Lintas: TV Talk

1 Jan 1954
Sound
20m

What on earth is this commercial TV business? An advertising agency takes stock

Churchill branded it a "tuppenny Punch and Judy show", but the arrival of commercial television in Britain in 1955 was big business to advertising agencies. It was also, at first, a bit of a head-scratcher - how would British audiences react to the salesman's intrusion into the living room? What lessons could be learnt from American television, or British radio and cinema ads? In this film, made a year before the launch of ITV, the Lintas agency set out their approach to the problem, offering a fascinating glimpse of 'mad men' on an uncertain footing.

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From the collection

Commercial Television

The launch of ITV on 22 September 1955 brought advertising to the small screen. Commercial television spread rapidly across the country, inviting the salesperson into every living room.

This collection shows how some advertisers struggled to find the right voice and formats for the new medium, while others hit the ground running. Look out for rare examples of the shortlived 'admags' - banned in 1962 for blurring the distinction between programmes and adverts.