“World Television Day is not so much a celebration of the tool, but rather the philosophy which it represents. Television represents a symbol for communication and globalization in the contemporary world,” says the United Nations’ website.
History of World Television Day
In November 1996, the United Nations held the first World Television Forum. Leading media personalities were part of the forum, where they discussed the growing significance of television globally. That’s when the General Assembly decided to observe November 21 every year as World Television Day.
TV was invented by a Scottish engineer, John Logie Baird, in 1924. Over three decades after its invention, television was introduced in India on September 15, 1959, in New Delhi, with the assistance of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), according to the Press Information Bureau.
Initially, in India, programs were broadcast twice a week for an hour a day on themes such as community health, traffic, road sense citizens’ duties, and rights.
Day on which people celebrate this day
The United Nations General Assembly decided to commemorate World Television Day on November 21 every year.
What makes television so loved by all?
While the digital medium has emerged as a major platform to create, post, and consume content, television continues to be the single largest source of video consumption and the number of households with this device continues to rise globally.
“The interaction between emerging and traditional forms of broadcast creates a great opportunity to raise awareness about the important issues facing our communities and our planet,” the UN website says.
This electronic device was introduced in India after almost three decades with the help of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation. The government-owned-Doordarshan remained the only national channel for the next three decades before private and foreign broadcasters were allowed to engage in limited operations under the new economic reforms introduced by the Narsimha Rao government in 1991.
Significance of this day
“Television represents a symbol for communication and globalization in the contemporary world,” and “This day is not so much a celebration of the tool, but rather the philosophy which it represents.”
Recognizing the “increasing impact television has on decision-making by bringing world attention to conflicts and threats to peace and security and its potential role in sharpening the focus on other major issues, including economic and social issues”, the United Nations decided to observe this day on November 21 every year.
Why do people love this day?
- It acknowledges a daily part of our lives- In the United States, on average, people watch 3.5 hours of television a day. Whether it’s news, sports, concerts, shows, or movies we turn to television to entertain and inform. Television as entertainment isn’t limited to the United States either. There are roughly 610 million viewers globally. People know that there is a day devoted to its higher purposes. It allows us to feel better about our decision to indulge in a little T.V. This usually hapens at the end of the day.
- It’s a beneficial medium worthy of recognition- At one time, television meant the box sitting in the living room that received radio waves and transmitted images. Those days are gone. Television is now any system that transmits sound and images and is displayed on a screen. It can still be the big screen in the den, but it also refers to your desktop, laptop or phone. As long as they’re accessing programs, they’re fair game! With its many innovations, T.V. is a source of entertainment and information we access daily.
- TV creates community- One can head to social media and type in their favorite television show, news program, or network. According to that, there will be plenty of comments, likes, and shares. Television offers a commonly held experience to talk about with others. So whether one’s interests extend to who has died on The Walking Dead or an interview with the president on Face the Nation, there is a whole community in the virtual world with whom they can gossip.
