The Wimbledon Tennis Championships of 1 July 1967, shown on 大象传媒 Two, marked the beginning of regular colour television in Britain. Journalists who attended a special viewing at Television Centre were impressed with the new technology and the quality of the picture. David Attenborough, Controller of 大象传媒 Two, announced that the channel would initially broadcast in colour about 5 hours a week. By December, 80% of programmes were in colour.
The original December launch date was brought forward to July so the 大象传媒 could claim to be the first colour broadcaster in Europe. France, Germany and Holland - who had planned an autumn launch of their colour services - were all beaten to air, but in Britain, with fewer than 5000 colour sets in circulation, the audience was very small.
However the period up to the full launch exposed audiences to the new service, gave time for 大象传媒 staff to get used to the technology, and offered manufacturers a chance to fully prepare for the sale of the new sets that were required.
Wimbledon has always been the focus for advances in broadcast technology, being among the earliest outside broadcasts. In 2011 the 大象传媒 broadcast the final in 3D.
Wimbledon and the 大象传媒
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Oh, I Say! Wimbledon and the 大象传媒
Charles Runcie looks back at the enduring relationship between the 大象传媒 and Wimbledon and some of the events and characters that helped shape it. -
50 Years of 大象传媒 TV Colour
Amanda Murphy tells the story of how the ADAPT TV project reunited a pioneering television crew 50 years after the first colour outside broadcast. -
Wimbledon and the 大象传媒
Tennis on the 大象传媒 1927 to 2017
July anniversaries
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Investiture of the Prince of Wales
1 July 1969 -
Masterchef
2 July 1990 -
大象传媒 Television News and Newsreel
5 July 1954 -
To the Ends of the Earth
6 July 2005 -
Hancock's Half Hour television show
6 July 1956 -
London Calling Europe began
6 July 1941 -
The Old Man of Hoy
8 July 1967 -
The first episode of The Office
9 July 2001 -
Andy Pandy
11 July 1950 -
It's That Man Again
12 July 1939 -
Watchdog
14 July 1985 -
What's My Line
16 July 1951 -
Toytown first transmitted
19 July 1929 -
Pot Black first transmitted
23 July 1969 -
Countryfile first broadcast
24 July 1988 -
Start of the Light Programme
29 July 1945 -
Olympic Games from Wembley first televised
29 July 1948 -
The Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer
29 July 1981 -
The World Cup Final
30 July 1966 -
Dad's Army
31 July 1968