This year – and indeed this very month – marks 75 years since television made its debut in the Netherlands, with a starring role for Philips, naturally!
Today marks exactly 75 years since the first national television broadcast went on air in the Netherlands. It is a milestone closely associated with Philips: as early as the 1920s, the Eindhoven-based company was experimenting with television technology, while Philips began experimental television broadcasts in 1948. In 1950, Philips launched its first mass-produced television set, but it was on October 2, 1951 that the first national broadcast followed from Bussum.
Over the past 75 years, television has evolved from an extraordinary piece of technology occupying pride of place in the living room into a natural part of virtually every household. From black and white to colour, from cathode-ray tubes to ultra-thin screens, and from linear television to smart, AI-driven streaming and gaming TVs. Throughout that evolution, Philips has continued looking for ways not only to display content better on screen, but also to make the viewing experience more immersive.
TV Is an Experience: Philips TVs Go Beyond the Screen
One important example of Philips TV adding another dimension to the viewing experience is Ambilight, which was introduced in 2004 and quite literally extended the light from the picture beyond the screen.
The latest step is AmbiScape, a feature that extends Ambilight into the rest of the living room. Smart lights respond in real time to the colours and dynamics of what is happening on screen, making the room itself part of the viewing experience.
‘With AmbiScape, the television once again becomes the starting point for a broader entertainment experience in the living room. Compatible smart lights can be synchronised with the Ambilight experience, meaning that films, sports, music and games no longer take place only on the screen, but also in the light surrounding the viewer,’ according to the manufacturer.
Experiencing 75 Years of Television: Time to Go Out
The anniversary is being celebrated at several locations across the Netherlands this year. Beeld & Geluid in Hilversum is hosting a special exhibition dedicated to 75 years of television, focusing on the history of Dutch TV. The exhibition can be visited until the end of this year. In addition, notable television clips and treasures from the archives are once again being brought to the public’s attention through the media archive.
Meanwhile, in Eindhoven – the city where Philips was experimenting with television decades before the first national broadcast – the Philips Museum is also commemorating 75 years of television. From October 2 through 16, visitors can see a special mini-exhibition exploring the development of television, accompanied by activities and short lectures.
Leuk en historisch gezien indrukwekkend. Er kwam bij ons niets anders in huis dan een Philips-tv. Het is wel echt gedane geschiedenis. Je koopt nu een merknaamplaatje op een tv uit een Chinese megafabriek. Niet iets om de roemrijke geschiedenis van Philips voor te misbruiken. Afblijven van Neerlands trots van weleer.