On November 21, we celebrate one of the most important inventions ever created: The television.

But World Television Day doesn’t just celebrate the product itself. It also commemorates its impact on society, showing how television has helped us in our daily lives, whether through education or entertainment.

Here, you’ll discover the roots of television, how to celebrate World Television Day in different ways, and a few brief facts about TV.

A Brief History of Television

Believe it or not, the first televisions were mechanical and were invented around 1884! They were completely impractical, so they were far from popular.

Their popularity finally rose to some degree on March 25, 1925, when an inventor from Scotland, John Baird, made improvements to mechanical TV designs to make them commercially available.

Even that wasn’t too successful, though, since Baird’s mechanical television was still considered too complex for the average person.

Two years later, on September 7, Philo Farnsworth invented the first patented electrical TV.

So, although Baird is the Father of Television, it’s Farnsworth we have to thank for the modern TVs we have in our homes today.

Speaking of modern TVs, the difference between this type of television and those used during the mid to late 1900s is enormous.

For example, all televisions back then were bulky. But now? Heck, some TVs are as thin as your mobile phone!

How to Celebrate World Television Day

Binge-watch TV.

Cancel your plans and binge your favorite Netflix show, immerse yourself in documentaries, or hold a movie marathon – whatever floats your boat!

With so many streaming platforms and content more available than ever, the only problem you’ll have is choosing what to watch!

Watch some foreign TV shows and films.

Why not take today as an opportunity to go outside your comfort zone and try watching something different?

or example, if you only watch Western films, watch anime for a change. If that’s too much, you can change the genre – like switching action films for rom-coms.

Host a TV trivia night.

Make things fun and interesting when bonding with your family or friends after watching television by hosting a trivia night related to TV shows or movies.

For TV shows, like The Big Bang Theory, you could quiz your friends on which episode a particular event occurred.

On the other hand, a question for a movie, such as The Lord of the Rings, could be about where it was filmed.