 line television programmes were broadcast on 2 November 1936 by the British Broadcasting Corporation They had been preceded by a number of low definition BBC test broadcasts as well as a 180 line Deutscher Fernseh Rundfunk service from Berlin since March 1935 Contents 1 Background 2 Line up 2 1 Opening 2 2 Variety 3 Technology 4 References 5 External linksBackground EditThe British Broadcasting Corporation already an established radio broadcaster began making low definition 30 line test television transmissions under government licence in August 1936 These included short ad hoc performances by musicians with the duration limited as lookers in as viewers were called were found to experience eye strain through looking at the small screens then in use 1 The first regular electronic television service in Germany began in Berlin on 22 March 1935 as Deutscher Fernseh Rundfunk Broadcasting from the Fernsehsender Paul Nipkow it used a 180 line system and was on air for 90 minutes three times a week Line up Edit Blue plaque at Alexandra Palace The BBC Television Service officially launched on 2 November 1936 2 3 The BBC s official publication The Radio Times listed the opening one hour schedule the first ever on a dedicated TV channel starting at 3 pm as 2 3 00 Opening of the BBC Television Service 3 15 Interval time weather 3 20 British Movietone News 3 30 Variety 4 00 CloseFrom 9 pm to 10 pm pre recorded films and more news were screened 2 The films included Television Comes to London a pre made fifteen minute documentary about the launch shot on 35mm film 1 It was the BBC s first television documentary 1 Opening Edit The first person heard and seen was the announcer Leslie Mitchell 1 According to advance publicity in The Radio Times the opening was then to be 4 by Major the Right Hon G C Tryon M P H M Postmaster GeneralMr R C Norman Chairman of the BBC and the Right Hon the Lord Selsdon K B E Chairman of the Television Advisory Committee will also speak Variety Edit The Radio Times billed the Variety performers as 2 Adele Dixon Musical Comedy Star Buck and Bubbles Comedians and Dancers The Lai Founs Chinese Jugglershowever in the event The Lai Founs did not appear 1 Dixon performed a specially commissioned song Television written by James Dyrenforth and Kenneth Leslie Smith 1 The event made Buck and Bubbles Buck Washington and John W Bubbles the first black people to appear on television 1 The musicians were billed as The BBC Television Orchestra led by Boris Pecker and conducted by Hyam Greenbaum 2 The producer was listed as Dallas Bower 2 Technology EditThe broadcast was made from a converted wing of Alexandra Palace Ally Pally in London 2 using the 240 line Baird intermediate film system 1 on the VHF band BBC television initially used two systems on alternate weeks the Baird system and the 405 line Marconi EMI system The decision to use the Baird system for the first week was made on a coin toss 1 The use of the two formats made the BBC s service the world s first regular high definition television service it broadcast from Monday to Saturday between 15 00 and 16 00 and 21 00 and 22 00 5 Alexandra Palace housed two studios one for each system various scenery stores make up areas dressing rooms offices and the transmitter itself References Edit a b c d e f g h i Television s Opening Night How the Box Was Born Documentary BBC Four 19 May 2020 Retrieved 7 June 2020 a b c d e f g Variety The Radio Times No 683 30 October 193 p 88 Retrieved 7 June 2020 History of the BBC BBC Variety The Radio Times No 683 30 October 1936 p 88 Retrieved 7 June 2020 Burns R W 1998 Television An International History of the Formative Years London The Institution of Electrical Engineers p ix ISBN 978 0 85296 914 4 External links EditFirst regular hi definition television service BBC page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title First day of BBC television amp oldid 1135135073, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
