Everything changed on March 25, 1954, when the very first color television set came off RCA's production line — a moment that would transform the entertainment experience forever. Up until that point, every TV viewer was limited to black and white imagery, but the arrival of color broadcasting unlocked an entirely new dimension of vivid, immersive storytelling. The early models came with a steep price tag, yet this groundbreaking innovation set the stage for the television industry as we know it today. Read on to learn how this pivotal moment shaped the evolution of your most beloved entertainment device.

That pioneering set, the RCA CT-100, hit the market as the first color TV available to consumers — and it carried a whopping $1,000 price tag (that's over $10,000 in today's dollars). Unsurprisingly, the high cost meant adoption was initially sluggish. But when color broadcasting launched later that year, everything shifted. More and more households began making the switch, and by the 1960s, color TV had firmly established itself as the new standard — sparking the vibrant television industry we enjoy today.

Fun Facts:

  • RCA, a pioneer in the television industry, introduced the first mass-produced color TV, the CT-100, in 1954. Their innovative spirit and commitment to quality have significantly shaped the evolution of television.
  • On January 1, 1954, the Tournament of Roses Parade became the first color TV broadcast. The event was selected specifically because of its vibrant, colorful spectacle, and its successful airing represented a landmark achievement in television history — opening the door to far more visually engaging programming.
  • The steep cost of early color TVs wasn't just about novelty — it reflected genuine technical hurdles in manufacturing. Producing the complex technology needed for color broadcasting, including the requirement for three separate electron guns within the cathode ray tube, severely limited how many people could afford to adopt the new sets.
  • By the late 1960s, most television programs were broadcast in color.
  • The debut of color television stands as a true milestone in entertainment history, establishing the groundwork for the visually rich media landscape we enjoy today.