In The loop

Nov 2, 2026

Regular Television Broadcasting Turns 90

BBC presenter Leslie Mitchell seated at a television desk beside a globe in 1936.

The BBC began the world’s first regular public high-definition television service at Alexandra Palace on Nov. 2, 1936. Leslie Mitchell welcomed viewers at 3 p.m.

BBC Television at Alexandra Palace
Anniversary: Monday, Nov. 2
First broadcast: 3 p.m. on Nov. 2, 1936
Read more: Alexandra Palace’s television history

The opening program ran for one hour, followed by a five-hour break. Early planners worried about eye strain and wanted television to coexist politely with domestic life. Sets cost roughly as much as a small car, and reception initially reached about 35 miles.