When did B/W broadcasts stop?

[bgadow]

I've seen bw film news footage (network) from the early 70s showing that not the entire newscast was in color. Certainly some stations did not have color cameras way up in the 70s & in some cases 80s. In a small market, or at a small public broadcaster or independent even in a big city, there probably wouldn't have been enough original programming eminating from that station to pay for color equipment. Forwarding the network programs in color would be a different matter. But I think the networks are what is important here.

[frenchy]

Since even today someone can broadcast a BW picture or show over a color signal, maybe some more questions to ask would be:
"what was the last major network affiliate to completely eliminate broadasting of a non-color-encoded signal?"
"what was the last low-budget local (non-major-network) channel, uhf or vhf, to broadcast a black and white only signal?
"what was the last major network television show that was produced in black and white?"

The thing about the news not being completely in color could just be a factor of when they had gotten rid of all their old black and white film cameras and switched to color film....then switched to color videotape.

[NowhereMan 1966]

Originally Posted by frenchy

Since even today someone can broadcast a BW picture or show over a color signal, maybe some more questions to ask would be:
"what was the last major network affiliate to completely eliminate broadasting of a non-color-encoded signal?"
"what was the last low-budget local (non-major-network) channel, uhf or vhf, to broadcast a black and white only signal?
"what was the last major network television show that was produced in black and white?"

The thing about the news not being completely in color could just be a factor of when they had gotten rid of all their old black and white film cameras and switched to color film....then switched to color videotape.

I know here in Pittsburgh, we had/have a PBS station on Channel 16 that started broadcasting in the early 1960's in black and white and continued to do so well up past 1985, maybe even close to 1990. Somewhere between those dates, I can't remember if their tower blew down or maybe the transmitter died but they were off the air for a while and came back in color. I remember watching "Dr. Who" in black and white, the picture quality from the station reminds me a little of the old 405 line British standard.

[Steve D.]

Of course those early black & white pictures never really stopped. And are still being transmitted, and perhaps, received. Somewhere out there............................................. ............................




-Steve

[Telecolor 3007]

In U.S.A. you had b/w televsion in the '80's?