First television broadcaster in Hamburg

Since the end of the Second World War, Northwest German Radio (NWDR) – founded on 9 June 1950 as part of the „Corporation of Public Broadcasting Services in the Federal Republic of Germany“ (ARD) – has developed into the leading institution for German television. On 25 September 1950 the first experimental German television programme is broadcast from Hamburg by means of a one-kilowatt sender on the roof of a studio in a former elevated bunker on Holy Spirit Field. Shortly thereafter, starting on 27 November 1950, broadcasts will already sent out three days of the week. Of course, the official start of German television requires some waiting. A daily, German-wide television programme (from 8:00 until 10:00 P.M.) will not begin until 25 December 1952. At first few Germans can receive it: By the end of 1952 only ca. 4,000 television sets have been sold in Germany. By contrast, in Great Britain 1.2 million viewers and in the USA as many as 15 million, watch television regularly.

© Kalser Testing picture of the first experimental German television programme