Recording video in the 1950s

[Richard_FM]

The big difference between British & American TV for many years was that most British made shows were lucky to get a repeat or be exported, while most American shows were made to be syndicated.

Much BBC programming existing on film was disposed off when most export markets switched to colour  broadcasting & it became hard to sell abroad. 

While ITV shows have a better survival rate, I've heard a lot of the Rediffusion archive was thrown out in the 1970s by Thames as it was felt to have no further value.