Milestones - 1970s

1970
Digital line-store standards converter work commences.

8:1 acoustic scale model of Maida Vale Studio 1 demonstrated on "Tomorrow's World".

First attempts at automatic colour balancing of television cameras.

First experiments in holography in relation to television.

Investigations into colour optical telerecording begin.

1971
Ruggedised Sound-in-Syncs field trials.

Research Department gives world's first public demonstration of digital recording of stereo audio signals.

Early experiments on digital video recording.

Colour television Illuminant Consistency Index formulated.

1972
Teletext experiments begin; BBC announces proposed new service called CEEFAX.

Early CEEFAX tests.

The ruggedised log-periodic antenna was developed - this is the workhorse of the UHF television transmitter network.

Quadraphonic recordings made at the 50th Anniversary Promenade Concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

Use of holographic techniques in digital video recording systems investigated.

1973
CEEFAX: 32-page capability reached.

Research Department gives first demonstrations of black and white pictures from line-array telecine at "Film 73" Conference in London.

Work on Direct Broadcasting by Satellite intensifies.

Sub-Nyquist sampling technique for composite PAL television signals invented.

1974
Picture impairment resulting from use of discharge lighting when making motion picture films investigated ·operating parameters defined.

Regional Administrative Broadcasting Conference (First Session) in Geneva, to replan the LF/MF bands throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Research Department provides considerable input via CCIR and EBU working parties. World coastline and country boundary databank compiled.

Agreement of Unified Data Standard for teletext in the UK.

Quadraphony demonstrated at IEE.

Research Department demonstrates world's first digital television recorder at the International Broadcasting Convention, Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London.

1975
Regional Administrative Broadcasting Conference (Second Session) on LF/MF Frequency Planning for Regions 1 and 3.

Re-engineering of the BBC's networking of VHF/FM transmitters commences following Research Department proposals to change to mixed vertical and horizontal polarisation in order to improve the reception of stereo signals, especially on portable receivers and in vehicles.

Successful transmission of digital television signals over 120 Mbit/s PO link between Guildford and Portsmouth.

1976
Full Broadcast Teletext Specification published. BBC shares Royal Television Society Geoffrey Parr Award with IBA and BREMA.

LF/MF Planning: radical redployment of frequencies following 1974/75 Geneva Conference approved by Board of Management.

First transmissions of digital television over INTELSAT satellite at 60 Mbit/s. CARFAX road traffic information service principle demonstrated.

1977
World Administrative Radio Conference "WARC 77", Geneva, held to draw up assignment plans for 12 GHz satellite broadcasting in ITU Regions 1, 2 and 3, the Department's preparatory work over the last two years greatly contributing.

Public announcement in November that a multi-channel digital audio recorder jointly developed by the BBC and American company 3M would be commercially available in 1979. This would be the world's first purpose-built recorder of its kind.

Year of experimental quadraphonic broadcasts using Research Department's 2-channel matrix.

1978
LF/MF national frequency plans resulting from the Regional Administrative Broadcasting Conference 1974/5 implemented.

"Teletrack" special effects equipment used for World Cup football.

Research Department provides first colour pictures for Rank-Cintel line array telecine lecture/demonstration at the International Broadcasting Convention, Wembley.

Research Department demonstrates first broadcast quality 34 Mbit/s PAL digital television pictures at the International Broadcasting Convention, Wembley.

First digital stereophonic sound broadcast experiments from Pontop Pike using DPSK (in Band I). This system led to the invention of NICAM stereo sound with television, but was not taken up for radio.

Demonstrations of VHF radio data (later to be known as RDS) reception given on "Tomorrow's World", at the Director of Engineering's Presidential Address to the IEE and at the International Broadcasting Convention, Brighton.

1979
World Administrative Radio Conference "WARC 79", Geneva, held to review international agreements on radio frequency spectrum allocation until the end of the century.

Digital field-store standards converter designed by Designs Department put into operational service.

Collaborative work with the Electricity Supply Industry begins on LF Radio-Teleswitching, a method of including an inaudible data signal within the sound programming being transmitted.

Department goes "green" with development of a wind-powered television relay for Edale.

Live stereo link via INTELSAT satellite from Moscow to London using 704 kbit/s NICAM-1 equipment designed by Designs Department.

First 60 Mbit/s digital television sound transmissions made via Orbital Test Satellite.