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That's certainly true in later years, but in Central-land circa 1990, Jobfinder was very definitely a scheduled programme, published in listings magazines, etc. Each "edition" had a title sequence and pre-recorded studio bit featuring presenters such as Vera Gilbert and Yvonne Gaskill (with or without guests) before the Mode 7 teletext and pseudo jazz-funk kicked in, often for several hours.
I don't know the ins and outs of whatever initiative was responsible for launching the service, but I'm almost certain it was a Central-only thing to start with. I know that YTV and Granada were among the first to have their own versions, but Central (at least initially) were clearly keen to present it as an actual programme, irregardless of its ungodly start time, likely audience and absence of adverts. Presumably it was funded somehow?
As this is my first post after years of lurking (so hello everyone!) let me just elaborate a bit more..
In 1990, I was a night-owl computer programmer, already an insomniac, depending on the radio or TV for company until dawn. Central's overnight presentation back then made me feel like I was living in a "futuristic wonderworld" with its frequent ITN headline inserts, inexhaustible idents and programmes from all over the world (well, American Top 10 and Prisoner) and all in the middle of the night! "What an age to live in," I would think, until the likes of Ted May would come along and announce, "it's time to have your pen and paper at the ready as we join the Jobfinder service for the next few hours." Exciting TV suddenly became unnaturally depressing and claustrophobic. I've just checked the YT video place and amusingly there are lots of examples... play them at 4am for full authenticity.
Erm, before I go, can I add to the list of Central-only TX locally-made things..?
What about those PSA (Public Service Announcement) spots that used to pad out ad breaks (especially on Sundays) until, hmm, around 1992? I'm sure they started with ATV, and I don't remember seeing equivalents on the likes of Granada or YTV. Were they a Midlands-only thing? Typically a 30" piece-to-camera from a charity boss, sat on a sofa, making an appeal with an address caption for the final 10" or so. All very tin-pot amateur, but in a good cause!
John Caine (ATV/Central journo) had a "Newshound" spot for younger viewers in the early days of Central. Not sure if that was separate from Central News itself.
And of course, there was that (very) short-lived Sunday evening show, "Mike & Su Sing the Blues For You" (84/85?) featuring Mike Prince and Su Evans in a deserted Lenton Lane studio, sat atop chrome high stools, crooning standards such as Something Stupid, looking into each others eyes while battling with the unruly flex from a Shure SM45... or perhaps that's just my memory playing tricks
What about post-ATV local ads? Don Amott/Cole's of Bilston/DFS all date from the ATV era.. were there *any* significant and persistent local advertisers in the Central era 82-92?
Jobfinder was more of an overnight filler than an actual programme, not dissimilar to ITV Nightscreen or Pages from Ceefax.
That's certainly true in later years, but in Central-land circa 1990, Jobfinder was very definitely a scheduled programme, published in listings magazines, etc. Each "edition" had a title sequence and pre-recorded studio bit featuring presenters such as Vera Gilbert and Yvonne Gaskill (with or without guests) before the Mode 7 teletext and pseudo jazz-funk kicked in, often for several hours.
I don't know the ins and outs of whatever initiative was responsible for launching the service, but I'm almost certain it was a Central-only thing to start with. I know that YTV and Granada were among the first to have their own versions, but Central (at least initially) were clearly keen to present it as an actual programme, irregardless of its ungodly start time, likely audience and absence of adverts. Presumably it was funded somehow?
As this is my first post after years of lurking (so hello everyone!) let me just elaborate a bit more..
In 1990, I was a night-owl computer programmer, already an insomniac, depending on the radio or TV for company until dawn. Central's overnight presentation back then made me feel like I was living in a "futuristic wonderworld" with its frequent ITN headline inserts, inexhaustible idents and programmes from all over the world (well, American Top 10 and Prisoner) and all in the middle of the night! "What an age to live in," I would think, until the likes of Ted May would come along and announce, "it's time to have your pen and paper at the ready as we join the Jobfinder service for the next few hours." Exciting TV suddenly became unnaturally depressing and claustrophobic. I've just checked the YT video place and amusingly there are lots of examples... play them at 4am for full authenticity.
Erm, before I go, can I add to the list of Central-only TX locally-made things..?
What about those PSA (Public Service Announcement) spots that used to pad out ad breaks (especially on Sundays) until, hmm, around 1992? I'm sure they started with ATV, and I don't remember seeing equivalents on the likes of Granada or YTV. Were they a Midlands-only thing? Typically a 30" piece-to-camera from a charity boss, sat on a sofa, making an appeal with an address caption for the final 10" or so. All very tin-pot amateur, but in a good cause!
John Caine (ATV/Central journo) had a "Newshound" spot for younger viewers in the early days of Central. Not sure if that was separate from Central News itself.
And of course, there was that (very) short-lived Sunday evening show, "Mike & Su Sing the Blues For You" (84/85?) featuring Mike Prince and Su Evans in a deserted Lenton Lane studio, sat atop chrome high stools, crooning standards such as Something Stupid, looking into each others eyes while battling with the unruly flex from a Shure SM45... or perhaps that's just my memory playing tricks
What about post-ATV local ads? Don Amott/Cole's of Bilston/DFS all date from the ATV era.. were there *any* significant and persistent local advertisers in the Central era 82-92?