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Always wondered this: What's the thing in the corner?

(January 2016)

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DV
dvboy
Most obvious place to see a cue dot these days, and last time I remember seeing it, is during sport coverage on ITV, especially during French Open tennis it will appear the moment a player reaches game point - every other game from the third in a set -and can stay on for quite some time until the game ends.

There's is also an audible cue on the host broadcaster feed, which you'll sometimes here if ITV or Eurosport aren't quick enough, it's basically a quiet voice going "ahh".
JA
james-2001
I'm A Celebrity's another place you can see them too, in fact there used to be two- one for the sponsorship and one for the ad break itself, though there was just one on the most recent series.
MA
Markymark
Steve in Pudsey posted:


In the past cue dots have been added to the output on certain transmitters only by ITV companies carrying out market research before launching sub opts. They would phone up people in overlap areas and ask if the person can see a cue dot, to research which sub regions people are receiving without relying on them knowing which transmitter they use.


Yes, I had a knock on the door in 1989 when TVS were just about launch their Thames Valley sub opt, TVS/IBA had placed a very faint cue dot top left on Hannington only. Of course me being me I had both Hannington and Rowridge aerials( I lived in Winchester back then, an overlap area), so I switched the telly on for the researcher, and invited him in to be totally confused
DA
davidhorman
See what we would have missed if people just Googled things all the time?

Quote:
There's is also an audible cue on the host broadcaster feed, which you'll sometimes here if ITV or Eurosport aren't quick enough, it's basically a quiet voice going "ahh".


As someone who has had one or two auditory hallucinations in his life*, I'm not sure I like the thought of that.

*(anyone else had that, when you're half asleep, imagining a conversation, and suddenly you really hear a word or two? no? okay...)
Last edited by davidhorman on 12 January 2016 8:59pm
JA
james-2001
dvboy posted:
There's is also an audible cue on the host broadcaster feed, which you'll sometimes here if ITV or Eurosport aren't quick enough, it's basically a quiet voice going "ahh".


Anybody got any examples of this? I'm intrigued!
DV
dvboy
Believe me, if I could find an example I would share it! It's definitely there.
JO
Jonny
dvboy posted:
There's is also an audible cue on the host broadcaster feed, which you'll sometimes here if ITV or Eurosport aren't quick enough, it's basically a quiet voice going "ahh".

So that's what that is! I've wondered for years whether it was an audio bleed from a sponsor logo we weren't meant to see in the UK or some such.

Mark your diaries for the French Open on Eurosport for anyone that desperate to hear it. It actually gets quite annoying due to the frequency of the breaks, although at least it's explainable now.

It sounds a bit like someone making a satisfied 'aah' noise after drinking a refreshing glass of [name your refreshment].
Last edited by Jonny on 12 January 2016 10:19pm
EL
elmarko
I've heard that too and thought it was a sponsor bumper or in-arena audio.

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