A groundbreaking event unfolded in Jamaica last Wednesday night as the island marked its inaugural live television show viewed by a studio audience at Radio Jamaica. Titled "The Lennie Hibbert Show" and showcasing the talents of the Radio Jamaica Television Combo, the production followed a lecture on "The Technical and Sociological Contribution of Television to 20th Century Civilization." The lecture, delivered by Mr. Paul Adorian, Managing Director of Associated Rediffusion, the largest television company in Britain and deputy managing director of the Redifussion Group of Companies (of which Radio Jamaica is a part), highlighted the multifaceted role of television, emphasising its significance beyond entertainment to encompass education and information.

Published Monday, February  2, 1959

Island’s first ‘live’ TV show

HISTORY was made in Jamaica last Wednesday night as the island’s first live television show was viewed by studio audience at Radio Jamaica.

The audience consisted of a cross section of the business, advertising, political, and teaching communities.

The purpose of TV, the lecturer said, should not only be entertainment, but education and information.

Dealing with the educational aspect, he said the school TV Programme in Britain would, in the next three years, reach nearly 2,000 schools. The school programme was now used in the 11 to 15 age group to supplement the teacher.  The effect was, unexpectedly, satisfactory.  The Scottish School Authorities were in favour of this method being used on a larger scale.

Mr. Adorian spoke about the completely new attitudes on political, sociological, and other questions brought about by TV discussions.

Families, he said, continued the discussions after viewing, and programmes were designed to bring about this result.

As an aid to church services, he said TV had got the blessing of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The programme was demonstrated on closed-circuit TV equipment on Philips TV sets.

Mr. J.H. Knottenbelt, managing director of Phillips in the Caribbean, who arrived here a few days ago for the demonstration, declared afterwards that TV for Jamaica was not far off and that the development of the technique and the introduction of TV in nearby countries in the Caribbean would also bring TV to this century much sooner than was originally expected.

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