Today, 74 years ago, on May 2, 1951 (Lunar Calendar, March 27, 1951), the New York Empire State Building was playing a color TV show. The New York Empire State Building was playing a color TV show. On May 2, 1951, the U.S. Broadcasting Company was playing a color TV show from the Empire State Building today. The Columbia Broadcasting Company's playing system, which competed with it, required a special converter, but the images broadcast by the U.S. Broadcasting Company could be received through black and white TVs in the New York area.