The Wimbledon Tennis Championships of 1 July 1967, shown on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Two, marked the beginning of regular colour television in Britain. Journalists who attended a special viewing at Television Centre were impressed with the new technology and the quality of the picture. David Attenborough, Controller of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Two, announced that the channel would initially broadcast in colour about 5 hours a week. By December, 80% of programmes were in colour.
The original December launch date was brought forward to July so the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ could claim to be the first colour broadcaster in Europe. France, Germany and Holland - who had planned an autumn launch of their colour services - were all beaten to air, but in Britain, with fewer than 5000 colour sets in circulation, the audience was very small.
However the period up to the full launch exposed audiences to the new service, gave time for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ staff to get used to the technology, and offered manufacturers a chance to fully prepare for the sale of the new sets that were required.
Wimbledon has always been the focus for advances in broadcast technology, being among the earliest outside broadcasts. In 2011 the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ broadcast the final in 3D.
Wimbledon and the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
- 
              Oh, I Say! Wimbledon and the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½Charles Runcie looks back at the enduring relationship between the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and Wimbledon and some of the events and characters that helped shape it.
- 
              50 Years of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ TV ColourAmanda Murphy tells the story of how the ADAPT TV project reunited a pioneering television crew 50 years after the first colour outside broadcast.
- 
              Wimbledon and the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½Tennis on the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ 1927 to 2017
July anniversaries
- 
              Investiture of the Prince of Wales1 July 1969
- 
              Masterchef2 July 1990
- 
              ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Television News and Newsreel5 July 1954
- 
              To the Ends of the Earth6 July 2005
- 
              Hancock's Half Hour television show6 July 1956
- 
              London Calling Europe began6 July 1941
- 
              The Old Man of Hoy8 July 1967
- 
              The first episode of The Office9 July 2001
- 
              Andy Pandy11 July 1950
- 
              It's That Man Again12 July 1939
- 
              Watchdog14 July 1985
- 
              What's My Line16 July 1951
- 
              Toytown first transmitted19 July 1929
- 
              Pot Black first transmitted23 July 1969
- 
              Countryfile first broadcast24 July 1988
- 
              Start of the Light Programme29 July 1945
- 
              Olympic Games from Wembley first televised29 July 1948
- 
              The Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer29 July 1981
- 
              The World Cup Final30 July 1966
- 
              Dad's Army31 July 1968
 
                     
                             
                            