List of experimental television stations
This page is a list of the experimental television stations before 1946. After 1945 (in the United States ) the television frequencies were opened up to commercialization and regular broadcasts began. Regular broadcast television start dates vary widely by country; in many regions, initial broadcast video deployment was delayed due to mobilisation for World War II .
(Note: The listing of current broadcast channels for these stations is not up-to-date as many low-VHF stations have moved to UHF frequencies as a result of digital television transition . This is less of an issue in the United Kingdom because of its all-UHF system, but most early US broadcasters were on affected channels before analogue shutdown. Very few full-service North American broadcasters remain on physical channels VHF 2-6 digitally due to impulse noise problems and strict limits on maximum transmitted power at these frequencies.)
Television stations, as of 1928
Television stations, as of 1928
United States
Televisioncall-sign (original)
Televisioncall-sign (current)
City or location
Owner
Transmitter antenna height
Television frequency
Television channel (current)
On air
Off air
Disk holes or lines
Frame rate (frame/s)
Original broadcast system
Current broadcast system
WGY
WRGB-TV
Schenectady, New York
General Electric
380 m
790 kHz
Channel 6 (VHF)
May 10, 1928
Present
48
Unknown
Mechanical television
ATSC
WRNY
None
New York City
Experimenter Publishing
326 m
920 kHz
None
August 13, 1928
1929
48
7.5
Mechanical television
None
2XAL
None
New York City
Experimenter Publishing
(with WRNY ), 30.91
9.7 MHz
None
August 13, 1928
1929
48
7.5
Mechanical television
None
3XK
None
Washington, D.C.
Charles Jenkins Laboratories
46.7 m
1.605 MHz
None
July 2, 1928
1932 (1934?)
48
Unknown
Mechanical television
None
WOR
WWOR-TV
Secaucus, New Jersey formerly New York City
Bamberger Broadcasting (from WOR )
405 m
740 kHz
Channel 9 (VHF)
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Mechanical television
ATSC
KDKA
KDKA-TV
Pittsburgh
Westinghouse Electric Company
62.5 m
4.798 MHz
Channel 2 VHF
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Mechanical television
ATSC
1XAY
None
Lexington, Massachusetts
WLEX
51–62 m
1.9 to 4.7 MHz
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Mechanical television
None
4XA
None
Memphis, Tennessee
WSM
120–125 m
2.1–2.5 MHz
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Mechanical television
None
9XAA (short-wave station ofWCFL , officially W9XAA)
None
Chicago
WCFL /Chicago Federation of Labor
61.25 m[1]
4.8 MHz
Unknown
June 19, 1928
1937[2]
48[1]
15[1]
Mechanical television
None
Television stations, as of December 1928
United States
Televisioncall-sign (original)
Televisioncall-sign (current)
City or location
Owner
Transmitter antenna height (m)
Television frequency
Television channel (current)
On air
Off air
Disk holes or lines
frame rate (frame/s)
Original broadcast system
Current broadcast system
WGY
WRGB-TV
Schenectady, New York
General Electric
380 m
379.5 MHz
Channel 6 (VHF)
1928
Still on air
24
21
Mechanical Television
ATSC
2XAF (Upgrade of WGY)
WRGB-TV
Schenectady, New York
General Electric
380 m
31.4 MHz
Channel 6 (VHF)
1928
Still on air
24
21
Mechanical Television
ATSC
2XAD (upgrade of W2XAF above)
WRGB-TV
Schenectady, New York
General Electric
Channel 6 (VHF)
21.96 MHz
Channel 6 (VHF)
1928
Still on air
24
21
Mechanical Television
ATSC
WRNY
None
New York City
Experimenter Publishing
326 m
920 kHz
None
August 13, 1928
1929
48
7.5
Mechanical television
None
2XAL
None
New York City
Experimenter Publishing
(with WRNY ), 30.91
9.7 MHz
None
August 13, 1928
1929
48
7.5
Mechanical television
None
3XK
None
Washington, D.C.
Charles Jenkins Laboratories
Unknown
46.72 MHz
None
July 2, 1928
1932 (1934?)
48
15
Mechanical television
None
W9XAA WCFL
None
Chicago
Chicago Federation of Labor
61.25 m[1]
61.5 MHz
Unknown
June 19, 1928
1937[2]
45[1]
15[1]
Mechanical television
None
WKBI-TV
None
Chicago
Unknown
?
215.7 MHz
?
?
?
48
15
Mechanical television
None
WIBO-lost license May 15, 1933 AKA W9XAO[3]
None
Chicago
Western Television (Sanabria )[3]
?
305.9 MHz
?
Summer 1929[4]
1933
45[4]
15[4]
Mechanical television
None
KGFJ
None
Los Angeles
?
?
212.6 MHz
?
?
?
48
--
Mechanical television
None
WLBX
None
Lexington, Massachusetts
?
?
62.5 MHz
?
?
?
48
--
Mechanical television
None
Television stations, from 1928 to 1939
Television stations, from 1928 to 1939
United States
Televisioncall-sign (original)
Televisioncall-sign (current)
City or location
Owner
Television frequency
Television channel (current)
On air
Off air
Disk holes or lines
frame rate (frame/s)
Original broadcast system
Current broadcast system
W9XZV
None
Chicago, IL
Zenith
2.1-2.2 MHz, later Channel 2
None
1939, with a later Zenith experimental station in 1951
1953?
?
?
Electronic television
None
W1WX (later became W1XAV)
None
Boston
SW and Television (Hollis Baird)
2120 kHz
None
April 1929 (became W1XAV in December 1929)
1931
48 (and later, 60 lines)
15
Mechanical Television
None
W1XAV
None
Boston
SW and Television (Hollis Baird)
2.1-2.2 MHz
None
1930
1931
48
15
Mechanical television
None
W1XAV
None
Boston
Unknown
2.1-2.2 MHz
SW and Television (Hollis Baird)
1931
1934
60
20
Mechanical television
None
W1XAY
None
Lexington, Massachusetts
Boston Post , WLEX
2.0-2.1 MHz
None
1928
1930
48
18
Mechanical Television
None
W2XB /WGY/W2XAF /W2XAD
WRGB
Schenectady, NY
General Electric
2.1-2.2 MHz
VHF 6
1928
?
48
20
Mechanical television
ATSC
W2XCR
None
New York City
Charles Jenkins Laboratories
2.75-2.85 MHz
None
1929
1931
48
15
Mechanical Television
None
W2XCR
None
New York City
Charles Jenkins Laboratories
2.75-2.85 MHz
None
1931
1933
60
20
Mechanical Television
None
W2XBS
WNBC-TV
New York City
RCA
2.0-2.1 MHz
Channel 4 (VHF)
1928
1929
60?
20?
Mechanical television
ATSC
W2XBS
WNBC-TV
New York City
RCA
2.75-2.85 MHz
Channel 4 (VHF)
1928
1929
60
20
Mechanical television
ATSC
W2XAB
WCBS-TV
New York City
CBS
2.1-2.2 MHz
Channel 2
1931
1933
60
20
Mechanical television
ATSC
WRNY
None
New York City
Unknown
1010 kHz
None
1928
1929
36
?
Mechanical Television
None
WRNY
None
New York City
Unknown
1010 kHz
None
1928
?
48
10
Mechanical television
None
W2XR
None
Long Island City, New York
Hogan's Radio Pictures
2.85-2.95 MHz
None
March 26, 1929
1934
60
20
Mechanical television
None
W3XK
None
Wheaton, Maryland (later moved to Silver Spring, Maryland )
Charles Jenkins Laboratories
6420 kHz (6.42 MHz)
None
1928
1931
48
15
Mechanical television
None
W3XK
None
Washington, D.C.
Charles Jenkins Laboratories
2.0-2.1 MHz
None
1931
1934
60
20
Mechanical Television
None
W9XX , later became W5XA
None
Shreveport, Louisiana
Rev. Lannie W. Stewart
1604 kHz
None
1929
1934
45
15
Mechanical Television
None
W5XA
None
Shreveport, Louisiana
Paul L. Carriger
1594 kHz (video on the 160-meter amateur band)
None
1932
1934
45
15
Mechanical television
None
W6XAH
None
Bakersfield, California
Pioneer Mercantile Company
2000–2100 kHz, also simulcast on 1550 kHz in 1932
None
January 6, 1932
1935
96
20
Mechanical television
None
W9XR[5]
None[6]
Downers Grove, Illinois (Chicago)[5]
Great Lakes Broadcasting / National Broadcasting Company after 1931.[5] [6]
2.85-2.95 mHz[5]
None
1929[5]
1933[6]
24[5]
15[5]
Mechanical television[5]
None[5]
Television stations, from 1928 to 1939
United States and Canada
Televisioncall-sign (original)
Televisioncall-sign (current)
City or location
Owner
Television frequency
Television channel (current)
On air
Off air
Disk holes or lines
frame rate (frame/s)
Original broadcast system
Current broadcast system
KGFJ
None
Los Angeles
Unknown
?
?
1928
?
48
?
Mechanical television
None
W3XAD
None
Camden, New Jersey
RCA
124 MHz to 130 MHz
Channel 5
July 1930
Became W3XEP
525
30
Unknown
None
W6XS
None
Los Angeles
Don Lee Broadcasting
2.1-2.2 MHz
?
1931
1935
80
20
Mechanical Television
None
W6XAO
KCBS-TV
Los Angeles
Don Lee Broadcasting
44.5 MHz (44-50 MHz, Channel 1)
Channel 2
December 23, 1931
1936
80
20
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W7XAO
None
Portland, Oregon
Wilbur Jerman
2.75-2.85 MHz
?
1929
?
Unknown
Unknown
Mechanical Television
None
W9XAA, WCFL
None
Chicago
Chicago Federation of Labor
2.0-2.1 MHz
None
June 19, 1928
1937[2]
45[1]
15[1]
Mechanical Television
None
WIBO-lost license May 15, 1933 AKA W9XAO[3]
None
Chicago, IL
Western Television (Sanabria )[3]
?
?
Summer 1929[4]
1933
45[4]
15[4]
Mechanical Television
None
W9XAK
?
Manhattan, Kansas
Kansas State College
2.1-2.2 MHz
?
1932
1939
60
20
Mechanical Television
None?
W9XAL
Unknown
Kansas City, Missouri
First National Television
2.1-2.2 MHz
?
1933
1935
45
15
Mechanical Television
None?
W9XAO[3]
None
Chicago, IL
Western Television (Sanabria )[3]
2.0-2.1 MHz
?
Summer 1929[4]
1933
45[4]
15[4]
Mechanical Television
None?
W9XAP
WMAQ-TV [3]
Chicago, IL
Chicago Daily News/National Broadcasting Company (after 1 November 1931[7] )
2.1-2.2 MHz
Channel 5
August 27, 1930[3]
August 1933[3]
45
15
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W9XAT
Unknown
Minneapolis, MN
George Young, radio station WDGY
42-50 MHz, 60-86 MHz (Channel 1)
?
1933
1938
125
?
Mechanical Television
None?
W9XD
WTMJ-TV
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Journal
?
?
1931 (transmitter used for Apex radio station W9XAZ in 1934)
Experiments ended 1933; License deleted in 1938
45
15
Mechanical Television - Western
W9XG
?
Lafayette, IN
Purdue University
2.75-2.85 MHz
?
1931
1939
60
24
Mechanical Television
?
W9XK/W9SUI "WSUI", W9XAZ
?
Iowa City, IA
State University of Iowa
2.0-2.1 MHz
?
1933
1939
45
15
Mechanical Television
?
W9XUI
?
Iowa City, IA
State University of Iowa
2.0-2.1 MHz, later Channel 1, then Channel 2
?
1933
1941
441
30
Mechanical Television
?
W2XJT
None
Jamaica, New York
Jamaica Radio Television Company
Channel 3, then Channel 13
None
1940, moved to Ch. 13 in 1945
Unknown
?
?
Mechanical Television
None
VE9EC (also given as VE9AK[8] )
None; TV returned in 1952 with CBFT
Montreal , Quebec
Peck Television Corp. (Canadian Television Ltd.)
41 MHz
None
1931
1935
60-150
Unknown
Mechanical television
VE9AK's calls were reassigned to CFRB-FM in 1938[9]
Television stations, from 1928 to 1939
Europe
Televisioncall-sign (original)
Televisioncall-sign (current)
City or location
Owner
Television frequency
Television channel (current)
On air
Off air
Disk holes or lines
frame rate (frame/s)
Original broadcast system
Current broadcast system
Baird Television Ltd. via BBC transmitter 2LO
Unknown
London , England
Baird Television Ltd.
Unknown
?
September 30, 1929
June 1932
30
25
Mechanical television
PAL /DVB-T ?
Unknown (Possibly 2LO , as above?)
BBC One
London, England
Baird Television Ltd.
?
?
August 22, 1932
September 11, 1935
30
25
Mechanical television
PAL
Fernsehsender Paul Nipkow
Unknown
Berlin, Germany
Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft
?
?
1935 (tests started in 1929)
1944
180 /441 beginning in 1937
25
Electronic television
PAL ?
Doświadczalna Stacja Telewizyjna
TVP 1
Warsaw , Poland
Polskie Radio Sp. Akc.
?
September 1937 (according to other sources regular broadcasts started in 1938)
last week of August 1939
120
25
Mechanical television
Television stations, as of 1941
Television stations, as of 1941
United States
Televisioncall-sign (original)
Televisioncall-sign (current)
City or location
Owner
Television frequency
Television channel (current)
On air
Off air
Disk holes or lines
frame rate (frame/s)
Original broadcast system
Current broadcast system
W1XG
None
Boston
General Television
?
Channel 1
Unknown Channel
?
?
Unknown
Mechanical television
None
W2XVT (Becomes W2XWV in 1944)
WNYW
Passaic, New Jersey
DuMont
Channel 4
Channel 5
1938
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W2XBS
WNBC-TV
New York City
RCA , NBC
Channel 1
Channel 4
1932
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W2XAB
WCBS-TV
New York City
CBS
Channel 2
Channel 2
1931
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W2XWV
WNYW-TV
New York City
DuMont
Channel 4
Channel 5
1938
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W2XB
WRGB
Schenectady, NY
General Electric
Channel 3
Channel 6
1939
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W3XWT
WTTG
Washington, D.C.
DuMont
Channel 1
Channel 5
1941
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W3XNB
WRC-TV
Washington, D.C.
NBC
Channel 2
Channel 4
1939
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W3XE
KYW-TV
Philadelphia
Philco
Channel 3
Channel 3
1932
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W3XEP
None
Camden, NJ
RCA
42 MHz-56 MHz and 50-86 MHz
None
1931
1941?
525
30
Mechanical television
None
W3XPF (Portable unit: W10XX)
None?
Philadelphia
Farnsworth
Channel 3
Unknown
1937
Unknown
525
30
Mechanical Television
Unknown
W3XPP
Cancelled Permit, Now WCAU
Philadelphia
NBC
Channel 7
Channel 10
1939
Unknown
None
None
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W6XAO
KCBS-TV
Los Angeles
Don Lee Broadcasting
Channel 1
Channel 2
1936
Still on air
441, changed to 525 in late 1941
30
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W6XYZ
KTLA
Los Angeles
Television Productions
Channel 4
Channel 5
1942
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W6XDL
None
San Francisco, CA
Don Lee Broadcasting
Channel 1
None
1941
Off-Air
525
30
Mechanical Television
None
W8XCT
WLWT-TV
Cincinnati, OH
Crosley Broadcasting
Channel 1
Channel 5
1939
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W9XV/W9XZV
Became KS2XBS
Chicago, IL
Zenith
Channel 1, then CH 2
None
1939–1941, 1951-1953 as KS2XBS
Off-Air
441, later 525
30
Electronic television
None
W9XBK
WBBM-TV
Chicago, IL
Balaban and Katz
Channel 2
Channel 2
1940
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical Television
ATSC
W9XMJ
Milwaukee, WI
The Journal Co.
Channel 3
1940
525
30
WMJT
Milwaukee, WI
The Journal Co.
Channel 3
1941
CP returned in 1946
525
30
Television stations, from Jan. 3, 1945 to 1955
Television stations, from Jan. 3, 1945 to 1955
United States
Televisioncall-sign (original)
Televisioncall-sign (current)
City or location
Owner
Television frequency
Television channel (current)
On air
Off air
Disk holes or lines
frame rate (frame/s)
Original broadcast system
Current broadcast system
W6XAO
KTSL (Now KCBS-TV )
Hollywood, California /Los Angeles, California
Don Lee Broadcasting
Channel 1
2.1 (UHF 43)
1931
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical television
Now ATSC
W6XHH
None
Los Angeles
Hughes Tool Company
2
None
None
None
525
30
Mechanical television
None
W6XZY
KTLA-TV
Los Angeles
Television Productions, Inc.
4
5.1 (UHF 31)
1942
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical television
Now ATSC
KSEE
None
Los Angeles
Earl Anthony, Inc.
6
None
Unknown
off-air
525
30
Mechanical television
None
W6XHT
None
San Francisco, CA
Hughes Tool Company
2
None
Unknown
off-air
525
30
Mechanical television
None
W3XWT
WTTG
Washington, D.C.
DuMont Labs, Inc.
Channel 1
5.1 (UHF 36)
1941
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical television
Now ATSC
WNBW
WRC-TV
Washington, D.C.
NBC
2
4.1 (UHF 48)
1941
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical television
Now ATSC
W9ZV/W9XZV
None
Chicago, IL
Zenith Radio Corp.
Channel 1, then Channel 2
None
1939–1941, 1951-1953 as KS2XBS
Off-Air
525
30
Mechanical Television
None
W9XAP
WNBQ-TV 1948-1964[10]
WMAQ-TV 1964-[3]
Chicago, IL
National Broadcasting Company [7]
Channel 5
5.1 (UHF 29)
August 27, 1930[3]
On-Air
525
30
Mechanical Television
Now ATSC
W9XBK
Became W9XCB, then WBKB, now WBBM-TV
Chicago, IL
Balaban and Katz Corp.
Channel 2
2.1 (VHF 12)
1940
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical television
Now ATSC
W9XCB
WBBM-TV
Chicago, IL
CBS
Channel 4
2.1 (VHF 12)
1940
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical television
Now ATSC
W9XG
West Lafayette, IN
Purdue University
3
None
1930
1946?
525
30
Mechanical television
None
W9SUI
Iowa City, IA
University of Iowa
Channel 1, later Channel 12[11]
None
1931
1941?
525
30
Mechanical television
None
W1XG
Boston
General Television Corp.
Channel 1
None
1931
1941?
525
30
Mechanical television
None
W3XEP
None
Camden, New Jersey
RCA
5, 10, 12
None
July, 1931 (as portable W3XAD)
1941?
525
30
Mechanical television
None
W2XVT
WNYW
Passaic, New Jersey
DuMont Laboratories
Channel 4
5.1 (UHF 44)
1938
Became W2XWV in 1944
525
30
Mechanical television
Now ATSC
W2XWV
WNYW
Passaic, New Jersey
DuMont Laboratories
Channel 4
5.1 (UHF 44)
1944
Became WABD-TV in 1944
525
30
Mechanical television
Now ATSC
W2XJT
None
Jamaica, New York
Jamaica Radio & TV Corp.
Channel 3, then Channel 13
None
1940, moved to Ch. 13 in 1945
1947?
Unknown
Unknown
Mechanical television
None
WNBT
WNBC-TV
New York City
NBC
Channel 1
4.1 (UHF 28)
1928 (as W2XBS)
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical television
Now ATSC
WCBW
WCBS
New York City
CBS
Channel 2
2.1 (UHF 33)
1938 (as W2XAB)
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical television
Now ATSC
WABD
WNYW-TV
New York City
DuMont Labs, Inc.
Channel 4
5.1 (UHF 44)
1938 (as W2XVT, then W2XWV)
Still on air
525
30
Mechanical television
Now ATSC
W2XXB
New York City
Bamberger Broadcasting Svc.
6
Experimental
W2XMT
New York City
Metropolitan Television Inc.
8
Experimental
WRGB
WRGB-TV
Schenectady, NY
General Electric
3
6.1 (VHF 6)
Still on-air
525
30
Mechanical television
Now ATSC
W8XCT
Cincinnati, OH
Crosley Corporation
1
Experimental
W3XE (later WPTZ)
KYW-TV
Philadelphia
Philco Radio & TV
3
3.1 (UHF 26)
Sept 1, 1941
On-air
525
30
Mechanical television
Now ATSC , Westinghouse CBS O&O
W3XAU
Philadelphia
WCAU Broadcasting Co.
5
Experimental
WCAU now operates an ATSC commercial station
W8XGZ
Charleston, WV
Gus Zaharis
1
Experimental
KS2XBS (First pay-TV service, "PhoneVision")
None
Chicago, IL
Zenith
2.1-2.2 MHz, later Channel 2
None
1951
1953?
525
30
Electronic television
None
KC2XAK
None, now part of WNBC-TV
Bridgeport, Connecticut
RCA /NBC
UHF 24
None
December 29, 1949
August 23, 1952
525
30
NTSC-M
None. Parent station is now ATSC
KPTV
KPTV
Portland, Oregon
Empire Coil Company
Channel 27
12.1 (VHF 12)
September 20, 1952
Still on air
525
30
Used KC2XAK 's NTSC-M UHF transmitter, otherwise not experimental.
Now ATSC VHF
KE2XDR
New York City
DuMont Labs
1950
1951
Mechanical television
None
KPHO
KPHO
Phoenix, Arizona
Gray Television
5
5
1949
525
30
See also
References
^ a b c d e f g h "WCFL Radio Magazine-Fall, 1928-WCFL Is on the air with Television Programs" . WCFL/Chicago Fededration of Labor. Retrieved 28 April 2010 .
^ a b c Godfried, Nathan, ed. (1997), WCFL, Chicago's Voice of Labor, 1926-78 , University of Illinois Press, pp. 281–290, ISBN 0-252-06592-1 , retrieved 2010-04-06
^ a b c d e f g h i j k Samuels. "W9XAP-WMAQ'S Experimental Television Station" . Samuels. Retrieved 22 May 2010 .
^ a b c d e f g h i "U. A. Sanabria/transcript of letter from Bill Parker, who was assigned the construction of the television studio at the Daily News building in 1929" . Television Experimenters. 28 October 1984. Retrieved 11 May 2010 .
^ a b c d e f g h i "Early Mechanical Television Stations" . Early Television Museum. Retrieved 23 January 2011 .
^ a b c "Early Chicago Television-Mechanical TV" . Hawes TV. Retrieved 23 January 2011 .
^ a b "Early WMAQ-transcript of article in September 1931 "RCA News" " . Radio Corporation of America. Retrieved April 25, 2010 .
^ "Peck Mechanical Sets" .
^ "Radio Station Histories - Canadian Communications Foundation | Fondation des Communications Canadiennes" . Archived from the original on 2012-05-10. Retrieved 2013-05-11 .
^ Samuels. "Roll Opening Credits" . Samuels. Retrieved 22 May 2010 .
^ "Television stations authorized by the FCC, January 1, 1941" . RCA Radio Travel-Log. 1941. Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012 .
External links