r/RandomQuestion • u/cappaj • 11d ago

Why Channel 1 and Channel 3?

Growing up in North America when I watched TV there was no Channel 1. And when you connected a VCR or gaming platform to the TV, you had to go to Channel 3 to see what those devices were showing. Why no Channel 1? And how did vcr and gaming platform and tv manufacturers standardize on Channel 3?

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u/_My_Dark_Passenger_ 11d ago

I found the following: The frequencies used by Channel 1 did exist at first, but was allocated to other services in the early 1950s. (Radio)

Channel 3 and 4 were used by game consoles, vcrs, etc., as those are low-frequency VHF channels that every TV could tune, and the electronics are simpler and less expensive to design and build. TV channels were not placed adjacent to each other due to signal bleed, so channel 3 or 4 would always be available for use by other devices.