| 1979 |
 Chronomedia index
Numbers after entries link to the list of references. |
links and notes |
| |
 |
|
| February |
Plan for an Electronic Directory service to be delivered
over the telephone network to low-cost terminals is announced by the French Director General
for Telecommunications. This becomes known as Minitel. |
|
| April 4 |
Independent Broadcasting Authority Act receives Royal Assent, allowing the Independent
Broadcasting Authority (IBA) to set up a fourth UK television transmitter
network. |
|
| April |
Sony announces a small-format optical digital audio disc. |
|
| July 1 |
 Sony launches the model TPS-L2
pocket-sized audio cassette player with earphones in Japan. It is called the Walkman. |
â November |
| September |
Electrostatic digital audio disc developed in Japan by JVC is adopted by 29 manufacturers. |
|
| November 11 |
Episode of BBC comedy series To the Manor Born achieves the highest ever
UK television audience of 23.95m. |
|
| November 24 |
UK television licence fee is increased from £10 to
£12 for monochrome, £25 to £34 for colour. In 33 years the black and white fee has now risen by £10,
the colour fee by £24 in 11 years (£16 in two years). |
|
| November |
Sony's pocket-sized audio cassette player is launched in the US with the brand name
Soundabout. |
á July 1
à 1980 June |
| December |
RCA's Satcom III satellite, intended for television programme relays, is lost soon after launch. |
à 1981 |
| l |
First (and so far only) feature film made in Honduras: El Reyecito o el Mero
Mero, directed by Fosi Bendeck. |
|
| l |
EMI amalgamates with British electrical giant Thorn to become Thorn EMI. |
|
| l |
Television services start in Somalia and Sri Lanka. The latter is an overseas aid
investment by Japan. |
Television service starts |
| l |
More channels start on US cable television: ESPN (sports),
Nickelodeon (children's), C-Span (coverage of Congress). |
|
| l |
Holography museums open in Germany and Paris: Museum für Holographie und Neue Visuelle
Medien in Pulheim, Cologne, and Le Musée Français de l’Holographie in Paris. |
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