Following the inauguration of the London television station at Alexandra Palace and the adoption of the 405-line standard, there were many problems which had to be resolved by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Television Advisory Committee (TAC) before a national (UK) service having a wide popular appeal could be established. Much innovative effort had to be expended by the BBC's producers to determine the type and the form of programmes which would prove attractive to viewers; means had to be devised to enable major outdoor sporting and national events to be televised and the signals relayed to Alexandra Palace; steps had to be taken to stimulate the purchase of sets which were likely to cost several weeks' wages for the average person; the effect of ignition and diathermy interference had to be determined and possible legislation introduced to minimise the detrimental character of spurious radiations; the question of whether to utilise radio links or cable links for transmitting, to the provinces, the video signals generated at the London station had to be most carefully considered since large capital costs would be involved; and the length of time the 405-line standard remained in force before a move to a higher line standard was introduced had to be considered. All these matters fell within the remit of the TAC.

Inspec keywords: history; high definition television

Other keywords: video signals; London television station; high-definition service; BBC; TAC; Television Advisory Committee; cable links; 405-line standard; British Broadcasting Corporation; radio links; diathermy interference

Subjects: High definition television and video