Published: May 21, 2025 by: Rungreung Huanraluek
Tracing the Evolution of Television
: From the Analog CRT Screens
of the Past to the Smart and Digital TVs You Use Today
The Evolution of Television Broadcasting Systems: From Analog TV to the Digital TV Era (Part 3)
Can you still remember the static “shhh” sound from old TVs and the snow-like screen when the signal was weak? Or the excitement of watching 3D movies with special glasses? The world of television has come a long way since the analog era. Today, we live in the age of Smart TVs—where simply connecting to Wi-Fi lets you stream content from around the globe instantly. This article takes you step by step through the evolution of television, from the heavy CRT screens that weighed dozens of kilograms to ultra-slim LED displays that connect you to the digital world at your fingertips.
Before the world became familiar with terms like “Digital TV” or “Smart TV,” television began its journey with black-and-white and color TVs in the age of analog broadcasting. Over time, television has evolved in many aspects—from design and screen technology to the quality of picture and sound—laying the essential foundation for the eventual shift to the digital era. The journey started with bulky, heavy CRT screens and progressed to sleek, lightweight LED displays equipped with internet connectivity in the Smart TV age.
In this article, we’ll trace the development of television from past to present, to better understand the direction technology has taken and how it has influenced the way TV signals are distributed in each era.
1. CRT Glass Tube TVs (1950–2000) CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) TVs were the first generation of analog televisions. They worked by firing electron beams through a picture tube to create images on the screen. These TVs were highly durable and affordable. However, they were large, bulky, and had low resolution. CRT TVs dominated the market for over 50 years.
2. Trinitron TVs (1968) Trinitron was Sony’s proprietary display technology featuring a new type of CRT structure that offered sharper images, vivid colors, and higher brightness than standard CRTs. It gained massive popularity and became the “quality standard” for CRT flat-screen TVs. Sony Trinitron TVs were considered premium analog TVs during 1968–1997.
3. Flat-Screen CRT TVs (1997–2002)
Manufacturers began developing “flat-screen” CRT TVs, which featured a flat front display with a more modern and attractive design. However, they still used the traditional CRT technology. These analog flat-screen box TVs were transitional models before true flat-panel display technologies emerged.
4. Plasma TVs (2000–2012)
Plasma TVs were the early generation of flat-panel analog TVs, known for their sharp image quality and large screen sizes, making them ideal for hotel lobbies or living rooms. Advantages included deep blacks and wide viewing angles, but they consumed more electricity and were susceptible to screen burn-in from static images. After 2012, plasma TVs began to decline in popularity.
5. LCD TVs (2006–2012)
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) TVs, which used CCFL backlighting, became key competitors to Plasma TVs. Their highlights included slim profiles, lighter weight, and better energy efficiency. LCD TVs were highly popular and laid the foundation for the later LED TV era.
During this time, Thailand started transitioning from analog TVs to “analog smart TVs.” In 2006, LCD TVs still had analog signal receivers. After 2007, with more stable internet access in Thailand, manufacturers began producing “analog smart TVs” that supported analog signals and internet connectivity for running apps.
6. 3D TVs (2010–2013)
Amid the popularity of LCD TVs, 3D TVs emerged with the goal of delivering a cinema-like 3D experience at home. However, they became only a short-lived trend due to their complicated usage (requiring special glasses) and limited content availability. As a result, 3D TVs couldn’t sustain their place in the market.
7. LED TVs (2012–Present)
LED TVs are an evolution of LCD TVs, using the same LCD display technology but with LED backlighting. This made TVs thinner, lighter, brighter, more colorful, and more energy-efficient—eventually becoming the standard in today’s TV market.
During this era, Thailand transitioned from analog to digital TV broadcasting. Before 2014, TV signals in Thailand were still analog, so LED TVs included analog receivers. After 2014, Thailand officially adopted DVB-T2 digital broadcasting, prompting manufacturers to produce “digital TVs” that supported both DVB-T2 digital and traditional analog signals. After 2020, Thailand fully ended analog TV broadcasting, ushering in the full digital TV era. Viewers were required to watch via digital TVs or use digital TV set-top boxes for older models.
8. Smart TVs (2007–Present)
Smart TVs can connect to the internet via Wi-Fi or LAN and run applications such as YouTube, Netflix, LINE TV, Disney+, Viu, Spotify, and more—without the need for external devices.
Smart TVs first entered the global market in 2007, during the LCD TV era, in the form of “analog smart TVs.”
Smart TVs began appearing in the global market in 2007, during the era of LCD TVs. At that time, they were still considered "analog Smart TVs." Even before 2014, during the LED TV era, Smart TVs were still primarily "analog Smart TVs." It wasn’t until after 2014 that LED TVs evolved into "digital Smart TVs."
9. Digital TV (2014–present):
Digital TV systems offer several advantages over analog TV systems, including sharper image and sound quality, support for high-definition resolutions, reduced signal interference, more available channels, and more efficient use of radio frequencies. They are also designed to accommodate future technologies.
The transition from analog to digital terrestrial broadcasting (DVB-T2) officially began in Thailand in 2014. This required manufacturers of new LED TVs to produce “digital TVs” capable of receiving both DVB-T2 digital signals and traditional analog signals. After 2020, Thailand officially terminated analog TV broadcasting, leaving only digital TV. This marked the full transition into the digital TV era, requiring all viewers to watch TV either via built-in digital TVs or through external digital set-top boxes connected to non-digital models.
However, after 2007, as high-speed internet in Thailand became more stable and affordable, TV manufacturers—whether producing LCD or LED TVs—commonly developed “digital Smart TVs” that supported both digital TV signals and internet connectivity, allowing users to access various applications directly through the TV.
