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A Closedown Tonight!

Pages From Ceefax highly likely (April 2005)

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MB
MalcyB
For those interested in closedowns...
On BBC-2 tonight, Sunday night into Monday morning at 1.10am
there will no doubt be a closedown as a gap is scheduled on BBC-2 from 1.10-2.00am.
Expect Pages From Ceefax to be transmitted as News 24 will be running on BBC-1 from 1.10am.
R2
r2ro
I hope there is a good closedown announcement and a long ident - I'll be probably getting up to watch it!
MB
MalcyB
This will depend on which announcer is on tonight.
JV
James Vertigan Founding member
I'm beginning to wonder about the music that might be used tonight...

With the news of the pope taking up much of Ceefax at the moment, do you think we'll get the "Princess Margaret" discs or the same music used after the Tsunami?
NA
nat210790
I know that it's almost unlikely, but wouldn't it be great to see an updated BBC 2 clock after 4 years?
DE
deejay
nat210790 posted:
I know that it's almost unlikely, but wouldn't it be great to see an updated BBC 2 clock after 4 years?


It's completely unlikely I'm afraid. The kit that generated the on-screen clocks isn't in use any more.
MB
MalcyB
It has to me sombre music surely?
MS
Mr-Stabby
deejay posted:
nat210790 posted:
I know that it's almost unlikely, but wouldn't it be great to see an updated BBC 2 clock after 4 years?


It's completely unlikely I'm afraid. The kit that generated the on-screen clocks isn't in use any more.


Yeah but surely these days a simple computer program would do the trick? We've seen enough Flash clock mocks on pres sites for example which actually tell the correct time according to your PC clock.
OV
Orry Verducci
I understood the graphics did come from a computer now. I'm sure all the graphics on News 24 are generated on computer at least.
JV
James Vertigan Founding member
MalcyB posted:
This will depend on which announcer is on tonight.


I'm not exactly sure... I'll have to have a good listen to the next junction, and then compare it to those available on TheTVRoom... but I think it might be Alyson Bowman?
DE
deejay
Orry Verducci posted:
I understood the graphics did come from a computer now. I'm sure all the graphics on News 24 are generated on computer at least.


Yes, most (if not all) graphics on TV these days come from specialist "computers", often made by firms like Aston or Quantel. Yes it's true that there are some extremely good flash animations creating mocks of on-screen clocks, but as mentioned above, there is next to no chance an on-screen clock will be used by the BBC for the forseeable future. And certainly not tonight!
TP
Techy Peep Founding member
nat210790 posted:
I know that it's almost unlikely, but wouldn't it be great to see an updated BBC 2 clock after 4 years?

Please don't take this seriously folks, it's just a laugh!

"Dear Pints of View,

Why oh why don't you show clocks any more? I used to love them when you used to have balloons as a logo before programmes, and miss them terribly. Please PLEASE bring them back, or I'll have no alternative but to write a very strongly worded letter to the Controller of BBC1, Lorraine Heggessey, to say if they don't return soon I'll stop paying my TV licence.

Yours,
Disgruntled in Crawley"



"Dear DiC,

Thank you for your query. We have enquired as to why we no longer broadcast a clock and below is the reply we received:

-----Original Message-----
From: The Shed
Sent: 01 April 2005 11:15
To: Pints Of View (Mags)
Subject: RE: on-air clocks

Maggie, why do you keep sending us these bloody stupid requests from prats about clocks? Can you not send out a generic letter asking them to sod off? OK, here goes AGAIN.

We no longer provide a live clock due to limitations in modern transmission methods. As I'm sure you are aware, there are four methods of receiving our mainstream Television services, namely Analogue, Digital Terrestrial (Freeview), Digital Satellite (Sky) and Digital Cable (NTL etc). There are inherrent delays from the signal leaving our transmission suites to the viewer receiving the signals depending on which platform you are viewing on and the type of box you are using should you be viewing a digital signal. Let me explain the delay processes involved...

Analogue: Almost instantanious, but can take up to ¼ second to reach you depending on the transmission path the signal takes getting to the transmitter.
Digital Terrestrial: You will have a delay of between ½ and 1 second, possibly even 1½ seconds in extreme cases. This is due to the encoding process of our signals, which include compressing the signals of a number of stations, then multiplexing these together (adding the stations together into one complete signal). This process can take up to ½ second. Then we have to transport this signal around the country to our transmitter sites which in most cases is nearly instant, but in some cases takes a little under ¼ second due to the technologies we use to transport our signals. Then your set top box needs to decode that signal (de-multiplex and uncompress), which again takes time, and can take roughly half a second depending on your box.
Digital Satellite: Same as above, except you have yet another delay to consider which is the time it takes for our signals to bounce off a satellite, which is roughly ½ second.
Digital Cable: Roughly the same as Digital Terrestrial, with the added disadvantage that the cable operator may delay the signal further by their own transmission methods.

So, in a nutshell:
Analogue: Instant (ish)
Digital Terrestrial: Somewhere between ½ and 1½ seconds delay depending on your equipment.
Digital Satellite: somewhere between 1 and 2½ seconds delay depending on your equipment.
Digital Cable: somewhere between ½ and 2 seconds delay depending on your equipment and what the cable company do with our signal.

Because of the various delays involved, it becomes impossible for us to provide an accurate clock for you to set your watch by, as 1800:00 on analogue could be 1759:57 on your television. As you know, the Corporation prides itself with its accuracy. It is not our intention to broadcast something which we know will always be wrong.

Regarding clocks you do see on screen, such as BBC News24s digital clock; they are not intended to set your watch by or an accurate timepiece. If they were, they would show the seconds on their display. The coutdown you see coming up to the start of a new hour is not a countdown to set your watch by, but merely an indication that the programme is about to start.

I hope this reply has answered your question. Now go and bury your head in the sand before I stick this 18-element Wide Band TV aerial where the sun don't shine!

Mags - please edit the above text as you see fit

Charlie "The Shed"

-----Original Message-----
From: The Bunker
Sent: 01 April 2005 10:21
To: The Shed
Subject: RE: on-air clocks

Charlie, I'm fed up answering these idiots. Can you have a go this time please . I'll have to shoot myself otherwise. I've already given up the will to live having received yet another one!

-----Original Message-----
From: Engineering Boffins
Sent: 01 April 2005 10:18
To: The Bunker
Subject: RE: on-air clocks

John,
Another one for you. I know you like this sort of thing! Should I get my coat?!

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Presentation Voices
Sent: 01 April 2005 10:12
To: Engineering Boffins
Subject: RE: on-air clocks

Hi Darling
Can you take a look at this for me please? I think it's from one of those people on TVForum. You know the web site I'm talking about. The one where everyone seems to think they know best. I love reading it, it makes my day more bareable having a good laugh!

I'll make it worth your while laters
Sam
xx

-----Original Message-----
From: Pints Of View (Mags)
Sent: 01 April 2005 10:06
To: Presentation Voices
Subject: on-air clocks

Please find attached an email regarding the lack of on-air clocks.
Could you write me a paragraph or two about it please as a response?

Cheers,
Mags

--------------------------


Best regards,
Margaret Pointer
Pints Of View (not really)

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