How BBC television first went live - BBC News

In 1936, the BBC’s television service launched for the first time from London’s Alexandra Palace.

Two studios, fitted out with the latest technology, broadcast to people living in London and the surrounding home counties.

Two different camera systems were in operation at its inception - the Marconi-EMI in Studio A, the Baird Company in Studio B, which were used on alternate weeks.

Ultimately, the Marconi-EMI was favoured to be the better system, and viewers got to witness ‘high-definition television’ on their TV sets.

#UK #BBCNews

[shmookins]

And now I have a phone in my pocket that shoots in 8K.
Progress is amazing.

[simonbone]

1:57 That's not how the Baird system looked like in 1936. By then it had advanced to 240 lines of resolution in a 5:4 aspect ration and was much sharper. (The images shown here are of the mid-1920s 30-line system.) Even so, it couldn't compete with the 405-line EMI system, not only in terms of quality but also practicality.

[tomwaller]

My very first memories of TV were aged 5 in the Bar of the Bush Hotel Saint Cyrus near Montrose Scotland and at the Coronation of the late Queen. The whole community turned out to watch the first TV in the local area. My Dad was the publican.

[TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

One of the most iconic moments in television history

[Michelle_Schu-blacka]

Sadly, I'm old enough to remember when CRT's were the only thing in town and we could only afford a tiny black and white.

I remember tuning all four channels in and strangely, being able to watch it all day without getting bored. We get hundreds of channels now and there's nothing but crap.

[topdog]

Thank you for inventing Doctor Who, the BBC!

[AljabbarWestJava]

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift... that's why they call it present”
─Master Oogway

[troysvisualarts]

A correction on the facts of the Baird system used in the broadcast trials. I see the simulated Baird system image looking more like the early years of the Baird System at BBC from the early 1930s when he was broadcasting at 30 lines and vertical scan with a 7:3 ratio portrait like screen, that is incorrect for the 1936-37 Baird broadcasts as at that point Baird's system was much higher resolutation at 240 lines and was horizontal scan with I guess either a 5:4 or 4:3 ratio picture like that of the EMI system. The EMI electronic system had 405 line resolution which is nearly double that of the Baird mechanical system. The screens of factory manufactured B&W TVs at that point were generally B&W not black and green or other colours like shown at 2:18, there were homebuilt and lab built experimental TVs made with green phosphor tubes which generally used in oscilloscopes but not factory made ones for retail.

[jacksugden]

Interesting as in all the years visiting Ally Pally, 35, was informed by staff that there no old studios there, this now disproved their theories.

[juliusnovachrono]

Honestly, this is incredible. I do hope that technology can advance as we go throughout the decades,

[michaeljohnson]

Yes amazing isnt it i have all the british pathes on dvd from 1970-1989 some amazing clips

[JoelReisinger_]

Umm... The images you show for the baird system actually show the early experimental and fully mechanical 32 line system not the Baird 240 line system the BBC tested against the 405 line EMI system. The Baird 240 line system produced much better pictures than the ones shown here (but still worse than the EMI system of course)

[Jammin-thru-Life]

I don't remember the picture being that clear in the 80, 90s!?!

[SuperUAP]

A hundred years of the BBC 😂😂😂😂😂
I cant stop laughing. I think that's what my grandmas last words were. ROFL im crying omg 💀

[donaldmcdonald]

Respect to the BBC's well-organized reporting style

[李永浴]

Life is a long road. Difficulties and hardships will appear anytime, anywhere. Whether you are doing a study, a career or a job, you have to be aware of it, be proactive and prepare for it. You only have sixty percent in your life.

[AherofAfrica-]

“No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifeline; it is condemned to bleed to death”

•KOFI ANNAN
-Former Secretary-General of the United Nations

[AljabbarWestJava]

🎵"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent."

─VICTOR HUGO 🇪🇺

[India]

“HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION is key 🗝️ to addressing the underlying causes of INJUSTICE around the world.

The more people know about their RIGHTS, and the rights of others in society, the BETTER equipped they are to protect them.”

─ H.E. *Salil Shetty* 🇮🇳🗝️
Former Secretary-General of Amnesty International

[VietnamTravelGuide.]

Interesting to watch behind the scenes