Early Television Museum

2007 Convention Presentation

John Battison's Recollections of His Career In Television

John grew up in England, and recalls skipping school to watch television on a mechanical receiver. Later, he went to work for Ekco, helping to develop their line of prewar TV receivers.

John moved to the United States from England in 1945 and went to work in 1947 with ABC in New York, where he designed network TV and FM stations. In 1952 he became the Director of Education for the National Radio Institute in Washington, D.C..

In 1954 he became the director of engineering and general manager of CHCT-TV in Calgary, Alberta. During the 50's and 60's he produced Burl Ives on the ABC Network and produced two shows on DuMont, CBS and NBC Networks. In 1964 John founded the Society of Broadcast Engineers.

From 1968 to 1970 he worked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as chief engineer of Saudi Television. Later, John did consulting work all over the world. Later, John became Director of Engineering of WOSU-TV in Columbus.