'Well, gentlemen, you have now invented the biggest time-waster of all time. Use it well.' So said Isaac Shoenberg to his development team at EMI following a successful demonstration of their first electronic television camera in 1934. Over three-quarters of a century later, the Emitron camera he was referring to forms part of the world's largest collection of television technology, housed at the National Media Museum.
However, the story of television begins decades before EMI's technological achievement. Our collection takes you back to the late 19th century, when television was just a dream of inventors and the word 'television' didn't even exist. In our archive we have the Inventions and discoveries that were to become the building blocks of television as we know it today.
The television collection continues to represent the development of the medium from the first flickering 30-line pictures, through to digital high definition pictures broadcast around the world. This fascinating story is illustrated with over 200 objects from the collection in our new gallery, Experience TV.
Experience TV also explores the impact and influence of the ever expanding medium, exploring the first 'shared experiences' and questioning its impact on our lives today.
In TV Heaven programmes from all genres highlight television's continuing ability to 'inform, educate and entertain.'
Television Collections
Our Television Collection
Explore an online selection of the Museum’s extensive Television collection.
What's On
TV from 1983
Sat 24 May - Sun 1 June
What were you watching when the National Media Museum first opened in 1983?
Experience TV
Experience TV
Experience TV is the Museum’s permanent gallery telling the story of television.
Evolve
Evolve
Evolve is the flexible temporary exhibition space, currently displaying Digital Switchover, sponsored by by Pace Micro Technology plc..
Television Events
| Fri, 23 May TV Heaven Talk: The Rise and Fall of The Black and White Minstrel Show |
| Sat, 24 May TV Heaven in the 1980’s |
| Sun, 25 May TV Heaven in the 1980’s |
| Mon, 26 May TV Heaven in the 1980’s |
| Tue, 27 May TV Heaven in the 1980’s |
| Wed, 28 May TV Heaven in the 1980’s |
| Thu, 29 May TV Heaven in the 1980’s |
| Fri, 30 May TV Heaven in the 1980’s |
| Sat, 31 May TV Heaven in the 1980’s |
| Sun, 1 Jun TV Heaven in the 1980’s |
| Thu, 5 Jun TV Heaven Talk: Jewel in the Crown |
| Fri, 27 Jun TV Heaven Talk: Sir David Attenborough, A Life on Air |
| Thu, 10 Jul TV Heaven Talk: Gearing Up for 30 Years |
| Fri, 25 Jul TV Heaven Talk: Roy Clarke |
TV Heaven
TV Heaven
Over 900 programmes can be viewed free of charge. Search our database and see if the programme you want to watch is available before you visit TV Heaven
Youth Media TV
Ever wondered what it'd be like to make your own programme? Try out your skills in our state of the art broadcast studio.