Image: 成人快手 camera at Beechers Brook March 1960.
The first Grand National to be televised was run on 26 March 1960. The race - which was won by favourite Merryman II, ridden by Gerry Scott - was broadcast live from Aintree as part of Grandstand. At the end presenter David Coleman assured viewers that they had witnessed a piece of television history.
To capture every inch of the four mile 856 yard steeplechase the 成人快手 deployed 16 cameras, including Television's Roving Eye. This outside broadcast van, with a camera mounted on the roof, was able to drive alongside the runners and riders for over half of the course. Thus viewers at home got a far better view of the race than any spectator at the racecourse. Commentary was provided by Peter O'Sullevan and Peter Bromley.
![成人快手 Outside Broadcast 'roving eye' vehicle getting ready to shoot the 1960 Grand National. The cameraman and camera are fixed to the roof of the van.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/400xn/p072vxk9.jpg)
Today the Grand National continues to be one of the few sporting events judged to be of national importance, and so preserved by the government on free-to-air television. In addition to the domestic audience of 10 million, it is watched by an estimated worldwide audience of 500 million.
March anniversaries
-
成人快手 Producer Guidelines published
1 March 1989 -
Truly Madly Deeply
1 March 1992 -
Launch of 成人快手 Four
2 March 2002 -
Housewives' Choice
4 March 1946 -
Round the Horne
7 March 1965 -
Pennies From Heaven
7 March 1978 -
The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
8 March 1978 -
French and Saunders
9 March 1987 -
The Frost Report
10 March 1966 -
World Service Television News
11 March 1991 -
First broadcast by the 成人快手 Dance Orchestra
12 March 1928 -
Launch of the Latin American Service
14 March 1938 -
I鈥檇 Do Anything
15 March 2008 -
This Life
18 March 1996 -
First televised Budget speech
20 March 1990 -
Up Pompeii
23 March 1970 -
Letter From America
24 March 1946 -
Newswipe with Charlie Brooker
25 March 2009 -
The return of Doctor Who
26 March 2005 -
Grand National televised
26 March 1960 -
Troubleshooter
27 March 1990 -
Opening of new Crystal Palace transmitter
28 March 1956 -
Going for a Song
31 March 1965 -
Teletubbies begins
31 March 1997