455-line television system
The 455-line standard,
Historical Background
In 1931, in Paris,
Robert Jardillier, the next Minister of Posts, launched in 1936 a call for tenders to provide television with higher definition, based on the
Broadcasts became regular from January 4, 1937, from 11 to 11:30 am and 8 to 8:30 pm on weekdays and from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Sundays. Grammont performed its tests in 441 lines, the Compagnie Française de Télévision in 450 lines, and Thomson-Houston in 455 lines.
In July 1937, the administration chose the 455-line system designed by Thomson-Houston,[5] followed by public demonstrations at the International Exposition of Art and Technology in Modern Life.
Broadcasts using the previous mechanical system continued alongside the new electronic system until April 10, 1938.
In July 1938, a decree of the Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones Agency defined the French terrestrial television standard as transmitting on 455 lines
In 1938, the transmitter, located at the Eiffel Tower, changed to this 455-line format,[2] making it the most advanced and powerful broadcasting system in the world, boasting a transmission power of 30 kW. Radiodiffusion Nationale (RN Télévision) starts its broadcasts from Paris, and expansion for other cities like Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux is planned. In the spring of 1939, tests are conducted in Lille.
The Rue de Grenelle studio closed on July 31, 1939, and after this point, Radiodiffusion Nationale only broadcast films, documentaries, and recorded news using telecine.
When France entered World War II on September 3, 1939, the military authorities ordered the cessation of broadcasts and took control of the Eiffel Tower transmitter. A few broadcasts were still broadcast episodically for transmitter maintenance purposes.
On June 6, 1940, the French Resistance took action to sabotage this equipment to prevent its utilization by the Nazis. However, in 1942, the occupying forces decided to repatriate the equipment for their Berlin station and replaced it with 441-line equipment.[3]
References
- ^ "Lines, frames and frequencies". www.icce.rug.nl. Archived from the original on 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
- ^ a b c "441 LIGNES - Histoire de la Télévision en France et dans le monde jusqu'en 1956 - Préambule". television.441lignes.free.fr. Archived from the original on 2016-10-17. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
- ^ a b ACHDR. "Un héritage méconnu de l'occupation allemande. « Cognacq-Jay et notre télévision en 441 lignes » Partie-1". Association du Centre Historique de la Diffusion Radiophonique (in French). Archived from the original on 2022-10-19. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
- ^ "Emyradio Prewar Sets". www.earlytelevision.org. Archived from the original on 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
- ^ a b Union (EBU), European Broadcasting (2022-06-30). "100 years of innovation". www.ebu.ch. Archived from the original on 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
- ^ "Compagnie des Compteurs (CdC) Prewar Sets". www.earlytelevision.org. Archived from the original on 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- ^ "Grammont Prewar Sets". www.earlytelevision.org. Archived from the original on 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- ^ "Early French Broadcasting". www.earlytelevision.org. Archived from the original on 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- ^ Cruse, Andrew (March 1936). "The Eiffel Tower Television Installation" (PDF). Communication and Broadcast Engineering. pp. 18–19. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- ^ "Pathe-Marconi Prewar Sets". www.earlytelevision.org. Archived from the original on 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- ^ "Histoire de la télévision". www.radiopiffret.fr. Archived from the original on 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- ^ "Philips Prewar Sets". www.earlytelevision.org. Archived from the original on 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- ^ "Radioindustrie Prewar Sets". www.earlytelevision.org. Archived from the original on 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-10.