Since its inception in the 1920s, television fast became an integral part of our everyday lives. Now, the medium is a driving force behind our society, culture, and politics, its importance is impossible to overstate, and the impact it’s had on humans is impossible to quantify.
The technology that broadcasts what we see on our TVs has gone through numerous iterations over the years. Each development comes with something new and further improves the viewing experience. From the rudimentary broadcasts systems of the past to highly advanced modern solutions like Red Bee Play, broadcast tech is now at a point never before though possible. Let’s take a look at the evolution of broadcast tech and discuss how budding video station leaders can learn from it. Read on to find out more.
The Origins Of Broadcasting
Broadcasting didn’t actually originate with TV, instead it began with radio. The first ever radio transmission was broadcast from a station on the Isle of Wight in 1895, set up by Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi.
Over the next few decades, the technology was further developed and improved, with radio broadcast tech accelerated by WWI and WWII, with military organisations quick to identify the invaluable communicative capabilities the technology could offer them.
The TV Era
In 1925, Scottish inventor John Logie Baird revealed the world’s first television, an unprecedented use of broadcast tech that could be used to transmit visuals and well as audio. This invention would prove truly revolutionary and would forever change the face of media and how it was consumed.
From Analog To Digital
Original forms of broadcasting for television and radio used analog transmission techniques, which delivered information through a continuous signal that fluctuated in amplitude. While revolutionary at the time, analog transmission did have some drawbacks. Broadcast quality could degrade, especially when transmitting signals across large distances.
For this reason, almost all broadcasters began switching over to digital means of transmission in the 2000s. This works by transferring data through a bitstream, making for a far more stable and better-quality transmission.
Broadcasting Today
Technology continues to advance and improve at an exponential rate, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the world of broadcasting.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a number of new developments in broadcasting, not least the proliferation of over the top (OTT) delivery systems. This is a brand new way of transmitting signals, forgoing traditional means such as cable and satellite and instead delivering content to viewers through the use of the internet. This new technology has given rise to new forms of media and means viewers can now access content from their mobile devices and laptops as well, no longer limited to a traditional TV set.
What Can Be Learned From The History Of Broadcasting?
So, what can you as a budding video station leader learn from the evolution of broadcasting? As we have outlined above, the technology that drives broadcasting has gone through countless changes and reimaginations over the years. Each new iteration is designed to improve the viewing experience and comes with new possibilities and opportunities.
However, maintaining success in the face of such a rapidly changing technological environment is challenging. To do so, you must be vigilant and stay on top of the latest developments, ensuring that you and your business are ready and willing to adapt to change as and when necessary. Failure to do so could see your business left behind as your competitors move into the future.
Conclusion
The history of broadcast tech is long and storied. As a budding video station leader, it’s vital you study how broadcast tech has evolved over the years and understand how quickly things can change.
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