Television Development - 100 Years at a glance1880s to 1899Period of Dreams, Concepts and Initial Discoveries1900The word "Television" is first used1922 to 1927Early Experiments with a MECHANICAL scanning disc system. TV Picture is neon orange and very small.1928 to 1934First Mechanical TV Sets sold to public -- At the peak, 42 US stations were in operation using the Jenkins system. However, picture quality is lacking. Not suitable for commercial use. Electronic TV offers greater promise.1926 to 1935Early Experiments with All-Electronic Cathode Ray Television (the basic system we have today)1935 to 1941Electronic (Experimental) TV begins broadcasting in Germany, England, Italy, France, USA, Holland, etc.Early 1940sWork begins on CBS Mechanical Color TelevisionJuly 1, 1941 Electronic (Commercial) Black & White Television begins broadcasting in United States1942 to 1945 World War-II halts all TV sales and most all public broadcasting.Late 1946First American Post War TV set is RCA 630-TS (Less than 7,000 TV sets in USA, pre WW-II)June 25, 1951First Mechanical Color Television Set Placed on Market (CBS-Columbia) at $499.95.Oct 20, 1951Mechanical CBS Color TV Broadcasting ends foreverMay 1954First All-Electronic Color Television Set is RCA CT-100, selling at $1,0001987Japanese demonstrate ANALOG high-definition TV system (called MUSE)1990 General Instrument's Video Cipher division announces DIGITAL Hi-Definition System 1995 Congress Passes the Telecommunications Act of 1995, replacing the old 1934 lawsLate 1990s Internet, World-Wide-Web explodes onto the scene -- ushering in new global communications for the 21st century!
