The Television Transmission Division of Pye

The Television Transmission Division of Pye played a major pioneering role in developing and manufacturing equipment for broadcasters both in the UK and abroad. The history of the operation is inevitably linked to the strategy and fortunes of the Pye company itself which was established by C. O. Stanley before the Second World War. With the knowledge and expertise gained from wartime developments the Television Transmission Division was formed and began working on cameras and ancillary equipment. As the business grew transmitters were developed and demonstrations of television, together with the Pye receiver activity, were made around the world. With the coming of ITV the company became a major supplier and in the UK projects were carried out for both the BBC, the ITA, and IBA. As the UK market became more mature after the introduction of colour the company, now called Pye TVT, moved towards an export led business. A troubled parent company was rescued by the Dutch giant Philips who proceeded to integrate its activities with those of Pye. In the 1970s Pye TVT became known as the Broadcast Company of Philips and the studio business was linked to the Philips' activities in Holland and the USA. By the middle of the 1980s Philips decided to concentrate its broadcast activities on the continent and the studio activity was closed, shortly after which Philips sold the transmitter activity. This paper tells the story of the company from its early tentative days to it becoming one of the world's major suppliers. (17 pages)