The Historical Context Of TVs
TVs, also known as television sets, are used for watching television broadcasts. They began commercial production in the United States, United Kingdom and Russia between 1928 and 1934, starting with the Baird ‘televisor.’ The original was actually a radio with an additional device that produced a postage-stamp sized image.
After the Second World War, Americans had more free time and disposable income. This allowed for increased purchase of household items such as TVs, and by 1962 televisions were present in roughly ninety percent of American households. Production increased and prices dropped, leading to greater access for the average American.
Today, television sets have reached new technological heights. Many have the ability to connect with other informational and programming sources like DVD players, video game consoles and headphones. Some even offer the possibility internet connection. Infrared remote control capabilities have become the standard, and regardless of their high-tech capabilities, all TVs feature a display, antenna and tuner of some sort.
Today TVs use CRT, LCD and Plasma screen technologies, amongst others, in order to offer a great variety of possibilities for image display.
While television sets began displaying images in black and white, color technology has since replaced it. Color sets starting being bought by the masses during the 1960s, with the 1966 introduction of the Porta-Color set from General Electric.
It was in the 1970s that color sets became the norm with color broadcasting adopted by most programming networks. By the 1980s, black and white sets were barely used, except for small portable sets. With current digital and HDTV capabilities gaining popularity, black and white units are pretty much incompatible.
The National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) was the first company to make air a country-wide color program, when it aired the Tournament of Roses Parade in 1954. The first prime time color telecast was The Marriage, a sitcom on NBC, which was shown in color in 1954.
Also during the 1950s, color videotape recording capabilities became possible, allowing for syndicated programming.
The other major networks, ABC and CBS, were slower to adopt the new broadcasting technology. They picked it up in the 1960s.
There are three standards for color telecasting: Phase Alternating Line (PAL), National Television System Committee (NTSC) and SECAM, a French acronym. NTSC is the standard for North America, while Western Europe, Australia and Eastern South America are covered by PAL. France still uses SECAM.
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