Back in 1989, when ITV introduced the first generic look for its regions, many of them brushed it aside in favour of their own designs, whilst the rest of them (except good old Grampian) ditched it within a few years.
In 1999, ITV introduced its second generic look, but this time, none of the regions were able to shake it off, even though some (notably Tyne Tees) introduced their own "new looks" during that period, which were covered up by the hearts idents.
My question is this: When exactly was it that the regional companies lost the capability to do their own thing? When did they lose the power to do things such as commission their own idents, or overlap network programming with their own?
I have to say that Channel TV (My Region) never quite did that. They never used the 1989 ident that was made for them. The only time they slightly wavered was when the hearts era came in, but even then they made their own version of it.
Just today even they've released a brand new ident with no hint of ITV-esque colour or musical schemes.
I guess that Granada (As in Manchester Granada) sort of lost alot of its power when they moved transmission to Yorkshire Television in 1998, as we got their announcers, though apparently they had a headache when all the YTV, GTV and TTTV idents were all different lengths.
Though as I think about it now, Granada was probably the weakest region out of the old GMG North structure, as Yorkshire had it's own idents, as did Tyne Tees; which were introduced a year after the generic style was. And Border gained back the chopsticks in 2001 or 2002. But what regionality did Granada gain? Not much at all, same generic style, no regional idents and later on very identical Weather to YTV.
But could they "physically" still make their own idents and stick them one air on top of the ITV1 ones?
Well If I can, i'm sure they can. It dosen't take much to make a good ident. Something ITV1 don't realise somehow.
You've missed my point, could they replace the idents on the network feed with their own, given the reduced equipment, staff and resources that they now have?
But could they "physically" still make their own idents and stick them one air on top of the ITV1 ones?
Well If I can, i'm sure they can. It dosen't take much to make a good ident. Something ITV1 don't realise somehow.
You've missed my point, could they replace the idents on the network feed with their own, given the reduced equipment, staff and resources that they now have?
Well as I said, if I can i'm sure they can. It only takes a person with a computer and a bit of technical knowledge. You only have to look on the mock section on this very forum to see that.
But could they "physically" still make their own idents and stick them one air on top of the ITV1 ones?
Well If I can, i'm sure they can. It dosen't take much to make a good ident. Something ITV1 don't realise somehow.
You've missed my point, could they replace the idents on the network feed with their own, given the reduced equipment, staff and resources that they now have?
Well as I said, if I can i'm sure they can. It only takes a person with a computer and a bit of technical knowledge. You only have to look on the mock section on this very forum to see that.
Again, you've missed my point.
Could a regional company, given their current lack of equipment, resources and skilled employees,
replace an item on the network feed, such as a programme or an ident, with an item of their own
? I'm not asking, "Could someone at Meridian make a nice ident?"
I'm sure they could. If they can have an opt-out/in for regional news (Meridian Tonight), and can slide in their own trails for programmes (only for that region), then I don't see why they cant.
The main overall feed must pass through Meridian Southampton,
as they add their own material..... those gallery and control desks are just waiting for action once more !
Bits of the old Studio 4 gallery at Tyne Tees are still in use (though no doubt updated/replaced by now), used to switch between studios etc on the feed to Leeds. These were controlled by the announcer at studio 4 until 1996, and I think they've now been moved to studio 2 (news). So technically I'm sure it's possible, although politically they'd never be allowed to.
I asked this question of TTTV some years ago and was told that there is no longer any transmission control at Newcastle. The studio feeds go to Leeds and are fed to the transmitters from there. Two feeds were sent, one for TTTV North news and one for TTTV South news. The news gallery would then combine the studio output for single service and split it again for the southern opt. If one of the feeds failed, Leeds could patch in the other one, as has happended very occasionally. At the time the Middlesborough studio also had a direct feed to Leeds as it has been used by YTV in the past - whether that's the same I dont know.
I also asked that if Leeds suddenly went off-air, could Newcastle take over? I was told no, the only site that could do was Manchester but that a single sustaining output would go out to all GMG north transmitters. This was prior to the National itv1 of course.
Could a regional company, given their current lack of equipment, resources and skilled employees,
