This page is a journey through time. Through a century of IFA. Through decades of technological leaps, stories of an entire industry, and developments that continue to shape our everyday lives to this day.
From the first “Great German Radio Exhibition” in 1924 to the world’s leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances – a tour through the most important milestones.
In December 1924, the “Great German Radio Exhibition” opened its doors in Berlin for the first time. What began as a showcase for a young broadcasting technology developed over the course of a century into the world’s leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances. GFU – the owner of the trademark rights to IFA – has compiled the most important milestones in this extraordinary trade show history to mark the 100th anniversary.
1924–1933:
With 242 exhibitors and 180,000 visitors, the first “Great German Radio Exhibition” opened in Berlin in December 1924. In the years that followed, detector receivers, the first tube receivers, and the Berlin Radio Tower were created. Albert Einstein delivered the opening speech in 1930, and one year later the first electronic television set was launched. IFA’s first decade laid the foundation for a century of industry history.
1934–1949:
In its second decade, the Radio Exhibition reached new dimensions: 500,000 visitors came in 1935, the world’s first public television program was launched, and the 1936 Olympic Games were broadcast in Berlin television rooms. But with the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, an era came to an end. For ten years, no Radio Exhibition was held – while technologies such as magnetic tape, the transistor, and the first fully electronic computer continued to develop behind the scenes.
1950–1959:
The first Radio Exhibition of the postwar period took place in Düsseldorf in 1950: during this decade, television became a mass medium. Tagesschau, the concept of hi-fi, and Sputnik shaped the industry. At the same time, inventions such as the first fully automatic washing machine, the first built-in refrigerator, and the first automatic washer changed everyday life in German households.
1960–1969:
The 1960s are the decade in which television takes on its present-day form. In 1961, the radio exhibition returns to Berlin despite the construction of the Wall. In 1963, the Compact Cassette is introduced; in 1967, PAL color television launches with Vice Chancellor Willy Brandt pressing the button. Two years later, West Germany watches the moon landing in color: a technical promise for the future of the medium.
1970–1979:
The 1970s are the decade in which the industry takes on its present-day shape. In 1971, the radio exhibition opens up to international exhibitors, becomes the “International Radio Exhibition,” and Funk Otto sees the light of day as an iconic logo. In 1973, GFU is founded. While color televisions conquer the market, Apple, Microsoft, the CD player, and the Walkman emerge—inventions that continue to shape our world to this day.
1980–1989:
The 1980s begin with the digital revolution: CDs, camcorders, and the first private broadcasters SAT.1 and RTL plus conquer the market. In 1983, the first mobile phone appears—weighing 800 grams and measuring 33 centimeters long. Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl opens IFA in 1985 and calls for a move toward the information society. At the end of the decade, the Wall falls—and a new chapter begins.
1990–1999:
In 1991, the first all-German IFA in decades takes place – and is referred to for the first time as the “world’s leading trade show.” In the years that follow, the digital revolution begins: CERN releases the World Wide Web in 1993, MP3 is named by the Fraunhofer Institute in 1995, the first plasma TVs and DVD players appear, and Amazon and Google are founded. A decade in which television, computers, and telecommunications converge.
2000–2009:
This decade fundamentally changes IFA. In 2005, GFU, as the trademark owner, together with Messe Berlin, decides to switch from a biennial to an annual schedule. In 2008, the trade show is expanded for the first time to include electrical home appliances – transforming it from a pure consumer electronics trade show into the platform for consumer and home electronics. At the same time, technology is also changing: flat screens replace the picture tube, HDTV becomes established, and the first smartphone is introduced.
2010–2019:
In 2010, IFA celebrates its 50th edition—and enters the decade of the smart home revolution. Streaming services such as Netflix (2014) change TV consumption, while AI assistants such as Alexa and Siri move into living rooms. IFA responds: with “Startup Day,” new areas such as “Fitness & Activity,” and the expansion to include “Smart Home,” it becomes a platform for connected living. At the end of the decade, it presents the first 5G devices and foldable smartphones.
2020–2026:
In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic brings the greatest disruption in IFA history. While the trade show pauses or takes place in a limited format, the industry grows strongly – the home becomes the center of life. In 2022, GFU, as the brand owner, and Clarion Events establish IFA Management GmbH, thereby securing the traditional location at Berlin’s Funkturm. In 2024, IFA celebrates its 100th anniversary with the new claim “Innovation For All” – a new beginning for the second century.
1924–1933:
The starting signal was given on December 4, 1924, with the first “Great German Radio Exhibition,” which already brought together 242 exhibitors and 180,000 visitors on an area of 7,000 square meters. Detector sets with headphones and the first tube radio receivers fascinated visitors to the trade fair at the time, which took place from December 4 to 14, 1924. A special exhibition entitled “Development of Radio Technology” rounded off the offering.
On January 28, the company Telefunken released its patents for use, thereby making a significant contribution to the development of the German radio industry. The reduction of the radio license fee on April 1 from 60 Reichsmarks per year to two Reichsmarks turned “illegal listeners” and “onlookers” into paying radio subscribers. This led to a significant increase in the official number of listeners. On September 15, the first radio advertisement identified as such was broadcast. Manfred von Ardenne (1907 – 1997), scientist and technician, developed the triple tube, the first integrated circuit.
The “2nd Great German Radio Exhibition” took place in Berlin from September 4 to 13 with 212 exhibitors. Tube devices were exhibited in which the individual stages were built in separate housings and could thus be combined as needed – the beginnings of modular design. In addition to headphones, horn loudspeakers were also increasingly shown. One of the special exhibitions featured an operational demonstration of a complete transmitting station. The exhibition counted 370,000 visitors.
On January 31, the first shortwave transmission from the USA took place. The program was rebroadcast by the Stuttgart transmitter. On May 15, the Reich Broadcasting Corporation (RRG) was founded as the umbrella organization of the German broadcasting companies. On September 1, the “stamp requirement and examination for obtaining an audion experiment permit” were abolished, and with them the postal restrictions on broadcasting. The result: rapidly growing listener numbers.
The “3rd Great German Radio Exhibition” took place in Berlin from September 3 to 12. 250 exhibitors presented their products to 150,000 visitors. The 1926 Radio Exhibition marks a turning point in the development of broadcasting technology. With the lifting of technical restrictions, a transformation became apparent from a “complicated technical machine” into a consumer item with simple operation. The development of multi-electrode tubes certainly also contributed to this. A special exhibition demonstrated the most important image transmission devices. Still images were transmitted. On the first day of the Radio Exhibition, September 3, 1926, the Berlin Radio Tower was inaugurated. The “Lange Lulatsch,” as Berliners affectionately call it because of its height of 138 meters, remains the landmark of the Berlin exhibition grounds to this day.
Deutsche Welle was founded on January 7 as a central broadcaster for all of Germany. Gustav Stresemann’s “League of Nations speech” was broadcast from Geneva by all German stations on September 10. This was the first interstate program exchange. A selection process took place in the radio industry. Of the former 112 member companies of the Association of the Radio Industry, 77 manufacturers had ceased production by the time of the Radio Exhibition. By mid-1926 there were already around 1.4 million radio subscribers.
290 exhibitors came to the “4th Great German Radio Exhibition” from September 2 to 11. Reich Postal Minister Dr. Georg Schätzel described the trade fair, in comparison with “similar events abroad, probably as the most important radio exhibition in the world.” Detector receivers – which usually required headphones – were shown by only a few companies; the growing desire for a loudspeaker required the use of tube receivers. In addition, there was talk of a “wealth of exhibited mains-powered devices,” which could be seen in various price ranges. As part of a special exhibition, the German Reichspost showed two-way communication experiments between heaven and earth: radio contact was established with an aircraft from the foot of the Radio Tower. 96,000 visitors came to the exhibition.
In 1927, radios could also be purchased on installment plans. At the turn of the year 1927/1928, the number of registered radio subscribers exceeded two million. With the process called “Phonovision,” it was possible for the first time to record television images on shellac discs. Vacuum cleaner production began at Miele.
This year, the “Great German Radio Exhibition” was held for the fifth time, from August 31 to September 9 in Berlin, with 368 exhibitors and 153,000 visitors. One of the innovations was the so-called “screen-grid tubes,” which led to increased performance and better receiver sensitivity. The number of loudspeaker types had increased considerably, including an electrostatic loudspeaker that was said to have provided excellent reproduction, especially of high tones. The main attraction, however, was the moving image, television, which could only be admired and not purchased.
This year, on February 8, the world’s first television transmission from Great Britain to New York took place. On August 31, the Reich Postal Central Office gave the go-ahead for the “new and future telecommunications system” of television, and German industry began developing television sets. In the USA, the first television program with a regular schedule already existed. Listening to the radio was “in,” and tube devices with loudspeakers replaced detector receivers. The first combinations of radio set and record player came onto the market. In addition, the original patent for magnetic tapes was filed. AEG brought the “Volksherd” onto the market.
320 exhibitors came to Berlin for the “6th Great German Radio Exhibition” from August 30 to September 8. Unfortunately, a visitor count could not be determined. Another turning point was recorded, this time from the craft-based production of radio sets to true series production. One example of this is the Telefunken T 40 with an initial series of 50,000 units. A new form was presented: gramophone and radio in table and cabinet versions. A special exhibition showed various television systems for 30-line resolution with a Nipkow disk.
The first wireless television transmission succeeded on March 8, and from March 14 official experimental television broadcasts were carried out by the Reich Postal Central Office. On August 26, the “German Shortwave Transmitter” was opened. Regular European program exchange also began this year. By the end of the year there were four million radio subscribers. “Deutsche Grammophon” was already producing ten million records per year. Europe’s first electric dishwasher came onto the market.
With 363 exhibitors, the 7th “Great German Radio Exhibition and Phono Show” is on record. A visitor count for the period between August 22 and 31 has not been handed down, but an extremely famous scientist gave the opening speech: Nobel Prize winner Albert Einstein. The exhibits increasingly included the so-called local receivers with simple operation and “first-class exterior design.” The integration of the loudspeaker also had an impact on the housing shape. Thus, the devices were now produced in an upright format. A comparison between mechanical and electronic television systems took place, and for the first time kits for building television receivers yourself were presented. At the Phono Show, all products of the phono industry could be seen, from portable devices to luxury music cabinets. A special exhibition showed the creation of record recordings.
This year, television gradually transitioned from mechanics to electronics. On December 14, physicist Manfred von Ardenne demonstrated fully electronic television for the first time, with a raster of 100 lines at 20 frame changes per second.
From August 21 to 30, the 8th “Great German Radio Exhibition and Phono Show” took place in Berlin with 304 exhibitors. Once again, there is no information on visitor numbers. The reduction of radio prices was the focus of this exhibition. The aim was to stimulate replacement business and open up new groups of buyers. This year, the first electronic television set was presented. In addition, there were devices for making self-recorded records with a microphone or from radio broadcasts.
Despite the general economic depression, 1931 was a record year for the German radio industry. The main reason for this was the unexpectedly high sales on the domestic market.
For the 9th “Great German Radio Exhibition,” 283 exhibitors and 175,000 visitors were reported. The so-called “superhet” receiver with improved reception characteristics was cited as a sensation. As part of a special exhibition, television demonstrations with apparatus not yet ready for production could be seen via a transmitter installed on the Radio Tower. Radio reception became mobile with the presentation of the first European car radio.
With the “reorganization of broadcasting” known as the broadcasting reform, radio was opened up on July 11 for party-political speeches during election campaigns, the beginning of the end of broadcasting’s nonpartisanship. The first Agfacolor film marked the beginning of color photography.
With 256 exhibitors, the 10th “Radio Exhibition” took place from August 18 to 27 and attracted 250,000 visitors. The Volksempfänger VE 301 began its triumphant advance as a joint production of the radio industry. In addition, large-screen television projection receivers could be seen. The overall development of radio sets was moving toward devices with fewer tubes and maximum performance. The transmitter scales, which were almost universally illuminated and clearly calibrated, were regarded as a “miracle.” There were also improvements in loudspeakers in terms of efficiency, magnet systems, and diaphragms.
On June 30, the Reich Ministry of Propaganda took over all responsibilities in broadcasting matters. “Radio in every German home” was issued as the slogan, to be achieved through the production of inexpensive small radios. The laboratory model of the “Magnetophon” (tape recorder) was constructed.
Our review makes no claim to completeness.
Sources
The History of Consumer Electronics, Jochen Wiesinger
70 Years of the Radio Exhibition, Heide Riedel
Image credit: Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-10300 / CC-BY-SA 3.0, Link: German Federal Archives
1934–1949:
The 11th “Great German Radio Exhibition” took place from August 17 to 26. 235 exhibitors and 325,000 visitors are on record. In tube devices, improved technology made it possible to save one tube while maintaining the same performance. So-called universal-current tubes are completely hum-free and reliable with alternating and direct current. In the so-called “Hall of Work,” the production of the Volksempfänger was demonstrated. The German Reichspost showed laboratory demonstrations of the current state of television. Almost all television systems used a Braun tube with 180 lines and 40,000 pixels at 25 frames per second. Television sets for public television rooms could also be seen, as well as setups for image transmission in the VHF range.
The German Reichspost broadcast regular television programs with a VHF transmitter in Berlin-Witzleben, and the first television rooms were set up. One million units of the Volksempfänger had already been produced. On January 1, 1934, five million radio subscribers were registered. Magnetic tape for electronic sound recording was developed.
This year, the exhibition period of the 12th “Great German Radio Exhibition” was from August 16 to 25. The number of exhibitors was 234, and the number of visitors was given as an estimated 500,000. 144 new radio receivers were shown. The variety of housing shapes was also said to be remarkable. For the first time, a tape recorder, the Magnetophon K1, was presented. A television street also made an impression. However, the event was overshadowed by a catastrophic fire in Hall 4 extending to the Radio Tower restaurant. Almost all devices and installations burned in the fire.
On March 22, the Reich Broadcasting Institution opened the world’s first public television program service. On three evenings per week, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., excerpts from feature and cultural films and from newsreels were shown to the approximately 250 participants. The “Kodachrome” reversal film as 16 mm narrow-gauge film was the first color film.
With 170 exhibitors, the 13th “Great German Radio Exhibition” was held from August 28 to September 6. 350,000 visitors are recorded. The Radio Exhibition was “under the sign of better sound, from technically good to musically beautiful sound.” Technically, this was based on new loudspeaker tubes and increased efficiency of the loudspeakers themselves. In addition to record turntables with electric pickups for connection to the existing radio, there were two types of combination devices: the chest form as a tabletop device and the music cabinet. Added to this were the electronic television camera and TV receivers with 375 picture lines and interlacing. A special exhibition showed a telephone station as a video telephone with counterpart stations in the Berlin city area.
After ten years of development work, the path of mechanical television proved unsuitable. An iconoscope camera transmitted the competitions of the Olympic Games from Berlin’s Olympic Stadium to 28 Berlin television rooms. The first mechanical vacuum cleaner, “New Maid,” came onto the market.
307,000 visitors came to the 14th “Great German Radio Exhibition” from July 30 to August 8. The number of exhibitors is given as 150. This Radio Exhibition was marked by a noticeable price reduction for radio sets, made possible by a price reduction for tubes that came into effect in July. There was a demonstration of color television images.
In January there were 8.2 million registered radio listeners, the highest number in Europe at the time. Radio sets were getting better and better; station selection was now done with push buttons. The first electromagnetic lightweight pickup with a permanent sapphire needle for scanning records was presented.
The 15th “Great German Radio Exhibition” recorded 158 exhibitors and 360,000 visitors. It took place from August 5 to 21. The receiving devices of the “new season” were characterized by further sound improvements, and greater ease of operation could be observed in devices in the upper price range. In total, more than 210 new radio receivers were exhibited. Among them was a rich selection of devices for receiving three wavebands. These radios were equipped, for example, with a “magic eye” for better tuning and large, clear scales, some with more than 100 station names. There were devices with automatic station search. With the announcement that television reception would be released from October 1, 1938, a new appearance of the exhibition emerged: for the first time, television receivers stood on an equal footing alongside audio broadcasting.
In March, Germany’s first fully electronic television studio was completed in the Haus des Rundfunks. In consultation with industry, a standardized television receiver was to be developed following the model of the Volksempfänger. The so-called shadow-mask picture tube was patented, the basis of later color picture tubes.
The trade fair took place one more time before the beginning of the Second World War, from July 28 to August 6. 137 exhibitors presented their innovations to 320,575 visitors at the 16th “Great German Radio and Television Broadcasting Exhibition.” Three technical impressions have been handed down: high-quality musical reproduction, powerful shortwave reception, and push buttons. Prices had also fallen again: in 1935 a four-tube standard superhet cost around 275 Reichsmarks; in 1939 the price was 186 Reichsmarks. Of the 34 factories that produced branded receivers, 242 new device types were presented. The music cabinet as the “crowning achievement of the program” was more frequently represented. The focus of television was the E1 standardized television receiver, which was developed and produced jointly by the companies of the television industry. It was to be available from mid-December at a price of 650 Reichsmarks. The first projection devices showed image sizes of up to 50 x 42 cm.
Exhibition stand of the trade magazine “Radio Mentor” at the 16th International Radio Exhibition (IFA) in Berlin
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, thereby triggering the Second World War. With the start of the war, production of the E1 standardized television receiver was discontinued. Only 50 units were produced. After Germany, England, and France, the USA was the fourth country in which a regular television service was launched in April 1939.
In the years 1940 to 1949, no radio exhibitions were held due to the Second World War and the postwar period.
From June 1940, all German radio broadcasters aired a unified program, and listening to foreign radio stations was prohibited in Germany under penalty of death. The first record changers came onto the market. The “Robinson computer” worked with relay technology.
In 1941, Konrad Zuse presented his “Z-3” computer.
In 1942, Eduard Rhein (1900 – 1993) developed the so-called variable microgroove process, the basis for long-playing records, which were produced from 1952 onward.
In 1943, more than 16 million radio subscribers were registered in Germany.
On May 10, 1945, the last transmitter of the Reich Broadcasting Corporation was occupied by a British unit. Program operations were discontinued, and later every German broadcasting service was prohibited. Under Allied supervision, some radio stations then began broadcasting their programs again in 1945. The scientist Arthur C. Clarke demonstrated that any satellite placed at an altitude of about 36,000 km above the equator requires exactly 24 hours for one orbit around the Earth, the same time the Earth needs for one rotation. Clarke also recognized that three satellites placed at the correct distance in the geostationary orbit named after him could reach the entire surface of the Earth with the exception of the polar caps in the north and south.
In 1946, the then Soviet Union was the first country to introduce a television system with a 625-line standard. The later systems in many countries also had 625 lines. On December 13, 1946, the first issue of the program magazine “HÖR ZU” appeared. The “ENIAC” was the first fully electronic computer.
In 1947, the “Heinzelmann” radio construction kit came onto the market. The tubes for it had to be obtained on the black market. On December 23, 1947, AT & T Bell Laboratories presented the transistor. The invention was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1958.
Over the course of 1948 and 1949, the victorious powers returned the broadcasting institutions to German hands. In 1948, Great Britain approved the reintroduction of television in Hamburg, whereupon experimental broadcasts were carried out with 625 lines in the CCIR standard. In the USA, the first studio tape recorder came out in 1948.
On February 28, 1949, the first German VHF transmitter went on air in Munich-Freimann. In the Federal Republic of Germany, around 150 companies manufactured radio sets in 1949, including the first tube-equipped portable radio receiver for battery and mains operation. The receiving unit of the car radio was installed in the dashboard for the first time in 1949.
1950–1959:
The 17th “Deutsche Funkausstellung Düsseldorf” was the first edition of the trade fair after the Second World War. From August 18 to 27, 234 exhibitors presented their innovations. Due to the political situation surrounding Berlin, the organizers had chosen Düsseldorf as a location in the West. Almost 230,000 visitors are recorded for this radio exhibition. It was dominated by VHF FM. More than 20 models of the so-called audio furniture, as tabletop versions or music cabinets, some with record changers, were on display from 13 manufacturers. The “Tefifon” used a sound tape cassette with playing times of up to 60 minutes instead of a record. With the “Optaphon,” what was probably the world’s first cassette tape recorder was presented.
On June 5, ARD, the consortium of public broadcasters of the Federal Republic of Germany, was founded. The television test pattern was launched on July 12. “UNIVAC” was the first commercial mainframe computer. The first public transmission of a television program across the English Channel took place on August 27. In the GDR, the gradual introduction of VHF FM began.
No radio exhibition took place in these years.
In 1951, the development of video recorders began. CBS showed the first color TV demonstration in 1951. The first microwave link for television transmission was established between Hamburg and Cologne in 1951. Car radios had station buttons for the first time. The first fully automatic washing machine was presented to the public on July 3. It weighed 600 kilos, consumed 225 liters of water per wash cycle, and cost a hefty 2,280 marks. At the “Deutsche Industrie-Ausstellung” from October 6 to 21 in Berlin, visitors could admire a television street 100 meters long with 36 sets. 17 companies were involved.
In 1952, there were ten million radio subscribers in the Federal Republic. On December 25, television broadcasting began in the Federal Republic, and on December 26, 1952, the first Tagesschau was broadcast. In the GDR, television started on December 21 from East Berlin. Around 4,000 television sets were sold that year, priced at approx. 1,000 DM. The first car radios with VHF FM came onto the market. The first tape recorder for under 1,000 DM came onto the market. “Musikus” was the name of a device that turned a record player into a tape recorder as an add-on. An early wristwatch had a mini battery as its energy store instead of a spring mechanism (allegedly with enough energy for one year).
Once again in Düsseldorf, the 18th “Große Deutsche Rundfunk- Phono- und Fernseh-Ausstellung” took place from August 29 to September 6. It attracted 307,000 visitors. 248 exhibitors are recorded. Originally, the radio exhibition was to take place every two years—so it would actually have been planned for 1952, but the delay in the start of television led to its postponement to 1953. The two-year rhythm was maintained from then on. 29 companies presented 152 home radio receivers. The new generation of receivers showed “refinements in design and circuitry.” 90 percent of all receivers had push buttons for station selection. Tape recorders were now also built into music consoles. The “television street” was described as a “special attraction.” 24 device manufacturers demonstrated 68 different television sets. The focus was on so-called tabletop sets with a 36 cm (14 inch) picture size, priced at 1,000 DM. TV floor-standing sets had a 43 cm (17 inch) picture. Luxurious television combination consoles with radio chassis, tape recorder, and record player cost more than 3,000 DM. The top price was a luxury cabinet with a 68 cm (27 inch) picture tube for a hefty 6,200 DM. The vinyl single came onto the market.
Japan became the first Asian country to launch a regular television program service on February 1. On March 27, the ARD broadcasters decided on a joint television program, “Deutsches Fernsehen.” On April 1, 1953, 1,525 registered television sets were recorded. The number of radio listeners at the beginning of 1953 was 11.5 million. Deutsche Welle began its regular broadcasts overseas on May 3. The so-called helical scan recording process was patented. It is the basis for the magnetic recording of video images. Automatic station search in car radios had its world premiere, and by the end of the year 40 percent of cars had a car radio. Another innovation for reception in the car was the automatically extending, motorized telescopic antenna. The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on June 2 was the first major event to be broadcast live on television internationally. The world’s first built-in refrigerator came onto the market.
No radio exhibition took place this year.
The first TV sets with wired remote controls appeared. The Football World Cup was another major event for television broadcasting. The broadcaster “Freies Berlin” started on June 1 as the seventh ARD broadcaster. On June 6, “Eurovision” was founded for European television exchange and connected 45 television stations in England, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, and Italy. The first “license dodger” who did not want to register his television set was fined 150 DM. In the USA, color television based on the NTSC system was introduced. On October 3, Deutsche Welle’s first news broadcasts in foreign languages began. NDR launched a third channel on a trial basis, and the first jukeboxes were produced.
From August 26 to September 4, the 19th “Große Deutsche Rundfunk- Fernseh- und Phono-Ausstellung” took place once again in Düsseldorf. 238 exhibitors presented their products to 450,000 visitors. The radio tabletop receivers shown had hardly changed in appearance: dark wooden cabinets with large dials, push buttons, and gold decorations. In terms of design, however, there was a surprise with the “SK 1,” a handy small radio from Braun, which was to fundamentally change radio design. On the technical side, the so-called 3D spatial sound with loudspeakers placed in the side panels was new. There were also radios with a wired remote control. In top models, station tuning was motor-driven. The range of so-called portable receivers had also expanded, some with built-in record players. 17 manufacturers showed 187 different types of television sets. The standard size was now the 43 cm picture tube. More expensive models had a 53 cm picture, and some television consoles had 62 and 72 cm picture tubes. In addition, the first home projection devices were shown, enabling images up to 135 x 100 cm. Deutsche Bundespost demonstrated a “TV license evader detection device.”
The number of television subscribers in Germany was around 177,000 in August and 200,000 at the end of the year. With 30 television transmitters by the end of the year, 80 percent of Germany’s population could be supplied. On December 21, “Deutscher Fernsehfunk” began its programming at the East Berlin television center in Adlershof. 80 television stations in Western Europe already reached 150 million people. The first transistor computer was presented. Flash-Matic was the name of the first wireless remote control for televisions.
There was no radio exhibition this year.
The production of radio and television sets in Germany had exceeded a value of one billion DM. In April, the first video recorder was presented. The hard disk and the light-emitting diode were invented. The first German transistor travel receiver came onto the market. The year is considered the year of full employment in Germany, and electronics as a growth industry played a major role in this. On September 26, the first intercontinental undersea telephone cable between North America and Europe was put into operation. The first television commercial was broadcast in November. Among dictation machines, the first models with cassettes instead of open tape reels appeared.
The number of exhibitors at the 20th “Große Deutsche Rundfunk- Fernseh- und Phono-Ausstellung” was 222. It took place for the first time in Frankfurt am Main from August 2 to 11 and had 493,000 visitors. 500 different products were presented by 200 manufacturers. For radio receivers, the focus was on improving sound. Listeners could set an individual sound profile using tone controls. The term “High Fidelity,” or “HiFi” for short, was from then on considered a technical term and standard designation for true-to-life sound reproduction. Among portable radio receivers, “fully transistorized” devices appeared for the first time. Printed circuit technology became more and more established. It allowed assembly-line production and was less prone to errors in production compared with hand-wired devices. Record players were also characterized by HiFi, with new magnetic systems and diamond pickups. Around 160 different television sets were exhibited, mostly with 43 and 53 cm picture tubes. With additional buttons, “clear drawing,” “sharp drawing,” or “tele-magnifier” functions could be switched on to change the picture character. For the first time, there was also adjustable lighting on the back of the TV for background illumination of the living room. The first manufacturers offered a UHF converter for the announced reception of the second program.
Television began to develop into a mass medium. The first portable television was presented, and the number of television subscribers in the FRG exceeded the one-million mark. There was a special television postage stamp. “Sputnik,” the first satellite, was launched on October 4.
No radio exhibition took place this year.
The first experiments with stereo radio began. The first color video recorder was presented, and the stereo record came onto the market, as did the first stereo tape recorder. In June, ARD decided to make preparations for a second television program. A removable car radio could also be used outside the car when operated by battery. The first record player for cars came onto the market. Television sets received on-screen displays for correct tuning. In addition, the first wireless microphone came onto the market, and the “Nixie tube” appeared as an early digital display component. The first integrated circuit was invented. On October 4, the USA launched its first satellite, “Explorer 1.” The first automatic washing machine revolutionized housework.
This year, too, the “Deutsche Rundfunk, Fernseh- und Phono-Ausstellung,” now the 21st, took place in Frankfurt am Main. 202 exhibitors attracted 532,000 visitors. Interesting innovations included phono stereo playback, transistor technology in VHF FM receivers, and 110° deflection in picture tubes. Radio tabletop receivers could now play stereo records because they had an integrated two-channel amplifier. Most record players, tape recorders, and music cabinets were stereo-capable. Also noteworthy was the first three-part stereo system in flatter modular construction, consisting of a receiver unit, phono system, and stereo amplifier. A total of 207 television receivers and combination consoles were shown by 22 manufacturers. The picture size was mainly set at 53 cm, and televisions with wireless ultrasonic remote controls came onto the market. The first video recorders with helical scan recording were presented. In three television studios at the trade fair, a produced exhibition program was broadcast daily, much of it via all television stations in the Federal Republic. This included reports on the exhibition’s innovations, family and children’s programs, and entertainment shows. “It can rightly be said that the television set has become consumer good number 1,” stated the exhibition catalog.
There were now also battery-operated tape recorders. The Sandmännchen started on television, and on June 18 the first television transmission from London to Montreal via transatlantic cable took place.
Sources
Die Geschichte der Unterhaltungselektronik, Jochen Wiesinger
70 Jahre Funkausstellung, Heide Riedel
Vom Dampfradio bis Multimedia, Claus Reuber
1960–1969:
No radio exhibition took place this year.
In Germany, television sets with UHF tuners came onto the market, and “printed wiring” led to new design possibilities. The first “ICs” = Integrated Circuits were invented. The precursor to the mobile phone, the “public mobile land radio service,” abbreviated “öbL,” served around 800 vehicles with 28 radio stations for a monthly fee of 45 DM and 0.16 DM for a three-minute call.
The 22nd “Deutsche Rundfunk-Fernseh- und Phono-Ausstellung” took place from August 25 to September 3, back in Berlin for the first time since 1939. The number of exhibitors was 174, and 387,500 visitors were counted. Federal President Heinrich Lübke welcomed its return to its place of origin. After the construction of the Berlin Wall on August 13, German industry nevertheless decided to hold the radio exhibition. With a “now more than ever” attitude, 100,000 visitors had already “stormed” the exhibition halls 48 hours after the opening on August 25. The equipment of home radio devices had reached a “certain conclusion.” One innovation was cordless home devices, which, depending on the type of battery used, had a running time of between 150 and 500 hours. The so-called portable sets could also be used in the car with an appropriate holder. Other car radios were fully transistorized. The design of radios had also changed: curved shapes and gold-plated trim were “out.” Nevertheless, numerous music cabinets could be seen, from inexpensive formats to luxury versions in period-furniture design. The home tape recorder enjoyed increasing popularity; four-track technology, a built-in mixing console, and battery operation are worth mentioning. Among televisions, the 59 cm (23 inch) picture tube had become established. All TVs exhibited had UHF sections for receiving the second program.
The Federal Constitutional Court rejected federal government-owned television. On December 16, the minister-presidents spoke out in favor of introducing Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen. In the USA, the broadcasting of stereo programs began.
No radio exhibition took place this year.
Deutschlandfunk began broadcasting on long and medium wave on January 1. From July 1, the “Telstar” satellite enabled the direct exchange of programs across the Atlantic. The “dhfi,” the German High Fidelity Institute, was founded and developed the HiFi quality standards. The red light-emitting diode (LED) was developed. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the first computer game, “Space War,” was programmed.
From August 30 to September 8, the 23rd “Große Deutsche Funkausstellung” took place in Berlin with 177 exhibitors, and 417,500 visitors are reported. On August 30, stereophonic radio was officially introduced in the Federal Republic. Accordingly, among the 450 radio receivers exhibited, the stereo radio device was the focus. The prevailing cabinet style was the “functional Nordic line” in teak. In the field of HiFi systems, new control units with and without built-in record players were again presented. The range of portable and pocket receivers was described as extraordinarily extensive. For the first time, listeners interested in worldwide long-distance reception were addressed with subdivided shortwave reception ranges. The Compact Cassette was presented at the radio exhibition. The television sets exhibited no longer had a protective screen in front of the picture tube (to protect against injuries in the event of picture tube implosion). In one TV set, the electronics were housed in a flat cabinet, with the picture tube mounted above it so that it could rotate. Portable televisions were available with 36, 41, and 48 cm pictures, as well as a 25 cm model with battery operation. More than 100 television events, for the first time in cooperation between ARD and ZDF, involving around 1,000 editors, technicians, artists, and others, are recorded. Deutsche Bundespost presented the “Bridge to Berlin” with long-distance calls, telegrams, radio, and television programs in a special show. ARD showed an anniversary exhibition, “40 Years of Radio.”
At the beginning of the year, 16.7 million fee-paying radio subscribers and 7.2 million television subscribers were reported. On January 3, the PAL color television system was patented. Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) began broadcasting on April 1. A method for noise reduction in tape recordings was developed. On June 23 and 24, US President John F. Kennedy visited the FRG and West Berlin. 17 hours of television were produced live for this by 400 employees using 40 television cameras, twelve outside broadcast vans, and a helicopter. Cameras with autofocus were available for the first time.
No radio exhibition took place this year.
The ten-millionth television set was registered in the Federal Republic. The American lunar probe “Ranger VII” transmitted 4,316 television images from close proximity to the Moon for 16 minutes before its impact on the lunar surface. The preliminary stage for HDTV development was launched in Japan as the “Television of the Future” project. Eleven countries founded the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTEL-SAT). From October 1, Westdeutscher Rundfunk broadcast police reports on traffic jams for the first time, the precursor to traffic radio.
From August 27 to September 5, the 24th “Deutsche Funkausstellung” took place in Stuttgart. 116 exhibitors presented their products to 566,000 visitors. Among radio receivers, wide and flat stereo control units with one loudspeaker box connected on the left and one on the right were the focus. Music consoles were available in the styles “modern, baroque, and old German.” In the tape recorder sector, cassette devices were among the most promising innovations. There was also a playback device for the car radio for the cassettes. Higher-end tape recorders met the HiFi standard for sound quality. The innovations of the phono industry were so-called phono cases, which had removable upper housing sections with loudspeakers. Around 25 percent of the televisions exhibited had a 65 cm (26 inch) picture tube. A novelty was the so-called one-button program selector. “The cabinets are consistently modern in design; the asymmetrical type dominates,” it said. Matching tubular steel stands and small tables were available for many tabletop receivers, turning the device into a floor-standing receiver. One device featured a key switch intended to prevent unauthorized use. In addition, the PAL color television system was already on everyone’s lips. The introduction of color television in West Germany had been delayed by the political system dispute PAL vs. SECAM. The new stereo outside broadcast van of Süddeutscher Rundfunk, the first and at that time the only one of its kind, was used for the first time during the radio exhibition. Deutsche Bundespost provided information in a special show about its activities in the field of radio—from car telephones and microwave links to satellite communications.
The first commercially used geostationary INTELSAT communications satellite was launched on April 6 and, from June 28, transmitted long-distance calls, telex messages, and television broadcasts. The “Mariner IV” space probe sent television images of the surface of Mars on July 14.
There was no radio exhibition this year.
At the CCIR plenary assembly (Comité Consultatif International des Radiocommunications), the decision was made on the color television standards in the respective countries. 59 percent of the countries chose the PAL system, 36 percent SECAM, and 5 percent had not yet decided. The HiFi standard DIN 45 500 was adopted. The first home video game was developed. A first patent for fiber-optic technology was filed on December 21. Dictation machines received a mini-cassette, which was considerably smaller than those previously used. Europe’s first electronically controlled dryer came onto the market.
The number of exhibitors at the 25th “Große Deutsche Funkausstellung” was 184. It took place again in Berlin from August 25 to September 3 and had 502,500 visitors. This radio exhibition was clearly dominated by the introduction of color television based on the PAL system developed in the FRG. The then Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Willy Brandt pressed the symbolic red button at the radio exhibition on August 25. The Federal Republic of Germany was the first European country to have color television. 18 companies exhibited more than 50 color TVs, mostly with 63 cm picture tubes. Prices were around 2,400 DM. There was also already a portable color TV with a 28 cm picture size. A curiosity was a so-called multi-program television, which, in addition to a 63 cm color picture, offered three black-and-white pictures measuring 15 cm. Otherwise, the asymmetrical format dominated, with the controls and loudspeaker arranged to the right of the picture. Inside, so-called single-board chassis were used, which could be swung out and thus made servicing the device easier. In televisions and radios, varactor diodes made their way into the receiving sections and improved the technology. Special bedside receivers with clock and alarm function were offered; one model even had an integrated bedside lamp. Another innovation was the radio recorder, a combination of radio and cassette recorder, and the 120-minute Compact Cassette was presented.
By the end of the year, 5,744 minutes of TV programming had been broadcast in color, an average of five hours and eleven minutes per day. At the start of color television, there were over 13 million black-and-white TVs in West Germany, a household saturation level of around 64 percent. A portable black-and-white video recorder was presented, and the first television telephones were demonstrated. In addition, the first pocket calculator was produced.
No radio exhibition took place this year.
Television programs could be transmitted via the INTELSAT III satellite without telephone calls or data transmissions having to be interrupted. The “Trinitron” color picture tube was presented, and Tagesschau received a weather map. The GDR reported nationwide coverage with VHF FM radio with several programs.
Stuttgart was once again the venue for the “Deutsche Funkausstellung,” the 26th, from August 29 to September 7. 121 exhibitors attracted more than 726,000 visitors. Stuttgart was chosen as the venue because television density in the southwestern German region was lower than in the rest of the Federal Republic. As expected, the focus was on color television. 16 manufacturers presented around 125 devices. It was recorded as “remarkable” that the increased use of transistors had noticeably reduced energy requirements. There was also a report of a TV that met the HiFi standard DIN 45 500 for sound. Instead of rotary controls, slide controls were used, making device adjustment easier. A console called “Colorvision” had a television and an 8 mm narrow-film scanner built in. This allowed narrow films to be viewed on the TV. Silicon transistors and integrated circuits made their way into TV sets. The first video recording devices could be seen: 45 minutes of playing time in black and white with sound, priced around 2,000 DM. Among HiFi devices, the trend was toward flat compact systems in which the receiver unit, amplifier, and record player were integrated; sliders became modern. Radios for on the go used pop colors and fashionable shapes intended to appeal to the younger generation. The car radio became stereo-capable and had a cassette drive. In addition, a radio antenna integrated into the rear-view mirror was on display. Record players received electronic assemblies that kept the speed and wow and flutter constant. In addition, “dummy head stereophony” was presented as head-related stereo reproduction. ARD and ZDF operated a joint television studio operation at the radio exhibition for the first time. The motto was “Color is trump.” Both broadcasters invested a total of around two million DM and arrived with a fleet of outside broadcast vans on a scale never seen before. Several kilometers of cable were laid, and ZDF alone had deployed 600 employees for the radio exhibition.
In January, the ZDF Hitparade started. The Moon landing on July 21 was already watched in color by 450,000 people in the FRG. On its 20th anniversary on October 3, the GDR received a second TV program, also in color. Almost 16 million TV sets were registered at the end of the year, and demand for color television sets exceeded industry expectations. Thus, 2.4 million black-and-white televisions, 500,000 color TVs, and 6.5 million radio sets were produced in the FRG that year. The first home video recorders were brought onto the market, and the development prototype of a cordless telephone was presented. The television tower in East Berlin was opened.
Sources:
Die Geschichte der Unterhaltungselektronik, Jochen Wiesinger
70 Jahre Funkausstellung, Heide Riedel
Vom Dampfradio bis Multimedia, Claus Reuber
1970–1979:
The 27th “Deutsche Funkausstellung Düsseldorf” from August 21 to 30 was a combined event with the “hifi’70 International Exhibition with Festival.” There were 226 exhibitors and 603,000 visitors. Nevertheless, the focus was on color televisions: 218 TV models, 99 of them color TVs, were shown by 14 German manufacturers. New was the 66 cm (26 inch) picture tube using 100-degree deflection technology, which allowed shallower cabinet depths, albeit at a price 200 to 250 DM higher. The radio made its way into the kitchen and could be mounted under wall cabinets. Portable radios continued to be in great demand, and the range of cassette recorders had increased; one model was designed specifically for adding sound to slide series. One special feature was a spherical speaker with twelve loudspeaker systems. Special exhibitions included, for example, “Living with High Fidelity,” an “Antenna Street,” and the “Music Parade of Records.” Behind the scenes, there was rumbling about the long-overdue opening of the Funkausstellung to international exhibitors and the designation of Berlin as the exclusive venue.
On March 19, SFB inaugurated the new television center in Berlin. The picture aspect ratio changed from 5:4 to 4:3, and in Switzerland an electro-optical effect was discovered that forms the basis for liquid crystal technology (Liquid Crystal Display = LCD). Initial teletext trials were carried out in England. The Tagesschau was now broadcast in color. The floppy disk was invented this year.
With the 28th “International Funkausstellung” from August 27 to September 5 in Berlin, the demanded opening to international exhibitors (initially mostly from Japan) was implemented. Accordingly, the name also reflected this. The three letters I F A still stand for the trade fair today, and Berlin is now its permanent venue. The number of exhibitors was 285, and just under 599,000 visitors were counted. The iconic logo, the so-called “Funk Otto,” made its debut at this IFA. Color television receivers had been further improved in terms of circuitry, and semiconductor technology had been used more consistently. A novelty was sensor buttons, which allowed programs to be switched with a light touch and without mechanical effort. There was a large range of portable black-and-white sets, including a model in a silver “Apollo housing” with a chrome-plated swivel base. A color-capable video disc player was announced, and color video recorders were shown. More than 70 companies presented hi-fi equipment, including devices with quadraphony, i.e. four-channel playback for spatial sound. “The home radio receiver in its earlier form is slowly dying out,” it was reported. The first full-stereo car radios came onto the market. From the phono sector, there were new magnetic cartridges and specially ground diamond styli for optimal record playback. As part of a special exhibition, Deutsche Bundespost demonstrated a car telephone with direct dialing.
The INTELSAT II satellite had capacity for 4,000 telephone/data lines and two television channels. The first email was sent via Arpanet, and the first microprocessor, the Intel 4004, was introduced; it had 2,300 transistors.
No Funkausstellung took place this year.
The Laservision video disc player was presented. However, its market launch was still six years away. “Pong” was the name of the first, still quite primitive, arcade video game. The Olympic Games took place in Munich, with television production in color for the first time. The traffic radio station identification system ARI (Auto-Rundfunk-Information) was tested on FM from December 1. The B network for radio telephones was launched.
From August 31 to September 9, the 29th “International Funkausstellung” took place with 371 exhibitors from 24 countries, and 603,000 visitors were reported. Competition in television sets was said to be becoming ever tougher. Transistor equipment had become established. Wireless remote control, sensor buttons, and modular technology were part of the standard equipment. Sets with smaller screen sizes were a domain of Japanese producers, but German companies also showed new color portables with 36 cm screens. For the first time, the field of “audiovision” was mentioned, with video discs and video recorders. The color-capable portable camera recorder was described as a surprise. A first clock radio with a digital clock and seven-segment display came onto the market. The elimination of mechanics allowed silent operation and time settings accurate to the minute. Hi-fi devices offered a high level of technical convenience with various display instruments. In tape recorders and record players, hi-fi was the focus. Some cassette decks had auto-reverse operation. Among the special exhibitions were a “model workshop” for service operations and “Environments from Five Decades of German Broadcasting History.” In media policy, there were discussions about the establishment of cable television networks and communal antenna systems.
On June 6, the history of gfu began: eleven leading consumer electronics companies founded the “gfu – Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Unterhaltungselektronik” at that time. The founders defined the company’s purpose as organizing trade fairs, in particular the International Funkausstellung. In Japan, the first liquid crystal displays (LCDs) were presented. “Berlin” was the name of a car radio model whose controls were operated via a separate gooseneck. The first ceramic glass cooktops were brought to market.
No IFA took place this year.
The ARI traffic radio system was introduced. The decision to develop the Compact Disc (CD) was made. The first computer-controlled exchange went into operation in Munich. The “Eurosignal” radio paging system became a new communication service for the “mobile citizen.” It could transmit four “beeps” for four prearranged pieces of information. In the USA, the “Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol” TCP/IP was developed this year and declared mandatory by the US Department of Defense for Arpanet (Arpa = Advanced Research Projects Agency). In addition, the demonstration and testing phase of the “Global Positioning System” (GPS) began and lasted until 1979.
The 30th “International Funkausstellung” took place this year from August 29 to September 7. 386 exhibitors from 24 countries presented their products to 604,000 visitors. In television sets, infrared sound transmission for headphones, the display of device setting values on the screen, and built-in digital clocks appeared. So-called cable tuners were presented for retrofitting. New portables came in many variants, including a 7.5 cm model with an integrated radio. Video recorders using the Betamax system were shown but were not yet available in Europe. High fidelity had meanwhile become standard in the audio segment. Digital displays for preset position and frequency were new. In car radios, the traffic radio decoder made its debut. During the IFA, ARD produced 70 radio and television programs, and ZDF 30 programs. Among the special exhibitions, a “multi-media show” by Deutsche Bundespost was mentioned for the first time. Also new was the scientific and technical supporting program. Here, scientists, technicians, and practitioners wanted to enter into dialogue with one another. In addition, the prizewinners of the “Jugend forscht” competition took part.
Television sets now came with remote controls as standard. Video recorders using the Betamax and VHS systems were introduced in Japan and the USA. An electronic traffic route guidance system, the Autofahrer-Leit- und -Informationssystem (ALI), was developed. Digital watches with red LED numerals were “in.” Gordon Moore, founding chairman of Intel, stated that the complexity of semiconductor chips would double approximately every two years. This statement is known today as “Moore’s Law” and still applies. Microsoft was founded this year, and the programming language “Basic” (Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) was published.
There was no IFA this year.
The unsuccessful TED video disc disappeared from the market. On April 1, Apple was founded and the Apple 1 was presented. The Video Programming System (VPS) was filed for patent. Two superlatives were reported for picture tubes: 5 cm and 82 cm screen diagonals. The first TV sets received an infrared remote control. The first so-called tele-games were built into television sets, and “home video game devices” with interchangeable game cartridges appeared.
The number of exhibitors at the 31st “International Funkausstellung” was 468 from 27 countries. It took place from August 26 to September 4 and had 626,000 visitors. The tenth birthday of color television in West Germany could be celebrated. Reports spoke of picture tubes that were 70 percent brighter and of further reduced power consumption. Microprocessor control now allowed electronic station search and direct channel entry. Another novelty was picture-in-picture technology, a way to display a small full image of another program within the main picture. Other models had small additional black-and-white screens for this purpose. Built-in hi-fi loudspeaker systems were intended to improve TV sound. Teletext decoders for retrofitting were offered. The competition among video recorder systems began with three systems being presented at the IFA: VCR, Betamax, and VHS. “The hi-fi devices attracted great interest,” it was reported. They offered improved ease of operation, ultrasonic remote control, and illuminated bands or already digital frequency displays, which replaced pointer instruments. In clock radios, quartz control became established, and digital displays with large numerals became standard. In car radios, too, the digital frequency display replaced the pointer scale. A removable control panel served as theft protection. Particularly interesting were record players with servo-electrically controlled tangential tonearms and quartz-controlled direct drive or a linear motor as direct drive. ARD and ZDF broadcast a first teletext program during the IFA. Special exhibitions included the demonstration of Bildschirmtext (Btx), cable television, 100 years of the telephone, the Audiovision ’77 trade show, transmission technology via satellites, 25 years of television in the Federal Republic of Germany, and the technical-scientific supporting program “Information Show on Communications Technology.”
There were 20 million television households in the Federal Republic of Germany this year, half of them with color TVs. Worldwide, there were said to be 400 million TVs. The Apple II had a color graphics card. This year, the Broadcasting Satellite Conference met in Geneva and determined the allocation of orbital positions and transmission frequencies. It was expected that direct satellite reception would be possible with 90 cm antennas. Deutsche Bundespost tested fiber-optic communication in a trial in West Berlin. “Jedermann-Funk,” CB radio, allowed voice radio communication without fees.
No IFA took place this year.
Under the name “Prestel,” Bildschirmtext was introduced in Great Britain. The combination of television and telephone turned the screen into an interactive data terminal. The CD was publicly announced on May 17. The world market for compact cassettes was estimated at one billion units, probably including 300 million prerecorded music cassettes. Annual growth was expected to be up to 30 percent. The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the “Orbital Test Satellite” OTS in May. It was used for experimental transmissions with digital signals. The Football World Cup in Argentina was the first international sporting event to be transmitted completely by satellite between continents. The first LaserDisc player was presented.
The 32nd “International Funkausstellung,” which took place from August 24 to September 2, welcomed 628,000 visitors. 525 exhibitors from 26 countries showed their innovations. In television sets, synthesizer tuning for 99 channels with up to 30 program memory positions and microprocessor control were almost standard. The infrared remote control had replaced the ultrasonic version. A new generation of picture tubes offered improved picture quality. Some models had Bildschirmtext and teletext built in; others could be retrofitted for them. The “quasi-parallel sound method” improved TV sound, and the first prototypes for stereo TV sound were exhibited. Projection TV receivers showed images from 1.25 to over two meters. The Video 2000 system with reversible cassette entered the competition among video recorder systems in place of the VCR system. A portable VHS recorder and a range of color cameras competed with narrow-gauge film. Hi-fi devices came in several designs: the standard format, slim or flatline, and mini series. The stars among portable radio receivers were the so-called world receivers, now with synthesizer tuning and microprocessor control. There were clock radios that announced the time with a synthetically generated voice. Cassette devices were once again technically improved, and reel-to-reel tape recorders retreated into the niche for tape enthusiasts. A car radio with microprocessor control managed without knobs.
On May 7, the first functional CD player with laser-optical scanning was presented. On May 11, the minister-presidents of the federal states agreed on joint cable television pilot projects. ARD/ZDF teletext was broadcast nationwide during the IFA. In Japan, the “Walkman,” a small cassette player hardly larger than the compact cassette, was introduced on July 1. On July 12, the reorganization of broadcasting in northern Germany was announced; for the first time, private broadcasting operators were also envisaged. In the Federal Republic of Germany, 170,000 video recorders had already been sold.
Sources:
Die Geschichte der Unterhaltungselektronik, Jochen Wiesinger
70 Jahre Funkausstellung, Heide Riedel
Vom Dampfradio bis Multimedia, Claus Reuber
1980–1989:
No IFA was held this year.
Deutsche Bundespost launched Bildschirmtext (Btx) field trials in several federal states. At the Institut für Rundfunktechnik (IRT), the research institute of the broadcasting organizations, investigations began into terrestrial radio broadcasting with digital coding. A “home computer” intended as an add-on device for a television cost around DM 3,000 in its minimum configuration for black-and-white. In Germany, 450,000 video recorders were sold this year. The average price was DM 2,500.
The 33rd “Internationale Funkausstellung,” held from September 4 to 13, had 544 exhibitors from 27 countries and just under 418,000 visitors. One of the topics was the launch of stereo and multichannel sound on West German television on September 4. As a result, television sets once again took on a symmetrical wide form with the two speakers arranged on the left and right. Separate speakers were offered for the monitor form. Video recorders and video cameras were “crowd-pullers.” “Among the new video recorder presentations, a trend toward improved ease of operation is emerging,” it was reported. This was a frequently and extensively discussed topic at the time. In the hi-fi sector, component systems made up of individual units predominated. The first devices could display the selected stations with their abbreviations. Cassette players had motorized drawers for inserting the cassette, or even dual decks with which cassettes could be copied. A waterproof floating pouch was available for the Walkman. The special exhibitions showed “The Development of Television” as well as, by Deutsche Bundespost, “BIGFON” (broadband integrated fiber-optic local telecommunications network), satellite reception for radio and television, and Bildschirmtext (Btx). A model workshop and the antenna street were also represented. The total broadcasting time by ARD and ZDF from the IFA amounted to 210 hours (radio and television).
On August 12, the first “personal computer” was presented in the USA, with a floppy disk drive and a green screen with 25 lines of 80 characters each. As many as 40,000 units of an early “portable” computer weighing 12 kg were sold that year.
No IFA was held this year.
On February 28 and March 7, NDR’s third channel experimentally broadcast three-dimensional films. Viewers had to wear red/green glasses. The prototype of a DSR receiver (Digital Satellite Radio) was presented, as was a method for improving sound on FM, “HighCom-FM.” CD production began in Hannover-Langenhagen. The “SCART” connector, later the “Euro-AV connector,” was developed as an interface between audiovisual devices. The first flat-screen technologies based on electroluminescence, plasma, or zinc sulfide were presented, as was the “Commodore 64” home computer. The 8-mm video system was announced. 127 manufacturers of video equipment and cassettes agreed on a new “world standard.” Video recorder sales in Germany exceeded the one-million mark. Major companies in the electronics and toy industries became involved in the video game market, which nevertheless collapsed in the USA. The success of home and personal computers as the most important “gaming machines” began. Sales of video recorders in Germany passed the million mark.
From September 2 to 11, the 34th “Internationale Funkausstellung” took place with 765 exhibitors from 27 countries, and more than 423,000 visitors were reported. The first TV sets with the so-called “digital concept” were presented. The teletext decoder became an integral part of television sets. The “Euro-AV connector” for connecting video recorders, video disc players, or satellite receivers was mentioned for the first time; it replaced the German DIN-AV socket. Color televisions with built-in video recorders came onto the market. Bildschirmtext based on the CEPT standard was launched in Berlin on September 15, and nationwide only during the course of 1984. The camcorder referred to as “VHS Video Movie” offered the possibility of immediately playing back recordings via the built-in viewfinder monitor. It was smaller and lighter than other models and used the VHS-C mini cassette, which could be played in a VHS video recorder with the help of an adapter. The star of the hi-fi offerings was the CD player. For the first time, there was talk of “elegant” design in hi-fi systems. A “talking” car radio attracted attention by telling the driver, for example, which program he had selected. The first CD players for use in cars were presented. The special exhibitions featured demonstrations of the future transmission of television and radio programs via broadcasting satellites, cable connection, and video conferences/video telephony. There were lectures on digital technology. In the technical and scientific supporting program, three-dimensional television was among the topics. Deutsche Bundespost announced that the Btx (Bildschirmtext) test period had been completed and that the service would be introduced nationwide as a new telecommunications service. Overall, there was much talk of the “new media.”
From January 1, SAT. 1 became the first private broadcaster to transmit its TV program nationwide. RTL plus followed on January 2. On January 3, WDR became the first state broadcasting corporation to begin broadcasting a regional teletext service on its third channel. Other broadcasting corporations followed during the year. Japan presented its HDTV system at the TV Symposium in Montreux. The federal states ratified the Btx State Treaty. A “single-chip FM receiver” measured 2.85 x 1.58 mm and made small receivers possible, such as wristwatch radios. SMDs, Surface Mounted Devices, components for mounting directly on the circuit board without mounting holes and wire connections, became current and reduced both the space required and the assembly costs of electronic modules. The CD-ROM, the CD as a storage medium with a capacity of 550 Mbytes, was also announced. The first mobile phone came onto the market on June 13; it weighed 800 grams and was 33 cm long. June 16 was the day on which the first ECS satellite (European Communication Satellite) was launched on behalf of Eutelsat. On June 28, the first self-contained navigation systems for cars were presented. The first video camera with a CCD sensor (Charge Coupled Device) instead of a camera tube was presented.
No IFA was held this year.
On January 1, the Ludwigshafen-Vorderpfalz cable pilot project was launched. In addition to the usual television programs, which until then had only been broadcast from television towers, programs from private providers now also came into homes via coaxial copper cables. The Bundesverband Kabel und Satellit (BKS) was founded this year. The trial operation of teletext was transferred to the official program service on July 1, still as a joint service of ARD and ZDF. TV sets for receiving five different standards and projection TVs with a 114 cm picture for around DM 9,000 were presented. Production of Video 2000 devices was discontinued. On December 6, ZDF announced: “We are switching to the Mainz broadcasting center”; the Mainz-Lerchenberg site was inaugurated. World production of electronics amounted to more than DM 600 billion, according to an estimate at the end of the year. Microchips were said to have accounted for just under ten percent.
The 35th “Internationale Funkausstellung” took place this year from August 30 to September 8. 549 exhibitors from 24 countries presented their products to more than 381,000 visitors. In color televisions, there was the rectangular picture tube, in which the corners were no longer rounded and sharpness extended better into the corners. The sets were cable-ready, demand for stereo-capable sets had increased, and there were so-called multi-system sets for the different color standards (PAL, SECAM, NTSC). Watching television while simultaneously monitoring the children’s room with a camera and picture-in-picture was possible. The Video Program System (VPS) started the desired TV recording on the video recorder to the exact minute, even when broadcast times overran or programs were rescheduled. A reading pen for a barcode was intended to make programming video recorders easier. In the hi-fi sector, the CD had established itself. There were portable CD players and radio recorders with CD drives, as well as the first car radios with CD drives. The first satellite TV receivers were presented. In addition to ARD and ZDF, RTL plus, SAT.1, and other private radio providers were represented at the IFA for the first time and produced a total of just under 500 hours of radio and television programming. In the technical and scientific program, there was talk of high-quality television (HQTV), Enhanced TV (EDTV), high-definition television (HDTV), and three-dimensional television (3DTV) without glasses. Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl opened the IFA. In doing so, he criticized the “refusal stance” of some federal states regarding the introduction of the new information and communication technologies. A fitting quote: “One thing was already becoming apparent in 1985: the era of pure consumer electronics was over, and the interconnection of entertainment with use for other purposes, such as shopping via screen, monitoring services, or continuing education, was recognizable.” Nevertheless, the industry complained of a stagnating market and ruinous competition. ARD and ZDF had also prepared for competition from private program providers and increased their live presence at the IFA by 50 percent compared with 1983. Deutsche Bundespost began trial operation of the C mobile telephone network.
85 percent of West German households had a color TV this year. Two days before the IFA, on August 28, the fourth and largest West German cable pilot project was launched in Berlin. At the annual meeting of the technical commission of the European broadcasting organizations, it was decided to provide for the MAC standard (Multiplex Analog Components) for broadcasting satellites. In June, the German and French governments agreed on the use of the D2-MAC standard (D2 = duobinary coding) for direct-broadcast satellites. The CD-ROM (Read Only Memory) was introduced as a storage medium. The “Aqua Stop” function in washing machines protected against flooding.
There was no IFA this year.
At the CCIR General Assembly in Dubrovnik, Japan attempted to have its HDTV standard declared the world standard. This failed due to the veto of the USA and Europe. In October, the Eureka 95 project was launched and development work on a European HDTV standard began. The first TV sets with “flicker-free” 100 Hertz technology came onto the market. In addition to the doubled frame rate, the technology also enabled picture-in-picture and still-image playback. Picture size also increased with the so-called “Jumbo” TVs with 82 cm (32 inch) and 95 cm (37 inch) picture tubes. Weight and price were also high: 125 kg and around DM 8,000. At the initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Eureka Project 147 was launched for the development of a digital terrestrial broadcasting system (DAB = Digital Audio Broadcasting). British Telecom laid its first underwater fiber-optic cable, 120 km long, to Belgium, with a capacity of 12,000 telephone connections with digital transmission.
The number of exhibitors at the 36th “Internationale Funkausstellung” was 650 from 26 countries. It took place from August 28 to September 6 and had 411,000 visitors. The so-called “Super Planar” picture tube offered a significantly flatter screen as well as an anti-reflective coating against reflections. “Black Matrix” technology also ensured good contrast. A pocket-sized TV with an LC display had a 7.5 cm (3 inch) picture. Teletext decoders now offered memory for up to eight pages. This was intended to make page access faster. A new system, “VPV” (teletext programs video recorder), was intended to handle programming of video recorders. The contents of teletext were taken over directly by the video recorder for programming the recording. S-VHS recorders (Super VHS) were presented, but were not yet available for the PAL television standard. Among camcorders, a similar system dispute took place as had previously occurred with video recorders: Video 8, VHS-C, and VHS competed for the favor of video filmmakers. Camcorders became smaller and lighter; the smallest weighed only 760 grams. The video disc experienced a comeback with CD-Video based on the CD. In broadcasting, the Radio Data System (RDS) celebrated its premiere; introduction was to follow in 1998. Through RDS, the radio receiver recognized the station and its name, received alternative frequencies for the station, and evaluated traffic information. Car radio manufacturers had already shown corresponding models. Another innovation was “Digital Audio Tape” (DAT) for digital, noise-free recordings on tape, which had first been announced in 1985. With the MOD (Magneto Optical Disc), the rewritable CD was presented. In the technical and scientific supporting program, the D2-MAC system and a further development of HDTV, among other things, were shown.
In the telecommunications sector, ISDN = Integrated Services Digital Network was the buzzword, with pilot projects by Deutsche Bundespost. On November 21, the industry’s attention focused on the launch of the first French-German satellite, TV-Sat1. Unfortunately, a “solar paddle” for the power supply could not be deployed correctly, and the satellite had to be abandoned as irreparable on February 24, 1988. The first “portable” computers were presented. Dishwashers 45 cm wide came onto the market, as did dishwashers with cutlery drawers. In addition, the first induction cooktops and the first pressureless steam ovens appeared.
No IFA was held this year.
At the “International Broadcast Convention” (IBC) in Brighton, the European industry presented the complete European HDTV chain. The European Community adopted a directive according to which all European broadcasting satellites were allowed to transmit only in the D2-MAC standard, valid until 12/31/1991. This year, RDS was introduced to the market on April 1. In addition, two programs were launched to improve road traffic with guidance systems and monitoring: “Prometheus” internationally and “Lisb” in Berlin. Also in April of this year, the PALplus working group was established. The first satellite of the Société Européenne des Satellites (SES), Astra 1A, was launched into space on December 11 to the position 19.2° East. It was equipped with 16 transponders, each for one television channel. On December 14, the first transatlantic fiber-optic cable went into operation, with a capacity of 30,000 telephone calls simultaneously. In the video game market, software revenue exceeded hardware revenue for the first time. The first 16-bit game console came onto the market.
The 37th “Internationale Funkausstellung,” which took place from August 25 to September 3, attracted 398,000 visitors. 709 exhibitors from 25 countries showed their products and innovations. Once again, television technology was in the spotlight at the Funkausstellung. D2-MAC, PALplus, and EDTV were the buzzwords for improving the quality of the television picture in the future. In addition, the aim was to change the aspect ratio from 4:3 to 16:9 widescreen format. The first TVs capable of receiving and displaying D2-MAC in widescreen format via satellite were shown. PALplus was intended to improve the picture and switch to 16:9; EDTV was intended to further exploit the PAL standard to its limits. Tiny TVs with flat LC displays were also on show again, along with TVs with built-in satellite tuners. Among video recorders, the VHS system had established itself as the only one on the market. S-VHS recorders brought better picture quality, and among camcorders there was Hi8 for better resolution. Satellite TV receivers occupied a broad field. The Astra satellites accelerated the introduction of this reception method. The high transmission power made reception possible with 60 cm parabolic antennas. Digital Satellite Radio (DSR) via the DFS 1 Kopernikus satellite was launched at the start of the IFA. It offered 16 digital stereo programs. The CD began to push the vinyl record into a niche; accordingly, CD players in the hi-fi segment were again in great demand. The Radio Data System gained acceptance. For the first time, “mobile communication” made its way into the IFA, with telephones, fax machines, and mobile radio technology. As part of the special exhibitions and the technical and scientific program, analog European HDTV in the HD-MAC system was on display within the framework of the EUREKA 95 project. The then Governing Mayor of Berlin, Walter Momper, was quoted in a brochure: “There are only a few areas that have undergone such rapid development in recent years as the new media and information and communication technologies.”
On January 1, Pro7 began broadcasting a nationwide program. Official operation of the Astra satellite began on February 4. Public-service broadcasting organizations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as companies in the European consumer electronics industry, began work on the PALplus project. It enabled the transmission of TV programs in the 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio and was backward-compatible with the PAL standard. The Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) was founded with the aim of developing a world standard for moving-image compression. At the IRT in Munich, with the support of Bayerischer Rundfunk, the first broadcast trials according to the DAB standard took place. In October, it was reported that TV programs were being transmitted in D2-MAC from the TV-Sat2 broadcasting satellite. In Germany, CD sales exceeded those of LP records for the first time. Car radios received a removable control panel as anti-theft protection. The “Game Boy” came onto the market, and the household appliance industry celebrated 100 years of “electrical household appliances.”
Sources:
The History of Consumer Electronics, Jochen Wiesinger
70 Years of the Funkausstellung, Heide Riedel
From Steam Radio to Multimedia, Claus Reuber
1990–1999:
No IFA took place this year.
Teletext broadcasting became a regular service. In addition, the first experimental broadcasts in high-definition television, HDTV, were made on the occasion of the Football World Cup in Italy. The National HDTV Platform Germany was founded, as was the National DAB Platform (Digital Audio Broadcast). For the first time, semiconductor memory with no moving parts was used as audio storage in studio operations. The Digital Compact Cassette DCC and the Photo CD were announced. A voice-controlled video recorder was demonstrated in Japan. The “Super Mario World” games came onto the market.
On October 3, the GDR resolved to accede to the Federal Republic of Germany.
The 38th “Internationale Funkausstellung,” held from August 30 to September 8, had 571 exhibitors from 29 countries and attracted just under 516,000 visitors. After decades, it was once again an all-German radio exhibition. The focus topics of this IFA were, on the one hand, the official start of broadcasting for the European D2-MAC standard and, on the other, the widescreen or cinema format 16:9, to which TV transmission was to be converted. Accordingly, TVs with 92 cm (36 inch), 82 cm (32 inch), and 71 cm (28 inch) screens were on display. A TV projection device with a screen diagonal of 142 cm (56 inch), in 16:9, was shown. A video recorder with an “archive system” was presented. It created an electronic index card for each recording. This was intended to make it possible to bring more order to one’s own recordings. Another attraction was satellite reception. Here, systems for multiple users were the focus. The CD gained several “offshoots”: CD-R, Photo CD, and interactive CD (CD-i). From the audio sector, the presentation of the “DCC” should be mentioned, the further-developed compact cassette with data compression and digital recording. In parallel, the “Mini Disc” (MD) was shown. The small disc with a diameter of 6.4 cm offered a playing time of 74 minutes. In the final report, the “HiFi High End” area was singled out from the overall success of the IFA, an area that has felt at home at the trade fair since IFA 1991. Another focal point was the telecommunications sector, which presented itself at IFA for the second time. Innovations from the categories of telephones (cordless and wired), answering machines, fax, and mobile communications were presented. The press at the time reported that, due to falling prices, a market growth rate of 30 percent was to be expected. ARD and ZDF alternated daily in sharing the location and equipment of Hall 5 and the Summer Garden. The appearances by Thomas Gottschalk and Günther Jauch in the Summer Garden were legendary. The special exhibitions dealt with topics including PALplus, DAB, HDTV Cinema, multimedia applications, and fiber-optic transmission into the home (Fiber to the Home, FTTH). In addition, the “Technical Scientific Program” demonstrated a comparison between FM and DAB, showing the clear advantages of digital transmission. A lecture program for trade and crafts and a data protection symposium rounded off the offering. For the first time, IFA was referred to as a “world-leading trade fair.”
At the first meeting of the national HDTV platform (later renamed the German TV Platform), the focus was on the format change, and it was noted that a 16:9 television could be recognized by its new format even when switched off – the television would finally once again have one of the strongest purchase arguments, namely a gain in prestige. It was also interesting that, on the German market that year, a total of 36 camcorder providers with more than 280 models were active. The dimensions and weight of camcorders became smaller, only 580 grams, for example.
In January, the Federal Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications declared that it was no longer necessary to register parabolic antennas for the reception of radio and television with the authority as part of a fee-based individual permit. The first pay-TV program began on February 28. On March 2, the Astra 1 B satellite was launched. The first GSM call (Global System for Mobile Communications, digital network for radio telephones) took place on July 1.
No IFA took place this year.
On the occasion of the Winter Olympics in Albertville and the Summer Games in Barcelona, the first HDTV test transmissions in HD-MAC took place. They could be viewed at 800 so-called “viewing sites” in Europe. The D networks based on the GSM standard were launched in Germany on July 1. The first LCD TVs with 21.7 cm (8.5 inch) screens for private use made their debut. The data compression standard for moving images presented by the “Motion Pictures Expert Group” (MPEG) allowed compression rates of 200:1. DCC and MD came onto the European market, along with the Photo CD, on which up to 100 images could be stored digitally. Camcorders received a color viewfinder monitor and a Digital Image Stabilizer to counter shaky recordings. A memory chip in the car radio could store four minutes of traffic reports, which could be played back when needed.
From August 27 to September 5, the 39th “Internationale Funkausstellung” took place with 571 exhibitors from 29 countries, and just over 446,000 visitors were reported. It was noted that advancing digitalization was making itself felt in ease of operation, but otherwise technical sensations were in short supply. With so-called OSD technology (On Screen Display), necessary settings could be made from the armchair by remote control using on-screen menus. More and more 16:9 devices were on display, and surround sound arrived. Exclusive designer TVs from renowned design studios (e.g. F.A. Porsche or Luigi Colani) were presented. PALplus with improved picture quality and 16:9 format switching was intended to convince buyers. A laser TV, presented for the first time, also caused a stir. Dolby Pro Logic for spatial sound found its way into TVs. A major topic for televisions was standby consumption, which could be reduced to one watt or less. A surprise was a television with a stainless-steel housing as an environmentally friendly prototype. For video recorders, the introduction of “ShowView” was discussed. The system enabled video recorders to be programmed using a numerical code printed in TV listings magazines. This differed from the so-called “Voice Commander,” which allowed programming by voice. Also intended for video recorders was the so-called “youth-approved bit” in the VPS signal, a content-dependent parental control. The telecommunications sector already occupied 20 percent of IFA’s exhibition space. There, the increasingly handy D-network mobile phones could be admired. For cost reasons, ARD and ZDF now shared space and time in blocks. Among the private broadcasters, SAT.1, RTL, and Pro 7 were represented at IFA with entertainment programs, while n-tv presented news broadcasts. The abundance of specialist events was brought together in the “International Media Dialogue Berlin 1993.” Widescreen format, 16:9, Eureka 95 HDTV, digital transmission, fiber-optic networks, and the international press colloquium were among the keywords. Art installations with TV sets, for example in the form of a large turtle, also caused a stir. Deutsche Telekom presented a radio paging watch as a “beeper.”
On May 12, the third Astra satellite (1 C) was launched; from August 27 it also transmitted ARD and ZDF, for the first time also programs from private providers as well as some regional third-channel programs. Through the three satellites, the Astra satellite system captured around 90 percent of parabolic antennas in Germany. Now 50 television programs could be received via this satellite position. The Eutelsat system offered a total of around 100 transponders for European communication, for example current reporting via satellite or program exchange within the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). By contrast, Deutsche Telekom’s Kopernikus satellite lacked future-proof program concepts and became a discontinued model. In total, there were already 3.8 million satellite TV households in reunified Germany. Jeff Bezos founded his company Amazon on July 5 in Bellevue, Washington. On September 10, an agreement on “harmonized digital video broadcasting” was adopted, marking the birth of the globally successful DVB project (Digital Video Broadcasting). After 20 years of development, the “Digital Mirror Device,” a TV projection technology with 440,000 small square mirrors on a silicon chip, was presented. The technology is also known as “Digital Light Processing” (DLP) and can be found in projectors today. With “Starwing,” the first 3D game marketed on a large scale in Japan was released. Carin (Car Information and Navigation System) was the name of a navigation system for vehicles that was finally tested that year. Navigation output was provided by voice and display. The first “Personal Digital Assistants” (PDA) came onto the market. The first 32-bit microprocessor, known as “Pentium,” was presented. CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, released the “World Wide Web,” today better known as the “Internet.” “Mosaic” was the name of the first graphics-capable Internet browser. The first vacuum cleaners without dust bags came onto the market in Europe. CFCs as refrigerants were banned from refrigerators and freezers.
No IFA took place this year.
The German market for consumer electronics was among the most liberal and therefore most fiercely contested in the world. The range on offer was correspondingly large; for example, at the beginning of the year 104 brands for TV sets had 2,439 models on offer. Household ownership of televisions stood at 95 percent. On January 1, “Deutschlandradio” began its national programming operations, a merger of Deutschlandfunk, RIAS, and DS-Kultur. Earlier than planned, the first broadcasts in the PALplus standard were already available from January 8. PALplus TV sets were to be on the market in the autumn. DAB field trials and pilot projects were carried out. The E network for mobile phones was launched.
The 40th “Internationale Funkausstellung” took place this year from August 26 to September 3. 765 exhibitors from 30 countries presented their products to just under 500,000 visitors. IFA was shortened by one day to nine days. IFA ’95 went down in history as the first true multimedia trade fair. The following radio exhibitions emphatically underlined this claim and showed that the top trade fair for consumer electronics had by now developed into a comprehensive showcase for consumer electronics – including telecommunications and information technology. The advancing digitalization of media and technologies played the decisive role in this. It allowed the technologies and devices of entertainment, information, and communication electronics to converge. The first flat TV displays were announced: “Plasmatron” with diagonals between 50 and 127 cm, an active-matrix LCD with plasma discharge cells as switches, a prototype of a 56 cm color LCD with active matrix, and two active-matrix LCDs combined into a display with a 71 cm diagonal. The first satellite receivers for digital television could be seen at IFA. As a new storage medium, the dual-layer HDCD was presented as a “Multimedia CD” (MMCD). Later came the specification of the DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) as well as the DVC.
It was decided that the Berlin exhibition grounds should be expanded to 181,500 m² by the year 2000. The digital audio compression standard developed by the Fraunhofer Institute was given the name mp3. The first SMS was sent. The first series products for the DAB tests were available. 6.6 million computers were already connected to the Internet, and ISDN increased transmission rates in the telephone network to 64 kilobit/s. The Berlin Reichstag was wrapped for two weeks by the artist couple Christo and Jean-Claude.
There was no IFA this year.
The first plasma TV sets were presented, at prices of around 20,000 DM. The digital transmission standard DVB had its commercial premiere. Prototypes for multimedia devices were current, either PCs with television upgrades or televisions with PC capabilities. There were TVs with VGA interfaces to which computers could be connected. November 21 was declared “World Television Day.” It is intended to commemorate the first World Television Forum (November 21–22, 1996) of the UN. By the end of the year, around 1.4 million Germans were already active on the Internet, predominantly using the “Navigator” browser, although “Internet Explorer” was pushing into the market. There was talk of the so-called “network computer” (NC), which was supposed to cost only half as much as a PC and could obtain everything it needed to operate from the network. According to ARD, the Olympic Games in Atlanta were the largest project in German television history. Images from 600 television cameras were delivered all over the world, including 16:9 widescreen TV.
The number of exhibitors at the 41st “Internationale Funkausstellung” was 812 from 33 countries. It took place from August 30 to September 7 and had around 436,000 visitors. Convergence was one of the keywords. Consumer electronics, telecommunications, the home PC, and multimedia created overlaps between previously separate market segments. Microelectronics promoted digitalization and allowed “applications to move toward one another, increasingly approach one another, and converge,” as could be read. Thus, by now, the topics of telecommunications and “online” were also broadly represented in six halls at IFA. The “technical highlights” were the flat screens. The first Internet boxes for connection to televisions were presented. Televisions that were “made to measure” both technically and in terms of individual color design were presented. “Home Cinema” was another topic, with surround sound, optionally also with wireless rear speakers. The laser TV showed further development steps. The first DVD players could also be seen, along with CD recorders with which the CD variants CD-R (recordable) and CD-RW (rewriteable) could be recorded. The price was around 1,300 DM. End devices for DAB digital radio came onto the market. In addition, the most expensive hi-fi system in the world, worth 1.2 million DM, was presented at IFA.
At the beginning of May, the computer Deep Blue defeated world chess champion Kasparov. The “Mint” project (multimedia communication on integrated networks and terminals) was intended to research how televisions and personal computers were moving toward one another. There was talk of the “telehome.” The PC was to be prepared for the “Universal Serial Bus” (USB), for problem-free additions. The distinction between “lean back” for relaxed television use and “lean forward” at the PC with keyboard and mouse made the rounds. On December 18, the “Digital Broadcasting Initiative” was launched. New functions in refrigerators made it possible to keep food fresh for longer (“Vita Fresh”). The first heat pump dryers for private households were presented. Disneyland came to Europe. On August 31, almost all TV sets exhibited at IFA showed the same images: the night before, the Princess of Wales – Lady Diana – had died in a car accident.
No IFA took place this year.
The announced first plasma TVs came onto the market, though at 30,000 DM they were significantly more expensive than announced. At the beginning of this year, around 34 percent of TV households in Germany were already receiving the signal via satellite. For services such as video on demand, teleworking, distance learning, or teleshopping, the telephone connection served as a “return channel.” With technologies such as DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), ADSL (A = Asymmetric), or HDSL (H = High Bitrate), this was to be made broadband in order to be able to deliver broadband services (including video) directly via this route as well. The Bluetooth wireless transmission standard was presented in February. The EU introduced energy labels for classifying electrical appliances, and radio receivers (pagers) reported the end of the program for washing machines and dryers. The first mp3 players came onto the market. The “Digital Broadcasting Initiative” (IDR) decided on the transition to digital broadcasting by 2010. The company Google was founded.
The 42nd “Internationale Funkausstellung,” which took place from August 28 to September 5, welcomed just under 377,000 visitors. 872 exhibitors from 36 countries showed their products and innovations. This year, IFA was able to celebrate its 75th birthday. For nine days, a nightly laser show was held in Berlin to mark the occasion. The industry expected an upswing from the digitalization of television; for the time being, this was possible only via cable and satellite. The advantages of digitalization were excellent picture quality and the ability to transmit many times more TV programs over the same channels. TV sets were available with integrated “Internet boxes,” as were Internet boxes for connection to existing televisions. Interactivity was the key word for the future of television. A camcorder with a built-in photo printer was presented. Many exhibitors presented new DVD players with a wide variety of features. In addition, the recordable DVD with the further development of DVD-R as DVD-WR was on display. The recordable Mini Disc was also presented, as were several mp3 players. Future topics included the so-called “Multimedia Home Platform” and the terrestrial transmission of digital signals. In the future, Internet, telephone, and television were to come from one socket, the Homeway socket, a world first. Mobile phones enabled Internet access via the mobile network. Information available worldwide from the Internet could be received via the mobile network and read on the mobile phone display. The new global standard WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) made this possible. Among the innovations, SWIFT, the “radio for reading,” should not be omitted. SWIFT (System for Wireless Infotainment Forwarding and Distributing) was a new data service used by broadcasting stations to offer text information. This year, still described as a “forward-looking curiosity,” high-tech refrigerators with built-in flat screens, similar to a microwave oven with a flat screen presented in the spring, were introduced. All supplies kept in the refrigerator could be checked on the screen. If something was missing, a press of a button would suffice, and the order would be placed via the Internet. Of course, one could surf the Internet while working in the kitchen, e.g. find providers of cooking recipes via the library, etc. This IFA also saw the presentation of the first eBooks.
The organization for the standardization and certification of products for wireless data transmission, the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), later renamed the WiFi Alliance, was founded on June 20. There were 43 million computers on the Internet. With the launch of DSL, data lines advanced into the megabit/s range.
2000–2009:
No IFA took place this year. And something else did not take place either: the Y2K problem, which had been hotly debated for months beforehand. It was feared that, with the changeover to the new millennium, computer programs would not be able to cope with the new numerical values. Similar fears existed for a wide variety of technical products. The disaster failed to materialize. Whether this was due to good preparation for the turn of the year or whether the hype was simply exaggerated was another matter.
The first satellite receivers with hard drives as storage for personal recordings came onto the market. The Multimedia Home Platform MHP, as a basis for interactive television, was presented. The world exhibition “Expo 2000” took place in Hanover. Around 18 million visitors came to the Expo site.
The 43rd “Internationale Funkausstellung,” held from August 25 to September 2, had 915 exhibitors from 40 countries and 367,000 visitors. The “digital evolution” had reached a new peak, according to the organizers. This applied to digital television and radio just as much as to the new digital recording media, photography, telecommunications, information technology and, of course, the new services and content that only became possible through digital technology. In TV sets, a wide variety was presented, from the smallest screen to LCD televisions already measuring 70 cm (28 inches) and plasma screens and projection devices over 1.50 m (59 inches) in size, with high performance. The topic of home cinema gained importance right up into the high-end segment, with networking—partly wireless via radio links—making great progress. The same applied to the connection between TV and the Internet. Rapid access to Internet data via TV was demonstrated, as was the increased transmission of sound and images over the global network. “Digital” was also the buzzword in many other exhibition areas, including image recording. IFA 2001 went down in history as the first trade fair for “digital recording,” regardless of whether this involved so-called “personal video” devices with hard drives or DVD recorders. Both innovations created new, attractive possibilities for home cinema. In the audio sector, the rewritable DVD and the Super Audio CD (SACD) became increasingly important. A special attraction was the HiFi/High End presentation, for example with the most expensive high-end system in the world, worth around four million DM. Two special shows focused on “Mobile Media” and the DVD. On August 31, the program also included the celebration of the radio tower’s 75th birthday.
In the first ten years up to 2001, GSM networks gained more than 500 million users. In Germany, there were more mobile phone connections than landline connections for the first time. The “free encyclopedia” Wikipedia was founded, and 110 million computers were on the Internet. The first robot vacuum cleaners were presented. Washing machines were given so-called gentle drums.
No IFA took place this year.
The switch of terrestrial TV transmission to digital terrestrial transmission in the DVB-T standard for Berlin was launched. Ovens with fully retractable doors came onto the market. The euro replaced the Deutsche Mark.
The 44th “Internationale Funkausstellung” took place from August 29 to September 3, with 1,007 exhibitors from 36 countries. For the first time, IFA had more than 1,000 exhibitors, and just under 274,000 visitors were reported. This year, IFA was shortened once again, from nine to six days. Exhibitors from all sectors presented innovations en masse: LCD, plasma and projection TV sets, camcorders and MP3 players, tiny hard-drive jukeboxes, multimedia mobile phones, PDAs and smartphones, communication technology for vehicles, high-end audio and digital cameras. The many new possibilities for home networking were also a focus for visitors. In the Technical-Scientific Forum (TWF), the possibilities of IP transmission, networking and home automation were addressed. The public broadcasters ARD and ZDF, as well as a large number of private TV and radio stations, reported practically around the clock on the impressive events beneath the radio tower. ARD and ZDF published an extremely positive summary: “We broadcast 17 programs with around 24 hours of television ‘live’ from the exhibition grounds. In addition, there were 14 live radio broadcasts totaling more than 32 hours.”
The transition from picture-tube devices to flat screens began, as did the transition to digital cameras. Both segments recorded major growth rates in the market. Nevertheless, the fierce price war in the industry in Germany caused concern. Digital broadcasts (DVB-T) started in Berlin. Skype, a service for Internet telephony, was founded. At the end of the year, the first products with a digital interface came onto the market: the HDMI standard was the digital successor to the Scart connection and ensured uncomplicated transmission of picture and sound—for example from a DVD player to a TV display.
No IFA took place this year.
The first HD camcorder was presented, along with camcorders that used DVD as a storage medium. From January 1, HDTV programs were broadcast in Germany. The UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) standard, as the third generation of mobile communications, was introduced. Facebook was launched.
2005
The 45th “Internationale Funkausstellung” took place this year from September 2 to 7. 1,202 exhibitors from 40 countries presented their products to around 246,000 visitors. Flat TVs became larger: an LCD device with 82 inches (208 cm), a plasma screen with 102 inches (260 cm) and a DLP rear-projection TV with 70 inches (177 cm) were on display. TVs that were prepared to display future HDTV broadcasts were allowed to carry the “HD ready” logo. For the evolution in the TV sector, an “HDTV Sports Bar” was set up at IFA, where HD images on around 30 monitors from various manufacturers created a unique stadium atmosphere. With “SlimFit” TVs, traditional picture-tube sets competed against their flat rivals. They had only two thirds of the depth of a traditional tube television. World premieres included a pocket-sized digital video recorder and the world’s smallest hard-drive-based 20 GB camcorder. In addition, a car radio with FM, medium wave and long wave as well as DAB and recording capability in MP3 was presented. The most expensive hi-fi system in the world, a combination worth millions and featuring everything true hi-fi fans dream of, could once again be admired. Radio broadcasts in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound quality and interactive digital television with a return channel via SMS function were launched. “Digital Lifestyle Shopping” was the name of the world’s first integration of a universal shop into a computer operating system. The Blu-ray Disc with a storage capacity of 100 GB was presented. The flat-screen technology SED (Surface-Conduction-Electron-emitter-Display) was intended to combine the advantages of classic picture tubes with those of current LCD and plasma displays. Convergence was another buzzword at this IFA, especially in communications electronics. Smartphones could already be seen that, with a three-gigabyte hard drive, could store not only a wealth of business data but also music and photo archives. Some exhibitors even showed prototypes of “future mobile phones” that could receive television-like multimedia services. Digital compact cameras now had at least four million pixels, with some models already offering eight to nine megapixels. Digital picture frames displayed digital photos on their LCD screens. A circular display that could be read as comfortably as a flat billboard—the digital advertising column—could be seen in the Technical-Scientific Forum.
The dynamic market development of the consumer electronics industry and the outstanding result of IFA 2005 encouraged gfu, as the owner of the IFA trademark rights, and Messe Berlin to further develop the IFA concept and to hold IFA annually in the future. On October 26, this decision was announced at Berlin’s Rotes Rathaus in the presence of the then Governing Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit.
HDTV achieved its breakthrough because of the football broadcasts. The first data flat rate in the German mobile communications market was offered. Television had two anniversaries this year: in 1926, 80 years earlier, the Telegraphentechnisches Reichsamt carried out the first television experiments in Germany, and in 1931, 75 years earlier, Manfred von Ardenne (1907–1997) presented fully electronic television to the public for the first time anywhere in the world at the 8th Funkausstellung in Berlin.
The first IFA after a long time to be held annually again from then on, the 46th, took place from September 1 to 6 with 1,049 exhibitors from 32 countries. It had 225,000 visitors and was opened by Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel. The technical highlights included, above all, large flat screens that showed high-definition television in spectacular quality. The range extended up to the gigantic diagonal size of 262 cm (103 inches). Video projectors also increasingly mastered this high resolution for large home cinemas. The first televisions with integrated HDTV receivers and hard drives capable of recording HDTV programs could be seen at IFA. With the new optical media Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD, which celebrated their European premiere at IFA 2006, high-resolution videos now also came into the living room. Even video filmmakers could already enter the world of high-definition technology, with a camcorder model that stored their own high-definition recordings on a built-in hard drive. For this, IFA had once again created an area for a joint exhibition on HDTV with the “HD Resort.” Camcorders that used the SD card as a storage medium could also be seen. Mobile TV, another exciting IFA trend, was poised for launch. 14 television programs tailored to small mobile phone displays and six additional radio programs could already be received in Berlin. There were also sound projectors for surround sound without rear speakers. The most expensive system in the world once again attracted a great response. Music from digital networks was also one of the major IFA trends. More and more hi-fi systems could play music archives from a computer hard drive via the network. Other “superstars” of the trade fair were MP3 players, which presented themselves at IFA in countless new variants. Among the particularly sought-after innovations at IFA 2006 were mobile navigation devices. The latest devices not only showed the right way with powerful software, they also played MP3 music, digital photos and digital videos. In addition, there were the first game consoles with Blu-ray Disc drives. From the research sector, the “Multimedia Dome” with digital dome projection and three-dimensional sound worlds of IOSONO wave field synthesis was presented. There were also LCD televisions with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as light sources for backlighting. The 80th birthday of the Berlin radio tower was the occasion for a large fireworks display.
In April, IFA’s first international press conference took place in Athens, to which international journalists were invited. The FIFA World Cup in Germany was broadcast in widescreen format 16:9 for the first time. The first regular HDTV service in Germany was launched by a pay-TV provider. 395 million computers were already on the Internet this year. The first smartphones were presented.
The number of exhibitors at the 47th “Internationale Funkausstellung” was 1,212 from 32 countries. It took place from August 31 to September 5 and had 223,000 visitors. With the product segments “IFA My Media” and “IFA Public Media,” new presentation opportunities were created for “Web 2.0-based applications.” In addition, IFA’s partnerships with the most important specialist retail cooperations were intensified. HDTV was once again one of the most closely watched topics. TVs were given the designation “Full HD” as a mark of quality. It indicated that they could display high-definition programs at the highest resolution with a full 1,080 lines. There were television sets equipped with media players and a network adapter to bring videos, pictures and music from a media server or from the Internet into the living room. In addition, there was the second generation of players for Blu-ray Discs and HD-DVDs, including one model that could play both new media formats. This once again created a system competition, similar to that of video recorders in the 1980s. AV receivers were also able for the first time to decode the new high-resolution, lossless multichannel audio formats of the Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD. This allowed them to transport surround sound from up to eight channels to the speakers. The first Blu-ray Disc camcorder was shown for personal videos. For the first time, an SLR camera could recognize faces. Mobility was cited as an example of the industry’s innovative strength: “Television, music enjoyment, Internet access, communication—everything is available on the move today, and the range of suitable handheld devices is growing from IFA to IFA,” according to an IFA press release. MP3 players, mobile navigation devices and devices for mobile television were presented, for example, in the Technical-Scientific Forum (TWF). Another topic was television via Internet structures, or IPTV for short. IPTV services brought together many media functions, such as television, the online video library, video recording and the electronic program guide. What else was to follow in the future could once again be seen in the Technical-Scientific Forum: “Here, experts showed how interactive television can develop into a kind of media exchange in networked communities—an exciting outlook on IFA topics of the coming years.” Initial solutions for gesture control and flexible displays could also be seen in the TWF. ZDF launched its media library.
In the spring, the DVB Project standardized the DVB-SH method. This allowed television programs to be transmitted to mobile phones and other mobile receiving devices using a combination of satellite and terrestrial antenna broadcasting. Further standards were grouped under DVB 2.0, for example for HDTV transmissions.
On November 30, gfu and Messe Berlin, together with the trade associations of the home appliance industry in the ZVEI, announced the future expansion of IFA to include electrical home appliances. The mobile phone celebrated its 15th birthday: in mid-1992, the two digital D networks D1, then owned by Deutsche Bundespost Telekom, today Deutsche Telekom AG, and D2, then owned by Mannesmann Mobilfunk, today Vodafone, were launched. They laid the foundation for mobile mass communication in Germany.
The 48th IFA presented itself from August 29 to September 3 with a new exhibition area: “Home Appliances@IFA.” The first-ever combination of consumer electronics and electrical home appliances created an unprecedented variety of offerings and thus the most attractive platform for international retailers, buyers, consumers and the industry in both sectors. 1,245 exhibitors from 63 countries and 220,000 visitors came to this premiere and witnessed the launch of a unique success concept.
In the area of flat TVs, there were LCD models with housings only 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) deep, as well as prototypes that were even thinner at one centimeter (0.4 inches). At the same time, screens grew into size ranges that had seemed impossible only shortly before—up to a diagonal size of 150 inches (381 centimeters). The refresh rate of some TVs was 200 Hz. Numerous manufacturers showed a variety of Blu-ray Disc players and, for the first time, Blu-ray Disc recorders. A wide range of compact and slim audio solutions, perfectly tailored in sound and aesthetics to modern home cinema, was shown. These included flat soundbars and surround projectors that generated vivid spatial sound from up to seven channels. A docking station for MP3 players became mandatory equipment in the hi-fi and audio sector. The variety of portable navigation devices increased with variants for pedestrians and cyclists as well as information on parking garages. With some models, you could even watch television—an integrated DVB-T receiver made it possible. In the home, media networking came into play; all content was to be available throughout the house or apartment. Intelligent network solutions were in demand for this, wireless and, of course, in HD quality. Energy efficiency was also in demand for TVs. LCD and plasma TVs consumed between 25 and 35 percent less energy than three years earlier, and for standby consumption, at less than one watt, only one sixth of the energy was required compared with 1997. From the research sector, 360-degree sound could be heard as a demonstration.
The IFA innovations among home appliances reflected the trend toward a comfortable lifestyle and healthier nutrition. Modern freshness systems in refrigerators, or steam cookers, as separate appliances or integrated into ovens, represented the trend toward healthy nutrition with nutrient-preserving preparation. Washing machines had a variety of special programs for removing stubborn stains. One washing machine model required no water; it used oxygen based on a patented water electrolysis system. Dishwashers used every drop of water efficiently for gentle and perfect cleaning, and tumble dryers had self-cleaning condensers, used heat pump technology and helped with ironing. Dishwashers with zeolite drying systems were also presented. New types of appliances such as induction hobs, high-speed ovens with steam and many combination functions and cooking programs were available for home cooks. The coffee preparation segment had been enjoying increasing popularity for some time. Fully automatic coffee machines, pod and capsule machines with automatic recognition of the pod type, or attractive built-in solutions for the kitchen showed the dynamism of this area. There was also growth in the Personal Care & Beauty Appliances segment: products for hair care and hair styling sold well in many forms, as did the numerous personal care devices, such as body groomers. Energy efficiency and the conservation of resources were a major topic. For example, from 1997 to 2007, the energy consumption of washing machines fell by 30 percent, that of dishwashers by 40 percent and that of refrigerators by as much as 45 percent. “It pays off threefold to replace outdated appliances with more modern ones: protecting the environment, significantly lower energy costs and greater utility value,” it read.
At the beginning of the year, the system competition between the Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD was decided in favor of the Blu-ray Disc. In Germany, only just under 100,000 video recorders were sold this year. ARTE launched regular HDTV service on August 1, while ARD and ZDF launched pilot projects. In addition, a roadmap for the introduction of HDTV at ARD and ZDF was developed. European broadcasters were already transmitting more than 90 HDTV programs this year. Digital everywhere television DVB-T also continued its success story: on April 29, Bavaria closed one of the last gaps in its digital terrestrial TV coverage network.
The 49th “Internationale Funkausstellung,” which took place from September 4 to 9, welcomed more than 224,000 visitors. 1,164 exhibitors from 46 countries showed their products and innovations. Broader in scope and renamed, the former “Technical-Scientific Forum” (TWF) now presented itself under the name “IFA TecWatch,” also featuring research results from the home appliance sector. Energy efficiency, even better picture quality and ever slimmer designs were the trends in the further development of TV technology. LED backlighting of LCD screens became established. The individual LED light cells can be controlled so that they correspond to the brightness requirements of the image content. This enabled them to achieve significantly higher contrasts while saving energy at the same time. A 21:9 HDTV television was presented as a world premiere, along with OLED screens as the first market-ready series-production devices, as well as solutions for 3D TV in the living room. The “Wireless HD” standard, as a radio link over short distances, was shown as a wireless complement to the HDMI connection. A special receiver linked the world of HDTV television with Internet TV and many Internet applications. Many new streaming solutions for audio and video were presented, including a wide range of media players, but also many new media servers and NAS drives that made pictures, music and films available for all speakers and screens throughout the house. Network connectivity increasingly became a matter of course for the products presented at IFA. Mobile devices demonstrated convergence: MP3 player, navigation device, smartphone with browser and email program—the functions of mobile devices could hardly be separated from one another anymore. There were mobile jukeboxes that could also show digital photos or record dictations, pocket-sized multimedia players that showed feature films almost in TV resolution, navigation devices with which you could also watch television if desired, and telephones that additionally used their built-in GPS antennas to determine location in order to retrieve local information from the Internet. This also included a first camera phone that captured moving images in full HD resolution.
The home appliance industry focused on comfort, lifestyle, health and wellness at home. Ease of use and ergonomics with intelligent electronic controls, sensors and mechanical solutions made everyday handling easier. Stoves and small appliances could be operated by simple touch, while flaps and doors opened without handles by simply tapping them. Innovative new types of appliances such as induction hobs, high-speed ovens with many combination functions and cooking programs from the large electrical appliance sector, as well as food processors, mixers and grills from the small appliance segment, were the ideal “tools” for the home. Air filters, humidity regulation, separate storage compartments and zero-degree zones ensured optimal cooling and storage results in modern refrigerators. In many cases, design set new standards, and integrated ice cube makers as well as LCD TVs provided additional benefits. In terms of energy efficiency and resource conservation, new, innovative appliance concepts once again achieved major progress: saving energy and water costs without sacrificing first-class usability and comfort. Reductions in energy consumption of between 30 and almost 50 percent for washing machines, tumble dryers, refrigerators and dishwashers over the last ten years documented these efforts with impressive results.
In December, the 3D supplement to the Blu-ray standard was adopted.
2010–2019:
This year marked the celebration of the 50th IFA. Between September 3 and 8, 235,000 visitors came to see the innovations from 1,423 exhibitors from 47 countries. The CE industry created the conditions for 3D images in the living room – naturally in HD quality. A camcorder for 3D recordings was also presented. Another important technology trend: television sets brought the internet into the living room. This included the close integration of television programs and internet offerings, including a new generation of teletext based on internet technologies. The first televisions with built-in microphones and mini cameras were shown, enabling video communication via internet telephony services. OLED TVs with larger screen diagonals could also be seen at IFA. Many new streaming solutions for audio and video were presented. In digital SLR cameras, the ability to record moving images had become established, naturally in HD resolution. The introduction of fourth-generation mobile networks, called “Long Term Evolution” (LTE), was addressed. The E-House, a model home equipped with state-of-the-art home technology and networking, came to IFA for the first time.
For refrigerators, the focus was on storing food as gently as possible, but also for a long time. Air filters, humidity control, separate storage compartments and zero-degree zones ensured optimal cooling and storage results. A “styler” for refreshing clothing was presented. Washing machines were now also available with a 12 kg capacity and with automatic, precise detergent dosing. In addition, there were models with a 20-degree wash temperature and foam-active technology. In the small electrical appliance segment, hot-air fryers (air fryers) came onto the market. Also introduced was a device combination consisting of a sonic toothbrush, tongue cleaner and gum activator in one appliance. The ZVEI pointed out the savings potential from replacing old, inefficient appliances: 180 million household appliances more than ten years old were still in use in European households. The average service life of household appliances ranged from more than twelve years (washing machines, tumble dryers) to almost 17 years (freezers). According to a ZVEI study, 44 TWh of electrical energy were therefore consumed unnecessarily each year in Europe through the use of inefficient, old appliances.
Regular HDTV broadcasting was launched by ARD and ZDF, meaning HDTV had reached the mass market in Germany. By the end of 2010, 28 million HD-capable devices were expected in Germany. 3D TV was introduced and the DVB consortium developed a 3D extension for digital television. The first broadcasters were already testing 3D broadcasts, for example of major sporting events. Tablet PCs entered the market and the total value of all network-capable devices in Germany in 2010 was almost 13 billion euros. The IFA anniversary was celebrated with a special exhibition, “50. IFA,” at the Broadcasting Museum of the City of Fürth. Television also celebrated an anniversary: 75 years earlier, on March 22, 1935, the world’s first regular public television program began at the Haus des Rundfunks in Berlin. Also 75 years earlier, magnetic tape had been celebrated as the sensation of the 1935 Radio Exhibition in Berlin.
The eruption of the Icelandic volcanic system Eyjafjallajökull in the spring resulted in numerous flight cancellations and also the cancellation of the IFA Global Press Conference planned for April.
The 51st IFA, from September 2 to 7, had 1,441 exhibitors from 54 countries and 238,000 visitors. A 3D TV whose images could be viewed without special glasses was presented. 3D technology was also expected to secure a firm place in the mid-range and lower price segments. Almost all new Blu ray players could play 3D films. On Smart TVs, internet offerings now shared the screen with traditional television programs. Apps led to content and applications. Developer communities for TV apps already existed to pool the creativity of the IT scene and quickly broaden the offering with diversity. HbbTV (Hybrid Broad Band TV) was also expected to become further established: the abbreviation referred to a standard that allowed a direct link between TV broadcasts and web content (“red button” function). Audio devices connected to the home network could contact the internet to access a gigantic range of domestic and international internet radio stations. Video recording in HD quality was possible with a wide range of cameras: from pocket cameras to high-quality system or SLR cameras. There were also practical additional functions such as integrated GPS receivers that automatically stored the recording location, or WLAN connectivity that allowed photos or videos to be transferred immediately. Integrated image-processing software and touchscreen displays further increased convenience.
Internet connectivity ensured that household appliances always used the latest software. Thanks to an internet connection, amateur cooks always had the right recipes and preparation tips at hand. Smart grid solutions also ensured cost-effective use of energy. A new fully automatic coffee machine could now also prepare hot chocolate.
In Germany, the second generation of digital transmission was launched with DAB+. 20 years after the introduction of GSM, there were around 4.4 billion users worldwide, with one million new customers still being added every day. In Germany, sales of around 1.5 million tablet PCs were expected this year. Manufacturers had announced more than 80 new models at the beginning of the year.
With 1,439 exhibitors, the 52nd IFA took place from August 31 to September 5. It had 240,000 visitors. A trend topic in TV was “4K,” with resolutions of up to 4096 x 2160 pixels, i.e. more than eight megapixels for razor-sharp images with four times the resolution of Full HD. Tablets or smartphones were intended to control TVs and thus replace the remote control. In addition, the first CE devices – especially televisions – that responded to voice and gestures were on the market. TV sets with curved screens, Curved TVs, were intended to create a more immersive TV experience. The so-called ultrabooks had set a new trend. They were extremely slim, offered very long battery life, booted in seconds and featured stylish design. With some models, users could even decide for themselves whether they preferred to use their mobile computer as a notebook or as a tablet.
The household appliance industry presented itself at IFA for the fifth time this year. Sustainability played a major role: although manufacturers of household appliances had been achieving ever higher energy efficiency with modern appliance concepts for many years, this successful development was still far from exhausted. Impressive values for resource conservation had already been achieved and the industry had been playing a pioneering role for many years. Reductions in energy consumption ranged between 50 and 70 percent when highly efficient new appliances were compared with models around 15 years old. Other innovations included washer-dryers with “Woolmark” certification and cooktops with full-surface induction. In the floor-care sector, robot vacuum cleaners began to conquer the market.
February 13 was declared World Radio Day. On April 30, analog satellite TV transmission via the Astra satellites was switched off, 50 years after the use of the “Telstar” satellite on July 1, 1962 had launched direct program exchange across the Atlantic and thus the age of satellite transmission. By 2011, around six million internet-capable TV sets had already been sold. IFA launched a new format for advance reporting on IFA with the “IFA Innovations Media Briefing” (IMB). In parallel, gfu developed its lecture event “gfu Insights & Trends.”
From September 6 to 11, the 53rd IFA took place with 1,500 exhibitors and 240,000 visitors. With the “MultiView 3D TV” innovation, two people could each watch a different program on one device at the same time. “Eye-Control TV” could control the TV through eye movement. OLED glasses with WirelessHD delivered an unlimited viewing experience with virtual 7.1-channel sound via headphones. Upscaling systems turned HDTV into 4K TV and a foldable 140-inch (355 cm) LCD screen was shown. The German TV Platform showed a showcase for Ultra HD (4K) TV. Many UHD TV sets and the first 4K camcorder were presented. There was also the first UHD TV transmission via satellite. Ultra HD resolution was also considered a prerequisite for future television sets that would enable 3D enjoyment without any glasses at all. This year, all major manufacturers also showed OLED screens with diagonals over 55 inches (140 centimeters) – some as prototypes, others as devices that could already be purchased. The next generation of Smart TVs also came to IFA. They not only received conventional television, they could also access content and services from the internet – for example broadcasters’ media libraries, internet video libraries, program recommendations, online games, social networks or information portals. The number of apps with which Smart TVs led to these offerings grew dramatically. Multi-core processors and powerful graphics chips in Smart TVs ensured fast loading of internet pages, smooth operation and stutter-free videos from the web. Work was also being done on new operating concepts; for example, there were infrared remote controls that had a keyboard for text input on the back or a touchpad for finger swipe movements on the front. Some infrared transmitters also functioned like a pointing device and controlled a cursor on the screen. In addition, television sets could recognize and interpret free gestures. Voice recognition was also becoming increasingly differentiated. Tablet PCs and smartphones were developing more and more into universal navigators through media offerings and functions. The interplay between the large screen in front of the TV armchair and the wirelessly networked mini screen on one’s lap was another trend. Digital compact cameras exceeded the 20-megapixel threshold. Combination devices called “phablets” were intended to combine the efficiency of a tablet with the functions of a smartphone. Another combination: a seven-inch tablet had an integrated projector. Information from a navigation app could be projected from the smartphone via an image generator into the driver’s field of vision. Wireless headphones and speakers could be seen in almost countless variants. Some relied exclusively on radio, while others also had dock connections for mobile playback devices. The networking of CE devices with one another and their connection to household appliances, the heating system or lighting were another trend at this IFA. It made it possible to access one’s own home network even while on the move. The first wearables were introduced.
For networked household appliances, there were convenient apps for information (product information, status information, preparation suggestions, food inventory), operation (instructions, manual, care tips), convenience (service, maintenance, remote diagnosis) and efficiency (energy monitoring). Smart small electrical appliances (home cooker, coffee machine) with internet connection and smartphone control were also presented, for example. Effective and safe heat supply by induction conquered the oven. A special induction insert with an integrated heating coil converted the energy for baking and roasting. Also new was the sous vide method of vacuum steam cooking, in which vacuum-sealed foods were gently cooked at low temperatures. New extractor hood variants could be recessed into the kitchen cabinet and rose up from the worktop when needed.
The first UHD TVs came onto the market at the beginning of the year with eight million pixels on their screen surface. This gave them four times the resolution of conventional HD screens. The “Smart TV Alliance” was intended to define common specifications for internet access by Smart TV devices. With around 3,000 new products per year, the small electrical appliance sector presented itself as more innovative than ever before. The Compact Cassette celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The 54th IFA attracted more than 240,000 visitors. Between September 5 and 9, 1,538 exhibitors presented themselves. This year, IFA celebrated its 90th anniversary. The “IFA+ Summit” was launched as IFA’s congress program. The “Startup Day@IFA” also premiered at IFA: future industries such as Connected Home, Wearables, Health Care and Urban Technologies were the focus. “IFA TecWatch” and the German Startups Association joined forces for “Startup Day@IFA” to present the latest products and best innovations from young companies in Europe. “Smart Home, Smart City: Living in the Digital World” – this was the motto of the joint presentation by the three associations VDE, ZVEH and ZVEI. At the center of the presentations was the E-House, a 100-square-meter model house for networked, intelligent building technology. In the field of Consumer Electronics, the focus was on networking, ever larger screens with Ultra HD resolution for overwhelming image sharpness and image quality, in some cases in 21:9 cinema format, Curved TVs and smartphones, Smart TVs and other “Smart Devices” with diverse capabilities and networking options. In addition, there was a joint stand by the German TV Platform on Ultra HD and Smart TV.
The trends in Home Appliances with large and small electrical appliances could be summarized with the keywords smart, sustainable and premium. Appliances made of high-quality materials for healthy and efficient food preparation, personal care and wellness, complemented by outstanding values for energy efficiency and elegant design, showed the diversity of this IFA area. Small electrical appliances specially developed for small and single-person households were included for the first time.
Netflix entered the German market this year – the boom in streaming services began. Designed for winter were bobble hats and earmuffs with integrated headphones and gloves made of a conductive fabric that allowed a touchscreen to be used with all five fingers.
The 55th IFA took place this year from September 4 to 9. 1,645 exhibitors presented their products to around 242,000 visitors. A new exhibition area was added: “Fitness & Activity” for the growing variety of wearables and smart watches. Among Curved TVs, there were models that could assume either a completely flat or a curved surface at the touch of a button. UHD, the ultra-high resolution with eight million pixels, was already almost standard equipment in the higher TV classes. The top models among UHD television sets also displayed an expanded color space. The technology “High Dynamic Range,” or HDR for short, for increased contrast range was also a topic at IFA. Among Smart TVs, the competition between operating systems began. Dolby Atmos now also entered the living room as a feature of home cinema receivers. A Blu ray player was equipped with 4K upscaling. The “TV Fairy” ensured ad-free TV. A globally unique system for capturing high-resolution panoramic videos, “OmniCam-360,” was presented. A networked bicycle helmet presented itself as communicative: it flashed, made phone calls and could be located. Speakers that maintained wireless contact with their players via WLAN or Bluetooth were once again among the most sought-after IFA presentations. The trend toward mobile music enjoyment had also boosted demand for headphones. The variety of this type of device was enormous – from simple “earbuds” to high-tech headphones. The 3D printers that conjured objects of all kinds from their nozzles attracted a great deal of attention. Some models also processed foods such as chocolate and sugar to create decorative delicacies from them. A 3D hand scanner and compact 3D printers were presented for this purpose.
Among electrical household appliances, for example, an oven with a built-in camera, a washing machine with a networked dosing system and washer-dryers with heat pumps could be seen. With foam technologies, optimized drum movements and steaming of the laundry, washing machines tackled dirt, even at low wash temperatures of, for example, only 20 degrees Celsius. Antibacterial door seals and detergent drawers ensured special hygiene, as did, for example, programs for allergy sufferers or baby laundry. Reducing noise emissions was also a focus. Tumble dryers could also be used to refresh and air clothing with steam and fragrances. The new dishwashers worked faster and more effectively. The time savings were in some cases more than 60 percent compared with previous models. In addition, elegant and high-quality materials in excellent design played a stronger role than ever in so-called “white goods,” with fresh colors. Food processors became increasingly versatile and powerful. They thus took over many tasks in the kitchen, from whipping cream to kneading or stirring dough, chopping, grinding and mixing, through to heating and cooking. More than 100 programs for food preparation were available on some appliances. The robot vacuum cleaner segment was supplemented with models that had the perfect mopping technology for different floors.
The first commercial UHD TV channel via an Astra satellite was launched. “Watson” was the name of a learning computer system.
IFA number 56 had 1,800 exhibitors and 238,000 visitors. It was held from September 2 to 7. The “IFA Global Markets” area was outsourced from the exhibition grounds to Station Berlin for the first time. The “Smart Home” topic area was given a separate exhibition area. Ultra HD had meanwhile conquered the mass market in the TV segment. HDR (High Dynamic Range) became part of the new “Ultra HD Premium” standard with signal processing of 10 bits for each pixel (previously 8 bits) and a color space according to “Rec 2020.” Blu ray disc players and film offerings for this could already be found at IFA. A large number of SLR and compact travel cameras as well as some action cams mastered UHD recordings. Foldable on-cell active-matrix organic LED displays (AMOLED) with and without touchscreen function could also be discovered. The slimmest notebook to date, at less than 10 mm, was presented, along with a gaming notebook with a curved screen and a monitor with an eye-tracking function. The “eBlocker” was intended to provide privacy protection when using the internet. A wealth of new smart watches and fitness wristbands was shown, as were new smartphones that also had their own fitness sensors on board. The trend toward intelligent wearables not only promoted sport and fun, it also supported telemedicine applications and was thus intended to help older people live independently in their familiar surroundings for longer. Hearing aids for use with smartphones were also presented. The “snore stopper” also fit into this category. At IFA, roller coaster and parachute jump simulators with virtual reality glasses could be tried out. Glasses for virtual reality (VR) were booming: more and more device manufacturers offered models for the three-dimensional illusion. Added to this were smartphones that could be converted into virtual glasses with special adapters. 3D sound conquered headphones and, with the MPEG-H standard, several audio objects could be packed into a single audio data stream, such as different language variants, between which one could then choose interactively with the remote control.
Home Appliances@IFA showed washing machines with two or three drums or with extra-large loads of up to 13 kg. The often leftover item of laundry was also considered: an additional flap in the door of the washing machine allowed subsequent loading while the wash program was running. A comfort lift in the dishwasher raised the lower basket to a more convenient, higher level for loading and unloading. There were also dishwashers that automatically ordered new cleaning tabs. The new ovens were more versatile than ever, with up to 200 automatic programs and the ability to create one’s own programs as well as access extensive databases. Cooktops were equipped with sensors that monitored the preselected temperature ranges and detected the fill level in the cookware. Particularly “smart” models could weigh ingredients and monitor the contents of the refrigerator. The first hard-floor cleaners for vacuuming and mopping came onto the market.
The large installation called E-House showed by example what progress the industry had made in the cooperation of very different networked devices. Interoperability was the objective, which was also among the demands of the German federal government and the European Union. The E-House also demonstrated what contributions networking and intelligent control could make to energy savings – an important piece of the energy transition puzzle. Ideas for electric mobility and for the intelligent, data-supported redesign of individual transport fit in with this.
On May 31, DVB-T2, the HD-capable further development of digital terrestrial television, was launched. Wireless headphones (Bluetooth) conquered the market.
The number of exhibitors at the 57th IFA was 1,805. It took place from September 1 to 6 and had more than 252,000 visitors. “IFA TecWatch” became “IFA Next.” The TV models of the 2017 generation showed clearly visible progress in key disciplines such as brightness, contrast, color gamut and the size of the viewing angle. The first transparent and so-called wallpaper OLED TVs were shown, along with new short-throw laser projectors. TV sets designed like picture frames set new design accents. “Mimi” technology enabled personalized audio profiles for TV sets and headphones. Many HiFi devices were equipped with HiRes audio and could play demanding music recordings without loss of quality – from mobile players and special headphones to streaming clients. A smartphone had an integrated laser projector. The world’s first soundbar with the virtual 3D audio format DTS Virtual:X had its premiere. In addition to the digital instant camera, new digital system cameras caused a stir. There were also 360-degree cameras for mobile or stationary use. Whether Alexa, Cortana or Siri – voice control was a trend at this IFA. More and more devices that communicated with one another in the networked household could be controlled by spoken commands. Thanks to artificial intelligence, however, things became even more convenient: bots and digital agents learned the wishes and habits of the home’s residents and, for example, took over the entire climate management in the smart home without being asked. Smart textiles, which monitored movement and vital functions with sensors distributed over the entire body, were also presented. Activity sensors and health apps came onto the market, as did a remotely controllable heated underblanket.
For the tenth time, large and small electrical appliances were once again part of IFA’s portfolio. Once again, a broad range from all appliance categories could be seen, demonstrating the industry’s great capabilities. The trends ranged from smart and versatile functionalities of networkable appliances to resource conservation, energy efficiency, sustainability and convenient, simple and customizable use with time savings. In food preparation, the focus was on healthy nutrition with fresh ingredients. The “Dialog oven” opened up new preparation possibilities by combining electromagnetic waves with the oven’s classic cooking methods. The refrigerator with a large display could take on the role of the family communication point: messages, notes, shopping lists, photos, video, the TV program and the refrigerator contents appeared on it. New were cooktops with integrated extraction, which, with variable height, also extracted vapors from tall pots. For the first time, there were also hoods that provided not only good air but also good sound. Amplifiers and speakers were integrated, with playback coming wirelessly from a smartphone or music player. Robot vacuum cleaners with special cleaning programs became increasingly powerful and intelligent. For example, they automatically recognized the type of carpet and adjusted the suction power accordingly. There were also models with a camera for room monitoring. The devices could also be controlled with a smartphone.
The share of networkable devices in the market for technical consumer goods in Germany rose in 2016 to over four billion euros, up around nine percent compared with the previous year, and already accounted for 20 percent of total revenue. Two anniversaries were celebrated this year: 50 years of color television in the Federal Republic of Germany and 25 years since the launch of the D mobile networks, which enabled the mass market for mobile communication.
The 58th IFA took place from August 31 to September 5. 1,814 exhibitors and more than 244,000 visitors were recorded. IFA Global Markets became Europe’s largest sourcing market. Screens with 8k resolution, flexible displays that could be rolled up and large video walls were the defining exhibits in the TV sector. Added to this were new HDR technologies, high ease of use for selecting from the huge media offering and the appropriate sound from soundbars. Wireless speakers also continued to be among the most coveted types of Consumer Electronics devices, many models of which could be networked into multi-room systems and used via voice control. An Ultra HD receiver with reception technologies and a high-quality soundbar formed a combination. Headphones with the ability to personalize the sound came onto the market. The latest smartphone generation impressed above all with spectacular camera features. Optical systems with two or even three lenses delivered astonishingly good image quality. A diverse range of 360-degree cameras that recorded all-round scenery in high resolution – ideal for viewing with VR glasses or for display on screens for panoramic scenes – was also represented. Hearing aids also became “smart,” and a headband with sensors recorded health parameters to improve sleep quality.
Among electrical household appliances, increasing networking continued to emerge, leading to ever smarter and more versatile products. The reason for this was the two major overarching trends in the Home Electronics industry in general: voice control and artificial intelligence (AI). Both were also finding their way into more and more large and small electrical appliances, making them even more versatile, smarter, more efficient and more user-friendly. Thus, looking into the oven or refrigerator from a distance was no longer a problem thanks to integrated cameras. Dishwashers had the auto-dosing function, a dual-cook oven was suitable for preparing two different dishes in one appliance, and a wireless food sensor for cooktops made cooking easier. How technology was intended to enrich future living environments was shown, among other things, by the reference installation of a fully networked house in the “IFA NEXT” exhibition area.
After analog transmission via satellite was switched off in 2012, analog switch-off in cable also began this year.
The 59th IFA, which took place from September 6 to 11, welcomed just under 239,000 visitors. 1,939 exhibitors showed their products and innovations. “IFA Next” had a partner country for the first time, Japan. Artificial intelligence, AI for short, set exciting trends this year and IFA showed how extensively AI had already found its way into products in the Consumer and Home Electronics industry. Many types of devices were already working with it and learning on their own in order to become ever more powerful. These included, for example, image scaling to 8k, voice control and sound optimization. In addition, IFA showed the first end devices for 5G, the technology for super-fast next-generation communication networks. Network operators presented expansion plans and application scenarios showed what could be expected from 5G in the medium term: very high bandwidths and delay-free communication. Another trend was flexible displays for television sets, smartphones or tablets. In addition to numerous prototypes, series-production devices could already be seen, for example a large-screen television with a rollable screen or tablets that could be folded to half their size and then functioned as smartphones. 3D sound formats and 360-degree playback with speakers radiating all around, which also acoustically illuminated the height dimension of the room, gave the term surround sound a new meaning. This also included 3D sound formats for headphone playback.
Large and small electrical appliances increased convenience and user-friendliness while at the same time improving functionality and efficiency. New appliance classes merged functions and possibilities of previously separate devices into a clever combination. Further developments, for example in battery technology, created more freedom in use; others kept food fresh for longer or optimized washing and cleaning results. In this way, large and
small electrical appliances made household chores easier and saved precious resources such as energy, water and time. Presented were, for example, a tumble dryer with auto-clean, a sea-climate appliance, a vacuum cleaner and air purifier in one device, a care robot and a multifunctional food processor.
At the beginning of the year, a series-production OLED device was presented that could store its screen rolled up in a narrow housing. For soundbars, the number of units sold more than doubled in the period from 2013 to 2018, and in 2019 more than one million soundbars were sold in Germany for the first time.
2020–2026:
The coronavirus pandemic also had an impact on IFA. Due to official restrictions as part of the efforts to combat Covid-19, an “IFA Special Edition” took place this year from September 3 to 5. At the 60th IFA, the number of participants had to be limited accordingly to the maximum levels permitted by the health authorities. In the concept for IFA 2020, health and safety were the highest priority; participation in the trade show was only possible after registration or by invitation – which meant that the number of participants was strictly limited. As a result, no comparable exhibitor and visitor figures are available for 2020.
Due to the pandemic, demand for home electronics products in 2020 was significantly stronger than expected. Because a large part of private life, work, and education had to take place within people’s own four walls, the corresponding technical equipment was in demand. People focused more on their homes and consequently invested in products from the home electronics sectors. As a result, the home electronics market in Germany grew by 11.6 percent in 2020 to more than 47.5 billion euros. On December 4, 1970, the company Hoffmann-LaRoche filed the first patent for LCD technology in Switzerland – 50 years later, LCD TVs dominate the market. By the end of the anniversary year 2020, more than 100 million LCD TVs had been sold in Germany. The pandemic-related trend toward working from home also continued to affect the headphones segment: demand remained at a high level in 2020, with around 16 million units sold, an increase of around ten percent compared with the previous year. The corresponding revenue was over 1.3 billion euros, an increase of around 40 percent compared with 2019.
The coronavirus pandemic also brought another topic into focus that had already been concerning people in many regions of the world for some time: how good is the air quality at home, in the office, at school, or in retail spaces? In 2020, Germany recorded by far the strongest growth in air purifiers: around one million devices were sold (+154 percent), generating revenue of around 166 million euros (+167 percent). Refrigerators and freezers also enjoyed increasing popularity. Due to the pandemic and lockdowns, stocking up on food became a greater focus. Accordingly, sales figures for 2020 showed an increase of just under eleven percent to 3.8 million refrigerators/freezers. This generated revenue of more than two billion euros, an increase of 14.2 percent. The market for vinyl records and turntables also provided positive surprises with its growth. 160,000 turntables were sold in 2020, an increase of ten percent compared with the previous year.
This year, no IFA took place due to the coronavirus pandemic. Independently of this, the decision was made to shorten IFA from six to five days for future events.
Manufacturers of TV sets entered the year with a wide range of new technologies and designs relating to home TV cinema: micro and mini LED, transparent OLED screens, image processing and optimization with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), and “immersive sound” were just some of the keywords regarding the new technology, which made significant progress. In the market, demand for large screens and outstanding picture and sound quality remained unabated.
The washing machine as we know it today celebrated a milestone birthday: 70 years ago, more precisely on July 3, 1951, the first fully automatic washing machine with a porthole from Germany was presented to the public at the “Constructa” building and home exhibition in Hanover.
The restart of IFA after the restrictions and lockdowns of the two previous years was a success: 1,107 exhibitors and more than 161,000 visitors came to the 61st IFA. IFA 2022 was the last IFA to be jointly organized by Messe Berlin and gfu. For TV sets, the topics included 8K, TV walls made of assembled video tiles with pixels from micro LEDs or Crystal LEDs that could be combined into any format, and TriChroma laser projectors. These also included the world’s largest OLED TV at 97 inches (246 cm), as well as a model that could rotate into a vertical orientation and thus display mobile phone videos in full format. The new “Filmmaker Mode” standard for televisions, defined by the UHD Alliance, caused a stir: the aim of the function was for films in “Filmmaker Mode” to be displayed exactly as the directors had intended. In addition, AI was an overarching topic in many product segments – AI products and services were intended to be linked with a wide variety of aspects of everyday life and thereby offer previously unimagined customer benefits.
AI was also the focus in the home appliances sector: the washing machine recognized the load size and fabric and adjusted the wash cycle accordingly. This meant that no wash cycle was the same as another, and the data was passed on to the dryer for optimal and gentle drying. Microplastic filters became available for washing machines. A new, fully recyclable insulation material, perlite, in combination with vacuum technology for refrigerators and freezers, was presented. It is intended to keep the insulating effect stable throughout the entire service life of the appliance and, at the end of the appliance’s life cycle, to be returned to the material cycle without difficulty. In addition, the fastest beverage cooler was presented, and a new design solution for the kitchen sink celebrated its premiere at IFA.
In Germany, ten million wireless headphones were sold for the first time this year. Smart radiator thermostats exceeded the one-million mark, and revenue from OLED TVs surpassed one billion euros. In 2022, growth was seen in washing machines with steam and drum-cleaning functions, as well as in models with a capacity of over 8 kg. The microprocessor was able to celebrate an anniversary: it was developed 50 years ago and came onto the market in 1972 under the name “4004.”
On November 22, IFA Management GmbH was founded as a joint venture between gfu (as the owner of the IFA trademark rights) and Clarion Events Ltd.. This created the prerequisite for the world’s most important trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances to remain at its traditional location, the exhibition grounds at the Berlin Radio Tower.
From September 1 to 5, the 62nd IFA took place with 2,059 exhibitors and more than 182,000 visitors. This edition was also the successful premiere for the new organization by IFA Management GmbH. With “Sustainability Village” and “House of Robots,” there were new exhibition areas. IFA 2023 was fully booked and also took place in cooperation with #berlintecweek. Artificial intelligence, robots, sustainability, and connected living were the major themes of this IFA. OLED technology continued to gain importance among competing TV technologies and celebrated its 10th anniversary with a new generation that, among other things, provided greater peak brightness. In addition, work continued on LCD TVs to close the gap in terms of better black levels: the backlighting became increasingly better through the use of more and more mini LEDs (in most cases, twice as many as in the previous year’s models were mentioned). The result was significantly increased contrast. Laser TVs reached the 130-inch (330 cm) mark. Also presented was an OLED TV without connections, featuring wireless video and audio transmission in real time and with up to 4K resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate. There was also a new technology for OLED TVs that increased brightness by at least 50% with the help of 27 billion micro-lenses. A short-throw laser projector achieved an image size of 150 inches with 8K resolution. The “Relumino” mode on TVs could help people with visual impairments recognize TV images better.
At Home Appliances@IFA, the multifunctional rotary knob for controlling the hob, oven, and coffee machine was presented. Also shown were the oven with a built-in camera and dish recognition, as well as the hob fully integrated into the worktop. The “Styler,” known for garment care, could now also be seen as Shoe Care for a pair of shoes.
There were also anniversaries to celebrate again this year: 100 years of radio and 25 years of mp3.
The 63rd IFA, from September 5 to 10, is also the anniversary edition “100 Years of IFA.” When the world’s largest trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances celebrates its 100th birthday in September, the familiar IFA initials will appear in a new design. But the anniversary is more than just a visual makeover: IFA Management GmbH, in close cooperation with its shareholders – gfu Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH (owner of the IFA trademark rights) and Clarion Ltd – has carried out an in-depth redesign process for the entire IFA brand environment. An essential part of IFA’s origins is the name “Internationale Funkausstellung,” from which the three letters IFA are derived. This name is still familiar to many people and is therefore part of a new logo variant. However, in the future the three letters IFA will primarily stand for the claim “Innovation Für Alle,” which can also be applied in English as “Innovation For All.”
Around 100 days before the start of IFA Berlin, the “100Moments” campaign had already been successfully launched and generated excitement throughout the city. To celebrate 100 years of IFA, the 100 “must-see” highlights are being presented, which will spark the imagination of visitors from retail, consumers, and the media. From exclusive product launches and impressive keynotes to technical MasterClasses, interactive experiences, networking events, Sommergarten performances, and celebrity appearances, there is something for everyone.
Part of the 100 Moments campaign is the exhibition “IFA 100 The Exhibition” at BIKINI BERLIN, which opened as part of the IFA Kick-off on June 27. Historical exhibits and artworks by eight Berlin artists are being presented. The works are inspired by IFA’s diverse past and innovative future and invite visitors to reflect on the role of technology and creativity in our everyday lives. The exhibition space also offers room for networking, exchange, and lingering. The exhibition will also be on display on a larger scale during IFA at the exhibition grounds in the Palais am Funkturm.
IFA Innovation For All
One hundred years and no standstill: IFA remains what it has always been: a mirror of the industry, a stage for innovation, a meeting place for the world. From September 4 to 8, 2026, we will write the next chapter – because: The Future is now.
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