THE DEFINING SHOWS OF AMERICAN TELEVISION
The TV shows that defined each of the major US Networks from the earliest days of television to the present.

The articles listed below relating to the history and development of television have been moved to TVH's companion site TELETRONIC. Below are some links to specific articles. A visit to the site will reveal a lot more content.

THE INVENTION OF TELEVISION
The Early Pioneers

THE INVENTION OF TELEVISION: TIMELINE
The television timeline from 1817 to 1936.

HISTORY OF THE BBC: THE FIRST TELEVISION ERA
From humble beginings in 1922 to the dawn of television-the history of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

HISTORY OF THE BBC: THE OPENING CEREMONY
On November 2nd 1936 the world's first regular high definition service began with a ceremony at Alexandra Palace. The speeches made on that historic day by Mr R C Norman-Chairman of the BBC, Major Rt Hon G C Tryon-The Postmaster-General, and Lord Selsdon-Chairman of the Television Advisory Committee.

HISTORY OF THE BBC: HERE'S TELEVISION
TV critic Kenneth Baily's first-hand account of the early days of BBC television -written over fifty years ago.

HISTORY OF THE BBC: WAR AT THE PALACE
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.

HISTORY OF THE BBC: BACK FROM THE BIG PARADE
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 Television Station.

HISTORY OF THE BBC: DESIGNED FOR WOMEN
If 1946 was the curtain raiser on post-war television then 1947 was the year that the BBC began exploring the different types of programming it could offer viewers for the first time.

HISTORY OF THE BBC: NORMAN COLLINS
The independent man at the BBC.

THE ITV STORY
ITV's rocky history from conception to birth in a complete 3 part history of the early years of Independent Television.

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

THE ITV STORY: AD-MAGS
In this second part of advertising on British commercial television we take a look at 'shoppers guides' and discover how they very nearly cost ITV their franchise.

THE ITV STORY: PILKINGTON
ITV faced it's 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?

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE TELEVISION PLAY
A history of the play on British television.

THE ITV STORY: THE ARMCHAIR THEATRE EFFECT
The story of Britain's foremost 'play' series - 'Armchair Theatre' and the effect it had on television drama.

MISSING, BELIEVED WIPED
The story of how a large part of British television history was destroyed, and the steps now being taken to restore it.

US TELEVISION
The first Golden Age.

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The latest update of Teletronic, the television history site is now on-line and is packed with articles, reviews and biographies.

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