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Television Timeline

Below is a timeline for all notable events pertaining to television, with a particular focus on movies. It should be noted that this website uses the term, “Home Video,” in two different ways. Firstly, it uses it as an umbrella term for the viewing of movies in the home, physical or otherwise. Secondly, its also the label given to the era in time where movies are being released on physical video formats.

February 8th, 1928

Baird Makes the First Transatlantic Television Broadcast

Baird Makes the First Transatlantic Television Broadcast

Inventor John Logie Baird’s company, Baird Television Development Company of London, performed the first transatlantic television broadcast from London to New York. The distorted transmission was of a man and woman turning their heads.

September, 1928 (Western Mail, 1928/06/22, p. 15)

Baird Model A/B/C

Baird Model A/B/C

First mechanical televisions made available for sale. Sold at the annual Radio Exhibition of 1928.Invented by John Logie Baird.

1930

Baird Televisor

Baird Televisor

First mass-produced mechanical television.

March 30th, 1933 (Los Angeles Evening Post-Record, 1933/03/25, p. 6)

The “Crooked Circle” Airs on Television

The “Crooked Circle” Airs on Television

The experimental station, W6XAO, airs The Crooked Circle (1932) to the few television owners in the Los Angeles Area. This is the very first time that a full-length movie is shown on television.

1936

Cossor 137T

Cossor 137T

The Cossor 137T is among the very first electronic TV sets commercially produced. Introduced to the UK.

November, 1946

RCA 630-TS

RCA 630-TS

The RCA 630-TS is considered by many as the first mass-market electronic television.

November 11th, 1951

Video Tape Recording is First Demonstrated

Video Tape Recording is First Demonstrated

Collaborating at the behest of Bing Crosby, Bing Crosby Enterprises and Ampex demonstrate the first video tape recorder. Although the results are poor on this early prototype, it’s proof of concept.

April, 1956

Ampex VRX-1000

Ampex VRX-1000

The first practical VTR is demonstrated and sold at the National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters convention. Ampex received 75 orders for the VTR during the event, earning the company around $4 million, with each unit costing around $50,000.

November 3rd, 1956 (Variety, 1956/11/07, p. 33)

The “Wizard of Oz” Airs on Television

The “Wizard of Oz” Airs on Television

The Wizard of Oz (1939) is the first major film shown unedited on a major network. With sponsorship by Ford Motor Company, CBS-TV paid $250,000 to MGM to broadcast the film.

November 8, 1972 (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, 1972/11/08, p. 39)

HBO Airs Its First Movie

HBO Airs Its First Movie

On its inaugural airing, HBO (Home Box Office), broadcasts a hockey match Between the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks, followed by their first feature film, Sometimes a Great Notion (1971).

April, 1975 (Broadcasting, 1975/04/21, p. 16)

HBO Announces They’ll Be Broadcasting Via Satellite

HBO Announces They’ll Be Broadcasting Via Satellite

In order to provide their service nationwide in a cost effective way, HBO reveals that they’ll be leasing a transponder on the Satcom I satellite for five years. They are the first television channel to broadcast their channel via satellite.

March 22nd, 2007 (Worldwide Computer Products, 2007/03/22, p. 1)

Apple TV (1st Generation)

Apple TV (1st Generation)

Apple TV, the first widely popular internet streaming device for television sets, begins shipping to retailers. It streams 720p video, has 40 GB of internal storage and play music and video content from ones iTunes account. Apple also announces in May that YouTube will soon be added to the device. Priced at $299.

May 20th, 2008 (PR Newswire, 2008/05/20)

Roku DVP N1000

Roku DVP N1000

Roku begins rolling out their TV streaming device. Built in collaboration with Netflix, the device allows the streaming of over 10,000 movies on the Netflix platform to your television screen. It costs $99.99.

August 4th, 2008 (Cablefax Daily, 2008/08/05)

The Courts Find DVR Cloud Services Non-Infringing

The Courts Find DVR Cloud Services Non-Infringing

Cablevision wins their appeal in their case with the MPAA, who in 2006, sued the company, claiming their DVR cloud service permitted infringement. In 2009, the Supreme Court declines to hear the case, upholding the appeal.