The BBC

By flynorthernsky
  • Period: to

    BBC

  • The BBC is formed

  • First BBC Broadcast from London

    From Station 2LO

  • First Outside Broadcast

    The British National Opera Company's production of The Magic Flute from Covent Garden.

  • Radio Times magazine released

    First publication of the Radio Times listings magazine (price 2d).

  • First broadcast by King George V

    First broadcast by King George V, opening the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley Stadium.

  • The General strike begins

    The General strike begins. The BBC broadcasts five news bulletins a day as no newspapers are published.

  • The British Broadcasting Company becomes the British Broadcasting Corporation

    The British Broadcasting Company becomes the British Broadcasting Corporation, when it is granted a Royal Charter. Sir John Reith becomes the first Director-General.

  • First live sports broadcast on the BBC

    First live sports broadcast on the BBC. The rugby union international England v Wales is commented on by Teddy Wakelam.

  • First live football match broadcast

    First live football match broadcast, featuring Arsenal's home league fixture against Sheffield United from Highbury.[

  • Transmission of the first experimental television play

    Transmission of the first experimental television play, The Man With the Flower in His Mouth

  • Number of radio licences reaches 12 million

    Number of radio licences reaches 12 million "or roughly every second home in the country"

  • King George V - Christmas Day Speech

    King George V becomes the first monarch to deliver a Christmas Day message by radio, on the Empire Service.

  • First foreign-language radio service

    The BBC begins broadcasting its first foreign-language radio service, in Arabic.

  • Start of the European Service on radio

    Start of the European Service on radio, broadcasting in French, German and Italian. Portuguese and Spanish are added before the start of the Second World War.

  • The wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten is televised by the BBC

    The wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh is televised by the BBC. It is watched by an estimated 400,000 viewers.

  • The London Olympic Games is televised.

  • The Archers - First Broadcast

    First broadcast of The Archers, now the world's longest-running soap opera.

  • Queen Elizabeth's Coronation

    The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey is televised by the BBC and watched live by an estimated audience of 20 million people in the United Kingdom.

  • First edition of Panorama

    First edition of Panorama is presented by Daily Mail reporter Pat Murphy. Panorama is currently the world's longest-running current affairs programme and retains a peak-time slot to this day.

  • BBC newsreader Richard Baker reads the first televised BBC News bulletin.

    BBC newsreader Richard Baker reads the first televised BBC News bulletin.

  • The Sky at Night, a monthly astronomy programme presented by Sir Patrick Moore, is first broadcast.

    The Sky at Night, a monthly astronomy programme presented by Sir Patrick Moore, is first broadcast.

  • First of the Queen's Christmas Broadcasts

    First TV broadcast of the Queen's Christmas Day message.

  • First Blue Peter broadcast

    First broadcast of the United Kingdom's longest-running children's television show Blue Peter.

  • BBC Television televises the Grand National for the first time.

    BBC Television televises the Grand National for the first time.

  • Nan Winton becomes the BBC's first national female newsreader.

    Nan Winton becomes the BBC's first national female newsreader.

  • BBC Television Centre opens.

    BBC Television Centre opens.

  • A globe is used as the BBC Television Service's logo for the first time.

    A globe is used as the BBC Television Service's logo for the first time.

  • Doctor Who - First broadcast

    First broadcast of the world's longest-running science fiction television programme, Doctor Who.

  • Top of the Pops

    First broadcast of pop and rock music television show Top of the Pops.

  • Match of the Day

    First broadcast of top flight football television show Match of the Day.

  • The first worldwide live satellite programme

    The first worldwide live satellite programme, Our World, featuring the Pop band, the Beatles, is televised.

  • BBC Radio 1 launched

    BBC Radio 1 is launched, as a response to the threat from pirate radio station broadcasts of popular music. At the same time, the Light Programme, the third network (Network Three / the Third Programme), and the Home Service are renamed Radios 2, 3 and 4 respectively.

  • BBC Local Radio starts

    BBC Local Radio starts. The first station is BBC Radio Leicester.

  • The first edition of the BBC Nine O'Clock News

    Robert Dougall presents the first edition of the BBC Nine O'Clock News. The programme, launched in response to ITN's News at Ten, was controversially moved to 10pm in 2000.