BBC4 doc on history of regional TV - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Colourstar · 22nd Jul 2011, 8:39 pm

I've just watched this and found it fascinating. Packed with archive clips including wonderfully atmospheric stock footage of greasy terraced roof tops with H-aerials. Always a winner with me!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode..._a_Local_Lens/

Steve J

Andrew2 · 23rd Jul 2011, 9:38 am

I saw bits of this as I was doing something else, but I'll look out for a repeat. A friend of mine who worked at the Manchester studio in the early 70's has some hilarious stories from the time, such as the lack of room forcing the lights so low they were in danger of setting people's hair on fire.

Station X · 23rd Jul 2011, 11:04 am

Interesting. Starting at 10:23 minutes in I can see my old German language teacher Geoffrey Harvey about to read the BBC local news from Norwich. It must have been a tight schedule for him, leaving school at 4:00 PM to get to the studio in time.

This would have been around 1963.

HamishBoxer · 23rd Jul 2011, 5:36 pm

Still available,for those who missed it.

David

Skywave · 23rd Jul 2011, 10:51 pm

"Regional television" of the '50s & 60's?

Since when did 'regional television' only exist in the north of England? O.K., there was a fleeting mention of the midlands, Anglia and the south-west received a couple of passing references, but the southern region didn't even get a look in! 95% of the content was all about regional TV in the northern regions. At least the BBC are being consistent with their current bias towards all things oop north!

A disappointing documentary: I shouldn't have been surprised.

Al.

dave walsh · 23rd Jul 2011, 11:01 pm

This program is repeated at MIDNIGHT om BBC4 if anyone would like to record it
DaveW.

Heatercathodeshort · 24th Jul 2011, 8:48 pm

Great programme. I always find it amazing to see 'H' aerials on the roofs of Tudor buildings! All those mid Victorian Coronation Street houses with the familiar telly aerials on the roofs! Reminds me of my Aunt's Ekco T310 in Thornaby. I'm so glad I lived through this period. John.

brianc · 24th Jul 2011, 11:26 pm

What a fantastic program - I watched it through twice! It was specially interesting for me as I had worked in a couple of the studios shown, Birmingham's Broads Street and Norwich's news studio. They were small studios run by a small team of people who were keen to get the very best out of the equipment which, being news studios, was not necessarily the best money could buy! Also shown were the 35mm Cintel telecines, TK 3 & TK4, very much non-regional as they were located in Lime Grove Studios in Shepherds Bush, London. As an aside, those machines were originally at Alexandra Palace. The program was, for me a real nostalgia trip and it shows how TV has changed in the last 20 years - for the better??

AidanLunn · 25th Jul 2011, 9:17 am

Brilliant programme - brings back the memories of that feeling of having a TV service especially for people in your area.

I may be biased, but I still think Yorkshire TV had the best logo!

HamishBoxer · 25th Jul 2011, 10:09 am

On again tonight BBC4.

David

AidanLunn · 25th Jul 2011, 10:35 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skywave

"Regional television" of the '50s & 60's?

Since when did 'regional television' only exist in the north of England? O.K., there was a fleeting mention of the midlands, Anglia and the south-west received a couple of passing references, but the southern region didn't even get a look in! 95% of the content was all about regional TV in the northern regions. At least the BBC are being consistent with their current bias towards all things oop north!

A disappointing documentary: I shouldn't have been surprised.

Al.

I don't even think the BBC cared much for the South East until the 80s.

From what I've seen of London regional TV (both ITV and BBC), it just looks like a scaled-down version of national TV, especially the news.

22nd Jul 2011, 8:39 pm	#1
Colourstar Octode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 1,398	BBC4 doc on history of regional TV I've just watched this and found it fascinating. Packed with archive clips including wonderfully atmospheric stock footage of greasy terraced roof tops with H-aerials. Always a winner with me! http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode..._a_Local_Lens/ Steve J

23rd Jul 2011, 9:38 am	#2
Andrew2 Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,038	Re: BBC4 doc on history of regional TV I saw bits of this as I was doing something else, but I'll look out for a repeat. A friend of mine who worked at the Manchester studio in the early 70's has some hilarious stories from the time, such as the lack of room forcing the lights so low they were in danger of setting people's hair on fire. __________________ Andy G1HBE.

23rd Jul 2011, 11:04 am	#3
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: BBC4 doc on history of regional TV Interesting. Starting at 10:23 minutes in I can see my old German language teacher Geoffrey Harvey about to read the BBC local news from Norwich. It must have been a tight schedule for him, leaving school at 4:00 PM to get to the studio in time. This would have been around 1963. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

23rd Jul 2011, 5:36 pm	#4
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,935	Re: BBC4 doc on history of regional TV Still available,for those who missed it. David

23rd Jul 2011, 10:51 pm	#5
Skywave Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK. Posts: 7,457	Re: BBC4 doc on history of regional TV "Regional television" of the '50s & 60's? Since when did 'regional television' only exist in the north of England? O.K., there was a fleeting mention of the midlands, Anglia and the south-west received a couple of passing references, but the southern region didn't even get a look in! 95% of the content was all about regional TV in the northern regions. At least the BBC are being consistent with their current bias towards all things oop north! A disappointing documentary: I shouldn't have been surprised. Al.

23rd Jul 2011, 11:01 pm	#6
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: BBC4 doc on history of regional TV This program is repeated at MIDNIGHT om BBC4 if anyone would like to record it DaveW.

24th Jul 2011, 8:48 pm	#7
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: BBC4 doc on history of regional TV Great programme. I always find it amazing to see 'H' aerials on the roofs of Tudor buildings! All those mid Victorian Coronation Street houses with the familiar telly aerials on the roofs! Reminds me of my Aunt's Ekco T310 in Thornaby. I'm so glad I lived through this period. John.

24th Jul 2011, 11:26 pm	#8
brianc Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Burghfield, Reading, Berkshire, UK, Posts: 1,055	Re: BBC4 doc on history of regional TV What a fantastic program - I watched it through twice! It was specially interesting for me as I had worked in a couple of the studios shown, Birmingham's Broads Street and Norwich's news studio. They were small studios run by a small team of people who were keen to get the very best out of the equipment which, being news studios, was not necessarily the best money could buy! Also shown were the 35mm Cintel telecines, TK 3 & TK4, very much non-regional as they were located in Lime Grove Studios in Shepherds Bush, London. As an aside, those machines were originally at Alexandra Palace. The program was, for me a real nostalgia trip and it shows how TV has changed in the last 20 years - for the better??

25th Jul 2011, 9:17 am	#9
AidanLunn Heptode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Killamarsh, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 746	Re: BBC4 doc on history of regional TV Brilliant programme - brings back the memories of that feeling of having a TV service especially for people in your area. I may be biased, but I still think Yorkshire TV had the best logo!

25th Jul 2011, 10:09 am	#10
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,935	Re: BBC4 doc on history of regional TV On again tonight BBC4. David