| 1940 7 January The Forces Programme begins
1944 27 February Forces Programme replaced by the General Forces Programme
1945 29 July BBC Light Programme succeeds the General Forces Programme; regional broadcasts resumed in the Home Service
1946 7 June BBC Television Service resumed 7 July First children's television programme - For the Children 29 September Launch of the Third Programme at 6.00pm 7 October Woman's Hour launched
1949 29 July First weather forecast on BBC Television 17 December BBC Television extended to the Midlands with the opening of the Sutton Coldfield transmitter, the first time it has been available outside London
 1950
15 March BBC radio frequencies reorganised April Aspect ratio of television broadcasts changed from 5:4 to 4:3 21 May The BBC's Lime Grove studios opened
1951 1 January First nationwide edition of The Archers on the Light Programme 12 October BBC Television extended to the North of England with the opening of the Holme Moss transmitter
1952 14 March BBC Television extended to Scotland 15 August BBC Television extended to Wales and the West, with the opening of the Wenvoe transmitter
1953 1 May BBC Television extended to Northern Ireland  2 June Televised coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation
September The BBC purchases the Shepherds Bush Empire and converts it into
the BBC Television Theatre 11 November First edition of Panorama 2 December BBC Television's 'bats wings' ident introduced
1954 11 January First in-vision weatherman 5 July First edition of BBC News and Newsreel 12 November BBC Television extended to the South of England (Rowridge). Other areas follow soon afterwards
1955 22 March Television broadcasting hours restricted to 50 hours a week for both BBC and forthcoming ITV 2 May First VHF radio transmissions from the Wrotham transmitter on 89.1 MHz (Light Programme), 91.3 MHz (Third Programme), 93.5 MHz (Home Service) 29 July First edition of This is Your Life 4 September Kenneth Kendall is the first in-vision newsreader on BBC Television 19 September BBC Television broadcasting hours increase from 36 to 49 hours a week - afternoon programmes run from 3-5pm, with childrens programmes from 4-5pm; evening programmes now start at 7.00pm 22 September Independent Television launched in London at 7.15pm from the Croydon transmitter. The providers are Associated-Rediffusion (weekday) and ATV (weekend) 10 October Experimental BBC colour television transmissions on 405 lines from Alexandra Palace
1956 17 February Independent Television extends to the Midlands - the providers are ATV (weekday) and ABC (weekend) 28 March First BBC television transmissions from the Crystal Palace transmitter 3 May Independent Television extends to the North West - the providers are Granada (weekday) and ABC (weekend) 24 May First Eurovision Song Contest 6 July First episode of Hancock's Half Hour on BBC Television 3 November Independent Television extends to the North of England from the Emley Moor transmitter - the providers are Granada and ABC as the North West
1957  BBC Wales and West began as a dual service in 1957; first edition of Points West
18 February Television broadcasts now permitted between 6.00 and 7.00pm. Tonight first shown on BBC1; early evening news bulletin moves from 7.00 to 7.15, extra bulletin
introduced at 6.00 24 April The Sky at Night first transmitted 13 May Schools television broadcasts begin on ITV, with one programme a day 31 August Independent Television extends to central Scotland - the provider is Scottish Television 24 September Schools television broadcasts begin on BBCtv 30 September Network Three begins on the Third Programme frequency in the afternoon and early evening with educational and some music programmes 28 October Today launched in the BBC Home Service November Experimental 625 line broadcasts by the BBC from Alexandra Palace
1958 14 January Independent Television extended to the West and South Wales - the provider is TWW 30 January Independent Television extended to the South - the provider is Southern Television 5 May Experimental 625 line transmissions from Crystal Palace 11 October First edition of Grandstand 16 October First edition of Blue Peter
1959 15 January Independent Television extended to the North East - the provider is Tyne Tees 27 October Independent Television extended to the East - the provider is Anglia 31 October Independent Television extended to Northern Ireland - the provider is Ulster Television | 
