In 1928, Scottish engineer John Logie Baird, often credited with the invention of the television, was the first to broadcast a television show through the BBC broadcasting system. This early set of television signal transmission equipment was upgraded in 1936, four years after the BBC began producing their own television shows.
In 1936, BBC television reached just a few hundred homes. By 1940, they reached an estimated 30,000 homes. Today, there are very few regions of the world that don't have access to BBC programming.
In 1964, on the eve of the BBC's launch of BBC3, their third station, much of London lost electricity due to a fire at the Battersea Power Station. The broadcast was postponed until the following night. When power was restored, television host Dennis Tuohy lit a candle and the show went on.
The BBC has a reputation for producing high quality historical fiction with historically accurate costumes, like Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice.
The BBC is legally required to air shows produced by other companies at least 25% of the time. Since their audience is mostly English speaking, they tend to choose American or Australian shows and have even aired The Simpsons.