HOME TV SETS TURN 97 YEARS OLD

Cord Cutters News - Monday, April 28, 2025 at 4:05 PM

Home TV Sets Were Born 97 Years Ago Today

Today marks the 97th anniversary of a groundbreaking moment in technological history: the installation of the first home television sets in 1928. On April 28 of that year, RCA and General Electric (GE) placed three experimental television sets in homes in Schenectady, New York, marking the dawn of a new era in entertainment and communication. These rudimentary sets, designed to test inventor Ernst F.W. Alexanderson’s first home television receiver, displayed a flickering, 1.5-square-inch picture transmitted via radio signals. Though the image was small, unsteady, and far from the high-definition displays we know today, this milestone laid the foundation for the modern television industry.

The 1928 experiment was a culmination of years of innovation. Alexanderson, a Swedish-American engineer working for GE, had been refining television technology since the early 1920s. His system relied on a mechanical scanning method using a rotating disc to capture and display images, a stark contrast to the electronic cathode-ray tube systems that would later dominate. The Schenectady tests were modest, with the tiny, grainy images requiring darkened rooms and considerable patience from viewers. Yet, they proved that television could be brought into the home, sparking imaginations and setting the stage for a revolution in how people consumed information and entertainment.

A Brief History of Home Television

The journey from Alexanderson’s 1928 experiment to today’s sleek, internet-connected smart TVs is a story of relentless innovation. Following the Schenectady trials, television technology advanced rapidly. By the late 1920s and early 1930s, experimental broadcasts were underway in the United States, Europe, and Japan. In 1936, the BBC launched the world’s first regular television service in London, using a mix of mechanical and electronic systems. However, it was the introduction of fully electronic television systems, pioneered by engineers like Walter Bruch in Germany and RCA’s Vladimir Zworykin in the U.S., that made television practical for widespread use.

Commercial television took off in the late 1930s and 1940s. In the U.S., RCA began regular broadcasts in 1939, showcasing the technology at the New York World’s Fair. By the early 1950s, television ownership exploded, with millions of American households purchasing bulky, black-and-white sets. Shows like I Love Lucy and The Ed Sullivan Show became cultural touchstones, turning the TV into a centerpiece of the living room.

The 1960s brought color television, with RCA’s NTSC standard becoming the norm in the U.S. by 1966. This innovation transformed the viewing experience, making everything from sports to news more vivid and engaging. The 1970s and 1980s saw further advancements, including the rise of cable television, which expanded channel offerings, and the introduction of VCRs, which gave viewers control over what and when they watched.

The digital revolution of the late 1990s and 2000s ushered in flat-screen TVs, high-definition (HD) displays, and plasma and LCD technologies. By the 2010s, smart TVs integrated streaming services like Netflix and YouTube, blurring the line between television and the internet. Today, 4K and 8K ultra-high-definition TVs, OLED displays, and voice-activated interfaces dominate the market, offering immersive experiences that Alexanderson could scarcely have imagined.

Reflecting on 97 Years of Progress

The significance of the 1928 Schenectady tests cannot be overstated. At a time when radio was the dominant medium, the idea of transmitting moving images into homes seemed like science fiction. Yet, Alexanderson’s work, backed by RCA and GE, proved it was possible, igniting a chain of innovations that reshaped society. Television became a window to the world, broadcasting historic moments like the moon landing, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and global sporting events to billions.

As we celebrate this 97th anniversary, it’s worth reflecting on how far we’ve come. From a 1.5-square-inch, flickering image to wall-sized screens with crystal-clear resolution, the evolution of the home television mirrors humanity’s drive to connect and share stories. Experts predict the next frontier will involve augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) integration, potentially transforming TVs into fully immersive environments.

For now, the legacy of that April day in 1928 lives on in every home with a screen. As we stream our favorite shows or catch up on the news, we owe a nod to Alexanderson and the pioneers in Schenectady who dared to dream of a world where images could travel through the air and into our lives.

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