Digitize

History of U.K. TV over the past 64 years

 

The launch of The Digital Network ( digital terrestrial television ) will have the same - if not bigger - impact as the arrival of colour did 30 years ago, opening up a whole new viewing experience for the british public.

Viewers will be able to receive at least thirty channels, including 15 from British Digital Broadcasting, through their existing aerial. The advent of the digital Network will now take its place among the milestones.


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


Back to Top.

Click for Index Page