LIVE SATELLITE TV - A WORLD FIRST
S U N D A Y, 2 5 J U N E
After lunch it POURED. When I opened my window the noise was terrific - I love rain when it thunders down! The puddle in the lawn moved forward like a wave whenever the wind blew across it, and when it was over the sun came out and the drops coming off the roof sparkled.
From 8pm right up to 10.30 there was this very good programme on TV - ‘Our World’.
““For the first time TV encircles the earth” is what the Radio Times said.”
It was being transmitted at the same time all over the world, the first time they’ve ever done anything like that before. Russia was the only place which refused to take part. They spent about five minutes on each country and every so often they reminded us how many babies had been born since the beginning of the programme: one a second, horrifying. In 15 generations’ time mankind will be extinct because of over-population.
They represented French culture by visiting the Maeght Art Gallery in St Paul de Vence, where we’ve been, but the best bit was when they represented English culture. They filmed the Beatles’ studios, and we saw the Beatles recording their latest record – ‘All You Need is Love’!!! It really was marvellous – all live and the whole world was watching!!! The studios were in the most chaotic mess, with streamers and things flying everywhere, even round Ringo’s neck. Lots of people were at the recording, including Mick Jagger. Chump and me nearly died.
“When 400 million watched ‘All You Need Is Love’”
Our World involved the control centres of 14 countries, four satellites and 1.5km of cable, with the master control room at Broadcasting House. This stirring two-and-a-half-hour show featured just-born babies across the globe, an interview with Marshall McLuhan - "the prophet of the electronic communications age” - and the Beatles premiere of ‘All You Need Is Love’.
The audience was 400m. Not quite the 1.9 billion who watched Live Aid, but, as George Martin said, “pretty awesome for its day.”
Not everyone was delighted that the Beatles were chosen to represent British culture to the world
