A 1950s television
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Television or TV was a colloquial term for a form of entertainment medium consisting of live action two-dimensional visual images with sound, to be watched by the viewer via a display module which translated broadcast signals into viewable images known as video. Most information was broadcast by way of a format known as "shows" or "broadcasts". Television shows were typically supported or subsidized by commercials. (TOS: "Bread and Circuses")
History
20th century
On Earth, the first television pictures were transmitted during the first half of the 20th century, it slowly became a popular form of entertainment during the 1950s, especially for its news broadcasts. (DS9: "Far Beyond the Stars")
When a Vulcan survey vessel was stranded on Earth in 1957 and 1958, the survivors became enthralled in the technology, and a form of cuisine that was associated with television, known as TV dinners. (ENT: "Carbon Creek")
While living in a holodeck recreation of 1962, following the loss of his leg, Nog spent many hours watching television, including several movies, in the hotel room of Vic Fontaine. (DS9: "It's Only a Paper Moon")
When the USS Voyager traveled back in time to 1996, Neelix and Kes enjoyed watching Earth television shows, particularly soap operas. When Harry Kim expressed that he couldn't imagine a non-interactive (holodeck) story, Kes responded by saying that humanity had been spoiled by interactive stories. (VOY: "Future's End")
When the Enterprise visited the late 20th century, several television news reporters with video cameras were around. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
21st century
During the 2020s, the multi-function Interface slowly began to replace the television, as it combined broadcast television, e-mail and access to the Net. (DS9: "Past Tense, Part I", "Past Tense, Part II") This trend would have started in the late 20th century with the introduction of the internet. (VOY: "Future's End, Part II")
Television as a form of entertainment did not last long after 2040. (TNG: "The Neutral Zone")
22nd through 24th centuries
In 2152, Trip Tucker was familiar with The Twilight Zone, a 20th Century television program. (ENT: "Carbon Creek")
Captain Christopher Pike had a television set in his quarters in 2254, during his time as captain of the USS Enterprise. (TOS: "The Cage")
By the 23rd century television was referred to as an antiquated form of entertainment. Communications officer Uhura was somewhat familiar with the form, however mistakenly referred to it as 'video', when the crew of the USS Enterprise encountered the form on planet 892-IV in 2267. (TOS: "Bread and Circuses")
During the 24th century the term was mostly unknown, except to those who enjoyed 20th century nostalgia.
William T. Riker was unfamiliar with the slang term 'boob tube' when L.Q. Clemonds wanted to watch a baseball game on the ship's monitor. (TNG: "The Neutral Zone")
In 2372, Neelix began his own television-style broadcast aboard the USS Voyager, which featured news, educational material and entertainment. (VOY: "Investigations", "Macrocosm")
The 2372 holosuite program, Julian Bashir, Secret Agent featured many artifacts of 1960s Earth nostalgia, including the television. (DS9: "Our Man Bashir") As did the 2374 holosuite program Bashir 62. (DS9: "It's Only a Paper Moon")
In 2376, B'Elanna Torres gave Tom Paris a television as a gift, including a remote control. (VOY: "Memorial") Tom often enjoyed watching cartoons and hockey on it. (VOY: "Workforce, Part II")
TV shows
- A Briefing with Neelix (also known as: Good Morning, Voyager)
- I Love Lucy
- Mission: Impossible
- Name the Winner
- The Three Stooges
- The Twilight Zone