News Broadcasting
Colour TV clocks polychromatic half century
MUMBAI: Colour TV turned 50 on Thursday.
It was on 25 March, 1954, that the Radio Corporation of America’s (RCA) plant in Bloomington, Indiana, produced the first CT-100, a $1,000 set (approaching $7,000 in today’s dollars) that historians call the first mass production color TV. The 160-pound unit had 1,012 parts, 36 vacuum tubes and 150 feet of wire.
Called The Merrill, the model hit US stores in April 1954. Only about 5,000 of these 12-inch sets were manufactured however. This was because colour took its time to spread its reach, high cost the culprit. Most Americans saw the Kennedy assassination in 1963 in black and white. It was only in 1967 that colour outsold black-and-white for the first time – with more than 5.5 million sets sold. By 1973, more than half of all American households had colour.
In India, colour came into television with the Asian Games in 1982. Today, about 32 million households in the country have colour TV sets, while the majority of 56 million households still has black and white sets. Last year, a total of seven million TV sets were sold, of which approximately seven per cent were 21 inches or of the “flat” category. The television market, which has been growing at a rate of 11-13 per cent annually, is expected to maintain this momentum, if not up it.
According to reports, the domestic colour TV market has grown 50 per cent in three years from five million units in 2000, with the growth rate hovering around 10-15 per cent, as against five -10 per cent in China and three to five per cent in Europe and North America .
With flat screens and new technology making their way into Indian households, the high growth rates are likely to hold in the coming years. While the market size is miniscule compared to bigger markets like China and the US, it is fast catching up, reports indicate.
50 years ago, NBC made history with the first live broadcast in colour; the event – the Tournament of Roses Parade in California.
The first cartoons that aired in colour were The Flintstones and The Jetsons in 1962.
However many industry experts consider the first definitive colour show to be the western Bonanza., which started airing on NBC from 1959.
In India, colour TV bloomed with national colours with the New Delhi Asiad and flowered with the coming of the satellite age and multi-hued programming from overseas. Lowering import duties and relaxation of rules on the import of colour picture tubes added to the colour lure.
Today, consumer electronics companies (with the TV enjoying pride of place) vie for sponsorships of important events and sports on television.
With flat screens, HDTV and even better technology, television has a colourful future ahead.
News Broadcasting
BBC to cut up to 2,000 jobs in biggest overhaul in 15 years
Cost pressures and leadership change drive major workforce reduction plan
LONDON: BBC has unveiled plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs, roughly 10 per cent of its global workforce, in what marks its biggest downsizing in 15 years.
The announcement was made during an all-staff meeting led by interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies, as the broadcaster moves to tackle mounting financial pressures and reshape its operations.
Between 1,800 and 2,000 roles are expected to be eliminated from a workforce of around 21,500. The cuts form part of a broader plan to save £500 million over the next two years, aimed at offsetting rising costs, stagnating licence fee income and weaker commercial revenues.
In a communication to staff, BBC interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies said, “I know this creates real uncertainty, but we wanted to be open about the challenge,” acknowledging the impact the move would have across the organisation.
The restructuring comes at a time of leadership transition. Former director-general Tim Davie stepped down earlier this month, with Matt Brittin, a former Google executive, set to take over the role on May 18, 2026.
While some cost-cutting measures are being implemented immediately, the majority of the structural changes are expected to roll out over the next few years, with full savings targeted by the 2027–2028 financial year.
The broadcaster had earlier signalled its intent to reduce its cost base by around 10 per cent over a three-year period, warning of “difficult choices” as it adapts to shifting economic realities and audience expectations.
With operating costs hovering around £6 billion annually, the BBC’s latest move underscores the scale of the financial challenge it faces, as it balances public service commitments with the need for long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive media landscape.
