Television · 1940
Experimental Signals and Milestone Live Sports Broadcasts
In 1940, American television pushed technical boundaries through groundbreaking live sports coverage and early network transmission experiments. Despite global conflict halting European broadcasting, stations like NBC's W2XBS pioneered live event telecasts and experimental color systems.
- Feb 28, 1940 | W2XBS, USA
First Televised College Basketball Game
NBC station W2XBS broadcasts the first televised college basketball game, featuring Pittsburgh against Fordham live from Madison Square Garden.
- Feb 25, 1940 | W2XBS, USA
First Televised Ice Hockey Game
W2XBS airs the first live TV broadcast of an ice hockey match, showing the New York Rangers against the Montreal Canadiens.
- June 24–28, 1940 | NBC, USA
First Televised Political Convention
NBC broadcasts live television coverage of the Republican National Convention from Philadelphia, linking cities via coaxial cable.
- August 29, 1940 | CBS, USA
CBS Field-Sequential Color Demonstration
CBS engineer Peter Goldmark demonstrates an experimental field-sequential color television system to the Federal Communications Commission.
- March 10, 1940 | W2XBS, USA
First Televised Opera Performance
W2XBS airs a studio presentation of Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, marking the first time an opera is produced for television.
- March 6, 1940 | W2XBS, USA
First Televised Circus Broadcast
NBC broadcasts live coverage of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performing at New York's Madison Square Garden.
- Feb 1, 1940 | NBC / W2XB, USA
First Inter-City Television Network Relay
NBC transmits a television signal from W2XBS in New York City to W2XB in Schenectady, demonstrating early network relay capabilities.
- March 3, 1940 | W2XBS, USA
First Televised Track and Field Meet
W2XBS broadcasts the Intercollegiate AAAA Track and Field Championships live from Madison Square Garden to television sets across New York.
Enjoyed your trip back in time?