Instant TV. The Forgotten History of Video Tape Recording (and the Coverage of the Eichmann Trial)

Abstract

This article adopts a media archaeological approach to the Eichmann trial (1961) to explore the technology and media constellations that enabled its global television coverage. Drawing on extensive archival research, it offers insights into the technological setup and institutional cooperation crucial for the broadcast. In this context, video tape recording played a pivotal role, facilitating instantaneous reporting from around the world. Informed by actor-network theory, the article highlights the interplay of different (non)human actors who were interested and enrolled in a short-lived actor-network that soon became obsolete with the advent of communication satellites. Through recounting the story of the trial coverage, it not only recalls the forgotten use of a technology but also sheds light on emerging television formats and infrastructures that persisted far beyond the brief prominence of Instant TV.