Subscribe and to the BBC https://bit.ly/BBCYouTubeSub
Watch the BBC first on iPlayer https://bbc.in/iPlayerHome http://www.bbc.co.uk/historyofthebbc At 3pm on 2 November 1936 the BBC began the world's first regular hidefinition television service, from specially constructed studios at Alexandra Palace in North London. As part of this, two different technical systems were being tested on alternate weeks for six months: John Logie Baird's mechanical system producing pictures of 240 lines, and the EMIMarconi electronic system, which produced images of 405 lines. On the toss of a coin, Baird's system inaugurated the service, followed by EMIMarconi's. The latter was to prove the winning system.

The formal opening ceremony was followed by a Movietone newsreel and then a variety show, featuring Adele Dixon and the BBC Television Orchestra. A short documentary, Television Comes to London, revealed the preparations leading up to the launch. In all, the service was on the air for two hours on its first day.

Watch a selection of clips from programmes which all came from Alexandra Palace, when the BBC was there, 19361981.

#bbc
All our TV channels and S4C are available to watch live through BBC iPlayer, although some programmes may not be available to stream online due to rights. If you would like to read more on what types of programmes are available to watch live, check the 'Are all programmes that are broadcast available on BBC iPlayer?' FAQ https://bbc.in/2m8ks6v.