Transition to Color Television Broadcasting in Western Europe (1967–1975)

1. PAL and SECAM compete for European standard

   Jan 1, 1967Labels: PAL, SECAM, Western Europe

   • Color TV
   • SECAM

2. BBC2 begins regular colour broadcasting

   Jul 1, 1967Labels: BBC2, PAL

   • BFI Screenonline
   • Color TV

3. West Germany launches PAL colour on ARD and ZDF

   Aug 25, 1967Labels: West Germany, ARD, ZDF

   • Wiki Germany TV
   • Color TV

4. Netherlands starts PAL colour television service

   Sep 21, 1967Labels: Netherlands, PAL

   • EACE Timeline
   • Color TV

5. France launches SECAM colour on ORTF’s second channel

   Oct 1, 1967Labels: France, ORTF, SECAM

   • SECAM

6. Switzerland begins scheduled colour broadcasts using PAL

   Oct 1, 1968Labels: Switzerland, PAL

   • Swiss Museum
   • Color TV

7. BBC1 and ITV start nationwide colour in the UK

   Nov 15, 1969Labels: BBC1, ITV, UK

   • UK TV 1969
   • BFI Screenonline

8. Denmark ends colour “tests” and begins regular colour era

   Apr 1, 1970Labels: Denmark, regular-colour

   • DR Wiki
   • Color TV

9. Belgium broadcasts first colour programme on RTB

   Jan 1, 1971Labels: Belgium, RTB

   • RTBF Explained
   • Brussels Times

10. RTÉ airs first domestic outside broadcast in colour

    Mar 17, 1971Labels: RT, outside-broadcast

    • Irish TV 1971
    • RT Television

11. Norway launches regular colour television on NRK

    Jan 1, 1972Labels: Norway, NRK

    • EACE Timeline
    • Color TV

12. Spain introduces PAL colour broadcasts and colour test card

    Jan 1, 1975Labels: Spain, PAL

    • TVE Test Card
    • Color TV

13. Transition outcome: colour becomes normal across Western Europe

    Dec 31, 1975Labels: Western Europe, PAL, SECAM

    • Color TV
    • SECAM