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Televising the London 1948 Olympic Games

This video shows how the London 1948 Olympic Games looked to viewers at the time - take a tour of the Palace of Arts at Wembley where the ´óÏó´«Ã½ set up its international broadcast centre, and see how the ´óÏó´«Ã½ exploited the latest television equipment to the full to make this the first truly televisual Olympic Games. 

Recording ´óÏó´«Ã½ Television Service programmes on tape was not possible before 1956. Prior to this, the only way of making a permanent record of a live television programme was by making a ‘tele-recording’ of it. This involved placing a film camera in front of a flat TV screen and making a film of the transmission.

For many, the results are unsatisfactory, leaving the viewer with the impression of looking at the programme through a pane of glass. Many early programmes have been preserved in this way, so at least we do have a record of how television actually looked in its earliest years.

When the London 1948 Olympic Games were televised, even tele-recording was in its infancy. Only a few minutes of actual transmission as viewers saw it in 1948 exist at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Archives, and have only been seen once on television since 1948. The footage is taken from a 1982 ´óÏó´«Ã½ documentary. With thanks to John Craven.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ Olympic Newsreels

Throughout the London 1948 Olympic Games, news of the day's events were summarised in specially prepared Olympic Newsreels. Two of these explore how the ´óÏó´«Ã½ bought new equipment for the coverage, and the Corporation's radio and TV operation at Wembley Stadium.

On the radio

A bright sunny day on 29 July was the setting for the opening ceremony and athletes' parade at the London 1948 Olympic Games.

Lord Burghley, an athletics gold medal winner at the London 1928 Olympic Games, had the honour of commencing proceedings, followed by the official opening by His Majesty King George VI. The ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Rex Alston provided the linking commentary for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio.

In print

From a special on sports commentators, to a guide to the ´óÏó´«Ã½â€™s new techniques for televising the London 1948 Olympic Games, the Radio Times of 25 - 31 July 1948, was something of a celebration. 

We also have a downloadable copy of the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s official handbook for the 1948 Games.