UTV Overnight

Over the last week or so, local trails and idents have been appearing in the wee small hours, blocking out the ITV 1 branding. However, after c. 3am, the ITV 1 trails and idents appear once again.

Another notable development is the appearance of adverts again overnight. Having become so used to seeing the 'ITV 1 Back Soon' caption, this came as a bit of a surprise.

And still never any music with the "ITV1 Back Soon" caption whenever it appears, Mike? The breaks are all very short anyway aren't they?

Picture quality on the server events appears to have returned to it's normal level of fuzziness.

If, as has been suggested on here recently, UTV have obtained extra server capacity, why the hell are they still compressing material to this extent?

The lack of music over the 'Back Soon' caption was due to a change in the gear used at the transmission centre. There's been no music over that caption for the last two years or so now I think. I did hear a while back that music may be re-introduced...but I wouldn't hold my breath! Given the amount of airtime it has been getting on UTV in recent times, adding some music wouldn't have been such a pointless exercise.

Incidentally, UTV used the music from the late 1990s overnight 'Back Soon' caption during the breakdown on that My Favourite Hymns programme a few weeks back.

The length of the overnight ad breaks varies Gavin. Some of them are very short, yes. Some of them do go on a bit though.

I'm just so surprised UTV even give a toss about continuity during the night...given the lack of effort during the day.

Are the ITV1 idents still going out clean after 3am?

I wouldn't worry about the announcerless ITV 1 idents disappearing Andrew. The overnight appearance of local trails and idents on UTV seems to be very patchy. Like most things at UTV, not a case of having any policy on it, more a 'we'll do it whenever we can be bothered' type of thing. Saw the old ITV 1 Back Soon caption on screen for ages again a few nights back c. 1.30am.

I've had a friend's mum complain bitterly to me over the weekend that despite the fact that she keeps seeing trails for it (probably during This Morning), UTV are not showing "Today with Des and Mel" at all...

Yes indeed I had a taped look last night and UTV was still clean ITV1 after 3am.
Firstly they showed a short version of the dark blue stripey ITV1 ident with the slow piano music, then later they showed a short version of the ribbons ITV1 ident with the slow piano music and then finally they showed a short version of the clouds ITV1 ident with the slow piano music!.