Initially in black and white , colour television was used from 13 January 1982 .
Occasional colour transmissions had been made earlier , most notably the Egyptian president 's visit to Israel in 1977 and the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 .
Initially in black and white , colour television was used from 13 January 1982 , although occasional colour transmissions had been made earlier , most notably the Egyptian president 's visit to Israel in 1977 and the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 .