Today – 18 October 2022 – marks the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the BBC, which began radio broadcasts in 1922.
This centenary is not only important in the history of UK society and global broadcasting, but also techUK itself. After all, some of the BBC’s founders would go on to form the British Radio and Valve Manufacturing Association, the direct ancestor of our association.
techUK therefore would like to mark the BBC’s 100 years by commemorating five (of many) occasions that saw the Corporation at the forefront of technical innovation:
1. November 1936, the world’s first ‘high-definition' regular TV service
‘High-definition’ in 1936 meant a minimum of 240 horizontal lines, which is well-below the 1080 horizontal line standard of modern, digital high definition television.
World War Two led to a temporary halt in the service. However, the BBC would continue its 405-line broadcasts begun in 1936 until 1985 and proved that a regular TV schedule was possible.
2. July 1967, the first colour TV service in Europe
The US, via NBC, had colour programming from 1954, but the BBC was the first to use the PAL colour system that would dominate in both Europe and the US.
Colour television opened up a realm of possibilities, including in the broadcast of sports such as snooker. BBC One and ITV switched over to a colour service by 1969, and colour television sets outnumbered black and white by 1976.
After some initial technical issues, the BBC would go on to sell over one million units. These were sold not just to individuals, but institutions such as schools.
The Micro ran on BASIC, and was designed to introduce anyone, including young children, to coding and computing.
The BBC’s computer was eventually superceded by more powerful models, but the chip that powered the computer would be developed by Acorn into the ARM microarchitecture.
The BBC itself has set up an archive of Micro games, for those who wish to take a trip down memory lane.
iPlayer was originally a peer-to-peer downloading service. By July 2008 though, it had become a radio and TV streaming service.
BBC iPlayer ended the feeling of “missing out” on the programme everyone was talking about that had existed since the beginning of broadcasting. It was also distributed not just on computers, but on television and eventually on mobile.
Interestingly, the BBC of 2008 already had an eye on modern streaming, suggesting that demand could become more driven by personal taste rather than the linear schedule in future.
5. 2022, the BBC’s 5G broadcast from the Commonwealth Games
While accepting the technology was there, the BBC applied it at scale for the first time, using a private network to increase upload link speeds and to control the broadcast from a master station in London.
The trial, which went better than expected, suggests the BBC is still at the forefront of media technology innovation, in keeping with 100 years of tradition.
techUK therefore wishes the BBC a very happy centenary, and looks forward to what information, education and entertainment comes next.
Sophie Greaves
Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy, techUK
Sophie Greaves
Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy, techUK
Sophie Greaves is Head of Programme for Communications Infrastructure and Services at techUK, and oversees the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.
Sophie was promoted to Head having been Programme Manager for Communications Infrastructure and Services, leading techUK's telecoms activities, engagement and policy development. Previously, Sophie was Programme Assistant across a variety of areas including the Broadband Stakeholder Group, Central Government, Financial Services and Communications Infrastructure programmes.
Prior to joining techUK, Sophie completed a masters in Film Studies at University College London; her dissertation examined US telecoms policy relating to net neutrality and content distribution.
Mia joined techUK in September 2023 as the Programme Manager for telecoms and net zero.
Sitting across two teams, Mia works to ensure that policy and regulatory conditions promote investment and innovation in the telecoms sector. And, that policy enables technology and digital solutions to deliver net zero ambitions.
Prior to joining techUK, Mia worked as a Senior Policy Adviser at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) leading on manufacturing and industrial decarbonisation policy.
Mia holds an MSc in International Development from the University of Manchester and a BA(Hons) in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
Outside of work, Mia enjoys travelling, running, and cooking.
Tales has a background in law and economics, with previous experience in the regulation of new technologies and infrastructure.
In the UK and Europe, he offered consultancy on intellectual property rights of cellular and IoT technologies and on the regulatory procedures at the ITU as a Global Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
Tales has an LL.M in Law and Business by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and an MSc in Regulation at the London School of Economics, with a specialization in Government and Law.
Matthew joined techUK in August 2023 as a Programme Assistant, supporting the Communications Infrastructure programme, as well as the Digital Connectivity and Spectrum Policy Fora.
Before joining techUK, Matthew worked in marketing, data, and events across a number of sectors, including education and consumer goods. He studied German and Dutch at University College London and the Universiteit van Amsterdam.
Lewis' programmes cover a range of policy areas within Market Access (international trade regulation, sanctions and export controls, technical standards and product compliance, supply chains) and Consumer Tech (media and broadcast policy, consumer electronics, and connected home technology).
Prior to joining techUK, Lewis worked in government affairs and policy roles for international trade associations in Southeast Asia including the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Public Policy & Management from SOAS University of London.