- Philo Farnsworth is credited with inventing the first electronic television in 1927. Farnsworth’s device transmitted a simple straight line. Precursors of the television made by researchers around the world dated back to the late 1800s, but Farnsworth’s 1927 invention and subsequent devices were the direct ancestors of the modern television.
- Farnsworth didn’t think much of his creation; he actually forbade his children from watching television.
- Actor Richard Belzer has the record for playing the same character, John Munch, on the largest number of television shows – 10.
- In Norway, product placement, a time-honored tradition in American advertising, is barred.
- The remote control pre-dates the television. The earliest remote control devices were made in the early 1900s and were used to remotely operate boats.
- Earl Wild was the first pianist to perform a recital on television in 1937. Sixty years later he was the first pianist to stream a recital on the Internet.
Top Six TV Facts You Might Not Have Known
Television has been around for nearly a century now and, in that time, the medium has had some interesting developments, paths not taken, and the occasional failure here and there. The following are a few facts about television you may find useful for pub trivia or just being an all-around know-it-all.