[ecrea] The Birth of British Television (Palgrave Macmillan)

Apologies for some shameless self-promotion, but some colleagues may be 
interested in my new book, The Birth of British Television, published by 
Palgrave Macmillan. It is now available from the usual places (or will 
be very shortly), just in time for the BBC service's 75th anniversary 
today (a welcome coincidence!).

To quote from the blurb:

'When the BBC launched the world's first regular, high-definition 
television service on 2 November, 1936 it was the culmination of decades 
of technological innovations. More than this, however, the service meant 
that the principle of television had finally found its place. /The Birth 
of British Television – A History/ traces the early history and 
development of television, from the experiments of amateurs to the 
institutionalised developments that led to the world's first regular, 
high definition television service. Author Mark Aldridge provides a 
clear, in-depth and accessible introduction for those either exploring 
the period for the first time or seeking new insights into the 
beginnings of the industry. In tracing the origins and development of 
television, Aldridge focuses on a number of important factors including 
the attitude of the press towards early television and examines the way 
that expectations of television changed over time prior to its official 
launch. Utilising new research, this illuminating study examines how the 
aims for a new television service developed, and the extent to which 
content and technology were linked.

/The Birth of British Television/ approaches this formative period from 
several perspectives, from private individuals to the BBC and 
government, while also examining the broader opinions at the time 
towards the new medium through press reports and feedback from the 
general public. Also included is an assessment of early programming, 
which helps to offer a new and profound evaluation of the development of 
early television. '

More details, including a sample chapter, can be found on Palgrave 
Macmillan's website, here: 
http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?pid=402827

Best,

Mark

Dr Mark Aldridge
Lecturer in Film and Television
Faculty of Media Arts and Society
Southampton Solent University
(mark.aldridge /at/ solent.ac.uk)
02380 319483