After Sinclair Radionics failed attempt at releasing the Microvision in 1966, it wasn't until 1976 that the updated version of the micro television was announced. It was shown at trade fairs in London and the United States in early 1977.

These new sets were aimed at the business market, and were sold for $395 in the United States or £250 in the UK. It used a German AEG Telefunken 2-inch (51mm) black-and-white display, electrostatic deflection cathode ray tube (CRT) and included a rechargeable 4-AA-cell NiCad battery pack. Many of the components in the micro television were developed specifically for the product. It measured 4 × 6 ×1.5 inches (101.6 × 158.8 × 41.3 mm) and weighed 28 ounces (790g).

The MTV1/TV1A was the world's first multi-band television and could therefore be used almost anywhere in the world as it was able to receive either PAL or NTSC transmissions on VHF or UHF.

Unfortunately for Sinclair, demand outstripped supply and by the time a sufficient number of TV1As were coming off the production line of 4,000 a month by Christmas 1977, demand had dropped, and unsold stock built up rapidly. This resulted in big losses for Sinclair at a time when it was already struggling.

Sinclair continued to work on the concept of a pocket television and in December 1978 brought out the smaller MTV1B/TV1B.