How TV Changed the World: a Brief History of Television

The Evolution of Televisions.

Television is one of the most popular and influential inventions of the 20th century. It has transformed the way we communicate, entertain, and learn. But how did it come to be? Here is a brief overview of the history and development of TV from its early beginnings to the present day.

The Pioneers of TV (1830s-1920s)

The idea of transmitting images over a distance dates back to the 1830s, when scientists like Joseph Henry and Michael Faraday experimented with electromagnetism. In 1862, Italian physicist Giovanni Caselli invented the pantelegraph, a device that could send drawings and notes over wires². In 1873, British engineer Willoughby Smith discovered that selenium could convert light into electric currents, opening the possibility of transforming images into electronic signals³.

Many inventors in the late 19th century tried to devise systems for sending images along with sound, such as Alexander Graham Bell's photophone and George Carey's selenium camera³. In 1884, German student Paul Nipkow patented a rotating metal disk with holes that could scan an image and send it over wires. He called it the electric telescope³. This was the basis for mechanical television systems that used spinning disks to create moving images.

Meanwhile, another approach to television was emerging: electronic television. This was based on the cathode ray tube (CRT), a device that could emit a beam of electrons that could be controlled by magnets. The CRT was independently invented by English physicist A.A. Campbell-Swinton and Russian scientist Boris Rosing in 1907³. They both suggested using CRTs to transmit and receive images electronically.

The Birth of TV (1930s-1940s)

The 1930s saw the first practical demonstrations of television to the public. In 1927, American inventor Philo Farnsworth transmitted the first electronic TV image using his image dissector tube⁴. In 1928, Scottish engineer John Logie Baird broadcasted the first transatlantic TV signal from London to New York using his mechanical TV system². In 1931, he also showed the first color TV image².

In 1936, the BBC began regular TV broadcasts from Alexandra Palace in London using both Baird's mechanical system and Marconi-EMI's electronic system⁵. However, mechanical TV soon became obsolete as electronic TV offered better picture quality and resolution. In 1939, RCA demonstrated its electronic TV system at the New York World's Fair⁴. By then, there were about 200 TV sets in New York City⁴.

World War II interrupted the development and expansion of TV, as many countries suspended their broadcasts and focused on military research. However, after the war ended in 1945, TV resumed its growth and popularity. By 1949, there were about one million TV sets in the US⁴.

The Golden Age of TV (1950s-1960s)

The 1950s and 1960s are often considered the golden age of TV, as it became a mass medium that reached millions of households around the world. Some of the milestones of this era include:

• The introduction of color TV in the US in 1953 by RCA⁴. However, color TV sets were expensive and rare until the mid-1960s.
• The launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, by the Soviet Union in 1957. This sparked the space race and led to the development of communication satellites that could relay TV signals across continents⁴.
• The invention of videotape by Ampex in 1956. This allowed TV programs to be recorded and edited before airing⁴.
• The emergence of new genres and formats of TV shows, such as sitcoms, dramas, variety shows, game shows, news programs, documentaries, cartoons, and sports events.
• The coverage of major historical events on live TV, such as the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953⁵, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963⁴, and the moon landing in 1969⁴.
• The rise of TV stars and celebrities, such as Lucille Ball, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Muhammad Ali, and The Beatles.

The Modern Era of TV (1970s-present)

The 1970s and beyond witnessed further innovations and changes in TV technology and culture. Some of the highlights of this period include:

• The development of cable TV and satellite TV in the 1970s and 1980s. These offered more channels and choices for viewers, as well as niche markets and audiences⁴.
• The introduction of home video devices, such as VCRs and DVD players, in the late 1970s and 1990s. These enabled viewers to record, watch, and collect TV programs at their convenience⁴.
• The advent of digital TV in the 2000s. This improved the picture and sound quality of TV signals, as well as enabled interactive features and services⁴.
• The emergence of high-definition TV (HDTV) and ultra-high-definition TV (UHDTV) in the 2000s and 2010s. These offered higher resolutions and more details for TV images⁴.
• The proliferation of flat-screen TVs, such as LCD, plasma, LED, and OLED TVs, in the 2000s and 2010s. These replaced the bulky CRT TVs and offered thinner, lighter, and larger screens².
• The rise of online streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and YouTube, in the 2010s. These offered on-demand access to a vast library of TV shows and movies, as well as original content⁴.
• The diversification of TV content and genres, such as reality shows, soap operas, musicals, animations, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, comedy, drama, thriller, romance, action, adventure, crime, mystery, documentary, biography, history, sports, news, education, and more.

Conclusion

Television has come a long way since its inception in the 19th century. It has evolved from a mechanical device with a few lines of resolution to an electronic device with millions of pixels. It has expanded from a few channels to hundreds of channels. It has transformed from a passive medium to an interactive medium. It has influenced and been influenced by culture, society, politics, economy, science, art, and more.

Television is not just a device or a technology. It is a medium of communication, entertainment, and education. It is a window to the world and a mirror of ourselves. It is a part of our lives and our history.

Source: 

(1) The Evolution of TVs Through the Decades - Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/the-evolution-of-tvs-through-the-decades.

(2) A Historical Timeline: Evolution of the TV (1831–1996) - ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-invention-of-television-1992531.

(3) The Evolution of Television and How it Changed Over Time - Vedantu. https://www.vedantu.com/blog/evolution-of-television.

(4) Who Invented Television? | HISTORY. https://www.history.com/news/who-invented-television.

(5) Evolution of Television - THE WAVES. https://www.the-waves.org/2021/12/10/evolution-of-television/.

Image Attribution: Nord68, 1950's television, CC BY-SA 4.0

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