From 1936, when BBC television first went on the air, up to 1955, British viewers could watch any station they wanted to. As long it was was the BBC. For the better part of two decades, BBC was the only channel on the air — and during WW II, the only channel was off the air. After the war, the British Parliament passed the Television Act 1954, allowing for the first time private television ownership, and thus Independent Television was born.

On this day, September 22, in 1955, ITV first went on the air, becoming the first private television station in the United Kingdom, and the first one funded by advertisements (the BBC uses a licence fee model, essentially an annual “tax” on every television — £145.50 as of 2010).

ITV was less highminded in its programming, airing game shows like Double Your Money or entertainment programs like Sunday Night at the London Palladium. The audience responded, watching the programs in droves, allowing ITV to open more regional affiliates with their own unique blend of populist programming. Even in the early days of television, and even in a country considered too cultured “reality” TV ruled.