1907年，指一个理论系统，用于通过电报或电话线传输动态图像；在英语中形成或借用自法语 télévision; 参见 tele- + vision。
Television is not impossible in theory. In practice it would be very costly without being capable of serious application. But we do not want that. On that day when it will be possible to accelerate our methods of telephotography by at least ten times, which does not appear to be impossible in the future, we shall arrive at television with a hundred telegraph wires. Then the problem of sight at a distance will without doubt cease to be a chimera. ["Telegraphing Pictures" in Windsor Magazine, vol. xxvi, June-November 1907]
理论上，电视并非不可能。实际上，如果不能进行严肃的应用，将非常昂贵。但我们不想要那样。在未来，当我们能将远摄影的方法至少加速十倍，这似乎并非不可能的那一天，我们将通过一百条电报线实现电视。那么，远距离视力的问题无疑将不再是一个幻影。[《温莎杂志》1907年6月至11月，第26卷，《电报图片》]
其他关于当时假设技术名称的提议包括 telephote (1880) 和 televista (1904)。成功的技术在1920年代和1930年代发展起来。在德语中本土化为 Fernsehen。简化形式 TV 来自1948年； tee-vee 到1949年。意为“电视机”始于1941年。意为“电视作为媒介”始于1927年。对于其消费者，尝试过 televiewer (1935) 和 televisioner (1928)。
Television is the first truly democratic culture — the first culture available to everyone and entirely governed by what the people want. The most terrifying thing is what people do want. [Clive Barnes, New York Times, Dec. 30, 1969]
电视是第一种真正民主的文化——第一种对每个人都可用的文化，完全由人民所需所 govern。最可怕的是人们真正想要的东西。[克莱夫·巴恩斯，《纽约时报》，1969年12月30日]
If you want to have fun come home with me
You can stay all night and play with my TV
TV is the thing this year, this year
TV is the thing this year
Radio was great, now it's out of date
TV is the thing this year.
[recorded by Dinah Washington, released 1953]
