Rediffusion Television - The Cable Story

Rediffusion achieved one million cable subscribers worldwide.

Many networks were rewired to take account of 625 line programmes on BBC2

The first VHF coaxial cable networks were introduced

Dial-a Programme was unveiled. The worlds first mult-channel system based on the 'Multi-pair' system could deliver over 100 channels.

Colour was introduced on all channels.

Community Cable TV was licenced in a number of British towns.

An experimental Fibre Optic link was introduced to the network in Hastings - the first application of fibre optics in cable TV in the world..

The UK issued 13 subscription channels, five of which are operated by Rediffusion under the name of Starview.The service shows mainly feature films for a monthly
rental of 8-10 pounds.

Broadcast Relay - later to become Rediffusion - set up one of the world's firstcable distribution systems

200 Subscribers were now paying three shillings a week, and Broadcast Relay expanded to Braintree, Ramsgate and Hull. It soon flourished, because the depression meant many people could not afford radios, and many houses did not have electricity

The first overseas network - a two programme system in Malta - was set up.

The war bought a further boom, as demand for news and entertainment boomed, and batteries often used to power radios were in short supply.

Rediffusiom manufactured it's first TV set.

The group started work on the first cable network in the Far East, in Singapore. Further systems were installed soon after in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Trinidad. Cable Research and Development Department started.

The worlds first cable TV network began operations in the South East. Called the 'HF' System, it was based on a 'multi-pair' cable.

The first large scale cable TV system in North America was set up. It reached 58,000 houses in Montreal.

Rediffusion cable television started programming in Hong Kong.

The UK's first 'community service' television was introduced by Rediffusion in Houghton Regis, near Luton.