What year did the first color television broadcasts air in the United States?
Commercial color television broadcasts began on CBS in 1951 with a field-sequential color system that was suspended four months later for technical and economic reasons. The television industry's National Television System Committee (NTSC) developed a color television system based on RCA technology that was compatible with existing black and white receivers, and commercial color broadcasts reappeared in 1953.
More Info:
en.wikipedia.org
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29 Comments
jmstelly
No, I have 2 sources - Wikipedia and site mentioned above - that say it is indeed 1951. They were limited broadcasts though, going only to major cities, such as Philly and NYC. The first nationwide color television broadcast was the Tournament of Roses Parade in 1954, but that is NOT what my question asks.
jmstelly
No, the answer is correct. Look at my many comments above. Unless you can give me a reliable source that says otherwise. THe first NATIONWIDE color tv broadcast was in 1954, but the first color broadcasts, although regionally, were in 1951. My questions asks about the first color tv broadcasts in the US, it does not say NATIONWIDE.
jmstelly
No, CBS did limited color broadcasts on East Coast of the US in 1951 for only a short time. The first national color broadcast was also by CBS on New Year's Day 1954 of the Tournament of Roses Parade.
jmstelly
That was the first national color tv broadcast - that is NOT what my question asks.
Howard Groopman
Didn't buy my first color TV until 1974. A 16" Zenith portable that weighed a ton. From there, I've progressed to 19", 27", 32", 40" and now 43". That's big enough for me. Cost only $169, and it's ultra hi def, 4K smart TV.
Lawanta
John W Shreve, 👽 alien colored!
teacherchicky
I don't think this answer is correct! I'm almost positive that if answered the way it was asked the answer should be 1954! Look at the question and how it was asked!
John W Shreve
The picture on our first TV was sort of green.
Ramrod
I also read something into the question that wasn't there and then I did a reread. "first color television broadcasts air in the United States" not first national broadcast
tbear
The same year my parents bought our first black and white set! How about that! 😊👍
Lynda Flanger
They were not even on a system accepted for commercial use. Maybe if you add of any sort to the question it becomes fairer. I do agree that you are technically correct but the wording obfuscates the issue.
Johnny Rock
jmstelly, You are a stuffy one stelly, aren't you?
Cheryl Connett
Why have questions like this?
Fred Zeb Fudpucker
Mark Sutter, well, I was born in '42. Does that mean I am better to judge the controversy. Our first TV was in the fall of '54 but it was a long time before we got color TV in the sticks of outstate MI. First TV I ever saw was in the window of Sawkin's Music Shop 120 miles from Detroit. The first program was The Lone Ranger and there was so much "snow" you could hardly make out Silver on the 13" screen.
Fred Zeb Fudpucker
TRICK question. Not regular in 1951 and nobody had sets to watch. 1954 Rose Parade is a better answer IMHO.
Julie Allen
On June 25, 1951, CBS broadcast the very first commercial color TV program. Unfortunately, nearly no one could watch it since most people had only black-and-white televisions.-www.thoughtco.com We finally got colour TV in Australia in 1975.
Rob Farr
A very good trivia question ... here in Australia, we had to wait over 20 years to get colour TV, and it's a different system to the one that they use in the U.S.
jmstelly
THanks Bill