South Africa, the last urban, industrial, Western-culture society without television, called for television introduction on January 1, 1976. Thus, South Africa represented the last chance to explore certain research questions about the impact of television in modern societies. A study was made of: (1) factors in the South African context which make research easy or difficult, (2) current plans for the introduction of television in South Africa, (3) the current research plans and capabilities of South African scientists, (4) research which should be done in the light of experience in other Western societies, and (5) steps which might be taken to facilitate necessary research. (Author/HB)