Shock variety of individuals watching black and white television 59 years after color units launched
Thousands of Brits are still watching black and white TVs with the ‘vintage’ sets fetching hundreds online. Old-fashioned tellies are being sold for a fortune on marketplaces like eBay.
Figures shown nearly 3,000 viewers have specific black and white TV licences, 59 years after the introduction of colour sets. There are 2,952 greyscale licences, figures from the BBC state.
The number has fallen by 50% since 2020, when 6,400 were in use. Mono licences cost only £60.50, up £2 from last year but still much cheaper than the £180 colour version. And they make up less than 0.01 per cent of all active UK licences, the BBC said.
The majority of black and white licences are renewals and thought to be given out in good faith, with the BBC and TV Licensing authorities accepting that most are pensioners or hobbyists.
It is no longer possible to buy a new black and white set, but many black and white telly sets are being flogged online, some eBay listings ranging from £20 to a whopping £152 for retro portable sets.
And enthusiasts share their passion for the vintage tellies in social media groups, with almost 120,000 in one for Antique tv and VCR lovers.
One member recently shared photos of his Brazilian TV Philips 21″ from 1956. He wrote: “New addition to my TV collection. It’s in mint condition.”
Colour TV was launched in the UK on BBC 2 in 1967. Tennis from Wimbledon was the first event to be broadcast in full colour. Before then, classic moments such as England winning the World Cup and the moon landings were watched by millions of Brits in monochrome.
It took until 1976 for colour licenses to outnumber black and white ones, as ‘full-spectrum’ TVs were far more expensive than standard mono sets. And as recently as 200, there were 212,000 licences in use.
A TV Licensing spokesperson said: “The use of black and white televisions has been falling steadily for years, and black and white TV licences account for 0.01% of all of the TV Licences currently in force.”
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: “Many older people rely on channels like the BBC for their information and, in some cases, especially where the individual might be housebound, for their connection with the outside world.
“For this reason, it’s absolutely imperative that everyone can access TV, whether it’s colour or black and white, and that the licensing system must work for everyone – especially those on lower incomes and who need greater digital support.”
Do you still watch a black and white TV? Email [email protected]
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