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Happy birthday ITV - 48 years old

(September 2003)

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CO
Corin
And do not forget "Granada Bowling Centers" (the ten pin variety).
:-(
A former member
nwtv2003 posted:
Note that one of the money problems they did have at the start was that they were the first ITV Station to have purposely built studios made for them, while most other stations were using converted Cinemas and Theatres, plus god knows how much they spent on equipment too.


<odd random fact>
When they built the Granada Studios, Bernstein insisted that all the studios were evenly numbered to make it look like they had more of them
</odd random fact>
:-(
A former member
benjy posted:
The reason for the widely varying launch dates was due to the transmitters needing to be built around the country - London was obviously the first in 1955, followed by the Midlands in 1956 and other regions around the North. Others slowly followed, but surprisingly coverage had not reached the whole country until as late as 1983!


1983? where did that date come from?

Although to be accurate TV coverage still hasn't reached the whole country. There are still areas with no TV reception at all - the figure normally given is 99% of the population
BE
benjy
Larry Scutta posted:
1983? where did that date come from?

Although to be accurate TV coverage still hasn't reached the whole country. There are still areas with no TV reception at all - the figure normally given is 99% of the population


I got that date from a book called "Independent Television in Britain" by Bernard Sendall. Although there are always going to be small areas with weak or no reception, as you say.
JV
James Vertigan Founding member
Also something else very special sharing their 48th birthday with ITV... the Croydon transmitter! Came into service with "Associated Rediffusion" the same day as ITV launched!
CO
Corin
James Vertigan posted:
Also something else very special sharing their 48th birthday with ITV... the Croydon transmitter! Came into service with "Associated Rediffusion" the same day as ITV launched!


<pedantic mode>
"transmitter site" not "transmitter" since there are no longer transmissions on VHF Band III Channel 9V
</pedantic mode>

From <http://www.transdiffusion.org/pmc/yearbooks/ita1968/croydon.htm>

Quote:

A suitable open space for the construction of a small compact station which could be brought into operation with the least delay was found just a mile away on South Norwood Hill. The single 10kW transmitter, the first in Band III set constructed in this country, was a laboratory prototype. The aerial was an experimental 8-stack omni-directional vertically polarized array, supported on a 200ft tower of virtually 'stock' design. The first Independent Television programmes were transmitted from this station on 22nd September 1955. With an effective radiated power (e.r.p.) of 60kW (peak white vision) and 15kW (carrier sound) the potential population coverage was about 11 million. After some months a second fully-engineered production 10kW transmitter was installed as a standby, and a little later further equipment was installed as a standby, and a little later further equipment was installed to enable both sets of transmitters to be operated in parallel in order to double the station's power.


BTW why is all this fuss being made over the 48th birthday?

What is so special about the 48th birthday?

Is it because there is not going to be a 49th or a 50th birthday?

And will 48th birthday celebrations be observed for Lichfield and Winter Hill and Emley Moor and Burnhope, or do they not matter because they are not in Greater London?
:-(
A former member
Corin posted:

<pedantic mode>
"transmitter site" not "transmitter" since there are no longer transmissions on VHF Band III Channel 9V
</pedantic mode>



And they started broadcasting from a temporary mast too, so even that isn't 48 years old
:-(
A former member
Larry Scutta posted:
1983? where did that date come from?

Although to be accurate TV coverage still hasn't reached the whole country. There are still areas with no TV reception at all - the figure normally given is 99% of the population
Hmm. Channel TV was the last region to launch - in 1970. After that, the existing regions simply got new transmitters. Only when Digital TV launched was 100% achieved, it is indeed 99% on analogue, to my knowledge.
IT
IndigoTucker
Digifiend posted:
Hmm. Channel TV was the last region to launch - in 1970.
Incorrect again
NH
Nick Harvey Founding member
Yes, William, I was thinking nearer 1962 as well!
RO
rob Founding member
1st September 1962 - according to TV Ark
RT
rts Founding member
[SHAMELESS PLUG]
I'm 18 today!!
[/SHAMELESS PLUG]

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