2001 in television - Pop Idol premieres in the UK; many international versions follow. 24 premieres. Entertainment programming is virtually suspended for a week in the U.S. as the networks offer extensive coverage of the September 11 Attacks.
1991 in television - First television sets with built-in closed-caption display are introduced in the US. Cigar and pipe tobacco adverts are banned from UK television. The last episode of Dallas airs on CBS.
1983 in television - 125 million Americans tune in to watch the final episode of M*A*S*H. Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings become sole anchors of nightly newscasts on NBC and ABC, respectively. The UK's first country-wide breakfast television service launches, Breakfast Time on BBC1. Mini-series The Dismissal + Return To Eden premiere in Australia.
1980 in television - A cliffhanger on Dallas asked "Who shot J.R.?", and it is the current 3rd most watched series episode in American television. Cable News Network is launched. Kingswood Country premiers. SBS (Special Broadcasting Service)is launched.The first Children in Need telethon is broadcast on BBC1 in the UK.
1979 in television - 43 million viewers watch Elvis! on ABC. All-sports cable channel ESPN and kids' net Nickelodeon are launched. A technician's strike forces ITV off air for eleven weeks (except in the Channel Islands) while BBC2 launches the first computer generated ident in the world.
1952 in television - The first political advertisements appear on U.S. television. The Guiding Light moves to TV after 15 years on radio. NBC launches Today. Television broadcasting begins in Canada. TV Broadcasting begins in the Dominican Republic. The Flowerpot Men premieres on the BBC. Hockey Night in Canada debuts on television after 29 years on radio; it becomes the world's longest-running sports broadcast.
1948 in television - Four-network service begins on U.S television in August. Ed Sullivan's show begins 23-year run on CBS, while Milton Berle becomes NBC's first superstar. 1 million television sets are now in use in the US. The BBC broadcasts coverage of the 1948 Summer Olympics.
1946 in television - The BBC resumes television broadcasting after its suspension during World War II. RCA demonstrates all-electronic color television system. FCC issues first network license to DuMont. DuMont and NBC begin limited network operations.
1945 in television - DuMont begins first network broadcasts, August 9. Applies for first network license.
1944 in television - The FCC increases its limits for single ownership of television stations from three to five.
1938 in television - DuMont manufactures and sells the first all electronic television sets to the public. Baird gives the first public demonstration of color projection television. The BBC broadcasts the world's first ever television science fiction (R.U.R.), and television crime series (Telecrime).
1936 in television - The BBC starts a regular high-definition (over 200 lines) television service in the UK, the first of its kind in the world.
1935 in television - First TV broadcasts in Germany. The final transmissions of John Logie Baird's 30-line television system are broadcast by the BBC. First TV broadcasts in France on February 13th on Paris PTT Vision.
1934 in television - Philo Farnsworth demonstrates a non-mechanical television system. The agreement for joint experimental transmissions by the BBC and John Logie Baird's company are comes to an end.
1932 in television - The BBC starts a regular public television broadcasting service in the UK.
1931 in television - Allen B. DuMont perfects long-lasting reliable cathode-ray tubes later used for television reception. Canada's first television station, VE9EC, begins broadcasting in Montreal.
1929 in television—In September the Baird Television Development Company begins experimental broadcasting in association with the BBC.
1928 in television—Baird demonstrates a mechanical color television system. On May 28, the first television station, W2XB, begins broadcasting in Schenectady, New York (the forerunner to WRGB). CBS is founded.
