Was the development of television in the 1930s solely about creating a revolutionary new form of entertainment, or did it also have a more strategic purpose? This fascinating talk explores the long-standing debate surrounding the relationship between the birth of television, military technology and national defence, examining the connections between early broadcasting and the political landscape of the interwar years.

Drawing on decades of research, broadcasting professional Jeffrey Cohen explores the military links to early television development and considers the role Alexandra Palace may have played in the wider story of technological innovation before the Second World War.

Jeffrey Cohen has worked across radio, television and communications strategy since joining the BBC in 1969. As a producer, he worked on programmes including Timewatch, Horizon, Tomorrow’s World and a range of current affairs productions.

His long-standing interest in television history has included reconstructing Arthur Askey’s 1930 Baird television appearance, contributing to the BBC’s 50th anniversary of television in 1986, researching the life of John Logie Baird for BBC Scotland and publishing on the links between early television development, military objectives and broadcasting policy.