Attraction of old TVs is black and white for some Bradford viewers (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Attraction of old TVs is black and white for some Bradford viewers

1:00pm Saturday 12th January 2013 in News

Iain Logie Baird with black and white TVs at the Media Museum

Forget 3D televisions, high-definition flatscreens and top-of-the-range tablets – nearly 100 people in Bradford are still hanging on to their trusty black and white sets.

Figures released by TV Licensing reveal after nearly 46 years of colour transmissions, there are still 98 households in Bradford with black and white licences.

They are among more than 13,000 households in the UK who seemingly cannot bear to part with their monochrome picture.

Backing the traditionalists is Iain Logie Baird, associate curator at the National Media Museum and grandson of the inventor of the television, John Logie Baird.

He said the cabinets of many black and white sets were classic designs, and compared it to owning a vintage car.

He said: “The National Media Museum has hundreds of black and white television sets in its collection and I’m not surprised that people are still using them.

“Millions of black and white sets were made, and for several years the largest factory in Britain was the Baird Television works here in Bradford. The cabinets on many of these are ‘retro’ in their design, making them conversation pieces even when they aren’t switched on. It’s a bit like owning an antique car.

“But perhaps most importantly, the television set has acted as a family gathering place in the home for decades now, well entrenched in our culture, and for a few who appreciate this fact, the old set can still hold a deep sentimental value.”

People with black and white sets also stand to make a significant saving on their TV licences, paying just £49 each year, compared to £145.50 for a colour licence.

According to this year’s figures for Yorkshire and the North East, Leeds leads the way in its love for retro telly sets, with 183 people holding a black and white licence.

Lucy Baird, TV Licensing spokessman, said: “It’s remarkable that with the digital switchover complete, 41 per cent of UK households owning HDTVs and Britons leading the world in accessing TV content over the internet, more than 13,000 households still watch their favourite programmes on a black and white telly.”