RI
Tom Margerison states that each of the local companies would make about 5 hours of programmes a week. It will be easy to fill over half of that with local news. He also mentions accounting and selling advertisements will be carried out centrally. Therefore the model appears closer to autonomous divisions for each transmitter rather than independent companies.
Localised American TV companies had quite variable schedules with networked programmes broadcast by a company serving one town sometimes being broadcast by a company serving a town 50 miles away at a different time or even a different day. They also had to deal with timeshifting programmes across timezones in order that a particular programme was broadcast at 8pm local time but some local companies would broadcast the programme at 9pm local time instead.
I think the first model is more suitable, tight controls on preventing transmitter overlap would have to be established. I can't in all honesty see each sub region having its own fully independent schedule. I agree that Wessex TV would have its own local news maybe as part of a pan regional bulletin and sports opt outs.
Tom Margerison states that each of the local companies would make about 5 hours of programmes a week. It will be easy to fill over half of that with local news. He also mentions accounting and selling advertisements will be carried out centrally. Therefore the model appears closer to autonomous divisions for each transmitter rather than independent companies.
Localised American TV companies had quite variable schedules with networked programmes broadcast by a company serving one town sometimes being broadcast by a company serving a town 50 miles away at a different time or even a different day. They also had to deal with timeshifting programmes across timezones in order that a particular programme was broadcast at 8pm local time but some local companies would broadcast the programme at 9pm local time instead.
BL
I remember attending the IBA's public presentation/question and answer session at the Mountbatten theatre at what was then the College of Technology in Southampton. Gerry Anderson's company presentation was very thin indeed. Even then it was obvious to all that South and South East Communications were going to be very strong contenders as obviously turned out to the case.
Nice to see some behind the scenes shots of Southern Telly at the start, a bit wrong, Telecine 1 always had the commercials on it, not idents. Artistic licence I suppose.
Nice to see some behind the scenes shots of Southern Telly at the start, a bit wrong, Telecine 1 always had the commercials on it, not idents. Artistic licence I suppose.
MK
I think they were just sub-brands and in reality would've worked little different from sub-regions seen on the likes of TVS and Central. They'd have had their own idents, trailers would say "Coronation Street, tonight on Wessex TV" and the regional news would've had their own brands and themes. Nonetheless, it will have almost certainly all have been conducted from Southampton, both in terms of actual transmission and also scheduling. There may have been the odd sub-region non-news programme, more akin to HTV than TVS or Central, but not a significant amount.
The situation wouldn't have lasted long. Having to provide separate continuity, branding for trailers etc would soon have been seen as an unnecessary added cost and no doubt would've been rationalised within the first couple of years. It would've been pretty much the equivalent of the modern unified ITV running separate full time brands for all its regions. I believe TVS initially had separate continuity for its two sub-regions, with 'South' or 'South East' tacked to the bottom of the standard ident but this didn't last beyond the opening few months.
The situation wouldn't have lasted long. Having to provide separate continuity, branding for trailers etc would soon have been seen as an unnecessary added cost and no doubt would've been rationalised within the first couple of years. It would've been pretty much the equivalent of the modern unified ITV running separate full time brands for all its regions. I believe TVS initially had separate continuity for its two sub-regions, with 'South' or 'South East' tacked to the bottom of the standard ident but this didn't last beyond the opening few months.
BL
You're correct, but it lasted a bit longer than the opening few months.
I think they were just sub-brands and in reality would've worked little different from sub-regions seen on the likes of TVS and Central. They'd have had their own idents, trailers would say "Coronation Street, tonight on Wessex TV" and the regional news would've had their own brands and themes. Nonetheless, it will have almost certainly all have been conducted from Southampton, both in terms of actual transmission and also scheduling. There may have been the odd sub-region non-news programme, more akin to HTV than TVS or Central, but not a significant amount.
The situation wouldn't have lasted long. Having to provide separate continuity, branding for trailers etc would soon have been seen as an unnecessary added cost and no doubt would've been rationalised within the first couple of years. It would've been pretty much the equivalent of the modern unified ITV running separate full time brands for all its regions. I believe TVS initially had separate continuity for its two sub-regions, with 'South' or 'South East' tacked to the bottom of the standard ident but this didn't last beyond the opening few months.
The situation wouldn't have lasted long. Having to provide separate continuity, branding for trailers etc would soon have been seen as an unnecessary added cost and no doubt would've been rationalised within the first couple of years. It would've been pretty much the equivalent of the modern unified ITV running separate full time brands for all its regions. I believe TVS initially had separate continuity for its two sub-regions, with 'South' or 'South East' tacked to the bottom of the standard ident but this didn't last beyond the opening few months.
You're correct, but it lasted a bit longer than the opening few months.
RI
Very interesting. What was the reason why Gerry Anderson's company specifically wanted to contest the South and South East region?
http://catacombs.space1999.net/press/starlog/wrefpsprep.html
It's hard to tell exactly how NS would have turned out in reality. It could have turned out to be 99% cosmetic where the only differences between subregions are presentation, local news, and 2 or 3 hours a week of local programmes in mediocre timeslots. At the opposite end of the scale it could have pitched NS in a good position for the 1991 franchise round because the local companies can then be officially separated from NS as indies (and they might already have been in the late 1980s) with NS functioning as a publisher broadcaster.
If NS had won in 1980 and by 1990 they had outsourced production to 5 companies with a contract to supply programmes to NS in return for having control over a transmitter and its schedule, then would this have put NS in a strong position according to the ITC for the 1991 franchise round? If NS had won then how would Carlton have likely viewed this unique, and possibly bizarre, setup when carrying out takeovers?
It is possible that one of the local companies became wealthy from the production of popular networked programmes whereas another local company struggled with production and became little more than a local news service for NS. This potential disparity would have had an effect on the longer term future of NS.
I remember attending the IBA's public presentation/question and answer session at the Mountbatten theatre at what was then the College of Technology in Southampton. Gerry Anderson's company presentation was very thin indeed. Even then it was obvious to all that South and South East Communications were going to be very strong contenders as obviously turned out to the case.
Very interesting. What was the reason why Gerry Anderson's company specifically wanted to contest the South and South East region?
http://catacombs.space1999.net/press/starlog/wrefpsprep.html
I think they were just sub-brands and in reality would've worked little different from sub-regions seen on the likes of TVS and Central. They'd have had their own idents, trailers would say "Coronation Street, tonight on Wessex TV" and the regional news would've had their own brands and themes. Nonetheless, it will have almost certainly all have been conducted from Southampton, both in terms of actual transmission and also scheduling. There may have been the odd sub-region non-news programme, more akin to HTV than TVS or Central, but not a significant amount.
The situation wouldn't have lasted long. Having to provide separate continuity, branding for trailers etc would soon have been seen as an unnecessary added cost and no doubt would've been rationalised within the first couple of years. It would've been pretty much the equivalent of the modern unified ITV running separate full time brands for all its regions. I believe TVS initially had separate continuity for its two sub-regions, with 'South' or 'South East' tacked to the bottom of the standard ident but this didn't last beyond the opening few months.
The situation wouldn't have lasted long. Having to provide separate continuity, branding for trailers etc would soon have been seen as an unnecessary added cost and no doubt would've been rationalised within the first couple of years. It would've been pretty much the equivalent of the modern unified ITV running separate full time brands for all its regions. I believe TVS initially had separate continuity for its two sub-regions, with 'South' or 'South East' tacked to the bottom of the standard ident but this didn't last beyond the opening few months.
It's hard to tell exactly how NS would have turned out in reality. It could have turned out to be 99% cosmetic where the only differences between subregions are presentation, local news, and 2 or 3 hours a week of local programmes in mediocre timeslots. At the opposite end of the scale it could have pitched NS in a good position for the 1991 franchise round because the local companies can then be officially separated from NS as indies (and they might already have been in the late 1980s) with NS functioning as a publisher broadcaster.
If NS had won in 1980 and by 1990 they had outsourced production to 5 companies with a contract to supply programmes to NS in return for having control over a transmitter and its schedule, then would this have put NS in a strong position according to the ITC for the 1991 franchise round? If NS had won then how would Carlton have likely viewed this unique, and possibly bizarre, setup when carrying out takeovers?
It is possible that one of the local companies became wealthy from the production of popular networked programmes whereas another local company struggled with production and became little more than a local news service for NS. This potential disparity would have had an effect on the longer term future of NS.
BL
You’re asking a question now! From very vague memories; when TVS started they had a pres in Southampton and a pres in the East region. Southampton were still in the original old Southern Marconi equipped Pres. Then TVS pretty much got rid of Telecine in Soton and built two Pres control rooms in that area, one for each region so Maidstone Pres closed. Then the two pres suites became one when separate East presentation was closed. One suite did both regions (with some ability to split Pres on occasions - it was computer assisted) the other suite did the Southampton news bulletins. Split pres was still required for some local programming and news bulletins. Bit vague, sorry.
A year? Two?
You’re asking a question now! From very vague memories; when TVS started they had a pres in Southampton and a pres in the East region. Southampton were still in the original old Southern Marconi equipped Pres. Then TVS pretty much got rid of Telecine in Soton and built two Pres control rooms in that area, one for each region so Maidstone Pres closed. Then the two pres suites became one when separate East presentation was closed. One suite did both regions (with some ability to split Pres on occasions - it was computer assisted) the other suite did the Southampton news bulletins. Split pres was still required for some local programming and news bulletins. Bit vague, sorry.
Last edited by bluecortina on 28 November 2018 5:08pm
BL
Very interesting. What was the reason why Gerry Anderson's company specifically wanted to contest the South and South East region?
p
http://catacombs.space1999.net/press/starlog/wrefpsprep.html
It's hard to tell exactly how NS would have turned out in reality. It could have turned out to be 99% cosmetic where the only differences between subregions are presentation, local news, and 2 or 3 hours a week of local programmes in mediocre timeslots. At the opposite end of the scale it could have pitched NS in a good position for the 1991 franchise round because the local companies can then be officially separated from NS as indies (and they might already have been in the late 1980s) with NS functioning as a publisher broadcaster.
If NS had won in 1980 and by 1990 they had outsourced production to 5 companies with a contract to supply programmes to NS in return for having control over a transmitter and its schedule, then would this have put NS in a strong position according to the ITC for the 1991 franchise round? If NS had won then how would Carlton have likely viewed this unique, and possibly bizarre, setup when carrying out takeovers?
It is possible that one of the local companies became wealthy from the production of popular networked programmes whereas another local company struggled with production and became little more than a local news service for NS. This potential disparity would have had an effect on the longer term future of NS.
I have no idea, money I presume.
I remember attending the IBA's public presentation/question and answer session at the Mountbatten theatre at what was then the College of Technology in Southampton. Gerry Anderson's company presentation was very thin indeed. Even then it was obvious to all that South and South East Communications were going to be very strong contenders as obviously turned out to the case.
Very interesting. What was the reason why Gerry Anderson's company specifically wanted to contest the South and South East region?
p
http://catacombs.space1999.net/press/starlog/wrefpsprep.html
I think they were just sub-brands and in reality would've worked little different from sub-regions seen on the likes of TVS and Central. They'd have had their own idents, trailers would say "Coronation Street, tonight on Wessex TV" and the regional news would've had their own brands and themes. Nonetheless, it will have almost certainly all have been conducted from Southampton, both in terms of actual transmission and also scheduling. There may have been the odd sub-region non-news programme, more akin to HTV than TVS or Central, but not a significant amount.
The situation wouldn't have lasted long. Having to provide separate continuity, branding for trailers etc would soon have been seen as an unnecessary added cost and no doubt would've been rationalised within the first couple of years. It would've been pretty much the equivalent of the modern unified ITV running separate full time brands for all its regions. I believe TVS initially had separate continuity for its two sub-regions, with 'South' or 'South East' tacked to the bottom of the standard ident but this didn't last beyond the opening few months.
The situation wouldn't have lasted long. Having to provide separate continuity, branding for trailers etc would soon have been seen as an unnecessary added cost and no doubt would've been rationalised within the first couple of years. It would've been pretty much the equivalent of the modern unified ITV running separate full time brands for all its regions. I believe TVS initially had separate continuity for its two sub-regions, with 'South' or 'South East' tacked to the bottom of the standard ident but this didn't last beyond the opening few months.
It's hard to tell exactly how NS would have turned out in reality. It could have turned out to be 99% cosmetic where the only differences between subregions are presentation, local news, and 2 or 3 hours a week of local programmes in mediocre timeslots. At the opposite end of the scale it could have pitched NS in a good position for the 1991 franchise round because the local companies can then be officially separated from NS as indies (and they might already have been in the late 1980s) with NS functioning as a publisher broadcaster.
If NS had won in 1980 and by 1990 they had outsourced production to 5 companies with a contract to supply programmes to NS in return for having control over a transmitter and its schedule, then would this have put NS in a strong position according to the ITC for the 1991 franchise round? If NS had won then how would Carlton have likely viewed this unique, and possibly bizarre, setup when carrying out takeovers?
It is possible that one of the local companies became wealthy from the production of popular networked programmes whereas another local company struggled with production and became little more than a local news service for NS. This potential disparity would have had an effect on the longer term future of NS.
I have no idea, money I presume.
MA
You’re asking a question now! From very vague memories; when TVS started they had a pres in Southampton and a pres in the East region. Southampton were still in the original old Southern Marconi equipped Pres. Then TVS pretty much got rid of Telecine in Soton and built two Pres control rooms in that area, one for each region so Maidstone Pres closed. Then the two pres suites became one when separate East presentation was closed. One suite did both regions (with some ability to split Pres on occasions - it was computer assisted) the other suite did the Southampton news bulletins. Split pres was still required for some local programming and news bulletins. Bit vague, sorry.
The Hannington news opt possibly used one of the Southampton pres suites later (when that started in 1988) ?
A year? Two?
You’re asking a question now! From very vague memories; when TVS started they had a pres in Southampton and a pres in the East region. Southampton were still in the original old Southern Marconi equipped Pres. Then TVS pretty much got rid of Telecine in Soton and built two Pres control rooms in that area, one for each region so Maidstone Pres closed. Then the two pres suites became one when separate East presentation was closed. One suite did both regions (with some ability to split Pres on occasions - it was computer assisted) the other suite did the Southampton news bulletins. Split pres was still required for some local programming and news bulletins. Bit vague, sorry.
The Hannington news opt possibly used one of the Southampton pres suites later (when that started in 1988) ?
BL
You’re asking a question now! From very vague memories; when TVS started they had a pres in Southampton and a pres in the East region. Southampton were still in the original old Southern Marconi equipped Pres. Then TVS pretty much got rid of Telecine in Soton and built two Pres control rooms in that area, one for each region so Maidstone Pres closed. Then the two pres suites became one when separate East presentation was closed. One suite did both regions (with some ability to split Pres on occasions - it was computer assisted) the other suite did the Southampton news bulletins. Split pres was still required for some local programming and news bulletins. Bit vague, sorry.
The Hannington news opt possibly used one of the Southampton pres suites later (when that started in 1988) ?
All too long ago for me to speculate. In the end the Southampton bulletins all came from Studio 3. For the avoidance of doubt I never worked for TVS.
A year? Two?
You’re asking a question now! From very vague memories; when TVS started they had a pres in Southampton and a pres in the East region. Southampton were still in the original old Southern Marconi equipped Pres. Then TVS pretty much got rid of Telecine in Soton and built two Pres control rooms in that area, one for each region so Maidstone Pres closed. Then the two pres suites became one when separate East presentation was closed. One suite did both regions (with some ability to split Pres on occasions - it was computer assisted) the other suite did the Southampton news bulletins. Split pres was still required for some local programming and news bulletins. Bit vague, sorry.
The Hannington news opt possibly used one of the Southampton pres suites later (when that started in 1988) ?
All too long ago for me to speculate. In the end the Southampton bulletins all came from Studio 3. For the avoidance of doubt I never worked for TVS.