Finland’s first public television broadcast took place on 24 May 1955. It was directed and presented by Lasse Pöysti at the Helsinki University of Technology’s radio laboratory on Albertinkatu in Helsinki.
Prior to this, Finnish television operations had been discussed by at least VTT, Yleisradio (YLE) and the Teekkarikylärahasto ('Teekkari student village fund'). Yleisradio considered the venture too expensive. Eventually, Radioinsinööriseura ('the Radio Engineers’ Association') took the initiative in 1954.
The first test broadcast by the television club founded by the Radioinsinööriseura was aired on 20 April 1955. Professor Emeritus Martti Tiuri told TEK magazine in 2015 (in Finnish) that the test broadcast did not feature the Teekkari choir singing, but that someone had read the lyrics from the choir’s lips and taken offence at the inappropriate content.
(The story continues after the photo.)
In 1956, responsibility for television operations was transferred from Helsinki University of Technology to Tekniikan edistämissäätiö ('the Foundation for the Promotion of Technology'), which had supported the television club, and regular broadcasts began. In 1959, Oy Tesvisio Ab was established to manage television programming. TEK’s predecessor, Suomen Teknillinen Seura ('the Finnish Technical Society'), was Tesvision’s largest shareholder.
Yleisradio had begun its own regular television broadcasts in 1958. It acquired Tesvision in 1964.
Sources: Nykyaikaa rakentamassa (Juhana Aunesluoma, 2004), Otaniemen yhdyskunta (Panu Nykänen, 2007), Polin suojiin me saavumme taas (Jari Hanski, 1997), TEK Magazine 3/2015.
