
The Story of Television
December 11, 2024 • EPISODE 243
Dive into the captivating history of television on this episode of Science LIVE with Roger Billings. Explore the incredible journey from the invention of the first TV to the groundbreaking innovations that have shaped modern broadcasting. Learn about the key figures, like Philo Farnsworth, whose ideas revolutionized how we connect and share stories around the globe. Discover how science and creativity combined to bring moving pictures to life, transforming entertainment and communication forever.

About DrB
Read more about DrB »
About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program »
Follow
Recent Episodes
255. Ohm’s Law
What is Ohm’s Law, and how does it work? In this Science LIVE episode, Dr. Roger Billings simplifies it for students! Explore electricity basics as he explains the connection between voltage, current, and resistance with real-world examples and practical tips.
254. Nitric Oxide Crisis
Have you heard of nitric oxide and do you know why it matters? Learn more in this episode of Science LIVE as Roger Billings takes us back to 1972 and the General Motors Urban Vehicle Design Competition. Discover how he tackled the challenge of nitric oxide emissions and why his hydrogen-powered car had a cleaner exhaust than even the electric entries—with zero emissions!
253. Fun with Magnetism
Magnets are more than just fridge decorations—they’re key to some of the biggest innovations in science! This week on Science LIVE, Dr. Roger Billings explores how magnets and electromagnets work. He shares how electromagnets played a crucial role in his invention of the hydrogen engine. Plus, big news for Acellus students—the Acellus Gold Store is officially open! Find out how you can use your Gold Coins to unlock exciting rewards.
Awesome!
I really enjoy watching TV! It was interesting learning about the history of the television.
That was amazing!!
So interesting
Cool stuff!
Thank you for teaching me about the history of TV!!!!
Wow this video was amazing
Very fun episode as always, keep it up!
Interesting facts about tv
As someone who loves tv, this was very fun to learn about!
I love TV!! thank you Philo Farnsworth!!!
This was so funny and inspiring and interesting it’s a shame that I suck at science and math so unfortunately I won’t be the one to make the smellyvision lolllll 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😭thanks Paget and Roger Billings for teaching and being inspiring and r51 just cracks me up!!!! Y’all the best teachers!!!! -Lily Bemis💖
Love the science lives thank you so much
i want that bird but my dad said no
wow i love tv do u
so cool
If you flip images really fast you make a video.
Very interesting! the last thing i expected is that Dr. Rodger billings used to be a magician! jokes aside awesome episode.
I still think its so crazy how we watch people through a device and tv!!
So cool
cool
So cool 😎.
It’s crazy how new the TV is. I can’t imagine life without it.
I liked learning about Philo Farnsworth and his invention. Also, now I know how YouTube got its name.
nice vid
Nice
this reminded me of a how its made video, it so fasinating to see the complexities behind televisions and the video technology that happens inside the tv.
How interesting.
interesting!!
It’s amazing how all technology came to be!
This is so inspiring!
every video i learn something new!
Yeah, put Mark Rogers in the store.
I love hearing Dr. Billings’ stories!
This was so interesting!!
I am going to talk to my grandparent about the difference that they have seen through the years with television
How much would it cost to make the TV in the early 1900s?
Thats so fascinating!!
Being able to hear how the tv came to light is so fascinating! Alawys wondering how it did.
This was very informative!
When did color tv shows and movies come out?
So cool
How did they add color to the tv from Black/white tv’s?
for the gold store i think we should put Mark Rogers.
Really cool!!
loved learning about TVs
so cool to know how tv was made, I don’t know what we would do without TVs now.
This was cool!
This is so cool
This was so interesting!
This was quite interesting Im not finna lie😭🙏🏼
Im so happy it exists
What was the first movie that was ever shown/broadcasted on the tv?
Love it! Good stories!!!!
this was so interesting
Cool concept!!
so cool
Love these videos i learn so much from them
I didn’t know that’s how tvs were invented! That’s cool.
Learned many new things about Tvs since this video.
I thought the part on pixels was pretty interesting.
That’s very cool how TV started out with that cylindrical device.
I learn a lot with this videos it is amazing
The R 51 is really cool.
ScienceLive is the best when it comes to explaining science. I thought I knew the key points of the television but this video was just fascinating to watch.
Awesome, An Idaho farmer??
intriguing
It’s awesome what can be achieved when we follow our dreams. It’s cool the first TV’s painted images so fast with light rays.
Does his family still make money from t.v being made today since it was his creation.
Was cool seeing how tvs were invented, thanks!
I thought that R-51’s jokes were pretty funny. And that’s pretty cool that he was only 14.
This is video tech.
So that was the TV.
this was so cool!
That was cool
Very interesting
this was very amazing
i found this video so cool!!!
I am thankful for TV!
Tv history is really cool
I’m going to google the TV. I’ve always wondered about it.
I agree that was very cool
It’s very interesting on how T.V. came into place. It also help creative people that have a beautiful imagination to create these amazing T.V. shows.
That was cool
My great-grandmother’s family were potato farmers, too. It’s neat to think that Philo came from the same humble beginnings. And library servers sound like DropBox or OneDrive.
This was fun to watch.
Very interesting!
crazy how tv evolved
I want to start making money so I can pay for college outright.
How the television work?
Nice job
This is awesome
This was cool to learn about
I can’t imagine not having TV
TV is pretty cool, although there are streaming apps and platforms, Cable/Live TV is pleasant to watch.
It’s amazing where tv started and how much it’s developed!
How are televisions built?
TV has evolved
It was cool learning how televisions were invented
Grateful for TVs
there’s so much i didn’t know about television that i know now!
This was really cool information.
I’ve always wondered how TV worked.
It’s amazing how far televisions have come
amazing livestream like always :3 >3
love hearing your experiences!
It was interesting how Philo Farnsworth was inspired to make the television technology by doing farm work.
This was cool! It is interesting how things are developed.
The higher the pixel count means the brighter the image will be?
what about a touchivision you get to FEEL the things on the screen
I am interested in seeing what the future tech will be with TV’s.
I vote for a virtual fieldtrip!
very cool episode
amazing live
Pixels are so tiny!
I struggled to follow some, but I’m glad we have tvs!
i thought it was cool that he was only 14
this was cool
i like watching cartoons.
I would like to see a tour of the factory!
Do televisions and projectors both use the same technology?
wow that is so cool he was only 14?!? I
didn’t know any of that
loved this! so good!
televison is so cool
What other inventions did Farnsworth create?
Wonder how much the 1st tvs were in today’s money?
That interesting
WOW!!
How big was the first TV?
Sorry for being late to this episode.
I love seeing the vids.
Thank you so much for Science Live Roger Billings!
Amazing!! Me and my dad LOVED THIS!!
How does the television from yesterday compare against todays
Is there anyway old televisions can handle new technology?
Super interesting how the story of television works
What was the first movie genre called ever?
Without Thomas Edison’s prior inventions, would it still have been possible to make a working television?
How do we do the kids science videos?
Always something new my whole family learns from these segments !
I like that one
That’s so cool
wow
It’s interesting how television works and how it’s powered. How did you know all those things about TVs?
I can’t even imagine life without modern entertainment like TV! I’m so glad we have it as a way to connect with each other and the rest of the world
I LRND A LOT ITS FUN TO WACH HELPS A LOT ITS FUNNY IT INSPIYERD ME
What do you think the world would be like without television?
That’s so interesting lol
cool video lol!
I didn’t know that making movies was so complicated. I like the way Tobias explained it.
COOL
WOW!
cool! 🙂
It’s cool that there’s a tube in tvs
I think it is so cool how television started from a fourteen year old boy, but one of the dolls should be teacher Susanne Mitko for social studies
wow I never know how much television had such history thanks guys!(¬‿¬)(∘-º)
I enjoyed learning how tv’s came to be.
I think I will have to get some updates 🤯🤯🤯🤯😵
In this video I learned a lot about Dr. Roger. Like, did you know they made a collection of little mini characters of R-51. Television, when it was very old, they had to turn the magnet to change the photos with a line.
I found it interesting how they described the whole story of television.
did you like being a magician?
The story of the television was inspiring.
WOW THIS IS SO COOL I LOVENLEARNING ABOUT TVS THIS IS THE BEST EPISODE OF MY LIFE> 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
Yo TV is the best thing ever
what if television did not exist
My grandparents still have an old TV. My TV is new and has a lot of apps on it. I like it. I can’t imagine not having as many options for television.
Really cool!
really interesting to hear that essentially tv was made by electrons being painted on!