BBC Television Service and the Public Service Mission (1936–1967)

1. BBC’s public-service mission is defined

   Jan 1, 1927Labels: John Reith, BBC

   • UK Parliament

2. BBC Television Service launches from Alexandra Palace

   Nov 2, 1936Labels: Alexandra Palace, BBC Television

   • Nature
   • English Heritage
   • Ally Pally

3. BBC adopts the 405-line all-electronic standard

   Feb 6, 1937Labels: Marconi-EMI, 405-line standard

   • BBC TV timeline

4. BBC television shuts down at the start of WWII

   Sep 1, 1939Labels: BBC Television, World War

   • Guardian archive
   • Mickey s Gala

5. Combined radio-and-television licence begins

   Jun 1, 1946Labels: UK licence, BBC

   • Guardian
   • 1946 TV

6. BBC Television Service resumes after the war

   Jun 7, 1946Labels: Alexandra Palace, BBC Television

   • 1946 TV
   • Guardian archive

7. BBC covers the 1948 London Olympic Games

   Jul 29, 1948Labels: 1948 Olympics, BBC Outside

   • 1948 TV

8. Television licences climb as TV enters more homes

   Mar 31, 1953Labels: TV licences, BBC

   • TV licences

9. Elizabeth II’s coronation becomes a TV milestone

   Jun 2, 1953Labels: Coronation 1953, BBC

   • UK Archives
   • Guardian

10. Commercial ITV begins, ending the BBC TV monopoly

    Jul 30, 1954Labels: Independent Television, Television Act

    • ITA

11. BBC Television Centre opens at White City

    Jun 29, 1960Labels: BBC Television, White City

    • Guardian
    • Television Centre

12. Pilkington Report backs BBC for a new channel

    Jun 27, 1962Labels: Pilkington Committee, Pilkington Report

    • BBC timeline
    • BBC TV timeline

13. BBC2 launches and the main channel becomes BBC1

    Apr 20, 1964Labels: BBC2, BBC1

    • 1964 TV
    • BBC One timeline

14. BBC2 begins regular colour broadcasts in the UK

    Jul 1, 1967Labels: BBC2, PAL colour

    • Science Museum