This book traces the evolution of colour television from 1928, when rudimentary colour television was demonstrated for the first time to c. 1966, when the NTSC system and its variants, the PAL and SECAM systems, became widely available for the entertainment, education and enlightenment of society.

Russell W. Burns BSc, MSc, PhD, physicist, electrical engineer and historian, has been researching and writing on the history of electrical engineering for more than 35 years and has produced books on British Television, Radar Development, World Television, John Logie Baird, A.D. Blumlein and Communications, and is currently writing on Cherwell, Churchill and Science at War. Professor Burns has received the Kraszna-Krausz Prize, a Special IEE Book Award, the IEE SET Divisional Board's Premium and the IEE Maxwell Premium (shared) for his writings. He served on numerous IEE committees and boards for more than 30 years.

• Chapter 1: A brief history of colour photography and colour cinematography


• Chapter 2: Low-definition colour television


• Chapter 3: RCA and pre-war colour television


• Chapter 4: EMI and high-definition television


• Chapter 5: J.L. Baird and colour television


• Chapter 6: CBS, RCA and colour television


• Chapter 7: The 1949-50 FCC colour television hearings


• Chapter 8: RCA's resolve


• Chapter 9: The work of the NTSC


• Chapter 10: Colour television broadcasting in the USA, 1953-1966


• Chapter 11: British developments, 1949-1962


• Chapter 12: Camera tubes for colour television to c. 1967


• Chapter 13: The development of display tubes to c. 1967


• Chapter 14: An attempt at unity


• Chapter 15: Epilogue