Author: Carolyn Stewart

October 11, 1975

“Live From New York, It’s Saturday Night!” Reviving the live variety show tradition, Saturday Night Live debuts on NBC, with Canadian producer Lorne Michaels at the helm.

1975

Home Box Office (HBO) inaugurates satellite-to-cable broadcasting.

1975

Sony introduces the Betamax VCR, the world’s first home-use videocassette recorder using 1/2-inch tape. Demonstrates the world’s first four-channel cassette tape recorder. The BM-144 allows the user to switch back and forth on single standard cassette from four different recordings. Priced at $1,295, it records for a maximum of 1 hour. “Make your own TV schedule” – early ads proclaim.

1975

A study indicates that the average American child during this decade will have spent 10,800 hours in school by the time he or she is 18, but will have seen an average 20,000 hours of television. Studies also estimate that, by the time he is 75, the average American male will have spent nine years of his life watching television; the average British male, eight years.

1975

One of the last kit televisions, made by the Heathkit company, is sold.

1975

The first personal computer kit, the Altair, goes on sale.

August 8, 1974

Richard Nixon not only becomes the first US President to resign, he becomes the first to do so before the unforgiving television camera lens.

August 8, 1974

Richard Nixon not only becomes the first US President to resign, he becomes the first to do so before the unforgiving television camera lens.

January 6, 1974

The Global Television Network begins operations in Canada with a Winnipeg station.

January 6, 1974

The Global Television Network begins operations in Canada with a Winnipeg station.