70 years ago, on the 22nd of September, ITV was preparing to come on air for its historic inaugural broadcast.
At 7.15pm, Associated-Rediffusion and ATV aired a 5 minute introductory film. followed by live variety entertainment from the City’s Guildhall.
An hour after the start of transmission came Britain’s first TV advert – for Gibbs SR toothpaste.
Later ITN – producer of ITV News – came to air for the first time too.
The nation now had a second TV channel, and the BBC had a competitor at last.
Commercial television had begun, and broadcasting was never the same again.
Our Correspondent Rachel Townsend looks back at 7 decades of drama, entertainment, news and sport.
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