nwtv2003 postage this gem over on Youtube gold channel. PART One of three of the Ch4 documentary series
You get a look at the early years and interview with Brian Haynes. How IBA claimed Pal was crap and DMAC was the only way forward and also a look at the Astro-built satellite and management.
I was hoping there'd be a bit more about what happened while Sky and BSB were co-existing rather than "BSB went on air, both companies were losing money, then they merged". Besides that, it's a really fascinating programme.
Very interesting to see that again. I'd forgotten the Astra promotional film that used to play on a loop on some of the transponders after programming had finished, and on spare transponders. That enthralled me and I'd watch it over and over. I was excited beyond words by the technical revolution.
Very interesting to see that again. I'd forgotten the Astra promotional film that used to play on a loop on some of the transponders after programming had finished, and on spare transponders. That enthralled me and I'd watch it over and over. I was excited beyond words by the technical revolution.
Very interesting to see that again. I'd forgotten the Astra promotional film that used to play on a loop on some of the transponders after programming had finished, and on spare transponders. That enthralled me and I'd watch it over and over. I was excited beyond words by the technical revolution.
I remember it looping in different languages too.
The Astra promo came in about seven different "revisions" over the years, not counting the language variations. It later became pretty much permanent on its own stream in the late 1990s and AFAIK was still there until they launched the satellites at 28.2° east and Sky Digital.
I didn't even need to click play on that before I got Dance of The Knights (better known these days for it use as the theme tune for The Apprentice) in my head.
This work has been used in television as the theme of the British and Irish versions of the reality series The Apprentice, in the opening of BBC children's drama God's Wonderful Railway, in the Canadian comedy reality series Kenny vs. Spenny, and as the title theme for Channel 4's 1980s National Football League American Football coverage in the UK
I was hoping there'd be a bit more about what happened while Sky and BSB were co-existing rather than "BSB went on air, both companies were losing money, then they merged". Besides that, it's a really fascinating programme.
If you like that, might I suggest Applemask's seven-part documentary "Square Peg: The Dream of British Satellite Broadcasting"?