What Was on Paris Television Just Before the War ?

The outbreak of World War II in September 1939 brought the development of television in Europe to a halt, which was unfortunate, as things had started promisingly. The first trials of French public television date back to April 1935, with initial broadcasts beginning that December. Occasional transmissions by Radiovision-PTT followed, becoming regular in March 1938. These broadcasts reached only very small audiences and were largely experimental.

A Powerful Transmitter, A Sharp Image

Early 1939 marked a turning point. Technology improved significantly, both in transmission and reception. France still had very few viewers compared to the roughly 20,000 people in Britain who could watch BBC television. However, since January 1939, the Eiffel Tower had housed a 45 kW transmitter, described by the Minister of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones as the most powerful in the world. “The most powerful transmitter, the sharpest image,” proclaimed the newspaper L’Excelsior, referring to its 455-line broadcasts. It was time to accelerate the development of television.

A Major Demonstration Evening

A major event was held on March 31 at 5:30 p.m. at the Théâtre Marigny in Paris. A large screen measuring 2 meters by 1.5 meters was installed, along with consumer television sets in the entrance corridors.

“Spectators will see Louis Jouvet in the consultation scene from Knock, Line Viala, a comic singer, and Suzanne Lorcia from the Opera,” reported Le Journal. “Mr. Jules-Julien, Minister of PTT, will preside over this session, which will mark a milestone in television history. Mr. Jean Perrin of the Academy of Sciences and Marcel Prévost of the Académie française will discuss the technical and intellectual aspects of this remarkable peaceful achievement.”
The demonstration showed the public that the technology was now ready, but what about programming?

Television Every Day

The Minister, Alfred Jules-Julien, announced that from Sunday, April 16 onward, television would broadcast daily under the name Paris Télévision, as it only covered the capital (a second transmitter was planned for Lille in 1940, with a trial broadcast in mid-July 1939 during the Social Progress Exhibition).

Programs, including films and live broadcasts, were shown every day from 9:00 to 10:30 p.m., with an additional Sunday slot from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. In addition, test images and still pictures were broadcast daily from 2:45 to 4:00 p.m. and from 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. for manufacturers. By then, manufacturers had already put fully developed sets on the market, capable of receiving these broadcasts under optimal conditions. Live programs were produced with a single camera, as the studio on Rue de Grenelle was too small.

Telecine and Live Shows

A few weeks later, scheduling adjustments were introduced. From June 19 :

• Daily except Sunday: test pattern from 4:30 to 5:00 p.m., followed by telecine from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
• Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays: newsreels from 8:30 to 8:45 p.m. (not a television news bulletin, but filmed news reports)
• 8:45 to 9:45 p.m.: live broadcasts (theatre, music hall, variety shows)
• Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays: telecine from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.

In August, broadcasts were suspended without explanation and never resumed. On September 1, 1939, war was declared. In September 1943, the Germans would establish a new station: Télévision Paris / Fernsehsender Paris.