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TheMTV-1 Micro TV was the second model of anear pocket-sizedtelevision. The first was the Panasonic IC model TR-001 introduced in 1970. The MTV-1 was developed byClive Sinclair (Sinclair Radionics Ltd). It was shown to the public attrade shows inLondon andChicago in January, 1977, and released for sale in 1978. Development spanned 10 years and included£1.6 million from the UK government in 1976.
The MTV-1 used anAEG Telefunken 2-inch (5.1 cm) black-and-white, electrostatic deflectioncathode ray tube (CRT) and included a rechargeable 4-AA-cellNiCad battery pack. It measured 4×6.25×1.625 inches (101.6×158.8×41.3 mm) and weighed 28 ounces (790 g). It was able to receive eitherPAL orNTSC transmissions onVHF orUHF, the world's first multi-standard TV. AWelsh company, Wolsey Electronics, manufactured it for Sinclair. CustomICs made byTexas Instruments and Sinclair contributed to its small size and low power consumption.
The originalUS$395 (about£205[1]) price tag proved to be too high to sell many of them, and Sinclair lost over£1.8 million in 1978, eventually selling its remaining inventory to liquidators at greatly reduced prices.
The MTV-1B, released later in 1978 at the much lower price of£99, was able to receive onlySystem I UHF signals.