World Television Day is celebrated annually on
November 21 to draw attention to the influence of television on people and
society. The UN General Assembly set this observance in December 1996 in honour
of the first World Television Forum that happened on November 21-22, 1996.
The forum involved media practitioners for a round table
analysis of television as a powerful tool for communication, shaping perception
and decision-making around the world.
World Television Day: History And Evolution
Television has gone through so many changes since its invention. The
journey started with Black and White (B&W) Television in the early 20th
century and offered very restricted programme viewing to the audience.
Television was invented by Philo Farnsworth and the first public demonstration
was in 1927.
The commercial production of B&W television sets began in the late
1930s.
Shortly, towards the 1950s, colour television was introduced, changing
viewers’ experience as well as interest.
New technology in the early
1980s led to increased cable television programmes and channels that aired
programmes that met the criteria of a certain section of society. This period
also marked the arrival of satellite television, thus increasing accessibility.
After what can be described as the generation of digital
television, introduced in the late 1990s, another set of advancements in
technology formed the foundation of high-definition broadcasting in the early
2000s.
Today, smart TVs include
internet connectivity, providing streaming and other interactive applications.
Such changes are typical of advanced technologies, determining not only the
type of content but also the audiences’ approach.
