List of experimental television stations

This page is a list of the experimental television stations before 1946. After 1945 (in the United States) the television frequencies were opened up to commercialization and regular broadcasts began. Regular broadcast television start dates vary widely by country; in many regions, initial broadcast video deployment was delayed due to mobilisation for World War II.

(Note: The listing of current broadcast channels for these stations is not up-to-date as many low-VHF stations have moved to UHF frequencies as a result of digital television transition. This is less of an issue in the United Kingdom because of its all-UHF system, but most early US broadcasters were on affected channels before analogue shutdown. Very few full-service North American broadcasters remain on physical channels VHF 2-6 digitally due to impulse noise problems and strict limits on maximum transmitted power at these frequencies.)

Television stations, as of 1928

United States Televisioncall-sign(original) Televisioncall-sign(current) City or location Owner Transmitter antenna height Television frequency Television channel (current) On air Off air Disk holes or lines Frame rate (frame/s) Original broadcast system Current broadcast system WGY WRGB-TV Schenectady, New York General Electric 380 m 790 kHz Channel 6 (VHF) May 10, 1928 Present 48 Unknown Mechanical television ATSC WRNY None New York City Experimenter Publishing 326 m 920 kHz None August 13, 1928 1929 48 7.5 Mechanical television None 2XAL None New York City Experimenter Publishing (with WRNY), 30.91 9.7 MHz None August 13, 1928 1929 48 7.5 Mechanical television None 3XK None Washington, D.C. Charles Jenkins Laboratories 46.7 m 1.605 MHz None July 2, 1928 1932 (1934?) 48 Unknown Mechanical television None WOR WWOR-TV Secaucus, New Jersey formerly New York City Bamberger Broadcasting (from WOR) 405 m 740 kHz Channel 9 (VHF) Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Mechanical television ATSC KDKA KDKA-TV Pittsburgh Westinghouse Electric Company 62.5 m 4.798 MHz Channel 2 VHF Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Mechanical television ATSC 1XAY None Lexington, Massachusetts WLEX 51–62 m 1.9 to 4.7 MHz Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Mechanical television None 4XA None Memphis, Tennessee WSM 120–125 m 2.1–2.5 MHz Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Mechanical television None 9XAA(short-wave station ofWCFL, officially W9XAA) None Chicago WCFL/Chicago Federation of Labor 61.25 m 4.8 MHz Unknown June 19, 1928 1937 48 15 Mechanical television NoneTelevision stations, as of December 1928

United States Televisioncall-sign(original) Televisioncall-sign(current) City or location Owner Transmitter antenna height (m) Television frequency Television channel (current) On air Off air Disk holes or lines frame rate (frame/s) Original broadcast system Current broadcast system WGY WRGB-TV Schenectady, New York General Electric 380 m 379.5 MHz Channel 6 (VHF) 1928 Still on air 24 21 Mechanical Television ATSC 2XAF (Upgrade of WGY) WRGB-TV Schenectady, New York General Electric 380 m 31.4 MHz Channel 6 (VHF) 1928 Still on air 24 21 Mechanical Television ATSC 2XAD (upgrade of W2XAF above) WRGB-TV Schenectady, New York General Electric Channel 6 (VHF) 21.96 MHz Channel 6 (VHF) 1928 Still on air 24 21 Mechanical Television ATSC WRNY None New York City Experimenter Publishing 326 m 920 kHz None August 13, 1928 1929 48 7.5 Mechanical television None 2XAL None New York City Experimenter Publishing (with WRNY), 30.91 9.7 MHz None August 13, 1928 1929 48 7.5 Mechanical television None 3XK None Washington, D.C. Charles Jenkins Laboratories Unknown 46.72 MHz None July 2, 1928 1932 (1934?) 48 15 Mechanical television None W9XAA WCFL None Chicago Chicago Federation of Labor 61.25 m 61.5 MHz Unknown June 19, 1928 1937 45 15 Mechanical television None WKBI-TV None Chicago Unknown ? 215.7 MHz ? ? ? 48 15 Mechanical television None WIBO-lost licenseMay 15, 1933AKA W9XAO None Chicago Western Television (Sanabria) ? 305.9 MHz ? Summer 1929 1933 45 15 Mechanical television None KGFJ None Los Angeles ? ? 212.6 MHz ? ? ? 48 -- Mechanical television None WLBX None Lexington, Massachusetts ? ? 62.5 MHz ? ? ? 48 -- Mechanical television None

Television stations, from 1928 to 1939

United States Televisioncall-sign(original) Televisioncall-sign(current) City or location Owner Television frequency Television channel (current) On air Off air Disk holes or lines frame rate (frame/s) Original broadcast system Current broadcast system W9XZV None Chicago, IL Zenith 2.1-2.2 MHz, later Channel 2 None 1939, with a later Zenith experimental station in 1951 1953? ? ? Electronic television None W1WX (later became W1XAV) None Boston SW and Television (Hollis Baird) 2120 kHz None April 1929 (became W1XAV in December 1929) 1931 48 (and later, 60 lines) 15 Mechanical Television None W1XAV None Boston SW and Television (Hollis Baird) 2.1-2.2 MHz None 1930 1931 48 15 Mechanical television None W1XAV None Boston Unknown 2.1-2.2 MHz SW and Television (Hollis Baird) 1931 1934 60 20 Mechanical television None W1XAY None Lexington, Massachusetts Boston Post, WLEX 2.0-2.1 MHz None 1928 1930 48 18 Mechanical Television None W2XB/WGY/W2XAF/W2XAD WRGB Schenectady, NY General Electric 2.1-2.2 MHz VHF 6 1928 ? 48 20 Mechanical television ATSC W2XCR None New York City Charles Jenkins Laboratories 2.75-2.85 MHz None 1929 1931 48 15 Mechanical Television None W2XCR None New York City Charles Jenkins Laboratories 2.75-2.85 MHz None 1931 1933 60 20 Mechanical Television None W2XBS WNBC-TV New York City RCA 2.0-2.1 MHz Channel 4 (VHF) 1928 1929 60? 20? Mechanical television ATSC W2XBS WNBC-TV New York City RCA 2.75-2.85 MHz Channel 4 (VHF) 1928 1929 60 20 Mechanical television ATSC W2XAB WCBS-TV New York City CBS 2.1-2.2 MHz Channel 2 1931 1933 60 20 Mechanical television ATSC WRNY None New York City Unknown 1010 kHz None 1928 1929 36 ? Mechanical Television None WRNY None New York City Unknown 1010 kHz None 1928 ? 48 10 Mechanical television None W2XR None Long Island City, New York Hogan's Radio Pictures 2.85-2.95 MHz None March 26, 1929 1934 60 20 Mechanical television None W3XK None Wheaton, Maryland (later moved to Silver Spring, Maryland) Charles Jenkins Laboratories 6420 kHz (6.42 MHz) None 1928 1931 48 15 Mechanical television None W3XK None Washington, D.C. Charles Jenkins Laboratories 2.0-2.1 MHz None 1931 1934 60 20 Mechanical Television None W9XX, later became W5XA None Shreveport, Louisiana Rev. Lannie W. Stewart 1604 kHz None 1929 1934 45 15 Mechanical Television None W5XA None Shreveport, Louisiana Paul L. Carriger 1594 kHz (video on the 160-meter amateur band) None 1932 1934 45 15 Mechanical television None W6XAH None Bakersfield, California Pioneer Mercantile Company 2000–2100 kHz, also simulcast on 1550 kHz in 1932 None January 6, 1932 1935 96 20 Mechanical television None W9XR NoneDowners Grove, Illinois (Chicago) Great Lakes Broadcasting/ National Broadcasting Company after 1931.2.85-2.95 mHzNone192919332415Mechanical televisionNoneTelevision stations, from 1928 to 1939

United States and Canada Televisioncall-sign(original) Televisioncall-sign(current) City or location Owner Television frequency Television channel (current) On air Off air Disk holes or lines frame rate (frame/s) Original broadcast system Current broadcast system KGFJ None Los Angeles Unknown ? ? 1928 ? 48 ? Mechanical television None W3XAD None Camden, New Jersey RCA 124 MHz to 130 MHz Channel 5 July 1930 Became W3XEP 525 30 Unknown None W6XS None Los Angeles Don Lee Broadcasting 2.1-2.2 MHz ? 1931 1935 80 20 Mechanical Television None W6XAO KCBS-TV Los Angeles Don Lee Broadcasting 44.5 MHz (44-50 MHz, Channel 1) Channel 2 December 23, 1931 1936 80 20 Mechanical Television ATSC W7XAO None Portland, Oregon Wilbur Jerman 2.75-2.85 MHz ? 1929 ? Unknown Unknown Mechanical Television None W9XAA, WCFL None Chicago Chicago Federation of Labor 2.0-2.1 MHz None June 19, 1928 1937 45 15 Mechanical Television None WIBO-lost licenseMay 15, 1933AKA W9XAO None Chicago, IL Western Television (Sanabria) ? ? Summer 1929 1933 45 15 Mechanical Television None W9XAK ? Manhattan, Kansas Kansas State College 2.1-2.2 MHz ? 1932 1939 60 20 Mechanical Television None? W9XAL Unknown Kansas City, Missouri First National Television 2.1-2.2 MHz ? 1933 1935 45 15 Mechanical Television None? W9XAO None Chicago, IL Western Television (Sanabria) 2.0-2.1 MHz ? Summer 1929 1933 45 15 Mechanical Television None? W9XAP WMAQ-TV Chicago, IL Chicago Daily News/National Broadcasting Company(after 1 November 1931) 2.1-2.2 MHz Channel 5August 27, 1930 August 1933 45 15 Mechanical Television ATSC W9XAT Unknown Minneapolis, MN George Young, radio station WDGY 42-50 MHz, 60-86 MHz (Channel 1) ? 1933 1938 125 ? Mechanical Television None? W9XD WTMJ-TV Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Journal ? ? 1931 (transmitter used for Apex radio station W9XAZ in 1934) Experiments ended 1933; License deleted in 1938 45 15 Mechanical Television- Western W9XG ? Lafayette, IN Purdue University 2.75-2.85 MHz ? 1931 1939 60 24 Mechanical Television ? W9XK/W9SUI "WSUI", W9XAZ ? Iowa City, IA State University of Iowa 2.0-2.1 MHz ? 1933 1939 45 15 Mechanical Television ? W9XUI ? Iowa City, IA State University of Iowa 2.0-2.1 MHz, later Channel 1, then Channel 2 ? 1933 1941 441 30 Mechanical Television ? W2XJT None Jamaica, New York Jamaica Radio Television Company Channel 3, then Channel 13 None 1940, moved to Ch. 13 in 1945 Unknown ? ? Mechanical Television None VE9EC (also given as VE9AK) None; TV returned in 1952 with CBFT Montreal, Quebec Peck Television Corp.(Canadian Television Ltd.) 41 MHz None 1931 1935 60–150 Unknown Mechanical television VE9AK's calls were reassigned to CFRB-FM in 1938Television stations, from 1928 to 1939

Europe Televisioncall-sign(original) Televisioncall-sign(current) City or location Owner Television frequency Television channel (current) On air Off air Disk holes or lines frame rate (frame/s) Original broadcast system Current broadcast system Baird Television Ltd. via BBC transmitter 2LO Unknown London, England Baird Television Ltd. Unknown ? September 30, 1929 June 1932 30 25 Mechanical television PAL/DVB-T? Unknown (Possibly 2LO, as above?) BBC One London, England Baird Television Ltd. ? ? August 22, 1932 September 11, 1935 30 25 Mechanical television PAL Fernsehsender Paul Nipkow Unknown Berlin, Germany Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft ? ? 1935 (tests started in 1929) 1944 180/441 beginning in 1937 25 Electronic television PAL? Doświadczalna Stacja Telewizyjna TVP 1 Warsaw, Poland Polskie Radio Sp. Akc. ? September 1937 (according to other sources regular broadcasts started in 1938) last week of August 1939 120 25 Mechanical television

Television stations, as of 1941

List of experimental television stations

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