TV History

From humble beginnings in 1922 to the dawn of television - Television Heaven takes a look at the history of the British Broadcasting Corporation

On 1st September 1939 when the BBC ceased television broadcasting it was explained that it was feared that the German air force would use the transmission signals from the aerial of Alexandra Palace as a navigational aid. In fact, the aerial was to be used for transmitting signals of an entirely different kind.

On an October day in 1945 the Government announced that it wanted the BBC to start television again, on the pre-war technical system. Within a few days those television engineers who had been demobilised were back inside Alexandra Palace

It was on 2 June 1953 for the Coronation of Elizabeth 11 that television really came into its own. This was the day that Britain began its eternal love affair with 'the box.'

Within a few years of BBC television restarting after the end of the Second World War, there were already suggestions that perhaps the Corporation's monopoly on broadcasting was restricting the type of programmes available to the British public due to the limit that public funding imposed.

With the Government agreeing to Independent Television in Britain for the first time, on 25 August 1954 an advertisement was placed for applicants for regional franchises. Six companies applied but not all of them were successful, and that included the most likely to succeed.

With the proposed launch of ITV in September 1955 and the franchises awarded it was London that would take to the air first. But at the last minute, major backers began to pull out...

When ITV arrived in 1955 it brought something new into the homes of the British viewing public: television advertising. As Briton's finally saw an end to rationing and the Government was keen to encourage public spending to boost the economy, this was seen as an opportune moment for all concerned.

Ad-Mags aka Shopper's Guides tried to bend the rules on television advertising. For years they were a hit with the public, but the authorities were less impressed. And they very nearly cost the ITA their franchise licence.

ITV faced its toughest test yet. A government white paper on the state of television found it wanting, while the BBC escaped any criticism. But did the government have their own agenda when they ordered the infamous Pilkington Report?