ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

Broadcasting the 1948 Olympic Games

How the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ covered the 1948 London Games on television, film, radio and in print.

Olympic slideshow - images from the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's picture library. Audio introduced by: Lord Burghley. Official opening: His Majesty King George VI. General Commentator: Rex Alston. Sports Commentators: Stewart MacPherson, John Snagge, Fritz Opper. Newsreel Narrator: Philip Dorte. Head of Television Outside Broadcasts: Ian Orr-Ewing. Music: The Olympic Hymn, 1948, Non Nobis Domine, composer: Roger Quilter, conductor: Sir Malcolm Sargeant.

Televising the London 1948 Olympic Games

This video shows how the London 1948 Olympic Games looked to viewers at the time - take a tour of the Palace of Arts at Wembley where the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ set up its international broadcast centre, and see how the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ exploited the latest television equipment to the full to make this the first truly televisual Olympic Games. 

Recording ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Television Service programmes on tape was not possible before 1956. Prior to this, the only way of making a permanent record of a live television programme was by making a β€˜tele-recording’ of it. This involved placing a film camera in front of a flat TV screen and making a film of the transmission.

For many, the results are unsatisfactory, leaving the viewer with the impression of looking at the programme through a pane of glass. Many early programmes have been preserved in this way, so at least we do have a record of how television actually looked in its earliest years.

When the London 1948 Olympic Games were televised, even tele-recording was in its infancy. Only a few minutes of actual transmission as viewers saw it in 1948 exist at ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Archives, and have only been seen once on television since 1948. The footage is taken from a 1982 ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ documentary. With thanks to John Craven.

How the London 1948 Olympic Games coverage looked: footage is taken from a 1982 ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ documentary.

The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Olympic Newsreels

Throughout the London 1948 Olympic Games, news of the day's events were summarised in specially prepared Olympic Newsreels. Two of these explore how the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ bought new equipment for the coverage, and the Corporation's radio and TV operation at Wembley Stadium.

New equipment for the coverage of the 1948 London Olympics.
The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ at the Palace of Arts (the Olympic Broadcasting Centre).

On the radio

A bright sunny day on 29 July was the setting for the opening ceremony and athletes' parade at the London 1948 Olympic Games.

Lord Burghley, an athletics gold medal winner at the London 1928 Olympic Games, had the honour of commencing proceedings, followed by the official opening by His Majesty King George VI. The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's Rex Alston provided the linking commentary for ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio.

Opening ceremony at the London 1948 Olympic Games, with commentary by Rex Alston.
Commentary on the opening parade was given by Wynford Vaughan Thomas.

In print

From a special on sports commentators, to a guide to the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ’s new techniques for televising the London 1948 Olympic Games, the Radio Times of 25 - 31 July 1948, was something of a celebration. 

We also have a downloadable copy of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's official handbook for the 1948 Games. 

The front cover of the Radio Times. Above XIV Olympiad London 1948 there is a graphic of the torch, the five ring logo and various sports depicted.
Radio Times 1948 Olympics cover

The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ and the 1948 Olympic Games

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