(14-03-2016, 12:08 PM)ppppenguin Wrote: Actually colour started even earlier with the CBS sequential system in 1949. This was actually broadcast and sets were marketed. Without looking it up, I think it used 405 lines and 180Hz RGB sequential scanning.
It was 144Hz and started in January 1950.
The transmissions increased throughout 1950 and into 1951 but, although highly popular, receivers were virtually only available in public viewing areas and the transmissions were totally incompatible with existing monochrome receivers. Manufacturers were reluctant to design adapters for their existing monochrome receivers and advertisers wouldn't pay to advertise on a network with virtually no viewers and, although sets from a manufacturer bought by CBS launched a TV set on the market in September 1951, it was too little, too late, and CBS withdrew the service later in the same month.
Only 200 sets were built and 100 sold, CBS buying back the latter sets to avoid expensive lawsuits.
I didn't mention this phase as it had no relevance to the Ed Sullivan Shows that were the primary topic behind the original request for information.
