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Radio broadcasting began in 1920 with KDKA in Pittsburgh, which aired the U.S. presidential election results. It quickly changed media by bringing news, music, and entertainment directly into people’s homes. Radio became a powerful tool for mass communication, connecting communities and shaping culture in new ways. -
Movie newsreels began in the 1910s and became popular by 1927, shown in theaters before feature films. They gave audiences moving images of current events, politics, wars, sports, and celebrities, often before television existed. Newsreels helped people feel more connected to world events and made visual storytelling a key part of mass media. -
By the 1930s, colour film experiments had advanced significantly with Technicolour’s three-colour process, which could capture a full range of realistic colors. This breakthrough made movies more visually striking and helped filmmakers tell stories in more vivid and immersive ways. It paved the way for full-color films to become the standard in cinema by the 1940s. -
Television experiments in the 1930s marked the beginning of modern broadcasting. Inventors and engineers tested ways to send moving images and sound over the air, leading to the first public TV demonstrations and limited broadcasts. By the late 1930s, stations in places like London and New York were airing regular programs. These early experiments laid the foundation for the television industry that would grow rapidly after World War II, changing how people received news and entertainment. -
Animated feature films became popular in the 1930s, starting with Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, the first full-length cel-animated movie. This film proved that animation could tell long, emotional stories, not just short cartoons. It was a huge success and inspired studios around the world to create more animated movies, making animation a major part of the film industry and popular culture. -
Magnetic tape recording was developed in the 1940s and became a major breakthrough in audio technology. It allowed sound to be recorded and played back with much higher quality than earlier methods like records or wire recordings. This invention made editing easier and transformed radio, music production, and broadcasting. -
In the 1940s, television broadcasting expanded rapidly, especially after World War II. More stations began operating, and regular programming such as news, sports, and entertainment shows became common. As more families bought televisions, TV quickly became a major source of information and entertainment, shaping culture and connecting people in new ways. -
In the 1940s, wire photo technology became faster and more reliable, playing a key role during World War II. It allowed newspapers to quickly receive and print photos from battlefields and events around the world. This made news reporting more immediate and visual, helping people see global events almost as they happened and strengthening the connection between photography and journalism. -
In the 1940s, television began moving from experimental to mainstream use, especially after World War II. As production of TV sets increased and broadcasting technology improved, more households started getting televisions. Networks began offering regular programs, including news and entertainment, laying the groundwork for television’s explosion in popularity in the 1950s. -
Colour television was introduced in the 1950s, bringing a new level of realism and excitement to broadcasting. Early colour broadcasts began in the United States around 1953, when the first national colour TV system was approved. Although few people owned colour sets at first, the technology soon spread, making television more engaging and helping shows, sports, and advertisements stand out in vivid colour. -
Drive-in movie theatres became popular in the 1950s in the United States. They allowed people to watch films from the comfort of their cars, making movie-going a more social and family-friendly experience. Drive-ins combined entertainment with convenience and became an iconic part of American culture, especially for watching new releases, cartoons, and newsreels before television became widespread. -
Satellite broadcasting began in the 1960s, revolutionizing the transmission of television signals over long distances. By using satellites in orbit, broadcasters could send live programs, news, and events across countries and even continents. This technology enabled real-time global communication, making international news, sports, and entertainment more accessible and contributing to the creation of a truly connected world. -
Portable tape recorders became widely available in the 1960s, making it easy to record and play back audio anywhere. Unlike earlier, bulky tape machines, these smaller devices allowed journalists, musicians, and students to capture interviews, music, and lectures on the go. Portable tape recorders helped spread recorded media more quickly and conveniently, influencing music production, radio, and personal audio use. -
FM stereo radio expanded in the 1960s, offering higher-fidelity sound than AM radio and making music broadcasts clearer and more enjoyable. With stereo sound, listeners could experience richer audio with distinct left and right channels, which became especially popular for rock, pop, and classical music. FM radio’s growth changed how people listened to music, helped launch new artists, and strengthened radio as a major form of entertainment. -
Cable television expanded in the 1970s, bringing more channels and programming to homes, especially in areas where over-the-air reception was poor. It allowed viewers to access specialized content like sports, news, movies, and educational shows, far beyond what traditional broadcast TV offered. Cable helped diversify television, giving audiences more choice and paving the way for the rise of niche networks and modern media culture. -
The VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) became popular in the 1970s, allowing people to record television programs and watch movies at home on their own schedule. This technology gave viewers control over what and when they watched, leading to the growth of home entertainment and video rental stores. The VCR changed how people consumed media, making television and movies more convenient and personal. -
MTV (Music Television) launched in 1981, revolutionizing the music and media industry by combining music with television visuals. It popularized music videos as a primary way for artists to reach audiences, influencing fashion, culture, and youth trends. MTV also helped promote new artists and genres, making music more immediate and visually engaging for viewers. -
The compact disc (CD) was introduced in 1982, bringing digital audio to the mass market. CDs offered clearer sound quality, durability, and the ability to skip tracks compared to vinyl records and cassette tapes. This technology transformed the music industry, making it easier to distribute, store, and listen to music, and it paved the way for the digital media revolution that followed. -
Desktop publishing software emerged in the 1980s, allowing users to design and produce printed materials like newsletters, brochures, and books on personal computers. Programs such as Aldus PageMaker made it possible to combine text and images easily, reducing the need for professional typesetting. This technology transformed publishing by making it faster, more affordable, and accessible to small businesses, schools, and individuals. -
The World Wide Web became publicly accessible in 1991, allowing people around the world to browse websites and share information over the Internet. This breakthrough made communication, education, business, and entertainment easier and faster, laying the foundation for modern digital media, social networking, and online commerce. -
Online news websites began appearing in the mid-1990s, as newspapers and media companies started publishing content on the Internet. These sites allowed readers to access news instantly, often updated multiple times a day, and included articles, photos, and later videos. Online news transformed journalism by making information more immediate, interactive, and widely accessible, changing how people consumed and shared news. -
Digital satellite TV began in 1994, bringing clearer picture and sound quality than traditional analog broadcasts. It offered viewers access to many more channels, including international and specialty programming, and expanded home entertainment options. This technology helped shape modern television by improving reliability and giving audiences greater choice in what they watched. -
Social media platforms began emerging in the early 2000s, with sites like Friendster (2002), MySpace (2003), and later Facebook (2004). These platforms allowed people to connect, share content, and communicate online in real time. Social media transformed how people interact, get news, and consume entertainment, becoming a central part of modern communication and culture. -
Podcasting began rising in the mid-2000s, as digital audio files could be distributed over the Internet and easily downloaded or streamed on computers and mobile devices. Podcasts allowed creators to share stories, news, interviews, and entertainment directly with audiences without traditional broadcasting channels. This medium transformed media consumption by giving listeners on-demand access to content and creating opportunities for niche topics and independent creators. -
YouTube was launched in 2005, creating a platform where anyone could upload, share, and watch videos online. It transformed media by giving creators a global audience, allowing for instant distribution of content, and popularizing user-generated videos. YouTube also changed entertainment, education, and marketing, becoming one of the most influential platforms in digital culture. -
Mobile media devices became widespread in the 2010s, with smartphones and tablets allowing people to access music, videos, games, social media, and news anytime and anywhere. These devices transformed media consumption by making content portable, personalized, and interactive. Mobile media also changed how creators reach audiences, enabling streaming, apps, and social platforms to become central parts of everyday life. -
By 2010, streaming services had become a major part of media, with platforms like Netflix and Hulu gaining large audiences for on-demand movies and TV shows. Viewers could watch content anytime, on multiple devices, and avoid traditional broadcast schedules. This shift changed how people consumed entertainment, giving audiences more control and shaping the future of television and film distribution. -
Live-streaming platforms grew rapidly in the 2010s, with services like Twitch (2011), Periscope (2015), and later YouTube Live and Facebook Live. They allowed creators and organizations to broadcast events in real time to global audiences. Live streaming transformed media by making content interactive, immediate, and participatory, from gaming and concerts to news and educational events. -
By 2020, TikTok had grown into a global phenomenon, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when people spent more time online. It became a key platform for entertainment, trends, and social interaction, influencing music, marketing, and pop culture. Its short, engaging videos and algorithm-driven feed made it one of the most influential media platforms of the decade. -
Virtual events and conferencing became widespread in the 2020s, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people and organizations needed ways to work and connect remotely. Platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet allowed live video communication for work, education, concerts, and social events. This technology transformed media and communication by making events accessible to anyone, anywhere, reducing travel needs, and creating new ways to share information and interact online. -
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have grown rapidly in the 2020s, offering immersive ways to experience media, entertainment, education, and gaming. AR overlays digital elements onto the real world, while VR creates fully simulated environments. These technologies transform how people interact with content, making experiences more interactive, engaging, and realistic, and opening new possibilities for storytelling, training, and social connection.