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This chapter discusses the development of low-definition television in the 1920s, focusing on the work of John Logie Baird and others.

The lack of enthusiasm shown by the BBC towards Baird's low-definition system was a source of much concern and frustration to Baird and his supporters, and resulted in delays in the execution of their plans. The monopolistic position of the Corporation during the early years of the Baird companies was, of course, a considerable obstacle. Essentially, the BBC was not interested in participating in the advancement of television on the basis of a system that could not reproduce images of, say, a test match at Lord's or tennis at Wimbledon; the BBC considered that low-definition television was inappropriate to its service. As a consequence, the BBC's policy towards Baird's work was necessarily negative in outlook and did not conduce to a rapid advancement of Baird's aspirations. Patronage and encouragement are important factors in the early development of an invention. Marconi initially was fortunate in this respect.

The period 1928 to 1934 saw both the rise and the fall of low-definition television broadcasting not only in the UK but also in the USA, Germany and France. Initially, the impetous to establish the new form of entertainment came from the lone inventors. J.L, Baird applied to the British General Post Office for a licence on 4 January 1926, C.F. Jenkins was issued with the Federal Radio Communication's first television licence for station W3XK in 1927, and in 1929 the German Post Office allowed D. von Mihaly the use of the Witzleben transmitter for experimental transmissions with his system.

The development of television in Great Britain is treated in this paper and a short historical background is given, tracing the development of television in Great Britain from 1929, when the British Broadcasting Corporation first gave the Baird Television Company facilities for experimental transmissions of low definition television from an ordinary broadcast station. In May, 1934, the Postmaster-General appointed a Committee to consider the development of television, and to report on the conditions under which any public service of television should be provided. The Committee recommended in 1935 that no low definition television service should be adopted for a regular public service, and was of the opinion that high definition television had reached such a standard as to justify the first steps being taken towards the early establishment of a public television service of this type. The British Broadcasting Corporation was entrusted with the development of this service. The paper then gives a brief technical description of the London television station, which is the practical effect the British Broadcasting Corporation has given to the Television Committee's recommendations. The station has been built at Alexandra Palace, some six miles north of the center of London. Two complete television systems were installed, one by Baird Television, Limited, and the other by the Marconi-E.M.I. Television Company, Limited. Each consists of studio and control room equipment and a vision transmitter. A third transmitter common to both systems provides the sound program.