Hisense SA unveils South Africa’s 1st Television Museum on Long Street, Cape Town

In 1976, when the first South African homes lit up with television broadcasts, Hisense was a budding radio and TV company in China. Today, as South Africa’s leading proudly South African consumer electronics brand, Hisense SA is proud to announce a new milestone: the launch of the country’s first TV museum, located in the heart of Cape Town.

In partnership with the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, as well as the SA Sendinggestig Museum, Hisense SA will open the interactive Tevolution Museum this November on Long Street. From the nostalgic wooden box TVs with “bunny ear” antennas to the newly-launched 110-inch UX display, visitors can explore decades of TV evolution. The museum’s exhibits are hands-on, with many screens linked to popular gaming consoles, including Microsoft SA’s latest Xbox Series X—and entry is free.

Viewing SA’s largest locally made TVs, measuring 110 inches in length

The star of the exhibition remains the sizeable 110-inch UX TV, which currently retails just under R400,000.00, as one of the largest screens available commercially in South Africa today. This model is being produced at Hisense’s Atlantis factory, which employs more than a thousand South Africans. This year the factory celebrated its 11th year of operation. To date, the company has injected more than R350 million into expanding the Atlantis Special Economic Zone, with plans to boost exports of certain product categories to the United Kingdom, soon.

Cultural Affairs and Sport Head of Department, Guy Redman, said: “Through partnerships like these, we’re fostering job creation, investment, and creating engaging opportunities for our youth to tell their own stories. We hope to see many school children through these doors in the years to come.”

“The unveiling of South Africa’s first Television Museum by Hisense SA is a testament to the incredible journey of innovation and cultural enrichment that television has brought to our nation. This museum not only celebrates the evolution of technology but also highlights the Western Cape’s role as a hub for creativity and economic growth,” says the provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie. 

The Tevolution Museum’s digital art gallery

The museum will also feature sections that focus on Art and Technological Innovation, respectively. “In collaboration with the Academy of Digital Arts, the museum will regularly showcase projects by final-year students in a curated Digital Art Gallery,” shares Redman. 

Visitors will also be able to experience the futuristic Laser Cinematic Room with its vertical projectors, while exploring the wonders of a high-tech exhibition that will feature a touch-sensitive, stringless harp. 

The Tevolution Museum offers something for everyone, with plans for dedicated school tours and tech workshops. “The Tevolution museum is a first for the country. It not only chronicles Hisense’s technological journey, but also inspires young scientific minds by showcasing the technology we pioneered,” says Hisense SA’s Marketing Manager, Alex Chen.

Ron Martin, Chairperson of the South African Sendinggestig Museum, believes that the Tevolution Museum reflects remarkable strides of human ingenuity over the ages, and is proud to have the Museum as its neighbour on Long Street: “This exciting initiative reflects the power of storytelling—connecting the past to the present through the lens of television, which has long been a window into the world for so many South Africans. We are proud to play a role in preserving this legacy while fostering innovation, education, and cultural appreciation in the heart of Cape Town. We thank Hisense for choosing to collaborate with us on this historic milestone.” The soft launch of the Museum included a number of opening remarks on 27 November 2024, alongside a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and a guided tour. The official launch to the public will take place on First Thursdays, on 5 December 2024 and all are welcome to attend.