General Election Thread

I wouldn't pin your hopes on them - there's too many constituencies to have names swooshing around and you have to be fair to each party etc. election guidelines and all that.

Not really, it's the only studio news has that isn't in regular use

Don't think it's been mentioned - BBC Parliament are showing the 1974 election coverage tomorrow.

Excellent - and hosted by ITN's Alastair Burnet, if I'm not mistaken?

On a similar topic it would be great to see election coverage from the ITV angle as well as the BBC, but I guess there's no suitable channel. I doubt BBC Parliament would want to broadcast old ITN election programmes.

It's the FEBRUARY 1974 election incidentally. The first in the year.

Good point, with that in mind, my bets are on that we see something along the same lines of Parliament / Democracy Live branding.

Just watching the Election 74 on BBC Parliament... Each time they come back from an OB at one of the counts there's a large amount of synch problems, grey flashing and so-on. I assume these are simply non-synch cuts which AIUI would have looked fine to viewers at home on the night but have clearly caused major problems for the PasB recording. When was NATLOCK created? Did it not work for OBs?

Interesting inserted ticker style warning on the BBC Parliament Election 74 re-run today 'This programme contains strobing throughout'. Presumably to cover the synching issue, or possibly the all too apparant flaws in the VT of the material.

Did they use the same set again for the October 1974 election?

I wonder whether we'll get the chance for two General Elections this year?

Yes a rather odd caption from BBC Parliament! Presumably it was pricipally designed to run next to the BBC Parliament Red patch ...!

The coverage is fascinating to watch. They've just promoted their most ambitious results coverage ever (76 OBs I think he claimed...!) and said they thought it would make it the fastest results service on television.

Interesting how many presenters are wearing lanyard mics - these have been entirely superceded by tie-clip mics now. Also intersting that Leeds's studio was still black and white at the time (and very ropey picture quality!) And many familiar faces: Magnus Magnusson, Donald MacKormick (sp?), David Dimbleby, Julian Pettifer, Phillip Hayton, Mike Yarwood's impressions spot!

80% turnout is also extraordinary considering how low things have gone now..!

I like the graphics.

http://i49.tinypic.com/omh06.jpg

I wonder what piece of 'steam-powered kit' they were using to generate those.

Love the unfeasably wide ties and other earnest fashion statements being made by some of the count based young reporters, and the dour apparance of Alistair Burnet in contrast.