Transistor Television Day

What Is Transistor Television Day?

April 30th commemorates the day in 1960 when Sony released the "TV8-301," the world's first portable transistor television.

A New Idea -- "A Television of One's Own"

The TV8-301 was a portable black-and-white television equipped with an 8-inch cathode ray tube.

• Its technical features: equipped with 23 transistors and 19 diodes, developed by applying technology cultivated through Sony's radio business
• Its price: priced at 69,800 yen at launch, a considerable luxury item for its time
• A shift in thinking: challenged the conventional idea that a television was a fixture of the family living room, introducing the new concept of a television as something an individual could carry around

Sony's Technical Prowess, Recognized Worldwide

The TV8-301 proved that Sony's transistor technology, cultivated mainly through radios up to that point, was also world-leading in the new field of television. This success became a major stepping stone in building Sony's global brand reputation.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Learn about the history of Sony's transistor technology and television development
• Look up photos and materials of the "TV8-301" to see its original design
• Trace the technological evolution from black-and-white TVs to color TVs to today's flat-screen televisions
• Think about how today's personal devices have evolved from this starting point

From a Symbol of Family Togetherness to a Personal Possession

The world's first portable transistor television was a groundbreaking product that transformed the very idea of what a television could be. Let April 30th be a day to reflect on the moment when the now-commonplace idea of "owning your own personal television" was first born.