Explore more than 100 years of the BBC’s history – click on our interactive timeline or investigate a topical anniversary, unpack the story of fascinating objects from our varied collections, or go in-depth via one of our long-form articles.
And tell us your memories of what the BBC means to you.
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The Olympic Games - a broadcasting history
Since 1924 broadcasters have been grappling with covering the mammoth event that is the Olympic Games. As the first days of the Paris 2024 games kick off, we take you through 100 years of broadcasting the world's biggest sporting event. -
Anniversaries
The Daventry Transmitter which opened on 27 July 1925, was the world's first Long Wave transmitting station. It allowed radio to be heard across most parts of the UK for the first time. Read more about it here. -
The BBC Proms - a timeline
The BBC Proms was first broadcast in the summer of 1927. So much has changed since that first simple radio transmission. We look at the major moments. -
London 1948 - BBC Television's first Olympics
With just six cameras and two outside broadcast units, the BBC Television Service managed to pull off its biggest outside broadcast of the 1940s. Norman Green explains how they did it. Image: © EMI Group Archive Trust, Science Museum Group/EMI -
Objects of the BBC
The BBC trophy so many in Africa will recognise that celebrates the best of African sporting achievement. Read more about this beautiful award here. -
Faces of the BBC
Tennis champion and sports commentator Sue Barker is one of our 100 faces from the BBC Photography Archive. This image dates from 1987. -
Voices of the BBC
From life in the BBC as a telephone operator, to the pioneers of colour television and the BBC in the digital age, the BBC Oral History Collection has been recording the world of the corporation since 1972. Start your journey here through our themed collections. -
Share your Memories
Tell us your recollections of past BBC programmes. How have these shows or series informed or entertained you or a relative over the years? -
BBC Exhibitions
Look out for events and exhibitions showcasing BBC entertainment, science, and war programming, international broadcasting, and vintage radio and TV equipment. -
Plaques
The BBC Heritage Trail brings together newly commissioned blue plaques and existing plaque schemes to celebrate the buildings used for broadcasting over the decades. Also featured are plaques installed as part of David Olusoga’s landmark series Black and British - A Forgotten History, and the BBC Music Day plaques created for BBC Local Radio.
Links
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BBC Archive
Hand-picked and popular selections from the BBC archives. -
The Researchers
Features by academics from across the world looking at a wide range of BBC related subjects. -
BBC Programme Index
Explore the BBC’s historical listings information from 1922 to the present day. -
Connected Histories of the BBC
A University of Sussex-AHRC research project -
British Entertainment History Project
The UK's largest oral history collection of interviews with professionals from across the film, television, radio and theatre industries. -
BBC Memory Bank
Giving longstanding and retired staff the opportunity to write their part of the unofficial history of the BBC. -
BBC iPlayer from the Archive
The destination to discover the most distinctive content from the BBC's rich archive. -
Archive on Four
Brilliant stories told using archive from the BBC and beyond.