15 September 2005
Until 1955 television services in the United Kingdom were provided only by the state-owned British Broadcasting Corporation, but that year saw the launch of the first services provided by privately owned companies with services funded by advertising or 'commercials' - and hence 'commercial television'.
Royal Mail celebrates the 50th anniversary of Independent Television with a set of 6 stamps and a Smilers Sheet. The stamps feature six TV genres where ITV has made an impact:
Drama - Inspector Morse Soaps - Emmerdale Comedy - Rising Damp Cult TV - The Avengers Factual - The South Bank Show Games show - Who wants to be a millionaire?
The Norvic limited edition cover shows a television from the 50s, with a caption partly in current and partly in earlier style. The Birmingham postmark shows an early television with set-top antenna.
Also available: covers with a single Smilers stamp, and sets of 4 for the whole sheet, the mint Smilers Sheet, and the set of stamps on FDC or mint. Click here to see the full range.
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