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A television, or TV, is an electronic device that receives and displays information from broadcast signals transmitted through the airwaves.[1]

Description[]

Muggles use them to view a variety of different types of progammes, such as news channels and dramas, often for the purposes of entertainment and learning information. Most Muggle homes have at least one set, and there is most likely no wizarding world equivalent.[2] Despite this, there was an attempt to create a wizarding television network in the early 1980s, but it was shot down by the British Ministry of Magic. The reasoning behind this was that the broadcast signal of a wizarding television network could have been accidentally picked up by Muggle televisions, causing severe breaches to the Statute of Secrecy. Some wizards felt this did not make sense, as there were multiple wizarding radio channels. So, therefore, a television channel should also be allowed. In response, the ministry proclaimed that Muggles accidentally catching snippets of wizarding radio would dismiss this far easier as their imagination compared to Muggles accidentally tuning in on a wizarding television channel.[3]

History[]

On 1 November 1981, Vernon Dursley was watching the news on television featuring Ted who reported owls flying by daylight and then Jim McGuffin the weatherman who reporting showers of shooting stars around Britain.[4]

During the 1985–1986 school year, televisions were in the Muggle Studies Classroom.[5]

In July 1991, Harry Potter was allowed to watch television during a visit with Arabella Figg.[6]

Dudley Dursley regularly enjoyed watching television programmes such as The Great Humberto and became distressed if he was away from the television for too long.[6] He broke his first ever television set by kicking it, following the cancellation of his favourite programme.[6] For his 11th birthday, he was given a second television to replace it.[7] By July, he tried to pack the television with him on the trip to Railview Hotel, but Uncle Vernon wouldn't let him.[6]

In 1993, the Dursleys got a third television for the kitchen as a welcome-home-for-the-summer present for Dudley. Dudley was also rather distracted by the television during the family dinner with Marjorie Dursley.[8]

Harry Potter was found hiding in a large hydrangea bush by his Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia one evening while listening to the television for news about the mysterious events surrounding Lord Voldemort's return. He was unlucky, however, only hearing things such as news about a Spanish baggage-handlers' strike, an advertisement for Fruit 'n' Bran and fluff news about a water-skiing budgerigar.[9]

A television was owned by the Luchino Caffe.[10]

A television was found in a secret room at Hogwarts showing a rabbit.[11]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. WP favicon Television on Wikipedia
  2. Question 13 on the second W.O.M.B.A.T.
  3. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Technology" at Harry Potter (website)
  4. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 1 (The Boy Who Lived)
  5. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 2, Side Quest "A special Celebration of Hogwarts Teachers"
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 3 (The Letters from No One)
  7. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 2 (The Vanishing Glass)
  8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 2 (Aunt Marge's Big Mistake)
  9. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 1 (Dudley Demented)
  10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 8 (The Wedding)
  11. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
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