When Was the First Colour Television?

The journey to colour television spanned many years of experimentation. While the US adopted colour earlier, the UK’s first public broadcast in colour wasn’t until 1966, showcasing the election to American viewers via satellite. However, this broadcast wasn’t available in colour for UK viewers.

The UK’s Colour Television Debut

The true dawn of colour television in the UK arrived on July 1, 1967. BBC2 marked this historic occasion by broadcasting the Wimbledon tennis championships in vibrant colour, presented by David Vine. This groundbreaking broadcast utilized the Phase Alternating Line (PAL) system, developed by German engineer Walter Bruch. BBC2 had strategically launched in black and white in 1964 with a high resolution of 625 lines, laying the groundwork for the PAL colour system.

PAL: A Superior Colour System

The PAL system emerged as the ideal solution for the British television industry, signaling its readiness for colour broadcasting. PAL significantly improved upon the American NTSC system, addressing issues with colour inconsistency that had earned NTSC the nickname “never twice the same colour.”

A Philips PC 60 (LDK 3) television camera head from around 1966, showcasing the technology that enabled colour broadcasts.

Gradual Transition to Colour

While 1967 marked the arrival of colour television, the transition wasn’t immediate. Not all programs were equipped for colour, leading to a phased implementation. Following BBC2’s lead, BBC1 and ITV joined the colour revolution on November 15, 1969.

Expanding Colour’s Reach

Initially, colour broadcasts only reached about half of the UK population, covering the London, Midlands, North-West, and Yorkshire regions. Scotland welcomed colour programming on December 13, 1969, followed by Wales on April 6, 1970, and Northern Ireland on September 14, 1970. To accommodate the new technology, colour TV licences were introduced on January 1, 1968, priced at double the cost of a black and white licence (£10 compared to £5).

The Colour Television Revolution

The introduction of colour television revolutionized the viewing experience, bringing a new level of vibrancy and realism to broadcasts. While the transition took time and wasn’t without its challenges, the eventual widespread adoption of colour marked a significant milestone in television history.