U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for May 12

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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THURSDAY, MAY 12: FIRST SCHEDULED TV BROADCAST

Profile America -- Thursday, May 12th.  This week marks the anniversary of the first regularly scheduled television broadcasts -- and the date may surprise you.  They were made in 1928  and originated from radio station WGY in Schenectady, New York.  The broadcasts only lasted a half hour three afternoons a week.  The viewers were mostly the technical staff at nearby General Electric, which had designed the system and used the broadcasts to refine their equipment.  A handful of hobbyists who had built their own sets also watched the programs on three-inch screens.  Now Americans watch an average of almost five hours each day.  To reach their huge audience, advertisers spend more than $50.5 billion on television advertising annually.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources: Today in Science History

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2011, t. 1130, 1278

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau