Television is nowdays an essential part of popular culture, and once a “magic box” was an important reason for gathering and socializing across Serbia.
Since the time when the miracle called television appeared for the first time in Serbia back in 1938, the popularity of this media has kept growing till this day.
Stars were born and others disappeared on TV, some TV shows and series became legendary, and being seen on TV became and remained a measure of one’s success.
Television was introduced to people in Serbia only 13 years after the world premiere. On that occasion TV picture was aired at the distance of 30 meters, and the Dutch company “Phillips” demonstrated the first professional TV sets.
People in Serbia loved this innovation! Just after the World War II the first TV program in Serbia was aired from the improvised TV studio in Belgrade from 7th to 17th July 1956.
TVs, the new technological achievements displayed in public places, soon won the hearts of Belgraders by giving them a unique entertainment experience.
The first black and white TV, pride and joy of our technology, “Tesla 59 TV”, soon became the symbol of prestige.
Top elegance, wooden housing with milky green screen, a new TV had a central place in the house of every family and everyone who wanted to be someone in society simply had to have one.
Friends, relatives and neighbors gathered in front of TV to watch the latest news, interviews and show programs, live from the studio of the Radio-Television of Belgrade in Sajmište.
The new Avala Tower remembers us of the old, the first, Avala Tower that once stood at the same place transmitting TV signal for the entire country.
Back in the 60-ties of the 20th century the first video signal successfully crossed the Atlantic. It was an important date for Serbia as well, since the image of White Angel – the fresco of remarkable beauty from the Mileševa monastery, was among the first frames.
The National Broadcasting Corporation, today Radio Television of Serbia, gave some of the biggest TV names. For years they have informed us, entertained us, laughed and cried with us, so it’s no wonder that numerous old shows became a measure of ratings for all times. Numerous TV stations that exist today in Serbia came later. Most programs can be watched over satellite, while some are broadcasted on-line as well.
Today we are in a time of digitalization, but some old TV or a black and white TV program that have survived till this day take us back to the past and remind us of some long forgotten stories.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
