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The Queen's Christmas Message

Split from BBC News (UK) presentation - Reith launch onwards (December 2019)

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IS
Inspector Sands
Rkolsen posted:

Okay because one continuity announcer said for ITV said it couldn’t be a second off from the BBC.

Yes, but that's easily achievable by just playing a tape, cued up at the correct point, at exactly 15:00:00.
SP
Steve in Pudsey
Such exact timings were - and are - meat and drink to that kind of operation, so really no hassle.
RK
Rkolsen
Inspector Sands posted:
Rkolsen posted:

Okay because one continuity announcer said for ITV said it couldn’t be a second off from the BBC.

Yes, but that's easily achievable by just playing a tape, cued up at the correct point, at exactly 15:00:00.


Markymark posted:
Rkolsen posted:


Okay because one continuity announcer said for ITV said it couldn’t be a second off from the BBC.


More to do with 'station pride' than any screening directives. In fact I seem to recall ITV used to show a shorter version of the programme some years?

It was also originally produced and distributed on film, as some of the smaller commonwealth broadcasters had limited (or no) VT facilities


True. Are UK broadcasters expected or required to play it at exactly 3PM UK or can they air it anytime afterwards? The CBC aired it at different times for radio and tv - 12PM local on CBC TV and later at 2:50PM local on CBC Radio One (I assume it went out at 2:50 ET on CBC Radio on SiriusXM that covers Canada/US), CBC Music.
IS
Inspector Sands
Rkolsen posted:

True. Are UK broadcasters expected or required to play it at exactly 3PM UK or can they air it anytime afterwards?

I don't think they're required to play it at all. It's only the BBC, ITV and Sky who show it - the three who share its production.


I think Channel 4 have done in the past, but later than 3pm, they have a tradition of doing an alternative message which used to be on at 3pm. BBC2 have always played it later on. I don't think Channel 5 ever have shown it at all
GE
thegeek Founding member
Inspector Sands posted:
BBC2 have always played it later on

With in-vision signing from (as far as I can tell from Genome) 2009 onwards.
MA
Markymark
thegeek posted:
Inspector Sands posted:
BBC2 have always played it later on

With in-vision signing from (as far as I can tell from Genome) 2009 onwards.


When C4 did screen it, it was with in vision subtitles? I think C4 stopped showing it about 25 to 30 years ago (possibly after being 'divorced' from ITV?)
VM
VMPhil
I would guess that 1992 was the last year it was shown, as 1993 was the year when C4 became an independent statutory corporation and broadcast their first alternative Christmas message.
MC
mccanmat
VMPhil posted:
I would guess that 1992 was the last year it was shown, as 1993 was the year when C4 became an independent statutory corporation and broadcast their first alternative Christmas message.

1992 the queen was on at 8:30.... then 93 alternative message at 3 and queen at 4:15.
Looks like 2001 might have been The last time on channel 4
Markymark and VMPhil gave kudos
AN
Andrew Founding member
The alternative message used to be at 3, but now they just shove it in wherever, it’s king of lost the point of it being ‘alternative’

To be fair they get more publicity when they announce who’s doing the message, than when they actually show it, as I bet very few actually seek it out.
Last edited by Andrew on 29 December 2019 12:29pm
BR
Brekkie
Yes, moving it from 3pm made no sense at all.
VM
VMPhil
The first alternative message is on All4, by the way. I discovered this yesterday when trying to watch this year's one and was surprised that it was in 4:3! Of course this year's was in CinemaScope, because 16:9 just isn't good enough anymore.
GE
thegeek Founding member
Inspector Sands posted:
Rkolsen posted:

I wasn’t sure if they all relied on the BBC server or if Duncan just meant it played off a server for the BBC. Also would my suggestion of the simulcast - -uplink to Satellite or BT and all take that signal - properly assure all is in sync (aside from maybe minor encoding/tx delays)?

There is no requirement for it to be shown exactly in sync across all the stations, I don't see why there would be. Plus as you say it would never be in sync at the viewers end.


Sending it out a few days before hand and playing it out on server is far more reliable. Sending it all over the place on circuits and satellites would be totally un-necessary. There's not a lot of live TV on Christmas day and MCRs (in the British use of that term) are minimally staffed.

When everything was still analogue, it must have been a wee bit satisfying to look at two adjacent off-air monitors and see them showing frame-for-frame the same thing, knowing that they were coming from two independently-cued VTRs in different control rooms. The number of people who would have been able to enjoy that might even have numbered in the dozens Smile

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