Television is an electronic medium that broadcasts audio-visual content, delivering entertainment, news, and educational programming to viewers worldwide. It uses transmitted signals to display moving images and sound, connecting audiences to real-time events, fictional stories, and global information, making it one of the most influential mass media platforms.
Joseph Henry and Michael Faraday's research on electromagnetism in 1831 paved the way for the era of electronic communication to start.
Italian priest Giovanni Caselli developed the first practical facsimile system, working on telegraph lines, from 1856 onward. This system allowed for the transmission of still images through telegraph lines.
Willoughby Smith, an English electrical engineer, discovered the photoconductivity of the element selenium in 1873. This discovery led to the development of various technologies including telephotography and electronic image scanning devices.
In 1878, the first sketch of a television was created, marking the initial conceptualization of this revolutionary technology.
In 1880, George Carey constructed a basic system using numerous small light-sensitive selenium cells.
In 1881, Sheldon Bidwell conducted experiments with telephotography, which is another form of the photophone.
In 1884, Paul Nipkow created a system that allowed images to be transmitted through wires using spinning discs. This invention, known as an electric telescope, laid the foundation for the development of television.
In 1897, German physicist Karl Ferdinand Braun invented the first cathode-ray tube, which became the foundation for all modern television cameras and receivers.
Constantin Perskyi coined the word television in a paper presented at the International Electricity Congress at the World's Fair in Paris on August 24, 1900. He referenced the work of Nipkow and others in his paper.
In 1904, a German patent for a color television system was mentioned, marking the first instance of color television being documented.
In 1907, Boris Rosing transmitted black-and-white silhouettes of simple shapes using a mechanical mirror-drum apparatus as a camera and a cathode-ray tube as a receiver.
In 1907, Campbell Swinton and Boris Rosing independently proposed the use of cathode ray tubes for transmitting images. They both worked on developing electronic scanning methods to reproduce images.
In 1907, Boris Rosing successfully combined Nipkow's disk and a cathode ray tube to create the first operational mechanical television system.
In 1908, Alan Archibald Campbell-Swinton, a fellow of the UK Royal Society, proposed the concept of 'distant electric vision' using a cathode ray tube (Braun tube) as both a transmitting and receiving device.
Georges Rignoux and A. Fournier demonstrated instantaneous transmission of images in Paris in 1909 using a matrix of selenium cells and a mechanical commutator.
In 1911, Boris Rosing and Vladimir Zworykin developed a system using a mechanical mirror-drum scanner to transmit crude images to a cathode-ray tube receiver.
Archibald Low demonstrated his television system called 'Televista' in May 1914. His invention utilized a matrix detector and a mosaic screen with an electro-mechanical scanning mechanism.
In 1919, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was established, marking a significant development in the history of broadcasting and communication.
In 1924, John Logie Baird achieved the first transmission of a moving silhouette image using a mechanical system based on Paul Nipkow's model.
On March 25, 1925, the first true mechanical television was developed, laying the foundation for the future of television technology.
Charles Francis Jenkins publicly demonstrated the synchronized transmission of silhouette pictures using a Nipkow disk and a lensed disk scanner with a 48-line resolution.
Léon Theremin developed a mirror drum-based television system, starting with 16-line resolution in 1925 and eventually achieving 100 lines by 1927. He electrically transmitted and projected near-simultaneous moving images on a five-foot square screen.
On December 25, 1926, Kenjiro Takayanagi demonstrated a TV system with a CRT display at Hamamatsu Industrial High School in Japan, marking an early advancement in television technology.
Herbert E. Ives and Frank Gray of Bell Telephone Laboratories gave a dramatic demonstration of mechanical television with small and large viewing screens, capable of reproducing reasonably accurate, monochromatic moving images.
Bell Telephone and the U.S. Department of Commerce conduct the first long distance use of TV between Washington D.C. and New York City. Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover expressed the significance of this event as the transmission of sight for the first time in history.
The first electronic television was unveiled on September 1, 1927, revolutionizing the way images and sounds were transmitted and received.
Philo Taylor Farnsworth successfully demonstrated electronic television in San Francisco on September 7, 1927. He had been working on the system since 1920, and it uses electronic signals to produce images on a video screen.
On September 18, 1927, CBS, one of the major American television and radio networks, was established, playing a significant role in broadcasting history.
WRGB claims to be the world's oldest television station, founded on January 13, 1928, broadcasting from the General Electric factory in Schenectady, NY. This station played a significant role in the early development of television.
The first regularly scheduled television service in the United States began on July 2, 1928, authorized by the Federal Radio Commission. This event marked the early days of television broadcasting in the US.
John Logie Baird demonstrated stereoscopic 3D television for the first time on August 10, 1928, using electro-mechanical and cathode-ray tube techniques.
On September 11, 1928, The Queen's Messenger, a one-act play, was broadcasted live on television for the first time in the world.
On April 26, 1931, General Broadcasting System's WGBS radio and W2XCR television made their regular broadcasting debut in New York City, showcasing Broadway stars and offering a diverse programming schedule.
CBS's New York City station W2XAB started broadcasting their first regular seven-day-a-week television schedule on July 21, 1931, featuring prominent figures like Mayor Jimmy Walker and musical talents.
On August 22, 1932, BBC launched its own regular service using Baird's 30-line electromechanical system. This marked a significant milestone in the history of television broadcasting.
In 1933, Western Television Limited showcases its mechanical television system through tours and demonstrations at Eaton's stores in Toronto, Montreal, and Winnipeg. This event provided the public with a glimpse of early television technology.
Philo Farnsworth gave the world's first public demonstration of an all-electronic television system, using a live camera, at the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia on August 25, 1934.
The official inauguration of television in France took place on February 13, 1935. The program was broadcast in 60 lines and featured actress Béatrice Bretty in Paris.
On June 15, 1936, Don Lee Broadcasting initiated a one-month-long demonstration of high definition television in Los Angeles, showcasing a 300-line image from motion picture film.
RCA and NBC demonstrated a 343-line electronic television broadcast in New York City on July 7, 1936, incorporating live and film segments, marking a milestone in television technology.
On November 2, 1936, the BBC began transmitting the world's first public regular high-definition service from Alexandra Palace in London. This event is considered the birthplace of TV broadcasting as we know it today.
On March 9, 1937, experimental transmissions of electronic television took place in Moscow using equipment manufactured by RCA.
In 1938, Allen B. DuMont established the DuMont television network as a competitor to RCA and produced the first all-electronic television set available for purchase by the North American public, a pioneering advancement in television technology.
David Sarnoff, president of RCA, unveiled the first commercial publicly accessible television broadcast during the opening ceremonies of the 1939 World's Fair in Flushing NY. FDR became the first president to be televised on this day.
Television broadcasting in Japan began on May 13, 1939, making it one of the earliest countries to have an experimental television service. The broadcasts initially used a 441-line system.
On July 22, 1939, the first television transmitter in Rome, Italy, began operations at the EIAR station. It utilized a 441-line system developed in Germany for its broadcasts.
The outbreak of the Second World War on September 1, 1939, led to the abrupt suspension of the BBC TV service to prevent enemy aircraft from using transmissions as beacons. The service resumed after the war in 1946.
On August 29, 1940, Hungarian engineer Peter Carl Goldmark introduced an electro-mechanical color system at CBS, which contained an Iconoscope sensor. The system involved spinning discs with red, blue, and green filters to create color images.
French television was seized by the German occupation forces after the transmitter of the Eiffel Tower was sabotaged. Technical and financing agreements were signed to resume the service.
The first commercial television station began broadcasting in the United States in 1941, marking the beginning of television becoming a staple in most American households by the 1950s.
On February 20, 1941, NBC (owned by RCA) conducted its first field test of color television. This test marked an important milestone in the development of color broadcasting.
The FCC adopted NTSC television engineering standards on May 2, 1941, setting the resolution, frame rate, scanning method, and sound transmission for television broadcasts.
The attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7th, 1941, became the first major news story to be broken by television, highlighting the medium's role in broadcasting significant events.
The first broadcast of Fernsehsender Paris (Paris Télévision) was transmitted from rue Cognac-Jay, marking the beginning of regular broadcasts lasting until August 16, 1944.
On August 16, 1944, John Logie Baird demonstrated a practical color television system called Telechrome. This system used cyan and magenta phosphors to produce a limited-color image.
Television service resumed in Paris after the liberation of the city, with broadcasts transmitted from the Cognacq-Jay studios.
In October 1945, Arthur C. Clarke proposed a global communications system based on satellites, which later influenced the development of satellite television.
Television broadcasting resumed in England on June 7th, 1946, after a halt during World War II. This marked a significant moment in the post-war era of television.
On June 3, 1947, Canadian General Electric engineers in Windsor received the first official electronic television broadcast in Canada from the new U.S. station WWDT in Detroit. This marked a significant milestone in television broadcasting.
The first telecast of a World Series Game took place on September 30th, 1947, featuring The New York Yankees vs. the Brooklyn Dodgers. This event marked a milestone in sports broadcasting.
Howdy Doody, the first children-targeted show, began its run on December 29th, 1947, on NBC. This marked a significant development in children's television programming.
The transmissions in 625-line format started in Moscow on November 4, 1948.
François Mitterrand decreed a broadcast standard of 819 lines in France, leading to broadcasting in this definition by the end of 1949.
The first live broadcast from the European continent was made on August 27, 1950. This event contributed to the expansion of television broadcasting across borders.
On September 4th, 1951, the first coast-to-coast telecast was aired as President Truman spoke to 13 million television sets.
The first live coast-to-coast commercial television broadcast in the U.S. took place on November 18, 1951, during the premiere of CBS's See It Now. The broadcast showed a split-screen view of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) started television broadcasting in Canada on September 6, 1952, from its Montreal station CBFT. The first broadcast was bilingual, in English and French.
Two days after the first broadcast, on September 8, 1952, the Toronto station CBLT started broadcasting. It became the English-speaking flagship station for Canada.
Television transmissions began in East Germany using the 625-line standard developed in the Soviet Union in 1944.
In 1953, NTSC compatible color television was introduced in the US, marking a significant advancement in television technology.
Regular television broadcasts in the Prague area of former Czechoslovakia started on May 1, 1953. This marked the expansion of television service in the country.
On December 17, 1953, a successful color television system based on RCA's technology started airing in commercials. This marked a milestone in the history of color television broadcasting.
The first national color broadcast in the United States took place on January 1, 1954, during the Tournament of Roses Parade. Despite this milestone, the adoption of color television was slow due to high prices and limited color programming.
The first official television broadcast in Italy commenced on January 3, 1954, by the RAI. This marked a significant milestone in the history of television in Italy.
The first live color coast-to-coast telecast took place, marking a significant milestone in television broadcasting.
On June 25, 1955, Telesistema Mexicano's broadcast over XEW-TV marked the first international North American broadcast in television history.
In 1956, Ampex Corporation showcased the technology of videotape recording, which was initially utilized by television stations for recording and playback purposes.
Robert Adler invents the first practical remote control called the Zenith Space Commander, which was a significant advancement in television technology.
Reportedly, the first continuous live broadcast of a 'breaking' news story in the world was conducted by the CBC during the Springhill mining disaster, which began on October 23, 1958. This event showcased the power of television in delivering real-time news updates to the public.
In 1959, the TV show Bonanza debuted, starring Canadian actor Lorne Greene.
In 1960, the first SECAM colour transmission took place between Paris and London, marking a significant milestone in television technology.
In 1961, the Canadian Television Network (CTV), a privately owned network, begins operations. It marked a significant development in the television industry in Canada.
AT&T launched the first TV satellite named Tel-star, allowing people to watch the same channel even if they are 1 million kilometers apart. This event marked the beginning of the Modern Television Era.
On July 23, 1962, the first live satellite signal was broadcast to Britain via the Telstar satellite from the United States. This event marked a milestone in global television communication.
On July 26, 1963, Syncom 2 became the first geosynchronous communication satellite, paving the way for global television transmission.
The funeral of President John F. Kennedy is televised the day after Lee Harvey Oswald's murder. It was a somber and widely watched event, with a significant portion of American television sets tuned in to witness the ceremony.
In 1964, Dabney Coleman appeared in an episode of Kraft Suspense Theatre titled 'The Threatening Eye' as private investigator William Gunther. This showcased his versatility as an actor.
The Beatles make their first appearance on the popular Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, marking the beginning of Beatlemania in the United States. The performance was a cultural milestone and a turning point in the history of music.
On April 6, 1965, Intelsat I, also known as 'Early Bird', became the first commercial communications satellite in geosynchronous orbit, revolutionizing global communication.
During 1966, Canadian stations transmitted color television signals for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the history of television broadcasting.
In 1967, color TV became more popular and accessible to the general public.
Sony's development of the Trinitron tube in 1968 revolutionized the picture quality of color television sets, setting a new standard in the industry.
On July 20, 1969, the first television transmission from the moon was viewed by 600 million viewers globally. This historic event marked a significant milestone in space exploration and technological advancement.
The children's television program Sesame Street started its broadcast, becoming a beloved and iconic show for educating and entertaining young audiences.
Canada's Anik 1, launched on November 9, 1972, was the first commercial North American satellite dedicated to television transmissions, enhancing broadcasting capabilities.
ATS-6, launched on May 30, 1974, was the world's first experimental educational and Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), demonstrating advanced transmission technologies.
Sony introduced Betamax in 1976, which was the first home video cassette recorder, revolutionizing how people could record and watch television programs.
On May 10, 1977, South Africans witnessed television for the first time as test transmissions began from the state-backed South Africa Broadcast Co. The decision came after years of banning television due to moral concerns, with broadcasts in English and Afrikaans.
By 1978, ninety-eight percent of American households owned television sets, a significant increase from only nine percent in 1950. Additionally, seventy-eight percent of households had color televisions, a substantial rise from 3.1 percent in 1964.
On October 18, 1979, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) started permitting people to have home satellite earth stations without needing a federal government license.
In 1980, India inaugurated its national television network, marking a significant milestone in the country's broadcasting history. This event played a crucial role in shaping the media landscape and cultural dissemination in India.
Sony demonstrated a wideband analog high-definition television system in April 1981, showcasing advanced video camera, monitor, and video tape recorder technology. This marked a significant advancement in television technology.
On April 26, 1982, the first satellite channel in the UK, Satellite Television Ltd. (later Sky1), was launched, transmitting signals from the ESA's Orbital Test Satellites.
Direct Broadcast Satellite service commenced in Indianapolis in 1983, providing residents with a new way to access television channels.
Stereo TV broadcasts started in 1984, enhancing the audio experience for viewers.
The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) was established on December 2, 1986, through a merger between SPACE and the Direct Broadcast Satellite Association (DBSA).
Turkey's first private television channel, Star, started its broadcast on May 26, 1989.
In 1991, CNN extensively covered the Gulf War, with its reporting being so comprehensive that there were jokes about Saddam Hussein relying on CNN for military intelligence.
Cartoon Network, a popular television channel dedicated to animated shows, was launched in 1992.
The late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien debuts on television.
The popular TV show 'Friends' debuts on NBC in September.
In 1996, it was reported that there were over a billion television sets in operation globally.
On June 9th, 2010, Panasonic unveiled the world's first 3D television set. The TV was a massive 152 inches in size and required special 3D glasses for viewing to prevent eye strain. Priced at $576,000, it was considered the cheapest option available at the time.
By 2024, there are approximately 1 billion television sets in use worldwide, showcasing the widespread popularity and impact of television as a medium.