Broadcast 100

From Muffin the Mule to Bob the Builder, these examples of much-loved programmes and characters illustrate the continuous development of British children’s television between the 1940s and the turn of the 21st century.

Discover how amateur radio and television enthusiasts influenced the growth of broadcasting in the UK, experimenting with new technology at home before tuning in became a mainstream pastime.

Find out about the history of colour TV in the UK, including the inventions that led to its introduction, the first broadcasts in Britain, and how people watched early colour television programmes.

John Logie Baird demonstrated television for the first time in 1926—but ten years later, the BBC was still experimenting. Discover the story of the competition behind the launch of BBC television.

Satellite television promised to revolutionise viewing, but in the cut-throat world of 1980s business the clash of technology and commerce prompted a battle for broadcast from space.

These examples of key women from the early days of radio and television, from the 1920s to the 1950s, show how women have been at the centre of the story of British broadcasting from the beginning.

The sounds of the modern world have intruded on and obscured those of the natural world—but attempts to capture this unique sonic environment have challenged broadcasters and fascinated listeners.

Explore some of the broadcasting technologies that were used during the war to keep the public informed and entertained, and share news from the front line.