21. Not all viewers could see Channel 4 when it launched - it took five years for transmitters in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to be adapted.
Indeed - I can dimly remember the launch of Channel 4 being reported on John Craven's Newsround, and more clearly the issue of TV Times with the big 4 on the cover - but I was not able to see the launch itself, because for what seemed like ages, Channel 4 was 'the one we can't get', (just as Channel 5 was in more recent times). It didn't arrive in East Surrey until 1985.
The same for us - South West viewers (as usual) had to wait until June 1984 for C4, although just a few miles up the road those served by a neighbouring transmitter could get it from the off. There was some compensation in that a few North Devon viewers could receive a low-power S4C signal, but that all depended on where exactly you lived.
Now wouldn't it be great if they had a closedown tonight with the announcer in-vision sitting in front of the big potted plant as was the case during the first year.
We all know that Paul Coia was the first voice on the station back in 1982 - and moved on to do many other tv associated things but what about the other orginal 'voices' of the channel - Ex LWT Announcer Keith Harrison, Olga Hubicka and David Stranks - anyone know what they are doing now?
Indeed - I can dimly remember the launch of Channel 4 being reported on John Craven's Newsround, and more clearly the issue of TV Times with the big 4 on the cover - but I was not able to see the launch itself, because for what seemed like ages, Channel 4 was 'the one we can't get', (just as Channel 5 was in more recent times). It didn't arrive in East Surrey until 1985.
We had it from the start in Cheshire, and I remember rushing home from school to see the start at 4:45. I still have the TV Times with the big "4" on the front (somwehere in the loft).
It's nice of C4 to just use the original idents rather than some fancy "25" one on the main channel. They've even reverted to the original font for trailers. Ahhhhh.....nostalgia is a wonderful thing!
Jon snow has a C4 block multicoloured tie on for the news this evening.
Its nice seeing all the old idents, not just the remade one for E4. I've not caught the early 90's version of the fourscore yet, the one I remember the most.
I'd have loved to see the ITV schools thing again, complete with the music. But I doubt they would see the point in filling 3/4 mins nowadays with just a countdown, also its doubtful they would have gotten permission from ITV
also its doubtful they would have gotten permission from ITV
Why on earth would they want to promote ITV?
yes exactly, in the past it wouldn't have seemed out of place because of the way C4 was ran/funded, but nowadays it would look just like an advert. I know they would never show it now as there's no need for it, Its just me being nostalgic after seeing all the old style presentation again.
Myself and many others who grew up during the late 80's/90's remember it fondly.
Even now some of the videos that students are shown at work nowadays are from that period and have the countdown.
:-(
A former member
Jugalug posted:
DrCheese posted:
also its doubtful they would have gotten permission from ITV
Why on earth would they want to promote ITV?
Because ITV help ch4 on it way for the first 8 years of its life
also its doubtful they would have gotten permission from ITV
Why on earth would they want to promote ITV?
Because ITV was an essential part of the inception of C4. They paid for the start-up costs and were rewarded with the advertsing sales for quite some time. That created the link between them and the cross-promotion of the channels I recall from the early days.
Of course that ended when C4 became viable, went their own way and became a government owned corporation. I don't think we should forget the original link between the two though (as much as ITV has changed since).
also its doubtful they would have gotten permission from ITV
Why on earth would they want to promote ITV?
Because ITV was an essential part of the inception of C4. They paid for the start-up costs and were rewarded with the advertsing sales for quite some time. That created the link between them and the cross-promotion of the channels I recall from the early days.
Of course that ended when C4 became viable, went their own way and became a government owned corporation. I don't think we should forget the original link between the two though (as much as ITV has changed since).
Yeah, that's true, but would C4, let's not forget a company trying to make money, want to promote a rival?