The Top 10 Most Iconic TV Moments
Television still has that rare ability to draw together huge audiences, providing a sense of community for national and international events. This is still the case in an era of digital channels and Internet streaming, with TV Packages retaining access to large national networks and opportunities to participate in feedback and discussion of key shows. Digital access and sharing across social networks has also helped to further the immediacy of television content distribution, with recent events like the Arab Spring demonstrating the power of individual content to shaping television channels. Television has carried this strength throughout its history, with some of the most iconic moments in the medium having been collated by a recent poll. They include:
1 - 9/11 - 2001
One of the most tragic events to unfold in real time around the world, the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre brought television audiences to a standstill as they watched the second plane crash into the towers. In a period where getting the news through the Internet was still in its infancy, 9/11, with its live images and worldwide distribution, signalled the start of the 21st century.
2 - Man on the Moon, 1969
Another iconic moment that helped define the 1960s as an era where the worldwide spread of television helped unite international audiences in new ways, the Moon Landing’s grainy images and audio, watched by millions in black and white and colour reporting, is still one of the 20th century’s defining few minutes.
3 - Funeral of Princess Diana, 1997
A national tragedy that brought Britain to a standstill in the late August of 1997, Princess Diana’s funeral included wall to wall coverage from the major UK networks and satellite channels, culminating in the funeral itself.
4 - Fall of the Berlin Wall, 1989
Televised around the world, the fall of the Berlin Wall was a significant moment for international politics, but also for global communications. Video cameras and live feeds to international cable channels and broadcasters helped to demonstrate the event as one of the major examples of a growing use of citizen journalism.
5 - Obama Election and Inauguration - 2008 and 2009
The coverage of Obama’s election race and the inauguration was notable both for its historic importance, but also for its convergence of online viewing, social networks and huge television audiences on US networks, cable channels and streaming services.
6 - JFK Assassination, 1963
A landmark in American history, the JFK assassination of 1963 also marked the maturation of US television from the postwar era, with coverage and feeds uniting a nation, and the world around the shooting.
7 - Nelson Mandela Leaves Prison, 1990
Like the fall of the Berlin Wall, Nelson Mandela’s walk from prison captivated the world as a media event that signalled the end of a regime.
8 - England Win the World Cup, 1966
Arguably the first World Cup to really capture the imagination, and the viewing figures, of UK audiences, the England hosted 1966 tournament captivated millions of audiences, culminating in record figures for the final against West Germany.
9 - Prince Charles and Lady Diana Wedding, 1981 Thirty years before the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer represented the most significant royal televised event since the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in the 1950s. 10 - Live Aid, 1985 Demonstrating the power of the live charity telethon for UK audiences, the Live Aid musical event drew massive audiences, and was repeated 20 years later.
Author Bio: Sebastian is television fanatic. He's currently working with http://www.cable.co.uk - a broadband and television comparison site in the UK.
1 - 9/11 - 2001
One of the most tragic events to unfold in real time around the world, the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre brought television audiences to a standstill as they watched the second plane crash into the towers. In a period where getting the news through the Internet was still in its infancy, 9/11, with its live images and worldwide distribution, signalled the start of the 21st century.
2 - Man on the Moon, 1969
Another iconic moment that helped define the 1960s as an era where the worldwide spread of television helped unite international audiences in new ways, the Moon Landing’s grainy images and audio, watched by millions in black and white and colour reporting, is still one of the 20th century’s defining few minutes.
3 - Funeral of Princess Diana, 1997
A national tragedy that brought Britain to a standstill in the late August of 1997, Princess Diana’s funeral included wall to wall coverage from the major UK networks and satellite channels, culminating in the funeral itself.
4 - Fall of the Berlin Wall, 1989
Televised around the world, the fall of the Berlin Wall was a significant moment for international politics, but also for global communications. Video cameras and live feeds to international cable channels and broadcasters helped to demonstrate the event as one of the major examples of a growing use of citizen journalism.
5 - Obama Election and Inauguration - 2008 and 2009
The coverage of Obama’s election race and the inauguration was notable both for its historic importance, but also for its convergence of online viewing, social networks and huge television audiences on US networks, cable channels and streaming services.
6 - JFK Assassination, 1963
A landmark in American history, the JFK assassination of 1963 also marked the maturation of US television from the postwar era, with coverage and feeds uniting a nation, and the world around the shooting.
7 - Nelson Mandela Leaves Prison, 1990
Like the fall of the Berlin Wall, Nelson Mandela’s walk from prison captivated the world as a media event that signalled the end of a regime.
8 - England Win the World Cup, 1966
Arguably the first World Cup to really capture the imagination, and the viewing figures, of UK audiences, the England hosted 1966 tournament captivated millions of audiences, culminating in record figures for the final against West Germany.
9 - Prince Charles and Lady Diana Wedding, 1981 Thirty years before the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer represented the most significant royal televised event since the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in the 1950s. 10 - Live Aid, 1985 Demonstrating the power of the live charity telethon for UK audiences, the Live Aid musical event drew massive audiences, and was repeated 20 years later.
