Royal Television Society
Encyclopedia
The Royal Television Society (commonly known in the television industry as the RTS) is a British
-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television
in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world. It currently has fourteen regional and national centres in the UK, as well as branches in the Republic of Ireland
, Canada
and the United States
.
began its transmissions from Alexandra Palace
in 1936.
In addition to serving as a forum for scientists and engineers, the society published regular newsletters charting the development of the new medium. These documents now form important historical records of the early history of television broadcasting.
The society was granted its Royal title in 1966, and the current patron is HRH The Prince of Wales
.
The society's highest profile event is the biennial Cambridge
Convention. Other prominent events include the annual Fleming, Shoenberg and Huw Wheldon Memorial Lectures, which are delivered by high-profile television figures.
The society also holds a substantial archive of printed, photographic and audio-visual material of value to television historians and scholars.
Each group of Awards is presented at its own individual ceremony, usually in the first few months of the year.
Regional centres also hold their own award ceremonies.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world. It currently has fourteen regional and national centres in the UK, as well as branches in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
The group was formed as The Television Society on 7 September 1927, a time when television was still very much in its experimental stage. Regular high-definition broadcasts did not even begin for another nine years until the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
began its transmissions from Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is a building in North London, England. It stands in Alexandra Park, in an area between Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green...
in 1936.
In addition to serving as a forum for scientists and engineers, the society published regular newsletters charting the development of the new medium. These documents now form important historical records of the early history of television broadcasting.
The society was granted its Royal title in 1966, and the current patron is HRH The Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
.
Activities
The society regularly holds meetings and seminars, attended by members of the public and professionals from various areas of the television industry, and it also publishes the monthly magazine Television, covering a broad range of television topics.The society's highest profile event is the biennial Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
Convention. Other prominent events include the annual Fleming, Shoenberg and Huw Wheldon Memorial Lectures, which are delivered by high-profile television figures.
The society also holds a substantial archive of printed, photographic and audio-visual material of value to television historians and scholars.
Awards
The Royal Television Society's annual awards are decided by balanced juries of media professionals, with separate juries for individual categories within each of the six groups of Awards:- Programme Awards
- Television Journalism Awards
- Craft & Design Awards
- Innovation Awards
- Educational Television Awards
- Student Television Awards
Each group of Awards is presented at its own individual ceremony, usually in the first few months of the year.
Regional centres also hold their own award ceremonies.