1967 The Beatles World’s Live Global Satellite TV Program
The Beatles were featured in the BBC‘s Our World, the first live, international satellite TV show, on June 25, 1967. The two-hour event was broadcast to 24 countries and an estimated…
Now And Then Celebrates One Year
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The Beatles were featured in the BBC's Our World, the first live, international satellite TV show, on June 25, 1967. The two-hour event was broadcast to 24 countries and an estimated 700 million people worldwide, making it the biggest TV audience in history.
The program showcased the potential of satellite communications and featured contributions from 18 countries, including the Beatles representing the UK. The band's performance of their new single, "All You Need Is Love", was the highlight.
The song captured the program's spirit of peace and togetherness. It was performed from a packed Studio One with other rock and roll finest in the audience, including Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Graham Nash.
The First Live Multinational Satellite TV Production Ever Attempted
Four communications satellites, Intelsat I, and Intelsat II F-3, were used to televise the show around the world. Both satellites were positioned over different parts of the Atlantic Ocean, and some were positioned over different parts of the Pacific Ocean to complete global coverage. The Master control room all came from the BBC in London.
It took ten months and 10,000 technicians, producers, and performers to bring everything together.
No Politics Allowed
No politicians or heads of state could participate in the broadcast. Everything had to be live; no videotape or film could be used. All participants had to have full knowledge of what was included. And so there was no funny business not in the script.
The Beatles Part In The Whole Show
At the time of the broadcast, the Vietnam War was at its height. The producers asked The Beatles to write a song that would capture the hearts of many viewers with a positive message of hope and love.
The Beatles topped the event with a debut performance of their song "All You Need Is Love." They invited many of their friends, including the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Marianne Faithfull, Keith Moon (and Keith behaved himself), and Graham Nash. It was a festive atmosphere, and everyone joined in on the song's chorus.
57 Years Ago Since The Broadcast
Technology has come so far for satellite feds. We will see with our own eyes this Summer's upcoming Olympic games in France. But wonder at just 57 years and the technology we have in our hands with just a cell phone.
The only sad thing is that we once had a program that showed music videos 24 hours a day.
