The beginning of the modern era

The medium of television itself in the UK in any practical sense with regular programming did not become a reality until after the second World-War. As mentioned previously, the BBC television service was closed down for the duration of the 1939-1945 conflict. It was not until the 1950s to the early 1960s that typical households in the U.K. began to buy television sets in any great number; before that it was not uncommon for neighbours and friends to congregate in the homes of those with television, to watch their favourite programmes.

This communal-viewing was the case for the first major televised event in the UK - the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the second on June 2 1953For many people in the UK, the coronation marked the first time they would have watched television. The coronation was watched by an estimated 22 million viewers in the UK, the coronation was also broadcast around the world, courtesy of the live coverage of the event provided by the BBC in their biggest ever outside-broadcast.

Television viewers in the United States however were by the early 1950s already enjoying colour television, with a decision on October 1950 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) which approved the CBS colour system. CBS promised it would provide a weekly output of twenty hours of television in colour

Listen to short clip of the coronation with Richard Dimbleby

In the United Kingdom as revenue increased with more people buying licences, so more programmes could be commissioned; these early shows include: Zoo Quest from 1954 with David Attenborough, This Is Your Life hosted by Eamonn Andrews(1955) and also from 1955 the much loved and lamented Dixon of Dock Green starring Jack Warner.The character of P.C. George Dixon was reprised for the series by Jack Warner based on his role in the 1949 Ealing Studios feature film The Blue Lamp directed by Basil Dearden from a screenplay by T.E.B. Clarke. In the film, Dixon is gunned down by Tom Riley (Dirk Bogarde), and later dies, but is 'resurrected' for the series which ran from 1955 until 1976.

Major BBC drama productions also included The Quatermass Experiment and George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty Four, which were subject to much discussion throughout the length and breadth of the UK.This was the first time that the BBC television service had been subjected to any competion, and it lost many viewers to the fledgling ITV. The BBC saw its share of the audience fall to just 28% in 1957. Within a few years though, the corporation had regained many of the viewers which it had previously lost to ITV. Programmes such as Panorama, The Sky At Night with the inimitable Patrick Moore, Grandstand, the childrens' magazine programme Blue Peter and the Hit Parade panel show Juke Box Jury were now proving to be very popular with audiences.

In the 1950s the BBC found itself in conflict with the government over the Suez crisis. It was mooted that the government was to take control of the BBC over what was perceived to be the unpatriotic stance it was taking. The BBC, however rode out the conflict and emerged with its independence intact and its position secure.

ITV's opening night was shared jointly between Associated-Rediffusion (a company formed by Associated Newspapers and British Electrical Traction) the London weekday contractor, and Lew Grade's ABC company which had the weekend franchise for London and also for weekdays in the midlands. However, Lew Grade's ABC company changed its name to ATV (Associated Television) following a legal dispute with another company - ABC weekend Television, formed by the Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC). ABC Weekend Television formed by ABPC was awarded the two day weekend contract for the midlands and the north. ABC signed the contract on 21 September 1955, just one day before ITV went on air, which meant that the company had less than six months to prepare for the launch of programming in its own alloted regions.

ITV's innaugural show was the opening ceremony from the Guildhall in London, subsequent programmes included a variety show from ATV the second ITV contractor to go on air, this show featured Billy Cotton, Harry Secombe and Hughie Green.

Following the opening night, ITV would soon go on to cover the whole of the UK, with companies such as the previously mentioned ABC a few months later. Another big player was Granada, there were also casualties such as Wales (West and North) which was not so successful and merged with Television Wales and West (TWW) in 1964, after being on the air for just over a year.

The BBC's first custom-built premises for television production - Television Centre, was built in 1960 from a design by Graham Dawbarn. Television Centre is located in Shepherd's Bush, four miles from central London. The design of the building has television production very much in mind, with its circular main block housing offices, facilities for actors and other artistes, storage for equipment and technical support areas. Television Centre's garden is dominated by a statue of the Greek God of the sun, Helios, designed by T.B. Huxley-Jones. Prior to the building of Television Centre, the BBC had used the Shepherd's Bush Empire, the BBC converted this former music hall, and in 1953 it became Television Centre.

With the arrival of ITV in the late 1950s viewers expected more choice from their television. The BBC obliged with shows such as Maigret (1960). In 1962 the satirical That Was The Week That Was (TW3) with David Frost began, and of course Dr Finlay's Casebook. Also Animal Magic a childrens' show with Johnny Morris, Man Alive, Nationwide, Match Of The Day, and Z cars. In 1963 the now world famous Dr Who hit our screens for the first time starring William Hartnell. Top Of The Pops and Horizon began in 1964 and Tomorrow's World in 1965. The Forsyth Saga attracted huge ratings in 1967. The American import Dr Kildare was also a hugely popular series.