The day the first public TV started – level 1

It is 1936. The BBC needs a company who can send a TV signal in London. There are two companies which want to do this job. Both companies have famous inventors in their teams. One of them is John Logie Baird from Scotland. The second is Guglielmo Marconi from Italy. He works for EMI.

In summer of 1936 both companies test their systems. On November 2, 1936, they go officially on the air.

EMI’s system is better. Their picture is clearer. EMI wins.

The BBC sends the TV signal every day for four hours from 1936 to 1939. There are 15,000 people who have a television.

When the Second World War starts, the BBC stops the signal on September 1, 1939. This is because the signal can help the enemy. The enemy can find London. The signal starts again on June 7, 1946. It is after the end of the war.

Difficult words: signal (a type of information that goes through the air), inventor (a person who has an idea for a new machine), go on the air (to start to send a TV signal), enemy (a person or people who want to kill you).

What technological advancements led to the improved clarity of picture displayed by EMI's television signal?

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