Curated timeline

Television History

Tune in to the history of the small screen, from mechanical experiments and the Golden Age of broadcasting to the rise of cable, satellite, and the streaming revolution.

• Nipkow Disk Invention (1884)

  Paul Nipkow invents the Nipkow disk, fundamental to early television technology.

• Iconoscope Patent (1923)

  Vladimir Zworykin patents the iconoscope television picture tube at Westinghouse.

• First Televised Moving Images (1925)

  John Logie Baird demonstrates first televised moving images using mechanical television.

• Electronic Television System (1927)

  Philo Farnsworth develops the first fully electronic television system with dissector tube.

• First TV Drama (1928)

  WGY broadcasts 'The Queen's Messenger,' television's first drama program.

• Regular TV Programming Begins (1928)

  First regularly scheduled television programming begins (WGY in Schenectady, NY).

• BBC High-Definition Service (1930)

  BBC begins world's first regular high-definition television service (405 lines).

• BBC Television Service Launch (November 2, 1936)

  BBC Television Service launches from Alexandra Palace in London.

• TV at World's Fair (1939)

  Television is demonstrated at the New York World's Fair to mass audiences.

• Commercial TV Broadcasting Begins (July 1, 1941)

  Commercial television broadcasting officially begins in the United States (WNBT, WCBS-TV).

• Post-War TV Sales Boom (1946)

  Television sales boom begins in post-war America.

• First Televised World Series (October 1947)

  World Series is first televised, bringing sports to national TV audience.

• Cable TV Invention (1948)

  Cable television is invented in Pennsylvania to improve reception in mountainous areas.

• Texaco Star Theater Premiere (June 8, 1948)

  'Texaco Star Theater' with Milton Berle becomes first major TV hit, earning him 'Mr. Television'.

• First Coast-to-Coast Broadcast (1950)

  First coast-to-coast television broadcast in the US via AT&T coaxial cable.

• First Transcontinental Live Broadcast (September 4, 1951)

  First live transcontinental television broadcast (President Truman's speech from Japanese Peace Treaty Conference).

• I Love Lucy Premiere (October 15, 1951)

  'I Love Lucy' premieres, becoming first major sitcom filmed rather than broadcast live.

• Today Show Launch (January 14, 1952)

  'Today Show' launches, establishing the morning television format.

• TV Guide Launch (April 3, 1953)

  TV Guide magazine launches, becoming essential viewing companion.

• NTSC Color Standard Adopted (December 17, 1953)

  NTSC color television standard is adopted in the United States.

• Color TV Broadcasting Begins (January 1, 1954)

  Color television broadcasting begins in the US (NBC's 'Colgate Comedy Hour').

• Eurovision Network Established (June 6, 1954)

  Eurovision network is established in Europe for international program exchange.

• Tonight Show Debut (September 27, 1954)

  'The Tonight Show' debuts, creating the late-night talk show format.

• The Honeymooners & Gunsmoke Premiere (October 1, 1955)

  'The Honeymooners' and 'Gunsmoke' premiere, defining sitcom and western genres.

• First Televised Presidential Debates (September 26, 1960)

  First televised US Presidential debates (Kennedy vs. Nixon) demonstrate TV's political power.

Open the interactive timeline viewer to explore the full timeline.