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Cue Dots

(November 2006)

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DV
dvboy
Spencer For Hire posted:
Does anyone else in the Central region remember a little white transparent square which used to appear at various times in the bottom left or bottom right corner of the screen? It wasn't in the overscan area - it was very much in the safe area, and often would be there across all programming for weeks on end in the late 80s/early 90s.

Any ideas what this was for? Was it again for market research purposes and identifying sub-regions?


It appeared on the bottom right of the Central East feed they were giving to NTL analogue as late as August 2002 (helped me distinguish between Central and Yorkshire).
MO
moss Founding member
Spencer For Hire posted:
Does anyone else in the Central region remember a little white transparent square which used to appear at various times in the bottom left or bottom right corner of the screen? It wasn't in the overscan area - it was very much in the safe area, and often would be there across all programming for weeks on end in the late 80s/early 90s.

Any ideas what this was for? Was it again for market research purposes and identifying sub-regions?


I remember this as well! I was in Central East. Love to know what it was for.
OZ
ozsat Founding member
Two of the three Central regions had them - so it could be identified which one you were watch.

The two regions which had them had different symbols - the third region had none.
AS
Asa Admin
Good ol' I'm a Celeb keeping cue dots alive and well Very Happy
BT
Baroness Trumpington
Yes, TWO sets! Presumably one from the OB in Australia to tell London when to roll the sponsorship bumper and the other from the gallery in London to cue the break.
FL
Flava
They're also used by The X Factor and Love Island.
NG
noggin Founding member
Flava posted:
They're also used by The X Factor and Love Island.


They are used by most live ITV shows. Not sure if London Studios shows need to use them - as they are in the same building as ITVs Southern playout centre - so presumably have a reliable talkback system.

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