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History of U.K. TV since 1922

The launch of The Digital Network ( digital terrestrial television ) will have the same - if not bigger - impact as the arrival of colour did 43 years ago, opening up a whole new viewing experience for the British public.

1922

18 October: British Broadcasting Company formed
1 November: Broadcasting Licence Fee of 10 shillings (£0.50) introduced
14 November: First daily transmission from 2LO (London)
15 November: Birmingham (5IT) and Manchester (2ZY) stations brought into service
14 December: John Reith made General Manager of the BBC

1923

8 January: First outside broadcast
26 March: First daily weather forecast
28 September: Radio Times first published
8 November: First broadcast in Welsh from Cardiff
2 December: First broadcast in Gaelic from Aberdeen

1924

5 February: First Greenwich Time Signal
17 February: First Big Ben daily time signal
23 April: First broadcast by King George V

1927

1 January: British Broadcasting Corporation established by Royal Charter

1929

20 August: First BBC transmission of 30-line experimental television using Baird's studio

1930

31 March : First transmission of 30-line television with synchronised sound

1932

12 March: First broadcast from Broadcasting House
19 December: Short-wave Empire Service from Daventry inaugurated

1934

29 November: First broadcast of a Royal wedding, with world coverage (Duke of Kent and Princess Marina)

1936

2 November: Official inauguration of world's first regular high-definition television service from Alexandra Palace
9 December: First televised cookery demonstration

1937

12 May: Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (radio and television). First use of television outside broadcast van

1938

3 January: First BBC foreign-language service (Arabic)
30 June: John Reith resigned

1939

1 September: TV Service closed down. Home Service replaced National and Regional radio programmes

1940

7 January: Forces Programme began
15 October: Bomb exploded in Broadcasting House during nine o'clock news, seven deaths

1941

17 March: European Service moved to Bush House

1942

29 January: Desert Island Discs first broadcast

1943

13 June: Empire Service became Overseas Service

1945

29 July: Regional broadcasts renewed and Light Programme began

1946

7 June: BBC TV resumes after shutdown during World War II

1955

22 September: Launch of ITV

1962

11 June: First satellite transmission from USA via Telstar

1964

21 April: BBC2 launched in London (first 625 lines service)

1966

2 June: TV pictures show live from moon's surface

1967

1 July: First regular BBC2 colour transmissions

1969

15 November: Colour begins on BBC1 and ITV

1982

2 November: Launch of channel 4

1989

5 February: Launch of Sky satellite television

1997

31 March: Launch of channel 5

1998

31 October : Sky digital launch

1998

15th November: U.K. Digital Terrestrial TV launch / ONdigital launch


The last quarter of 1998 launch of the Digital Network

1997

June: Licence awarded

1997

November: Set-top box specification agreed

1997

December: CTI awarded transmission and distribution contract

1997

December: Licence granted

1997

December: Multiplex Centre chosen

1998

January: Multiplex Centre construction begins

1998

February: CA system chosen

1998

February: AMV BBDO appointed as advertising agency

1998

March: Set-top box orders placed

1998

March: the Digital network unveiled

1998

April: Retail trade hotline begins


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