Do you remember the first time you watched television? Probably not. Most likely, you were only a toddler when your parents set you down in front of the TV to watch a child’s programme. Colourful characters like Woofles, Mr Chinwag, Maya the Bee or the Teletubbies were more than just pixels on a TV screen– they were friends.

There’s no denying that those first lessons – on everything from counting to sharing – gleaned from TV are as influential in shaping us as those from our parents and teachers. And that’s just the start of a lifelong relationship – the beginning of a beautiful friendship, to steal a quote from Casablanca. The characters may change from year to year, but the influence they have on our lives doesn’t. 

TV is more than just another appliance. It’s a window that shines a light onto the world around us, showing us the good, the bad and the ugly about being human.

A look back

Where were you when Nelson Mandela was released from prison after a 27-year sentence? Or when the Springboks lifted the 1995 Rugby World Cup? What were you doing when you heard Princess Diana had passed away in a car crash? Or that day when the Twin Towers collapsed?

Chances are you watched all of these events unfurl on your TV screen. Those same images of triumph and sorrow are etched across the memories of your family, neighbours and even perfect strangers. Television memorialises those milestone events that change the course of history, shaping our collective consciousness like no other medium.

Even the most seemingly insignificant images can evoke powerful nostalgia. Show the average South African a certain video of a mouse running across a steering wheel and watch their face change as they think back to that time of their life. Like a wall full of framed pictures, the images that flash across our television screens offer a journey to the past. Gathering around the water cooler

Who shot JR? If you were old enough in the 1980s, this question should bring back all sorts of memories of oil fields, Stetsons and big hair. Dallas was a phenomenon and there was hardly a viewer out there who didn’t have a theory as to who tried to kill one of the biggest villains of the decade.

The mystery of JR’s attempted murder is one of the earliest examples of a television moment capturing the South African public’s attention. TV had only been around for four years at this point, but this was the moment that marked it as an indelible part of the public consciousness.

Since that famous Dallas episode, we’ve seen more cliffhangers than we can possibly count. These are more than just exciting TV events – they are true water cooler moments that bring people together. How many friends have we gotten to know better through conversations about some sad, thrilling or just plain ridiculous TV moment the night before?

TV brings us together. It gives us common ground over which to bond.

The times they are a’changing

The rise of the internet has fundamentally changed our relationship with TV. Where once we would gather around the television to watch the evening news, now we can follow a newsfeed on our social media pages. There are no TV shows that capture our imagination like Dallas did all those years ago – not when we have so many more options for entertainment than a few channels.

The technology behind the TV keeps evolving – but so has the central purpose. Now, televisions are so much more than just boxes in which we can “watch TV”. They are home entertainment systems that offer us access to all of our media, from images to music.

The Smart TV of today can illuminate our own lives like never before. We can use it as a digital photo album, accessing our favourite memories at the click of a button. We can create our own personal soundtracks and enjoy a cinema experience in the comfort of our own homes. We can surf the internet using our remotes and make new discoveries.

TV has always played a central role in our lives. Now, it also helps us work smarter, play better and experience whole new worlds in stereo surround and crystal clear images. We’ve all grown and changed with the times, and our old friend has had to grow with us. Thankfully, it’s more than up to the task.

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