:-(
A former member
I wish the clips from Monday the 4th Jan would appear.
JA
If you freeze at the moment of the switchover, there's a split-second (albeit distorted) look at the VT clock for the GMTV titles.
I presume the "Wiseman" at the top is the edit facility where it was made- I'm presuming the same Wiseman who's name appeared in the credits of the ITV Chart Show at the time!
And pretty much nothing you see in that viideo lasted long at all. The sets, the clock, the graphics, the weather from Birmingham, several of the presenters. I think it was only by spring you had the TV-am esque set and the clock moved to the bottom of the screen.
I presume the "Wiseman" at the top is the edit facility where it was made- I'm presuming the same Wiseman who's name appeared in the credits of the ITV Chart Show at the time!
And pretty much nothing you see in that viideo lasted long at all. The sets, the clock, the graphics, the weather from Birmingham, several of the presenters. I think it was only by spring you had the TV-am esque set and the clock moved to the bottom of the screen.
:-(
A former member
On Monday 19 April 1993 was the day it all changed, even then the clock was revised again a month later.
BL
You're right about Wiseman being the facility house, GMTV did not have much in the way of post/production facilities until about a month before they went on air. It was a very tight timescale and quite a technical challenge for TLS to design and install it all given the timescale and budget.
If you freeze at the moment of the switchover, there's a split-second (albeit distorted) look at the VT clock for the GMTV titles.
I presume the "Wiseman" at the top is the edit facility where it was made- I'm presuming the same Wiseman who's name appeared in the credits of the ITV Chart Show at the time!
And pretty much nothing you see in that viideo lasted long at all. The sets, the clock, the graphics, the weather from Birmingham, several of the presenters. I think it was only by spring you had the TV-am esque set and the clock moved to the bottom of the screen.
I presume the "Wiseman" at the top is the edit facility where it was made- I'm presuming the same Wiseman who's name appeared in the credits of the ITV Chart Show at the time!
And pretty much nothing you see in that viideo lasted long at all. The sets, the clock, the graphics, the weather from Birmingham, several of the presenters. I think it was only by spring you had the TV-am esque set and the clock moved to the bottom of the screen.
You're right about Wiseman being the facility house, GMTV did not have much in the way of post/production facilities until about a month before they went on air. It was a very tight timescale and quite a technical challenge for TLS to design and install it all given the timescale and budget.
WH
Whataday
Founding member
Indeed, the install of the GMTV set and facilities were dogged with problems.
Incidentally, I know that most people say the initial failure of GMTV was proof that TV-am should have kept their franchise. However I recently got to see a copy of TV-am's bid to the ITC, and it reads like the ramblings of a madman. Talk of growing the company and facilities where others were proposing to streamline, and a radical change to its programming.
While Sunrise's bid may seem excessive with hindsight, you can see it from the ITC's point of view: the companies involved had deep pockets and the operation was going to cost a lot less than that of TV-am. The main thing not factored in when the bids were made was competition from Channel 4.
Ultimately, with more than 20 years of hindsight, I think the right decisions were made across the franchises. Carlton & Meridian's publisher broadcaster policy helped the independent production sector grow, and (along with GMTV's decision to rent space at LWT) kept costs down over a period when ITV faced increased competition. TSW would have quickly become a company not dissimilar to Westcountry, with smaller, streamlined facilities.
Incidentally, I know that most people say the initial failure of GMTV was proof that TV-am should have kept their franchise. However I recently got to see a copy of TV-am's bid to the ITC, and it reads like the ramblings of a madman. Talk of growing the company and facilities where others were proposing to streamline, and a radical change to its programming.
While Sunrise's bid may seem excessive with hindsight, you can see it from the ITC's point of view: the companies involved had deep pockets and the operation was going to cost a lot less than that of TV-am. The main thing not factored in when the bids were made was competition from Channel 4.
Ultimately, with more than 20 years of hindsight, I think the right decisions were made across the franchises. Carlton & Meridian's publisher broadcaster policy helped the independent production sector grow, and (along with GMTV's decision to rent space at LWT) kept costs down over a period when ITV faced increased competition. TSW would have quickly become a company not dissimilar to Westcountry, with smaller, streamlined facilities.
:-(
A former member
The reason TVAM talk about growing the company was it was linked to CPV-TV, who I bet was going to use TVAM studio and of course its news service. So in some sense it would have been covering London weekday.
TT
ttt
Incidentally, I know that most people say the initial failure of GMTV was proof that TV-am should have kept their franchise. However I recently got to see a copy of TV-am's bid to the ITC, and it reads like the ramblings of a madman. Talk of growing the company and facilities where others were proposing to streamline, and a radical change to its programming.
Bruce Gyngell was behind it, what do you expect. The guy was a complete nutcase.
As for TSW, no. It would have quickly become a company like Tyne Tees -- taken over, gutted out, with no money to provide the service they had promised.
BL
No they weren't. The technical installations were a challenge but went successfully. The set was installed like any other. Perhaps the only interesting point about the set was the real gas fire installation and attendant logistical issues.
...Indeed, the install of the GMTV set and facilities were dogged with problems. ...
No they weren't. The technical installations were a challenge but went successfully. The set was installed like any other. Perhaps the only interesting point about the set was the real gas fire installation and attendant logistical issues.
:-(
A former member
...Indeed, the install of the GMTV set and facilities were dogged with problems. ...
No they weren't. The technical installations were a challenge but went successfully. The set was installed like any other. Perhaps the only interesting point about the set was the real gas fire installation and attendant logistical issues.
The only real technical problems I would have thought, in December would have been making sure three lines worked? Carlton, LWT and GMTV, Back then it had to be sperate? or did the ITC allow them to run of the same feed?
HC
Ahh yes. The 'real fire'! To install it, and allow for the fumes escape flue - they had to cut a hole in the roof of TLS5.
The set was installed like any other. Perhaps the only interesting point about the set was the real gas fire installation and attendant logistical issues.
Ahh yes. The 'real fire'! To install it, and allow for the fumes escape flue - they had to cut a hole in the roof of TLS5.