It was 70 years ago today on, 22nd September 1955, that Independent Television made its first transmission in the London area with regional independent stations soon following. Until then, television had been in the hands of the BBC, one channel aimed mainly at the middle and upper classes – those who could afford a television set! One reviewer commented: “elitist, patronizing and perceived as the voice of the Establishment.”
The BBC did its best to discourage viewers to ITV on that opening night. It was just a coincidence, it maintained, that Grace Archer was killed off in a fire in their very popular radio serial, The Archers. Plus there were dire warnings about programmes being interrupted by commercials. Oh yes – the first one was for Gibbs SR toothpaste! Keep smiling!
The BBC did its best to discourage viewers to ITV on that opening night. It was just a coincidence, it maintained, that Grace Archer was killed off in a fire in their very popular radio serial, The Archers. Plus there were dire warnings about programmes being interrupted by commercials. Oh yes – the first one was for Gibbs SR toothpaste! Keep smiling!
