50 YEARS OF HUNGARIAN TELEVISION BROADCASTING

9 May 2007

Although the institution began operating several years beforehand, 1 May 1957 is regarded as its birthday as it was then that regular broadcasting for several hours a day began. Magyar Posta fondly commemorates the anniversary as its former employees contributed greatly to the start of regular broadcasting fifty years ago: the television technology was jointly developed by staff at Magyar Posta’s Experimental Institute – Dr Endre Magyari, Tihamér Nemes and their colleagues – and employees of the Hungarian Television Company.
“On 23 February 1957 the 1 kW transmitter on Szabadság Hill began test broadcasts in a 50–90 km reception area airing programmes on music and literature two days a week. Soon the first outside broadcast unit which was suitable for relaying events at a distance of 20-30 km using its microwave transmitter began operation. In April György Szepesi broadcast the Easter football tournament from the National Stadium. The May Day event in Budapest’s Heroes’ Square was broadcast so it could be seen by a wider audience. On 9 May the first broadcast from a non-studio indoor location, the Paris Revue on Ice from the Budapest Grand Circus, was shown. The 94 m, 11 storey high television station on Szabadság Hill came into operation and broadcasting three days a week began. Besides films, there were broadcasts of sporting events and theatre performances.” Source: http://mek.oszk.hu

mtv2

The stamp shows a part of the familiar test pattern, symbolising television. The first day cover features the headquarters of Hungarian Television, as well as the well-known motif from folk art closely associated with the channel, the figure of a hussar on horseback. The composition is completed by Hungarian Television’s logo. The design of the commemorative postmark uses the logo for the 50th anniversary.

Order code:
2007080010011/stamp
2007080060012/FDC

Date of issue: 9 May 2007
Perforated size: 40 x 30 mm
Number of copies: 400,000 (50 stamps/sheet)
Printed by Állami Nyomda Nyrt.
Face value: HUF 160
Designed by Eszter Domé (stamp)
Printing method: Offset printing

Zoltán Piros (cover, postmark)