A decade of colour, drama, and international collaboration mark the 1960s as an era of exceptional broadcasting innovation and excitement.
Colour TV ended a long period of technological isolation for Britain, the BBC drama department produced world beating TV series such as Doctor Who and The Forsyte Saga. The first satellite broadcasts also became a reality.
June 1960 - Television Centre opens
Designed by Graham Dawbarn, BBC Television Centre was the first purpose built television production centre in the world to be conceived.
Copied in numerous countries, the building became an iconic image of broadcasting. Countless shows have been made there, including Fawlty Towers, Monty Python's Flying Circus,and Strictly Come Dancing.
November 1963 - First episode of Doctor Who
Videotape had only been in use for seven years when a new science fiction series was proposed by the BBC's head of drama Sydney Newman.
Verity Lambert, Doctor Who's first producer was quick to exploit the amazing effects the medium could achieve. Doctor Who continues to be one of the most successful sci-fi series of all time.
January 1967 - The Forsyte Saga
The 26 episode adaptation of the Galsworthy novels, revolutionised costume drama.
On Sunday nights, when the Saga was on, social life stopped. Dinner parties were scheduled around it, and evening service at some churches was moved to allow churchgoers to watch.
June 1967 - Our World
Pictures by satellite had been received by the BBC since 1962 from the USA via Telstar.
It was not possible to connect the entire world in a live broadcast by satellite until the end of the 1960s. The BBC was the first broadcaster to attempt such a programme. Our World consisted of live, non-political contributions from participating countries. The BBC commissioned the Beatles to sing All you Need is Love for its contribution.
July 1967 - BBC TWO - the first full colour TV service in Europe
Although occasional programmes in colour could be watched on BBC Two as early as 1966, a full colour service was not launched until 1967.
Wimbledon tennis was the first programme of the new service. Colour was extended to BBC ONE and ITV by 1969, and by 1976, the colour network was complete, when the Channel Islands joined the system.
September 1967 - Radio 1 goes live
After pirate radio stations were banned by the government, the BBC launched Radio 1 to meet the increasing need of the youth market.
Its first DJ was Tony Blackburn, its first programme Daily Disc Delivery, and the first record played was Flowers In The Rain by The Move.
Search by tag:
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o67CZ5qopV%2BdtrTAzquwqJ6knbKjrsJoq6KllaG2r7HSaGhybmCofA%3D%3D