The authority began its operations on 4 August 1954, a mere four days after the Television Act 1954 received royal assent, under the chairmanship of Sir Kenneth Clark.

The authority's first director general, Sir Robert Fraser was appointed by Clark a month later on 14 September.

The physics of VHF broadcasting meant that a comparatively small number of transmitters could cover the majority of the population of Britain, if not the bulk of the area of the country.

Franchises were awarded initially between 1954 and 1961, with the new television stations usually beginning their broadcasting one-to-two years later.

On 22 September 1955 the ITV service opened in the London area, where the ITA transmitter could reach a population of nearly 12 million.