1884

Scanning disc for mechanical television invented by Paul Nikon.

1897

First cathode ray tube scanning device constructed by German scientist, Karl Ferdinand Braun.

1900

Canadian born Professor Reginald A. Fessenden transmits speech without wires, a distance of 50 feet.

1906

Professor Reginald A. Fessenden made the first long-range transmissions of voice on Christmas Eve 1906 from a station at Brant Rock, Massachusetts. Astonished ship radio operators hundreds of miles out in the Atlantic ocean heard the program.
The program was also received in Cuba and Scotland.

1907

Boris Rising in Russia and A. A. Campbell-Swanton in England simultaneously develop image reproduction methods using electromagnetic scanning.

1923

National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) formed. Complete TV system including kinescope, or picture tube, demonstrated by Dr. Vladimir K.Working; Working applied for patent of iconoscope or TV camera tube.

1924

Radio Manufacturers Association, predecessor of EIA, founded.

1927

Philo Farnsworth applies for patent on electronic television. Bell Telephone Laboratories demonstrated wireless TV between Whippany, NJ and New York.

1928

First experimental TV station permits issued by federal government. First successful trial of video delivery through telephone lines; motion pictures sent from Chicago to New York by AT&T.

1929

CBS is founded by William S. Paley.

1934

    Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established.

1939

TV introduced at New York World's Fair. First television sets offered for sale in U.S. by RCA, GE, Dumont, Philco, and two other companies.

1948

TV set sales increase more than 500 percent over the 1947 level.

1950
Cable TV introduced. The Burns and Allen Show airs Oct 12.


1951

The First "I Love Lucy" show airs in October.


1953

NTSC-compatible color TV successfully demonstrated to FCC; FCC authorizes broadcasts to begin January 22, 1954..

1954

NTSC Color TV broadcasting begins.

1955

Alfred Hitchcock begins his television series.



1956

Black-and-white portable TV era begins.

1957

Radio-Electronics-Television Manufacturers Association changes name to Electronic Industries Association (EIA).

1960

First rectangular screen TV introduced . First battery-operated transistorized TV for sale.

1962

Legislation passed requiring all-channel tuning (UHF and VHF) in television receivers.

1965

CBS airs the first Peanuts Special, Schulz's first animated TV feature, A Charlie Brown Christmas. It later won a Peabody Award and an Emmy.

Charles Schultz 1922 - 2000

1966

The first episode of the Star Trek original series is aired in July 1966.



Star Trek was canceled until 1969 due to the "perception" that the teen to 25 year old audience would not attract advertising dollars.

1967

Congress creates PBS.

1971

Electronic tuning first seen in U.S. TVs.

1973

Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian radio and journalism personality makes an impression on the American society with his commentary of June 5, 1973. Gordon was an honored guest on many television programs. Although his forte was in radio and print, we can not overlook his contribution to broadcasting. The words he spoke were self explanatory. Hats off to you Gordon!

      An address by Gordon Sinclair.

Click on Gordon's photo for a biography. Click on "The Americans" Icon to listen to the original broadcast.

Gordon Sinclair 1900 - 1984

Also in 1973, giant-screen projection color TVs were first marketed.

1974     97% of American homes have at least one TV set and it is on at least five hours per day.

1982
Surround Sound is introduced for home use by Dolby Laboratories.

1984

Multi-channel TV sound broadcast authorized by FCC; first stereo TV broadcasts begin. Sales of stereo color TV receivers and adapters begin. First color TVs with all-digital signal circuitry marketed.

1985

Color TVs with 35-inch picture tubes marketed.

1986

Scrambling of satellite-fed cable TV programming starts; sale of decoders and program subscriptions to home dish owners begins. Stereo-sound in television broadcasting available in all major U.S. population centers.

1987

First Advanced Television (ATV) system demonstrated. Movie theater experience moved into the living room: Dolby Pro-Logic Surround Sound is available at home.

1988

First Improved Definition Television (HDTV) receivers marketed.

1990

Production of giant-screen (over 27-inch) color TV picture tubes starts in U.S. Legislation requiring close captioning decoders in all larger color TVs manufactured after July 1, 1993 signed into law. All-digital high definition television (HDTV) system proposed; FCC sets testing schedule.

1991

First TVs with built-in closed-caption display capability introduced in U.S. U.S. testing of HDTV systems begins.

1993

16:9 Aspect Ratio (wide screen) television sets marketed in U.S.

1995

First television program (Computer Chronicles) delivered via the Internet. First television station (COLD 13) uses a networked digital video server in its daily on-air operations. EIA's Consumer Electronics Group (COG) becomes COMA, Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association. Interactive cable modem trials with consumers started. Flat-screen plasma display TVs introduced.

1996

First TV sets equipped with VCR Plus+ introduced in U.S. HDTV is broadcast and received live at commercial station WAD-TV in Washington, D.C. Set-top boxes plug into TV and telephone and allow viewers to surf the Internet's World Wide Web via remote control. Zenith introduces the U.S. market's first HDTV-compatible front projector TV. Agreement between broadcasters, TV manufacturers and PC makers sets inter-industry standard for digital HDTV. HDTV sets to hit shelves in 1998.

1997

FCC assigns digital spectrum to television broadcasters and sets schedule for digital broadcasts.

1998 - Present

The advent of digital television and spectrum re-allocation is a constantly evolving
process. We provide links to other sites for more information.

Web Site By CCTS
Cambridge Communications and Technical Services Inc.
98 Sunny Acres Road
Jeffersonville, Vermont 05464