High-definition television was launched shortly before World War II, and the BBC was the first network to provide the service. However, its splendor was eclipsed by the upcoming war against the Nazis. On September 1, 1939, the transmission was shut …
High-definition television was launched shortly before World War II, and the BBC was the first network to provide the service. However, its splendor was eclipsed by the upcoming war against the Nazis. On September 1, 1939, the transmission was shut down following Disney’s ‘Mickey’s Gala Premiere.’ It would be the last broadcast for years.
While radio was well adopted by the general population, only 20,000 households owned a television set. The new technology was regarded as a luxury, and for many families in London and the home counties it was simply not affordable. In addition, creating a TV show was highly expensive, and resources from the entertainment industry were needed elsewhere during wartime.
The primary purpose behind launching the TV service was that the government was interested in developing cathode-ray tube technology, which was crucial for effective radar defenses. In fact, several engineers were recruited to work with the radars during the war.
The BBC broadcast was also interrupted because it was believed that the strong signals coming from the transmitter in Alexandra Palace could potentially provide the enemy with navigational aid.
However, this was eventually used as an advantage, and television played an intriguing role as a defense strategy. The remaining engineers at the transmission station used the broadcast signals to confuse the enemy’s navigation systems, a technique used in the “battle of the beams.”
During the postwar, the BBC had to convince skeptical audiences that television was a worthy alternative to radio, and its broadcast returned on June 7, 1946, with a repeat of the same cartoon with which it had left off.
