25th June 1967: Our World, live global television production, broadcast using satellite technology

**Scott Allsop** (0:00)
On the 25th of June 1967, Our World, the first live global television production, was broadcast across the globe using satellite technology. Welcome to HistoryPod.
Organized by the BBC in cooperation with broadcasters from around the world, the programme connected participants in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. Early international broadcasts had relied on film recordings transported between countries or on limited transatlantic links, but the launch of communications satellites such as Telstar in the early 1960s demonstrated the possibility of near-instantaneous global television transmission. Planning for Our World included cooperation between television organizations in 14 countries. Each participating nation contributed a live segment intended to represent aspects of its society, culture or scientific development. Technical coordination presented substantial challenges, including synchronizing transmission schedules across time zones and ensuring compatibility between different broadcasting systems. More than 10 satellites were used to relay the programme internationally. The broadcast lasted approximately two and a half hours and was viewed by an estimated audience of several hundred million people. Among its best known segments was a live performance by The Beatles from London, during which the group performed the song All You Need Is Love. Other contributions included reports on science, education, music and daily life from participants in countries reflecting the programme's intention to present a shared global experience.
Our World demonstrated the possibilities created by satellite broadcasting and established a model for later worldwide broadcasts of news, entertainment and major public events.