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Hidden Histories of the Information Age

Hidden Histories of the Information Age: Episode 3: Our World

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Our World

Episode 3

Episode 3: Our World

BBC Radio 4 - Hidden Histories of the Information Age, Our World

How Our World became the first programme to link the globe by satellite in June 1967.

Aleks Krotoski looks back to June 1967, when 400 million people across the globe watched a groundbreaking TV show, Our World, the first programme linking countries by satellite.

On June 25th 1967, 400 million people across the globe watched a ground-breaking TV show. It was called, in English, OUR WORLD and it was a feat beyond technological imagination: it was the first programme that linked up countries live by satellite. So everyone was watching what was happening on the other side of the world - or possibly next door - at the exact moment in time when it was actually happening.
In our modern, 24-hour news world, it's hard to understand just how monumental this was, both technologically and politically. It was the golden age of television. Youth culture had a voice that was about to get much louder. International diplomacy was stretched to breaking point. And our world was rapidly shrinking.

Aleks Krotoski tells the story of how the programme came about. She talks to curators from the Science Museum.

The yellowing pages of Our World's original script is one of the exhibits in the new Information Age gallery at the Science Museum. It tells the story of the evolution in how we communicate with one another. The objects in the exhibition represent cultural moments from the last 200 years - not just technological innovations.

BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Aleks Krotoski explores innovations and cultural events from the age of communication.

Aleks Krotoski explores technological innovations and cultural events from the age of communication.

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Episode 3: Our World

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